Let's Discuss: "Our Campfire of Faith," by Gerrit W. Gong

"Our Campfire of Faith"

By Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Saturday afternoon session, 6 October 2018

Hymn recommendations:
81  Press Forward, Saints
97  Lead, Kindly Light

One-sentence Synopsis:
Focus on the "campfire" of your faith until the "dawn" of faith comes or returns.

Favorite quote:

When righteous patterns and spiritual yearnings join, time and eternity come together. Spiritual light and life come when regular religious observance draws us closer to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we love the spirit and letter of the law, the things of eternity can distill upon our souls like the dews from heaven. With daily obedience and refreshing living water, we find answers, faith, and strength to meet everyday challenges and opportunities with gospel patience, perspective, and joy.

Something to put on the board:

As we face the light and warmth of a campfire, we leave the darkness and uncertainty behind us.

Talk and Discussion:
(Emphasis in original except where text size is changed.)

I am glad I took the opportunity to analyze this conference talk.  When I first listened to it, I didn't quite understand why the "campfires of faith" were "encouraging us" to various things.  I did not really follow the analogy, or felt I missed something, although there were good messages interspersed.  On a closer examination, I found the key to unlocking the talk, so I'm going to go ahead and put that first, then get into the talk in order.

As we painted, we talked about faith—how as we face the light and warmth of a campfire, we leave the darkness and uncertainty behind us—how on sometimes long, lonely nights, our campfire of faith can give hope and assurance. And the dawn does come. Our campfire of faith—our memories, experiences, and heritage of faith in God’s goodness and tender mercies in our life—has strengthened us through the night.

There is the key.  The campfire of faith is what we can choose to focus on, to put darkness and uncertainty behind us - it is our hope and assurance as we patiently await the "dawn."  Once I understood this, Elder Gong's talk became more powerful and even artistic.  He will mention 5 ways our campfire of faith can encourage us, and each of these ways seems to build on the previous - which reminded me of Doctrine & Covenants 50:24  "24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day."  I think this "perfect day" is the same as the "dawn of faith" Elder Gong will urge us to seek.

One other thought before we dive in, and that is - not long after this talk, there was a literal "Camp Fire" - the name given to a wildfire that started near the Camp River in California, which devastated the city of Paradise, California.  I had to wonder at least for a moment if Elder Gong was being prophetic.  The painting, with its oranges and yellows, even almost looks like some of the pictures of the event.  I will probably watch his future talks a little, to see if a pattern emerges.  I just wanted to point it out here, because it's my blog.  ;)  Now, let us begin.

Dear brothers and sisters, isn’t it marvelous to receive continuing revelation from heaven through President Russell M. Nelson and our Church leaders that invites us to live in new and holier ways,1 at home and at church, with all our heart, mind, and strength?

Many speakers in Oct 2018 quoted from Russell M. Nelson from the previous conference.  Elder Gong is pointing out in particular the invitation to live in new and holier ways, which goes right along with the campfire of faith encouraging us "brighter and brighter."  What other invitations have we been given to live in new and holier ways?  You might think of Come Follow Me the new home study curriculum, or the new 2-hour Sunday block of church to encourage, the emphasis to make an appointment at the temple with the Lord, or invitations to abstain from social media, or read the Book of Mormon daily.  Missionaries can now text or phone home every P-day.  There are new types of missions where missionaries serve without leaving home.  President Nelson has even hinted that there will be more changes and invitations in the future.  Who else is excited for conference in April?!

Have you ever had opportunity to do something for which you felt unprepared or inadequate but that you were blessed for trying?

He will come back to this, so consider it now.  What comes to your mind?  This may be how growth works at its finest.

I have. Here’s one example.

Some years ago, Elder Richard G. Scott, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, kindly invited, “Gerrit, would you like to watercolor with me?”

