My work in progress completed - well not quite yet!

This is my talk for Stake Conference tonight. I'll have to see how it goes.

Although I have learned many useful lessons from my parents, one of the most important things they taught me was how to live the gospel to its fullest. My father and mother have been an example of obedience and service throughout their lives. There is no doubt in my mind that my parents love the Lord and they not only hunger and thirst after righteousness but they feast upon the words of Christ and liberally share their love and knowledge with others.

As the sixth of nine children, I was able to join with my siblings in some wonderful gospel discussions led by my parents. On Sunday evenings, we were often called together to learn at the feet of my father. My father has said that if there is a gospel concept that you wish to learn more about, that you are pondering, or that you are interested in, one of the best ways to learn it is to teach it to your children. I didn’t know this as a child, but as I look back, I remember those times when our father would do this and share the things he was pondering. We all loved to gather around in our family room and listen and learn from whom we felt was the most knowledgeable man ever. The topics of conversation ranged from learning the plan of salvation (after which we would all have a chance to teach it to each other), bearing testimony of the restored gospel (after which we would take turns applying those principles and sharing our testimony with each other), the stories of the scriptures, applying the atonement in our lives, the ten commandments, the fall of Adam and so on.

During one of these evenings, my father taught us about eternal laws. He had been researching the laws found throughout the scriptures and shared with us some of his feelings. He taught us about two important laws: the Law of Elohim (or obedience) and the Law of Christ (or charity).

I remember grasping the importance of the first of these laws as a youth when we studied 2 Nephi 2:27: Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

The concept that obedience sows happiness and that “wickedness never was happiness” was an exciting thing for me to learn as my parents explained the debilitating effects of sin. They taught the example of covering a sin with a lie, and then having to lie to cover that lie, and the cycle continuing until you have become a pathological liar, unless you truly repent and break the cycle. I remember learning that sin ends up limiting our choices whereas obedience makes us free to choose. Through my parent’s example and their loving guidance when I chose to go astray, this concept became very real to me.

My father taught us the importance of obedience through the following scriptures: Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19 reads: 18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. 19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

Verse 19 states that “a person gains knowledge and intelligence through his diligence and obedience.” Therefore, if we gain knowledge through diligence, then intelligence comes through obedience. In D&C 93:36 we learn that “the glory of God is intelligence.” Through our obedience to the laws of the gospel, we can receive the glory of God or intelligence.

Although I often fall short, I am grateful for this important lesson my parents taught me and continue to teach me daily. I was speaking with my mother just the other day, and I asked her if she had a good day. Her response was, “Yes, I always have a good day when I do what I should.”
The second law that my father spoke to us about was the Law of Christ. As stated in the third article of faith, “We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.” This teaches us that through the atonement (or through the mercy extended to us because of Christ’s suffering), we may be saved by being obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. We cannot gain salvation through obedience alone. The atonement of Christ is also required for us to be saved. My father taught us how these two laws are interconnected and one cannot exist without the other. My father then turned to Galatians 6:2 and read to us: Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

If the law of Elohim is fulfilled through obedience, how is the law of Christ fulfilled? This scripture teaches us that by bearing one another’s burdens, the law is fulfilled. Just as Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and thus bore our burdens, we are asked to bear one another’s burdens to fulfill the law of Christ.

About twenty years ago, my father wrote a letter to his children sharing with us an experience he had that helped him better understand the atonement and Christ’s love. He had been given an assignment to speak on the atonement to a group of Young Adults. He had wanted to teach something unique – some new dimension on the atonement that he could present to them. After spending much time trying to come up with the right thing to teach, he was in the shower and since he loves to sing, he was singing the hymn, “Love One Another.” He was suddenly overcome with an impelling overwhelming feeling of understanding the love of the Savior. He had often felt the love of the Savior in his life, but as the feeling came over him that day, he was filled, filled to the point of tears, tears of joy and tears of understanding. He wrote,“It was such a simple connection that had been made in my mind and I’m sure that many others have come to understand that part of the atonement that I understood that day as it distilled upon my soul in that quiet moment. This was the first time for me, however, that it really came into focus with regard to our relationship to Him as our adopted father and how through His love for us He must witness our sins and feel the anguish of a father. The thought overwhelmed me as I contemplated the lives of my own children and how even the slightest error in their lives hurts deeply. I am not sure I understood why the errors of my own children hurt me so deeply until that day. I understood and established a more personal relationship with my Savior as I realized that he had to see and look upon and suffer the anguish for the bad things I have done and will still do. I thought at that moment that I would gladly atone for the sins of my children, if I could, through my love for them, but I also understood that that is not my role and I cannot do so because of my own faults, failings and sins.”

Through this letter to us, our Father then admonished us to come unto Christ and be perfected in him. He advised us to choose the correct path and be responsible for our own actions, to resist temptation and overcome the desire to participate in any form of disobedience.

In October 2007 General Conference, Elder Wirthlin said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities. The means of this refinement is our Christlike love. There is no pain it cannot soften, no bitterness it cannot remove, no hatred it cannot alter. As our love deepens, our minds and hearts become purified. We experience a “mighty change in … our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”
Our son, Jonathan recently received his patriarchal blessing. In his blessing, he was taught of the importance of serving others. He was told to learn and memorize the fifth verse of hymn number 29. When we returned home, we quickly opened the hymn book to the following verse of A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief:

5. Stript, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.

Through our service to others, we experience the pure love of Christ and its healing powers. As we forget ourselves in service, our own burdens often are lifted. My parents are great examples of service to the Lord and service to others. My mother often taught us through words and example the importance of thinking of others first, and through our service to others, we will feel happier and better about ourselves.

At a recent General Conference, Sister Susan Tanner summed up what my mother has taught us when she said, “My good mother taught me a higher law. Over and over she said to me, “You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentrating on others.”

This is how my mother works. She is always concerned with how others are feeling and how they are doing rather than how she is. Both she and my father have spent hours in church service reaching out to others that are in need. Just this past Sunday, they travelled from Mexico City to Zacatecas – which is at least a 7 hour drive one way. My mom’s blog entry read: “Been in Zacatecas - 7 plus hours away... a lot of driving for a two hour interview; but it was worth it, seems to have saved a man.”

I am so grateful for the example of service and obedience my parents have shown me throughout my life. There has never been any question in my mind what is most important to them. They truly love the Lord and have manifested that greatly in their love for their family and others. I only hope and pray that through their teachings and example that I can follow in their footsteps and live the gospel as they have. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, and as I have become his adopted child, I also hope to follow in his footsteps and reach out to those in need in any way I can.