CHAPTER 17
Faith without works is called belief, a good yet incomplete part of
the power we could and should have. This power we attain through study
and prayer, and it is completed by works.
1 Our faith in Jesus Christ lies at the foundation of our religion,
the foundation of our hope for remission of sins, and for exaltation
after death, and for the resurrection from death to everlasting life.
Our faith in the doctrines that have been restored through the
instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith confirms and strengthens
us and establishes beyond a question or doubt, our faith and belief in
the divine mission of the Son of God.
It is said that faith is a gift of God, and so it is; but faith does
not come without works; faith does not come without obedience to the
commandments of God.
2 Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it
shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
3 Faith leads to action, including repentance, obedience, and
dedicated service. When you have faith in Jesus Christ, you trust the
Lord enough to follow His commandments--even when you do not
completely understand the reasons for them. You accomplish what the
Lord wants you to accomplish. You help bring about good in your own
life and the lives of others. You are able to do miracles according to
the Lord�fs will. Your faith will be manifest through diligence and
work.
4 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a
man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
5 If we speak of faith in the abstract, it is the power of God by
which the worlds are and were made, and is a gift of God to those who
believe and obey his commandments. On the other hand, no living,
intelligent being, whether serving God or not, acts without belief. He
might as well undertake to live without breathing as to live without
the principle of belief. But he must believe the truth, obey the
truth, and practice the truth, to obtain the power of God called faith
(DBY, 153).
When a person is placed in circumstances that he cannot possibly
obtain one particle of anything to sustain life, it would then be his
privilege to exercise faith in God to feed him, who might cause a
raven to pick up a piece of dried meat from some quarter where there
was plenty, and drop it over the famishing man. When I cannot feed
myself through the means God has placed in my power, it is then time
enough for him to exercise his providence in an unusual manner to
administer to my wants. But while we can help ourselves, it is our
duty to do so (DBY, 155).
6 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to
do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so
be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to
him.
7 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no
miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their
faith.
8 What we need today is faith in the living Christ, which is more than
a mere feeling, but a power that moves us to action--a faith that will
put purpose into life and courage into the heart. We need the gospel
of application.
9 We are all aiming for celestial glory, and the grandeur of the
prospects before us cannot be expressed in human language. If you will
continue faithful to the work in which you are engaged, you will
attain unto this glory, and rejoice evermore in the presence of God
and the Lamb. This is worth striving for; it is worth sacrificing for,
and blessed is the man or the woman who is faithful unto the obtaining
of it.
10 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
11 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and
the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a
hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can
command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the
mountains, or the waves of the sea.
12 �gFaith is the moving cause of all action.�h. If you stop to
consider that for a moment, I think you will agree that it is
absolutely true in temporal things as well as in spiritual things. It
is true with us in our own acts, as well as with the acts of God.
13 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he
walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind
boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying,
Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and
caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst
thou doubt?
14 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let
him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a
wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
15 The Lord personally taught this truth to his disciples: �gIf ye
have faith,�h he said, �gnothing shall be impossible unto you�h (Matt.
17:20). Faith is nurtured through knowledge of God. It comes from
prayer and feasting upon the words of Christ through diligent study of
the scriptures.
16 Verily, I say unto you, there are those among you who seek signs,
and there have been such even from the beginning; but, behold, faith
cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe. Yea, signs
come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the
will of God.
17 Every man and woman who serves the Lord, no matter how faithful
they may be, have their dark hours; but if they have lived faithfully,
light will burst upon them and relief will be furnished.
18 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto
thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many
witnesses.
Younger Elder Brooksby
1-Teachings of Presidents: Joseph F. Smith-Chapter 6: Faith: The
Foundation of All Righteousness
2-Matthew 17:20(edited)
3-Preach My Gospel Chapter 6: How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?
