Chapter 32
Serving the God of the Land
"Behold, this is a choice land,
and whatsoever nation shall possess it
shall be free from bondage, and from captivity,
and from all other nations under heaven,
if they will but serve the God of the Land,
who is Jesus Christ."
— Ether 2:12

Many of us have a tendency to blame others for the ills of our nation and this whole world; the democrats, the republicans, the socialists, the communists, the bankers, the mafia, some religious group, some non-religious group, some special interest group, the military establishment, and on, and on, and on. However, the real problem is not any of these. We are the problem. All of us are guilty who participate in and support, in any way, those principles which are foreign to, and incompatible with, the Constitution of the United States and the cause of liberty, and to the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Many of our ills may be because of spiritual vacuums within our lives. When we are not diligently pursuing a righteous cause, we are pursuing a cause contrary to righteousness. And when we are not spiritually attuned to spiritual things, there is a void left, and something must rush in to fill that void, or vacuum, and that something will be that which is contrary to God’s desire; that which will fill it is unrighteousness. To the extent that we are engaged in the cause of righteousness, to that same extent we eliminate unrighteous tendencies, and that spiritual vacuum. We must not be ignorant to this fact but be ever on guard and diligently engaged in righteous causes.

A lot of people are ignorant of this vacuum-creating process in our spiritual lives; and there are those who will take advantage of that ignorance. But is ignorance an excuse for the loss of spirituality? We have the scriptures, the prophets, and the Holy Ghost. Our responsibility is to glean saving truth from those sources. If we do not, we will have to suffer the natural consequences. There are natural laws. The law of gravity is one of them. If we are ignorant of the law of gravity and walk off of a cliff, we will still fall. Ignorance of that law does not save us, and ignorance of spiritual laws will not save us either.

Likewise, when we are ignorant of those eternal principles of the laws of agency, which our God has wisely caused to be established, we can still lose our freedom if we do not obey them. By being thus ignorant of, and supporting in any way, those liberty-destroying philosophies, we bring upon us the judgments of a just and wise God, and we pay the price. That price could be bondage, war, or any of the other plagues which have beset mankind down through the ages.

The scriptures tell us that "through disobedience . . . and because of the tradition of" our "fathers," we have lost at least a portion of "light and truth." (D&C 93:36-39.) Perhaps by increasing our obedience to the Lord and returning to Him, repenting from those traditions of supporting and participating in Satan’s forms of government, and striving to live the laws of liberty and agency, we can be restored back into the good graces of our God. Says President Benson:

"When you reject the gospel, when you reject the Author of our salvation, what have you to rely on? Nothing! Nothing but the devil’s plan. What is the devil’s plan? To force men; to take away from them their agency; to compel them to do the bidding of someone else, whether they like it or not.
"We hear a great deal about the thought that we are fighting now for liberty — the liberty of the people, the liberty of the nations. I hope so, but if we want to insure the liberty of the people, then we must turn back again to Jesus Christ who is the God of this land. I say ‘we.’ I mean the people of the United States, the people of this continent. We cannot afford to forsake the God of this land who is Jesus Christ. If we do, we lose our strength. The Lord has promised to protect this nation, this whole continent, this whole hemisphere. He would fortify it against all other nations; He would fight our battles on one condition: That we would keep His commandments.
"Now there is our danger. We must not forsake God. If we are not in this life abiding in His truth, you may be sure that He is not going to be on our side. He will leave us to ourselves." ("The Predicted Judgments," pp. 12-13, as quoted in GFC, pp. 93-94.)

An example of how we have strayed from the observance of God is the issue of prayer in schools. This issue was discussed in a previous chapter, and the facts were cited from a poll taken from the front page of the Salt Lake Tribune, May 16, 1991: 75% of the Catholics surveyed were in favor of prayer in public schools, 71% of the Protestants were in favor of it, 66% of other religions favored it, while only 48% of the LDS surveyed supported prayer in public schools — and this in a primarily LDS influenced society. When we stray from the path that the Lord has directed us to follow, He withholds His blessings. What is needed is what the ancient Israelites and Nephites needed, and that is to return to God, and the keeping of His commandments. In General Conference of October 1979, President Benson, said,

"We must return to worship the God of this land, who is Jesus Christ. He has promised that the righteous will be preserved by His power (see 1 Ne. 22:17). But we must keep the commandments of God. We must pay our tithes and offerings, keep the Sabbath day a holy day, stay morally clean, be honest in all our dealings, and have our family and personal prayers. We must live the gospel." (CR, October 1979, p. 46.)

