Willing Obedience

When Jesus Christ lived on the earth He was perfect: perfect in His actions, perfect in His love, perfect in His teachings, perfect in His willingness to serve His Father. 

He was willing to be baptized to show obedience, 

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

“But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

“And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-15).

He was willing to submit to all the will of His Father, even when it was seemingly unbearable. 

“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).

I think He must have had an attitude of obedience, rather than convenience; an attitude of keeping His covenants, no matter what the cost. He must have decided that He would obey, and didn’t even entertain thoughts of whether He wanted to do something or not.

He was perfectly willing, and perfectly powerful. I have been wondering if the two are connected. What power is there in our willingness? Willingness to drop everything and follow Him (Matthew 4:20, 22), to take His name upon us (Doctrine & Covenants 20:77), to submit to His will (Mosiah 3:19), to stand as His witness (Mosiah 18:9), to flee temptation (Genesis 39:12), to give up our sins (Alma 22:18), to repent (3 Nephi 30:2), to be baptized to show our commitment to Him (Mosiah 18:10), to do as we have been commanded (1 Nephi 5:20), to take the Holy Spirit as our guide (Doctrine & Covenants 45:57), and to be willing to  sacrifice in order to keep our covenants (Doctrine & Covenants 97:8)?

It is interesting to see the results of the above examples and the promises associated with them—promises that give us power to overcome our weaknesses. We know that the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41), but we each have the ability to choose for ourselves whether we will serve God or mammon (Luke 16:13). James E. Talmage taught,

“[We] were endowed with the powers of agency or choice while yet but spirits; and the divine plan provided that [we] be free-born in the flesh, heirs to the inalienable birthright of liberty to choose and to act for [our]selves in mortality. It is undeniably essential to the eternal progression of God’s children that they be subjected to the influences of both good and evil, that they will be tried and tested and proved withal, ‘to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.’ Free agency is an indispensable element of such a test.

“The Eternal Father well understood the diverse natures and varied capacities of His spirit-offspring…that in the school of life some of His children would succeed and others would fail; some would be faithful, others false; some would choose good, others the evil….He saw that His commandments would be disobeyed and His law violated; and that men, shut out from His presence and left to themselves, would sink rather than rise, would retrogress rather than advance, and would be lost to the heavens” (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p16).

The spirit indeed is willing, and the flesh is weak. We will be tempted, tried, and tested individually, and one of the great challenges of this life is to learn to use our agency to overcome the temptations and desires of the flesh.

We know that without the Atonement of Jesus Christ our soul would be lost forever. Lehi taught that,“all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer” (1 Nephi 10:6). Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we have been “bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). He has paid our debt to Justice, and we now owe our debt to Him. He it is that will make the rules. He it is that will set the terms. It is our decision whether we are willing to abide by His rules, or follow our own way.

When Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee,

“[He] saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-19).

He was asking them to leave their livelihood, their way of life, everything they knew, and follow a higher road. This was a great turning point in their lives. The question is, were they prepared for the call? When the Lord needed them, were they ready to act?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke of the need that each of us has to be prepared in these last days for when the Lord calls us.

“In the most difficult and discouraging days of World War II, Winston Churchill said to the people of England: ‘To every man there comes … that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing unique to him and fitted to his talent. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour.’

“In an even more serious kind of spiritual warfare…the day may come—indeed, I am certain will come—when in an unexpected circumstance or a time of critical need, lightning will strike, so to speak, and the future will be in your hands. Be ready when that day comes” (link to talk).

Are we prepared to turn our lives over to the Lord? Are we prepared to “immediately”  (see Matthew 4:22) leave whatever worldly nets are entangling us in order to follow the Lord?  If not, what is standing in our way?

In thinking about my own willingness to be perfectly obedient to the Lord’s will I have realized that I have a little bit of willing, but also unwilling, tendencies within me.

Unwillingness to abide by the laws the Lord has set reminds me of Lucifer, and the pre-mortal council in heaven. Our Father in Heaven presented a plan whereby all men could come to earth, receive a body, and progress eternally. However, because of our agency, there would be a risk that some of us would not return. If we followed God’s laws and relied on the Atonement of Jesus Christ we could be saved.

Lucifer was unwilling to follow our Heavenly Father’s plan. He wanted to create a plan of his own choosing; doing things in his own way, and receive the glory. I look at my life and wonder if there are things I am doing in my own way, without counseling with the Lord. Am I willing to set aside my own priorities and projects to do the will of the Lord? Am I willing to humble myself and obey, even when it is hard or inconvenient? Elder Richard G. Scott gave an example of setting our priorities. His example is specific to scripture study, but can be applied to many, many other things including (but certainly not limited to): temple attendance, honesty, personal prayer, family home evening, integrity, missionary work, etc.

“[S]tudy the word of God in the scriptures and the words of the living prophets….Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it!” (link to talk).