4-James 2:17-18, 26
5-Teachings of Presidents: Brigham Young-Chapter 8: Faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ
6-1 Nephi 7:12
7-Ether 12:12
8-Teachings of Presidents: David O. McKay-Chapter 21: The First
Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel
9-Teachings of Presidents: Lorenzo Snow-Chapter 5: The Grand Destiny
of the Faithful
10-Ephesians 6:16
11-Jacob 4
12-Teachings of Presidents: Joseph Fielding Smith-Chapter 5: Faith and
Repentance
13-Matthew 14:29-31
14-James 1:5-6
15-�gWith God Nothing Shall Be Impossible�h by Russell M. Nelson,
April 1988 General Conference
16-D&C 63:8-10
17-Teachings of Presidents: Lorenzo Snow-Chapter 7: Faithfulness in
Times of Trial: �gFrom the Shadows into the Glorious Sunshine�h
18-1 Timothy 6:12
Monday, October 27, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
The Book of Brooksby, Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
Apathy and indifference create large holes in lives, one that many do
not care to fill until given a reason to change. Only through love can
they gain that desire for themselves.
1 One of the greatest evils existing … is that of ignorance, coupled
with indifference. I presume that if the ignorant were not so
indifferent to these facts and to their condition they might be
prompted to learn more than they do. The trouble with men and women is
that they too frequently close their eyes to the facts that exist
around them, and it seems to be very difficult for many of the people
to learn and adapt to their lives those simple truths that should be
in fact the household words and precepts of every Latter-day Saint,
and of every home of a Latter-day Saint. How shall we stem the tide of
this evil, this indifference, this consequent ignorance? It appears to
me that the only way to do it is to wake up and become interested, or
to interest ourselves in those things which are so important and
necessary to the happiness and well-being of the children of men,
especially that which is so needful for the happiness and well-being
of ourselves individually.
2 “The first and highest standard of correct living is to be found in
that individual responsibility which keeps men good for the truth’s
sake. It is not difficult for men who are true to themselves to be
true to others. Men who honor God in their private lives do not need
the restraint of public opinion which may not only be indifferent, but
positively wrong.”
3 President Thomas S. Monson has called for a loving crusade to rescue
our brothers and sisters who are wandering in the wilderness of apathy
or ignorance. These teachings require continued loving concern, which
surely requires continued loving associations.
4 Often in the scriptures we are reminded that we should minister to
all of God’s children, that we should do so with the pure love of God
in our hearts. George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “The worst sin towards
our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to
them” (The Devil’s Disciple, act 2). Indifference can be one of the
most hurtful ways of behavior. Never should we in life allow ourselves
to turn away, walk on the other side of the street, and pretend we
didn’t see, or prohibit involvement in accepted ways. We need to learn
to love everyone, even those who are difficult.
5 He that sent his Only Begotten Son into the world to accomplish the
mission which he did, also sent every soul within the sound of my
voice, and indeed every man and woman in the world, to accomplish a
mission, and that mission cannot be accomplished by neglect; nor by
indifference; nor can it be accomplished in ignorance. We must learn
our duty; learn the requirements that the Lord has made at our hands,
and understand the responsibilities that he has placed upon us. We
should learn the obligation that we are under to God and to each
other, and that we are under also to the cause of Zion, that has been
restored to the earth in the latter days.
6 “In indifference, some things may remain in our minds, some things
may attach themselves to us. But generally what we are, what we do,
what we become is because we were willing to put in for what we want
to get out. Basically we always were. And what we shall be is what we
are, plus what we add to it--always and forever. And there would be no
better time than now to decide to learn, to do, to develop, to work,
to improve, to produce, to increase our competence, to extend
ourselves in service. ‘The darkest day in life,’ said Allen Shawn, ‘is
the one in which we expect something for nothing.’ ‘Nothing comes from
nothing. Nothing ever could.’” (The Man and the Message, pp. 101–102.)
7 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put
your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do
this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out
of bondage.
8 There are, of course, others who need rescue. Some struggle with sin
while others wander in fear or apathy or ignorance. For whatever
reason, they have isolated themselves from activity in the Church. And
they will almost certainly remain lost unless there awakens in us--the
active members of the Church--a desire to rescue and to save.
9 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded
by the craftiness of men. These are they who receive of his glory, but
not of his fulness. These are they who receive of the presence of the
Son, but not of the fulness of the Father. Wherefore, they are bodies
terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon
differs from the sun. These are they who are not valiant in the
testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the
kingdom of our God.
