We live at an uneasy time in history. This has been true for generations before ours and will be true for generations after us too, but we only have our own times to endure.
As we read or listen to the news, some of the topics most commonly discussed today include war, food scarcity, inflation, housing shortages, and global warming; we are still reeling from an ongoing pandemic; the struggles to overcome centuries of racism, segregation, sexism, and slavery continue; violence and threats, both physical and emotional, among individuals, families, and mobs, are increasing. These are dark times, of which, our prophet, President Nelson, said this:
[W\e are presently living in what surely is a most complicated time in the history of the world. The complexities and challenges leave many people feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
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[But\ In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,” He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful.
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Dear brothers and sisters, my message to you … is that because Jesus Christ overcame this fallen world, and because He atoned for each of us, you too can overcome this sin-saturated, self-centered, and often exhausting world.
Do you feel that you are on a “wondrous journey” while navigating your path of faith and righteousness through a highway of sorrows, tears, and pressing fears? Possibly, our individual answers to that question, provide us with a clear indication of whether we are, or not, on the covenant path.
President Nelson’s Sunday morning address at General Conference was titled, “Overcome the World and Find Rest”. In it, he said
My plea to you this morning is to find rest from the intensity, uncertainty, and anguish of this world by overcoming the world through your covenants with God
...entering into a covenant relationship with God binds us to Him in a way that makes everything about life easier. Please do not misunderstand me: |
The phrase “strive to live the higher laws of Jesus Christ,” gives you the impression of something that might be difficult to do. Something that requires superior effort, revelation and understanding. Maybe it will take some years of intense study, meditation, service, and spiritual exercise. But maybe, in fact, it won’t.
As I continue on my spiritual journey, I am becoming more certain that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not as difficult a chore as we sometimes make it out to be. In fact, I believe that the attitude of viewing the work of the gospel in the same way that we view other work we do in this life, as arduous and effortful, is applying a worldly lens to spiritual things, which is, I believe, exactly the opposite of what the Lord calls us to do.
What did Jesus say?
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Overcoming the world …happens … as we repeatedly embrace the doctrine of Christ. We cultivate faith in Jesus Christ by repenting daily and keeping covenants that endow us with power. … Living the doctrine of Christ can produce the most powerful virtuous cycle, creating spiritual momentum in our lives.
"Cultivate faith in Jesus Christ." "Live the doctrine of Christ."
These are the keys to the covenant path.
...this is my doctrine, … whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. …Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, … ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name … whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. |
First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
second, repentance;
third, affirming and reaffirming our covenant status
and relationship with God;
and fourth, receiving his spiritual blessings.
This is the doctrine of Christ, and this is the covenant path, a “powerful virtuous cycle, creating spiritual momentum in our lives”.
I believe this cycle applies in everything that we do. It’s not just for the landmark moments of baptism, confirmation, priesthood ordination, temple endowments, marriage and other temple sealings. Rather than being like a linear staircase that we climb up into heaven, our journey as covenant keeping followers of Jesus Christ, is more like a spiral ascending upward, in which we are continually coming unto Christ anew, over and over again, as we pass through every new circumstance and setting of our lives. It is a journey of continuous discovery of the breadth, depth, and dynamic power of His love and grace.
Therefore, President Nelson said,
“Overcoming the world is not an event
that happens in a day or two.
It happens over a lifetime as we
repeatedly embrace the doctrine of Christ
repenting daily and keeping [our\ covenants.”
It is a "wondrous journey."
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Before closing, I’d like to comment on two remaining things.
First, the commandments. I haven’t mentioned them yet. They are part of what seems to us to be the work of the gospel. The I have to’s or the I have to not’s. Sometimes we view them as burdens, chores, limitations, restrictions, weights or challenges. All of these perceptions are wrong, and as we genuinely come unto Christ in all things, he will show us how the commandments – all of them – fit into the patterns of perfection and happiness. The commandments are essentially neither guideposts nor walls, though sometimes we can speak of them that way; but more essentially, they are tools that teach us how to turn to God in every thought and in every deed. They are ways for us to tell God that we love Him, and that we want His influence in our lives. Every commandment, whether we think of it as small or great, is a gift that helps us to come unto Christ.
Second, I would like to relieve us of one burden, at least those of us who might carry this burden of thought: Following the covenant path does not mean that the external circumstances of our lives will necessarily change for the better. That is, despite our covenant-keeping righteousness, we might not proceed from so-called lesser callings to greater ones. We might not get better jobs or bigger families. We might not experience continuous progress in our personal economy. We might stay poor. We might stay uneducated. We might struggle with employment. We might remain unmarried or childless. We might not accomplish our dreams. We might suffer worldly disappointments. None of these things defines whether we are on or successful in keeping on the covenant path.
When, as President Nelson said, “The Savior lifts us above the pull of this fallen world,” we are also lifted above the pull of its assessments of human value and contribution. Instead, President Nelson promised that the Lord will bless us according to the measurements by which He judges the qualities of His children, “by [our] charity, humility, generosity, kindness, self-discipline, [and] peace.” The upward trajectory of covenant keeping Christians is identified by their spirituality, character, and relationship with God, not their power, influence, or prosperity in the world, or even in the Church.
Lastly, I confess that I am not yet in the state of mind that these words express. I have worldly desires that weigh me down, goals and dreams that I am disappointed not to accomplish. I have weaknesses and fail to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. But I know who my Saviour is, and I hope to never cease in that delightful cycle of coming back to Him in penitence, seeking for blessings to improve my thoughts and feelings, to purify my character, and ultimately to bring me his brand of peace, which passes the understanding of this world.
I love Jesus Christ. I am grateful, and hope to feel grateful eternally, for the unequalled blessings of knowing Him and His gospel. I am grateful to have been placed upon and to have remained, so far, on the covenant path, and by His grace I hope to continue to do so, and that each of you will stay there with me. Thank you for your examples and faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.