Sister Lisa L. Harkness
First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency
Sister Lisa L. Harkness was born in Los Angeles, California to Ronald and LaRae Long. She is married to David S. Harkness. They have five children and four grandchildren. She served a full-time mission in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission where she taught in Spanish. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Secondary Teaching from Brigham Young University. Sister Harkness enjoys golf, hiking, and family history.
Spiritual Preparation
Please respond to the question below on the devotional discussion board:
The ability to choose for ourselves is a divine gift. How has your agency been a blessing in your life? Have you ever struggled to exercise your agency? When faced with a difficult choice how do you find the confidence to choose the right?
Sisters and brothers, I’m thrilled for the opportunity to see you and feel of your enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As with other speakers who have approached this pulpit, I have prepared some remarks for our time together. But I fully acknowledge that the most important things you will learn or feel today will not come from my words; instead, they will come from the Spirit. I pray that you will be eager to act upon the individualized inspiration you will receive.
To begin, I want to tell you about the forest where I spent most of my childhood. It was a magical place to me. It was very warm in the summer and cold in the winter, with occasional snow. There were all sorts of interesting mammals, reptiles, insects, and birds. I remember the beautiful wildflowers, the storms, and the winding trails where I rode my little bike. But the things I remember most are the trees. They are very unique and grow in only one area on the whole planet.
Let me show you a picture of this forest.
This is probably not the kind of forest you were expecting, right? Do you see the trees? Aren’t they fantastic!
Their scientific name is yucca brevifolia, and they’re not technically considered trees. They live mainly in the Mojave Desert in California, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. They can live for hundreds of years, and some grow 50 feet tall.
Now, you may know these trees by another name. Pioneers are said to have named this species the “Joshua tree” because it mimicked the Old Testament prophet Joshua waving them on, with upraised arms, toward the promised land.
These are the trees that I saw every day of my childhood. I didn’t know them by their scientific name, but I did see them stand through hot summers and snowy winters. I saw them grow flowers in the spring and hold to the sandy, desert floor through very windy storms. And as a child, I wondered who Joshua was and what I should know about him.
As an adult, I know that Joshua led the children of Israel into the promised land. He was a type of Christ, who leads all the faithful into the ultimate land of promise, the presence of Heavenly Father.
Joshua lived to be 110 years old. Before he died, he gathered his people and reminded them of all the things the Lord had done for them. He admonished them, saying, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” [1]
I’d like to talk with you about three messages we can learn from Joshua’s admonition.
To begin, let’s look at the first word: “ Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” [2]
Elder Dale G. Renlund recently taught, “Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him.” [3]
In the Book of Mormon, Lehi tells us that “to bring about [God’s] eternal purposes in the end of man, . . . the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself.” [4]
Our divine gift and ability to choose can be both wonderful and nerve-racking at the same time. Have you ever felt like that?
Not long ago, I talked with a woman in her early 20s. She explained that she felt overwhelmed with all of the choices she had to make at this stage in her life—the very stage that so many of you are in right now. She explained that she had decisions of what major to pick, what classes to take, where to live, and whom to choose as a roommate. There were financial decisions large and small, dates to go on, and whether to serve a mission. After describing all these choices and more, she said, “I just wish someone would choose for me.” I listened empathetically and thought of these words from Joshua: “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” [5]
We make some decisions without conscious thought. Others require much effort and prayer. In either case, such decisions are part of our Heavenly Father’s divine design; our whole mortal experience is centered around our agency. It is the engine that facilitates our eternal progression.
President Russell M. Nelson taught, “If you want to be happy, choose the way of the Lord. If you want to be miserable, choose the paths and the temptations of the adversary.” [6]
My dear friends, rejoice in your individual, divine gift of agency. Have courage to choose righteously in accordance with the covenants you have made.
As you exercise your agency, the Holy Ghost will help. You will feel that help as you intentionally put yourself in places where you can receive inspiration—places of revelation and learning, such as kneeling in prayer, studying the scriptures, serving in the temple, and participating in institute.
Now, let’s look at these next two words: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” [7]
Notice what Joshua says—and notice what he does not say. He said this day, not someday.