10 The more we incline our hearts and minds toward God, the more
heavenly light distills upon our souls. And each time we willingly and
earnestly seek that light, we indicate to God our readiness to receive
more light. Gradually, things that before seemed hazy, dark, and
remote become clear, bright, and familiar to us. By the same token, if
we remove ourselves from the light of the gospel, our own light begins
to dim--not in a day or a week but gradually over time--until we look
back and can’t quite understand why we had ever believed the gospel
was true. Our previous knowledge might even seem foolish to us because
what once was so clear has again become blurred, hazy, and distant.
This is why Paul was so insistent that the message of the gospel is
foolishness to those who are perishing, “but unto [those who] are
saved it is the power of God.”
11 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us
nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up,
and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with
much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit. But if
ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold
it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and
scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it
up and cast it out. Now, this is not because the seed was not good,
neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it
is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree,
therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
12 Such terrible and often unnecessary things happen when members of
the Church become disengaged from gospel principles. They may appear
on the outside to be disciples of Jesus Christ, but on the inside
their hearts have separated from their Savior and His teachings. They
have gradually turned away from the things of the Spirit and moved
toward the things of the world.
Once-worthy priesthood holders start to tell themselves that the
Church is a good thing for women and children but not for them. Or
some are convinced that their busy schedules or unique circumstances
make them exempt from the daily acts of devotion and service that
would keep them close to the Spirit. In this age of self-justification
and narcissism, it is easy to become quite creative at coming up with
excuses for not regularly approaching God in prayer, procrastinating
the study of the scriptures, avoiding Church meetings and family home
evenings, or not paying an honest tithe and offerings. My dear
brethren, will you please look inside your hearts and ask the simple
question: “Lord, is it I?”
Have you disengaged--even slightly--from “the … gospel of the blessed
God, which was committed to [your] trust”? Have you allowed “the god
of this world” to darken your minds to “the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ”?
13 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your
souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death;
and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become
angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone
which is the second death.
14 From my front-line position in the mission field I can personally
testify that the enemy is well trained in the arts of eternal warfare.
The army of the devil exploits all kinds of sinful practices, and
promotes his cause through every kind of printed, audio, and visual
means. Perhaps the most cunning of all their methods is the spirit of
apathy and indifference that they use to penetrate the minds and the
hearts of mankind, to dull their feelings towards God, His Son Jesus
Christ, and His church.
15 But what? What is it that needs our personal attention? As I read
and ponder the scriptures and carefully consider the Lord’s counsel to
His followers in every dispensation of time, it appears to me that the
most important thing every one of us can do is to examine our own
commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must carefully
guard against spiritual apathy and work to maintain the full measure
of our loving loyalty to the Lord.
16 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy
profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee.
17 There are lots of able-bodied men who, if they could only have a
little more faith in God, and could realize the calamities that are
coming upon the earth, and the responsibilities of that priesthood
that God has conferred upon them, they would be ready to break all
barriers and say, Here I am, send me; I wish to benefit the human
family. If Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost, let me be
possessed of the same spirit.
18 Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not
have place in the church, except he repent and mend his ways.
19 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for
he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a
wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men
should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of
their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the
power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And
inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
20 We are following a cycle which was repeated over and over again in
the Book of Mormon. As the Lord tells us, “In the day of their peace
they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of
necessity they feel after me” (D&C 101:8). We shouldn’t be too
surprised, therefore, that the Lord is allowing some wake-up calls to
jar us loose from apathy just as he has done in previous
dispensations. In the book of Helaman, Nephi said, “And thus we see
that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, …
they will not remember him” (Hel. 12:3).
