Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk in Conference that I feel relates very well to the subject of this blog and the purpose thereof. I have transcribed part of a talk by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf given on Sunday April 5th in the Morning session. I do not know the name of this beautiful talk but it is very inspiring. He clarifies the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not “secret” and is not "complicated" or "hidden". In this talk he explains the true way to happiness and tells us that these other paths the world offers that claim to be “secret” or “hidden” truths will not fulfill what we are longing for. All happiness and success can be found within the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a true Disciple of Christ. "By patiently walking in the path of discipleship we demonstrate to ourselves the measure of our Faith and our willingness to except (God's will) rather then (ours)."
There is more than what I have transcribed so I would highly suggest watching the talk on the link below. You will have to select the Sunday Morning session and Elder Uchtdorf's talk. The link does not directly go to his talk.
http://lds.org/move/index.html?type=conference04-2009&event=april179&lang=english#
The full text will be available on the Church website www.lds.org on Thursday April 9, 2009.
Dieter F Uchtdorf
We live in a time when many worry about their livelihood. They are concerned about their future and doubt their ability to resolve the challenges that confront them. Many have experienced personal misfortune and sadness. They hunger for meaning and purpose in life. Because there is such a great interest in these issues the world is not bashful in offering numerous new answers to every problem we face. People run from one new idea to the next hoping to find something that will answer the burning questions of their souls. They attend seminars, and buy books and CDs and other products. They get caught up in the excitement of looking for something new, but inevitably the flame of each new theory fades, only to be replaced by another new and improved solution that promises to do what the others before could not. It is not that these worldly options do not contained elements of truth many of them do. Nevertheless, they all fall short of the lasting change we seek in our lives. After the excitement wears off the hollowness remains as we look for the next new idea to unlock the secrets of happiness. In contrast the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to our problems, to all of our problems. The Gospel is not a secret is not complicated or hidden. It can unlock the door to true happiness. It is not someone’s theory or proposition. It does not come from man at all. Its springs from the pure and everlasting waters of the Creator of the universe Who knows truth we can not even begin to comprehend and with that knowledge He has given us the Gospel, a divine gift, the ultimate formula for happiness and success. When we hear the transcendent truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ hope and faith begin to blossom in side of us. The more we fill our hearts and minds with the message of the risen Christ the greater our desire to follow Him and live his teachings. This in turn causes our faith to grow and allows the light of Christ to illuminate our hearts as it does we recognize the imperfections in our lives and we desire to be cleansed of the depressing burdens of sin. We yearn for freedom of guilt and this inspires us to repent. Faith and repentance lead to the purifying waters of baptism where we covenant to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and walk in his footsteps. To up hold us in the desired to lead a purified and holy life we are endowed with the baptism of fire, the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, a heavenly comforter who accompanies and guides us as we walk in the path of righteousness. The more we are filled with the Spirit of God the more we extend ourselves to others. We become peacemakers in our homes and families. We help our fellow man everywhere and we reach out in merciful acts of kindness forgiveness grace and longsuffering patience. These are the first steps along the true way of life and fulfillment. This is the peaceable way of the follower of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless it is not a quick fix or overnight cure.
A friend of mine recently wrote to me confiding that he was having a difficult time of keeping his testimony strong and vibrant. He asked for counsel. I wrote back to him and lovingly suggested to a few specific things he could do that would align his life more closely to with the teachings of the restored gospel. To my surprise I heard back from him only a week later. The essence of his letter was this: I tried what you suggested, it didn’t work, what else have you got?
Brothers and sisters we have to stay with it. We don’t enquire eternal life in a sprint. This is a race of endurance. We have to apply and reapply the divine gospel principle day after day we have to make them part of our normal life. Too often we approach the gospel like a farmer that plants a seed in the morning and expects corn on the cob in the afternoon. When Alma compared the word of God to a seed he explained the seed grows to a fruit bearing tree gradually as a result of our faith and diligence and long suffering…..
Discipleship is a journey. We need the refining lessons of the journey to graft our character and purify our hearts. By patiently walking in the path of discipleship we demonstrate to ourselves the measure of our Faith and our willingness to except Gods will rather then ours.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