There are other times when I am willing to do something—my heart is in the right place—but I am waiting to be asked, or waiting for someone else to take the first step, so that I can follow. I don’t think this is what the Lord had in mind when He speaks of a willing heart and willing mind.

It is good to be willing, but even better to act. We have been placed on this earth to see if we will choose to do as we have been commanded (see Abraham 3:25). Thus, a critical step to willingness, in my opinion, is the willingness to act in obedience when no one is asking us to do it. Sometimes we are left to our own judgement to see if we will do what we know we are supposed to do.

An example of this can be found in the New Testament. We read that Jesus went into the wilderness and was tempted of the devil. I find the wording in the inspired version to be very telling of how things sometimes are in our own life.

“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, and had communed with God, he was afterwards an hungered, and was left to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:2 JST, emphasis added).

Just as the Savior was left to Himself to be tried and tested we are sometimes left on our own to see how we will respond, and how we will use our agency. We can find home in remembering that if we follow the plan the Lord has outlined we will not be tempted above that which we are able to handle; and a way will be provided for us to escape enough to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). This doesn’t mean we won’t have hard times, or that the really hard stuff will go away. I think this means that the Lord will test us to our limits, and if we’re at a breaking point (or even before our breaking point) we can turn to Him to find relief. It is through the Atonement of His Son that we can strength to endure the hard times.

Jesus did the will of Whom He was sent. He, “subjected the flesh to the will of the Father” (Mosiah 15:2). To subject something means “to bring under domination, control, or influence” (link to definition). It was through His perfect obedience that He was able to gain control over His flesh—or worldly appetites and desires.

The Lord wants a willing heart and mind. President Boyd K. Packer taught that “Your body really is the instrument of your mind and the foundation of your character” (link to talk). We are here on this earth to learn to control our physical body in order to do the works of the Father, and we are able to do it by learning to control our mind.

When the Savior visited the Nephites, after his crucifixion, they had been observing the Law of Moses. He gave them a higher law to observe. Rather than merely doing (or not doing) certain things, they were asked to control their thoughts. Some examples include: 

“Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time…that thou shalt not kill…

“But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment….

“Behold, it is written by them of old time, that thou shalt not commit adultery;

“But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart….

“And behold, it is written, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;

“But I say unto you, that…whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (3 Nephi 12:21-22, 27-28, 38-39).

What the Lord asks of us is hard, because it is in opposition to the will of the flesh. But, it is the path we are required to follow if we want to become like He is. It is hard to overcome our physical nature, but with the help of our Savior it is possible. “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:3). It is our willing obedience to His commandments and the covenants we make that will make all the difference.

The greatest commandment is to love God (see Mark 12:30). Are we willing to “lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better” (Doctrine & Covenants 25:10)? Are we willing to seek to know His will, and to do it? James E. Talmage taught that the Savior’s “humility and willingness [is what] rendered Him acceptable to the Father” (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p20). We can likewise be acceptable to the Father through our humility and willing obedience. 

The Lord has a plan for us, and as we are willing to obey Him we will be guided along our individual path. Alma taught,

“For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land” (Alma 37:44).

Rosemary M. Wixom taught,

“That is the key, and it is really quite simple: ‘I will follow God’s plan for me.’ And we do it by holding fast to His word, with His love, and through our prayers to Him while simply living life.

“Brigham Young said, ‘Live so that the spirit of our religion [lives] within us.’ We are a making-and-keeping-covenants people, and nothing better shapes us than the sacred covenants we make to the Lord. We live these covenants when we follow His plan, and we come to know who we really are….

“Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said: ‘We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming’” (link to talk).

As we live obediently to the laws, ordinance, and covenants we have made we can have the Holy Spirit by our side, we can be led through the storms and trials of life, and become who the Lord knows we can become. 

We must be the one to take the first step, and then continue moving forward of our own free will and choice. Then if we choose to continue on the path, the spirit can lead us and guide us to eternal glory with our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ. But, if we were unwilling, “[we] shall return again to [our] own place, to enjoy that which [we] are willing to receive, because [we] were not willing to enjoy that which [we] might have received” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:32) through our obedience.

Oh the glories that await! All that we can imagine—and more—is possible, if we are willing to act in obedience to the plan of our great God. Such was (and is) the life of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ; an example we can surely follow.

Gifts We Can Give To The Savior

How would this world be if we could never repent? If we could never forget the wrongs we did—intentional or unintended? What about never having the guilt or pain of conscience taken away for our wrongs or misdeeds? If we could never receive forgiveness for past mistakes or errors we would be in an awful, miserable state. A state from which one, who is eternally miserable, can never escape (see 2 Nephi 2:27). But thanks be to God for the gift of His Son!

