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Everyone knows this one…

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

- 1 Nephi 3:7

“Do not allow darkness and gloom to enter into your hearts. I want to give you a rule by which you may know that the spirit which you have is the right spirit. The Spirit of God produces cheerfulness, joy, light and good feelings. Whenever you feel gloomy and despondent and are downcast, unless it be for your sins, you may know it is not the Spirit of God which you have. Fight against it and drive it out of your heart. The Spirit of God is a spirit of hope; it is not a spirit of gloom.”

“There is nothing on earth, nothing that man can taste or experience that is so sweet, so happifying, so full of delight, as the presence of the Spirit of God. It fills the soul with joy that is inexpressible.”

– George Q. Cannon, Deseret Weekly, January 14, 1987, 48:351; also “Gospel Truth,” page 144

And,

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”

– 2 Nephi 2:25

“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”

- D&C 58:27

I wonder how much of my own time is a righteous cause. Hmm.

One realization came to me as I research my talk for this Sunday about prayer. Prayer opened, and also closed, the proceeding of the Atonement on Earth:

“[Jesus] kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, by thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

- Luke 22:41-44

And it ends with a  prayer, just before Christ died:

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

- Matthew 27:46

“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”

-Moroni 7:47

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

- Isaiah 55:8-9

How foolish we are to think we know better…

If only today’s national leaders could honestly say to us:

“Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country.”

- Alma 60:36

Our founding fathers (of the United States) had this conviction. Imagine if today’s presidents did. Do they? I suspect not. If they cave to believe the corruptness of the people, then it’s not “politically correct” for them to have this conviction.

If a leader truly had this conviction, they would declare it; for it defines who they are, and they would not lie, being whole with integrity and revering God.

What if Clinton revered God? Obama?

Hopefully all men in the Church who hold the priesthood know and understand what that really implies.

“The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon principles of righteousness. … They may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins or to gratify our pride, … behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or to the authority of that man.”

D&C 121:36-37

And what is a without the priesthood, that God-given authority and power? “… Behold, he is left unto himself.” (v. 38)

Isaiah prophesies of the coming forth of the fullness of the Gospel in such detail as to mention the things spoken to Joseph Smith during the First Vision:

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.”

- Isaiah 29:13

Now we see this prophecy fulfilled.

“… they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

- The Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed to Joseph Smith, a modern prophet, explaining the need for the opening of this dispensation of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. JSH 1:19

The true Church is indeed upon the earth — we have it here, in its fullness, and its complete truth: all we need to know pertaining to our salvation and the proper worship of our Lord and God, who are defined as two separate and distinct beings (”… and I saw two Personages … and [He] said, pointing to the other — This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” -JSH 1:17, emphasis added). There is much to be had in the Gospel of Jesus Christ with faith, proper study, and humility to accept it. With these things, the Spirit will touch the hearts of souls seeking the truth.

What manner of men ought we to be?

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Matthew 5:48

That seems like a rather demanding and impossible calling; but the Lord knew what he was talking about. What does this passage mean to you?