Heed the Lord’s counsel to the Saints of this dispensation: “Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord” (D&C 133:10). This preparation must consist of more than just casual membership in the Church. You must learn to be guided by personal revelation and the counsel of the living prophet so you will not be deceived. (“Prepare Yourself for the Great Day of the Lord,” President Ezra Taft Benson, New Era, May 1982, p. 50)
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Thank you. I read the talk through and it gave me the boost to get going again and rise above the darkness I’ve been wading through. Thank you again.
Cherylyn
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That is one of my favorite talks. Elder Eyring’s words are more important now then they were 7 1/2 years ago and will become even more important as days go by. The difference between the wise and unwise virgins is the unwise virgins wait to be told what they need to do (Commanded in all things) and the wise virgins already know what they need to do because they are guided by the Holy Ghost every step of the way. This is what Elder Eyring was trying to teach in his talk. Living by personal revelation from God is the only safe course.
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“Only a steady, ever-increasing effort will allow the Lord to take us to higher ground.”
I really like that!
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Elder Eyring spoke at BYU Idaho back in Jan 2005. He said something quite similar.
“As the challenges around us increase, we must commit to do more to qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Casual prayer won’t be enough. Reading a few verses of the scripture won’t be enough. Doing the minimum of what the Lord asks of us won’t be enough. Hoping that we will have the Atonement work in our lives and that we will perhaps sometimes feel the influence of the Holy Ghost won’t be enough. And one great burst of effort won’t be enough.
Only a steady, ever-increasing effort will allow the Lord to take us to higher ground.”
Full Text: http://www2.byui.edu/Speeches/eyring_jan2005.htm
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Bro Steve:
Thank you for the web address. Even though the speech is 7 years old and directed towards college students just starting on the path of adult
living (mission, marriage/parenthood, career, Second Coming(?)) there was also illumination for seniors such as myself.
Sincerely,
Robin
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You’re welcome. I’m reminded of a talk given in General conference a long while ago by Ezra T. Benson (1981) wherein he declared the generation that would be alive to live through and witness the 2nd coming of Christ.
He boldly declared:
“For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not. … God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God. … Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us. … Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last-days, foreordained mission?”
Since we know the Book of Mormon to be a type and shadow of our day, we should expect to find a similar declaration there and indeed we do.
73 years before the 1st coming of Christ, Alma effectively impressed upon the mind of his wayward son, Corianton, how important their mission was to declare repentance and baptism to those they taught. He said:
“And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.
And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, ***that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming ***.
And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?
Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?
Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?” (Alma 3:15-19)
It was the children of the adults Alma and his sons were teaching that would be alive to hear the gospel from the Saviors own mouth. I believe this is no different than when E.T. Benson said “you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God”. So now we know the season and generation. (Amos 3:7)
So what will happen when he comes in our generation? What will he say to us? What will he do?
I believe the BoM gives us a really good picture of what we will hear him say to us. Our ears will hear:
“Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning… Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.”
To the Nephites he then proceeded to renew their covenants and administer the higher ordinances of the temple.
Like the Nephites of old, we will have the opportunity to see, feel and witness for ourselves the markings of the atonement upon the Master. No longer will faith carry us but a sure knowledge will serve us for generations even until the end. Those who have obtained the attributes of divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) will see him as he is, for they shall be like him (Moroni 7:47-48) and it will be well with them.
We live in exciting times that will require what Elder Eyring admonished. Commitment to a life that is not entangled in Babylon. That effort is personal and requires the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit (D&C 45:57). There is no other way. This is why I believe the brethren are pleading with the saints to learn how to receive personal revelation. To obtain and keep their temple covenants and learn how to obtain power in the priesthood.
In that day when the consumption decreed shall make an end of all nations (D&C 87:6), this power will serve as the ONLY protection against the power of the destroyer. No other power in the arm of flesh will stand.
“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.” (Habakkuk 2:1)
Let us go to and be “up a doing”! (Alma 60:24)
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This is so true. Thank you. Your comment is over 250 words, but you make an important point.
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