During this Christmas season, many of us make time to remember the birth of our Savior. For One who has given us more than we can ever repay (see Mosiah 2:21) what can we offer in return? I've thought of a few gifts that we can offer Him. I realize this is an incomplete list, but it's something we can start with.

The Gift of Repenting

King Benjamin taught, 

“[B]elieve that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you” (Mosiah 4:10).

We can choose to repent. 

Merriam-Webster defines repent as “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life” (link to definition). Tad R. Callister defines true repentance as, “a melting, softening, refining process that brings about a mighty change of heart….It is a burning resolve to make amends with God at any cost”. He later states that those who are "repentant [are] those who have given of their spiritual best" (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p178, 311) In Acts we read, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). 

As we look within ourselves we will find things that we can change; if we see nothing wrong within, we can pray to understand where we fall short. As we repent, we are in a position for the arm of forgiveness to be extended by the hand of the Lord. As we reach out and accept His forgiveness, through the power of the Atonement in our lives, we can be healed; wrongs can be righted; our sins can be blotted out; and we can have a renewed hope in life. Tad R. Callister explained,

“His spirit heals; it refines; it comforts; it breathes new life into hopeless hearts. It has the power to transform all that is ugly and vicious and worthless in life to something of supreme and glorious splendor. He has the power to convert the ashes of mortality to the beauties of eternity” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p206).

Let us choose to trust in the Lord’s atoning sacrifice, and the power it has to change us. Let us choose to give the gift of a repentant heart.

The Gift of Using Our Agency

In the Book of Mormon, Amaleki's short remarks include these words, “[C]ome unto Christ…and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him” (Omni 1:26, emphasis added)—our soul, comprised of both body and spirit. Offering our whole souls would require a commitment of heart, mind and strength; demanding physical and spiritual effort. It isn't something that can be done over the weekend, or even within a year's time. It is the quest of a lifetime.

In the scriptures we can read examples of people who have had dramatic experiences in which they turned their whole souls over to the Lord, and never looked back (Alma the Younger and the Apostle Paul come to mind). There are also others who were already being obedient and line upon line, precept upon precept, they continued in righteousness (Nephi and Joseph Smith, for example). Whether dramatically or little-by-little, all of these individuals (and many more) had numerous trials and tribulations in their mortal lives—but all of them made the choices that would bless them in the eternities. We can choose to do the same. In his direct way, Elder Maxwell admonishes us to choose to follow the Savior now:

“Joshua didn’t say choose you next year whom you will serve; he spoke of ‘this day,’ while there is still daylight and before the darkness becomes more and more normal. 

“When Jesus called his first disciples, the scriptures record that they left their ships and nets ‘straightway.’ They didn’t ask to join Jesus after the fishing season; they didn’t even delay their response in order to make just one more catch. They left ‘straightway’! 

“Act, my brothers and sisters, for once the soul is tilted toward belief, and once there is even a desire to believe, then marvelous things begin to happen!” (link to talk).

As we use our agency to act and turn our lives over to the Lord, instead of being acted upon—the natural result of inaction—amazing things can happen. President James E. Faust taught,

“If we will turn to the Lord and believe on His name, we can change. He will give us the power to change our lives, the power to put away bad thoughts and feelings from our hearts. We can be taken from ‘the darkest abyss’ to ‘behold the marvelous light of God’. We can be forgiven. We can find peace” (link to talk).

Everyone has a past that cannot be remade. The only thing we can do is to move forward. By accessing the power of the Atonement in our lives the guilt and frustration of past mistakes can be swept away, and we can begin anew. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be made better. President Faust also taught,

“Each one of us has been given the power to change his or her life. As part of the Lord’s great plan of happiness, we have individual agency to make decisions. We can decide to do better and to be better. In some ways all of us need to change; that is, some of us need to be more kind at home, less selfish, better listeners, and more considerate in the way we treat others. Some of us have habits that need to be changed, habits that harm us and others around us. Sometimes we may need a jolt to propel us into changing” (link to talk).

We may have a shady past, or may have been faithful throughout our lives, or may still be deciding which way we want to go. No matter our state, one thing to remember is that the Lord is not as concerned with where we have been, as He is with the direction that we are heading. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland counseled, 

“My beloved brothers and sisters, to those of you who have been blessed by the gospel for many years because you were fortunate enough to find it early, to those of you who have come to the gospel by stages and phases later, and to those of you—members and not yet members—who may still be hanging back, to each of you, one and all, I testify of the renewing power of God’s love and the miracle of His grace. His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there.

“So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time.…Don’t delay. It’s getting late” (link to talk).

The Gift of Sacrifice 
In the scriptures we read of the Savior being approached by a wealthy young man who asks Him what he can do to have eternal life. Jesus replied,

"Thou knowest the commandments...

"And [the wealthy young man] answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

"Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

"And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions" (Mark 10:19-22).