Procrastination can have unpleasant consequences. Think about delaying your homework or reading until the end of the semester. That wouldn’t be good! What would happen if you habitually procrastinated your rent or your car or tuition payments? Many of the choices we make cannot be tabled for some future day when we have time to get around to them. Some must be addressed daily, with intentional diligence.
One such choice is the opportunity to repent every day.
From Amulek we learn: “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. And . . . do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end.” [8]
President Nelson recently taught: “Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance.” [9] “True repentance is not an event; it is a never-ending privilege.” [10] “It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” [11]
Did you notice that President Nelson suggested repentance is a privilege? It is a faithful expression of our individual agency. Choosing to repent keeps us free from the burdens of guilt, addiction, shame, nagging grudges, unworthiness, and self-deception. In contrast, our daily repentance produces hope, confidence, enthusiasm, wisdom, forgiveness, improved relationships, and an increased ability to receive personal revelation.
If, through the exercise of your agency, you have wandered off the covenant path, you can use that same agency to repent and turn back to God. Our ability to choose to repent is a gift from God, paid for with the precious blood of His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.
President Nelson has lovingly pleaded, “Please do not stay off the covenant path one more minute. Please come back through true repentance, now.” [12]
“Now” means this day—not someday.
Some of you are thinking to yourselves, “I’ve been off-roading, far from the covenant path for too long; people won’t believe that my efforts to repent are sincere. What if when people see me, all they think of is my past?”
If you have ever thought this or think so now, please be assured that as a result of your sincere repentance, the Savior will take care of your past—or, in the words of our day, “He has your back.” Have the courage to look toward Him and receive His healing, transformative power. You can trust the Redeemer of the world. As the Lord said to Joshua, “I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” [13]
Now let’s look at the last part of Joshua’s admonition: “whom ye will serve.” [14]
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are “willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; . . . mourn with those that mourn; . . . comfort those that stand in need of comfort,” that we may always be witnesses of His loving-kindness and redeeming power. [15]
Whether we do these things because of a formal ministering assignment or quietly, when prompted by the Holy Ghost—when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are serving our God. [16]
Opportunities for service are all around you. Some will come to you in an organized way or as part of a group effort. But other opportunities to serve will be individualized, unadvertised, and known only to the recipient.
Please pay close attention to the people around you. You are not where you are by accident. There is a divine design to our Father in Heaven’s work for His children. You may be the loving neighbor, the listening ear, the friendly face, the thoughtful son or daughter, the strong back, or the helpful hands that Heavenly Father has designed to serve those closest to you—meaning your family and extended family, friends, roommates, coworkers, teammates, classmates, and more.
President Nelson has recently expanded our view of serving others to include those on both sides of the veil. Remember when he said:
Every child of our Heavenly Father deserves the opportunity to choose to follow Jesus Christ, to accept and receive His gospel with all of its blessings. . . .
. . . My dear extraordinary [young people], you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel. [17]
Please resist the temptation to think, “I can’t possibly do all that right now. I’m just a student. I’m trying to establish my career. I’ve got dates to go on and a spouse to find. I will do that someday, just not today.”
So many of us spend 20 minutes of our day catching up on social media, games scores, or news headlines. Just think of the service, the gathering, that could take place if we focus that same 20 minutes on temple and family history work! I know I need to do better in this area. I challenge you to take even just 20 minutes to do the same.
Please be assured that serving others, on either side of the veil, is not complicated. It may not always be convenient, carefree, or effortless, but it is not complicated.
President Nelson reassures us: “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.” [18]
I pray that your eyes may be opened to the simple, uncomplicated ways you can choose today to serve God by serving His children.
Let’s return again to the picture of my childhood forest in the desert.
Besides the Joshua trees, what else do you see? Do you notice the tumbleweeds growing closer to the ground?
These particular tumbleweeds are still connected to their roots in the ground. And so they stay anchored, nourished, and growing.
But tumbleweeds have their name for a reason. Living in the desert for a good part of my life, I observed that tumbleweeds have no mind of their own. You rarely see tumbleweeds moving in different directions. They almost always move in one direction—the direction of the wind.
Let me show you a clip of tumbleweeds in a windstorm.
Why do tumbleweeds tumble and get blown around? It’s because the connection between the plant and its roots dries out, causing the plant to break free from its foundation with a simple gust of wind. Once disconnected, tumbleweeds are blown into piles. Consider this obstruction that trapped a family inside their home.
