Brother and sisters, aloha! I have been very fortunate to have married way above my league, and I thank the Lord each day for bringing us together. I earnestly pray for, and invite, the Spirit of the Lord to be with each of us during the time we are here this morning, that we all might be edified. I am a firm believer that when we put ourselves in situations where the Holy Ghost can teach us, great things can happen. This may often be somewhat unrelated to the actual meeting, family home evening, or devotional that we are participating in – as we exercise our faith and seek the Lord’s available blessings and inspiration.
In our family, we have three boys, followed by our two girls. A few of you have met our youngest daughter, Katy. Our three boys were all teenagers at the same time – something I didn’t know on some days if I would ever survive! We did our best to continue to have family prayer and scripture study, but often it was with children in all sorts of contorted positions. There was a particular time that we actually were all kneeling together and happened to be in a circle. As the prayer was being said, I realized Katy had stood up and was walking around a bit and talking, which in and of itself wasn’t all that unusual given her age and learning at the time. It finally dawned on me that she was walking around the circle and was playing duck, duck, goose! We are grateful for the unconditional joy and love that she brings into our lives each and every day.
Since our children are all dual citizens, one of Katy’s first friends here at BYU–Hawaii is a fellow Aussie, Matthew Duffus. Last year, for a class project, he made a video that I’d like to take a couple minutes and share with you. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_6pKG3aJWI).
There are a few reasons I have taken the time to share this. The first is that we of course love her, and I was hoping that watching it might calm my soul as I stand here. The second is that because Down syndrome comes from a person having a third chromosome in the 21st pair within each of us, this past Friday – 3/21 – was World Down Syndrome Day. The third reason is just to provide a small shout out to the great work that you do as students, as represented by Matt’s efforts.
The fourth reason is somewhat related to the third. As I think of you wonderful students and this great campus, about as diverse as the world has to offer in terms of nationalities and cultures, there may be times when things may not always go as smoothly as we’d like. I remember a zone conference where our mission president tried to help some struggling companionships recognize the idea shared in Matt’s video about Katy – that we really are more alike than different. So whether you are from Taiwan or Tonga, Chile or China, France or Florida, I invite you to look with increased awareness toward the similarities that you find with those you meet here – and in areas where you do find differences in tastes, preferences, cultures, attitudes, and so forth, be sure to celebrate them in a way that will enrich your experience and your lives like few other times may be able to do.
With that plug for awareness and love for all those around us, let me move toward some of the things I’d like to share with you today. I begin with a story from H. David Burton, former presiding bishop of the Church.1 Like me, Bishop Burton served a mission in Australia. Through a unique set of circumstances, he had the opportunity to play golf with the legendary Arnold Palmer in an event in Melbourne near the completion of his mission. Bishop Burton expressed how nervous he was, given both the level – and legend – of his playing partner, let alone the fact that he’d not swung a golf club in the two years he’d been on his mission.
He joked that he hit his drive, then his second and third shots before arriving at Mr. Palmer’s ball for him to take his second shot. (I feel the same when I play with Brother Bliss over here – or most anyone else for that matter!) Bishop Burton described the “conversation between …. Palmer and [the] young caddie he was using for the first time. The young caddie, while handing Mr. Palmer his club, told him the distance to the flag was 165 yards, there was an unseen stream on the left, [with] … long and treacherous rough on the right. In a very kind, but firm way, Mr. Palmer reminded the young man that the only information he required was the distance to the hole. He further suggested he didn’t want to lose focus by worrying about what was on the right or left.” In my words, Arnold Palmer wanted to keep his eyes on the flag, which marked the hole, or destination, he was aiming for.
It is my hope today to use experiences, scriptures, and quotes to testify of ideas or principles which may help each of us as we establish and maintain our spiritual focus, keeping our eyes on the flag and avoiding concerns about what may be on the right or left.
