1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,160 Enduring to the end. It's not just not smoking until 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,600 you die. It is to do whatever is 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:13,720 necessary to receive and follow the Holy Ghost in your life. 4 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,360 Yesterday's mistakes should be remembered long enough to not 5 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,880 repeat them, but they are in the past. 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,760 What you did in the past, good or bad, is not nearly as 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:31,560 important as what you do today. However, at some point the 8 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:36,840 weight becomes simply more than we can lift, more than we can 9 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:42,640 bear. Try as you might, it's just too 10 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:48,920 heavy. But if it is, go on how you just 11 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:54,520 do it. You just go on anyway. 12 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,920 You can always go farther than what you think. 13 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:04,160 Never give up, never quit. It is there. 14 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:23,100 It is there we meet the Lord. Hello again. 15 00:01:23,380 --> 00:01:28,980 I'm Larry Corbridge and this is episode 25 of the Stand Forever 16 00:01:28,980 --> 00:01:33,020 series. The focus of this episode is 17 00:01:33,020 --> 00:01:37,120 enduring to the end, which is what you're doing if you're 18 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,040 still with me, and I hope that you will stay with with me. 19 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,840 As I have said before, the big picture is a big deal. 20 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,120 I just want to remind us of the overall framework of what we're 21 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,800 doing here. Few things provide greater 22 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,120 comfort and confidence and clarity than looking beyond 23 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,920 present cares to see and remember the big picture. 24 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,680 You may live life in the weeds, but if you don't see, if you 25 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:12,320 don't see beyond them, you'll think life is only weeds. 26 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:18,160 When we stand back, as I've said before, the big picture looks 27 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,520 like this. A The essential problem in life 28 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,240 is separation from God our Father. 29 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:32,360 Without God, chaos, darkness and death prevail. 30 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:39,040 B Jesus Christ bridges the gap if we will only believe and 31 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,960 follow Him to the end and help others do the same. 32 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,960 Christ is the way, offsetting chaos. 33 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:54,120 He is the truth, offsetting darkness. 34 00:02:54,120 --> 00:03:01,480 He is the life offsetting death. So what's the conclusion Again? 35 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,040 Cross the bridge and close the gap. 36 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:12,440 Believe and follow Christ to the end and help others do that very 37 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,480 same thing. That is the big picture. 38 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:22,200 Again, in the primary framework for this series, the course, the 39 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,840 course to follow Christ, the course to close the gap is his 40 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:35,240 gospel meaning to have faith in Him and and then align our lives 41 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,560 with what we learn. In other words, repent, receive 42 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:45,000 ordinances beginning with baptism, receive the Holy Ghost 43 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,320 and endure to the end. Stay the course engaged in his 44 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,560 work as an active contributing member of his church. 45 00:03:54,960 --> 00:04:01,560 So today we focus on the last waypoint, the last coordinate on 46 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,880 that journey enduring to the end. 47 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,240 Among various scriptural statements about what is 48 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:16,760 necessary to receive the gift of God's life, eternal life, the 49 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:21,839 common denominator is faithfulness. 50 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:27,440 It is staying the course, enduring to the end. 51 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:33,560 Let me just give you a few examples among a a much longer 52 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:38,320 list. Wherefore you must press forward 53 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:42,920 with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of 54 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,040 hope and the love of God and of all men. 55 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:49,280 Wherefore if he shall press forward, feasting upon the word 56 00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:55,440 of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the 57 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,920 Father, ye shall have eternal life. 58 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:04,520 Another scriptural example. And I know that the Lord God 59 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,880 will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people, and the 60 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,160 words which I have written in weakness will be made strong 61 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,680 unto them. For it persuadeth them to do 62 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,640 good, it maketh known unto them of their fathers, and it 63 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,760 speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in 64 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:31,720 Him, and what endure to the end, which is life eternal. 65 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:37,040 Another scriptural example. Then, my beloved brethren, 66 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:42,440 repent, ye enter in at the Strait gate, and continue in the 67 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:47,280 way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life. 68 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:53,560 Another And behold, he meaning Alma, preach the word unto your 69 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,560 Father's in a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, 70 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,520 and they humbled themselves, and put their trust in the true and 71 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,280 living God. And behold, they were faithful 72 00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:07,880 unto the end, therefore they were saved. 73 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,720 Another behold, I am the law and the light. 74 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:17,280 Look unto me, the Lord said, and endure to the end, and ye shall 75 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:24,600 live, for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal 76 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,840 life. I know this is a long list, just 77 00:06:28,840 --> 00:06:32,400 another one or two. And if you keep my commandments, 78 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:37,360 the Lord said, and endure to the end, you shall have eternal 79 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,200 life. Which gift is the greatest of 80 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,880 all the gifts of God? Another Blessed are they who are 81 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:49,680 faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall 82 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:57,080 inherit eternal life. So this, this declaration 83 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:03,160 repeated throughout Scripture to endure, whether in life or in 84 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:07,840 death, is especially intriguing, suggesting the same process of 85 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:12,040 enduring continues beyond the veil. 86 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,200 Enduring to the end is about getting to the end is it is 87 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,080 about finishing. It is not. 88 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,920 It's not gritting your teeth, gutting it out, biting the 89 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:26,120 bullet, looking forward for a brighter, happier day. 90 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,800 And it's not just not smoking until you die. 91 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:36,680 It is to do whatever is necessary to receive and follow 92 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,800 the Holy Ghost in your life. Building up the Kingdom of God 93 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:47,560 is an active contributing member of his work as a member of the 94 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,560 of his church, the Church of Jesus Christ. 