Aloha, my brothers and sisters. It is a blessing for me to be with you in this beautiful place. This is a wonderful setting in which to feel the Spirit. Every location and gathering in which the Spirit of the Lord is sought and welcomed is a beautiful place.
What a blessing for each of you to attend, work, or serve at a university that has been established by the Lord to bless His children, advance His work, and extend His Kingdom upon the earth. In addition to receiving a fine education, there is another reason for you to be at BYU-Hawaii. The preparation you receive here is critical to the designs of the Lord. It will strengthen your spiritual and secular foundation for future service in the Kingdom.
I heard Elder Neal A. Maxwell once say:"The Lord always performs multiple outcomes with a single transaction" . Your experience here, if you apply yourself and take advantage of the abundant opportunities for growth, will bless countless others throughout your lives: your own posterity, and the cumulative hundreds of people with whom you will associate and among whom you will live. You will be as the leaven spoken of by the Savior in Matthew 13." The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." Who knows the extent to which your testimonies will influence others - not only by your formal expression of what you know to be true, but also by the visual testimony of your thoughts and actions, your service and devotion to our Heavenly Father's children, and by your steadfastness and love of the Lord and this marvelous work and a wonder in which we are anxiously engaged.
I live in St. Anthony, Idaho. It is a small town near the metropolis of Rexburg, Idaho, where BYU-Idaho is located. Both of these places are within an hour's drive of the majestic Teton Mountains. On the western side of the Grand Teton - the tallest peak in that area at over 13,760 feet (4166.66 meters) - is a smaller peak called Table Mountain or Table Rock. It is 11,000 feet (3352 meters) in elevation. The main trail to get to the top is about 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) in length. It is a popular hike - especially for those who are in good physical shape. Many years ago, I went on this hike with my wife and two of our children, along with several ward members. It was beautiful, but challenging for me. It was especially difficult when, on our descent not far from the top, my wife sprained her ankle. It was a long way back for her, and for me. I remember telling her, when we arrived at our vehicle, that if I ever wanted to hike Table Rock again, she should remind me of how tired and sore I was at that moment. Just for the record, I did hike Table Rock again. It was still difficult for me and I was tired and sore for a few days afterward. But I was so happy that I did it.
I have thought about that, and other hikes, which I have taken. I know that completing a difficult hike brings satisfaction and is very enjoyable, especially when one has prepared for the hike by being in good physical condition, having the proper equipment, provisions, and knowledge of how to get where you want to go. Having a well-defined trail which has been traveled by someone else in the group is also helpful.
I believe hiking Table Rock, or participating in some other difficult expedition or task is similar to our life's journey. There are times when you wonder if you can actually make it to the end of the trail. There are times when you may want to give up. Pushing ourselves to do more than we want to do, or feel capable of doing, is a key element for success in completing our journey, but it requires a great deal of work and determination on our part - and very often, help from others.
If you would be kind enough to allow me to share with you some of the feelings of my heart, I would like to speak to you about the greatest journey of all - the journey of becoming a son or daughter of God. I will discuss why knowing we are children of God is so important, what it means to be a son or daughter of God, and how we can attain that wonderful relationship and lineage. If the Holy Ghost is present with us today, with you and with me, we will all learn something very valuable.
Spirit Children of Heavenly Father
One of the important truths of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the knowledge that we are spirit children of our Heavenly Father - sons and daughters of God. The scriptures teach of our literal relationship to Him. The Apostle Paul taught the Greeks that "we are the offspring of God" (Acts 17:29). To the Hebrews, Paul asked this question: "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live" Heb. 12:9)? In Psalms we read: "Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High" (Ps. 82:6).
In the book, True to the Faith, we are taught of our spirit relationship to Heavenly Father.
"You are a spirit child of Heavenly Father, and you existed as a spirit before you were born on the earth. During your life on the earth, your spirit is housed in your physical body, which was born of mortal parents" (p. 164).
We are all familiar with the beloved Primary song that illustrates this truth: "I am a Child of God." The hymn, "O My Father" , includes this important line:
I had learned to call thee Father, through thy Spirit from on High,
But until the key of knowledge was restored, I knew not why.
In the Heavens, are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare.
Truth is reason, truth eternal, tells me I've a Mother there.