We live in a world that is glorious and wonderful with rich blessings and great advantages all made available to us through the inspiration of heaven. We live in a world where the enemy of our soul, Satan the Master Deceiver, would take those blessings and advantages, then tweak, twist, and turn them in an ever so tempting and slight a fashion so as to alter their intended purpose. We live in a world of 24-hour news channels, the Internet, iPods, smartphones, computers, tablets, and other gadgets coupled with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and hours of YouTube videos – all wonderful and good to the point where feelings come that we can’t live without them but which can also be utilized by Satan to create noise and distraction in order to confuse our focus and diminish our goals – including our ability at times to feel the influence and promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Now, lest you think I am immune to this, let me share an experience. This is the first iPod that my wife gave me. I felt like I was actually the last one in my family – or even on the earth – to get one. For many of the years I spent in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, I used public transportation to travel to and from work. A co-worker I associated closely with is now retired and serving a mission with her husband in Virginia. For the last several years before coming to Hawaii, she and I lived in the same area north of Salt Lake, so from time to time, we would end up on the same bus going home. One day, we had left separately for the elevators, but as I exited the building and was getting my iPod in place for the ride home, I ended up catching up to her. With my ear buds in place, she asked me if I ever had any quiet time. I told her that although the ear buds were there, often nothing was playing, and I just used them to send a signal to others that I didn’t want to have a conversation on the way home – and that actually did help me get some quiet time. However, I still reflected on her question. Just how much quiet time do I provide for myself, and how does this impact my responsiveness to the Spirit? Even now, if you visit my office, there will be music playing because I don’t like it to be “too quiet.” The same is true for you. How much “quiet time” do you provide yourself?
President James E. Faust said, “I … believe that in the future the opposition from Satan will be both more subtle and more open. While in some ways it may be more blatant, it will be masked with greater sophistication and cunning. We will need greater spirituality to perceive all the forms of evil and greater strength to resist it.”
If you’ll forgive the personal indulgences, I’d like to share a few other experiences that have helped me learn to be more aware of developing greater spiritual strength by keeping my eyes on the flag in different ways.
The Pack: Since my parents had both been raised in Idaho, our family moved from California, where I was born, to Idaho Falls near the end of my 5th grade year. Over the summer (what little bit of summer there is in Idaho), we looked for and bought a home in the small town of Shelley, just south of Idaho Falls. There, beginning with my 6th grade year, my parents remained for nearly 30 years. One of the first friends I made after our arrival in Shelley is also named Mike. For the first several years of our friendship, exactly one foot separated us in height. Even though he eventually played four years of football at BYU, he stopped at 6’4” while I, on the other hand, closed the gap and grew to the lofty 5’7” stature standing before you today.
As an Aaronic Priesthood holder, I was active in the Boy Scout program. As a deacon, I recall one particular overnight trip when we were to backpack into our campsite. Contrary to the counsel of my father, I opted to use an old wood framed backpack and then carry about everything imaginable with me for the campout. We were not far into the hike toward camp when it became apparent that even with good intentions, my inexperience and lack of listening to wise counsel was costing me dearly.
How fortunate I was to have not only a very kind but a much larger friend who graciously offered to switch packs with me. I recall being able to tell that it even became a struggle for Mike to carry my pack, but he marched ahead, and we eventually arrived at the campsite.
I recall the gratitude I felt then, and now, for a great and kind friend who was willing to literally lift the burden from my back that I was unable, or unprepared, to bear. I share two thoughts today as it relates to this experience. First is the reminder for us all regarding how we should approach the gathering and loading of our pack for the continuing march through mortality. For those of us that have been involved in attending church for a while, we know the things that we should be putting in our pack. They include, but are not limited to, daily prayer and scripture study, attendance at our church meetings, living the law of chastity, keeping the law of tithing, and living worthy of a temple recommend - accompanied by actually using it by attendance at the temple. Second is to testify of the manner in which the Savior, as our ultimately kind and much larger spiritual friend, will strengthen and share in the assembled burdens we carry. We keep our eyes on the flag as we recognize that He has invited all who labor and are heavy laden to come unto Him, that He may give us rest. This story is that of the pack!