95 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:55,160 Beginning in your own home making a difference and never 96 00:07:55,240 --> 00:08:00,400 ever ever quit. You don't stop, you keep going, 97 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:06,240 and during to the end is to stay the course and finish. 98 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:14,920 It is dogged faithfulness. Yesterday's accomplishments and 99 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,640 good deeds and triumphs should be remembered, sure and 100 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,680 cherished, but they're in the past. 101 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,320 Yesterday's mistakes should be remembered long enough to not 102 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,880 repeat them, but they are in the past. 103 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:36,280 Some people mistakenly live there in the past, either 104 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:42,039 reliving rethinking mistakes or coasting on past successes or 105 00:08:42,039 --> 00:08:47,360 laborers. What you did in the past, good 106 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:53,320 or bad, is not nearly as important as what you do today, 107 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:59,280 right now. Johnny Kelly, an American long 108 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:04,720 distance runner who competed in the Summer Olympics of 1936 and 109 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:10,280 1948 and continued running throughout his life, is reported 110 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:15,480 to have said this. It's not what you once did that 111 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:23,320 counts the most, he said. But what you keep doing, that's 112 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:27,240 the key. What you keep doing. 113 00:09:34,340 --> 00:09:38,300 Well, of course we rejoice in the light of day. 114 00:09:39,220 --> 00:09:44,140 We shouldn't be afraid of the dark either, for as much as we 115 00:09:44,140 --> 00:09:49,440 aspire to warmth and and and the clarity of light, darkness 116 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:53,200 cannot be wholly avoided. God did not do away with 117 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,760 darkness. Rather, he introduced light 118 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,880 where there was only darkness and divided the light from the 119 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:03,920 darkness. And we live in a recurring cycle 120 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:08,240 of day and night, light and darkness. 121 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,960 Without without darkness, we cannot appreciate light. 122 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,040 But if you're on the path, pressing forward, you need not 123 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:21,240 be afraid of the dark. When dark times come. 124 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,960 And make no mistake, darkness comes. 125 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:29,840 The most profound truths and the most brilliant shards of light 126 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:35,160 are often revealed in the depths of darkness and the extremity of 127 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:41,840 struggle. Never was there darkness like 128 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:47,200 the darkness of Gethsemane, to borrow Paul's words. 129 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:51,920 I have not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the 130 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:58,040 heart of man All that God suffered, both Father and Son, 131 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:05,360 when all darkness and evil bore down on one-on-one solitary 132 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:14,160 soul, the Son of Man. Never a night so dark, never 133 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:19,760 evil so malevolent, never suffering so awful, never a 134 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:26,240 burden so great, never survival so unlikely, and never 1 so 135 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:31,160 alone as when all of it raged and diabolical force pressing 136 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:37,200 down on only one. Not only was the light of the 137 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:45,360 world not spared darkness, he experienced and comprehends all 138 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,880 of it. Satan's resolve was to break 139 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,720 him, but the Lord not only bore it, but accomplish. 140 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,560 Listen to this. He accomplished the greatest 141 00:11:57,560 --> 00:12:04,400 work of all eternity, the work of salvation, atonement for the 142 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,760 sins, suffering, pains, afflictions, temptations, 143 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:12,280 sicknesses, death and infirmities of all mankind in 144 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:17,880 the worst, in the worst of all conditions. 145 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:24,080 The greatest work of all time and eternity was done not in sun 146 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:27,720 shining moments of great inspiration, but in the depths 147 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:37,360 of total darkness and despair. Considering what he endured, we 148 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:41,040 can also endure whatever burdens we bear. 149 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:50,320 We can reach breaking points without breaking and be better 150 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:55,480 for it in the end. The straight and narrow path 151 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:02,120 does not go around the midst of darkness, but through it. 152 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,480 If you are on the path, pressing forward, clinging to the rod of 153 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:13,680 iron, don't be afraid of the dark or necessarily conclude 154 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:16,120 something that's going to arrive when you're in it. 155 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,240 You will get through, and you will be better for it if you 156 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:26,040 hold fast to the rod of iron and press on. 157 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:36,440 Just press on during some of the darkest times in my life that we 158 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,000 all experience in one way or another. 159 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:46,080 One thing I learned was, and continue to struggle to 160 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:54,000 remember, is to never give up. Here is a journal entry. 161 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,160 Although this is somewhat personal, it illustrates the 162 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:01,160 point I'm trying to make a journal entry from the depths of 163 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:07,840 despair many years ago, quoting my myself from my journal. 164 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:15,840 Never, never give up. When we speak of opposition, we 165 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:20,080 usually mean temptation or polar opposition of good and evil. 166 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:24,880 But truth is, there is much opposition that has no moral 167 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:29,120 implication, no association with right and wrong. 168 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,800 Someone is lonely, another afraid. 169 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:40,280 A child dies, someone diagnosed with a debilitating illness or 170 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:44,840 terminal cancer. Health fails, so Job is lost. 171 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:49,280 Another drunk driver takes another vibrant and brilliant 172 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,400 life. And on and on and on. 173 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,120 No temptation to curse God or to do evil. 174 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,920 No impulse to lie, cheat or steal. 