In our own lives we may be asked to do something hard, something that will test our commitment to the Lord. Many times the hardest things to give up are those things that we don't want to change within ourselves.

The Lord has commanded, “Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (Doctrine & Covenants 59:8). To be contrite means to show sincere sorrow or remorse. The Apostle Paul taught of having our hearts softened (perhaps broken) insomuch that they can be penetrated. The law of the Lord is not something we just need to have memorized, or have written in stone, “but  [written] in [the] fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3). 

In order to truly sacrifice, we must humble ourselves enough to recognize our weakness and errors, and want to change. This willingness to change will allow our hearts to be softened, and become open to the whisperings of the Spirit, which will teach us "all things what [we] should do" (2 Nephi 32:5).

During His mortal ministry the Savior invited, 

“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:34-36).

To some it may be a great sacrifice to get out of comfort zones, letting go of pride, putting aside our own desires, or trusting in the Lord when we don't fully understand. Still to others it may be the act of selfless serving that is hard. Whatever challenges we are faced with in this life, we will be tried to see if we will put the Lord first above everything and everyone else in our lives. Just as we are "immediately" blessed (Mosiah 2:24) by doing everything the Lord asks of us, putting Him first is not without benefit. President Ezra Taft Benson counseled, 

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities" (link to talk).

The end result of all that we do on this earth is not to gain the glory or riches of the world, but to live in such a manner that we may return to live eternally with our Father in Heaven again. What truly matters in life is our willingness to trust in Him, and do what He asks. By so doing we will be blessed in this world, but more so in the world to come.

Occasionally we can ask ourselves is if we are looking forward, as Alma asked, “with an eye of faith…to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?” (Alma 5: 15). Or, as Elder Neal A. Maxwell asked, if our hearts are “so set [upon the things of the world that] they must first be broken” (link to talk)?

To sacrifice means giving up something we want now for something better later. Elder Maxwell also said, “the submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar” (link to talk). Sacrifice isn’t intended to be easy—it is meant to stretch and refine us. Elder Richard G. Scott explained, “We were taught in the premortal world that our purpose in coming here is to be tested, tried, and stretched” (link to talk). David, in the Book of Psalms, teaches, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart” (Psalms 51:17). And, Tad R. Callister reminded us that, “sacrifices in and of themselves are meaningless. They are not an end. They become purposeful only if they serve to focus the mind and heart of the giver upon the Savior’s atoning sacrifice” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p280).

When we have our hearts in the right place—focusing our mind and heart on the Savior's sacrifice—is when we can truly offer a worthy sacrifice. May we take the first step by giving Him the gift of our trust; trust enough to sacrifice. 

Our Gift of Time

Throughout the scriptures we can find examples of those who have diligently spent their time and become so converted unto the Lord that they are confident in their standing with Him. One story that stands out in my mind is the story of Ammon. Ammon and his brothers had been converted unto the Lord and went to teach a ferocious and blood thirsty people—the Lamanites.

Ammon ends up as a servant to King Lamoni and is helping the king’s servants tend sheep. Other Lamanites come and scatter the sheep of the king. Apparently this has happened before and the servants are scared because they know they will be killed. Ammon “flattered them by his words, saying: My brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in search of the flocks” (Alma 17:31). They gathered the flocks and the Lamanites came again to scatter them. 

“[B]ut Ammon said unto his brethren: Encircle the flocks round about that they flee not; and I go and contend with these men who do scatter our flocks.

“Therefore, they did as Ammon commanded them, and he went forth and stood to contend with those who stood by the waters of Sebus; and they were in number not a few” (Alma 17:33-34). 

Ammon’s father had been given a promise, by the Lord, that none of his sons would die while teaching the Lamanites (see Mosiah 28:7). Ammon had such confidence in the Lord, and His promise, that he was not at all daunted by the number of opposing—and not a few—Lamanites: he killed “a certain number of them” with his sling, killed their leader with his sword, “and he smote off as many of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few”. After killing several of the Lamanites there were also others that “began to flee before [Ammon]; yea, and they were not few in number” (see Alma 17:36-38). 

How did he gain such confidence in the Lord? We read that Ammon and his brothers, 

“had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

“But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God” (Alma 17:2-3).

They searched the scriptures diligently, and had prayed and fasted much, then they did their best to act on those things they believed. It was through devoting their time to the seemingly small and simple things (that all of us have been asked to do) that they gained confidence in the Lord; and their standing before Him. We can gain that same trust and confidence by following their example. Then, when the challenges come into our lives, we will be able to move forward, acting in confidence. Elder David A. Bednar taught,

“In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon, and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, ‘Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God’” (link to talk).

We don’t know very much about the early years of our Savior’s life on this earth, but we do know that He “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom” (Luke 2:40). His wisdom came from applying the teachings He learned in such a perfect way that He gained  understanding (see Mosiah 12:27). James E. Talmage gave this insight,

“[T]he Boy was well taught in the law and the scriptures…He garnered knowledge by study, and gained wisdom by prayer, thought, and effort” (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p106).