The Clothesline: Let me share another story about the growing up years in Shelley and my friend Mike. The city blocks that surrounded our homes were very large but also generally did not have many fences to create undue obstacles. This made for some great open spaces in and around many of the homes and provided a very efficient way to get through the block often without detection. I have heard that some of the local youth would use this as a means of running away, perhaps after pelting a passing car with snowballs or leaving the front porch of a home where the doorbell had just been pressed. I am not sure what possessed these youth to do such things since of course Mike and I primarily used these backyard areas as forms of exercise to relax our minds in between studying for upcoming chemistry or physics tests.
On once such studious occasion, we were moving at a high rate of speed through the dark center of the city block. I happened to be in front on this occasion when all of a sudden I heard this crazy noise that I don’t really know how to describe, associated with a thud, and followed by the moaning of a wounded soul. As I returned, making sure that no man was left behind, I found Mike crumpled on the ground in a heap and clearly in pain. Upon further review of the situation, I realized that we had run directly toward a clothesline. I had passed successfully under it without even knowing it was there. Mike on the other hand… well, not so much! The clothesline had caught him just above the eye and had planted him ever so harshly upon the ground.
I have had two primary thoughts on this experience over the years. First, we need to ever be conscious of those that we may be leading – either knowingly or not – and the paths upon which we might take them, with the second observation really being the polar opposite – we need to be conscious of those we might be following and the paths upon which they might lead us. Now, I was leading in good faith but without all the information or awareness of forces that surrounded us, and Mike was exerting the same faith in his following. Of course, we enhance our safety when we keep our eyes fixed on the Savior and His prophets. We also keep our eyes on the flag when we not only choose good friends but also when we choose to be good friends. This story is that of the clothesline.
The Voice: Nearly 20 years ago, our second son Brendan was born about six weeks after I had been called into a bishopric. With my Sunday morning schedule, Annette would get the boys ready by herself and make their way to church. Often, the first time I would see my family awake on Sunday was as I was sitting on the stand. One Saturday night, I knew that Annette and the boys didn’t feel real great, but she had told me to go ahead and fill my assignments the next morning. It was a Fast Sunday, and during our sacrament meeting, there were four babies to be blessed – a large number for our ward. With all the resulting visitors, the chapel was absolutely packed, and I had not seen my family, so I just presumed they hadn’t made it. During the meeting, I suddenly heard a tiny cry and knew immediately that it was Brendan. I looked and looked until I finally found Annette over to my left against the wall. Earlier, I had been trying to help the deacons get a microphone ready for the baby blessings, and it hadn’t been cooperating, so I hadn’t noticed Annette and the boys come in on the other side of the chapel. After I took a seat and the meeting started, she had been hidden from my view by the family in front of her.
For me, this story produces enough different thoughts that could be a talk all by itself, but let me just quickly mention a couple. Why did this little voice stick out to me in the way that it did, amongst all the other activity going on in a very full, and on that day, a somewhat noisy chapel? In the tenth chapter of John, we know the Savior shares a teaching that is particularly important to us in the Church, as it relates to such things as people in The Book of Mormon. The Savior notes that He has other sheep that are not of that fold, but then later in the chapter, he says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”3 In this instance, it was a voice I was familiar with and could pick rather easily out of the crowd. In Helaman chapter 5, the wicked who have imprisoned Nephi and Lehi hear a voice, and verse 30 says, “And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul.”
A number of years later, following the signs of the Savior’s death, when the Nephite people had gathered around the temple at Bountiful, “ they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.”4
I believe that one of the most important things we can do in this life is to learn how the Holy Ghost interacts with, or teaches, us. We all know or say things such as “I am a visual learner” or “I learn best when such and such occurs.” We are all individuals with unique talents, abilities, and traits, so to me, it stands to reason that the Holy Ghost will then interact with each of us in ways that are unique and specific to us. We keep our eyes on the flag when we learn to specifically recognize how the Holy Ghost teaches and prompts us individually in our lives. This story is that of the voice.
The Talk: When our third son Josh was about three, we were at the Sunday session of our stake conference. He was actively coloring in some of the Living Scriptures books we had, which some of you may have heard of or had in your homes. I naturally presumed he wasn’t listening to the proceedings of the conference. One of our dear friends, then serving as a counselor in the stake presidency, was speaking. He was talking about the challenges we all face in the world today. This included the wickedness that comes as people don’t honor and live by the law of chastity. As one sentence was shared, Josh stopped his coloring, looked up at me, and said, “Dad, that man said sex. That is not appropriate.”