Perhaps many will say, as did a certain ruler who asked Jesus, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And then, after Jesus reminded him of a few commandments, he replied, "All these have I kept from my youth up." (Luke 18:18-25; Mark 10:17-22.) Even though he thought he was doing well, yet he was found deficient in his devotion. He was not willing to "sell all" that he had.

After all of the commandments we think we are faithfully keeping, there may be some things in which we may be found wanting. We still may not be willing to "sell all," or to give all, and follow Him. Let us examine a few thoughts that may help us strengthen our commitment to "take up the cross, and follow" Him.

Follow the Prophet
In the book of Elder Ashton’s we previously referred too, he writes, "Sometimes when we are asked to be obedient, we do not know why, except that the Lord has commanded." And then, after referring to 1 Nephi 9:5, he continues: His [Nephi’s] obedience resulted in blessings to mankind all over the world. By not obeying our present-day leaders, we plant our seeds in stony places and may forfeit the harvest." (Ye Are My Friends, p. 71.)

One of the prevailing false concepts among the Latter-day Saints (at least as this author has witnessed it) is that we should not be preaching freedom, good governmental principles, the Constitution, the threats to the Constitution, and the warning about secret combinations over the pulpit. However, this has not been the advice of our Prophets. All things are spiritual to the Lord (D&C 29:34), and as President Brigham Young once said, "Temporal and spiritual things are inseparably connected, and ever will be." (JD, 10:364.) Now let us re-quote a statement from President Benson: "Sometimes from behind the pulpit, in our classrooms, in our council meetings, and in our Church publications, we hear, read or witness things that do not square with the truth. This is especially true where freedom is involved."

He is speaking here of some of the false doctrine that is preached by some members of the LDS Church. It seems that the biggest argument in discussing freedom, the Constitution, or government in the Church is, as some will say: "We shouldn’t discuss politics in church!" We must remember, free agency, liberty, and good government are not political; they are based on eternal principles. Discussing those who run for government office or discussing political parties may be political, but the consideration of those principles which may promote good government and preserve our liberty are not. Most critics of ours addressing these subjects hang their hat on statements from the First Presidency which encourage us to be involved politically, but, at the same time, keep it out of our church meetings. Such a letter was recently issued in a "Statement on Political Neutrality" that was read over the pulpit in sacrament meetings. The body of the letter reads as follows:

"In this election year we reaffirm the policy of strict political neutrality for the Church.
" - The Church does not endorse political candidates or parties in elections.
" - The Church does not advise its members how to vote.
" - Church facilities are not used for political purposes.
"Church members should study the issues and candidates carefully and prayerfully and then vote for those who they believe will act with integrity and will most nearly carry out their ideas of good government. Members are encouraged to participate as responsible citizens in supporting measures that strengthen society morally, economically, and culturally. They are urged to be actively engaged in worthy causes to improve their communities and make them more wholesome places in which to live and rear families.
"Political candidates should not imply that their candidacy is endorsed by the Church or its leaders. Church directories or mailing lists should not be used for political purposes." (Letter from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, to be read in sacrament meetings, Dated April 2, 1992.)

In this letter from the First Presidency, do we read where we are not to address the principles of good government in our church meetings as mentioned in D&C 98:4-10? Do we read that we should not consider the Constitution of the United States and the principles upon which it was founded in our Church meetings, as mentioned in D&C 101:77-80? Do we read that we are not to "...learn the principles of the Constitution in the traditions of the Founding Fathers" as the First Presidency encouraged us to do in a letter (to be read over the pulpit in a sacrament meeting) dated January 15, 1987, and as our living Prophet, Ezra Taft Benson, said we should when he spoke in the general conference of October, 1987? Do we read that we are not to mention "...what the prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to it" as we are suggested to do in that same address? Do we read that we are not to discuss in church meetings the "...things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms," as D&C 88:77-80 says we should? Do we read that we are not to discuss "A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries," and that it is "increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world," as mentioned by our Prophet at conference in October 1988? Do we read that man should not "warn his neighbor" concerning these things, as commanded in verses 81-82 of the 98th section? There is a resounding NO to each of these questions.