May we strive to do the same, by offering the gift of our time—time to learn of His ways, time to ponder, time to become the best we can be. May we choose to act now in bettering our ways and becoming more converted unto the Lord. None of us know when the Savior will come again, and none of us know when the end of our probationary state will be. May we decide today to be ready for when our probationary state ends. Elder Maxwell advised,

“There are reasons for your commitment to be made now, for as the rush of hours, days, and months grows stronger, the will to commit grows weaker….

“Act now, so that a thousand years from now, when you look back at this moment, you can say this was a moment that mattered—this was a day of determination….

“[F]or it will never be easier to do than it is now” (link to talk).

Ours is the challenge to overcome the natural man. It will be a daily struggle, even (and sometimes especially) after we  choose to follow the Savior. As we learn to rely on the power of His Atonement we truly can become like Him. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, 

“God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we are not. Each day, ours is the challenge to access the power of the Atonement so that we can truly change, become more Christlike, and qualify for the gift of exaltation and live eternally with God, Jesus Christ, and our families” (link to talk).

Our Gift of Accepting His Sacrifice

The last gift I thought of is the gift of accepting His offering to us—shown through our willingness to repent and to follow Him. Each week as we partake of the sacrament we covenant to remember Him, and to stand as His witness. As we keep this covenant we are showing our willingness to accept His Atonement in our behalf. Tad R. Callister taught,

“The atoning sacrifice of Christ, and our full acceptance of it, is the spiritual antidote that heals the wounded soul. It is such an antidote that replaces despair with hope, darkness with light, and turmoil with peace” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p203).

In the concluding chapter of the Book of Mormon, Moroni exhorts us to remember the Lord's mercy, to gain a testimony and become converted ourselves, and to deny not the power nor the gifts of God (see Moroni 10). He then invites us to come unto Christ.

“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” (Moroni 10:32).

At this time of year, when we remember the birth of the Savior, may we offer the gift of our agency to repent; our gift of time to become converted; and our gift of a broken heart and contrite spirit to willingly come unto Him and accept of His offering for us. As we do this we will come to know Him, and will be prepared for whatever lies ahead, knowing we have Him by our side. 

Blessed, Honored Pioneers

On July 24^th, 1847 the first group of Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. Also fleeing persecution, many others followed in the days, months and years after. Many of the pioneers faced severe trials and hardship. Hearts ached for the suffering of those who survived, and for those who died along the way. Throughout their trials their hope remained steadfast, because through their extremities they came to know God. Through the challenges they faced they learned more and more “the dealings of the Lord" (Mosiah 10:14). 

During this time of year the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remember and honor these pioneers, and their own pioneer heritage – whether they are the first in their family to join the Church, have ancestors who crossed the plains, or anything in between. My husband and I both have ancestors who crossed the plains and I would like to share a few of their stories; stories of faith, the power of prayer, and sacrifice.

The first story is one of faith. David [Crockett] lived with his parents in Vinal Haven Maine where he was introduced to the restored Gospel by Elder Wilford Wodruff, later President of the Church. The following is about David, his wife, Lydia Young, and their family.

“The family felt the urge to join the main body of they Church. The relatives and friends that couldn't accept the gospel at that time made it quite miserable for them….David and his family left their loved ones and their home and traveled to Ohio to join the church members there, but they were already leaving and coming to Nauvoo; so they came on to Nauvoo, Ill….The family was there two years and were eye-witnesses to, and sharers of the manifold hardships that were endured on church members…On [4 July 1949] they left for Salt Lake Valley….They came in the Williard Richards Company. 'The company moved on over the sandy deserts, each day traveling as fast as possible to reach the nearest place of water and then often either not finding any or finding it so muddy they couldn't use it. When it was a necessity to use it they would use their precious oatmeal and boil the muddy water in it so the mud would settle to the bottom--then they would make "Mormon tea" from the water on top. This tea was made with the water and a little milk or cream and sweetened with honey or sugar. They experienced hunger, cold, heat, sorrow, and gladness. It was a very weary journey, often they would pass many strange and awful sights--such as burial grounds of the saints, and demolished cabins. Then they would be afraid to sing around the campfire at night or play games to keep their spirits up, or even do much cooking, for fear the Indians would see their smoke from the fires and raid them. Their shoes were completely worn out from walking. Sometimes they would only get to rest and ride on the wagon tongue for a short period. There was one particular time along the way that they had traveled so far without finding water that the people all became so discouraged that finally when they stopped to look around again for signs of water, Lydia went off by herself to pray, and she prayed in all sincerity that they might be directed to a place where they could find water. She pled with the Lord and told him she knew that he knew how badly they were in need of water. When she rose from her knees she felt light-hearted and she knew her prayers were about to be answered. She walked a short distance from where she had been kneeling and called to the men to bring her a shovel and she could direct them where to find water. They were all amazed but followed her instructions and soon struck a small spring of water. Everyone was rejoicing and thanking their Heavenly Father for this modern day miracle. The spring was marked and all the Saints coming along that trail were able to get water.” (Donna Hopkins Scott, "The Crockett Family", p 14c-d [link to digital version])

Remembering to call upon the name of the Lord and through her faith Lydia was able to bless those who were with her, and the many people who followed afterwards.

