Note: Every so often I am asked to speak in my church’s worship service. In the past, I’ve shared those talks with you (here, here and here). My most recent assignment was this last March on Palm Sunday (the week before Easter). After giving the talk, I felt like it was too specific to the congregation I was talking to and didn’t share it. Then, last week I was reminded of my talk while sitting in church and felt the need to share it. Below is the prepared text of my talk. It is a bit different than the one I actually gave over the pulpit since we were running short on time and I had to cut some stuff out. I hope it brings some peace, hope and cause for pondering for someone out there. Just remember, this was given by me, and I am not in anyway a spokesperson for the church. Also, remember, this was written and presented to a congregation of young single adults ages 18-30.
Easter and Personal Priorities
In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 21 we read:
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. (Matt. 21:4-11)
Today marks the traditional beginning of Holy Week in the life of Christians around the world as people celebrate and observe the final week of Christ’s life and solemnly prepare for the resurrection of the Savior. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of this commemoration. In the scriptures, this entrance into Jerusalem is called triumphant, but really when he enters the city just days before being hung on the cross he hasn’t triumphed over anything yet other than his own will.
Instead, he is entering the city as a lamb to the slaughter, as the last and great sacrifice, to fulfill his father’s will and his foreordained mission as the Redeemer of all mankind. He is showing extreme humility and meekness as he knows what is to come. He even tells his disciples multiple times that he is going to Jerusalem to be raised up and that he will soon no longer be with them. He said:
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Matt. 20:18-19)
They didn’t understand. As I read before, they thought he was just a prophet. John made it even clearer that the people didn’t understand who this was on the back of the colt. He wrote:
At this point, Jesus has now traversed the Holy Land multiple times teaching in various cities and performing miracles along the way. One of his most recent was raising Lazarus from the dead. His entry into Jerusalem at the time of the Feast when people were converging from all of those places was merely an opportunity for these people to rally around this prophet who was gaining popularity because of his miracles and as such was a way to fulfill prophecy.
If the people only knew what he was about to do. If they only knew that he would soon suffer for all of their sorrows and sins and pains. If only they knew he was about to overcome death breaking the bonds of the grave for all mankind. Would they have reacted differently? Would they have fallen reverently at his feet and washed them with costly ointment as Mary did before the grand entry into Jerusalem? What would they have done, if they understood he was entering the city to give himself up unto his accusers and to accept the sentence of death?
It doesn’t matter what they would have done or how they may have reacted differently. What matters is how we act and what we do based on the witness we have that Jesus is the Christ and his gospel has been restored to the earth. Maybe some of us haven’t received that witness yet and are still relying on the testimonies of others or on the hope and tiny grain of faith that it is true. If that’s the case, then it matters how you nourish that hope to help the seed grow and bear fruit.
Every day we make choices. These can take us closer to God, further from God or move us nowhere leaving us to stagnate. Would we be the ones that took a little bit of time from our lives during a busy holiday season to welcome a prophet to town?
It is up to us to set the priorities in our lives and make the choices that will take us closer to our Father in Heaven. As young single adults we have more control over our time and choices than at any other period in our lives. We generally don’t have parents setting curfews or telling us what T.V. shows we can watch or the foods we should eat. We don’t have a spouse to care for and consult while making life decisions. Almost none of us have children that we have responsibility for. You may think you don’t have control of your life because of your work schedule or your homework, but you have more control now then you will when you have a family to take care of.
What I propose is that we follow the example of our elder brother and choose to put the will of the Father before our own. This is a daunting task and is not always easy. We don’t have direct communion with angels on the other side of the veil. We aren’t gathering on mountain tops for Moses and Elijah to visit us and instruct us. For most of us it is a struggle determining whether we felt a prompting of the Spirit or just had an idea. We fear the unknown and we fear what others will think and say or how they’ll react. This is natural. It is part of being in this earthly life, but it is our charge to put off the natural man, to trust in God and have faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
There are five things that we can do regularly to help us put off the natural man and become a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord (Mosiah 3:19). They may seem like primary answers, but they are the things I have seen in my life to draw me closer to my Father and that I see the Savior did on his journey through this mortal life. If we can put them at the top of our priority list and be consistent in doing them, we will find ourselves becoming as a child—submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love and willing to submit to all things which our Father seeth fit to inflict upon us (Mosiah 3:19). They are daily prayer, daily scripture study, attending our weekly church meetings, regularly visiting the temple and serving others.
I don’t want to say we should make habits of these things because the word habit can imply that it is involuntary and just something we do. Whereas, I feel we have to actively choose to do these things to get the most out of them. If we do them in a habitual manner, we may not be actively doing them but rather passively going through the motions. We don’t get the most out of them if we don’t consciously make the choice.
