Westfield YSA Ward Conference Talk
Apr 24th 2016
Bishop Greg Sargent.

President Downs has asked that I address the topic of preparation as found in D&C 1:12 Which reads “Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh;”

At BYU Elder Neal A. Maxwell offered some advice to those of us who were students there; this was back in the late 70’s. This is what he said:

Elder Maxwell said: "We shall see in our time a maximum...effort...to establish irreligion as the state religion. [These secularists will] use the carefully preserved... . freedoms of Western civilization to shrink freedom even as [they reject] the value.... of our rich Judeo-Christian heritage." Continuing on he said, - Your discipleship may see the time come when religious convictions are heavily discounted..... This new irreligious imperialism [will] seek to disallow certain.... opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions." (https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/neal-a-maxwell_meeting-challenges-today/)

In other words we are going to be tested. As a matter of fact if we believe all that the prophets have warned us of - we will be tested as much or more than any group of saints that have ever lived. So how do we prepare for that which is to come? I would like to use 1st Nephi as an example for our discussion today.

I have often wondered “What made the experience in the desert different for Nephi over that of his brothers Laman and Lemuel?”

Early on I thought that it everything to do with their attitude; but I have come to discover something much different. While the scriptures detailed the answer I had failed to see it. The answer is plainly found in 1 Ne 2: 12. It reads:

1 Nephi 2: 12 And thus (so Nephi is explaining to us) Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.

They felt picked on because did not comprehend how God works in our lives.

May I suggest that this is an extremely important principle, one that we need to fully understand if we are to prepare for the uncertainties promised by the prophets of old. We can begin by asking “What did Laman and Lemuel do to prepare themselves for their journey in the desert?” The answer; they did little or nothing on their own to prepare.

We can summarize that they had gone to Sunday School and Young Mens, just like Nephi did. They gathered with the family when the family had family home evening and scripture study. They were not raised differently than Nephi, and yet they had not come to realize that some principles of the gospel must be learned on our own. These principles require effort; study; fasting and prayer.

Along the way; Nephi put in effort and gained for himself a firm knowledge of how God deals with man. This meant that Nephi knew who he was; Nephi knew that there was a God in heaven; he understood the principles of how God works. He was I suppose able to see the hand of the Lord in his life because he was both looking for God’s hand in his life and he knew how to recognize the Lord’s hand when it was there.

May I suggest that even if Laman and Lemuel had a more positive attitude, as long as they lacked an individual knowledge of how God deals with them in their lives; their wilderness journey was going to be a miserable. It would be a futile experience that would not transform them toward God, but would cause resentment of God.

Understanding our Heavenly Father and his nature; teaches us that no valid argument exists that God would do something to help Nephi to return to him that he would not do for Laman and Lemuel.

With the same logic; we might also conclude that no matter our circumstance in life; that God is working in our behalf, every bit as much for us as he was for Nephi, and as he was for Laman, and for Lemuel.

so what then was this knowledge that Nephi possessed that enabled him to see the dealings of God in his life?

I would like to touch on this subject for a few moments. I would like to clear up some common misbeliefs on how Heavenly Father does work. I am of the opinion that the better we understand these principles the greater our confidence will be in ourselves and in God.

Principle #1: Before the foundation of the world; our Heavenly Father put forth a plan. The plan was presented by our loving Father in Heaven. It allowed us to use agency; to make choices, so that we could learn to become like him. With our agency, it followed that some of our choices might be really difficult ones. some choices may not have a right or wrong answer.

Our choices would have consequences. some choices may change the outcome of our lives; while others would have little or no bearing on our final destination. We were placed here to learn from both our mistakes as well as our successes.

In Alma 42: we read 4 “And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.”

If I understand this scripture correctly what the Lord is saying is: There is an amount of time allotted to each of us; we are dealt our deck of cards so to speak. The implication for us is that the plan was not set up so that as soon as we sinned we were punished; banished forever. No; we have a period of time; it is ours and what we do with it is up to us. The Lord in his wisdom knew we would sin; that is a given and that is not the issue. He did not say a time to stay perfect; he did say a time to repent. It means that there was time given when we are not in his presence to learn how to bend our mind and our desires to do his will. That is it.

This agency also carries with it the principle that God will not make our decisions for us. Too often we do nothing because we are afraid to make a wrong decision. In essence we have made a decision; to do nothing, In doing so we missed the opportunity to grow, to learn.

When we understand how God works in our life we understand that we need to make our own decisions, then take them to the Lord and if we do not get an answer then we need to proceed as we have determined. If we are keeping the commandments the Lord will prompt us on changes we should make along the way. The Lord has instructed us as such in D&C 58
D&C 58:28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

You my friends; are still young; I understand that you do not know why you may have gone down some paths when you have felt inspired to do so, and these paths did not end up as you though they should. May I suggest that do not know the entire picture yet; so please be patient.

Principle #2: There will be times when it may appear as if science and the internet disproves and contradicts the teachings of God.

Despite what your science professor tells you; he or she does not have all the answers. Despite what your psychology professors tell you they do not have all the answers either. Neither is everything that you may read on the internet of sound fact. There is only one source of truth and that stands solely with God. So when the teachings of man do not aline with the teachings of God you can rest assured who is wrong. The prophets of old warned of such wisdom - or lack of it when they said

2 Nephi 9: 28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

Principle #3: Just because it is the Lords church does not mean that the church will not have it’s own set of trials, and more importantly just because we are members of the Lords church does not mean that things are always going to go our way.

