For What Do You Seek?

            For my last religion lesson this semester, I studied Article of Faith 1:13. As each Article of Faith on the previous one, the thirteenth is a culmination of the twelve previous statements. The thirteenth Article of Faith states: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul – We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” It teaches the principles of sanctification, celestial life, and lifelong discipleship. I found several insights as I studied.


            My first insight comes from 2 Peter 2:1-12 where he said that we partake of Christ’s divine nature by developing His attributes. The scripture lists nine attributes of Christ (diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity) and tells us to work diligently to make our calling and election sure to enter God’s everlasting kingdom. Even though we know that Christ has more than nine attributes, this scripture gives us a few to start our becoming project. Paul outlined how we can obey the commandment to become sanctified and “holy without sin” (Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual). The opportunity and ability to attain sanctification comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ but requires our obedience to His commandments (Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual).


            My second insight comes from Mosiah 24:8-15 where the scripture describes the experience of Alma and his people. They had escaped from King Noah’s armies and had established themselves in a new place, but they were discovered by the former priests of King Noah. Amulon was the leader of the priests and became the taskmaster over Alma and his people. Amulon threatened Alma’s people with death if they were caught praying, so they prayed in their hearts and minds. God knew their thoughts and remembered the covenant that they made with Him. Because of the covenant, God eased their burdens and delivered them out of bondage. However, it was not an instantaneous result. They submitted to their taskmaster “cheerfully and with patience” and endured until the Lord saw fit to deliver them from their bondage. We are all in bondage to something – debt, sin, coronavirus, whatever. As we continue in prayer and obedience and submit to God’s testing “cheerfully and with patience,” God will bless us and deliver us in His own due time. This process is known as “enduring.” We should not just endure, but we should endure well.


            My third insight comes from some quotes about conversion: “Conversion is a process, not an event. You become converted as a result of your righteous efforts to follow the Savior,” “Conversion includes a change in behavior, but it goes beyond behavior; it is a change in our very nature,” and “You have primary responsibility for your own conversion” (True to the Faith).

I think that it is important for us to understand that conversion happens over a lifetime as we overcome our sins and weaknesses and develop strengths and talents. It is in the overcoming and developing that we change our behavior. This changing behavior is why conversion is our own responsibility. No one else can change us, and we cannot change anyone else. We must do the work ourselves. This realization takes us back to my first insight where Peter listed some of the attributes of Christ. If we took that list and worked on one attribute at a time – maybe for three months or six months – until we understood it, we would all be closer to being sanctified.


            My fourth insight comes from Moroni 7 where we are taught the importance of our works – or the things that we do. In verse 1 Moroni wrote, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (verse 5). None of us would go to an apple tree expecting to find peaches. In the same way, we should not expect evil men to offer acceptable gifts to God. If an evil person offers a gift to God, he must offer it with real intent, or it will not be counted as righteousness. If we give a gift grudgingly, we are treated as though we had retained the gift. The same is true with our prayers. If we offer our prayers with real intent to communicate with God, He will hear them and answer them in some way. If we pray without real intent, it is as though we have not prayed.


            Moroni said in verse 12 that “all things which are good cometh of God” and in verse 13 that “God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually.” He wrote in verse 16 that the “Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil.”  He then explained that anything that “inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ” is from God. This is the way that we can judge good from evil. If it brings good, it is from God. If not, it is from Satan. This does not mean that the end justifies the means. For example, a man steals food to feed his family. Even though he is fulfilling his responsibility to provide for his family, he still broke the commandment that says, “Thou shalt not steal.” There are numerous ways that a man can obtain food for his family that are good or at least better than stealing – exchange labor for the food, go to the Bishop for help, or buy the food on credit. There is no excuse for stealing even though we understand the reason for the act. All good things come from God.


            My fifth insight comes in Doctrine and Covenants 58, a revelation that was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith at Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, on August 1, 1831. The Lord told the Saints who were suffering persecution that those who keep His commandments and remain “faithful in tribulation” (verse 2) will be blessed whether they live or die. He told them that they could not see with their natural eyes all the glory that would be theirs for remaining faithful. This same promise applies to all of us today. We are expected and required to remain faithful in our situations and circumstances.


            The Lord gave many instructions in this section but closed by telling the Saints that He would not command them “in all things” (verse 26). He does not want followers who must be compelled to do His work. There is much work to do in the world before Christ returns, and He wants us to “be anxiously engaged in a good cause” (verse 27). God gave agency to all of us in our pre-mortal home, and He expects us to use it to make wise decisions that will bring about much good. The decisions that we make will determine the glory that we ultimately receive.


            My sixth insight comes from Doctrine and Covenants 88, a long section with 141 verses and lots of counsel. It is a revelation that was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith at Kirtland, Ohio, on December 27-28, 1832. The Prophet designated it as the “olive leaf” because it is a message of peace from God. Verses 15-17 discuss how redemption was brought about by Jesus Christ’s Atonement. They explain that the soul of man comprises two parts – the spirit and the body. Death separates the body from the spirit. The body goes into the grave, while the spirit goes into the spirit world. The resurrection will reunite the body and the spirit in such a way that they will never again be separated. The resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul, which comes through Jesus Christ.

Verses 18-20 explain that we must be “sanctified from all unrighteousness” to enter the celestial kingdom and be crowned with celestial glory. Those who will inherit celestial glory will be resurrected with celestial bodies. Verses 25-29 say that the earth obeys the celestial laws. It will be sanctified and become the celestial kingdom, the home for all people who are resurrected with celestial bodies.

            I applied what I learned this week to the real-world problem of depression. The world is currently at war against a coronavirus. We were not able to contain it when it began, and it has now spread through more than 200 nations, infected approximately 100,000 people, and killed more than 40,000. The most effective weapon that we can use against this coronavirus is social distancing, so our nations are urging everyone to stay home if possible. The only exceptions are trips to the grocery store and to essential jobs. 

With everyone cooped up in their homes, there will be some people who will experience mental and emotional problems. One of the most common mental problems is depression. Humans beings are social creatures and need to be around people. Introverted people will most likely have an easier time with isolation than extroverted people will. This is because introverts gain strength in solitude, while extroverts gain strength through being with other people.

We all feel sad or have negative feelings from time to time, but these periods of time are shorter for most people. However, some people will slip into what is called depression if they do nothing to counteract it.

One of the things that can counteract depression is knowing that God is in control and that He has a plan for us. He knows all things, so this coronavirus is not a surprise to Him. His prophets have been preparing His followers for decades for such a time as this. We have been storing food and other supplies. We have the Come, Follow Me home-centered church-supported study program. If we have followed the prophets’ counsel, we are prepared to deal with the situation physically and spiritually.

This preparation should help us mentally as well. However, knowledge that God will bless us in our tribulation if we keep His commandments will give us a sense of control over our circumstances. Some of these commandments include getting proper rest and exercise and eating good foods. All these things can help us avoid depression. Another activity that can calm our minds and emotions is meditation. As we keep the commandments and continue to honor our covenants, we will be blessed whether we get the virus or not and whether we die or not. There is no need for us to become depressed because all the tribulation will give us experience and be for our eternal good.

            Our studies were closed by the following statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith in his Wentworth Letter: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”