Aloha.
Sister Budge and I are honored to be with you here today on this beautiful campus. I bring the greetings of our dear prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. One of the great blessings of serving in the Presiding Bishopric is to meet regularly with the First Presidency. We have Friday meetings where we meet to share information and receive counsel and direction regarding the temporal affairs of the Church.
Prior to my call three years ago to serve in the Presiding Bishopric, I had never personally known a prophet of God. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to know this mighty prophet. Words cannot adequately describe the feelings I have felt as I have witnessed the First Presidency counsel together in unity and love as they seek to know the will of the Lord. I testify, from my own personal experiences, President Russell M. Nelson leads by revelation and that Jesus Christ stands at the head of this Church. I wonder if we fully appreciate the great blessing it is to have a living prophet on the earth today.
Recently I was reading the last words recorded by the Book of Mormon prophet Mormon. I was struck by the similarity in the counsel given by Mormon over 1,600 years ago as he contemplated our day, and the counsel given by President Nelson, the prophet of our day. The scriptures say that "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” [1] Therefore, I thought it would be interesting to compare what Mormon taught then to what President Nelson is teaching now to see what we might learn about what we most need to know to survive spiritually in today’s world.
Are you intrigued? Are you curious how the teachings of these two great leaders compare? Then let’s dive in together to learn what these two mighty prophets of God want us to know today!
In Chapter 7 of Mormon, after a brief introduction, Mormon begins to lay out the things he wants us to know.
The first is, “Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel.” [2]
I find it interesting that Mormon put this at the top of his list. Have you ever heard President Nelson talk about the House of Israel? It must be important. President Nelson has taught the following:
“To us the honored name of Abraham is important. It is mentioned in more verses of scriptures of the Restoration than in all verses of the Bible. Abraham is linked to all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord reaffirmed the Abrahamic covenant in our day through the Prophet Joseph Smith. In the temple we receive our ultimate blessings, as the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” [3]
“In every age, the temple has underscored the precious truth that those who make covenants with God and keep them are children of the covenant.” [4]
So why is this so important for us to know? Jesus Christ Himself explained the significance of being children of the covenant when He appeared to the Nephites. He said,
“Ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
“The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant.” [5]
As children of the covenant, we are heirs to the redeeming blessings given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and we receive God’s power as we keep sacred covenants.
At the conclusion of the April General Conference, President Nelson closed the conference with these words:
“I know that His power is descending upon His covenant-keeping people, who are ‘armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” [6]
And to the young adults of the Church he said,
“There are various labels that may be very important to you, of course. Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that other designations and identifiers are not significant. I am simply saying that no identifier should displace, replace, or take priority over these three enduring designations: ‘child of God,’ ‘child of the covenant,’ and ‘disciple of Jesus Christ.’
“Any identifier that is not compatible with these three basic designations will ultimately let you down. Other labels will disappoint you in time because they do not have the power to lead you toward eternal life in the celestial kingdom of God.” [7]
Knowing our connection to the House of Israel, helps us to understand the blessings and responsibilities associated with this divine heritage, and to know that we can be endowed with power from on high to face life’s challenges.
Now let’s move on to the second thing Mormon wants us to know. He writes, “Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.” [8]
Such a simple and plain truth. Has President Nelson emphasized this principle in his sermons? Here are just a few of his many teachings on the subject.
“Repentance is required of every accountable person who desires eternal glory.” [9]
“Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind…. Whether you are diligently moving along the covenant path, have slipped or stepped from the covenant path, or can’t even see the path from where you are now, I plead with you to repent. Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day. When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!” [10]
“Because of Jesus Christ, we can repent and be forgiven of our sins. … I plead with you to come unto Him so that He can heal you! He will heal you from sin as you repent.” [11]
“Embrace your new normal by repenting daily.” [12]
“We cultivate faith in Jesus Christ by repenting daily and keeping covenants that endow us with power.” [13]
“Our repentance—our purity—will empower us to help in the gathering of Israel. … Prayerfully seek to understand what stands in the way of your repentance. Identify what stops you from repenting. And then, change! Repent! All of us can do better and be better than ever before.” [14]
“Yes, we should learn from the past, and yes, we should prepare for the future. But only now can we do. Now is the time we can learn. Now is the time we can repent.” [15]
“Our ultimate quest in life is to prepare to meet our Maker. We do this by striving daily to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. And we do that as we repent daily and receive His cleansing, healing, and strengthening power. Then we can feel enduring peace and joy, even during turbulent times.” [16]
“Mistakes happen. Errors are made. Sins are committed. What can we do then? We can learn from them. And we can truly repent. We can change our behavior. Our very desires can change. How? There is only one way. True change—permanent change—can come only through the healing, cleansing, and enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He loves you—each of you! He allows you to access His power as you keep His commandments, eagerly, earnestly, and exactly. It is that simple and certain. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of change! [17]
“The Lord does not expect perfection from us at this point in our eternal progression. But He does expect us to become increasingly pure. Daily repentance is the pathway to purity, and purity brings power.” [18]
Did you get the message? Both Mormon and President Nelson want us to know that repentance opens the door to the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and is the key to happiness and peace of mind.
