I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to you today. I’m particularly grateful to the quartet for the beautiful musical number. When people unite their instruments to create a musical work, there is a power that arises that goes beyond the individual instruments and that can thrill our souls. It is that power of unity that I want to discuss today.
In the second chapter of Daniel in the Old Testament, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a frightening image whose “head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, [h]is legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. [And] a stone was cut out without hands” [1] that smashed the image and became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Daniel interpreted the dream for the king. The image was a succession of kingdoms from Nebuchadnezzar on down. Each kingdom becomes coarser and coarser until eventually the feet are of iron and clay—partly strong but partly broken. Daniel explains that the stone is the kingdom of God and says, "[I]n the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." [2]
I have a stone with me today. It’s really a little marble. If I were to throw this stone at you, it would hurt. That's because when you throw something, you give it energy, and when it comes to a stop, it gives that energy to what stops it. The energy associated with motion is called kinetic energy. Another form of energy is called potential energy. If I lift the marble above the podium, I give it potential energy because even though it isn't moving, it has the potential to move if I let it go. The higher I lift it, the more energy I give it and therefore the faster it will get going before it hits the ground.
This concept of energy is used frequently in mathematics and science. Let me give you three simple examples: First, if I were to accidentally leave my marble on the podium, if it were not where I left it when I came back for it, the first place I would look for it would be on the floor, because if it got bumped, it would naturally seek its lowest energy state. In a similar way, when we write down a mathematical equation that describes the velocity of an object or the change in some other quantity, the first thing we do is look for fixed points, places where the rate of change is zero. The second thing we do is examine those points to see if they are stable (places of low energy) or unstable (places of high energy) because we can bet that solutions of our equation will show the object moving away from places of high energy and toward places of lower energy. A second example: Water always flows to the lowest point. In fact, this is how a hydroelectric plant works; the potential energy of water in a high place is exchanged for kinetic energy that turns a turbine that creates energy in the form of electricity.
My third example is of hanging a cable or a chain between two points.
I taped the two ends of a shoelace to the wall at about the same level. The picture shows that the lace naturally assumes a particular shape called a catenary or a hyperbolic cosine. The reason it assumes this particular shape and not some other shape is because this shape allows each tiny bit of the string to find its lowest energy level while still remaining attached to its neighbors. If you try to jostle the string, it will eventually settle down to its lowest energy state. In this next picture, I soaked the shoelace in some glue and wound it up and let it dry before hanging it on the wall. At first, the glue prevents the string from assuming its lowest energy state, but over time, that extra energy will break down the glue and the shoelace will slowly get back into its lowest energy configuration. Here’s a graph showing the energy in the glued lace slowly decreasing until it reaches its lowest energy state. If you were an engineer designing a transmission line, you would want to know what shape the cable will naturally seek so that you can know how much cable you will need to complete your project. The important point is that the best design is the one that minimizes the energy subject to the constraints that must be satisfied; in this case the constraints are that the endpoints must stay where they are affixed and the length of the cable must remain the same.
That's an interesting physics discussion, but physics is about the motion and interaction of objects, while the Gospel is about people. So, how does this apply?
Throughout every level in nature, individual elements are organized into larger objects that take on new abilities that surpass what the individual elements can do. At the subatomic level, tiny particles called quarks are organized into protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons with electrons form atoms. Atoms combine to form molecules. Some of those molecules, like those that form DNA, can consist of around a billion atoms. Molecules form cells, cells form organs, organs make up our bodies. At each level, individual elements come together to form something new and wonderful. They make something that exceeds what they as individuals would have the ability to accomplish individually.
As humans, we use this principle of cooperation extensively. Individuals study and gain specialized skills that they then share with others. I don't know how to make shoes or how to make tires or how to weld or how to pave streets, make computer chips, or millions of other things, but other people do. By sharing our skills, we are able to accomplish much more than we could as individuals trying to do everything alone. There are so many specialized skills that it would take many lifetimes to learn and practice them all.
We tend to celebrate our own personal accomplishments, but from the moment we turn the light on in the morning to when we brush our teeth at night, we are benefitting from knowledge and skills that others have shared.