Elder Scott said painting helped him observe and create. He has written: “Attempt to be creative, even if the results are modest. … Creativity can engender a spirit of gratitude for life and for what the Lord has woven into your being. … If you choose wisely, it doesn’t have to absorb a lot of time.”2

I like this idea of observing and creating.  What helps you observe and create?  I love to play the piano, and in a sense, create consonant sound waves where there was none.  I love to create these blog posts.  They organize my thoughts on general conference and other scripture insights.  That is creation.  I strengthen family relationships through loving, nurturing, and serving my family - that creates tighter family bonds.  In our "consumer" culture, we often have to be creative looking for creative outlets, where we are creating instead of consuming.  God's way is of creation - out of matter unorganized, order.  The adversary destroys and breaks apart into disorder or chaos.  We have a divine ability and desire to create.  We can be inspired by observing, and in creating, we can honor the Lord's creations.  The next few paragraphs are some quotes on artistic creation.

President Henry B. Eyring describes his artistic meditations as motivated by “a feeling of love,” including “the love of a Creator who expects His children to become like Him—to create and to build.”3 President Eyring’s creative works provide a “unique, spiritual perspective on testimony and faith.”4

President Boyd K. Packer’s artwork illustrates a fundamental gospel message: “God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all things that are in them, that all nature bears testimony of that divinely directed creation, and that there is [a] complete harmony between nature, science, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.”5

Alma testifies, “All things denote there is a God.”6 Our Primary children sing, “Whenever I hear the song of a bird or look at the blue, blue sky, … I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world Heav’nly Father created for me.”7 Author Victor Hugo celebrates the “miraculous relationships between beings and things; in this inexhaustible whole, from sun to aphid. … All the birds that fly hold the thread of eternity in their claws. … A nebula is an anthill of stars.”8

And that brings us back to Elder Scott’s invitation.

“Elder Scott,” I replied, “I would like to become more observant and creative. I thrill to imagine Heavenly Father paints with billowing clouds and every hue of sky and water. But”—here was a long pause—“Elder Scott,” I said, “I have no skill to watercolor. I worry it may frustrate you to try and teach me.”

Elder Scott smiled and arranged for us to meet. On the appointed day, he prepared the paper, paints, and brushes. He sketched some outlines and helped wet the paper for me.

We used as a model his beautiful watercolor titled Campfire at Sunset. As we painted, we talked about faith—how as we face the light and warmth of a campfire, we leave the darkness and uncertainty behind us—how on sometimes long, lonely nights, our campfire of faith can give hope and assurance. And the dawn does come. Our campfire of faith—our memories, experiences, and heritage of faith in God’s goodness and tender mercies in our life—has strengthened us through the night.

When he mentioned "hope and assurance," I immediately thought of two well-known scriptures on faith (and I'm sure this was a tacit reference to them).  Hope from Alma 32:21 and Assurance from JST Hebrews 11:1

In a classroom setting, I might write down a list of some of the attributes of faith as we reach them.  Here I would add to my FAITH list:

• Leaves darkness and uncertainty behind
• Gives hope and assurance

We will add to this list as we go.

My testimony is—for those who seek, allow, and live for it—the dawn of faith, sometimes gradually, will come or can return. The light will come when we desire and seek it, when we are patient and obedient to God’s commandments, when we are open to God’s grace, healing, and covenants.

What does Elder Gong mean by "the dawn of faith?" I mentioned some of my thoughts on this earlier, that this may be the same as "the perfect day" from Doctrine & Covenants 50:24. The dawn of faith could also be the mighty change of heart (baptism of fire) the Book of Mormon teaches about.  The dawn of faith could also be the Second Comforter, having Jesus Christ manifested to you (for some this happens in life, and for some this happens after they die).

As we began painting, Elder Scott encouraged, “Gerrit, even with one lesson you will paint something you will want to keep and remember.” Elder Scott was right. I treasure the watercolor of our campfire of faith Elder Scott helped me paint. My artistic ability was and remains limited, but the remembrance of our campfire of faith can encourage us in five ways.