21 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house
cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the
morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Younger Elder Brooksby
1-Teachings of Presidents: Joseph F. Smith-Chapter 35: Seek to Be
Educated in the Truth
2-The Meaning of Morality by Victor L. Brown, April 1971 General Conference
3-Love and Law by Dallin H. Oaks, November 2009 Liahona
4-While They Are Waiting by Marvin J. Ashton, April 1988 General Conference
5-Teachings of Presidents: Joseph F. Smith-Chapter 27: Our Work Is to Save Souls
6-Inertia by Willian H. Bennett, April 1974 General Conference
7-Mosiah 7:33
8-Our Responsibility to Rescue by Thomas S. Monson, October 2013 Liahona
9-D&C 76:75-79
10-Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth by Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
October 2014 General Conference
11-Alma 32:37-39
12-“Lord, Is It I?” by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2014 General Conference
13-Jacob 3:11
14-The Making of a Missionary by Russell Ballard, Jr., October 1976
General Conference
15-“How Is It with Us?” by M. Russell Ballard, April 2000 General Conference
16-1 Timothy 4:15-16
17-Teachings of Presidents: John Taylor-Chapter 8: Our Missionary Duty
18-D&C 75:29
19-D&C 58:26-28
20-Spiritual Revival by Glenn L. Pace, October 1992 General Conference
21-Mark 13:35-37
Apathy and indifference create large holes in lives, one that many do
not care to fill until given a reason to change. Only through love can
they gain that desire for themselves.
1 One of the greatest evils existing … is that of ignorance, coupled
with indifference. I presume that if the ignorant were not so
indifferent to these facts and to their condition they might be
prompted to learn more than they do. The trouble with men and women is
that they too frequently close their eyes to the facts that exist
around them, and it seems to be very difficult for many of the people
to learn and adapt to their lives those simple truths that should be
in fact the household words and precepts of every Latter-day Saint,
and of every home of a Latter-day Saint. How shall we stem the tide of
this evil, this indifference, this consequent ignorance? It appears to
me that the only way to do it is to wake up and become interested, or
to interest ourselves in those things which are so important and
necessary to the happiness and well-being of the children of men,
especially that which is so needful for the happiness and well-being
of ourselves individually.
2 “The first and highest standard of correct living is to be found in
that individual responsibility which keeps men good for the truth’s
sake. It is not difficult for men who are true to themselves to be
true to others. Men who honor God in their private lives do not need
the restraint of public opinion which may not only be indifferent, but
positively wrong.”
3 President Thomas S. Monson has called for a loving crusade to rescue
our brothers and sisters who are wandering in the wilderness of apathy
or ignorance. These teachings require continued loving concern, which
surely requires continued loving associations.
4 Often in the scriptures we are reminded that we should minister to
all of God’s children, that we should do so with the pure love of God
in our hearts. George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “The worst sin towards
our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to
them” (The Devil’s Disciple, act 2). Indifference can be one of the
most hurtful ways of behavior. Never should we in life allow ourselves
to turn away, walk on the other side of the street, and pretend we
didn’t see, or prohibit involvement in accepted ways. We need to learn
to love everyone, even those who are difficult.
5 He that sent his Only Begotten Son into the world to accomplish the
mission which he did, also sent every soul within the sound of my
voice, and indeed every man and woman in the world, to accomplish a
mission, and that mission cannot be accomplished by neglect; nor by
indifference; nor can it be accomplished in ignorance. We must learn
our duty; learn the requirements that the Lord has made at our hands,
and understand the responsibilities that he has placed upon us. We
should learn the obligation that we are under to God and to each
other, and that we are under also to the cause of Zion, that has been
restored to the earth in the latter days.
6 “In indifference, some things may remain in our minds, some things
may attach themselves to us. But generally what we are, what we do,
what we become is because we were willing to put in for what we want
to get out. Basically we always were. And what we shall be is what we
are, plus what we add to it--always and forever. And there would be no
better time than now to decide to learn, to do, to develop, to work,
to improve, to produce, to increase our competence, to extend
ourselves in service. ‘The darkest day in life,’ said Allen Shawn, ‘is
the one in which we expect something for nothing.’ ‘Nothing comes from
nothing. Nothing ever could.’” (The Man and the Message, pp. 101–102.)
7 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put
your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do
this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out
of bondage.
8 There are, of course, others who need rescue. Some struggle with sin
while others wander in fear or apathy or ignorance. For whatever
reason, they have isolated themselves from activity in the Church. And
they will almost certainly remain lost unless there awakens in us--the
active members of the Church--a desire to rescue and to save.
9 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded
by the craftiness of men. These are they who receive of his glory, but
not of his fulness. These are they who receive of the presence of the
Son, but not of the fulness of the Father. Wherefore, they are bodies
terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon
differs from the sun. These are they who are not valiant in the
testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the
kingdom of our God.