Just over 10 years ago, as I left work on a snowy January day, I slipped on an icy sidewalk and broke my leg. Although I desperately wished that I could fix my problem myself, I came to the realization that I needed help that could only come from someone else. I was grateful that the doctors and nurses who cared for me were able to repair the break so that I could eventually walk normally again.
Imagine what would have happened if I had tried to fix my broken leg on my own. It is an understatement to say that the results would not have been nearly as good as the results that a skilled surgeon and assistants, who had trained for years, were able to produce.
On the discussion board, I asked for you to think of a time when someone did something for you that you could not have done for yourself and share any thoughts or feelings about it.
I hope you had the chance to read and share. There were many inspiring personal stories that illustrate the strength that we obtain when we build connections to other humans and to our Heavenly Father.
In general, the higher our degree of cooperation, the less energy we need to accomplish the tasks required to stay alive and the more excess energy we have to improve our lives.
Money is often used to facilitate cooperation. For example, I have a job as a teacher, and I use the money I earn to pay others to do the things that I can't do. We pay taxes for schools and roads and other infrastructure that make modern life possible. You might think that money alone is enough to induce cooperation, but that is not true. At the heart of our ability to cooperate is moral behavior. If every contract had to be enforced by litigation, the cost of cooperation could easily exceed the benefits. Without obedience to laws, cooperation becomes impossible.
Think for a moment about the ten commandments. Starting with the most concrete commandments, think of how disobeying these basic commandments destroys our ability to work together and saps our power:
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- Thou shalt not covet. [3]
Can you see how the power of a society can grow in proportion to the heed that these commandments are given? Keeping these commandments allows us to be more unified, and as we become more at one, we gain greater power.
Now, that power of unity can be used for good or evil, so notice how the remaining commandments help us focus on where our hearts should lie.
- Honor thy father and thy mother.
- Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [4]
We should take care of our parents and heed their counsel. We must be true to the promises we've made; we must not take the name of God in vain or be hypocritical.
We must not fixate on idols of the world or the property of others, but we should be focused on God, who is the embodiment of all that we can hope to become.
Coming from a small town in Idaho, serving a mission in a large city was a big change for me. Everywhere I went, there were good people who were striving to do what was right, but there was also a varying concentration of people who were unaware of what was right or even actively pursuing what was wrong. This led to different levels of safety in different neighborhoods. In the very worst places, nobody came to pick up the garbage. People would just put their trash in empty lots where it piled up higher and higher. Drug dealing and other crimes were common and gunshots could be heard throughout the night. People sitting on their porches would be shot by people just driving by. Houses would be abandoned and then condemned, and the city would knock them down and nobody would rebuild there. I realized that what determines the safety of a place is the set of laws that the people in that place generally agree to—not necessarily the laws that are on the books but the laws that they actually abide by, the ones that are written on their hearts.
Modern-day revelation points out that there are many kingdoms (or systems of laws or cooperation) with varying degrees of success.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:37 says, “And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.” [5]
Just a few versus earlier, the Lord says:
And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom. For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory. And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory. And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory. [6]
Now this is talking about kingdoms in heaven, but we can see shadows or analogs of these heavenly kingdoms in our earthly life. In fact, we can recognize that there are good, better, and best in many of the situations that we face every day. [7]
I've made a little illustration to tie these kingdoms back to this little rolling stone. Imagine that this is a track that the stone can be placed on. Each of these little low spots is a place where the stone can minimize its potential energy if not globally then at least nearby. The height of the track represents the basic energy required for existence; the lower the stone, the less energy is required for basic existence. Think of each of the low spots as a kingdom. The little pocket up high could be the telestial kingdom. There is some law and some degree of cooperation, and because of that, there is some good. A little lower down, we have the terrestrial kingdom; more obedience to law makes the world a better and brighter place and decreases the energy required for existence. Still further down we have the celestial kingdom, where the citizens have the law of God written on their hearts. This is the best situation. It seems a little weird to think of the celestial kingdom being at the bottom, but you can think of a complementary graph that shows the excess energy available. If less energy is used for basic existence then more of the total available energy can be used to improve our situations.
