High Council Speaking Assignment for Sep 04

Fox Run Ward 19 Sep 04

P.D. Laws

[This address was never given as Hurricane Ivan struck Pensacola several days before (16 Sep 04)]

Why do the righteous suffer?

Why do "bad" things happen to "good" people?

Why do the innocent die young and the wicked live long?

Why is the cup always half-empty?

Is it all a matter of perspective?

Largely I think it is; OR a loss of perspective, a forgetting of the real reason we are on this earth.

Being lost in the Uintas

Elder Dallin H Oaks of the 12 has said:

Few experiences illustrate mortal feelings of joy better than the recovery of something precious we fear we have lost. The scriptures illustrate this experience. In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd invited his friends to rejoice with him, for he had "found [his] sheep which was lost." (Luke 15:6.) "Likewise," Jesus explained, "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." (Luke 15:7.) In another parable, a father rejoiced in the return of a prodigal son, explaining, "For this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." (Luke 15:32.)

These experiences are symbolic of our eternal journey. The Fall has separated us from our heavenly home. We must choose which way we will go. Satan, who was separated from God and permanently lost, would like to see our separation become permanent also. Father Lehi taught that Satan's purpose is to make men miserable. "Because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, [Satan] sought also the misery of all mankind." (2 Ne. 2:18; see also 2 Ne. 2:27.) Those who yield to his enticings are on the way to the same miserable destiny as he. Shut out from the presence of God, they will be in "a state of misery and endless torment." (Mosiah 3:25; see also 2 Ne. 2:5.) As the Lord said about the wicked, "misery shall be their doom." (Moses 7:37.)

Much of the misery encouraged by Satan comes from losses. Satan experienced that kind of misery when he lost his first estate. Now he tries to inflict similar losses on those who have proceeded to mortality, the second estate. Satan encourages a loss of virtue, a loss of integrity, a loss of reputation, a loss of ideals, a loss of wholesome associations, and even a loss of life.

In contrast, our Heavenly Father created us to resist and to overcome such losses, to be whole, to have joy. He wants us to return to him, and he has provided a way for that reunion to be achieved. No wonder we say that his gospel is "a voice of mercy from heaven; … a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy." (D&C 128:19.)

The afflictions of the Saints shall be for their good (D&C 98 1-3)

1. VERILY I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament--the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord.

The Lord will fight the battles of Zion

D&C 105:Verse 14-19

14. For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil--I will fight your battles.

The Lord fights Israel's battles (footnote for fight) in Joshua chapter 10: the Lord halts the sun and moon in their movements and casts down great "stones" upon the Amorites and their allies in defense of the Israelites this action being summarized in this manner in verse 14 (Josh 10:14):

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

15 Behold, the destroyer I have sent forth to destroy and lay waste mine enemies; and not many years hence they shall not be left to pollute mine heritage, and to blaspheme my name upon the lands which I have consecrated for the gathering together of my saints.

16 Behold, I have commanded my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., to say unto the strength of my house, even my warriors, my young men, and middle-aged, to gather together for the redemption of my people, and throw down the towers of mine enemies, and scatter their watchmen;

17 But the strength of mine house have not hearkened unto my words.

18 But inasmuch as there are those who have hearkened unto my words, I have prepared a blessing and an endowment for them, if they continue faithful.

19 I have heard their prayers, and will accept their offering; and it is expedient in me that they should be brought thus far for a trial of their faith.

D&C 108:7: Revelation given in response to Lyman Sherman who had been a member of the original First Quorum of the Seventy (having been released a month previous to this revelation) for 2 years (1835-37)

Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.

President Hinckley commented on this scripture in these terms in the 1982 April General Conference:

"We live in a society that feeds on criticism. Faultfinding is the substance of columnists and commentators, and there is too much of this among our own people. It is so easy to find fault, and to resist doing so requires much of discipline. But if as a people we will build and sustain one another, the Lord will bless us with the strength to weather every storm and continue to move forward through every adversity. The enemy of truth would divide us and cultivate within us attitudes of criticism which, if permitted to prevail, will only deter us in the pursuit of our great divinely given goal. We cannot afford to permit it to happen. We must close ranks and march shoulder to shoulder, the strong helping the weak, those with much assisting those with little. No power on earth can stop this work if we shall so conduct ourselves."

