My dear young friends, what a delight it is for me to be here with you today. As we entered into Rexburg and onto this beautiful campus, I once again felt the powerful spirit that is resident here. I am a native of Idaho Falls and I worked professionally for almost 30 years in this valley. I had the privilege of serving on this campus as a stake president. This is a choice university. Take advantage of every minute that you have in this sacred place. My father, my mother, my four grandparents and my eight great-grandparents lived in this Upper Snake River Valley. This is a blessed land and truly is the land of my fathers.
Have you ever noticed that when God tests his people, as he prepares them to receive greater blessings, that they are tested in the wilderness? Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden into the lone and dreary world to prepare themselves to return to their heavenly home. Moses and the children of Israel went into the wilderness and were tested before they could inherit the Promised Land. Ten of the Tribes of Israel were scattered into the wilderness and lost to the knowledge of man so that God could prepare them for the eventual gathering of Israel.
John the Baptist retired to the wilderness to prepare himself for his ministry. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, went into the wilderness to be tempted and to prepare for his mortal ministry. The Jaredites left their home and went into the wilderness in order to inherit the Promised Land of America. Lehi and Mulek also went into the wilderness as a preparation to inhabit that same Promised Land.
In our day the Saints following the Prophet Joseph were driven into the wilderness as they were tested and tried, and then under the prophet Brigham Young they again went into the wilderness to establish Zion in the tops of the mountains.
I want to share with you a tale about going into the wilderness, which I believe applies to us today in a very real way.
One night in ancient times, three horsemen were riding across a desert. As they crossed the dry bed of a river, out of the darkness a voice called, "halt!" They obeyed. The voice then told them to dismount, to pick up handfuls of pebbles, put the pebbles in their pockets and remount. The voice then said, "If you have done as I commanded, tomorrow at sunup you will be both glad and sorry." The horsemen rode on. When the sun rose, they reached into their pockets and found that a miracle had happened. The pebbles had been transformed into diamonds and other precious stones. They remembered the warning that they would be both glad and sorry. Glad they had taken some; sorry they had not taken more.
While in this tale the quantity of pebbles is important, it isn't everything. The quality of the pebbles is also very important. Some pebbles are of more worth than others. My prayer today is to help each of you identify which pebbles are of the greatest worth. I want to talk to you today about who you are.
I think of a conversation that Hamlet has with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Shakespeare's Hamlet. A famous line, and I would add, a famous lie that Hamlet utters, is "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." That is a lie. Indeed Isaiah said, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"[1]
I know that when we understand who we are, we are empowered to act differently. We rise and act in accordance with the potential that is within us. As we talk today, please bear in mind that the father of all lies - Lucifer, the great deceiver - would have you believe otherwise. He would have you believe that you are descended from early forms of life that somehow crawled out of the sea and evolved into a human being. He would have you believe that you are the product of monkeys evolved into men.
If you believe that you are from such a linage, it is easy to justify anything. After all, "I'm not responsible for my acts; that's just the way I am. I'm an animal, it's in my genes." Satan would remove from you any sense of responsibility. He would say things like:
"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."[2] "And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none-and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance."[3]
Joseph Smith said: "in the last days, in relation to the kingdom of God, the devil always sets up his kingdom at the very same time in opposition to God."[4] Satan has a plan for everyone and tries to deceive the learned with their own perceived wisdom:
"O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profited them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God."[5]
Let me share with you two things that have helped keep me from being deceived: first is my patriarchal blessing, and second is knowing that I am of the seed of Abraham. To avoid being deceived, in addition to fasting, prayer, living prophets and the scriptures, I have found a great protection in my life. It is a personal revelation given to me when I was only 17 years old. It is called my patriarchal blessing.
In that blessing I have found the answers to some of my most profound questions. I would like to share with you one example that is personal to me, but that applies to everyone here today. It reads, "There have been many other choices placed before you and you have found it is necessary to always choose that which is in harmony with the teachings of your parents, the teachings of the leaders of the Church, the teachings of the scriptures, because the temptations of the world are so camouflaged and made so enticing that unless you are willing to square with the teachings of the gospel you will be deceived."