10 The more we incline our hearts and minds toward God, the more
heavenly light distills upon our souls. And each time we willingly and
earnestly seek that light, we indicate to God our readiness to receive
more light. Gradually, things that before seemed hazy, dark, and
remote become clear, bright, and familiar to us. By the same token, if
we remove ourselves from the light of the gospel, our own light begins
to dim--not in a day or a week but gradually over time--until we look
back and can’t quite understand why we had ever believed the gospel
was true. Our previous knowledge might even seem foolish to us because
what once was so clear has again become blurred, hazy, and distant.
This is why Paul was so insistent that the message of the gospel is
foolishness to those who are perishing, “but unto [those who] are
saved it is the power of God.”
11 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us
nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up,
and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with
much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit. But if
ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold
it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and
scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it
up and cast it out. Now, this is not because the seed was not good,
neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it
is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree,
therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
12 Such terrible and often unnecessary things happen when members of
the Church become disengaged from gospel principles. They may appear
on the outside to be disciples of Jesus Christ, but on the inside
their hearts have separated from their Savior and His teachings. They
have gradually turned away from the things of the Spirit and moved
toward the things of the world.
Once-worthy priesthood holders start to tell themselves that the
Church is a good thing for women and children but not for them. Or
some are convinced that their busy schedules or unique circumstances
make them exempt from the daily acts of devotion and service that
would keep them close to the Spirit. In this age of self-justification
and narcissism, it is easy to become quite creative at coming up with
excuses for not regularly approaching God in prayer, procrastinating
the study of the scriptures, avoiding Church meetings and family home
evenings, or not paying an honest tithe and offerings. My dear
brethren, will you please look inside your hearts and ask the simple
question: “Lord, is it I?”
Have you disengaged--even slightly--from “the … gospel of the blessed
God, which was committed to [your] trust”? Have you allowed “the god
of this world” to darken your minds to “the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ”?
13 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your
souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death;
and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become
angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone
which is the second death.
14 From my front-line position in the mission field I can personally
testify that the enemy is well trained in the arts of eternal warfare.
The army of the devil exploits all kinds of sinful practices, and
promotes his cause through every kind of printed, audio, and visual
means. Perhaps the most cunning of all their methods is the spirit of
apathy and indifference that they use to penetrate the minds and the
hearts of mankind, to dull their feelings towards God, His Son Jesus
Christ, and His church.
15 But what? What is it that needs our personal attention? As I read
and ponder the scriptures and carefully consider the Lord’s counsel to
His followers in every dispensation of time, it appears to me that the
most important thing every one of us can do is to examine our own
commitment and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must carefully
guard against spiritual apathy and work to maintain the full measure
of our loving loyalty to the Lord.
16 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy
profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee.
17 There are lots of able-bodied men who, if they could only have a
little more faith in God, and could realize the calamities that are
coming upon the earth, and the responsibilities of that priesthood
that God has conferred upon them, they would be ready to break all
barriers and say, Here I am, send me; I wish to benefit the human
family. If Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost, let me be
possessed of the same spirit.
18 Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not
have place in the church, except he repent and mend his ways.
19 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for
he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a
wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men
should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of
their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the
power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And
inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
20 We are following a cycle which was repeated over and over again in
the Book of Mormon. As the Lord tells us, “In the day of their peace
they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of
necessity they feel after me” (D&C 101:8). We shouldn’t be too
surprised, therefore, that the Lord is allowing some wake-up calls to
jar us loose from apathy just as he has done in previous
dispensations. In the book of Helaman, Nephi said, “And thus we see
that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, …
they will not remember him” (Hel. 12:3).