But what do we read in the above letter from the First Presidency? We read that we do not get involved, in our church meetings, in partisan politics. That is, get involved in the personalities running for political office. That is all that the letter implied!

Why do we continue to perpetrate such false doctrine in this, the Lord’s own Church? Why are we willing to hold to (with false assumptions) the words from one letter from the First Presidency and ignore the words of another, and while at the same time ignoring the scriptures on the subject? Why is it okay for the General Authorities of the Church to discuss topics in general conference, such as freedom, good government principles, the Constitution of the United States, the threats to our liberties, etc., and we be restricted from doing so in church meetings under the guise that those subjects are political? Why do we make popular that which is unsound, and unpopular that which is sound? Satan, and the wolves who are dressed in sheep’s clothing, would have us believe we should not discuss the things our Prophets have been trying to warn us about, over the pulpit, for many years. We should follow the counsel of our Prophet and "...use our influence to make popular that which is sound and to make unpopular that which is unsound." (CR, October 1988, p. 103.) That is the sole purpose of this book.

The importance of prophets in the Church is related by Wilford Woodruff, when speaking of Brigham Young addressing a group in the presence of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said, ‘There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day.’ ‘And now,’ said he, ‘when compared with the living oracles, those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.’ That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation: ‘Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.’" (CR, October 1897, pp. 18-19; as quoted in GFC, p. 339.)

We find some of the reasons it is important to follow the prophets. This counsel is especially important for those who desire to get into this freedom battle in these latter days and have the Lord’s protection. In general conference in 1970 President Harold B. Lee said,

"We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet ‘. . . as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.’ (D&C 21:4-5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’ (D&C 21:6.)." (CR, October 1970, p. 152.)

It is a serious matter how we respect the prophets of God and how we consider their words. The scriptures tell us that we need to "beware how" we "receive the oracles of God, . . . lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation thereby." (D&C 90:5.) We know that the Prophet Mormon said that his "mouth was shut," and that he was "forbidden " to preach unto the people: "for behold they had wilfully rebelled against their God; and the beloved disciples were taken away out of the land, because of their iniquity." (Mormon 1:16.) During his last verbal address to the Saints in a general conference, President Benson spoke, perhaps with a warning voice, about our respect toward the living prophets.

"I testify that throughout the ages God has spoken to His children through His prophets (see Amos 3:7, Helaman 8:13-20). Only when His children rejected the prophets were the prophets taken out of their midst, and then tragedy followed (see 1 Ne. 3:17-18, 7:14; Hel. 13:24-27)." (CR, October 1988, p. 102.)

Wrestling With Truth
Following the Prophet may not always be easy. One of the great stories about the struggle of faith concerns Enos in the Book of Mormon. His father was the Prophet Jacob, and Enos wanted to follow the counsel of his prophet-father. He speaks of a "wrestle" which he had before God, because the words that his "father spoke concerning eternal life sunk deep into" his "heart." And his "soul hungered" and he "cried unto [God] in mighty prayer and supplication . . . all the day long . . . and when the night came" he "did still raise" his "voice high that it reached the heavens." (Enos 1:2-8.)

This is a beautiful account of one who is determined to communicate with God and receive a remission of his sins. There are apparently things many of us need to struggle with in order to bring our lives into conformity with God’s plan for our liberty and ultimate salvation. When we are deeply entrenched in a lifestyle or system that is contrary to God’s laws, we have some decisions to make. Do we stay in the system and remain subject to the will of others, or do we make some changes to get out of the system and honor the eternal laws of God and our unalienable rights? When we pray for honest government and peace in the world, are we praying with sincerity and real intent, and are we willing to do our part instead of leaving it all up to God?

Those individualized and highly personal and spiritual struggles that some people go through can be the means of purifying the spirit as one resolves his life to conforming with the will of the Lord. It is a total and complete surrender of "all" to the will of God. No pride, but total humility and meekness before Him. And from such a personal encounter with self, comes an assurance of forgiveness and peace to the soul.

