From what we learned in conference last week, we need to become a more spiritual people. So, I was interested that in the opening session of the October 1979 General Conference, President Romney’s and President Kimball’s talks gave us the pattern for maintaining spirituality in our lives.
The Lord has spoken: “Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual” (D&C 29: 34).
If that is really true, what does that mean for us?
First of all, do we really believe that statement? Does our life reflect spirituality? What sacrifices do we need to make to truly surround ourselves with spirituality? How do we work at making our lives more spiritual? What miracles have we felt when our reservoir is spiritually full? How have our failures motivated us to be better prepared with the spirituality we need each day?
(This would be a great discussion in Relief Society!)
President Romney said: “Spirituality comes by faith, repentance, baptism, and reception of the Holy Ghost. One who has the companionship of the Holy Ghost is in harmony with God. He is, therefore, spiritual. Spirituality is sustained by so living as to keep that companionship.”
Do we recognize the gift that the Holy Ghost is in our lives? What specific things have we learned to incorporate into our lives in order to feel the companionship of the Holy Ghost, daily?
Here is Pres. Romney’s pattern for maintaining spirituality (and nothing will be a surprise here):
OBEDIENCE
“Learn what our duties are and perform them. They include obeying the first and second great commandments … (Matt. 22: 37, 39). They also include obedience to the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, implementing the Articles of Faith, and prayer.”
Our world is focusing right now on love, but what is really missing is living the law of Jesus Christ with the morals, doctrine, and love He has commanded that we live by.
The first commandment Adam and Eve were given was “that they should worship the Lord their God” (Moses 5:5). Then they were told “thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore” (Moses 5:7-8). As Pres. Romney states: “From then until now, no divine commandment has been more frequently repeated than the commandment to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
PRAYER
Here’s an interesting example, told by Pres. Romney, of how important prayer is. The Lord lectured the brother of Jared for three hours for forgetting to pray. When he prayed, asking for forgiveness, the Lord answered him: “I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shall not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man” (Ether 2:14-15). Soon after, and with the brother of Jared now praying diligently, he saw the Lord face to face. If we obediently pray diligently, seeking after the spirit, we too will see miracles manifest before us.
And I like what President Kimball adds from his talk, “It would not hurt us, either, if we paused at the end of our prayers to do some intense listening.”
SCRIPTURE READING
How often are we asked to relate a story in the scriptures in class and we look dumbly at the teacher? We are all thinking the same thing: Yea, I know the story but not well enough to share it with the class.
The scriptures give us examples of how others have maintained a pattern of spirituality in their own lives. The scriptures also are invaluable in their depth of spiritual edification in offering us personal revelation. It’s important to come to know these stories well, and what they offer us. One time, I was sitting in a class where the teacher mentioned Abigail, in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 25). He said her story was too complicated to get into, so he moved on to another topic. I went home and studied her story and now she is one of my favorite people, and I learned she is one of the best “types of Christ” we have in the scriptures.
Likening our scriptures to Christ and drinking deeply to understand Him more will maintain our spirituality.
THE SACRAMENT
Recently, there has been a focus on the Sabbath Day. Have we figured out how to honor this holy day yet? In his conference talk, Pres. Romney read D&C 59 in its entirety. That speaks volumes to me.
What is in that section of scripture that is worth it’s being read in a General Conference talk? It is worth careful study, much prayer, and even more listening to the inspiration that awaits us.
We have to remember that the Lord wants to bless us with incredible miracles and blessings. We are the ones who are preventing them from coming. When we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, we are given power to receive these blessings. So, it must all be based on our personal level of spirituality, right? On our desire. On our choice.
The prophet has spoken then as he has now, in our day. They are of one voice, the voice of Jesus Christ, Himself. President Kimball, the prophet at this time, quoted J. Reuben Clark, Jr., (who served in the First Presidency) who said:
“The trouble with the world is they do not want a prophet teaching righteousness. They want a prophet that will tell them that what they are doing is right, no matter how wrong it may be.”
Pres. Kimball said:
“A prophet has spoken—the prophet is speaking. We do not need another prophet. What we need is a listening ear.”
Today, Pres. Nelson says:
“Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost” (April 2018).