We are all related. Our common ancestor is not only Adam, but also Heavenly Father. Knowing that we are literally spirit children of Heavenly Father can have a powerful influence on how we conduct our lives and relate to each other. This knowledge should also improve the quality and sincerity of our prayers as we realize that He with whom we speak, ask, plead, listen, and share our most heartfelt thanks, is our loving Father. HIs love for us is divine. He wants us to succeed more than we do. He helps us in countless ways, and sent His eldest spirit child, Jesus Christ, to make it possible for each of us to return to His presence. Knowing who we really are should help drive away discouragement and feelings of despair. With few, if any, exceptions in my life, whenever I have needed strength or comfort, I have been able to access that help through prayer to my Heavenly Father. We are taught in the "True to the Faith" book:
You are a literal child of God, spiritually begotten in the premortal life. As His child, you can be assured that you have divine, eternal potential and that He will help you in your sincere efforts to reach that potential (p. 74).
President Boyd K. Packer has taught: "What could inspire one to purity and worthiness more than to possess a spiritual confirmation that we are the children of God? What could inspire a more lofty regard for oneself, or engender more love for mankind" (Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled , p.292)?
Primary children sing: "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow him in faith" (Children's Songbook # 77). What a tremendous encouragement to live faithfully is the knowledge of who we really are!
Christ as our Father
In addition to being spirit children of Heavenly Parents there is another important meaning for the phrase, sons and daughters of God. This lineage does not come by direct inheritance, but by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and by our choice. The great Book of Mormon prophet and writer, Mormon, wrote this interesting verse in connection with his teachings about charity:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that you may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen" (Moro. 7:48).
It is not enough to be a spirit son or daughter of God, though that is vital to our spiritual progression and hope for eternal life. Mormon taught that we may become the sons (and daughters) of God. The use of the word, "may" , indicates possibility, permission, right, request, or even a wish (Microsoft Encarta Dictionary). There is more to being children of God than spirit genetics.
Jesus Christ is often referred to as God and as Father. Sometimes members of the Church may be confused about the use of the name/title God, and the composition of the Godhead. We know that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are the members of the Godhead. The scriptures are clear that the Father and the Son are separate and distinct beings with bodies of flesh and bone (D&C 130:20). Of his First Vision, the Prophet Joseph Smith recorded, "I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him" (JSH 1:17)! The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit and is separate and distinct from the Father and the Son. Each member of the Godhead has the title of "God" (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, p.53). Just as we refer to each member of a stake or mission presidency as "President" , we may use the title "God" , when referring to the members of the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Each member of the Godhead is a God. Jesus, or Jehovah ("the covenant or proper name of the God of Israel" Bible Dictionary, p. 710), is the God of the Old Testament - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is in reference to Jesus, that Jacob, son of Lehi and brother of Nephi, exclaimed, "O how great the goodness of our God" and "O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel" (2 Nephi 9: 10, 19). Speaking of Jesus Christ as "God" does not diminish our respect for the Father, but helps us realize the authority and power resident in the Savior, knowing that only a God has power to resurrect all men and atone for the sins of mankind.
Jesus is also known by the title of Father. He is not Elohim ("exalted name-title of God, the Eternal Father" Mormon Doctrine, p. 224), who is the father of our spirits. We learn from the document, "The Father and the Son, A Doctrinal Exposition" written by the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles in 1916, that the title "Father" can be also applied to Jesus." Father" describes the Savior's role as the Creator." Jesus Christ, being the Creator, is consistently called the Father of heaven and earth . . . and since His creations are of eternal quality He is very properly called the Eternal Father of heaven and earth" (Doctrinal Exposition, Improvement Era 1916).
Jesus becomes our Father when we enter into a covenant with Him to keep His commandments in all things. As written in the Doctrinal Exposition, "Those who have been born unto God through obedience to the Gospel may by valiant devotion to righteousness obtain exaltation and even reach the status of Godhood" . Further we read that,
If it be proper to speak of those who accept and abide in the Gospel as Christ's sons and daughters . . . it is consistently proper to speak of Jesus Christ as the Father of the righteous, they having become His children and He having been made their Father through the second birth.
The teaching of Christ as our Father is clearly illustrated in the scriptures. After King Benjamin had taught his people about the atonement of Christ and of His justice and mercy, the people "viewed themselves" as "even less than the dust of the earth" (Mos. 4:2). They yearned for a remission of their sins and desired to receive the "atoning blood of Christ" so as to be forgiven (Mos. 4:2). Because of their earnestness and pure desires, the "Spirit of the Lord came upon them and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ, who should come" (Mos. 4:3). King Benjamin noted the mighty change which had come upon his people, and that they had "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mos. 5:2). He told them: Because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters (Mos. 5:7).