I of course knew this wasn’t the time or place to try and have a discussion as to why it was OK that our stake presidency had counseled us on these important matters, so I just agreed with him, and we moved on. Now what was said and done was entirely appropriate, but it does remind me that we keep our eyes on the flag when we always strive to be appropriate, for we never know who is watching or listening. This story is that of the talk.
The Beacon: After battling cancer for four years, my mother passed away in May 2006. My father had also faced his own health challenges in the preceding years. In May 2007, my father was placed in the hospital as he continued to feel poorly, and the doctors sought to better understand these challenges. I received an urgent call one day from my dad’s youngest sister who said he was being moved from the hospital he’d been in to one in Pocatello, where she happens to live, and that things were not looking good. I immediately left work, headed to Idaho, and spent the next four days with him while a number of tests continued, and he was stabilized. I prepared to return home on Sunday evening and told Dad I’d be back on Wednesday, as I anticipated attending meetings scheduled at BYU–Idaho on Thursday.
My dad took a sudden turn for the worse on Monday evening and for all intents and purposes was likely being kept alive by medical equipment and personnel. After the doctors assured me he was comfortable and given the fact that there were others who desired time to get there to see him, I had determined that any and all machines would be turned off on Wednesday after I arrived in Idaho again.
When I arrived on Wednesday evening, Dad was now sleeping most of the time. My auntie from California flew in that night and was picked up in Salt Lake City by the auntie I referred to earlier, and they drove to Pocatello, arriving just before midnight. When they arrived, Dad actually woke up, gave a happy smile when seeing his sister from Pocatello, but then his eyes and face really lit up, and he gave a huge smile when he saw his sister from California because he had not expected to see her. It was a face of joy I can still see in my mind’s eye now, as if it had happened last night. After a few minutes, he essentially went back to sleep. It reminded me that his mind and spirit was still very willing and able though his mortal body was worn out. That actually made the decision I had made even more difficult.
As I decided to leave it all in the Lord’s hands and let things take their course, I was actually a little surprised when we prepared to leave and one of the nurses told me that it wouldn’t take long. I had anticipated maybe a couple days or so but didn’t really know what to expect. My aunties and I finally prepared to leave the hospital after 1:30 AM. Though I have many times since wished that I had chosen, or found, a way to remain at the hospital, I was probably tired, dazed, and didn’t really know what to do. If I stayed, my aunties would have wanted to stay, and I knew they were tired, and I didn’t want them up all night. I had a hotel room waiting in Rexburg and meetings scheduled that would start in just a few hours, along with some other associated issues, and all the scenarios quickly played over and over in my mind. So, I finally decided to go ahead and drive towards BYU–Idaho – a bit over an hour away.
As I approached the lower valley area, driving toward Rexburg, there it stood, beautifully situated on the hill and gleaming in the night sky: the glorious Rexburg Idaho Temple. Keep in mind that this took place eight months before the temple was dedicated, so thinking back now, I am actually somewhat surprised it was all light up. For me, in that moment, if felt like a tremendous tender mercy from the Lord. My mother had returned the year before to that God who had given her life, and now, as it turned out within another hour or so, so too would my father. It felt as if the Lord took this opportunity to personally assure me of the truths of His plan and the eternal blessings of the holy temple. We keep our eyes on the flag when we follow the counsel given by President Howard W. Hunter “to look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of [our] membership.” This story is that of the beacon.
Now, like each of you have, there are more experiences from life’s journey that could be shared, but let me switch gears a little bit from those for now. You will recall several instances in The Book of Mormon where strong spiritual experiences or events are described in some very unique ways. Let’s identify just three: First, in Mosiah 4:1, we read, “And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.”
The next two are closely related, literally. In Alma, chapters 18 and 22, we read first where Lamoni, then later his father, fall to the earth as if they were dead, following the teachings shared by Ammon and Aaron, the sons of Mosiah.