21 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house
cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the
morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Younger Elder Brooksby
1-Teachings of Presidents: Joseph F. Smith-Chapter 35: Seek to Be
Educated in the Truth
2-The Meaning of Morality by Victor L. Brown, April 1971 General Conference
3-Love and Law by Dallin H. Oaks, November 2009 Liahona
4-While They Are Waiting by Marvin J. Ashton, April 1988 General Conference
5-Teachings of Presidents: Joseph F. Smith-Chapter 27: Our Work Is to Save Souls
6-Inertia by Willian H. Bennett, April 1974 General Conference
7-Mosiah 7:33
8-Our Responsibility to Rescue by Thomas S. Monson, October 2013 Liahona
9-D&C 76:75-79
10-Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth by Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
October 2014 General Conference
11-Alma 32:37-39
12-“Lord, Is It I?” by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2014 General Conference
13-Jacob 3:11
14-The Making of a Missionary by Russell Ballard, Jr., October 1976
General Conference
15-“How Is It with Us?” by M. Russell Ballard, April 2000 General Conference
16-1 Timothy 4:15-16
17-Teachings of Presidents: John Taylor-Chapter 8: Our Missionary Duty
18-D&C 75:29
19-D&C 58:26-28
20-Spiritual Revival by Glenn L. Pace, October 1992 General Conference
21-Mark 13:35-37
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
The Book of Brooksby, Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
Patience is related almost directly to faith and hope, and if we have
these qualities, we are really just showing God our trust in him and
his timetable.
1 Orson F. Whitney said: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we
experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the
development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and
humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when
we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts,
expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more
worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and
suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we
come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and
Mother in heaven” (cited in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the
Miracle, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972, p. 98).
2 Dictionaries define patience in such terms as bearing pain or sorrow
calmly or without complaint; not being hasty or impetuous; being
steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.
3 Even so, the Lord has made no secret of the fact that He intends to
try the faith and the patience of His Saints. (See Mosiah 23:21.) We
mortals are so quick to forget the Lord: “And thus we see that except
the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions … they will not
remember him.” (Hel. 12:3.) However, the Lord knows our bearing
capacity, both as to coping and to comprehending, and He will not give
us more to bear than we can manage at the moment, though to us it may
seem otherwise. (See D&C 50:40; D&C 78:18.) Just as no temptations
will come to us from which we cannot escape or which we cannot bear,
we will not be given more trials than we can sustain. (See 1 Cor.
10:13.) Therefore, given the aforementioned grand and overarching
reasons to rejoice, can we not “be of good cheer” in spite of stress
and circumstance?
4 Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or
suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the
ability to do God’s will and accept His timing. When you are patient,
you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and
hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith--you must wait for
the Lord’s promised blessings to be fulfilled.
5 Paul wrote of how, even after faithful disciples had “done the will
of God,” they “[had] need of patience.” (Heb. 10:36.) How many times
have good individuals done the right thing initially only to break
under subsequent stress? Sustaining correct conduct for a difficult
moment under extraordinary stress is very commendable, but so is
coping with sustained stress subtly present in seeming routineness.
Either way, however, we are to “run with patience the race that is set
before us” (Heb. 12:1), and it is a marathon, not a dash. When you and
I are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we like our timetable
better than God’s. And thus, while the scriptural phrase “in process
of time” means “eventually,” it also denotes an entire spiritual
process: “The Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth;
and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into
heaven.” (Moses 7:21)
6 Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the
ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are
perfected.
7 From Harry Emerson Fosdick we read, “The most extraordinary thing
about the oyster is this. Irritations get into his shell. He does not
like them. But when he cannot get rid of them, he uses the irritation
to do the loveliest thing an oyster ever has a chance to do. If there
are irritations in our lives today, there is only one prescription:
make a pearl. It may have to be a pearl of patience, but, anyhow, make
a pearl. And it takes faith and love to do it.” (In The Treasure
Chest, ed. Charles L. Wallis, New York: Harper & Row).
8 “Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental
anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we
were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be
excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make
saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and
self-mastery.” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, Deseret Book Co., 1973,
pp. 97–98.)
9 He is well disciplined who develops patience in his dealings with
his fellowmen. In conversation he is considerate and knows how to
listen. A courteous conversationalist is not a boaster, a babbler, or
a boor. Wise is the man who says what needs to be said, but not all
that could be said.
10 Have you ever been following a slowpoke car that is doddering along
with the driver looking at everything along the way, and you know that
if he doesn’t speed up you are never going to get through on that
green light? But then he does speed up--just enough to get through on
the yellow light--and you have to stop. This has a great tendency to
test the patience. Sometimes we even start thinking rather
derogatorily about him as he drives away. However, it just may be that
the Lord is protecting us from an accident two miles down the road
because we stopped at that light, even though we did it reluctantly.