Turn to the Scriptures
In our struggles in life, to get it right, we have the examples of our living prophets to guide us. We also have the scriptures, and we can turn to them for the further light of knowledge and divine inspiration.

We learn from Nephi that we should "feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (2 Ne. 32:3.) Our Founding Fathers did not have the Book of Mormon, as we have, but they had the Bible and knew that it was the Word of God and that it would teach them what they should do.

George Washington said, "It is impossible to govern the world without the Bible." Andrew Jackson felt that, "The Bible is the rock on which this Republic rests." (Quoted by Ezra Taft Benson, CR, April 1963, p. 110.) And Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1814, "There never was a more pure and sublime system of morality delivered to man than is to be found in the four Evangelists." (The Real Thomas Jefferson, p. 356.)

The scriptures have been vitally important to those lovers of truth and liberty. However, Ezra Taft Benson said, "But the greatest handbook for freedom in this fight against evil is the Book of Mormon." (GFC, p. 321.) More recently he has said,

"The scriptures also tell about our inspired Constitution. If you accept these scriptures, you will automatically reject the counsel of men who depreciate our Constitution. If you use the scriptures as a guide, you know what the Book of Mormon has to say regarding murderous conspiracies in the last day and how we are to awake to our awful situation today (see Ether 8:18-25). I find certain elements in the Church do not like to read the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants so much — they have too much to say about freedom." (TETB, p. 81.)

And as recent as The Ensign of January, 1992, he gave us "three great reasons Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit." He said, "The second great reason we must make the Book of Mormon a center focus of study is that it was written for our day. . . . From the Book of Mormon, we see the evils of secret combinations portrayed in graphic and chilling reality." And within the third reason he mentions that "You will find the power to avoid deception." (The Ensign, January 1992, pp. 5-7.)

Although the scriptures can give us instruction and direction regarding our freedom, they also, of course, provide other inspiration. Elder Marion G. Romney gives us other reasons for studying the Book of Mormon. In April, of 1960, he spoke at a general conference and said,

"But there is another reason why we should read it. By doing so we will fill and refresh our minds with the constant flow of that ‘water’ which Jesus said would be ‘. . . a well of water springing up into everlasting life’ (John 4:14). We must obtain a continuing supply of that water if we are to resist evil and retain the blessings of being born again. . . .
"If we would avoid adopting the evils of the world, we must pursue a course which will daily feed our minds with and call them back to the things of the Spirit. I know of no better way to do this than by reading the Book of Mormon. . . .
"And so, I counsel you, my beloved brothers and sisters and friends everywhere, to make reading in the Book of Mormon a few minutes each day a lifelong practice. . . ." (CR, April 1960, pp. 110-113.)
And one of the great scriptorians of our time, Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that there are "special gifts and endowments," for those who study the scriptures:
"There are special gifts and endowments reserved for those who study and ponder the scriptures; for those who treasure up the Lord’s word; for those who fast and pray and seek knowledge by the power of the Spirit. They receive guidance and enlightenment that can be gained in no other way. They become men of sound understanding. They gain the spirit of revelation and of prophecy and teach and speak with power from on high." (Elder Bruce R. McConkie; from his forward to, Learning for the Eternities, by Marion G. Romney.)

One of the blessings of reading the scriptures is receiving enlightenment from the Lord. When we are involved in the reading of the scriptures, many answers to our daily needs can flow through those words. Sometimes, the spiritual endowments that come are not related to the subject we may be reading about at the time; but because we are immersed in the scriptures, the Lord uses these books as a conduit through which spiritual enlightenment can flow. In a true sense, revelation can come THROUGH the reading of the scriptures.

We need to read the scriptures on a daily basis, not for spiritual enlightenment only, but to learn what the Lord has told us about our day. There are no greater books on the subjects we have been discussing than the standard works of the LDS Church.

Our living prophets have encouraged us to read the Book of Mormon, because, as President Benson said, "This sacred volume was written for us — for our day. Its scriptures are to be likened unto ourselves." (General Conference, April 1989; The Ensign, May 1989, p. 4.) And recently he said, in the January, 1992, Ensign: "The scriptures are called "the words of life" (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.