175 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:02,200 No thought to harm another or to succumb to an immoral impulse. 176 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:12,160 Just the burden. Just the burden of life's ills 177 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:18,400 bearing down relentlessly, pressing down, weighing and 178 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:24,200 grinding down until you can hardly breathe and you wonder 179 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:29,280 how to go on. Forget about evil. 180 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:35,080 You just wonder how to survive. If it is part of God's design, 181 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,360 what is the point of so much suffering and hardship? 182 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,120 This seems to have little to do with good and evil. 183 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,440 It may be like the muscle that is strengthened bearing up 184 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:51,400 greater weight more consistently, the strength that 185 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,680 develops in time and direct proportion to the greater 186 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,640 weight, and the regularity of resistance. 187 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,880 We too become spiritually strengthened the more constantly 188 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,600 we lift and bear up underneath increasingly greater weight of 189 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,360 opposition. However, at some point the 190 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:16,400 weight becomes simply more than we can lift, more than we can 191 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:22,160 bear. Try as you might, it's just too 192 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:24,640 heavy. What then? 193 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:37,400 Give up or go on, but if it is, go on how you just do it. 194 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:45,680 You just go on anyway. You can always go farther than 195 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,480 what you think. Never give up, never quit. 196 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:59,200 It is there, it is there. We meet the Lord there at the 197 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:06,359 end when the weight is too heavy to bear, there He is. 198 00:17:14,410 --> 00:17:18,089 One of the overarching purposes of enduring to the end is to 199 00:17:18,089 --> 00:17:22,410 become fruitful. It isn't just about 200 00:17:22,410 --> 00:17:25,970 faithfulness, but fruitfulness making a difference. 201 00:17:25,970 --> 00:17:28,329 But how? And I think I've talked before a 202 00:17:28,329 --> 00:17:32,720 little bit about this. The Lord said, Wherefore be not 203 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:37,800 weary in well doing, for you are laying the foundation of a great 204 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:44,200 work, and out of small things proceedeth that which is great. 205 00:17:45,120 --> 00:17:51,480 Alma similarly said that by small and simple things are 206 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:59,040 great things brought to pass. This is a profoundly inspiring 207 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:02,960 and important truth. The Lord didn't say by grand and 208 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,280 complicated things are great things brought brought to pass 209 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:13,120 rather small and simple things. This is true as to what makes a 210 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:18,320 difference in our lives and also how we can make a difference in 211 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:22,160 the lives of others as well, whether for good or for evil. 212 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:28,160 A burning Bush, parting the Red Sea or the appearance of angels 213 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:34,680 may not be as life changing as smaller and more simple things. 214 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:39,680 One man said this about his experience of recovering from 215 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:44,200 divorce and the loss of the privileges as a member of the 216 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:49,320 church. He said destroying God's trust 217 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,120 in me was the lowest that I have ever been. 218 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:56,400 A Bishop that I visited with mentioned the importance of 219 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:01,480 fasting and praying. I began to fast every Sunday for 220 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:06,600 the ability to forgive myself and believe that the Atonement 221 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,080 could pick me up and clean my horrible stains. 222 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:15,640 I felt worthless inside and a failure in many different ways. 223 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:24,240 Doing this changed me. My heart changed, my thought 224 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:29,680 processes changed, and I realized that God still loved me 225 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:38,240 and had a plan for me. Small and simple things. 226 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,640 A woman long and strange from the church said this. 227 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:47,040 As soon as I walked back in the church, I felt a welcoming that 228 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:53,400 I had never experienced before. Small and simple things. 229 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:58,240 Another woman, angry at God because of the abuse she 230 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,280 suffered as a child and later as a wife, nailed in her closet. 231 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:07,560 And she said this. I sat there in anger, trembling, 232 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:11,400 trying to find the words to express the hurt and anger in my 233 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,840 heart. I remember angrily praying one 234 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:17,640 of the most honest prayers I've ever prayed. 235 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:23,000 Instantly I felt the most incredible peace and 236 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:26,320 indescribable love I have ever felt. 237 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,760 I knew for the very first time in my life that my Father in 238 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:38,840 heaven knew me and my pain. I knew at that moment I was 239 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:44,400 indeed His daughter and He had such an incredible love for me. 240 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,640 Every bit of anger towards Heavenly Father was instantly 241 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:58,160 replaced with love and gratitude again, by small and simple 242 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,600 things, great things come to pass. 243 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:05,600 A man explained why his marriage failed. 244 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:10,360 He said frankly, I've spent many hours pondering on what went 245 00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:12,920 wrong. The first few years I tried to 246 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:18,680 fix blame on the circumstances. At times I blame my ex-wife. 247 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,320 Sometimes I blamed my career choice. 248 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,080 Other times I blamed the market conditions. 249 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:31,000 It wasn't until many years later that I realized that it was all 250 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,480 my fault. I did not strengthen my 251 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:38,280 testimony by going to church and renewing my covenants. 252 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:43,760 I did not read the scriptures daily nor ponder and study the 253 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,600 gospel principles. I did not attend the temple and 254 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:51,360 strive to live my life so that I could have a temple recommend. 