Good morning, Brothers and Sisters.
This morning I was asked to speak on an address given by our prophet, President
Thomas S. Monson in 2006 entitled,
"The Master's Blueprint" and how it relates
to missionary work. President Monson’s address talks about how we can become
what he calls, “builders of eternal houses.” Essentially, President Monson
talks about developing Christlike attributes that will help us return to live
with our Heavenly Father.
President Monson said, “Paul, in
his epistle to his beloved Timothy, outlined a way whereby we could become our
better selves and, at the same time, provide assistance to others who ponder or
ask the question, ‘How can I [find my way], except some man should guide
me?’ The answer, given by Paul to
Timothy, provides an inspired charge to each of us. Let us take heed of his
wise counsel: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation,
in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” I’d like to first talk
individually about each of these ways to be an example.
First, being an example in word and
conversation. One key to being an example of the believers through word and
conversations is by including your faith in word and conversation! It can often
seem intimidating to talk about religion with friends and family because you
don’t want to be preachy and blunt by putting your beliefs out there, but
rather we can use them in everyday context and avoid these fears. What do I
mean? Months ago, Brother Kaski gave an awesome talk and directly illustrated
this point in his talk. I apologize if I don’t recount this story word for word
or switch around some facts, but the gist will be the same. So Brother and
Sister Kaski were visiting with some friends at their friend’s house. Their
friends offered them some coffee and Brother Kaski declined. That could have
been the end of it, no explanation about it, but this is where Brother Kaski
put his faith into everyday conversation. He could have said no thank you, we
don’t drink coffee, but instead he said no thank you and explained that in our
church we follow what is known as the Word of Wisdom and he then proceeded to
explain what the Word of Wisdom is. Simply put, the Word of Wisdom is the
Lord's law as it relates to what we take into our bodies. It tells us to eat
some things in moderation, and to abstain from other things. Following the Word
of Wisdom helps us to keep our bodies and minds healthy and strong. It may not
always be evident to those around us that the way we live is directly related
to our faith. Creating a habit of being open and talking about our beliefs
without seeming abrasive or like we’re pushing our beliefs allows us to be
examples of the believers of Christ and also allow us to create an environment
that will allow future gospel conversations to seem natural and comfortable.
Second, we are examples in charity.
We can find in the chapter heading of chapter 13, in 1 Corinthians, “Charity, a
pure love, excels and exceeds almost all else.” The scriptures state that without charity, we
are nothing. In the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 13:2, it reads, “And
though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and
all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am nothing. The Book of Mormon echoes this as it says
in 2 Nephi 26:30, “Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the
Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity,
which charity is love. And except they should have charity they
were nothing.” It is through these scriptures that we learn that charity is
highest above almost all else. Charity is the pure love of Christ. Moroni 7: 47
reads, “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it
endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it
shall be well with him.” As we read about Moroni speaking face to face with
Christ we come to know that charity truly is the pure love of Christ. Ether
12:33-34, gives Moroni’s response to Christ saying, “And again, I remember that
thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down
of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place
for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou
hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have
charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions
of thy Father.” By following Christ’s example of love for all men and being
charitable, we can return to our Heavenly Father.
Third,
spirit. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said in this passed General Conference, “We are to
live in the world but not be of the world. We must live in
the world because, as Jesus taught in a parable, His kingdom is ‘like leaven,’
whose function is to raise the whole mass by its influence. His followers
cannot do that if they associate only with those who share their beliefs and
practices. But the Savior also taught that if we love Him, we will keep His
commandments.” We learn through this that we can be the best example of
believers in Christ by following his commandments. We also are examples by
associating with many different people. As Elder Oaks said, we cannot be a
positive influence by solely associating with those of the same belief. We can
help strengthen and lift each other and be a light in the lives of those we
come in contact with by following the commandments and living by the example of
Christ. One commandment given by Christ can be found in Matthew 5:14-16. This
commandment was given by Christ to his disciples as he directed them to be good
examples. These verses read, “Ye are the light of the world. A city
that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and
put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that
are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.” It is the light of Christ that pulls us and influences us to do good.