In a classroom setting, I might write down the 5 ways as we discuss them.  The only problem with writing his five ways is that they are LONG.  Maybe it would be better to pre-print them and hang them up!  Here's NUMBER 1:

First, our campfire of faith can encourage us to find joy in wholesome creativity.

I really like how Elder Gong brought in creativity to his talk.  It was a new way to think about faith for me.  We do not often think of creativity as an attribute or result of faith, but truly, as we seek to act in faith, we create something with the Spirit, even if it is just within ourselves.  This can also be artistic creation like painting or making music, or it can be something like strengthening a friendship.  It is creation.  It is godly.  It is good.

How does creativity help you leave darkness and uncertainty behind?  Remember these campfires of faith are what bring us through the darkness before the dawn.  Gardening, journaling, coloring with children or the elderly, family history/indexing, all these things are creative (as opposed to destructive) and give us a purpose and allow us to leave some of our struggles behind for a moment, as we focus on the creation of something instead of on despair or disease.  In my Relief Society class today, someone mentioned that one of their elderly relatives in a nursing home enjoys adult coloring books, because it gives her some purpose - something she CAN do, instead of focusing on what she CANNOT.  Creation helps us focus on what we CAN do.  That is huge.

There is joy in imagining, learning, doing worthwhile new things. This is especially true as we deepen faith and trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We cannot love ourselves enough to save ourselves. But Heavenly Father loves us more and knows us better than we love or know ourselves. We can trust the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding.9

We know we need to be going about doing good, acting on our good thoughts, ideas, and promptings.  I just never really thought about this being creation before!  Lovely.  This next bit confused me at first, until I realized he is trying to demonstrate this point

Have you ever been the only one not invited to someone’s birthday party?

Have you ever been chosen last, or not chosen, when teams were selected?

Have you prepared for a school test, a job interview, an opportunity you really wanted—and you felt you failed?

Have you prayed for a relationship that, for whatever reason, has not worked out?

Have you faced chronic illness, been abandoned by a spouse, agonized for family?

Our Savior knows our circumstances. As we exercise God-given agency and engage all our faculties in humility and faith, our Savior, Jesus Christ, can help us meet life’s challenges and joys. Faith includes a desire and choice to believe. Faith also comes from obeying God’s commandments, given to bless us, as we follow His covenant path.

Here we will add to our FAITH list:

• Leaves darkness and uncertainty behind
• Gives hope and assurance
• Includes a desire and choice to believe
• Comes from obeying God's commandments
• Leads us along His covenant path

Our campfire of faith gives us purpose during what may feel like a failure.  We may have to add another log on the fire to get us through.  We may have to consciously choose faith, when doubt and despair desperately tempt us.  Every trial is an opportunity for growth - we may have to come up with new solutions, or new paradigm shifts, or new attitudes ... this is all CREATION again!

When we have felt, or feel, uncertain, alone, frustrated, angry, let down, disappointed, or estranged from God and His restored Church, it may take an extra measure of effort and faith to enter again on His covenant path. But it is worth it! Please come, or come again, unto the Lord Jesus Christ! God’s love is stronger than the cords of death—temporal or spiritual.10 Our Savior’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Each of us strays and falls short. We may, for a time, lose our way. God lovingly assures us, no matter where we are or what we have done, there is no point of no return. He waits ready to embrace us.11

Pausing in my analysis somewhat to point out that here and in the next above quote, Elder Gong references the "covenant path," so beloved by our prophet.  I was almost shocked at how often the "covenant path" was mentioned in Oct 2018 conference, whereas before 2018, it was more rare.  President Oaks gave me a clue that President Nelson often likes to reference the covenant path.  So I almost feel like everyone is picking it up from him, and disseminating it to us.  What a great reminder that we are a covenant people, and there is still path to go.