255 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:56,280 I got carried away in the ways of the world and chased after 256 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:03,240 material things. That small and simple things 257 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:08,600 bring about great things is a truth that cuts both ways, 258 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:14,680 positively and negatively. For those who always pray, who 259 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:19,320 treasure up the words of life continually, who have faith in 260 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:24,440 God our Father and Jesus Christ. For those who repent worthily, 261 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:28,600 receive ordinances, receive the Holy Ghost, work to build up the 262 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:33,080 Kingdom of God, and are true and faithful to their covenants, are 263 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:39,760 great things brought to pass. They received the greatest 264 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:45,240 things, God's Son, his Spirit and his life. 265 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,360 I don't know the whole world, but I know of no one who while 266 00:22:50,360 --> 00:22:54,760 doing those small things, woke up 11 morning thinking, Oh my 267 00:22:54,760 --> 00:23:02,400 heck, the church isn't true, it's all a hoax, or there is no 268 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:07,040 God, or decide to lie, cheat and steal or commit adultery that 269 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,000 day. Conversely, those who neglect 270 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:16,200 any of those small and simple things inevitably weaken in 271 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:21,560 faith and gravitate toward chaos, darkness, and death. 272 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:31,480 To borrow a phrase from Moroni, they dwindle in unbelief, do the 273 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:38,840 little things and thrive, neglect them and die. 274 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:45,880 That by small and simple things are great things brought to pass 275 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:50,160 is a truth that applies not not only as to how you may be 276 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:56,440 blessed, but also but also how you may bless others. 277 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:02,400 You have an incredible capacity. We all do have an incredible 278 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:09,560 capacity to do good. But usually by small and simple 279 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:16,800 things you absolutely can and do make a difference. 280 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,880 People often doubt they can make a difference, be an influence 281 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:25,440 for good. Those doubts arise for various 282 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:28,760 reasons, but they are always wrong. 283 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,680 One of the great underestimations of life is how 284 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:39,480 much we are influenced by others and our incredible capacity to 285 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:44,800 influence other people, especially especially those who 286 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:48,120 are closest to us, especially family members. 287 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,080 A woman estranged from the Church and hateful toward God 288 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,200 and everyone else was helped on her journey, backed by 289 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,240 missionaries who never spoke to her. 290 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:05,480 She said this. My experience with protesters in 291 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:09,880 Utah and the missionaries reaction to them showed me a 292 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,160 love that I'm still working on and that I would like to be able 293 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:18,680 to show to all. Those missionaries will never 294 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:24,360 know the great good they do did as disciples of Christ at all 295 00:25:24,360 --> 00:25:29,600 times and all places. Even when they are not teaching, 296 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:34,520 they are teaching by small and simple things. 297 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:40,120 They just don't know it, a state president said of a man who 298 00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:43,160 struggled with pornography throughout his life. 299 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,440 After meeting his fiance, he seemed to find the hope he had 300 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:51,800 been lacking. He found someone. 301 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:59,280 Listen to this. He found someone who seemed to 302 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:06,560 believe in him, which sparked a hope in him and the future 303 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:10,240 possibilities of an of an an eternal family. 304 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:14,760 He found a reason to fight the addictions and temptations that 305 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:19,800 imprisoned him. Continuing on with the quote, 306 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:23,080 the many words of counsel and pleading from his parents and 307 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:27,320 Bishop Gains gained some credibility in his mind. 308 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:32,680 He began to trust in the things he had been taught in his youth. 309 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:37,920 The familiar spirit began to teach and reteach him of his 310 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:42,160 loving Heavenly Father and his Savior Jesus Christ. 311 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:47,520 He began to not only attend the 12 step program, but but it 312 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:52,960 became a part of his life. When I asked him what he would 313 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:57,760 do if his relationship with his fiance were terminated, he 314 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:02,560 testified with tears in his eyes that it would not change the 315 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:07,640 direction he was going nor the truth he has found. 316 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:14,560 That's the end of that quote. Again, by small and simple 317 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:22,080 things, amazing things, great things come to pass. 318 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:26,960 Another man said, If it hadn't been for my faithful, loving 319 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:30,880 wife who doggedly and unceasingly believed that the 320 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:37,640 good side of me was and is my true self and the power of the 321 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:41,200 Atonement, I don't know where I would be today. 322 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:46,400 He said small and simple things. Another said, I have been 323 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:50,200 blessed with a wonderful woman that helped me to heal and 324 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:54,360 forgive myself. She brought light and hope to my 325 00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:58,720 life, and with the help of her unconditional love, the guidance 326 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,280 of my stake and ward leaders, and the blessings of the Lord, 327 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:07,400 it has been possible for me to complete my disciplinary process 328 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,320 and become an active member of the church. 329 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:15,160 Small and simple things, a woman said. 330 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,560 After I remarried, I learned what true love really is. 331 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:22,320 I learned what it was like to have someone treat me tenderly 332 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,080 with kindness and concern for my feelings. 333 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:30,320 I learned that everything that went wrong in the household 334 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:33,880 wasn't my fault. When I make a mistake, my 335 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:38,240 husband is so kind and loving and helps me feel appreciated 336 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:44,920 regardless. Small and simple things can also 337 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:50,560 can also go the other way. Can also discourage and weaken 338 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:54,560 faith, a woman said of her prior husband. 