The rescue story of Ephraim Hanks, another ancestor, is not easily forgotten. In the summer of 1856 several handcart companies left Ohio for the Salt Lake Valley. They arrived in September of that same year. There were two companies, however, (the Willie and Martin handcart companies) that didn’t leave until August. Some advised them to stay and wait until the next year, but many of the people in the companies wanted to move on. And they did.

In October of that year Brigham Young learned that there were pioneers still on the plains. Following is the address he gave in General Conference:

“I will now give this people the subject and the text of the Elders who may speak to-day and during the conference. It is this. On the 5th day of October, 1856, many of our brethren and sisters are on the plains with handcarts, and probably many are now seven hundred miles from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. The text will be, 'to get them here.' I want the brethren who may speak to understand that their text is the people on the plains. And the subject matter for this community is to send for them and bring them in before winter set in.

“That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess. It is to save the people. This is the salvation I am now seeking for. To save our brethren that would be apt to perish, or suffer extremely, if we do not send them assistance.” (link to article)

Many wagons filled with food and supplies were sent to help. Ephraim at this time was at a conference several miles south of Salt Lake City, not arriving in Salt Lake City until late October. Andrew Jensen, an acquaintance of Ephraim, relates the following:

“This account of the handcart rescue is given by Ephraim K. Hanks himself….He related to me the following…

“Being somewhat fatigued after the day’s journey. I retired to rest quite early, and while I still lay wide awake in my bed I heard a voice calling me by name, and then saying: ‘The handcart people are in trouble and you are wanted; will you go and help them?’

“I turned instinctively in the direction from whence the voice came and beheld an ordinary sized man in the room. Without hesitation I answered, ‘Yes, I will go if I am called.’

“I then turned around to go to sleep, but had laid only a few minutes when the voice called a second time, repeating almost the same words as on the first occasion. My answer was the same as before. This was repeated a third time.

“When I got up the next morning I said to Brother Brown, ‘The handcart people are in trouble, and I have promised to go out and help them;’ but I did not tell him of my experiences during the night.”

He then hurried to Salt Lake City, arriving on October 20^th. They were asking for more volunteers to help the stranded handcart companies.

“When some of the brethren responded by explaining that they could get ready to start in a few days, I spoke out at once saying, ‘I am ready now!’ The next day I was wending my way eastward over the mountains with a light wagon all alone.”

“The terrific storm which caused the immigrants so much suffering and loss overtook me near the South Pass, [it] was simply awful….I have seen no worse. When at length the snow ceased falling, it lay on the ground so deep that for many days it was impossible to move wagons through it.

“Being deeply concerned about the possible fate of the immigrants, and feeling anxious to learn of their condition, I determined to start out on horseback to meet them…and began to make my way slowly through the snow alone.”

He met some of the relief parties that had helped the Willie Handcart Company and were returning to Salt Lake to report of the conditions they had witnessed. About 5 more days into the journey, on November 10, he continues:

“As I was preparing to make a bed in the snow with the few articles that my pack animal carried for me, I thought how comfortable a buffalo robe would be on such an occasion, and also how I could relish a little buffalo meat for supper, and before lying down for the night I was instinctively led to ask the Lord to send me a buffalo. Now, I am a firm believer in the efficacy of prayer, for I have on many different occasions asked the Lord for blessings, which He in His mercy has bestowed upon me. But when I, after praying as I did on that lonely night in the South Pass, looked around me and spied a buffalo bull within fifty yards of my camp, my surprise was complete; I had certainly not expected so immediate an answer to my prayer. However, I soon collected myself and was not at a loss to know what to do. Taking deliberate aim at the animal, my first shot brought him down, he made a few jumps only, and then rolled down into the very hollow where I was encamped. I was soon busily engaged skinning my game, finishing which, I spread the hide on the snow and placed my bed upon it. I next prepared supper, eating tongue and other choice parts of the animal I had killed, to my heart’s content….