How can we avoid being deceived? By knowing who we are. I testify that you and I are the seed of Abraham and chosen members of the House of Israel. These two great truths entitle you to be rightful heirs of all that the Father hath: the privilege to return to His presence and become as He is. You are the legitimate heirs of Abraham. What does that mean?
In the third chapter of the book of Abraham, we begin to get a glimpse of just who Abraham is and therefore who we are. We see who he was before he was born on this earth:
"Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;
"And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers."
Brethren, when you receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, you receive all of the priesthood. There will never come a time when hands are placed on your head and you receive more priesthood - other offices or callings, yes - but never more priesthood. You hold today the same priesthood that Jesus Christ used to create this world and worlds without end. There is a difference between priesthood authority and priesthood power. Priesthood power comes through obedience. I don't believe that it is pleasing to Heavenly Father to have priesthood authority without priesthood power.
"[F]or he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born."[6]
Here we see Abraham in the pre-mortal life. We see that he was chosen. What exactly does chosen mean? God is no respecter of persons. He has no favorites. When the scriptures say, "many are called but few are chosen," I believe that "chosen" means obedient. Many are called but few are obedient. What God says to Abraham here is that he was obedient before he was born. He was one of the great and noble ones because of his obedience.
Not only do we see our father Abraham but we see ourselves as well. Joseph Smith said, "Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose that I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council."[7]
President Ezra Taft Benson said: "Young men of the Aaronic Priesthood, you have been born at this time for a sacred and glorious purpose. It is not by chance that you have been reserved to come to earth in this last dispensation of the fullness of times. Your birth at this particular time was foreordained in the eternities."[8]
Sisters, do you think you are any less? I think not. I testify that all of you were there. I testify that you are part of the great and noble ones that we learn about in Abraham chapter 3, verse 22. Go with me now to Abraham chapter 2, verse 8. We now see Abraham as a mortal being. Who is Abraham? An ancient prophet you say. That is correct. Who else is Abraham? He is the father of many nations. That is also correct. But Abraham is much closer than that to me. He is my grandfather.
Let me ask you a question. If you had a rich grandfather, would you be happy or sad? Happy? That's right! Because if you had a rich grandfather, you could expect a rich inheritance. I am here today to tell you that Abraham is your grandfather, too. I know that he is my grandfather by reading that personal revelation that God gave me through one of his authorized servants. If you read your patriarchal blessing, you will see that you too are from his linage.
Let me add here that if you don't have a patriarchal blessing, prepare for it and get it. Father has some amazing things that he wants to share with you. One of the greatest is the knowledge that you are the seed of Abraham. Because of Abraham's obedience in the pre-mortal and this mortal life, God made a covenant with him.
Now as we read in Abraham, it will be much more meaningful because we will be reading about our grandfather and we will realize that all that has been promised to him is also promised to us his seed. Let's read Abraham chapter 2, verses 8 through 11.
"My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee."
Here, Jesus Christ the Jehovah of the Old Testament is conversing with Father Abraham. He promises him specific blessings.
"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations."
Let me ask you a question. Did you know that Abraham is recognized among all Christian, Jewish, and Muslim nations as their father? Truly his name has been made great among many nations, and as the gospel fills the whole earth his name will be great among all nations. And now, the part that talks specifically about you and me and the mission that we have:
"[A]nd thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed [us] after thee, that in their hands [our hands] they [we] shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations;"[9]
Why is it so important to Father in Heaven and the Savior to bear this priesthood unto all nations? Because,
"[T]his greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;"[10]
Without all of the ordinances of the higher priesthood, which are received in the holy temples of God, we will never return home to Father. And after all, we are His work and his glory. His greatest desire is that we return home to Him.
We do missionary work to take the priesthood and temples to the world. Therefore, when President Monson made the renewed call for more missionaries in the October 2010 General Conference, and said...