339 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:59,320 I sincerely feel that the moment the Internet and cell phones 340 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:03,760 invaded our lives, it was then that I lost him. 341 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:09,640 He was there physically, but in every other capacity he was not. 342 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:15,080 I remember a few years before our our divorce begging him for 343 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:18,440 attention and courtship to no avail. 344 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:24,000 I then became resentful when he had not said 2 words to me all 345 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:31,320 day or for weeks or even months. The mundane routine was always 346 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:35,160 discussed but never anything meaningful. 347 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:39,920 The last several years of our marriage we shared a roof but 348 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:44,920 not alive. Small and simple things going 349 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:49,440 the other way A young woman developed a serious eating 350 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:53,600 disorder, claiming she was never never able to please her mother 351 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,080 as much as she tried. Her mother compared her 352 00:29:57,080 --> 00:30:01,680 accomplishments with those of a sibling and she never measured 353 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:07,240 up in the eyes of the mother. A very common thread throughout 354 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:12,280 troubled marriages is the lack of self worth and self respect 355 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:18,560 that comes from belittling, demeaning, dismissive comments 356 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:22,120 and actions of one spouse toward the other. 357 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:27,400 A marriage failed because of a wife's adultery, low self worth, 358 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,640 and a husband who is controlling, manipulative and 359 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:35,240 demeaning. She stopped attending church and 360 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:39,600 began drinking alcohol without excusing her choices. 361 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:43,680 One wonders what would have been the outcome if she had been 362 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:49,440 treated differently by her husband, A man said of his wife. 363 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:55,080 I was constantly reminded how I fell short of her expectations. 364 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:58,640 I tried so hard to make her proud of me. 365 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:03,440 I wanted more than anything just to get some sort of praise or 366 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,840 recognition. It did not matter how well I 367 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:09,320 did. I never heard any praise or 368 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:13,320 encouragement from her. It felt like she took every 369 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:17,920 opportunity to take a jab at me when I when I made a mistake. 370 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:22,360 I've always tried not to let what others think or say about 371 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:26,240 me hurt me. But it really did hurt when it 372 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:33,680 came from her and she was probably trying to motivate him 373 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:37,960 to to do and be better. But it didn't work. 374 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:45,720 By small and simple things it didn't work, a woman said of her 375 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:49,320 deceased husband. When we were in the company of 376 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:53,760 others, he would very often dominate the conversation and I 377 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:56,440 did not feel acknowledged nor encouraged. 378 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,960 After he died, I came to realize that I did not know who who I 379 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:05,560 was. I would often hear myself refer 380 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:10,280 to what he said or did not, what I failed or thought. 381 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:16,320 Over the years of reading the life stories of many people 382 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:23,560 seeking redemption, there was never once, not once, an 383 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:28,000 instance of a single individual that did not involve other 384 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,800 people. The damage from sin is never 385 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:39,000 limited to the Sinner alone. There is always collateral 386 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,200 damage that hurts others as well. 387 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:47,840 Conversely, the blessings, the blessings that that flow from 388 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:53,280 obedience to God's commandments is a river so wide it washes 389 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:59,000 over the obedient child and splashes those nearby as well. 390 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:11,440 Except for Heavenly Father, no one has greater capacity to 391 00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:20,800 inspire and lift, inspire and lift, or demoralize and defeat 392 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:26,400 than a spouse or a parent. One of the greatest 393 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:33,760 responsibilities we have in mortality is to use that power 394 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:45,400 for good, to build others up, especially those who are closest 395 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:51,480 to us. We build others by turning 396 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:57,480 toward them, giving them our attention, connecting with them, 397 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:03,520 looking at them in their eyes, and helping when we can. 398 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:08,480 We build others by living and teaching the gospel of Jesus 399 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,800 Christ. We build others in the Kingdom 400 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:16,760 of God, as the Lord said, by persuasion, long-suffering, 401 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:21,960 gentleness, meekness, and love unfain, by kindness and pure 402 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:26,880 knowledge reproving. But times were sharpness when 403 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,199 moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and then showing forth 404 00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:34,480 afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast 405 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:40,280 reproved, lest he esteemed thee to be his enemy, that he may 406 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,400 know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of 407 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:48,840 death. All interactions, especially 408 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:53,360 with family members, either listen to this. 409 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:59,600 It seems to me at least that all the interactions, especially 410 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:05,120 with family members, either lift and strengthen and edify or 411 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:12,240 discourage and weaken. There may not be any neutral 412 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:16,440 interaction. And that which does not edify, 413 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:20,760 the Lord said, is not of God. And it's darkness. 414 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:28,560 We sing in the hymn we are sowing daily, sowing countless 415 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:32,920 seeds of good. And I'll by a whisper sow we 416 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:37,080 blessings, by a breath we scatter, strive. 417 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:44,480 In our words and thoughts and actions lie the seeds of death 418 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:52,880 and life. We are always sowing seeds. 