Perhaps you are bothered because the example focuses upon a young woman who failed to respond to prophetic counsel instead of upon a young man. You may believe the young man was too judgmental or that basing an eternally important decision, even in part, upon such a supposedly minor issue is silly or fanatical.

I presume that some of you might have difficulty with my last example. The young man was quick to observe that the young woman was not quick to observe. For this and other reasons, he ultimately stopped dating the young woman, because he was looking for an eternal companion who had the courage to promptly and quietly obey the counsel of the prophet in all things and at all times. This was a valuable piece of information for this young man, and he felt unsettled about her nonresponsiveness to a prophet’s pleading. “The young man waited patiently over a period of time for the young woman to remove her extra earrings, but she did not take them out. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin.” Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that 'we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually' (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin's people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. “The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Total immersion in and saturation with the Savior's gospel are essential steps in the process of being born again.” Rather, fidelity to covenants, constancy of commitment, and offering our whole soul unto God are required if we are to receive the blessings of eternity.

Sporadic and shallow dipping in the doctrine of Christ and partial participation in His restored Church cannot produce the spiritual transformation that enables us to walk in a newness of life. 'Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life' (Romans 6:4).Īnd after we come out of the waters of baptism, our souls need to be continuously immersed in and saturated with the truth and the light of the Savior's gospel. “We begin the process of being born again through exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, and being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins by one having priesthood authority. Invite the Holy Ghost to continue instruction.” Write down impressions, thoughts, and feelings. Take time-pondering cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed.ĥ. Think about the truths, experiences, and lessons in the scriptures. Set aside a specific and scheduled time each day. Pay the price of regular and diligent study.

Pray for understanding and invite the help of the Holy Ghost. As we return repeatedly to the holy scriptures, we gain experience and confidence in hearing and feeling His voice.įive basic principles can help us learn more effectively from our personal scripture study.ġ. As we study the written word of God, we learn to hear His voice in the words we read. “The scriptures are like a written “recording” of the “voice” of the Lord-a voice we feel in our hearts more than we hear with our ears.

Bednar clean hands and a pure heart