And can we feel his earnestness and his anxiety for us as he continues by saying: "I implore you with all my heart that you consider with great solemnity the importance of the Book of Mormon to you personally and to the Church collectively." (The Ensign, January 1992, p. 7.)

Obtain Our Own Light
As we try to follow the prophets, we must be advised that there are members of this Church that are trying to get us to do otherwise. President Harold B. Lee said that the devil is making inroads within the Church and we will have some tight places to go through. Let us return to the same conference recently quoted from above and to another statement he made:

"We have some tight places to go before the Lord is through with this church and the world in this dispensation. . . . The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. There will be inroads within the Church. There will be, as President Tanner has said, ‘Hypocrites, those professing, but secretly are full of dead men’s bones.’ We will see those who profess membership but secretly are plotting and trying to lead people not to follow the leadership that the Lord has set up to preside in this church." (CR, October 1970, p. 152.)

In these critical times, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to be our guide. Wilford Woodruff related an incident that occurred to Brigham Young in Winter Quarters. He said that while he was there "the Prophet Joseph Smith appeared to him and said, "Brother Young, you exhort this people to obtain the Holy Spirit; with it they can do anything that is necessary; without it they cannot build up the kingdom of God." (JD, 23:329.)

The scriptures tell us that in the last days false and vain doctrines shall be taught, and that apostasy shall abound because of false teachers. Nephi tells us that, ". . . they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (2 Ne. 28:24.) Even the humble shall be led falsely away. President Brigham Young warned all of us to obtain our own revelation so we would not have to depend on man. He taught us by saying:

"What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation. . . . Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. (JD, 9:150.)
". . . you and I must have the testimony of Jesus within us, or it is of but little use for us to pretend to be servants of God. We must have that living witness within us. We need the light of the Holy Spirit continually, day by day, as you have been told hundreds of times. How easy it would be for your leaders to lead you to destruction, unless you actually know the mind and will of the Spirit yourselves. That is your privilege." (JD, 4:368.)

To have such revelation and spiritual guidance is our "privilege." George Q. Cannon spoke on the same theme when he said, ". . . do not, brethren, put your trust in a man though he be a Bishop, an Apostle, or a President; if you do, they will fail you at some time or place. . . ." (Millennial Star, 53:674.)

One of the greatest addresses on spirituality came from Elder Boyd K. Packer during the general conference of October, 1991. In this excellent talk, which all members should read and re-read, he said,

"A testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a witness that the Book of Mormon is true, comes in a delicate, refined spiritual communication. It is described in the scriptures as light, as a burning in the bosom. It is best described as a feeling.
"While we may invite this communication, it can never be forced! If we try to force it, we may be deceived.
"Enos, who was ‘struggling in the spirit,’ said, ‘Behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind.’ While this spiritual communication comes into the mind, it comes more as a feeling, an impression, than simply as a thought. Unless you have experienced it, it is very difficult to describe that delicate process.
"The witness is not communicated through the intellect alone, however bright the intellect may be.
"Personal testimony is confirmed to us initially and is reaffirmed and enlarged thereafter through a harmonious combining of both the intellect and the spirit.
"Some members, even some who have made covenants in the temple . . . pretend to have some higher source of inspiration concerning the fulfillment of prophecies than do ward or stake leaders or the General Authorities of the Church. Know this: There are counterfeit revelations which, we are warned, ‘if possible . . . shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.’" (General Conference, October 1991; The Ensign, November 1991, p. 21.)

It is of vital importance that we stay close to the Spirit of the Lord. That closeness comes, not by forcing a revelation, wherein we are left open for deception, but be obedience to the commandments and humility before God.

Apparently, even being a prophet of God is no guarantee of understanding revelation. We find in the Book of Mormon where Lehi did not discern the meaning of a revelation he himself received. As we recall, Lehi had a dream concerning the tree of life, a river of filthy water, a great and spacious building, etc. (1 Ne. 8:1-35.) Lehi seemed to understand the meaning of most of the elements of the dream, but it was only Nephi who understood what the river of filthy water represented. After being questioned by his brothers, note what Nephi says about his father Lehi in regard to the fountain of filthy water:

"And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?
"And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water." (1 Ne. 15:26-27.)