King Benjamin also helped them understand something that we should remember, especially as we partake of the sacrament:
"Therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ" (Mos. 5:8-9).
We become the sons and daughters of Christ through baptism and faithfulness to Him and being steadfast in the gospel throughout our lives. Isn't it interesting that the process by which we are born into mortality and given a name by our earthly parents, is similar to the second birth, or being born again, by water and the spirit (Jn. 3:3-5)? Through baptism, we declare our willingness to take upon us the name of Christ.
In connection with being "willing" to take upon us the name of Christ, Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught:
What we witness is not that we take upon us his name but that we are willing to do so. In this sense, our witness relates to some future event or status whose attainment is not self-assumed, but depends on the authority or initiative of the Savior himself.
Scriptural references to the name of Jesus Christ often signify the authority of Jesus Christ. In that sense, our willingness to take upon us his name signifies our willingness to take upon us the authority of Jesus Christ in the sacred ordinances of the temple, and to receive the highest blessings available through his authority when he chooses to confer them upon us.
Finally, our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ affirms our commitment to do all that we can to be counted among those whom he will choose to stand at his right hand and be called by his name at the last day. In this sacred sense, our witness that we are willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ constitutes our declaration of candidacy for exaltation in the celestial kingdom" (Dallin H. Oaks, "Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ",
Ensign, May 1985, 82).
An incident from the life of a bishop in my youth helps me understand what it means to be willing to take upon us the name of Christ. When I was a young man, I had a wonderful bishop who taught me about the responsibility of maintaining the legacy of a good name. His name was David Lawrence Cook (he was known as Lawrence, but was named after his father, David). In fact, Bishop Cook and his wife, Cleon, served as missionaries here on this island some years ago.
One afternoon, while a young Lawrence Cook and some friends were walking along the road, they came to the elementary school in which they were enrolled. One of the boys suggested that they throw rocks at the school. They did, and in the process, a window was broken. They all ran home. The next day at school, David Lawrence Cook was called into the principal's office. The principal asked him if he knew anything about the broken window in the school. Not surprisingly, to those who have known Bishop Cook, even as a young boy he could not be dishonest. He told the principal that he had broken the window. The principal startled him by saying that Lawrence could not have broken the window, because Dave Cook's son (Lawrence's father) would never have done such a thing. Lawrence, no doubt embarrassed, replied that he, indeed, did break the window. The principal would not hear of it, again saying, "Dave Cook's son would never do such a thing" . He then sent Lawrence back to class. I remember Bishop Cook telling us how deeply ashamed and embarrassed he felt to have sullied his father's good name by his actions. He vowed never to bring shame to the name of his father again. If we felt about the Savior's name, as Bishop Cook felt about his father's name, in our willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, we would live a more Christ-like life.
Becoming sons and daughters of God, then, also refers to a way of life, a covenant life, one in which we emulate the Savior in word and in deed. Christ becomes our Father, and we become His children when we covenant with him through baptism (and in other ordinances), and as long as we act like His children.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that when we are born again:
Christ is our Father; we become his children by adoption; he makes us members of his family . . .
But there is more than this to the doctrine of becoming sons of God. Those who so obtain are adopted also into the family of Elohim. They become his adopted sons so that they can receive, inherit, and possess along with his natural son (The Promised Messiah, pp. 352, 356).
The Apostle Paul taught:
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Rom. 8:14-17).
Elder McConkie explains that to cry "Abba, Father" is the way children address their father with whom they are intimately familiar. Paul helps us understand that if we are the children of God (Elohim), then we are His heirs, and joint-heirs with his Only Begotten, natural son (The Promised Messiah, pp. 355). We are "adopted into the family of the Father" and we receive an equal inheritance with our Savior (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. P. 394-395).
Characteristics of the Sons and Daughters of God
The scriptures describe specific qualities or characteristics of those who can be called the sons and daughters of God. In the first place, we are His spirit children. Secondly, we become the sons and daughters of God (Jesus Christ) when we make and keep sacred covenants. In the third place, sons and daughters of God are adopted into the family of the Father. They possess and develop spiritual gifts and qualities that help themselves and others return to God.
A scriptural list of the qualities that define a child of God are numerous, but instructive. We don't have time to consider all of them individually, but here is a sample.
"Blessed are the
peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God" (Mat. 5:9).