Every person ever born, in history, now, and in the future is influenced by the
light of Christ for goodness. As we yield to that influence to do good and
become good that light of Christ increases in us. Doctrine and Covenants
50:24 reads, “That which is of God is light; and he
that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth
more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect
day.” As we continue to do what is good, we are examples of the believers in
Christ and allow others to see our good works and as it says in Matthew,
“glorify our father which is in heaven.”
Fourth,
faith. Hebrews 11:1 reads, “
1 Now faith is
the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.” Whenever you work toward a worthy
goal, you exercise faith. You show your hope for something that you cannot yet
see. Faith in God is more than a theoretical belief in Him. To have faith in
God is to trust Him, to have confidence in Him, and to be willing to act on
your belief in Him. It is a principle of action and power. The Lord does not
ask us to have a perfect knowledge of things.
Alma 32:21 reads, “And now as I said concerning faith—faith is
not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith
ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”
However, as I said, to have faith is to be willing to act on our belief in
Christ. This is illustrated in Moroni 10:4-5 which reads, “And
when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye
would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these
things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart,
with real intent, having faith in Christ, he
will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy
Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of
all things.” To have faith is not to have a perfect knowledge, but rather to
hope for those things which are not seen and then to pray and ask if those
things in which we have faith are true.
Ether 12:6
reads, “And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things;
I would show unto the world that faith is things which are
hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see
not, for
ye receive no witness until after the trial of
your faith.” Again, we learn from Moroni that we can receive a knowledge for
ourselves as we put our faith to the test and ask through prayer if those
things are not true. By doing so, we have been promised to know the truth by
the power of the Holy Ghost.
Fifth,
purity. Elaine S. Dalton said, “Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It
is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions
and actions. Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the
Latin root word virtus means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet
dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to
receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost.”
As we remain clean and virtuous, we are worthy to receive the guiding
influence of the Holy Ghost and return to live with our Father in Heaven.
While preparing for this talk, I found
many parallels between 1 Timothy 4:12 and the 13th Article of Faith
and after studying for this talk, I found much overlap scripturally between the
two. The Articles of Faith are 13 statements that summarize our fundamental
beliefs, the beliefs of our church and our beliefs as followers of Christ. The
13th Article of Faith begins, “We believe in being honest, true,
chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men.” We follow the
guidance of Paul to, “Be thou an example of the believers,” as we also live the
principles illustrated in the 13th Article of Faith.
We are honest and true. Being
honest means telling the truth. Telling the truth means telling things exactly
as they happen. The ultimate example of honesty can be learned from the Savior
in the New Testament. After being
brought before the high priest on false charges, Christ was questioned by
Caiaphas. Mark 14:61-62 says, “Again the high priest asked him, and said unto
him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
And
Jesus said, I am” Matthew 26: 65-66 gives account of what happened next saying,
“Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what
further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.” In the days
preceding his death, the Savior prophesied of his death and resurrection,
saying he would lay down his life that he might take it again. The Savior knew
his life was in danger and that he would die if he said he was the Son of God,
but he was honest. We can follow Christ’s example by being honest in all times,
no matter the situation or outcome.