Now here was a prophet of God that did not understand what he was beholding due to apparent heavy involvement in "other things." If a prophet of the living God can be so taken with other things that he misses what the Lord intended in a vision, is it any wonder that we sometimes miss what the Lord has been trying to teach us? Can we not be so "swallowed up" with our own things in life; our pride, vanity, stubbornness, selfishness, busyness, anger, vindictiveness, faultfinding, greed, fears, etc., that we not only "behold not the filthiness" around us in our own lives but we totally miss what the Lord has counseled and warned us against?

What have we been hearing from our prophets, the Lord’s servants? Are we any better than the Prophet Lehi? Have we "missed the boat," so to speak?

Ezra Taft Benson gives us "three short tests to avoid being deceived pertaining to both this freedom struggle and all other matters." These three are:

"1. What do the standard works have to say about it? We must diligently study the scriptures. Of special importance to us are the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Mormon has a lot to say about America, freedom, and secret combinations. The Doctrine and Covenants is important because it contains the revelations which helped lay the foundation of this great latter-day work. This makes important reading in a day when government controls are increasing and people are losing the right to control their own property.
"2. What do the latter-day presidents of the Church have to say on the subject, particularly the living president? There is only one man on the earth today who speaks for the Church. That man is the President of the Church. Because he gives the word of the Lord for us today, his words have an even more immediate importance than those of the dead prophets. Other officers in the kingdom have fallen, but never the presidents. The words of a living prophet must and ever will take precedence.
"3. The third and final test is the Holy Ghost — the test of the Spirit. By that Spirit we "may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:5.) This test can be fully effective only if one’s channels of communication with God are clean and virtuous and uncluttered with sin. Said Brigham Young: "Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path that the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually (JD, vol. 9, pp. 149-50)." (GFC, pp. 338-340.)

And in his magnificent book, Come Unto Christ, President Benson gives us some advice on preparing to receive the "great day of the Lord":

"We must heed the Lord’s counsel to the Saints of this dispensation: "Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord." (D&C 133:10.)
"This preparation must consist of more than just casual membership in the Church. We must be guided by personal revelation and the counsel of the living prophet so we will not be deceived. Our Lord has indicated who, among Church members, will stand when He appears:
‘At that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.’
‘For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived. . . .’ (D&C 45:56-57.)
"President Wilford Woodruff further prophesied in 1894: "Can you tell me where the people are who will be shielded and protected from these great calamities and judgments which are even now at our doors? I’ll tell you. The priesthood of God who honor their priesthood and who are worthy of their blessings are the only ones who shall have this safety and protection. They are the only mortal beings. No other people have a right to be shielded from these judgments. They are at our doors; not even this people will escape them entirely." (Come Unto Christ, pp. 115-116.)

This principle is so important that Heber C. Kimball said that if we do not have the Spirit for ourselves in the last days, we will not be able to stand the persecution and other difficulties which we will be faced with:

"Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and his work. This Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand.
"The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand?" (Life of Heber C. Kimball, pp. 449-450.)

Eliminate Pride
Such personal spirituality entails the elimination of pride as a motivating force in our lives. When pride directs our lives, we serve other gods, rather than the Lord. President Benson’s talk on pride, as read by President Gordon B. Hinckley in the April conference of 1989, was one of the monumental addresses of all time. We will read some of his words from this address. Before we do, however, we will read his words from the April conference three years before. This is some of what he had to say at that time:

