Like A Flame Unquenchable

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 1999 conference.

Sunday afternoon usually has such great talks, I wonder why anyone would skip out on this session. In this particular session, Elder Eyring gave a fabulous talk about teaching doctrine. You can read more about it over at Light in Leaves by Marilyn. I want to share Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk about keeping covenants.

Too many of our young men and women are succumbing to the pressures imposed by a world saturated with evil messages and immoral behavior. Lucifer is waging a vicious ware for the souls of young and old alike, and the casualty count is climbing. The standards of the world have shifted like the sands of a windblown desert. That which was once unheard of or unaccepted is now commonplace.

Doesn't that sound like it was given last month? Think of how much worse things are today than they were twenty-three years ago.

But one thing is certain: the commandments have not changed. Let there be no mistake about that. Right is still right. Wrong is still wrong, no matter how cleverly cloaked in respectability or political correctness. We believe in chastity before marriage and fidelity ever after. That standard is an absolute standard of truth. It is neither subject to public opinion polls nor dependent upon situation or circumstance. There is no need to debate it or other gospel standards.

But there is a desperate need for parents, leaders, and teachers to help our youth learn to understand, love, value, and live the standards of the gospel. Parents and youth must stand together in defense against a clever and devious adversary. We must be just as dedicated, effective and determined in our efforts to live the gospel as he is in his efforts to destroy it--and us.

 

Elder Ballard discusses at length four ways we can build a fortress of faith.

First is gospel information. Knowledge that we are God's children and that He provided a Savior for us. Knowledge that will build a strong testimony. He talked about making covenants and gave the example of Brigham Young asking the people to covenant to give aid and assistance to bring all those who wanted to leave Nauvoo and move west, but were unable to because of poverty. 

We often hear of the suffering and the sacrifice those early Saints endured, and we ask ourselves, How did they do it? What was it that gave them such strength? Part of the answer lies in President Young's powerful words. Those early Latter-day Saints had made covenants with God and those covenants burned like unquenchable fire in their hearts.

He goes on to say that ". . . there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants. . . . We need to become so deeply converted to the gospel of Christ that the fire of the covenant will burn in our hearts like flame unquenchable. And with that kind of faith we will do what is necessary to remain true and worthy."

Second is communication. "Nothing is more important to the relationship between family members than open, honest communication."  He gives some instruction about how to increase communication in the family too.

There are powerful moments of communication through regular family prayer and through family scripture study. The scriptures help define family values and goals, and talking together about them will assist family members to learn to become individually secure, spiritually strong and self-reliant. This requires time, and so we need to counsel together about how much television, how many movies, videos, video games, time on the Internet, or out-of-the home activities should be allowed.

Third is intervention. "It is the parents' duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made." This doesn't refer to taking away a child's agency, rather to make sure the children understand appropriate behavior and the consequences that will follow if they pursue a wrong course.

Make your home a haven of peace and righteousness. Don't allow evil influences to contaminate your own special spiritual environment. . . . When one of our youth stands at a moral crossroad in life, almost always there is someone--a parent, a leader, a teacher--who could make a difference by intervening with love and kindness. 

Fourth is example. "We cannot expect them to avoid those things that are inappropriate if they see their parents compromising principles and failing to live the gospel.

As parents, teachers, and leaders, it is our solemn duty to set a powerful, personal example of righteous strength, courage, sacrifice, unselfish service, and self-control. These are the traits that will help our youth hold on to the iron rod of the gospel and remain on the straight and narrow path."

Elder Ballard acknowledges that even focusing on information, communication, intervention and example doesn't guarantee a perfect family with no straying children. But he does promise that doing these things will make it easier to work through the challenges that come to every family.

I enjoy hearing from Elder Ballard, he comes across as a wonderful man, father, and grandfather; humble and loving, strong and kind.