We often base our life on misunderstanding the principles found in sections 130 and 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Which reads:

20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed [ not capable of being changed : impossible to revoke ] in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

D&C132:4.
D&C 132:4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.

5 For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world....

Now if I understand these verses correctly we are talking about covenant theology. That is; when you enter into a covenant with God such as we do at baptism and with the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. You are then entitled to the promised blessing associated with the covenant that you made.

The reference to the “law” in these verses implies invoking the law by binding ourselves with a covenant in order to obtain the blessing. Certain laws have specific covenants and certain blessings associated with them. So without a covenant, there is no law, and without the law there is no associated promised blessing. In other words; you want the blessing, you have to engage in the covenant associated with that law.

These sections are often taken out of context and applied to all kinds of things that have nothing to do with specific covenants. The result is people think they earn every blessing through obedience and if they are not getting some specific blessing it is because they are not being obedient to the right law.

Now why is this important to understand? Because too often we as a church and more often as individuals believe that if every blessing we get is from God then the inverse must also be true. We imply that every time we hit a bump in the road it is because God is cursing us; punishing us for something we did wrong. We think that every time that we have a trail or an obstacle in our life it is because of disobedience. This is not true.

When we understand how God works in our lives, we come to realize that Heavenly Father allows us to suffer a little, to be pushed and prodded so that we can know for ourselves who we are. So that we can grow. I can promise you that this is not alway easy for our Father in Heaven to see you suffer, to see you pushed and pulled to the bounds of breaking. But above all he understands that there is no other way.

Principle #4: Realize that you are here on the earth at this time not by chance, but because of your unique capabilities. You were appointed to be here at this time from the foundation. Understand what that means. So what does it mean? The Prophet Joseph Smith answered that question this way:
“the Lord has indicated that he chose some individuals before they came here to carry out certain assignments and, hence, these individuals have been foreordained to those assignments. “Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of Heaven before the world was.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 365).

Each of us has an assignment, from Heavenly Father to be on earth at this time. Learn what your responsibilities are, and learn to embrace your time here. It is a gift. Study your patriarchal blessing, become familiar with your divine gifts, and develop them. Fulfill your part of Gods plan for you.

In doing so you might consider that sometimes it is not all about you. The real reward in life come when we lift another. It may be as simple as going to ward Family Home evening when you do not really want to. Will you consider that you might bless another life far more than you can ever imagine when you reach out to someone else, when you do that which may not be comfortable. Learn to put the Lord and his work first - then you will really find yourself.

Principle #5: Just because we cannot see what lies ahead; does not mean that God is not in charge, nor does it mean that God does not love us.

As a matter of fact it is an evidence that he does love us; he is allowing us to exercise our agency according to the plan; because he knows that is how we can become like him.

Why is it so important for us to know that God knows us, and that he loves us, and that we need to trust him? When we truly understand that the purpose of this life is to be tested. Then that means that there will need to be some kind of test administered. some barriers to try us. This testing will ensure that there will be times when life is tough. Understanding the plan of salvation will better help us cope with the trials of this life.

I testify that God is in charge that he does love us, and he knows that sometimes he needs to push us forward. Just as the eagle know that she must push her chicks out of the nest if they are ever to fly. So consider this next time a door closes on you. It may be that Heavenly Father has allowed a door to close because it is time for you to move forward. Heavenly Father is fully aware that you will not move forward unless your circumstances force you to do so.

Principle #6: Heavenly Father provides us with commandments to help us to learn; to guide us in our decision making; to teach us how he would make the same decisions. Why? because if it is our goal to be like him then we will need to make decisions the same way that he would make them.

Learn to embrace the commandments not as things to hold you back from enjoying what appears attractive by the world; but as principles that can guide you away from immense pain and suffering.

so why then was Nephi’s experience different? Because he knew the following principles about how God worked in his life.

Principle #1: He understood that our Father in Heaven designed a plan, that provided us with the ability to choose and learn to become like him while we were not in his presence.

Principle #2: Your professors and the internet are not always the best source of wisdom when it come to things that are eternal. As a matter of fact you may have a significant leg up on them.

Principle #3: Just because you are a member of the church and you are doing your best to keep the commandments does not mean that you will not have times of trail. Discipleship and diligence to the commandments do not dismiss you from the challenges of life. But they will help you endure it and understand their purpose.

Principle #4: You are here now because of who you are. That chance that you are here now, living in the United States, at a time when the gospel has been restored is 1 in 209 billion. So either you are so incredibly lucky; or you were extremely diligent in your pre-mortal duties. Know for yourself that it is the latter.

Principle #5: When you struggle to understand, when everything seems to be confusing - remember that God is still in charge. We are his creations, it is his plan, know that, believe that.

Principle #6: Trust in God. Trust that he knows you. Trust that he understands you. Trust that his commands are given out of love - as guidelines of what he would do - so that you may become like him.

You are blessed with the opportunity to be here on the earth during the time of the unfolding of the events in preparation for the return of the Savior. This is the time looked forward to by all saints. Yes it is challenging, yes it can be tough; but so are you. You are blessed with all that you need to do your part in the return of the Savior.

I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ.