This is a General Conference Odyssey post for the Sunday morning session of October 1982.
The other day, my husband and I were doing sealings when the sealer asked us what “rites” are. Ever since I’ve been thinking about what our “rites” and “privileges” are in this church. And I feel like the talks in this session actually talk about our rites and privileges. It still amazes me that old conference talks are still pertinent because they are words our Savior wants us to hear to understand His ways.
According to the dictionary, a “rite” is a solemn act, typically religious in nature. It includes social customs and practices.
Ezra Taft Benson spoke on family relationships. We know that families are in trouble. Husbands and wives aren’t being faithful to one another. And when couples are in turmoil, who is teaching the children our religious customs and practices? Pres. Benson says,
“Spiritual growth comes by solving problems together—not by running from them. Today’s inordinate emphasis on individualism brings egotism and separation. Two individuals becoming ‘one flesh’ is still the Lord’s standard (See Gen. 2:24). The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development. Paradoxically, the more we serve one another, the greater is our spiritual and emotional growth.”
We have been counseled to have Family Prayer, Family Scripture Reading, and Family Home Evening to give families the opportunity to not only learn of God but to serve Him and one another. These are rites that will help families combat the evil that surrounds all of us.
Along the same lines, Boyd K. Packer spoke on the scriptures. This was a very interesting talk that gave us some background on how all of the standard works were combined through cross-referencing the footnotes.
Pres. Packer explains that while this tremendous work was going on, the church was restructuring the entire curriculum. The lessons were revised to center on the scriptures. This, too, is a rite. The sticks of Judah and Ephraim are meant to join together and teach us of our Savior. The rite we perform is in reading them together, regularly, and drawing from their power.
Howard W. Hunter spoke on commitment and Derek A. Cuthbert spoke on maturity. These also help create rites in us as we practice becoming more like Jesus Christ. Pres. Hunter said,
“The Lord made a covenant with Noah, and the rainbow became the token of that eternal covenant with all mankind. (See Gen. 9:13). The covenant made with Abraham and his seed was sealed by the ceremony of circumcision as a sacrament. (See Gen. 17:10-11). And the token or sign of the great covenant with all Israel made at Sinai was the Sabbath. (See Ex. 31:12-17).”
Our covenant to God includes certain “rites” that keep us faithful to that covenant. The rainbow was a sign that if we continued having children and teaching them the gospel, God would never destroy all mankind again. Today, we partake of the Sacrament and honor the Sabbath Day because we choose to always remember Jesus Christ. These are “rites,” or solemn practices we adhere to.
Elder Cuthbert listed ten aspects of maturity that, in a way, represent spiritual customs we can adopt as we strive to be like our Savior.
- Innocence
- Humility
- Simplicity
- Faith
- Love
- Wisdom
- Leadership
- Accountability
- Dependability
- Self-Mastery
The world will never teach us any of these. In fact, the world teaches us the opposite of these qualities. On the other hand, practicing these behaviors will bring us true happiness, and even eternal life.
So far, I have presented those things I learned as “rites” that we incorporate into our various lives to show the Lord that we desire to keep our covenants with Him. Now, we must talk about the privileges that come. The word “privilege” is a special right (notice the difference in spelling from rite). The dictionary even used the word “entitlement.”
If we perform our “rites” well, sincerely, and with good intention, we have the right or are entitled, to receive privileges. And what privileges do we receive?
J. Thomas Fyans said,
“We have many wonderful teachings in this Church, all of which contribute to an uplifting, wonderful life. And yet as we look through all these trappings, and down to the very center core, we find that there is the message: yes, the Lord Jesus Christ came in the meridian of time. There he called others—Apostles and seventy, and others—to assist him in the task. He was placed on the cross and then in the tomb, and on the third day he arose. He lives today, and because he lives today, we will live tomorrow.”
This is our privilege. Believing in Jesus Christ, and everything He says and has done for us, is eternal life, the greatest privilege of all.
Pres. Marion G. Romney was very old and nearly blind at this time and simply couldn’t give his entire talk. He got started, then even before he reached the half-way mark, he finished while inviting everyone to read the rest of his talk later. This is what he was going to say:
“We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us. … Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us.”
And this:
“To the Lord Jesus, who bought us with a great price, we owe an undying debt of gratitude.”
Our world is full of people who believe they are entitled to “privileges” even though they do not perform the necessary “rites” established through covenant keeping. Those who desire to show our Savior the gratitude that is in our hearts for His most precious gift perform daily “rites” that will eventually earn us the “privilege” of eternal life. We believe in works and grace. These are other words for rites and privileges, and they are given to us through our obedience and faith.