OBEDIENCE = FAITH = KNOWLEDGE

SERVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The level of our obedience is based upon the level of our faith and the level of our faith is based upon our level of knowledge. It is critical for us to obtain a pure and true knowledge of Jesus Christ and His gospel. How much knowledge we need to have sufficient faith to be able to obey and follow the Lord as a true disciple is up to each of us to decide.

Life can be busy but we need to find ways to take time out of the day to focus on increasing our knowledge. If we try to make do with the knowledge we currently have by not taking the time to increase it or by even not reminding ourselves of the knowledge that we currently have, will we have sufficient faith to face the increasing challenges that life brings?

How quickly would we act if the Lord himself counseled us to do something? You might be saying to yourself, right away. However, would you really be so quick to act and do you think you would be quick to forget?

We learn in the Book of Mormon that the Nephites lasted 300 years acting and not forgetting the counsel of the Lord. We are counseled from the mouthpiece of the Lord, and look how quick we are to act. Sometimes we look like snails. Look how quick we are to forget and look how quick we are to justify.

Is it not the same when the Prophet speaks compared to when the Lord speaks? I ask you this; do you have a testimony that our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God and every latter-day Prophet that came before him? How quickly were we as returned missionaries to maintain the appearance of a missionary, or have just one pair of earrings, or other piercings, and how quick were we to apply President Hinckley’s “B’s” in our lives? For those of you that do obey now, whether it was immediate or not, I commend you and admire your obedience to the Prophet.

I ask you again, do you have a testimony that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God? Do you honestly believe you would act more quickly and not forget if it was the Lord himself? It will not be as easy as you think to follow the Lord himself if we are not following the Prophet. They are the same. I exhort you all to know for yourselves that what our prophet says are the words and the will of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

We seem to be able to tolerate procrastination of duties in school and in other daily tasks. I fear to think that we would procrastinate our obedience to the Lord. Who are we to not anxiously act and obey our Master? We came to this earth committing to our Heavenly Father that we would obey His laws. Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Twelve said, “We cannot just be in the Church in a casual or disinterested way. Indifference has no place in the heart or mind of a Latter-day Saint. If we are going to be Latter-day Saints we must do something about it!”

It all falls upon our testimony. Our testimony and our spirit together are either weak or strong. Their condition is portrayed through our actions and an expedient will to not only serve, but to turn over out will to our Heavenly Father by sacrificing our own desires and our time. Let us all love and pray for our brethren who display weak testimonies through their actions in and out of the gospel or the lack of actions there of. For it is the responsibility to edify each other. “And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.” (Doctrine and Covenants 43:8.) When a dear brother or sister is seen not fulfilling their assignments in the church we should not think less of them or cast them out. We need to help edify each other.

The Saints don’t obey because of one of three reasons.
1. They were not taught appropriately.
2. They do not understand what was taught.
3. They choose not to obey.

One of the reasons we come to church and study the scriptures and the gospel is to gain knowledge, understand the things of God, have the spirit with us, and we eventually want to do the Lords will. We gain these things by our own application and by edifying each other.

The Elders of the Church have been given home teaching assignments and the sisters are given visiting teaching assignments. Each of us will also be serving in other callings in the church. How important is it that we not only fulfill our duties in the callings that we accept but to magnify them as well? “For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:33.)

If we are not magnifying our callings then we are not obeying our Lord and Savior. Each of us know if we are magnifying our callings or not. Be honest with yourself and your heart will tell you by the means of the Spirit. If you can rest and sleep peacefully at night when reflecting upon your calling, then you are probably doing a great job.

I wish we could all apply the gospel more fully in our lives so that we can obtain more of the blessings of our Father in Heaven. Those blessings would allow us to understand his will and our duties, which would allow us to have his Spirit with us. When we have the Spirit, we are anxious to serve and follow our God even if it requires a change in our will and a loss of our time, which only appears as a loss to those without knowledge, understanding, and the Spirit.

When we study the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we obtain knowledge, a deeper understanding, and a change in our hearts that allows the spirit in our life. If you need help, if you are struggling, or simply want to become greater and closer to Heavenly Father, study doctrine. You will become more powerful as you do.

We must magnify our callings if we want the kingdom of God here on this earth. If you are not sure as to what all of your calling entails go to who called you and ask them for assistance. Do those responsibilities, no matter if they are great or small. It makes no difference. The lord will be proud of you and will bless your life.

Remember that we are taught that we must first do our part, all that the Lord has asked of us, before he can then help us. One of the things that he has commanded us to do is to magnify our callings.

Can we have our calling and election made sure if we are not magnifying our callings? No! If we are not desiring to have our calling and election made sure someday, I invite you to make it a priority in your life.

We must magnify ourselves in all things, in all that we do. Not just in our callings or in the church if we want to be able to magnify ourselves in the gospel. We need to magnify our membership in the church. If we are magnifying our membership in the church, we will magnify our Christ like attributes and we will focus on acquiring the attributes that we do not have. We will love and help edify all of our fellow men. These are some of the plain and precious truths of the procrastination of your magnification. Let us put forth a little effort each day and take each day one at a time so that one day the Lord can look upon us more pleasingly.

For those that do magnify their callings I admire you. However, your not done, do not become complacent and press on.

How do we magnify? Elder Sterling W. Sill said, “To serve him with all our hearts means that our love and devotion should be genuine and complete. To serve him with all our might is to employ to the utmost our determination, commitment, and will power. It does not mean to walk the irregular pathway of vacillation and procrastination. To serve him with all our mind requires a strong positive, mental attitude. It means continual study, thoughtfulness, meditation, and firm positive decisions on each of the questions involved. To serve him with all our strength requires vigorous, persistent, continual physical activity… By this process of consolidation and joint action one may concentrate all of the elements of personal effectiveness into one united, fiery, and powerful effort.”