419 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:59,160 We cannot live, take up space on this planet and not make a 420 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:03,400 difference. The Lord said He that is not 421 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:08,960 with me is against, and he that gathereth not with me 422 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:15,920 scattereth. We either gather or scatter one 423 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:19,760 or the other. Even one who does nothing makes 424 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:23,920 a difference by evoking indifference, influencing others 425 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:28,200 to do nothing, as well as by foregoing all the good that 426 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:31,400 would otherwise emerge in small and simple ways. 427 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:38,480 No one is inconsequential. Everyone makes a difference. 428 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:43,320 The only question is whether the countless seeds you sow will be 429 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:48,840 for good or I'll. If we are always sowing 430 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:53,200 countless seeds, why not sow seeds of good? 431 00:36:55,040 --> 00:37:01,160 Each of us makes a difference. Let it be for good. 432 00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:14,480 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the great 433 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:17,560 stone rolling for throughout the world. 434 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:20,920 It is the Kingdom of God on earth. 435 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:26,440 His is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 436 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:35,800 It is His Church, but it is also our Church because He gives it 437 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:42,680 to us that His work, Kingdom, power and glory be ours as well. 438 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:49,720 His Church is not the Church of Jesus Christ of the prophets of 439 00:37:49,720 --> 00:37:53,600 the latter days, or the priesthood of the latter days. 440 00:37:53,600 --> 00:38:00,160 It is the Church of Jesus Christ of all of its members, of every 441 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:03,920 man and woman, every boy and girl. 442 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:10,600 It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 443 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:17,960 When He named His Church, He put our name next to his. 444 00:38:18,360 --> 00:38:24,640 Do you see that it is there for all to see high up on the Grand 445 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:28,600 Marquis? He gives us equal billing with 446 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:31,800 him. He makes us Co stars with him, 447 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:38,840 that we become coworkers with him, that we become Co heirs 448 00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:42,760 with him. Embedded in the name of the 449 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:49,120 church is an invitation to become one with Him, one with 450 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:55,560 Christ, by engaging in His work. That is at the very heart. 451 00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:59,360 That is at the very heart of enduring to the end. 452 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:05,080 If you want to get close to the Lord, engage in His work. 453 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:11,120 Do what you can. The many prophecies and signs of 454 00:39:11,120 --> 00:39:17,440 the Lord's Second coming reveal 2 contrasting truths, one bad 455 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:21,680 and the other good, which lead to a single conclusion. 456 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:30,360 So first, the bad news. Conditions in the world 457 00:39:30,520 --> 00:39:34,080 generally will worsen regardless of what we may do. 458 00:39:35,720 --> 00:39:40,520 The downward slide of mankind and nations is not predestined, 459 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:44,960 but it has been foreseen and foretold throughout the ages. 460 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:51,520 There are over 2000 scriptural prophecies regarding the signs 461 00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:56,200 of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, similar to the 462 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:59,200 prophecies about the life and ministry of Christ. 463 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:03,320 The conditions of our day have been more clearly and 464 00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:07,280 extensively previewed and prophesied than any other time, 465 00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:11,120 in order that we may be forewarned. 466 00:40:11,720 --> 00:40:16,320 Prepared and recognize the signs of the times for what they are 467 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:20,480 among those signs. The Lord said this. 468 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:27,960 He said there will be distress of nations with perplexity and 469 00:40:27,960 --> 00:40:30,840 men's hearts failing them for fear. 470 00:40:32,240 --> 00:40:36,160 Every day the media reports nations and distress whose 471 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:38,360 leaders and people are perplexed. 472 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:44,000 They don't know what to do. All the King's horses and all 473 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:48,680 the King's men don't seem to be able to put it together again. 474 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:54,400 And everyday people lose heart, lose hope and fall into despair. 475 00:40:55,680 --> 00:41:00,400 The conditions of the world are temporary, and we will not 476 00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:05,280 change those conditions much or turn the tide of human events on 477 00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:09,720 a global scale. So again, that's the bad news. 478 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:16,960 Here's the good news. By contrast, the Kingdom of God 479 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:21,240 will stand forever. It's not temporary. 480 00:41:22,560 --> 00:41:26,880 The Kingdom of God, including families, is eternal. 481 00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:31,840 It will not pass away. And it is greatly listen to 482 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:36,240 this. It is greatly influenced by what 483 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:40,120 we do. God's Kingdom has been 484 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:47,440 established once again in our day, never to be destroyed, and 485 00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:53,120 it shall stand forever. And it is greatly affected by 486 00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:59,160 what faithful Saints do everywhere in every corner of 487 00:41:59,160 --> 00:42:03,240 the world. Therefore what what is the 488 00:42:03,240 --> 00:42:10,680 conclusion in the Lord's words? Wherefore seek not the things of 489 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:15,760 this world, but seek ye first to build up the Kingdom of God and 490 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:20,760 to establish His righteousness, and all these things, meaning 491 00:42:20,760 --> 00:42:26,120 everything else we need, shall be added unto you. 492 00:42:26,120 --> 00:42:31,920 Seek first to strengthen families, the Saints, the rising 493 00:42:31,920 --> 00:42:36,480 generation, proclaim, share the gospel, care for the poor, 494 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:40,600 redeem the dead, and strengthen the Church, which will 495 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:44,920 increasingly become an end sign to all nations as city set upon 496 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:49,560 a hill. Focus more on saving souls than 497 00:42:49,560 --> 00:42:55,160 saving the world. Now of course, this is not to 498 00:42:55,160 --> 00:43:02,120 say we should be uninvolved or passive, apathetic, fatalistic, 499 00:43:02,120 --> 00:43:06,080 pessimistic, pessimistic or defeatist regarding the affairs 500 00:43:06,080 --> 00:43:10,640 of mankind. Rather, it is to say, as members 501 00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:16,520 of the Church, we should first concentrate or consecrate 502 00:43:17,160 --> 00:43:22,880 ourselves along with our limited time and means where they will 503 00:43:22,880 --> 00:43:28,600 do the greatest good both in time and eternity. 504 00:43:30,360 --> 00:43:35,640 That's what the Lord did. That's what Jesus Christ did. 505 00:43:35,720 --> 00:43:39,840 It's no wonder he came to the earth during the height of the 506 00:43:39,840 --> 00:43:44,560 Roman Empire, possibly the most brutal authoritarian 507 00:43:44,560 --> 00:43:47,000 governmental regime in the history of the world. 