While the action, or reaction, demonstrated by these experiences is real, they are nonetheless perhaps not as common in our day. We should not wrongly consider, however, that the experiences we may have are any less real or any less powerful to our soul. As you sit here today, ask yourself this question: “When was the last time I had a great spiritual experience?” The answers may range from “It’s been a very long time” to “Early this morning” when, perhaps you did as President Hannemann counseled last month and gave the Lord the first hour of the day so that He could be with you the next 23.
Though we can’t force things of the Spirit, another question might be “What can I do to have more, or greater, spiritual experiences?” Elder Henry B. Eyring reminded us that “great faith has a short shelf life,”5 so we must continually refresh our testimony and spirit. I invite you today to seriously consider how you can increase the frequency and power of the spiritual experiences you are having. Think back to the earlier story about the voice and hearing Brendan’s small cry in the crowded chapel and how we keep our eyes on the flag when we learn to specifically recognize how the Holy Ghost teaches and prompts us individually in our lives.
One of the challenges noted earlier is the constant noise of life, including full calendaring and lots of technology. Elder Boyd K. Packer has taught that “reverence invites revelation.”6 Elder Richard G. Scott has said, “He will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer them. However, His answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments (italics added) when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence, you should find periods of quiet time to recognize when you are being instructed and strengthened.”7
With a work assignment that took me there, this summer will mark 20 years since I first visited the Sacred Grove in New York, a little over a month after Brendan was born. It was a wonderful and uplifting experience. In order that the Spirit might be more effective in strengthening and instructing us and that reverence might invite revelation, we all need to find our own “sacred grove” in life. We need to make time to set aside the challenges and noise of the day to make time to ponder and pray. As we do this, the Lord can heal, succor, and strengthen us. One definition of the word “succor” – which, among other places in the scriptures, is found in Alma chapter 7, which we’ve heard several times this semester – means “to help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering.” Imagine in your mind the Lord’s intense desire to run to, or succor, us in our times of need. We may feel there isn’t enough time for these quiet moments, but I testify that application of this practice will increase the effectiveness of our days. Prayer and pondering will be anchors to our souls to help keep our eyes on the flag by seeking these reverent and sacred times.
As we consider the need to keep our eyes on the flag and move forward without distraction, remember the very familiar story of Nephi and his brothers. Think first of the time in 1 Nephi, chapter 7 when they bound him with cords and planned his destruction. Then jump ahead to chapter 18, when they are on the ship, and Nephi is bound again. In this instance, not only did the Liahona stop working, but they were “driven back upon the waters for the space of four days.”8 Think about the lack of progress that occurs when our eyes are not on the flag – the time and energy that is spent in unproductive efforts by those who, in this case, the scriptures tell us “knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.”9
I hope that we will never see the “strait and narrow path”10 as one that is restrictive. I see it totally as the opposite – it is liberating and empowering to our souls to not only know who we are and to know God’s plan, but it then becomes easier to not get blown about by every wind of doctrine. Sometimes, it can be the challenge of making it to our designated campground with an overburdened pack, it can be four days-worth of progress lost on the sea, or at other times, it can be so much more. Coupled with this, we should never be concerned about acting “too good” or being “too wholesome.” We need not be prudish, and although we should avoid being holier than thou, we should never avoid being holy. We keep our eyes on the flag and are greatly empowered when we set aside any sins or distractions that may so “easily beset”11 us.
Elder Robert D. Hales has taught that “when we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures.” What a great blessing to have the scriptures we do, which includes the words of the living prophets. Not only can we talk directly to God, but He can, and I testify does, speak directly to us. Consistent and persistent effort is required to truly bring the full scope of the Spirit found in the scriptures to our lives. Elder Hales continues, “If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline.”12
President Henry B. Eyring has taught that “Your copy of The Book of Mormon may be hidden from your view by cares and attention to all you have accumulated in your journey. I plead with you to drink deeply and often from its pages. It has in it the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only way home to God.”13
Recall section 18 of the Doctrine and Covenants and the scripture that reminds us that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”14 Then listen to the words of the Lord later in the same section: “These words [ meaning the scriptures] are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man; For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them; Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.”15
We keep our eyes on the flag when we feast on the words of Christ, by drinking daily and deeply from the holy scriptures, and think as the Nephites did of the “immediate goodness of God and his power.”16 Then testify that we have heard His voice and know His words.