Another commentator has said:

Strengthen Your Brethren

The second area of counsel to Lyman Sherman dealt with his relationship with his brethren. The Lord instructed him to strengthen his brethren in the following four ways: (See D&C 108:7)

1. All conversation

Regardless of our position or station in life, we all may have an influence upon someone by the way we speak about the leaders of the church. We may be the means by which someone follows or fails to follow counsel of the leaders. Someone's decision on this matter may be a direct result of the influence we have on their confidence in the leadership of the church. Speaking of the effect our conversations may have upon the attitude of others, Elder George F. Richards taught:

When we say anything bad about the leaders of the Church, whether true or false, we tend to impair their influence and their usefulness and are thus working against the Lord and his cause. When we speak well of our leaders, we tend to increase their influence and usefulness in the service of the Lord. In his absence our brother's character when assailed, should be defended, thus doing to others as we would be done by. The Lord needs the help of all of us. Are we helping or are we hindering? (CR, April 1947, p.24)

2. All Prayers

Many times the presiding authorities of the church have testified that they have been strengthened because of the prayers of the membership. One illustration of such testimony was given by President Spencer W. Kimball:

I have all my life sustained my leaders, praying for their welfare, and I have in these past years felt a great power coming to me from similar prayers of the saints, raised to heaven on my behalf. (BYU Speeches of the Year, 1979, p. 164)

Prayer is a powerful tool. People can be strengthened through the prayers of others. There can be no doubt but that the leaders of the church are stronger because of the prayers of the membership in their behalf than they would be without the united faith and prayers of the saints.

3. All Exhortations

Exhortations means teachings. As members of the Lord's church we are responsible to teach what the presiding brethren teach. We have no right to interpret or teach anything contrary to what they have said. We can strengthen the brethren by teaching and stressing that which they have declared to be true. Through our teaching, their witness is extended by repetition to additional listeners. Thus, their strength and effectiveness is increased.

4. All Doings

When our actions, or doings, are in harmony with what the presiding brethren counsel, we are strengthening their position as well as our own. Where our lives reflect the counsel of church authorities, their influence is extended through our lives and thus they become a stronger influence for good in the earth. Strong leadership derives much of its strength from support.

It is not to be suggested that church leaders are infallible. They are mortal men. However, the Lord works through these men to bless the membership of His church. Such blessings are predicated upon the membership following their counsel, regardless of their human weaknesses. The prophet Joseph Smith taught the saints to look past the human weakness of the leadership and render obedience to their counsel. He said:

I showed them that it was generally in consequence of the brethren disregarding or disobeying counsel that they became dissatisfied and murmured; and many when they arrive here, were dissatisfied with the conduct of some of the Saints, because everything was not done perfectly right, and they get angry, and thus the devil gets advantage over them to destroy them. I told them I was but a man, and they must not expect me to be perfect; if they expected perfection from me, I should expect it from them; but if they would bear with my infirmities and the infirmities of the brethren, I would likewise bear with their infirmities. (TPJS, p. 268)

The same command given to Peter in Luke 22:32 (28-34) shortly after the Lord introduced the ordnance of the Sacrament:

28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

D&C 15:

Hearken, my servant John, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer.

For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth.

And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone--

For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.

Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given you according to my commandments.

And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.

The Stake President has challenged all of the Stake Leadership (and I'm challenging you) to plead with the Lord for a missionary experience in the next 90 days. Finding someone (or a family of someones) for the missionaries to teach the Gospel.

2 Nephi 26:18

Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed have been destroyed speedily; and the multitude of their terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away--yea, thus saith the Lord God: It shall be at an instant, suddenly--

2 Nephi 33:12

And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.

Moroni 10:3-5

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down unto the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.