Now for way NUMBER 2:

Second, our campfire of faith can encourage us to minister in new, higher, and holier Spirit-filled ways.

How does new ministering help us leave darkness and uncertainty behind?  Building on the last campfire encouragement... How does observing and creating help us in MINISTERING?  We no longer have to wonder if we are bugging people, or wait for an assignment.  If we have a prompting, we may act on it without worry of stepping on toes, or thinking someone's home teachers will take care of something, or whatever doubt may creep in.

Such ministering brings miracles and the blessings of covenant belonging—where we feel God’s love and seek to minister to others in that spirit.

Not long ago, Sister Gong and I became acquainted with a father and family blessed by a faithful priesthood brother who came to their bishop and asked if he (the priesthood brother) could be a home teaching companion with the father. The father was not active and not interested in home teaching. But as the father’s heart changed, he and this loving priesthood brother began visiting “their” families. After one such visit, his wife—herself not then attending church—asked her husband how things had gone. The father admitted, “I may have felt something”—then he went to the kitchen to get a beer.12

But one thing followed another: tender experiences, ministering service, changing hearts, temple preparation class, coming to church, being sealed as a family in the holy temple. Imagine how grateful the children and grandchildren are to their father and mother and to the ministering brother who came as a friend and companion with their father to minister to and love others.

I love the example Elder Gong shares above.  In part, I love this, because this was his ministering companion - not his ministering assignment.  There are no limits to our righteous influences.  The brother was observant that this fellow was inactive.  He was creative in asking to be paired with him as a companion.  He may have been more creative in getting him to actually go ministering with him.  Whatever the details, he acted on promptings, and generations are now blessed.

NUMBER 3:

A third campfire of faith encouragement: creative gospel joy and blessings come when we seek to love the Lord and others with all our hearts and souls.

This one even more naturally builds on the last one.  How does higher and holier ministering lead us to greater love for God and others?  How does greater love for the Lord and others help us to leave darkness and uncertainty behind?  When we focus on others, and serve others, our own problems become smaller.  Sometimes they even seem to resolve themselves.  When we focus on love for our Savior, there is nothing we cannot endure.  He will even carry the burden for us.

Someone mentioned in class today was that as our light, or campfire, grows bigger, others are attracted to it, and we are able to nourish others, and encourage others, much as we are nourished and encouraged.

The scriptures invite us to place all we are and are becoming on the altar of love and service. In the Old Testament, Deuteronomy enjoins us to “love the Lord thy God” with all our heart, soul, and might.13 Joshua exhorts, “Love the Lord your God, … walk in all his ways, … keep his commandments, … cleave unto him, and … serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”14

In the New Testament, our Savior states the two great commandments: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, … and thy neighbour as thyself.”15

In the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, King Benjamin labored “with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul” and established peace in the land.16 In the Doctrine and Covenants, as every missionary knows, the Lord asks us to serve Him with all our “heart, might, mind and strength.”17 When the Saints entered Jackson County, the Lord commanded them to keep the Sabbath holy by loving “the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.”18

Interesting that Elder Gong makes a point to share scriptures from various dispensations and quarters of the earth to demonstrate this point.

We rejoice in the invitation to devote our whole souls to seeking higher and holier ways to love God and those around us and to strengthen our faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in our hearts and in our homes and at church.

Do you rejoice in the new invitations the Lord has extended to us through His prophet?  How?  What has changed for you?

Way NUMBER 4:

Fourth, our campfire of faith encourages us to establish regular patterns of righteous living that deepen faith and spirituality.

Wow.  Building from the last point, How does greater love for God and others help us establish regular patterns of righteous living?  I think when we start seeing the good we can do, when we experience being an instrument in the hands of God, we will desire more of it.  We will desire to dedicate our lives more wholly to His cause, to be worthy of His Spirit at all times, etc.  I also think that the world will lose its hold on us more and more.  For example, a tv show that maybe we used to enjoy will start to make us cringe.  We may start to recognize more the negative influences that we can root out of our lives, such as toxic relationships, or negative social media friends that drag others down.  I think we will spend more time with the Lord, taking time to be holy with Him every morning and(/or?) evening.

