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Steve
Allen, Managing Director of the Missionary Department for The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invited people at Tuesday’s
devotional to examine their hearts.
He
began by comparing repentance to sanding paint off of wood. The more one
waits, the more paint (sin) is piled on, making it much more difficult to
get off.
He
referred to a young man preparing to serve a mission for the church.
Through sincere repentance, the young man cleansed himself of heavy
burdens, or layers of paint. After removing heavy layers of sin, he found
many he had forgotten. He was honest with himself and able to repair the
harm done by sins before leaving to serve.
“The
world would have us believe [honesty] is a complex issue,” but it is
not, he said. “Satan is the father of all lies [and would] help us
believe that honesty is not a black and white issue.”
He
quoted 2 Nephi 28:8-9, which reads: “And there shall also be many
which shall say: eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God–he
will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the
advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is
no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so
be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we
shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
“Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after
this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines...”
Allen
stressed that “false and vain and foolish doctrines” envelope
us daily.
He
counseled students to think about the words of the twelfth and thirteenth
articles of faith.
“We
believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in
obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
“We
believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing
good to all men...” Articles of Faith:12,13.
“The
guideline is clear and direct,” he said. “Sin has many tools,
but a lie is the handle that fits them all. When what you do and what you
believe are the same, you will have inner peace.”
“The
Lord has given us a prescious tool, a conscience,”
he added. “Let our values drive our actions.”
Allen
challenged students to evaluate their actions, their obedience, and how
they could improve. “Are you living today the values you were taught
by your parents?” he asked.
“Do
what is right,” he said. “Part of [keeping] your word is when
you signed your endorsement letter” to keep the honor code.
He
quoted the ancient prophet Nephi in his very last recorded words and
challenged those present to commit it to memory.
“I
must obey. Amen” 2 Nephi 33:15.
“Whatever
you do in life, just do your best,” he concluded.
Next week’s devotional speaker will be Elder Dean Larsen,
emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy in The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Devotionals are broadcast live on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and again at 9
p.m. on KBYI, FM 100.
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