We are chaste and virtuous. Part of
our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness is for each of his children to come to
earth to gain a physical body. Because of our physical bodies, we are able to
experience tenderness, love, kindness, happiness, sorrow, disappointment, pain,
and even the challenges of physical limitations. Simply stated, there are
lessons we must learn and experiences we must have, as the scriptures describe,
“according to the flesh.” When the Earth was created, Adam was places in the
Garden of Eden, however, God said in Genesis 2:18, “And the Lord God
said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make
him an help meet for him.” And thus God created Eve to be a companion
for Adam. 1 Corinthians 11:11 says, “Nevertheless neither is
the man without the woman, neither the woman without the
man, in the Lord.” And so we learn that man and woman are intended to learn
from, strengthen, bless and complete each other. The first commandment given to
Adam and Eve as husband and wife was to multiply and replenish the Earth. Elder
David A. Bednar said, “The commandment to multiply and replenish the earth
remains in force today. Thus, marriage between a man and a woman is the
authorized channel through which premortal spirits enter mortality. The power
of procreation is spiritually significant. Misuse of this power subverts the
purposes of the Father’s plan and of our mortal existence. Our Heavenly Father
and His Beloved Son are creators and have entrusted each of us with a portion
of Their creative power. Specific guidelines for the proper use of the ability
to create life are vital elements in the Father’s plan. How we feel about and
use that supernal power will determine in large measure our happiness in
mortality and our destiny in eternity.”
We are benevolent and do good to
all men. Mosiah 2:17 reads, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings
ye are only in the service of your God.” Much of the Lord’s ministry was
focused on service. President Monson said, “It was said of Jesus that He
“increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Do we have
the determination to do likewise? One line of holy writ contains a tribute to
our Lord and Savior, of whom it was said, “[He] went about doing good.” Matthew
25: 40 reads, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” The Lord said to his
disciples, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this
shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one
to another.” It is by our actions towards those we come in contact with that we
are an example of the believers in Christ and follow Christ’s guidance to love
one another.
I’ve talked a lot about how we can
be examples of the believers in Christ, but I’d also like to talk about how
this can relate to missionary work.
It reads in Doctrine and Covenants
79:1, Missionaries are to go “in the power of the ordination wherewith [they
have] been ordained, proclaiming glad tidings of great joy, even the
everlasting gospel.” Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Work says,
“Missionaries have authority to preach the gospel. When they are set apart
by priesthood authority, they receive the right and privilege to represent the
Lord. Along with the authority comes the responsibility to live worthy of the
calling. As the Lord’s representative missionaries are to be ‘an example of the
believers.’ Missionaries should strive to live according to God’s commandments
and keep the covenants they’ve made in the temple; know the scriptures; be
courteous, on time, and dependable; follow missionary standards of conduct,
dress, and grooming; love the people with whom they serve and work.
Missionaries honor Christ’s name by their actions.” Missionaries are called by
a living prophet to be examples of the believers in Christ. As a representative
of Christ, we act in a sense, on his behalf, through the way that we present
ourselves and the Spirit that we carry. However, for missionaries to have the
spirit, they must follow these principles. They must be open and willing to
talk about the church and the gospel of Christ with those they meet, they are
always looking for ways to give service, they have the light of Christ, they
have faith in what they teach and put their faith to the test and they are
pure. As representatives of Christ, missionaries lead by example and live by
the teachings and example of Christ. Missionaries represent Christ in the way
they speak. Missionaries teach in a loving and understanding manner, much like
that of Christ’s, that beckons those
they teach to come unto Christ and to bring with them all that they know to be
true and let them add to it.
In closing, I’d like to share a
scripture and my testimony. The Lord said to his disciples, “By this shall all
men know, that ye are my disciples.” And
Matthew 7:20, reads, “Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.” By our
actions, we can show those around us that we are believers in Christ by living
the principles he taught. By doing so, we can come closer to Christ and return
to our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the example of Christ and that if
we strive our best to follow his example, we can return to live with our Father
in Heaven again. I’m thankful for the many blessings that our Heavenly Father
gives to each and every one of us. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and
that he loves all of his children, and I am so blessed to be able to serve
them. I’m thankful to be able to serve the Lord and to be a representative of
him. I know that our Savior loves us; that he lived and died, so that we can all
return to our Father in Heaven. I’m thankful for a living prophet and the
knowledge that I have that he is a true prophet of God. I know that the Book of
Mormon is true. I know that as we study the scriptures more, we can grow closer
to our Savior and our Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for this knowledge
that I have of Christ’s restored gospel.
I say these things in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