508 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:53,440 And yet he did little, if anything, to push off the heavy 509 00:43:53,440 --> 00:43:57,640 boot of Rome from from the neck of the people, much to the 510 00:43:57,640 --> 00:44:03,600 disappointment of many. To the contrary, He said, Render 511 00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:08,560 unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and he paid taxes 512 00:44:09,800 --> 00:44:13,360 instead. Christ concentrated or 513 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:22,080 consecrated Himself all that He had, all that He was His time 514 00:44:22,440 --> 00:44:27,400 and His means, where it would do the greatest good both in time 515 00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:31,520 and eternity. He went about teaching and 516 00:44:31,520 --> 00:44:36,040 preaching and healing the sick, ministering to the people. 517 00:44:37,040 --> 00:44:40,960 He focused on saving souls more than saving the world. 518 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:47,560 He gave Himself to His Father's work, and He invites us to do 519 00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:52,840 the very same. He said his words. 520 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:58,480 He said, The works which you have seen me do, that shall ye 521 00:44:58,920 --> 00:45:04,400 also do. He also said, Verily, verily, I 522 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:07,840 say unto you, He that believeth on me. 523 00:45:08,800 --> 00:45:11,360 And now this is an interesting thing that he says. 524 00:45:11,360 --> 00:45:17,400 The works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than 525 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:22,080 thee shall he do, because I go into my Father. 526 00:45:23,960 --> 00:45:28,240 The Lord invites us to do as He did, build up the Kingdom of God 527 00:45:28,240 --> 00:45:32,800 on earth, proclaim and extend the blessings of His gospel to 528 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:36,320 all people on both sides of the veil. 529 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:44,040 And given, given the size of His army and given the means of 530 00:45:44,040 --> 00:45:48,440 communication and transportation available today, our works in 531 00:45:48,440 --> 00:45:55,880 that sense may even be greater, as He said, by reaching farther 532 00:45:55,880 --> 00:45:59,600 than what was ever possible before, even to the ends of the 533 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:03,200 earth. And if that were not enough, 534 00:46:03,200 --> 00:46:06,880 with hundreds of temples spanning the globe, an untold 535 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:11,280 number of ordinances are performed for the vast majority 536 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:15,080 of God's children who could not receive them while in mortality. 537 00:46:16,400 --> 00:46:21,840 Greater works in that sense, as Saints everywhere labor to build 538 00:46:21,840 --> 00:46:24,320 the Kingdom. All nations of the earth will be 539 00:46:24,320 --> 00:46:28,280 blessed through the seed of Israel in fulfillment of the 540 00:46:28,280 --> 00:46:35,720 promises made to the fathers. The Lord said I am able to do 541 00:46:35,720 --> 00:46:40,080 mine own work. He explained that if the 542 00:46:40,080 --> 00:46:44,680 shepherds of Israel do not gather, care and feed His 543 00:46:44,680 --> 00:46:47,120 scattered sheep, the shepherds will suffer. 544 00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:52,600 But he, the Lord, will seek out His sheep, He will deliver them, 545 00:46:52,960 --> 00:46:58,520 and He will feed them. His purposes, as He said, will 546 00:46:58,520 --> 00:47:02,880 fail not, neither are there any who can stay His hand. 547 00:47:04,480 --> 00:47:11,640 So in light of that, one might wonder, why worry about all of 548 00:47:11,640 --> 00:47:14,200 it? Why engage in God's work if he 549 00:47:14,200 --> 00:47:16,320 will do it anyway better than we can? 550 00:47:18,040 --> 00:47:23,840 Some, maybe many, view their service somehow as a favor they 551 00:47:23,840 --> 00:47:27,160 are rendering to God, helping God out in his work. 552 00:47:27,680 --> 00:47:33,000 That view sees service as a burden rather than a blessing. 553 00:47:34,240 --> 00:47:39,560 It produces token and sporadic service and eventually burnout. 554 00:47:40,800 --> 00:47:45,040 And yet the Lord has promised, and any man that shall go and 555 00:47:45,040 --> 00:47:48,600 preach the gospel of the Kingdom and fail not to continue 556 00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:53,360 faithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind. 557 00:47:55,200 --> 00:48:00,800 Should not burnout, neither darkened, neither embody limb 558 00:48:00,800 --> 00:48:04,400 nor joint, and the hair of his head shall not fall to the 559 00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:07,840 ground unnoticed. And they shall not go hungry, 560 00:48:07,840 --> 00:48:12,680 and neither a thirst. Those who engage in the work of 561 00:48:12,680 --> 00:48:17,240 the Lord and view their contribution as a favor, they 562 00:48:17,240 --> 00:48:22,000 render to God Those who see it as as a burden. 563 00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:27,240 It's a sacrifice. They do eventually become weary 564 00:48:27,240 --> 00:48:34,760 in mind, darkened and burnout. God does not engage us. 565 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:40,960 Listen to this. God does not engage us in his 566 00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:49,080 work to help him, rather to help us, he said. 567 00:48:49,080 --> 00:48:53,520 And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in His 568 00:48:53,520 --> 00:48:58,080 vineyard? It is never a burden. 569 00:48:59,320 --> 00:49:05,800 It is always a blessing and unspeakable privilege to be to 570 00:49:05,800 --> 00:49:13,920 be engaged in the work of God. What greater work could there 571 00:49:13,920 --> 00:49:20,640 ever be? There are always 2 consequences 572 00:49:20,640 --> 00:49:25,560 that flow from engagement in God's work and building up the 573 00:49:25,560 --> 00:49:29,720 church. They are the greatest of God's 574 00:49:29,720 --> 00:49:32,640 gifts. For example, here's a few 575 00:49:32,640 --> 00:49:37,240 scriptural examples. And you know when I say few, it 576 00:49:37,240 --> 00:49:40,600 may be more than two or three, but I'll try to make it quick. 577 00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:46,120 For example, the Lord said this, Therefore, O ye that embark in 578 00:49:46,120 --> 00:49:49,880 the service of God, see that you serve him with all your heart, 579 00:49:49,920 --> 00:49:59,200 might, mind and strength, that who that ye may stand blameless 580 00:49:59,200 --> 00:50:04,160 before God at the last day. Therefore, if you have desires 581 00:50:04,160 --> 00:50:07,200 to serve God, you're called to the work. 582 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:10,360 For behold, the field is white already to harvest. 583 00:50:10,720 --> 00:50:15,560 And lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same 584 00:50:15,560 --> 00:50:24,600 layeth up in store that who? That he perisheth not, but 585 00:50:24,600 --> 00:50:28,160 bringeth salvation to whose soul? 586 00:50:29,000 --> 00:50:34,000 To his soul. And then the promise ask, And 587 00:50:34,000 --> 00:50:38,720 you shall receive knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 588 00:50:38,800 --> 00:50:43,320 Amen. He also has repeatedly said 589 00:50:43,320 --> 00:50:47,920 this, Behold, the field is white already to harvest. 590 00:50:47,920 --> 00:50:52,400 Therefore, whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his 591 00:50:52,400 --> 00:50:57,640 sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, That who 592 00:50:58,760 --> 00:51:05,560 that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in 593 00:51:05,560 --> 00:51:09,200 the Kingdom of God. And then he repeats it. 594 00:51:09,200 --> 00:51:13,840 Yeah, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is 595 00:51:13,840 --> 00:51:16,880 called of God. Therefore, if you will ask of 596 00:51:16,880 --> 00:51:21,920 me, you shall receive. If you will knock, it shall be 597 00:51:21,920 --> 00:51:27,480 opened unto you now, as you have asked, Behold, I say unto you, 598 00:51:27,480 --> 00:51:32,120 keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the 599 00:51:32,120 --> 00:51:36,480 cause of Zion. On another occasion the Lord 600 00:51:36,480 --> 00:51:42,800 said, Therefore thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and 601 00:51:42,800 --> 00:51:47,720 then this marvelous promise, and your sins are forgiven you. 602 00:51:48,440 --> 00:51:53,600 One might reasonably expect a different admonition, like 603 00:51:53,600 --> 00:51:57,360 thrust in your sickle with your might to save the souls of other 604 00:51:57,360 --> 00:52:00,800 men, that they may ask and receive. 605 00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:10,080 But the promise is rather your salvation, your redemption, that 606 00:52:10,080 --> 00:52:17,040 ye may stand blameless and receive answers to your prayers. 607 00:52:18,760 --> 00:52:24,360 The Lord asked, how long can rolling waters remain impure? 