Bishop Keith B. McMullin: Our Path of Duty

This was another very good talk on a topic that has been on my mind a lot for the last couple of years. I find it interesting that many General Conference talks seem to treat these topics. Or maybe, it's that I'm just paying closer attention!

This is a troubled world. Discord and disaster are everywhere. It sometimes feels as though mankind itself may be hanging in the balance.


Amen! Then, what we must do to find peace and happiness and to fulfill our purpose for coming to earth:

For those who eschew evil and live good lives, who strive for a brighter day and keep the commandments of God, things can get better and better even in the face of tragedy.


President Thomas S. Monson has counseled: "If we are to walk with head held high, we must make our contribution to life. If we are to fulfill our destiny and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must keep His commandments and pattern our lives after the Savior. By so doing, we will not only achieve our goal of eternal life, but we will also leave the world richer and better than it would have been had we not lived and performed our duties.


I like the two guideposts mentioned by President Monson:

1. Keep His commandments
2. Pattern our lives after the Savior

Bishop McMullin then quoted from Ecclesiastes (he actually used this quote twice):

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

He then continues: The duty of which I speak is what we are expected to do and to be. It is a moral imperative summoning forth from individuals and communities that which is right, true, and honorable. Duty does not require perfection, but it does require diligence. it is not simply what is legal; it is what is virtuous. It is not reserved to the mighty or high in station but instead rests on a foundation of personal responsibility, integrity, and courage. Doing one's duty is a manifestation of one's faith.  For members of the Church of Jesus Christ, our path of duty is keeping our covenants in daily life.

Bishop McMullin quoted President Joseph F. Smith on duty:

"All that we have comes from [God]. . . . In and of ourselves we are but a lifeless lump of clay. Life, intelligence, wisdom, judgment, power to reason, all are the gifts of God to the children of men. He gives us our physical strength as well as our mental powers. . . . We should honor God with our intelligence, with our strength, with our understanding, with our wisdom, and with all the power that we possess. We should seek to do good in the world. This is our duty.

Bishop McMullin:

As men and women and boys and girls do their duty to God, they feel impelled to do their duty to one another, to their family, to their church and nation, to all things entrusted to their care.

Since I want to do my duty to God, and as I do, I should start to feel more committed to doing my duty to

• my family
• my church callings
• my country
• my students at school
• and others I am given stewardship over

(continuing) They are duty bound to magnify their talents and to be law-abiding, good people. They become humble, submissive, and easily entreated. Temperance conquers indulgence; obedience guides their diligence. Peace distills upon them. Citizens become loyal, communities become benevolent, and neighbors become friends.

I like the above mentioned ideas, so I will list them. The duty bound will

• magnify their talents
• be law-abiding, good people
• become humble, submissive, and easily entreated
• let obedience guide dilegence
• let peace distill in them

The next section heading (in bold) asks: How Do We Know Our Path of Duty in the Midst of Crisis?

Bishop McMullin's answer:

We pray!

Humble, sincere, inspired prayer makes available to each of us the divine guidance we so desperately need.

The Spirit manifests what our petitions should be.

It is important to be guided by the Holy Spirit while praying as it is to be enlightened by the same Spirit while receiving an answer to prayer.

Our path of duty is clearly marked by an undivided faith and belief in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of prayer.