How do regular patterns of righteous living help us leave darkness and uncertainty behind?

These holy habits, righteous routines, or prayerful patterns may include prayer; scripture study; fasting; remembering our Savior and covenants through the ordinance of the sacrament; sharing gospel blessings through missionary, temple and family history, and other service; keeping a thoughtful personal journal; and so on.

When righteous patterns and spiritual yearnings join, time and eternity come together. Spiritual light and life come when regular religious observance draws us closer to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we love the spirit and letter of the law, the things of eternity can distill upon our souls like the dews from heaven.19 With daily obedience and refreshing living water, we find answers, faith, and strength to meet everyday challenges and opportunities with gospel patience, perspective, and joy.

Righteous patterns and spiritual yearnings - this reminds me of greater obedience (also known as observance) and greater creativity.

How can we love the spirit and letter of the law?  What does that even mean?  It is choosing the right for the right reasons.  It is joyfully obeying and trusting the Lord.

Now for point NUMBER 5.  You can see Elder Gong tying several together here:

Fifth, as we keep the best of familiar patterns while seeking new and holier ways to love God and help us and others prepare to meet Him, our campfire of faith can encourage us to remember perfection is in Christ, not in ourselves or in the perfectionism of the world.

How can regular patterns of righteous living help us remember that perfection is in Christ?  These patterns should help us focus on Him.  Everything that is good persuadeth to believe in Christ, right? (Moroni 7:16).

How can remembering that perfection is in Christ help us leave darkness and uncertainty behind?  Add your comments below.  I love the idea that we are not alone.  He will help us as much as He can (which is often as much as we will let Him - He respects our agency highly).  Not only are we not alone, we cannot make it alone.  We are a fallen people, and need a Savior.  He is the best Savior we could ask for.  He is a good Savior.  He is kind.  He is praiseworthy.  He is Love.

God’s invitations are full of love and possibility because Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life.”20 To those who feel burdened, He invites, “Come unto me,” and to those who come to Him, He promises, “I will give you rest.”21 “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, … 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.”22

In this assurance “by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” is also the comfort, peace, and promise that we can continue forward with faith and confidence in the Lord even when things do not go as we hope, expect, or perhaps deserve, through no fault of our own, even after we have done our best.

Now we're coming back to Elder Gong's initial question:

In various times and ways, we all feel inadequate, uncertain, perhaps unworthy. Yet in our faithful efforts to love God and to minister to our neighbor, we may feel God’s love and needed inspiration for their and our lives in new and holier ways.

With compassion, our Savior encourages and promises we can “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.”23 The doctrine of Christ, our Savior’s Atonement, and our whole-souled following of His covenant path can help us know His truths and make us free.24

I testify the fulness of His gospel and His plan of happiness are restored and taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in holy scripture, and by prophets from the Prophet Joseph Smith to President Russell M. Nelson today. I testify His covenant path leads to the greatest gift our loving Heavenly Father promises: “Ye shall have eternal life.”25

May His blessings and enduring joy be ours as we warm our hearts and hopes and commitment at our campfire of faith, I pray in the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Let's Discuss: "Choose You This Day," by Dale G. Renlund

"Choose You This Day"

By Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Sunday afternoon session, October 7, 2018



Hymn recommendations:
117  Come Unto Jesus
239  Choose the Right
240  Know This, That Every Soul Is Free

Favorite quote:

"So, choose faith in Christ; choose repentance; choose to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost; choose to conscientiously prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; choose to make covenants in the temple; and choose to serve the living God and His children.  Our choices determine who we are and who we will become."

Something to put on the board:

"Our choices determine who we are and who we will become." - Dale G. Renlund

One-sentence synopsis:
Choose the right for the right reason - because we are becoming like Christ.