The temples of the Lord are a marvelous blessing to the children of men. They may be under-appreciated and even under-utilized by the general membership of the Church. Let us ensure that is not the case with us. The road to exaltation runs through the temple. A number of years ago, we attended the sealing of a ward member. The officiator indicated that over the course of his life, he had met many – both members of the Church and those who were not ¬– who had spent thousands of dollars to travel to Jerusalem, so they could say they walked where Jesus walked. Although that is a wonderful opportunity, he said that he would always invite people instead to come to the temple, to the House of the Lord, and walk where Jesus is! Elder J Ballard Washburn of the Seventy taught that “we go to the temple to make covenants, but we go home to keep the covenants we have made.”17 We keep our eyes on the flag when we enter the Lord’s house to make sacred covenants, and then we go to our homes, our classes, and throughout our daily lives, and keep those sacred covenants.
In preparing to finish, I again invite you to consider the question “When was the last time I had a great spiritual experience?”. Perhaps there will be something familiar or that can be derived, as we strive to keep our eyes on the flag, from an experience such as:
- The Pack: where we recognize that He has invited all who labor and are heavy laden to come unto Him, that He may give us rest.
- The Clothesline: where we keep our eyes on the flag when we not only choose good friends, but we also choose to be good friends.
- The Voice: where we learn to specifically recognize how the Holy Ghost teaches and prompts us individually.
- The Talk: where we always strive to be appropriate, for we never know who is watching or listening.
- The Beacon: where we “look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of [our] membership.”
Brothers and sisters, I testify, as the scriptures and the prophets have taught, that there is no pain, no unfair act, no stress or strain, no affliction, no infirmity, no sorrow, no grief that we will ever experience that has not already been borne, suffered, and felt by our elder brother, the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of this when the noise of the world gets you down, think of this when the joys of the world lift you up. All can be blessed through the power and peace of the Atonement. He has already borne these things. We need not bear them alone without His help. If we will do our part, the Lord will stand with us in the furnace of our lives as he did with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Or if we have those days when we feel like a certain man who was traveling and fell among thieves, that we are stripped, beaten and left to the side of the road. I testify that He that is greater than the Good Samaritan will bind up our wounds, strengthen our souls, and lift us to become as He is.
During his first General Conference as the Lord’s prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Now, my brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller. … This is a season to be strong. … It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christ-like.”18
One year prior to that, President Howard W. Hunter said, “We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life.”19
I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is restored upon the earth and is present in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet on the earth today. I know that the holy temples are here to help us make and keep sacred covenants, to endow us with power and provide ordinances that will bind us together as families eternally. I know that the Lord Jesus Christ carried out the great Atonement on our behalf, that He might strengthen and succor us in our afflictions and challenges. I know that as we keep our eyes on the flag, not getting distracted by those things on the right or the left, but press forward with that great steadfastness in Christ, all that the Father hath awaits us. May we ever be found with our eyes fixed on the flag of faith and testimony which leads to Him is my humble prayer, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
1. "And That's the Way It Is," General Conference, April 2003, and shared in more detail at the commencement exercises for LDS Business College in April 2007.
2. "The Devil's Throat," General Conference, April 2003.
3. John 10:27
4. 3 Nephi 11:3
5. "Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady," General Conference, October 2005.
6. "Reverence Invites Revelation," General Conference, October 1991.
7. "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer," General Conference, April 2007.
8. 1 Nephi 18:15
9. 1 Nephi 2:12
10. 1 Nephi 8:20, 2 Nephi 31:18-19
11. 2 Nephi 4:18
12. "Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation," General Conference, October 2006.
13. "A Witness," General Conference, October 2011.
14. D&C 18:10
15. D&C 18:34-36
16. Mosiah 25:10
17. "The Temple Is a Family Affair," General Conference, April 1995.
18. "This Is the Work of the Master," General Conference, April 1995.
19. "'What Manner of Men Ought Ye to Be?'" General Conference, April 1994.