608 00:52:26,080 --> 00:52:30,760 Rolling waters seem to suggest continual engagement in the work 609 00:52:30,760 --> 00:52:33,440 of the Lord. And then continuing on. 610 00:52:33,440 --> 00:52:38,160 He says, what power shall stay the heavens as well? 611 00:52:38,160 --> 00:52:42,440 Might, might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the 612 00:52:42,480 --> 00:52:47,160 Missouri River and its decreed course, or to turn it upstream, 613 00:52:47,160 --> 00:52:50,720 as to hinder the Almighty God from pouring down knowledge from 614 00:52:50,720 --> 00:52:58,240 heaven Upon the heads of who? Upon the heads of the Latter Day 615 00:52:58,240 --> 00:53:04,480 Saints? The Lord also said very clearly 616 00:53:04,480 --> 00:53:08,200 to Nephi. And blessed are they who shall 617 00:53:08,200 --> 00:53:14,800 seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, this day, for they 618 00:53:14,800 --> 00:53:17,880 shall have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. 619 00:53:19,080 --> 00:53:22,920 And if they endure unto the end, the implication is seeking to 620 00:53:22,920 --> 00:53:26,640 bring forth Zion. If they endure to the end, they 621 00:53:26,640 --> 00:53:31,680 shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the 622 00:53:31,680 --> 00:53:37,800 everlasting Kingdom of the Lamb. And whoso shall publish peace. 623 00:53:37,800 --> 00:53:42,800 Yeah, tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains 624 00:53:43,400 --> 00:53:49,480 shall they be? So again, I know that's another 625 00:53:49,480 --> 00:53:56,600 long list of scriptures, but they they clearly reveal that 626 00:53:56,600 --> 00:54:02,600 there are always 2 consequences that flow from engagement in 627 00:54:02,600 --> 00:54:07,880 God's work and building up the church, the gift and power of 628 00:54:07,880 --> 00:54:11,720 the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. 629 00:54:13,800 --> 00:54:20,120 God's greatest gifts are His Son, His Spirit and His life. 630 00:54:21,080 --> 00:54:26,640 When you engage in the work of His Son, the other two gifts are 631 00:54:26,640 --> 00:54:32,080 the result. Some step back from committed 632 00:54:32,080 --> 00:54:36,960 activity and service in the church, saying I don't need the 633 00:54:36,960 --> 00:54:41,160 church to teach my children good moral principles, they say. 634 00:54:42,480 --> 00:54:48,280 Others might rightly say there are good people everywhere, in 635 00:54:48,280 --> 00:54:51,720 every faith and walk of life. I don't need the church to be a 636 00:54:51,720 --> 00:54:55,080 good person. Other people seem to be happy, 637 00:54:55,080 --> 00:55:00,520 So why do I need the church? Those sentiments align with a 638 00:55:00,520 --> 00:55:05,160 growing trend generally cutting across all religions to withdraw 639 00:55:05,160 --> 00:55:08,000 and not return even after marriage and children. 640 00:55:09,160 --> 00:55:12,400 More people are not only concluding they do not need 641 00:55:12,400 --> 00:55:16,000 religion to be a good person and teach moral principles to their 642 00:55:16,000 --> 00:55:21,240 children, but they also view religion in conflict with their 643 00:55:21,240 --> 00:55:24,440 heightened and exaggerated worship at the throne of 644 00:55:24,440 --> 00:55:29,040 tolerance and do not view organized religion as made in 645 00:55:29,040 --> 00:55:35,280 the image of that God. They see religion as intolerant 646 00:55:35,280 --> 00:55:37,800 and therefore not worthy of affiliation. 647 00:55:39,320 --> 00:55:43,480 Although that kind of thinking is grounded in some truth, it 648 00:55:43,480 --> 00:55:48,840 leads to a false conclusion because it is also based on 2 649 00:55:48,840 --> 00:55:52,920 fallacies. The first is the 650 00:55:52,920 --> 00:55:56,960 misunderstanding and narrow obsession with tolerance above 651 00:55:57,000 --> 00:56:01,720 everything else, even God. The second problem is that it 652 00:56:01,720 --> 00:56:04,720 misperceives the purpose of the church. 653 00:56:07,000 --> 00:56:12,200 Yes, of course, it is true. There are good people 654 00:56:12,200 --> 00:56:17,200 everywhere, and members of the church have no corner on 655 00:56:17,200 --> 00:56:21,040 goodness. If the only purpose of the 656 00:56:21,040 --> 00:56:24,880 church is to make bad men good and good men better than we 657 00:56:24,880 --> 00:56:29,200 might, we might all look for another path less rigorous. 658 00:56:29,200 --> 00:56:34,440 Because make no mistake, the Lord requires everything, all we 659 00:56:34,440 --> 00:56:41,320 have, time, talents, even our will to build up His Kingdom. 660 00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:47,360 Almost all religions coincide with the common purpose to 661 00:56:47,400 --> 00:56:52,760 improve mankind. If, however, If, however, the 662 00:56:52,760 --> 00:56:56,480 purpose of the Church is more, much more. 663 00:56:56,720 --> 00:57:01,600 If its purpose is to make available the full measure of 664 00:57:01,600 --> 00:57:06,520 the gift of God's Son Jesus Christ, including the blessings 665 00:57:06,520 --> 00:57:10,800 of redemption of sin by his atonement and the fullness of 666 00:57:10,800 --> 00:57:13,960 the Gospel. If the purpose of the church is 667 00:57:13,960 --> 00:57:19,360 to confer the gift of God's Spirit and engage his children 668 00:57:19,400 --> 00:57:23,160 in his work. If it is to seal families 669 00:57:23,160 --> 00:57:27,760 together eternally and ultimately confer the gift of 670 00:57:27,760 --> 00:57:32,400 God's life, eternal life, to His children on both sides of the 671 00:57:32,400 --> 00:57:38,200 veil, then, then it not only makes a great deal of difference 672 00:57:38,200 --> 00:57:43,520 to which church you belong, but how thoroughly you engage in its 673 00:57:43,520 --> 00:57:51,240 work and how long you stay. We qualify initially for the 674 00:57:51,240 --> 00:57:57,040 gift of the Holy Ghost by faith in Christ, repentance, baptism 675 00:57:57,040 --> 00:58:00,160 for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the 676 00:58:00,160 --> 00:58:05,680 gift of the Holy Ghost. The gospel of Jesus Christ sets 677 00:58:05,680 --> 00:58:11,520 the course, but we retain listen to this, We retain a remission 678 00:58:11,520 --> 00:58:17,120 of our sins, and we retain the companionship of the Holy Ghost 679 00:58:17,120 --> 00:58:21,760 and greater measure ultimately, potentially the fullness of the 680 00:58:21,760 --> 00:58:28,800 Holy Ghost to ultimately receive eternal life by enduring to the 681 00:58:28,880 --> 00:58:34,560 end, engaged in God's work is active contributing members of 682 00:58:34,800 --> 00:58:39,400 His church. An integral part of enduring to 683 00:58:39,400 --> 00:58:43,160 the end is building up the Kingdom of God. 684 00:58:45,560 --> 00:58:47,360 Again quoting from the Scriptures. 685 00:58:47,360 --> 00:58:51,080 And it came to pass the that the Lord of the vineyard sent his 686 00:58:51,080 --> 00:58:54,160 servant, and the servant went and did as the Lord had 687 00:58:54,160 --> 00:58:58,040 commanded him, and brought other servants, and they were few. 688 00:58:59,640 --> 00:59:04,000 The Lord, the Lord of the vineyard said unto them, Go to 689 00:59:04,480 --> 00:59:08,040 and labor in the vineyard with your mind. 690 00:59:09,200 --> 00:59:12,520 For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my 691 00:59:12,520 --> 00:59:15,760 vineyard. For the end is not at hand, and 692 00:59:15,760 --> 00:59:18,960 the season speedily, speedily cometh. 693 00:59:19,800 --> 00:59:25,840 And if you labor with your might, he said with me, if you 694 00:59:25,840 --> 00:59:30,560 labor with your might with me, ye shall have joy in the fruit 695 00:59:30,560 --> 00:59:36,480 which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which shall 696 00:59:36,520 --> 00:59:39,520 soon come. And it came to pass that the 697 00:59:39,520 --> 00:59:42,880 servants did go and labor with their mites, and the Lord of the 698 00:59:42,880 --> 00:59:48,320 vineyard vineyard labored also with them, and they did obey the 699 00:59:48,320 --> 00:59:51,520 commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things. 700 00:59:51,720 --> 00:59:55,760 And then continuing on again, I know this is a long a long 701 00:59:55,760 --> 00:59:58,560 quote. And it came to pass that when 702 00:59:58,560 --> 01:00:02,680 the Lord of the vineyard saw that this is fruit was good, and 703 01:00:02,680 --> 01:00:06,800 that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his 704 01:00:06,800 --> 01:00:11,360 servants and said unto them, Behold, for the last time have 705 01:00:11,360 --> 01:00:16,240 we have we nourished my vineyard? 706 01:00:16,800 --> 01:00:21,200 We nourished my vineyard. And thou beholdest that I have 707 01:00:21,200 --> 01:00:25,600 done according to my will. And I have preserved the natural 708 01:00:25,600 --> 01:00:29,000 food, fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the 709 01:00:29,000 --> 01:00:34,600 beginning. And blessed art thou, for 710 01:00:34,600 --> 01:00:41,040 because ye have been diligent and laboring with me in my 711 01:00:41,040 --> 01:00:46,080 vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and it brought 712 01:00:46,080 --> 01:00:49,960 unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more 713 01:00:49,960 --> 01:00:53,960 corrupted, and the bad is castaway. 714 01:00:54,400 --> 01:00:58,800 Behold, shall ye have joy with me because of the fruit of my 715 01:00:58,800 --> 01:01:03,440 vineyard. Those who endure to the end, 716 01:01:03,440 --> 01:01:08,640 seeking to bring forth Sion shall receive God's greatest 717 01:01:08,640 --> 01:01:13,840 gifts, His Son, His Spirit, and His life. 718 01:01:16,080 --> 01:01:22,440 If you want to get close to God, engage in His work. 719 01:01:25,360 --> 01:01:30,720 In the next episode, we will continue this same discussion 720 01:01:30,720 --> 01:01:35,200 about enduring to the end. I hope that you will join me 721 01:01:35,200 --> 01:01:36,880 then. Thank you.