"
Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be (or may become - GK, footnotes) the children of your Father which is in heaven" (Mat. 5:44-45).
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26).
"Unto as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God" (D&C 45:8).
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father" (Mos. 3:19).
Enoch explained that our father Adam was baptized, received the Holy Ghost and the Holy Priesthood (which undoubtedly included all gospel ordinances, including temple ordinances). He then related that a voice came out of heaven and spoke to Adam saying, "Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons" (Moses 6:68). Receiving all the ordinances of the gospel is requisite to becoming a son or daughter of God.
President Joseph Fielding Smith offered an important perspective of what it means to be a son and daughter of God;
If you would become a son or daughter of God and an heir of the kingdom, then you must go to the house of the Lord and receive blessings which there can be obtained and which cannot be obtained elsewhere; and you must keep those commandments and those covenants to the end. . .
The ordinances of the temple, the endowment and sealings, pertain to exaltation in the celestial kingdom, where the sons and daughters are. The sons and daughters are not outside in some other kingdom. The sons and daughters go into the house, belong to the household, have access to the home. . . where he dwells, and you cannot receive that access until you go to the temple" (Doctrines of Salvation 2:40-41).
Yes, becoming a son or daughter of God means that we become like Christ, sons and daughters of Christ, who is the true Exemplar of everything we are asked to do, and to become.
John the Beloved said: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 Jn. 3:2-3).
When we have passed through this life and have become what it is intended that we become, we will see Christ and we will be like Him. We will have become pure as the Savior is pure. We will have access into our heavenly home, to dwell with Christ and the Father. But how is this possible?
How Can We Do This?
I spoke earlier about the challenge of climbing a mountain or approaching a difficult task; how we sometimes want to give up because we don't feel adequate or capable of completing the assignment or finishing what we started out to do. I must tell you in all honesty, that there have been many times in my life as I thought about what would be required of me to become like God, that I figuratively threw my hands in the air and said to myself, "There is no way that someone like me could ever become like Christ. The gulf between what I am now, and what I would need to do to become like Christ is too great" . I have allowed myself to become discouraged and ashamed that I have not done a better job with my life. Yet, in my heart, I have always wanted to do the right thing. I desire to be Christ-like. Perhaps some of you have felt this way at times. But I have discovered, or had confirmed to me, two principles that have blessed my life and given me hope.
First, no one can complete this great journey on their own. Spiritually speaking, we are not in the best "physical" condition; we don't have sufficient provisions or equipment, nor do we know the way to go, by ourselves. We must have help. We need a guide; someone who knows the way, who has been there before; someone who can succor us and lift up our hands when they hang down. In the gospel of Jesus Christ, we all have access to such a Guide. He is our Brother, our Leader, and our God. He is our Savior and Redeemer. Because of His infinite atonement (and the word infinite goes far beyond our understanding), He has overcome sin and death. He gives to us the marvelous gift of grace. When we do all that we can do, exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his power to save us, repenting of our sins, His grace provides an enabling power, whereby we "receive strength and assistance to do good works that [we] otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to [our] own means" (Bible Dictionary: Grace, p. 697). Also, "we believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel" (Articles of Faith, #3). And without the atonement of Christ, there is no resurrection, no forgiveness, no life, and no hope.
Second, I have learned for myself, that when I have prayed, fasted, studied, served, and made the kind of effort, worthy to receive the grace of Christ, I have received hope; hope that, even for me, with the assistance of my dear Savior, I can become as He is - a true son of God. Though I put forth my greatest efforts to be clean and worthy, the desire to do so, the ability to do so, comes from Christ. What a wondrous gift our Father has given to His children! Our Father in Heaven has given us His Beloved and Only Begotten Son as a model, a helper, a teacher, a Savior, and a Friend. As Lehi taught: "How great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Nephi 2:8).
I am grateful for the encouraging words of President Ezra Taft Benson who taught:
We must be careful, as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christ-like is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. . . . We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope (Ensign, October 1989, 4).
So, my dear brothers and sisters, I invite you to join me in a renewed determination to continue on in our journey, the most important, challenging, and wonderful journey that could ever be undertaken: the challenge to become the sons and daughters of God. With all that we have been given: prayer, prophets, scriptures, and especially the divine help from the Savior, we can do it.
I testify of the goodness of our Father and of His Son. May we truly become Their sons and daughters, and join with them in the Eternal Family of God, I pray, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.