"Pride does not look up to God and care about what is right. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right.
"Was it not through pride that the devil became the devil? Christ wanted to serve. The devil wanted to rule. Christ wanted to bring men to where He was. The devil wanted to be above men.
"Pride is characterized by 'What do I want out of life?' rather than by 'What would God have me do with my life?' It is self-will as opposed to God’s will. It is the fear of man over the fear of God.
"Essentially, pride is a 'my will' rather than 'thy will' approach to life. The opposite of pride is humbleness, meekness, submissiveness (see Alma 13:28), or teachableness.
"Humility responds to God’s will — to the fear of His judgments and the needs of those around us. To the proud, the applause of the world rings in their ears; to the humble, the applause of heaven warms their hearts.
"‘The humble followers of Christ’ are few. (2 Ne. 28:14).' (CR, April 1986, pp. 5-6.)
And now a few words from his valiant address on April 1, 1989. [A large part of this talk will be recorded here because it has much application to the message of this book and the serious predicament we have gotten ourselves into in this nation]:
"I earnestly seek an interest in your faith and prayers as I strive to bring forth light on this Book of Mormon message — the sin of pride. This message has been weighing heavily on my soul for some time. I know the Lord wants this message delivered now.
"The Doctrine and Covenants tells us that the Book of Mormon is the record of a fallen people. Why did they fall? This is one of the major messages of the Book of Mormon. Mormon gives the answer in the closing chapters of the book in these words: 'Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction.'
"Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride — it is always considered a sin.
"Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing.
"The central feature of pride is enmity — enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means 'hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.' It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.
"In the pre-earthly council, Lucifer placed his proposal in competition with the Father’s plan as advocated by Jesus Christ. He wished to be honored above all others. In short, his prideful desire was to dethrone God.
"Disobedience is essentially a prideful power struggle against someone in authority over us. . . . A proud person hates the fact that someone is above him. He thinks this lowers his position.
"Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of 'my will and not thine be done.'
"Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled.
"The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’s.
"Another major portion of this very prevalent sin of pride is enmity toward our fellowmen. We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them.
"The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment. 'What will men think of me?' weighs heavier than 'What will God think of me?'
"Fear of men’s judgment manifests itself in competition for men’s approval. The proud love 'the praise of men more than the praise of God.' Our motives for the things we do are where the sin is manifest.
"When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of men’s judgment. The world shouts louder than the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.
"The proud depend upon the world to tell them whether they have value or not. . . . Pride is ugly. It says, 'If you succeed, I am a failure'.
"Pride results in secret combinations which are built up to get power, gain, and glory of the world. This fruit of the sin of pride, namely secret combinations, brought down both the Jaredite and the Nephite civilizations and has been and will yet be the cause of the fall of many nations.
"Pride is a damning sin in the true sense of the word. It limits or stops progress. The proud are not easily taught. They won’t change their minds to accept truth, because to do so implies they have been wrong.
"God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble.
"We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement.
"We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives.
"My dear brethren and sisters, we must prepare to redeem Zion. It was essentially the sin of pride that kept us from establishing Zion in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
"Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion. I repeat: Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion.
"We must cleanse the inner vessel by conquering pride." (General Conference, April 1989; The Ensign, May 1989, pp. 4-7.)

If the reader is familiar with this talk, he will recognize the fact that this author took the liberty of changing around three of the paragraphs. This was done to enhance the continuity of thought. The reader is encouraged to obtain a copy of this address and read all of it for himself; there is much more in it that is of great value.

As we study the subject of pride, we find that many of the ills of this great nation have been because some have not been able to turn their lives over to the will of the Lord. Let us keep in mind that our living Prophet said, in the address quoted above, "This fruit of the sin of pride, namely secret combinations, brought down both the Jaredite and the Nephite civilizations and has been and will yet be the cause of the fall of many nations." By being overly concerned with theirselves, they have neglected the rights of their fellowmen and the preservation of their own liberties.

Eye Single to the Glory of God
The subject of pride brings us to its companion subject of having "an eye single to the glory of God."

President Benson said that "if you desire to help your fellowmen the most, then you must put the first commandment first." And when we do not put God first then, "we are easily deceived by crafty men who profess a great love of humanity, while advocating programs that are not of the Lord." (CR, October 1967, p. 35.)

In complying with President Benson’s advice we are also following the scriptures when they tell us to, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Prov. 3:5-6.)

The section in the Doctrine and Covenants that all missionaries are familiar with is Section Four. It lists a series of Christ-like attributes which "qualify" them for the work. All of these qualities are very important, especially one of them; and that one is the principle of having "an eye single to the glory of God."