Service
First, serving others. We see throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ that he was serving those around him. He performed miracles of healing, he fed the hungry, and mourned with those that mourned. He acted with true compassion toward those around him showing forgiveness and understanding while also standing up against those using abusive power over others. He didn’t just say come, follow me, but he helped them fill their nets and boats with fish. Then in the final hours of his mortal ministry:
This service can be simple acts of kindness like opening a door for someone, picking up litter, helping a friend or stranger move, making a meal for someone in need or just writing a note for someone who may be a little downtrodden. It could be something more structured like service at a soup kitchen, youth organization or other non-profit, or home and visiting teaching. There are also formal service opportunities such as organized group projects, disaster relief and church callings. Sometimes service is as simple as letting others serve us as Christ did with the woman washing his feet. All of these are ways to serve our brothers and sisters.
Most seem obvious, but some of you are thinking I’m a member of the activities committee or welcome committee, how is that calling serving others? I can promise you that your service in a seemingly insignificant calling doesn’t go unnoticed. If anything, you actively engaging in your calling, even as a committee member, will benefit someone through your service. It may just be a committee co-chair whose load you lighten or someone else who sees you cleaning up after FHE, but it will make an impact and that impact can have far-reaching effects. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in his April 2009 General Conference address said:
Our Savior gave Himself in unselfish service. He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others. “If any man will come after me [He said], let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/unselfish-service?lang=eng)
May we all reach out to those around us and serve others.
The Temple
Second, attending the temple regularly. This is an extension of serving others. Many times we consider going to the temple something we do for ourselves. People speak of it as a place to go and get answers and feel good. When the actual purpose of the temple, after we have done the work for ourselves, is to perform service for others—to perform those essential ordinances for our kindred dead who no longer have the ability to complete the temple’s saving work for themselves. This is the object we should have in mind when attending to the work of the House of the Lord.
This isn’t to say we won’t receive guidance and answers to prayers when attending the temple and that it isn’t a place to feel peace and escape from the pressures of the world. However, I can assure you that when you attend with the attitude of serving those waiting on the other side of the veil, you will receive stronger impressions and greater peace for yourself just as you do when performing physical service for the poor and needy living today. “Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:25).
Now the question is, how often is regularly? I searched the words of Latter-day prophets, and didn’t find an exact answer to this just the repeated admonition to attend the temple regularly. Might I suggest as Elder Scott did to “Schedule a regular time to be in the temple. Don’t let anyone or anything prevent you from being there” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/make-the-exercise-of-faith-your-first-priority?lang=eng). We are so blessed to have three temples within an hour’s drive of this very place with two more three hours from here. With the blessings of the temple so close what is preventing you from going regularly?
After my mission, I moved to Salt Lake City. I had just spent two years telling people how important the temple is and I couldn’t go because the nearest one was two countries away. I made the point when in Salt Lake to attend the temple regularly. I went every week. When I moved to Provo in 2007 my temple attendance suffered, and I lived minutes from the nearest temple with five more within an hour’s drive. Instead, I attended the temple only for the occasional ward or stake temple night and when friends were going through for themselves. Why did I not take advantage of the temple when it was so near?
I’ve learned that many times, people take for granted the things they have right in front of them when it is so easy to take advantage of. We say to ourselves that we can go any time because it is so close, but we never go. I didn’t realize the terrible choice I made until I was in China with the nearest temple more than 1,000 miles and a passport stamp away. With the temple so far, I missed it. So, when I had the chance, I visited Hong Kong twice during my year in China with the sole purpose of visiting the House of the Lord, and they were both glorious experiences.
Since then, since I moved to Arizona, I’ve actively tried to attend the temple regularly. For me regularly has been once every other week. I haven’t been perfect at this, but I try. However, soon I’ll be in China again with the temple very inaccessible, so I need to take advantage now before it is too late. I encourage you to take advantage of the temples all around us. Go and go regularly.
Even in temple attendance the Savior showed the example. He entered Jerusalem for his final week in mortality knowing his lifeless body would be entombed before the week was over and yet he went to the temple multiple times.
Make the temple a part of your life now when you have more control over your schedule and priorities. If you make temple attendance important now, it will remain important when you have a spouse and family.
Attending Church Meetings
Third, attending our weekly church meetings. There are four reasons why this should be a high priority for each of us. They are partaking the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenants, be nourished by the good word of God, to keep the Sabbath Day holy and to serve others. The most important reason is to partake of the sacrament. It is our opportunity to take an inventory of our choices and recommit to keeping the commandments he has given us—one of which happens to be keeping the Sabbath Day holy.
Keeping the Sabbath holy isn’t just something we do. And it isn’t just a commandment to keep. It is a way to show our Father in Heaven that we are meek and humble and that he is God. He is the Father of All Mankind and we are his children. By attending all of our meetings for church we are submitting to his will for us.
