Alma 41:6
And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.
I love this talk by Elder Neal A Maxwell in 1996 and have included a portion of it to ponder upon.
"Desire denotes a real longing or craving. Hence righteous desires are much more than passive preferences or fleeting feelings. Yet there remains an inner zone in which we are sovereign, unless we abdicate. In this zone lies the essence of our individuality and our personal accountability.
Therefore, what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity.
“For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts” (D&C 137:9)
Mostly, brothers and sisters, we become the victims of our own wrong desires. Some seek to brush aside conscience, refusing to hear its voice. But that deflection is, in itself, an act of choice, because we so desired. Even when the light of Christ flickers only faintly in the darkness, it flickers nevertheless. If one averts his gaze therefrom, it is because he so desires.
Like it or not, therefore, reality requires that we acknowledge our responsibility for our desires. Brothers and sisters, which do we really desire, God’s plans for us or Satan’s?
No wonder desires also determine the gradations in outcomes, including why “many are called, but few are chosen”
Righteous desires need to be relentless, therefore, because, said President Brigham Young, “the men and women, who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom, will find that they must battle every day” (in Journal of Discourses, 11:14). Therefore, true Christian soldiers are more than weekend warriors.
Even a spark of desire can begin change. The prodigal son, sunk in despair, nevertheless desired and “came to himself,” determining that “I will arise and go to my father..."
"What we are speaking about is so much more than merely deflecting temptations for which we somehow do not feel responsible. Remember, brothers and sisters, it is our own desires which determine the sizing and the attractiveness of various temptations. We set our thermostats as to temptations.
Thus educating and training our desires clearly requires understanding the truths of the gospel, yet even more is involved. President Brigham Young confirmed, saying, “It is evident that many who understand the truth do not govern themselves by it; consequently, no matter how true and beautiful truth is, you have to take the passions of the people and mould them to the law of God” (in Journal of Discourses, 7:55).
“Do you,” President Young asked, “think that people will obey the truth because it is true, unless they love it? No, they will not” (in Journal of Discourses, 7:55). Thus knowing gospel truths and doctrines is profoundly important, but we must also come to love them. When we love them, they will move us and help our desires and outward works to become more holy.
Only by educating and training our desires can they become our allies instead of our enemies!
Once again, we must be honest with ourselves about the consequences of our desires, which follow as the night, the day.
But dissolution of wrong desires is only part of it. For instance, what is now only a weak desire to be a better spouse, father, or mother needs to become a stronger desire, just as Abraham experienced divine discontent and desired greater happiness and knowledge"
Abraham 1:2
And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.
This scripture shows the desires Abraham had prior to receiving the promises and responsibilities he was given.
Back to Elder Maxwell;
"It is up to us. Therein lies life’s greatest and most persistent challenge. Thus when people are described as “having lost their desire for sin,” it is they, and they only, who deliberately decided to lose those wrong desires by being willing to “give away all [their] sins” in order to know God.
Prophet Joseph Smith observed: “Men who have no principle of … truth, do not understand the word of truth when they hear it. The devil taketh away the word of truth out of their hearts, because there is no desire for righteousness in them”.
Brothers and sisters, a loving God will work with us, but the initiating particle of desire which ignites the spark of resolve must be our own!
It all takes time. Said the Prophet Joseph: “The nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment”.
-Elder Neal A. Maxwell – According to the Desire of Our Hearts
This talk really motivated me to take a look at my desires and see where they are leading me. We understand that desires alone cannot bring exaltation, however by becoming aware of our foundation and taking the steps to strengthen and fortify it can increase our righteousness.
Pres Nelson 2022
I plead with you now—to take charge of your own testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Work for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth. Don’t pollute it with false philosophies of unbelieving men and women. As you make the continual strengthening of your testimony of Jesus Christ your highest priority, watch for miracles to happen in your life."
Plan of Action:
Study: the truths/doctrines of the gospel until I loveneed attention, then consider the desires of my
Alma 32:42
And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
Pres Nelson :
"We must experiment upon the word by trusting in God, making righteous choices and being obedient to the still small voice and the covenants we have made. Satan will try to extinguish our faith by planting seeds of doubt. He will try to distract you and encourage you to procrastinate."
President Nelson 2022: Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power.
Helaman 3:35
35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.
Moroni 7:48
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
As I consider the righteous desires of my heart; to be a true follower of Jesus Christ and establish Zion in my home, community and to be prepared to be gathered into the literal Zion, I know that I need many miracles to bring them into futurity.
As I commit to the above intentions, I know the Lord will strengthen me and enable me to increase in righteousness. I am so grateful to understand that we are rewarded according to our desires because our desires lead to our thoughts and our thoughts lead to our actions. Often my actions let me down but I know what Elder Maxwell has taught is true, that what we consistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become. As I strive to correct my inconsistencies, I know the Lord will help me. Mine is a test of patience but I know the Lord keeps His promises and as I train my desires, I know He will help me keep mine.
No comments:
Post a Comment