Talk and Discussion
(emphasis in original except colors and text-size changes)
Elder Renlund begins his talk with some quotes from "Mary Poppins."  There are 3 points he is going to use to make comparisons, so I colored them, Red, Orange, and Green, along with their counterparts.

The fictional character Mary Poppins is a typical English nanny—who happens to be magical.1 She blows in on the east wind to help the troubled Banks family of Number 17, Cherry Tree Lane, in Edwardian London. She is given charge of the children, Jane and Michael. In a firm but kind manner, she begins to teach them valuable lessons with an enchanting touch.

Jane and Michael make considerable progress, but Mary decides that it is time for her to move on. In the stage production, Mary’s chimney sweep friend, Bert, tries to dissuade her from leaving. He argues, “But they’re good kids, Mary.”

Mary replies, “Would I be bothering with them if they weren’t? But I can’t help them if they won’t let me, and there’s no one so hard to teach as the child who knows everything.”

Bert asks, “So?”

Mary answers, “So they’ve got to do the next bit on their own.”2

Brothers and sisters, like Jane and Michael Banks, we are “good kids” who are worth bothering about. Our Heavenly Father wants to help and bless us, but we do not always let Him. Sometimes, we even act as if we already know everything. And we too need to do “the next bit” on our own. That is why we came to earth from a premortal, heavenly home. Our “bit” involves making choices.

How do we know that we are "good kids" worth bothering about?  Our doctrine teaches that we are children of God, and that we lived premortally, and agreed to come to the Earth, which was created for us.

How is it that we do not always let Heavenly Father help and bless us?  Some answers I thought of were pride, shame, and false beliefs.  Can you think of some examples?

How can we "let" Heavenly Father help and bless us more?  This might involve more sincere prayer - inviting Him in.  It may also involve a change of perspective:  For example, the Pharisees believed they were "whole" - Christ (the Physician) came to help not the whole, but the sick.  We may have to acknowledge our nothingness, our daily dependence on the Lord.  I think part of the reason we study the Fall of Adam so often is to remind us that we are fallen - none of us can make it alone; we need our Savior.

That said, how are we "alone" on earth? and how are we never alone?  Elder Renlund will go into this later, but we can consider our separation from our heavenly home and veil of forgetfulness as a way of being alone

Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him. If He simply wanted us to be obedient, He would use immediate rewards and punishments to influence our behaviors.

This is the difference once again between Father's plan and Lucifer's.  It is not enough to choose right - it is to choose right because we want to choose right - for the right reason - because we are becoming like Christ.

But God is not interested in His children just becoming trained and obedient “pets” who will not chew on His slippers in the celestial living room.3 No, God wants His children to grow up spiritually and join Him in the family business.

I really liked footnote 3.  I'm going to quote part of it here:  "I want men and women that are strong because it is right to be strong. I don’t want weaklings who are righteous only because they have to be righteous."  Why is it such a test to choose righteousness?

What pattern does this form of parenting set for us as mortal parents?  Does our discipline align with Heavenly Father's teaching our children to choose right because they want to choose right?

God established a plan whereby we can become heirs in His kingdom, a covenant path that leads us to become like Him, have the kind of life He has, and live forever as families in His presence.4 Personal choice was—and is—vital to this plan, which we learned about in our premortal existence. We accepted the plan and chose to come to earth.

The phrase "covenant path" was in many, many conference talks last October.  I plan to put all the references together in a future blogpost.  I just wanted to point it out here.  Here, Elder Renlund equates the covenant path to the plan of salvation, as it involves covenants we make along the way.

To ensure that we would exercise faith and learn to use our agency properly, a veil of forgetfulness was drawn over our minds so we would not remember God’s plan. Without that veil, God’s purposes would not be achieved because we could not progress and become the trusted inheritors He wants us to be.