The Role of the Savior
Notice that once the marble gets stuck in one of these low spots, by itself it cannot get down to a lower place. It would have to get more energy (energy that it doesn't have) to get over the rise and down to a better state.
This is a very common situation. Consider striking a match.
Although there is a relatively large amount of potential energy stored in the match and in the chemicals at the tip, that energy is unavailable until you add extra energy by striking the match and beginning a chemical chain reaction. Once lit, the energy in the match can be used to unleash energy in tinder and then kindling and then fuel.
This is true of earthly kingdoms as well. In the most extreme cases, there are places in the world today where fighting and killing are commonplace. This is a tremendous waste of energy. But how can you put down your weapons of war when your family members have been injured or killed by the other side? Nobody wants to go first because they cannot trust that others will follow. Just like the unlit match or the marble in a depression, they are stuck. A little closer to home: Even if you can envision and long for a world where everyone is honest, it can be difficult not to cheat when you suspect that others will be dishonest.
This is one of the difficult problems of existence. We can see and taste a better world, but we can't get there because nobody wants to go first.
Fortunately, someone has already gone first and shown us the way. Though innocent, our Savior, Jesus Christ, took upon Himself the pain and suffering of all mankind. It caused Him to sweat great drops of blood [8] and to experience agony beyond our comprehension. [9] Rather than turn to hatred or seek revenge, He freely forgave and commands us to do the same. [10]
In Doctrine and Covenants 19, He says:
For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. [11]
What the Savior has done is called the Atonement literally “at-one-ment.” Through it, we can become at one with our Heavenly Father and with everyone else who has become at one with Him. This is the gospel or the "good news" for us. Notice how in the gospel we make covenants to love and serve one another. [12] Those covenants bind us together so that we can experience the blessings that come from being unified.
Visualizing the Power of the Atonement
His infinite Atonement gives Him infinite energy to move us out of the places where we may be stuck and into better states. Like the energy added by striking the match, the Atonement begins a chain reaction that can spread through all mankind.
It can often be difficult to imagine an infinite quantity; in mathematics, when we consider things like infinite sums, we began by creating a sequence of finite cases and then considering the limit as these cases accumulate without bound. We can apply this principle to imagine the infinite power of the Atonement.
Consider the energy that the Atonement of Christ can unleash through just your life. By accepting the gospel and taking upon yourself the name of Christ, you increase in unity with others who are seeking to do what is right. You learn and apply correct principles that improve your life and happiness. As you serve in callings and minister to others, you allow the Savior to unlock the potential in yourself and in those around you. As you seek to lift and serve, others will be brought into the fold of Christ through your example. Can you see how each person who accepts the gospel and lives by it begins a chain reaction that can grow and spread indefinitely, sparking new fires that grow and spread in the same way?
Now imagine all of the people in your ward or branch and the energy that the Atonement of Christ can activate in them. Can you see how limitless this is? And this is only the
I hope that you can see that this will work. Not only will it work but it will happen. It is just as inevitable as the string straightening out to form a smooth catenary or this marble rolling off the podium. No wonder Daniel saw the kingdom of God rolling forth as a stone.
We each have our own faults, and we each will face challenges that will require the help of our Savior, but we can get there if we keep ourselves pointed toward Him.
Last week, Elder Perkins invited us to “consecrate our lives to the cause of Christ and His Church.” [14] What better cause can we have than helping the kingdom of God roll forth?
Confusing Prosperity with Joy
I do have one caution for you. I’ve talked a lot about energy, which is a very real material quantity. Because unity liberates excess energy and energy can be exchanged for money, it is very tempting to equate energy with prosperity and then perhaps conclude that the aim of the gospel is individual material prosperity. This is not the aim; the aim is for us to have joy in the kingdom of our Father.
We have ample evidence in the Book of Mormon that as the righteousness of a society increases, the average material prosperity increases.
In Helaman 12:1-2, Mormon explains:
And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.
Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks
As Kwayd read at the opening, King Benjamin says that “if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.” [16]
We have already seen that keeping the commandments would naturally lead us to a better use of our energy that would cause us to prosper materially—at least on average. But it is not always wisdom in God that we should enjoy blessings immediately. Some of the best blessings come after a long struggle.