Thirdly, Mormon says, “Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war.”
I had not heard President Nelson speak about laying down our weapons of war until last April Conference when he said,
“If you are serious about helping to gather Israel and about building relationships that will last throughout the eternities, now is the time to lay aside bitterness. … If your verbal arsenal is filled with insults and accusations, now is the time to put them away. You will arise as a spiritually strong man or woman of Christ.” [19]
Laying down our weapons of war, whatever they may be, requires a commitment to change—to turn to Christ. Commitment is central to repentance, and repentance is about change. Laying down our weapons of war demonstrates our commitment to repent, and as President Nelson taught, “When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” [20]
You may recall that the Anti-Nephi-Lehies did not only lay down their weapons of war, they “buried them up deep in the earth.” [21] Mormon records,
“And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives.” [22]
Now that is commitment! How committed are we? To lay down our weapons of war? The Anti-Nephi-Lehies buried their weapons in the ground so that they would not be tempted to use them. What weapons could we metaphorically bury in the ground to avoid falling into sin and to show the Lord our commitment to turn to Him at all costs?
In the Sermon on the Mount the Savior taught:
“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:… And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” [23]
What is the Savior trying to teach us here? Our eternal salvation is so important that He wants us to do whatever is necessary to remove anything that keeps us from Him. But how is that possible? How can we, in today’s world, bury our weapons of war?
We may not be able to remove everything in our lives that tempt us, but we can make positive choices that give us power to overcome the fiery darts of the adversary. That might look like laying down our phone before temptations arise or avoiding being alone and in dark places on our devices, or committing to never put ourselves in certain situations that we know can put ourselves at risk.
Remember, each person's journey is unique, and instead of condemning ourselves and others who struggle, we can turn to Jesus Christ for deliverance. He understands our challenges, pains, and sorrows. He asks us to come with a broken heart and contrite spirit. [24] In return, He promises that we will always have His Spirit to be with us, and the power to overcome temptation. [25] As President Nelson so prophetically said over five years ago, “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” [26] Let’s commit today to acknowledge and bury our weapons of war.
Next, Mormon wants us to understand that we must believe in Jesus Christ and His gospel. He says:
“Know ye that ye must … believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.
“And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment seat.
“And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.” [27]
Now listen to the words of our living prophet: The similarity of the messages is amazing.
“Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of all belief and the conduit of divine power.
“Choose to believe in Jesus Christ. If you have doubts about God the Father and His Beloved Son … choose to believe and stay faithful.” [28]
“Teachings of the finest institutions of higher learning have limitations because secular education generally ignores three major truths that are rarely addressed:
- First, each of us is going to die.
- Second, because of Jesus Christ, each of us is going to be resurrected and become immortal.
- And third, Judgment Day is ahead for each of us.
“These three absolute truths should form the foundation of your spiritual education.” [29]
At your age it is more difficult than at President Nelson’s age or even my age, to remember that life is short, and that we are all going to die, be resurrected and stand before Jesus Christ to be judged. However, choosing to believe in Jesus Christ and remembering those three fundamental truths will shape every meaningful decision you make in life and bless you with joy and peace of mind.
Next, Mormon wants us to know the importance of the Book of Mormon, a record that he abridged to bless the people of our day. He says:
“Lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record [the Book of Mormon] but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews [the Bible], which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.
“… And if ye believe this [the Book of Mormon] ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.
“And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant.” [30]
Now let’s hear what our living prophet has to say about the Book of Mormon:
“The Book of Mormon is a tangible sign that the Lord has commenced to gather His children of covenant Israel. This book, written for our day, states as one of its purposes that ‘ye may know that the covenant which the Father hath made with the children of Israel … is already beginning to be fulfilled. … For behold, the Lord will remember his covenant which he hath made unto his people of the house of Israel.’ Indeed, the Lord has not forgotten! He has blessed us and others throughout the world with the Book of Mormon. One of its purposes is for ‘the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ.’ It helps us to make covenants with God. It invites us to remember Him and to know His Beloved Son. It is another testament of Jesus Christ.” [31]
So how does President Nelson really feel about the Book of Mormon? Listen to his impassioned testimony:
“My dear brothers and sisters, I testify that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. It contains the answers to life’s most compelling questions. It teaches the doctrine of Christ. It expands and clarifies many of the ‘plain and precious’ truths that were lost through centuries of time and numerous translations of the Bible.…
“When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.