If you feel more distant than God for a while, it may be that the veil has actually become a little thicker - it may be time for more growth!  We can thank God for the times He feels close - AND we can thank Him for the times He feels more distant (it's an illusion - a veil - He is there).

The prophet Lehi said: “Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.”5 At a fundamental level, one option is represented by Jesus Christ, the Firstborn of the Father. The other option is represented by Satan, Lucifer, who wants to destroy agency and usurp power.6

These options Elder Renlund talks about reminds me of the scripture that says lay hold upon every good gift and touch not the evil gift (Moroni 10:30).  Jesus Christ and His servants offer us the good gifts or option.  Satan and his minions offer the evil gifts or option.  Every moment is a choice - the test or the question is, "What do we want?"  Really. Simply.  I happened to listen to a podcast this week (Saints Ep. 15 from the Mormon Channel, I think) and one of the commentators said something like, "The good thing is, He will let us have exactly what we want; the bad thing is, He will let us have exactly what we want."

In Jesus Christ, “we have an advocate with the Father.”7 After completing His atoning sacrifice, Jesus “ascended into heaven … to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men.” And, having claimed the rights of mercy, “he advocateth the cause of the children of men.”8

Christ’s advocacy with the Father in our behalf is not adversarial. Jesus Christ, who allowed His will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father,9 would not champion anything other than what the Father has wanted all along. Heavenly Father undoubtedly cheers for and applauds our successes.

I really liked that Elder Renlund brought this up, because this understanding - this truth - was a key to helping me understand the Holy Spirit in my life.  Christ does not accuse us.  The Holy Spirit produces fruits of the spirit - fills us with hope.  The Adversary tries to make us feel hopeless.  But I'm getting ahead of Elder Renlund; he puts it beautifully...

Christ’s advocacy is, at least in part, to remind us that He has paid for our sins and that no one is excluded from the reach of God’s mercy.10 For those who believe in Jesus Christ, repent, are baptized, and endure to the end—a process that leads to reconciliation11—the Savior forgives, heals, and advocates. He is our helper, consoler, and intercessor—attesting to and vouching for our reconciliation with God.12

In stark contrast, Lucifer is an accuser or prosecutor. John the Revelator described Lucifer’s ultimate defeat: “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ.” Why? Because “the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.”13

Lucifer is this accuser. He spoke against us in the premortal existence, and he continues to denounce us in this life. He seeks to drag us down. He wants us to experience endless woe. He is the one who tells us we are not adequate, the one who tells us we are not good enough, the one who tells us there is no recovery from a mistake. He is the ultimate bully, the one who kicks us when we are down.

If Lucifer were teaching a child to walk and the child stumbled, he would scream at the child, punish him, and tell him to quit trying. Lucifer’s ways bring discouragement and despair—eventually and always. This father of lies is the ultimate purveyor of falsehood14 and cunningly works to deceive and distract us, “for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”15

Phew.  If we are hearing this sort of "voice" in our head - we can know its source is evil.

This may also be another spot where we might look at our parenting, and see if we have fallen into some of these unrighteous traps.  For example, bullying, unfortunately, begins in the home.

If Christ were teaching a child to walk and the child stumbled, He would help the child get up and encourage the next steps.16 Christ is the helper and consoler. His ways bring joy and hope—eventually and always.

This is the "voice" we need to listen for.  How can we believe this voice even when we've done something wrong?

How can we be more like Christ in our parenting?  If you are not a parent, then how can we be more Christlike in our relationship building?

God’s plan includes directions for us, referred to in the scriptures as commandments. These commandments are neither a whimsical set nor an arbitrary collection of imposed rules meant only to train us to be obedient. They are linked to our developing the attributes of godliness, returning to our Heavenly Father, and receiving enduring joy. Obedience to His commandments is not blind; we knowingly choose God and His pathway home. The pattern for us is the same as it was for Adam and Eve, wherein “God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption.”17 Though God wants us to be on the covenant path, He gives us the dignity of choosing.