"First, to young men of the Aaronic Priesthood and to you young men who are becoming elders: I repeat what prophets have long taught-that every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty-an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much. Young men, I admonish you to prepare for service as a missionary. Keep yourselves clean and pure and worthy to represent the Lord. Maintain your health and strength. Study the scriptures. Where such is available, participate in seminary or institute. Familiarize yourself with the missionary handbook Preach My Gospel."[11]
...President Monson was echoing the words of the Savior uttered thousands of years ago to the prophet, and our father, Abraham:
"And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father; "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee [that is, in thy priesthood] and in thy seed, [that is, thy priesthood] for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee [that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body] shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal."
This is what we refer to as the Abrahamic Covenant. There are four specific ways that we are blessed by the covenant that Abraham our grandfather made with God. They are:
- We are blessed through Jesus Christ who came through the lineage of Abraham.
- We are blessed through the priesthood which was conferred upon Abraham and his descendants.
- We are blessed through the scattering of Israel among all nations by which the blood of Israel was sprinkled among the nations, and thus the nations partake of the leaven of righteousness, on condition of their repentance, and are entitled to the promises made to the children of Abraham.
Let me make a side note here. First, I have a question. Can I see by a raise of hands, how many of you are from one of the scattered lost ten tribes? Let me ask another question. Who are the two found tribes? They are Judah and Benjamin. If you are from any other tribe besides Judah or Benjamin, like Ephraim or Manasseh, you are from one of the lost ten tribes. I hope I have peaked your interest enough now so you will go and study that.
We are blessed in the fact that the Lord covenanted with Abraham that after his time all who embraced the gospel should be called by his name, or, should be numbered among his seed, and should receive the Holy Ghost.[12]
How does being the seed of Abraham tie into being members of the House of Israel? Bear in mind that Abraham had a son; his name was Isaac. Isaac had a son; his name was Jacob. Jacob had his name changed by God. The name God gave him was Israel. Israel had 12 sons. They were called the House of Israel.
Everyone within the sound of my voice who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a descendent of Israel either by bloodline or adoption. Thus, the blessings of Abraham passed down through Isaac and on to Jacob and then to his 12 sons.
The majority of this audience today comes through Joseph and then through one of his two sons, Ephraim or Manasseh. There will also be a small number of people here from other tribes of Israel. It really doesn't matter which. In the end, if a person magnifies his calling, once you are in the House you are entitled to all the promised blessings or the inheritance. I testify that we are of the House of Israel. Can you see how this knowledge will keep you from being deceived?
A second side note: if you want a very interesting study, get a new copy of the Book of Mormon and go through and underline each time you see the words "house of Israel." If you get the same number I did, you will see it over 105 times, beginning on the Title Page and ending in Moroni 10:31. I'm not sure we can completely understand the Book of Mormon if we don't understand the House of Israel.
One more thing to think about as you study the seed of Abraham and the house of Israel: all of the house of Israel is of the seed of Abraham, but not all of the seed of Abraham is of the house of Israel. That is a teaser to make you want to learn more about both.
I mentioned that once you are in the house, if you magnify your calling and receive all of the ordinances offered by our Father in Heaven in his holy house, the temple, that you are entitled to all the promised blessings or the inheritance. What is that inheritance? What is promised to the faithful, the obedient seed of Abraham, those of the house of Israel?
First, before we go to the place where we find the treasure, the inheritance, that which we have been seeking for, let me say a word about the priesthood that we have been foreordained to carry to the world.
We cannot talk about priesthood without talking about the sisters of the Church. The Plan of Happiness, the blessing of eternal life, the life that God lives, the privilege of being in his presence and being like Him, that which we call eternal life requires two things: a worthy priesthood bearer who magnifies his calling and a worthy woman who magnifies her calling.
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
"And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
"And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
"He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase."[13]
Now as we read together the Oath and Covenant of the Holy Priesthood, we will understand what the reward of faithfulness is to those who are covenants keepers. We will also see the penalty for those who are covenant breakers:
"For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.
"They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron."
You remember that it was Moses who led the house of Israel out of bondage from Egypt and took them to the Promised Land. It was the Law of Moses with the Levitical Priesthood, or the priesthood of Aaron that became the schoolmaster to guide the rebellious Israelites to the higher law or the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, which was taken from them because of disobedience. Christ would restore this priesthood when he entered into mortality in the meridian of time.