At the same time we are being nourished by the good word of God. This nourishment comes from the lessons, talks, music, testimonies and discussions that take place at church. When we prepare for this nourishment we receive more of it and help others be better nourished. This is where attending church is an act of service. Elder Oaks said:
Each of us should apply that principle to our attitudes in attending church. Some say “I didn’t learn anything today” or “No one was friendly to me” or “I was offended” or “The Church is not filling my needs.” All those answers are self-centered, and all retard spiritual growth. In contrast, a wise friend wrote: “Years ago, I changed my attitude about going to church. No longer do I go to church for my sake, but to think of others. I make a point of saying hello to people who sit alone, to welcome visitors, … to volunteer for an assignment. … “In short, I go to church each week with the intent of being active, not passive, and making a positive difference in people’s lives. Consequently, my attendance at Church meetings is so much more enjoyable and fulfilling.” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/unselfish-service?lang=eng)
The Savior again showed us the way and taught us the importance of Sabbath Day worship during his final week for that is when he instituted the sacrament as a symbol of his atoning sacrifice. Make it a priority to attend your Sunday meetings—all of them. You will be blessed, and you will be used to bless the lives of those around you.
The Scriptures
Fourth, daily scripture study. If we are trying to submit to the will of the Lord, we must familiarize ourselves with it. It should be high in our priorities to know what our Father in Heaven would have us know and do. Our world is flooded with different messages from every direction. This makes it hard to concentrate on the word of the Lord and easy to get distracted by things that don’t matter in the eternal scheme of things.
This makes it especially difficult to yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit (Mosiah 3:19) because we are bombarded by so many things that it is sometimes near impossible to hear the still small voice, which isn’t in the thunder or the earthquake or the whirlwind (1 Kings 19:12). By spending time each day with the scriptures we are clearing out the distractions, showing the Lord that we want him to speak to us and will listen when he does. We are tuning ourselves to receive his communications through the Spirit.
In addition to the words of the ancient prophets, we should ensure we are spending time with those of the modern prophets. God calls seers and revelators in our day for our time just as he did Moses for the Children of Israel and their Exodus, and Peter and Paul for after the Savior’s ministry and fledgling church, and Nephi for his people in a new land. They were each called for their day and taught in ways that their people would best understand. Today this method of communication is again on the earth with God revealing his truths and interpreting them through current prophets and seers.
Last night the sisters had and next week we all have the amazing opportunity to listen to them. There should be nothing more important for us next weekend than watching General Conference. Some may have to work, but the messages are available online almost immediately for us to take advantage of. After conference, we should rewatch, listen to and read those messages to learn of God’s will and promises for our day.
By studying all of the words of the prophets throughout the ages, we see that God is the same yesterday, today and forever and that his love for all his children is endless. We see that the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the same gospel message taught to our brothers and sisters throughout the history of the world.
Prayer
Fifth, daily prayer. Just as we should find time each day to study the words of the prophets, we must find time to talk with our Heavenly Father daily. Prayer is essential to our lives. It is a personal channel of communication for us with God. Why would we not take advantage of that? I once lived with a man who claimed he didn’t need to pray. He said he was beyond that. He was also claiming to receive revelations for the church and that the second coming was upon us. Brothers and Sisters, none of us is above the need for prayer. The prophet prays regularly. Prayer is one of the more sacred parts of the temple experience. And again, the Savior set the example and showed us that even the greatest of all knelt in prayer to his Father.
Even at the end of his mortal ministry when he knows he’ll soon be in the presence of his Father, he prays to him. Prayer is a way to show devotion and a way to show humility and meekness. However, prayer is the easiest of these five things to do in a habitual manner of just going through the motions without true feeling or purpose. I don’t know if we can really consider it prayer when we succumb to this. Instead, we should strive to make each prayer sincere. This doesn’t mean every prayer should be long and drawn out, but that we should be conscious in what we pray.
When Christ visited the Nephites after his resurrection he taught them the value of prayer. Nephi leads all those gathered in the sacrament then baptizes the twelve chosen disciples. This is when the heavens are opened and angels minister unto them and when Christ returns to them. He commands them to pray and they do. He then prays for them three different times while they continue unceasingly to pour their hearts out in prayer. We read in 3 Nephi chapter 19:
Prayer is a powerful force, and when accompanied by faith, humility and meekness great miracles are wrought. If you can imagine the miracles Christ performed in his mortal ministry, they were amazing, great things. However, after this experience among the Nephites he said:
Let us take the time to consciously pray each day to our Father in Heaven.
Brothers and sisters, we can choose today to set the things of God as our priorities or not. It is my prayer that we will choose his will. This has been my personal struggle and will continue to be throughout my life. I know it is not easy. But with the Lord’s help it is possible. That is the greatest blessing he has given us, that anything is possible through him. Because of his atonement, we can change. We can be made better. We can find peace and joy even in the most difficult and trying of circumstances.
I know he lives. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He showed the path that we should walk and led the way before. But more than anything he suffered, bled and died that we, that I, can be made clean, that I can overcome, that I am not alone. His restored church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is led by him. He has called prophets, seers and revelators in our day and has restored the authority to act in his name. He speaks to us. He came to do his Father’s will and accomplished what he set out to do. He turns us to our Father in Heaven and stands ready to be our mediator at the great and last day, so that we may return to our Father’s presence.
At this glorious Easter season, let us rejoice for He is risen! Let us turn to him and choose his path. Let us not deny him because we fear the world, but let us go out to greet him and proclaim to the world “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matt. 21:9).
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.