(8th ward)
I Love Promises –
- Kids promised to clean their room or do something around the house.
- Wife promises to scratch my back.
- Some times individuals promise things that are unrealistic or they just can’t deliver. Many times this isn’t intentional – but sometimes it is, their intent is to deceive or to take advantage of others.
– The problem with promises is that they are only as good as the individuals we are making them with.
In the gospel of Jesus Christ we find the ultimate promises! Every commandment or principle is accompanied with a promise or blessing.
In the D&C – referring to the Word of Wisdom. The Lord stated it is “a principle with a promise.”
This is also referred to in a familiar scripture in D&C 130: 20-21
There is a alaw, irrevocably decreed in bheaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all cblessings are predicated—
And when we obtain any ablessing from God, it is by bobedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
I know many people find peace in this concept – like a science experiment or baking a cake. If we follow the proper steps and put in the right ingredients the outcome is predictable or sure. With principles or commandments the reaction or outcome is sure, and some times immediate. But sometimes it seems this isn’t the case. – nor is the exact blessing we think we should get the same as the Lord has in store.
Because we came to this earth to live by faith, and as the scripture stated obedience is the key – we many times learn by trail and error – thus making the Atonement our only opportunity to be made clean and Come unto Christ. This repentance process is a vital learning laboratory in our eternal progression.
D&C 105:6
And my people must needs be achastened until they learn bobedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they csuffer
Suffering, hardships and pain can not only be a byproduct of our actions or lack of obedience, but are also one of those essential ingredients in our receipt for eternal progression. Some people mistakenly believe that suffering and hardships are strictly because of disobedience. This belief isn’t new.
John 9: 2-3
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this aman, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the aworks of God should be made bmanifest in him.
Another great example of this is the Savior Himself -
Heb 5: 8-9
Though he were a Son, yet alearned he bobedience by the things which he csuffered;
And being made aperfect, he became the bauthor of eternal csalvation unto all them that obey him
Despite the fact he was perfect – His suffering help Him to learn obedience and enabled Him to become the author of eternal salvation – to pay the price of sin for each of us, opening the gate. Making it possible for us to return to live with God.
In this process He has asked us to make promises and covenants. Bible Dictionary under the heading of Covenants reads -
(It) denotes an agreement between persons or nations; more often between God and man; but in this latter case it is important to notice that the two parties to the agreement do not stand in the relation of independent and equal contractors. God in his good pleasure fixes the terms, which man accepts. The same word is sometimes rendered “testament.”
The gospel is so arranged that principles and ordinances are received by covenant placing the recipient under strong obligation and responsibility to honor the commitment.
As stated we are under strong obligation – but the best part is the blessings that are attached to the “testament or promise.”
Going back to the problem – it’s only as good as whom you make the promise with.
The Brother of Jared stated - Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and acanst not lie.
Whom else would you want to make a covenant or promise with – than someone that can’t lie and knows everything?
More insight is given in D&C 1: 38
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my aword shall not pass away, but shall all be bfulfilled, whether by mine own cvoice or by the dvoice of my eservants, it is the fsame.
His part – His work will be fulfilled, IT A PROMISE.
He also states that it can also be given by the voice of His servants. In deed we sustain the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve as prophets, seers and revelators.
Now too you young people that are hear – I know it’s hard when one of us boring old guys comes to speak in your ward. But, what if you were promised that every morning there would be a treat on your front lawn and it would be sweet like unto honey – would that be cool or what.
That happened to the children of Israel as they wondered in the wilderness for forty years – and what did they need to do for their part – “they will dwalk in my law,” or in other words, keep Gods commandments. As you see when us make promises with God our side of the promise is usually the easiest part.
Now that we know that God doesn’t lie and will deliver on His part of every promise that He makes - Himself or thru His chosen servants. It’s our responsibility to do our part to know what promises He has made and to do every thing in our power to do our part in order to receive the promised blessings.
It’s impossible for us to talk about every principle or covenant with a promise today – but here are a few.
L. Tom Perry, a member of the quorum of the twelve – a prophet, seer and revelator - stated
“My sincere counsel to you is to recommit yourselves to two basic practices that (will be a) source of so many blessings for the Saints. Never let a day go by without holding family prayer and family scripture study. Put this, the Lord’s program, to the test; and see if it does not bless your home with greater peace, hope, love, and faith.
I promise you that daily family prayer and scripture study will build within the walls of your home a security and bonding that will enrich your lives and prepare your families to meet the challenges of today and the eternities to come.
How many time have we been asked to pray and read the scriptures together as a family – Maybe we should ask it a little different – do you want greater peace, hope, love, faith, enriched lives – and be prepared to meet any challenge today and through out eternity?
If the answer is yes, oh then by the way the way it’s possible is to read the scriptures and pray together as a family. Some of you only have a family of one, others with larger numbers – but the promise is the same? As Elder Perry stated “I promise you.”
Here’s one from President Gordon B. Hinckley,
We repeat what we have said before: make a habit of going to the house of the Lord. There is no better way to ensure proper living than temple attendance. It will crowd out the evils of pornography, substance abuse, and spiritual atrophy. It will strengthen marriage and family relations.
What a great promise – it will strengthen marriage & family relations, it will crowd out the evils of pornography, substance abuse, and spiritual atrophy.
If these are important and you don’t have a current recommend – wouldn’t it make sense to do everything necessary to be worthy to get it? If you have one, let’s go as often as possible to receive the promised blessings.
In D&C 121 – the Lord gives an important principle with a promise
VS 45
Let thy abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy cconfidence wax strong in the dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood (gospel) shall distil upon thy soul as the edews from heaven.
If we have charity and are virtuous – our confidence will be strong in the presence of God and revelation will flow to us as the dews from heaven.
Earlier in that same section the Lord stated it would be easier for a man to stop the Missouri River with his arm than to stop the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from Heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints or the righteous.
This should be our goal, to receive knowledge from Heaven that God live, that Jesus is the Christ, that the Church of Jesus Christ is on the earth and that we have a living Prophet that can guide and direct us.
A question that then comes to mind is why aren’t all of us receiving all these blessing on a daily basis.
D&C 121: 35-36
Because their ahearts are set so much upon the things of this bworld, and caspire to the dhonors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
That the arights of the priesthood (gospel) are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be bcontrolled nor handled only upon the cprinciples of righteousness.
It goes back to obedience is the key –
Indeed too many people believe in the promise that the things of the world, riches, honor and praise are what will bring them happiness. These promises are given or enforced by the father of all lies – Satan himself. But, if you remember the first problem I mentioned – a promise is only as good as the individual whom we make it with.
Another reason is shown clearly buy the children of Israel - as they wondered in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:41
And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they ahardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying bserpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be chealed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the dsimpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.
They hardened their hearts – then were unwilling to follow the counsel of a prophet of God, I’m sure thinking it was foolishness because the simpleness of the way. All they needed to do was to look and live.
Do we truly believe that something as easy as reading the scriptures, praying as a family and attending the temple will change our lives and straighten our marriages and families, and bring all the other blessings that were mentioned?
The question that each of us should ask each Sunday as we attend Church – is what difference will our time here today make in our lives? We have partaken of the sacrament and renewed our covenant or promises with the Lord, which we made at baptism – to take upon us the name of Christ, to always remember Him, to keep His commandment and make the Atonement effective in our lives. He then promises to forgive us of our sins and send the spirit to be with us.
I pray that each of us will be faithful to these and all the promises that the Lord has made too us. And then the Lord can and will bless us that we will not have room enough to receive them. Like the brazen serpent – all we need to do is look – unto the Savior Jesus Christ – and Live.
Testimony -
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