This may seem exaggerated to you. But could this be a visual example of Paul’s warning to the Ephesians? He said that some are “tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” [19]
What could cause you to figuratively be tossed to and fro? I would like you to consider a very pernicious practice that can cause us to tumble unless we are vigilant and careful.
It is the destructive influence of murmuring.
There is a lesson from Joshua’s experience that is very enlightening on this matter:
As the Israelites came to the borders of Canaan, Joshua was one of 12 spies chosen by Moses to go into the land of Canaan. All the spies agreed that the land was indeed good but that the cities and the people were strong and formidable. Only 2 of the 12 spies, Joshua and Caleb, believed that the Lord could help them conquer this promised land as He had promised.
The other 10 spies immediately began to murmur, saying that the Israelites were like unto grasshoppers and the Canaanites were giants. [20] Their murmuring words spread like wildfire, until all of the children of Israel were saying things like, “It would have been better for us in Egypt!” [21] The people even “murmured against Moses” [22] and wanted to choose a new leader who would take them back to Egypt where they had been in captivity.
For their murmuring, the Lord relieved the children of Israel of the promised blessing that He would destroy the Canaanites and give them their promised land. Instead, He sent Israel into the wilderness to wander for 40 years.
Murmuring has no true direction; it flows wherever the fickle winds of popular opinion and trending concerns blow. Murmuring can be highly contagious. Once it starts, it has the tendency to stir up crowds until they are all tossed up, carried away, then piled into huge, helpless heaps. Just like tumbleweeds!
When we murmur, we listen to the wisdom and worries of men and women and ignore the nourishing guidance of the Holy Ghost.
If we are not careful, we too can get caught up in a murmuring breeze—and thereby surrender the agency to choose our direction on the covenant path. Please resist the temptation to complain away unanswered questions, temporary frustrations, or discouraging events. Do the spiritual work necessary to always be guided by revelation and continue to grow.
Joshua trees and tumbleweeds grow side by side; each is subject to the same heat and cold, soil conditions, and wind. But one stands and the other tumbles.
The Lord has said, “But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved.” [23]
Brothers and sisters, choose to stand and be not moved from the roots of your faith and the source of revelation.
Stand and be not moved from the promises of your covenants.
Stand and be not moved from the work our Father in Heaven has sent you here to do.
“Choose you this day whom ye will serve,” committing to yourself that “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” [24]
Heavenly Father rejoices when we exercise our agency with intention and faith. I urge you to use it daily to turn to Him through repentance and serving others. I testify that He has blessings designed just for you, both in this life and throughout eternity.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[1] Joshua 24:15.
[2] Joshua 24:15; emphasis added.
[3] Dale G. Renlund, “Choose You This Day,” Ensign, Nov. 2018.
[4] 2 Nephi 2:15–16.
[5] Joshua 1:9.
[6] Russell M. Nelson, in Sarah Jane Weaver, “As Religion Declines in Australia, President Nelson Speaks on Book of Mormon, Happiness,” Church News, May 19, 2019; churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/as-religion-declines-in-australia-president-nelson-speaks-on-book-of-mormon-happiness?lang=eng.
[7] Joshua 24:15; emphasis added.
[8] Alma 34:32–33.
[9] Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” Ensign, May 2019.
[10] Russell M. Nelson, “Four Gifts That Jesus Christ Offers to You,” 2018 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional, Dec. 2, 2018.
[11] Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” Ensign, May 2019.
[12] Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Worldwide Youth Devotional, June 3, 2018; hopeofisrael.churchofjesuschrist.org.
[13] Joshua 1:5.
[14] Joshua 24:15.
[15] Mosiah 18:8–9.
[16] See Mosiah 2:17.
[17] Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Worldwide Youth Devotional, June 3, 2018; hopeofisrael.churchofjesuschrist.org.
[18] Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Worldwide Youth Devotional, June 3, 2018; hopeofisrael.churchofjesuschrist.org.
[19] Ephesians 4:14.
[20] See Numbers 13:31–33.
[21] See Numbers 14:2–3.
[22] Numbers 14:2.
[23] Doctrine and Covenants 45:32.
[24] Joshua 24:15.