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.

Elder Bruce A. Carlson: When the Lord Commands

Elder Carlson started off with a story about two fishermen in the bush and their taking a short cut in flying out – and their crash.  His talk is about obedience to the Lord’s commandments.

Occasionally we believe that there must be an easier way, a shortcut or modification of the Lord’s commandments that will accommodate our individual circumstances. Thoughts such as these fail to acknowledge that strict obedience to God’s laws brings His blessings and failure to abide by His laws leads to foreseeable consequences.

Harold B. Lee said, “The safety of the Church lies in the members keeping the commandments  . . . As they keep commandments, blessings will come.

When we choose to disobey a commandment, it is usually because (1) we have convinced ourselves that the commandment does not apply to us; (2) we do not believe that it is important; or (3) we are certain that it is too difficult to obey.

Elder Carlson then talks about each of the three reasons he mentioned that people disobey commandments

This Commandment Doesn’t Apply to Me

Our partial or selective compliance with God’s laws will fail to bring the full blessings of obedience.

This Commandment Is Not Important

Obedience to the Lord’s commands, in spite of how trivial or unimportant we believe them to be, will surely bring His promised blessings.

This Commandment Is Just Too Hard

At times we may rationalize that the Lord will understand our disobedience because our special circumstances make adherence to His laws difficult, embarrassing, or even painful. However, faithful obedience, regardless of the apparent size of the task, will bring the Lord’s guidance, assistance, and peace.

Elder Carlson reminds us of two great promises the Lord makes in the scriptures to those who are obedient.

The Lord’s response when we obey His commandments is sure. He has promised us, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life. (D&C 14:7)

Additionally He has counseled us, “I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.” (D&C 76:5)

Elder Carlson also reminds us of the power of faithful obedience. I am taking his quote and putting it in bullet form to emphasize the blessings we will receive.

·      Obedience to the Lord’s commandments provides us confidence in our chosen path,

·      qualifies us for His guidance and direction as we pursue our efforts,

and offers us the potential to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ,

·      and to return to our Father’s presence.

Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer: Developing Good Judgment and Not Judging Others

This talk was about how to judge righteously. Especially interesting to me was the observation that we are often to quick to judge Martha (in the New Testament) because we focus on just one story about her and not the second one.

We live in a world in which many situations require us to make judgments that are often difficult. Yet the Savior gave the commandment to "judge not" our fellowman. How can we do this and still exercise good judgment in a world full of deception and corruption?


Although the Savior asked us not to judge others, He still expects us to use excellent judgment. Maybe the difference between the two is that the first (the commandment to not judge others) is a verb and the second is a noun. Just a thought.

Speaking of judging Martha, Elder Schwitzer said, How often has Martha been misjudged as being a person who cared more for the deeds of doing than for the Spirit? However, her testimony in the trial of her brother's death clearly shows the depth of her understanding.


I offer four guides for developing such judgments in making important decisions.


First, put your own personal standards in alignment with the gospel of Jesus Christ. A person can never be a good judge without the gospel of Jesus Christ as a reference. For the youth the youth these standards are written in the pamphlet "For the Strength of Youth."  Perhaps it would be good for us as adults to study and apply this pamphlet to our lives.


Second, listen to the messages of the living prophet. Each general conference and Church magazine contains advice from the prophets which, if applied, will lead us to good judgment. We are left without excuse when we ignore them.


Third, cultivate with the Holy Spirit a relationship of listening. A relationship of listening often requires a quiet environment in which we can take time to ponder and hear the still, small voice. This peaceful environment is both external and internal. Therefore, it is more than shutting off the music of the world or the blare of other media; it is also shutting off the noise of sin that is internal to our soul. This will open the communication with the Spirit, which is so badly needed.


Christ said: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14;27)  The peace that comes from listening to the Holy Spirit removes the fear of making a poor judgment in life.


Fourth, keep the commandments. The willingness to keep God's commandments opens to us many promised blessings.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: The Love of God

This is a great talk. I don't know how many comments I will have. I mostly just have one big question at the beginning: How do I develop love for God and others in my life. By the time I get to the end of the highlights from the talk, I hope to have some guidance.

How Do We Become True Disciples of Jesus Christ? "If you love me, keep my commandments."
But this may present a problem for some because there are so many "shoulds" and "should nots" that merely keeping track of them can be a challenge. Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles-many coming from uninspired sources-complicate matters further diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. One person's good idea-something that may work for him or her-takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of "good ideas."


I really like that part. "Well-meaning amplifications of divine principles." What an interesting way to put it. "One person's good idea . . . becomes an expectation." We need to guard against that. Continuing

This was one of the Savior's criticisms of the religious "experts" of His day, whom He chastised for attending to the hundreds of minor details of the law while neglecting the weightier matters.


So how do we stay aligned with these weightier matters? Is there a constant compass that can help us prioritize our lives, thoughts, and actions?


Once again the Savior revealed the way. When asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." He said, "This is the first and great commandment." Coupled with the second great commandment-to love our neighbor as ourselves-we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord's Church on both sides of the veil.


So there is a "constant compass" to help us prioritize our lives, thoughts, and actions. That is the two great commandments.

When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our was as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.


I feel like I still have a long ways to go before I "understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us" but the promises are worth the trouble and trial of learning. I like that last sentence. It would make a good measuring stick for how well I am loving as Jesus loves: when "obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden."

God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!
For what we love determines what we seek.
What we seek determines what we think and do.
What we think and do determines who we are-and who we will become.


Love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ.


At the heart of misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things.

Regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us.


Since "God is love," the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love.


We increase our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God's word. His pure love directs and encourages us to become more pure and holy. It inspires us to walk in righteousness-not out of fear or obligation but out of an earnest desire to become even more like Him because we love Him.


Here are some of the solid answers I am looking for: increase and demonstrate our love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God's word. I like the result, doing what's right not out of fear or obligation but out of a desire to be more like Him. That is another good gauge of how I can be doing.

My dear brothers and sisters, don't get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don't feel downcast or despair if you don't feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible-and that which becomes possible-and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you.


Great counsel for getting started and persevering during trials to finally make love a habit and part of me.

If you listen for the voice of the Father, He will lead you on a course that will allow you to experience the pure love of Christ.


If we do not neglect the great laws-if we truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our fellowman with all our heart, soul, and mind-all else will fall into place.


Love is the guiding light that illuminates the disciples path and fills our daily walk with life, meaning, and wonder.


Let us be known as a people who love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and who love our neighbor as ourselves. When we understand and practice these two great commandments in our families, in our wards and branches, in our nations, and in our daily lives, we will begin to understand what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus the Christ.


I do have a better idea of the answer to my original question. No it is time to get to work!