“Early the next morning I was on my way again, and soon reached what is known as the Ice Springs Bench. There I happened upon a herd of buffalo, and killed a nice cow. I was impressed to do this, although I did not know why until a few hours later, but the thought occurred to my mind that the hand of the Lord was in it, as it was a rare thing to find buffalo herds around that place at this late part of the season. I skinned and dressed the cow; then cut up part of its meat in long strips, and loaded both my horses with it. Thereupon I resumed my journey, and traveled on till towards evening. I think the sun was about an hour high in the west when I spied something in the distance that looked like a black streak in the snow. As I got near to it, I perceived it moved; then I was satisfied that this was the long looked for hand-cart company, led by Captain Edward Martin. I reached the ill-fated train just as the immigrants were camping for the night. The sight that met my gaze as I entered their camp can never be erased from my memory. The starved forms and haggard countenances of the poor sufferers, as they moved about slowly, shivering with cold, to prepare their scanty evening meal, was enough to touch the stoutest heart. When they saw me coming, they hailed me with joy inexpressible, and when they further beheld the supply of fresh meat I brought into their camp, their gratitude knew no bounds….

“A prophecy had been made by one of the brethren that the company should feast on buffalo meat, when their provisions might run short; my arrival in their camp, loaded with meat, was the beginning of the fulfillment of that prediction; but only the beginning, as I afterwards shot and killed a number of buffalo for them as we journeyed along.”

The account continues with stories of miraculous healings. Ephraim continues,

“Truly the Lord was with me and others of His servants who labored faithfully together with me in that day of trial and suffering…. In scores of instances, when we administered to the sick, and rebuked the diseases in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sufferers would rally at once; they were healed almost instantly. I believe I administered to several hundreds in a single day; and I could give names of many whose lives were saved by the power of God.”

Despite all the help the Martin Company received, many of the saints suffered from freezing limbs – and some losing them. Courage to keep moving on, despite the difficulty, was still required for these pioneers to survive.

“Soon more relief companies were met and as fast as the baggage was transferred into the wagons, the hand carts were abandoned one after another, until none were left.

“I remained with the immigrants until the last of Captain Martin’s company arrived in Salt Lake City on the thirtieth of November, 1856.” (link to account)

Ephraim Hanks was a great example of obedience, courage, and faith, and because of his help (and the help of numerous other rescuers) many of the pioneers were able to make it to the Salt Lake valley. The pioneers, themselves, had to continue pressing forward in faith despite the physical, emotional, spiritual, weather, and other challenges they faced.

Another ancestor, John Tanner, is an example of great faith and humility. This version of the story is the one recorded by my mother.

“The following was taken from my third great-grandfather’s John Tanner’s biography, it tells that he had a painful disease, which he was told, was incurable, in fact its character was unknown by the medical fraternity. His left leg from the thigh down was covered with black sores through which the muscles of the limb had formed into hollow tubes projecting outwards to the surface, and it was continuously oozing.

“He employed seven of the most eminent physicians in the country, but he received no relief. The last one, Dr. Black, frankly told him that he could keep running up a medical bill, but he was beyond the reach of medicine.

“For six months Grandfather Tanner had neither let his diseased limb hang down nor his foot touch the floor. He had to keep it at a right angle with his body and resting on a pillow. But his mind was active. Knowing his days were limited he decided he would spend the rest of his days doing good for his fellow men. He had a cart constructed that would hold his leg straight out in front of him so he could get around.

“Early in September 1832, (it was in March 1832 Jared Carter was sent on his mission [see Doctrine & Covenants 79]). There was a circular sent out that two Mormon missionaries would be preaching not far from John Tanner’s home. He was very well versed in the Bible, and he thought this was an excellent opportunity to help his fellow men, by disproving any heresy that he thought these Mormons were propounding. An hour before the meeting he arrived and took his place directly in front of the Elders so he could heckle them, sincerely believing they were impostors. They missionaries were Simeon and Jared Carter. Long before the discourses were over a wonderful change came over the mind of Mr. Tanner. After the meeting was over he invited them over to his home where he talked to them until eleven o’clock. He then told the missionaries that he was ready to be baptized, but he could not receive the ordinance. When they asked him why, he said “because of my lameness.” He explained that he had not put his foot to the floor for six months and there was no way he could do so now.

“Simeon Carter asked him if he did not think there was power in the Gospel of Jesus Christ anciently to heal all kinds of illnesses, to which he said yes. He then asked him if the Lord performed miracles then why could he not heal now. Mr. Tanner said he had never thought of it in that light. But yes he thought the Lord could heal him. Whereupon Elder Jared Carter demanded him in the name of Jesus Christ, to arise and walk. “I arose threw away my crutches, walked the floor back and forth, praised God and felt as light as a feather” was the way he described the event.

“That night he walked three-quarters of a mile to Lake George and was baptized by Simeon Carter. Walking back he gave thanks to God for his complete restoration to health.”

In a box containing many family documents, my grandmother found another story about John Tanner, and the sacrifice he was willing to make for the Lord's kingdom.