When we are not singly serving the Lord, we are serving someone else, and that someone else is usually ourself, because of pride. And if we are not serving ourselves or God, we are serving some "thing" or some "one" else. The interesting thing to realize is that, when we serve other entities and not God, it is usually because of some personal and selfish reason. And that brings us back to pride, which is serving ourselves instead of serving the Lord.

We cannot serve God and serve the world, or ourselves, at the same time. The scriptures tell us, "No man can serve two masters. . . . Ye cannot serve God and mammon." "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation." And that "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." But it also says that "if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." (Matt. 6:22, 24, 12:25; James 1:8.)

In his letter to the Galatians Paul said, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." And the Savior’s example is, "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (Gal. 1:10; John 5:30.)

We are instructed in many verses to turn our thoughts, our minds, and our service to Christ. In Alma we read:

"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. (Alma 29:9.)
"Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever." (Alma 37:36.)

The Lord expects our thoughts and affections to be upon Him and no one else, nor anything else. In Matthew we read: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt. 6:21.) What is treasure? It is simply that which we value most. And to the extent that we treasure other things, other people, or other activities more than we treasure our covenants with the Lord and our devotion to Him — to that same extent, our hearts will not be upon Him but will be elsewhere.

Whatever our treasure is becomes an idol, because it is what we "idolize." Have we thought of what it means to "idolize" another person? How does that fit in with the First Commandment when we venerate, reverence, glorify and even "worship the ground someone walks on?" Many of us idolize movie stars, singing stars, athletic stars, political stars, and some of us wrestle other fans for coveted autographs, etc. If this is our center focus, are we truly committed to the Lord? Maybe it would be well for us to ponder what it means to be an idolatrous people.

Jesus Christ should be our role model and our hero. Only with an eye single to the glory of God, and not to our own praise, or for the worship of someone else, can we truly and unselfishly serve Him and help build Zion. The Doctrine and Covenants tells us: "Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; . . ." (D&C 88:68.)

In that great intercessory prayer that Jesus offered He expressed His feelings about His beloved disciples in these words: "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us." (John 17:21.) Our purpose must be single with the purpose of the Savior. When that is mastered, without any prideful benefit for ourselves, then we may be worthy of the Lord’s help in bringing us back into His good graces of liberty. But until we subject ourselves to His will, we will be subject to the merciless world.

It Is Our Choice
Jesus, during his mortal probation, had to make choices based on his agency. He overcame the desires of the flesh and the world. We are asked to do the same by exercising our agency. We also, like Jesus, must make wise and prudent choices, free from coercion, and of our own "free will." (D&C 58:27.) We must understand Nephi’s counsel when he said,

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Ne. 2:27.)

When we choose to be committed in building up Zion, on defending our unalienable rights, and in keeping our covenants with the Lord, we must daily take upon us His name and bear the cross of accountability. And part of that accountability is receiving the message that His living Prophets deliver to us. To do this we must make a choice, which is dependent upon what level of commitment we are at and what our intentions are in regard to that message.

There are those of us who hear the words of a sermon but do not hear the message. There are those who listen to general conference and come out spiritually edified, while others come out intellectually stimulated but not spiritually enlightened. To hear words is one thing, to feel the spirit is another. To feel the spirit, one must be in a spiritual frame of mind.

How many times have we felt the spirit of the message but could not recall what was said? That spirit affects us more deeply than the words spoken. The spirit is that motivating force behind spiritual development. Intellectual words, alone, are not. Words give us tools, the spirit gives us the moving force. It gives life and meaning. When we hear and understand the words, and also feel the spirit in which the words were delivered, then we have received the message. The Apostle James tells us: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22.) We must follow the counsel of our living Prophet when he speaks to us and says: "I testify that it is time for every man to set in order his own house both temporally and spiritually. . . . We have the scriptures, the prophets, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now we need eyes that will see, ears that will hear, and hearts that will hearken to God’s direction." (CR, October 1988, p. 103.)

Let us never forget that "this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ." (Ether 2:12.)

When we are faithful and have done all we can do, and we know that He knows we have done all we can do, then we can go to Him with clean hands, without embarrassment or shame. But our duty first, is to make sure we are right before Him in all things. We can then approach the throne of God and request his blessings of mercy. And the confidence of knowing we are clean gives the power of faith, and He will hear our pleas.