How are God's commandments linked to our developing the attributes of godliness?
How does choosing for ourselves give us dignity?

Indeed, God desires, expects, and directs that each of His children choose for himself or herself. He will not force us. Through the gift of agency, God permits His children “to act for themselves and not to be acted upon.”18 Agency allows us to choose to get on the path, or not. It allows us to get off, or not. Just as we cannot be forced to obey, we cannot be forced to disobey. No one can, without our cooperation, take us off the path. (Now, this is not to be confused with those whose agency is violated. They are not off the path; they are victims. They receive God’s understanding, love, and compassion.)

But when we get off the path, God is saddened because He knows that this eventually, but invariably, leads to diminished happiness and forfeited blessings. In the scriptures, getting off the path is referred to as sin, and the resultant decrease in happiness and forfeited blessings is called punishment. In this sense, God is not punishing us; punishment is a consequence of our own choices, not His.

We sometimes tend to think of sin as only sins of commission.  But anything - including a distraction - that gets us off the path is sin.

When we discover that we are off the path, we can stay off, or because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can choose to reverse our steps and get back on. In the scriptures, the process of deciding to change and return to the path is referred to as repentance. Failure to repent means that we choose to disqualify ourselves from the blessings God desires to give. If we are “not willing to enjoy that which [we] might have received,” we will “return … to [our] own place, to enjoy that which [we] are willing to receive”19—our choice, not God’s.

I like how Elder Renlund starts this paragraph with "when we discover that we are off the path."  It is possible to get off the path without realizing we are off the path!  This makes sense when you remember that the mist of darkness obscures the path in Lehi's vision of the tree of life (1 Nephi 8).  The important thing is what we choose to do when we realize it.  Repentance is key - not just for the telestial sinners.  How is failure to repent a choice?

No matter how long we have been off the path or how far away we have wandered, the moment we decide to change, God helps us return.20 From God’s perspective, through sincere repentance and pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ, once back on the path, it will be as if we were never off.21 The Savior pays for our sins and frees us from the looming decrease in happiness and blessings. This is referred to in the scriptures as forgiveness. After baptism, all members slip off the path—some of us even dive off. Therefore, exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, receiving help from Him, and being forgiven are not onetime events but lifelong processes, processes that are repetitive and iterative. This is how we “endure to the end.”22

I really liked the scripture in footnote 20, which is Alma 34:31 (emphasis mine) "Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you."  Repentance in this light sounds great, doesn't it?  Isn't this what we want?  Isn't this what we are here for?

We need to choose whom we will serve.23 The magnitude of our eternal happiness depends on choosing the living God and joining Him in His work. As we strive to “do the next bit” on our own, we practice using our agency correctly. As two former Relief Society General Presidents said, we should not be “babies that need petting and correction all the time.”24 No, God wants us to become mature adults and govern ourselves.

Whether we are aware of it or not, we are serving - whether the true God, or an idol, principality, hero, or whatever.  We are serving Someone.

How can we make sure we are choosing the correct Master?

How can we "govern ourselves?"

Choosing to follow the Father’s plan is the only way we can become inheritors in His kingdom; only then can He trust us to not even ask for that which is contrary to His will.25 But we need to remember that “there’s no one so hard to teach as the child who knows everything.” So we need to be willing to be tutored in the Lord’s ways by the Lord and His servants. We can trust that we are beloved children of Heavenly Parents26 and worth “bothering about” and be assured that “on our own” will never mean “alone.”

As the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob said, I say with him:

“Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren [and sisters], reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil … ; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.”27

So, choose faith in Christ; choose repentance; choose to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost; choose to conscientiously prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; choose to make covenants in the temple; and choose to serve the living God and His children. Our choices determine who we are and who we will become.

I conclude with the rest of Jacob’s blessing: “Wherefore, may God raise you from … everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God.”28 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.