“In the fall of [1834, John Tanner] sold his two large farms and twenty-two hundred acres of timber land preparatory to moving to Missouri the coming spring. About the middle of December, he received an impression by dream or vision of the night, that he was needed and must go immediately to the Church in the west. He told his family of the instructions he had received and forthwith made preparations for the journey. While his neighbors regarded what they considered an insane purpose on his part, they did their utmost to dissuade him, but he knew the will of God in the present crisis and nothing could deter him from what he considered his duty. On Christmas day he commenced his journey, a distance of 500 miles, with all his earthly effects and in the dead of winter. He reached Kirtland about the 20^th day of January 1835. On his arrival there, he learned that at the time her received the impression, that he must move immediately to the body of the Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith and some of the other brethren met in prayer meeting and asked the Lord to send them a brother or some brethren with means to assist them in lifting the mortgage on the farm upon which the [Kirtland] Temple was being built. On the second day of his arrival in Kirtland, by invitation of the Prophet, John Tanner and his son Sidney met with the High Council, where he was informed the mortgage on the temple block was about to be foreclosed. Thereupon he loaned the Prophet $2,000, and took the Prophet’s note at interest [which he never redeemed, and gave back to Joseph in April 1844]. With this amount, the block or farm was redeemed. Mr. Tanner also loaned to the Temple Committee…$13,000 in merchandise, and took their note…This amount and that loaned the Prophet were not included in his liberal donations to the building of the temple. He also signed a note with the Prophet Joseph Smith and others for $30,000 of goods, in which he had no pecuniary [monetary] interest…His openheartedness was a very striking proof of his confidence in the Prophet and in the validity and importance of the work he had embraced.”

I found it interesting to read the “rest of the story” from his son, Nathan’s, record – found in the same box.

“This left father without anything….Father and family left Kirtland with a borrowed team, and had only one old broken down stage horse, and an old turn pile cart, and keg of powder, and $7.50 in cash.”

John Tanner was willing to sacrifice all of his worldly goods to help build up the Lord’s kingdom. When he returned the note to Joseph Smith in April 1844, we see more of his generosity, and the blessings that came to him, and his posterity, because of it.

“The Prophet asked him what he wanted done with [the note]. ‘Brother Joseph, you are welcome to it.’ The prophet then laid his hands heavily on Elder Tanner’s shoulders saying, ‘God bless, Father Tanner, your children shall never beg for bread.’”

My last story is a very simple one, as recorded by my grandmother. Not as detailed as the others, but really touched me. I think it was the example of love and sacrifice they made to remember their ancestry.

“Jane Zerilda Baker…came to Utah with her older sister Mary Rosina, and Father in the Amasa M. Lyman Co. 19 Oct 1848 when she was eleven years old.

“Just before Mother died she gave me a pickle dish, and told me it was the last piece of the set of dishes that came from England, that belonged to my Great Grandmother. In spite of the crowded wagon, her Dad must have brought this special set of dishes all the way across the plains for Zerilda.”

Many, many others crossed the plains. Many, many others are the first members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lattter-day Saints in their family. Be it what it may, we are all modern-day pioneers with an unknown future ahead of us. President James E. Faust said,

“As modern-day pioneers looking to the future, we must be willing to go into the unknown, having the same confidence and commitment in following [the Prophet] and the other constituted authorities of the Church.

“Believing involves faith and good works. We cannot be passive; we must actively avoid evil.” (link to talk)

Life is not easy, and isn't meant to be, but we can still find hope and peace amidst the storms. We need to actively follow the Lord. We need to build unwavering faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, and in His Prophet. Elder Russell M. Nelson says the following about having faith for the future.

“Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord ‘shall suffer persecution.’ That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.” (link to talk)

President Boyd K. Packer gives up hope for these perilous times in which we live, also referring to Paul’s prophecy of the last days.

“In Paul’s revelation [2 Timothy 3:1-7], in addition to the list of challenges and problems, he also tells us what we can do to protect ourselves:

‘Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

‘And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.’

“The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual protection. They contain the doctrine and laws and ordinances that will bring each child of God to a testimony of Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer.” (link to talk)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland expounds a little deeper on the importance of the scriptures in our day; specifically the Book of Mormon.

“The Savior warned that in the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth. If we think of this as a form of spiritual destruction, it may cast light on another latter-day prophecy. Think of the heart as the figurative center of our faith, the poetic location of our loyalties and our values; then consider Jesus’s declaration that in the last days ‘men’s hearts [shall fail] them.’…

“Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: ‘Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived’—and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you.” (link to talk)

As we strive to follow the Prophet on the earth, daily immerse ourselves in the Book of Mormon, daily pray individually and as a family, paying our tithing, and other things as we have been counseled, we will be blessed. As we “always remember Him”, the Lord can grant “his spirit to be with [us]” (see Doctrine & Covenants 20:77) to guide us in the path of safety and peace, as we move forward on our own pioneer journey into the unknown.