"[A]nd the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.
It was through Abraham that God covenanted that the priesthood would come down through his line and that through that priesthood all of the nations of the world would be blessed. We are that seed and through obedience we become the church and kingdom and the elect of God.
"And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
"For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; "And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
"And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
"And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.
"Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved."
This is the promised inheritance: all that the Father hath, the ability to be like Him. We next see the consequences of turning away from the sacred covenants that we have made with God.
"But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth there from, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.
"And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you.
"And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life."[14]
God has allowed us, through His love and grace, to enter into sacred covenants with Him, the Abrahamic Covenant, which includes the baptismal, priesthood, and temple covenants is necessary for exaltation. This covenant and these blessings flow today through the house of Israel.
Through making and keeping sacred covenants, God allows us to receive all that He has and to return to live with Him and live the life that He lives. All that He has shall be given unto us, if we keep the covenants that we have entered into.
Without the infinite atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, none of us would be able to return to the Father because of our sins. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."[15]
Do you understand who you are? We are the seed of Abraham. We are the house of Israel. We are the covenant people of God, and because we know who we are, we must act accordingly. There are places we can never go. There are Web pages we can never enter. There are thoughts that we can never entertain. There are impure practices that we can never be part of, because those things are not worthy of who we are.
Let me end by returning to where we began. Remember the voice said that in the morning they would be both glad and sorry? Our lives are like this tale. As we leave our heavenly home to come to this wilderness, this desert if you will, Father did not leave us on our own. He prepared everything that we need to return back to our eternal home.
Sometimes as we move through our journey here below we underestimate the value of the precious pebbles that He places in our paths. Sometimes we esteem them as pebbles of little or no worth. He provides us with the ability through fasting, study, and prayer to know which the most valuable pebbles are.
He has placed living prophets on the earth to guide us. He has given us the words of the earlier prophets in the scriptures to lead us through the night. He has given us his Only Begotten Son to pay the price that we can't pay, to atone for what we can't atone. He has provided the Plan of Happiness that returns us home safe and sound and with the knowledge and covenants that allow us to become like him. He has told us who we are.
Sometimes these pebbles seem small and insignificant. When He says fill your pockets, we sometimes hear another voice saying, "Don't worry. They are only pebbles. They will slow you down. They will be heavy and cumbersome to carry. It's just not worth the hassle. Besides if they are that important, your friends will have some extras."
Often we are so focused on the journey that we don't see the destination. We half-heartedly follow the direction that is given us and wander in strange paths that promise excitement and thrills, but that always end up hollow and cheap.
My dear young brothers and sisters, now is the time to prepare to meet God. Now is the time to act according to the knowledge that God has given us. Suddenly we realize how short life is, and with Jacob, we realize "that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers...in a wilderness."[16]
But because of the goodness of God, the important things "are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard."[17]
"Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land."[18]
"And now my [brothers and sisters], behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers."[19]
"Wherefore, my beloved [brothers and sisters], 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 ye 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."[20]
As we wander in this wilderness below, the pebbles that we have gathered will be transformed and on that glorious, light filled morning when we see Him again, the precious gems that we posses will give us rightful entry into His presence, and we will be home. That we may be wise enough and diligent enough to understand, and apply all that the Father has prepared for us, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Isaiah 5:20
[2] 2 Nephi 28:8
[3] 2 Nephi 28:22
[4] Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vol. 6, 365
[5] 2 Nephi 9:28-29
[6] Abraham 3:22-23
[7] Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vol. 6, 365
[8] Ezra Taft Benson, "To the 'Youth of the Noble Birthright,'" Ensign, May 1986, 43
[9] Abraham 2:8-11
[10] Doctrine and Covenants 84:19-21
[11] Thomas S. Monson, "As We Meet Together Again," Ensign, Nov. 2010, 5
[12] Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, 246-247
[13] Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4
[14] Doctrine and Covenants 84:33-43
[15] John 3:16
[16] Jacob 7:26
[17] Alma 13:23
[18] Alma 26:36
[19] Helaman 5:8
[20] Moroni 7:48