If you are striving to do what is right and yet you still encounter setbacks and trials, don’t be surprised. Trials and setbacks of varying intensity come to all of us. But if we remain calm and rely on our Heavenly Father, He can help good things come from them. When you encounter trials, do not abandon correct principles; this will only weaken your position and make it harder to reap the blessings that can come from moving forward with faith. Never equate personal material prosperity with personal righteousness. [17]
I really like this picture of Lehi’s dream from 1 Nephi chapter 8. In it, you can see the rod of iron leading straight ahead to the tree of life, but off to the right, you can see the great and spacious building, a symbol of earthly prosperity gone awry. You can see the distant horizon through the base of the building letting us know that its foundation is an illusion.
Prosperity often tricks people into thinking that they are the source of their own blessings. Though they may have partaken of the fruit of the tree, they may wander off in pursuit of other things. Their pride leads them to separate themselves from others and thereby cut themselves off from the blessings that come from unity. As Mormon explained, their ease and great prosperity lead them to forget that it is the Lord who has been the cause of their prosperity and they trample Him under their feet.
It is possible to escape the pride cycle if you steady yourself by setting your sights on the kingdom of God. God’s work and glory
Conclusion
So I’ve made you look at a lot of graphs, but what should you take away from my talk?
First, I hope you see that just like a cable would naturally find the minimum energy configuration, the gospel of Jesus Christ is a natural solution to the problems we face. Living the gospel is not like trying to stand still in an uncomfortable position with all of your muscles straining. If we approach it with the right attitude, it is a comfortable way for us to enjoy a more abundant life. Uniting ourselves with others brings power to solve our problems.
Second, I hope you have an increased faith in the Savior and His ability to get you unstuck and into a more joyful place in your life. Never succumb to the thought that you are entirely worthless or that you are entirely wonderful; you are a work in progress, and therefore, you have the ability to change and improve.
Third, even though prosperity often comes as a natural consequence of living the gospel, I hope you’ll recognize that it is not the aim. Many people have been called upon to make great sacrifices for what is right, even to give their lives. When you face trials, stick with the Lord; with Him the saying that “behind every
Finally, I hope you see that you have an opportunity to participate in the Lord’s work. The nudge you give to another person by sharing your talents may be all that is needed to help them get unstuck.
In that spirit, I challenge you to give something of yourself to someone else this week. It can be whatever you feel inspired to do, but let me give you a suggestion. When you’re away from family and friends, it can be very easy to feel like you’re all alone. Many students on this campus are in a new environment, so chances are, anyone you meet could use a kind word and a new friend. All you have to do is get out of your shell a bit: say “hello” to that person that is sitting by himself in the back of the class, introduce yourself to that neighbor you haven’t met yet, go and meet that person in your family home evening group that you haven’t seen yet and get to know them.
I’m so glad to be a part the gospel of Jesus Christ with you. I’m grateful every day to interact with people who are trying to be better. Missionaries came and taught my family when I was six, and it was like we moved from the telestial kingdom to the terrestrial kingdom and the whole world was brighter. My family was different, and I felt it. I will always be grateful to a member who told my mother, “I know two young men that can come and share a message with your family, and I think it will help you.” If you reach out to others, there will be people that feel the same way about you. That we may all be unified with our Heavenly Father and with one another is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Daniel 2:31-34.
[2] Daniel 2:44.
[3] Exodus 20:13-17.
[4] Exodus 20:3-4, 7-8, 12.
[5] Doctrine and Covenants 88:37.
[6] Doctrine and Covenants 88:21-24.
[7] Dallin H. Oaks, “Good, Better, Best” Ensign, Nov. 2007; lds.org.
[8] Luke 22:44.
[9] Doctrine and Covenants 19:15.
[10] Doctrine and Covenants 64:10.
[11] Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19.
[12] Mosiah 18:8-10.
[13] 2 Ne. 27:21.
[14] Elder Anthony D. Perkins, “Inspired By a Better Cause,” BYU-I Devotional, May 22, 2018
[15] Helaman 12:1-2.
[16] Mosiah 2:22.
[17] Alma 14:8-11.
[18] Moses 1:39.