My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.
“Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, ‘I know the Book of Mormon is true,’ I want to exclaim, ‘That’s nice, but it is not enough!” We need to feel, deep in ‘the inmost part’ of our hearts, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we would never want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, ‘I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people’ to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon.” [32]
“Few things build faith more than does regular immersion in the Book of Mormon. No other book testifies of Jesus Christ with such power and clarity. Its prophets, as inspired by the Lord, saw our day and selected the doctrine and truths that would help us most. The Book of Mormon is our latter-day survival guide. [33]
“The Book of Mormon helps us to repent, make and keep sacred covenants, and merit the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. It leads us to the temple, where we can qualify for eternal life.” [34]
President Nelson’s teachings on these five topics I noticed that the word “Power” was used repeatedly. You may have picked up on this as well. Let’s take a look at one “power quote” from each of the five admonitions we have discussed.
“I know that His power is descending upon His covenant-keeping people, who are ‘armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” [35]
“We cultivate faith in Jesus Christ by repenting daily and keeping covenants that endow us with power.” [36]
“When coupled with faith, repentance [or laying down our weapons of war] opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” [37]
“Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of all belief and the conduit of divine power.” [38]
“When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.” [39]
The word is power.
Brothers and Sisters, I believe that Mormon and President Nelson love us so much that they want us to be filled with God’s power so that we can overcome the world and find lasting happiness, peace, and joy. I testify that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that the Holy Ghost is a conduit of God’s power in our lives.
And as President Nelson has said, “Oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.” [40]
Brother and Sisters, as I reflect on my life, I witness that God does bless us with His power. I have felt His power in my life as I have striven to make and keep covenants with God. These covenants have strengthened my relationship with God and Jesus Christ and every other important relationship in my life. This doesn’t mean I am perfect. I have also experienced the joy and power that comes from repentance, it is the key to happiness and peace of mind. Turning to Christ has not always been easy. It has required me to humble myself and recognize my weapons of war and to bury them deep in the earth. But I testify that when we show the Lord that type of commitment, He blesses us with His power. I believe in Jesus Christ, and I testify that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we are blessed with power. Lastly, I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I love to read from its pages. I have felt the power of God and grown in my love and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as I have studied and pondered its pages.
I commend to you the words of these two great prophets. I promise that as you heed their counsel you will have the power required to face life’s challenges and to overcome the world.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
[1] 2 Corinthians 13:1
[2] Mormon 7:2
[3] Russell M. Nelson, “The Gathering of Scattered Israel,” Ensign or Liahona, November 2006, 80
[4] Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation," Liahona, November 2021, 94
[5] 3 Nephi 20:25–26
[6] Russell M. Nelson, “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,” Liahona, May 2023, 128
[7] Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity,” Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, May 2022, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[8] Mormon 7:3
[9] Russell M. Nelson, “The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” Liahona, May 2022, 98
[10] Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 67
[11] Nelson, “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,” 127
[12] Russell M. Nelson, “A New Normal,” Ensign or Liahona, November 2020, 118
[13] Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, November 2022, 97
[14] Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” 68)
[15] Russell M. Nelson, “Now Is the Time,” Liahona, May 2022, 126
[16] Russell M. Nelson, “Opening Message,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 6
[17] Russell M. Nelson, “Decisions for Eternity,” Ensign or Liahona, November 2013, 107–108
[18] Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” 68
[19] Russell M. Nelson, “Peacemakers Needed,” Liahona, May 2023, 101
[20] Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” 67
[21] Alma 24:17
[22] Alma 24:18, emphasis added
[23] Matthew 5:29–30
[24] See 3 Nephi 9:20
[25] See John 14:26
[26] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96
[27] Mormon 7:5–7
[28] Russell M. Nelson, “Christ Is Risen: Faith in Him Will Move Mountains,” Liahona, May 2021, 102–103
[29] Nelson, “Choices for Eternity,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[30] Mormon 7:8–10
[31] Russell M. Nelson, “Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona, November 2011, 87
[32] Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon, What Would Your Life Be Like without It?” Ensign or Liahona, November 2017, 62–63
[33] Russell M. Nelson, “Embrace the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, November 2020, 75
[34] Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon, the Gathering of Israel, and the Second Coming,” Ensign, July 2014, 31
[35] Nelson, “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,” 128
[36] Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” 97
[37] Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” 67
[38] Nelson, “Christ Is Risen: Faith in Him Will Move Mountains,” 102–103
[39] Nelson, “The Book of Mormon, What Would Your Life Be Like without It?” 62–63
[40] Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” 94