If you entertain these kinds of thoughts, it may have a tendency to
make you thankful instead of irate or angry, which is much better for
your digestion.
11 George Q. Cannon wrote in Gospel Truths: “So it is with all of us.
We have great afflictions from time to time. It seems to be necessary
that we should be tried and proved to see whether we are full of
integrity or not. In this way we get to know ourselves and our own
weaknesses; and the Lord knows us, and our brethren and sisters know
us. Therefore, it is a precious gift to have the gift of patience, to
be good-tempered, to be cheerful, to not be depressed, to not give way
to wrong feelings and become impatient and irritable. It is a blessed
gift for all to possess.” (Jerreld L. Newquist, ed., Salt Lake City:
Deseret Book Co., 1957, 2:198.) Yes, there are obstacles and
challenges. Men sometimes become cynical. Some despair and lose hope
and faith in the future, but the message stands: do not abandon, for
the Lord lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer; he is the Prince of
Peace. The great assurance of life, the great reason for eternal life,
is the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
12 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and
your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree
to bring forth fruit unto you.
13 Again, as one reviews the various areas of life’s activities and
appreciates the many human inadequacies, the great value of patience
is seen as an important part of being a peacemaker. Sometimes we are
misunderstood, even by those who are closest to us. Under such
circumstances, patience will develop within us the capacity to accept
criticism if warranted or not. The ability to exercise forbearance
under provocation means that we are following the Savior’s teachings
to do good to those that despitefully use us and to turn the other
cheek. (See Matt. 5:39, 44.) Patience is truly a mighty virtue and can
be developed as we become peacemakers and make up our mind to be
patient within our own life as well as with others. I am grateful that
the restored gospel of Jesus Christ incorporates the remarkable
principle of patience. I am most thankful for the patience my Father
in Heaven has evidenced with me in my life.
14 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience,
and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile
against those who do cast you down, lest ye become sinners like unto
them; but that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with
a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.
15 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and
experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
16 Friends and loved ones often offer strength and support when our
own resolve is weak. In turn, our own strength and capacity will be
doubled when we help others endure. I pray that God will help us to
endure well, with purpose and power. When we so do, the meaningful
declaration in 2 Tim. 4:7 will take on a new dimension: “I have fought
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
17 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye
have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
18 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Younger Elder Brooksby
1-“After Much Tribulation Come the Blessings” by Adney Y. Komatsu,
October 1979 General Conference
2-Patience, a Key to Happiness by Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 1987
General Conference
3-“Be of Good Cheer” by Neal A. Maxwell, October 1982 General Conference
4-Preach My Gospel Chapter 6: How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?
5-“Endure It Well” by Neal A. Maxwell, April 1990 General Conference
6-D&C 67:13
7-Adversity and You by Marvin J. Ashton, October 1980 General Conference
8-Gifts of the Spirit by James A. Cullimore, October 1974 General Conference
9-Proper Self-management by Marvin J. Ashton, October 1976 General Conference
10-That Ye May Have Roots and Branches by Hartman Rector, Jr., April
1983 General Conference
11-To Follow or Not, That Is the Question by Charles Didier, October
1981 General Conference
12-Alma 32:43
13-Be a Peacemaker by Franklin D. Richards, October 1983 General Conference
14-Alma 34:40-41(edited)
15-Romans 5:3-5
16-“If Thou Endure It Well” by Marvin J. Ashton, October 1984 General Conference
17-Hebrews 10:35-36
18-Hebrews 12:1-2
Patience is related almost directly to faith and hope, and if we have
these qualities, we are really just showing God our trust in him and
his timetable.
1 Orson F. Whitney said: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we
experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the
development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and
humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when
we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts,
expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more
worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and
suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we
come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and
Mother in heaven” (cited in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the
Miracle, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972, p. 98).
2 Dictionaries define patience in such terms as bearing pain or sorrow
calmly or without complaint; not being hasty or impetuous; being
steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.
3 Even so, the Lord has made no secret of the fact that He intends to
try the faith and the patience of His Saints. (See Mosiah 23:21.) We
mortals are so quick to forget the Lord: “And thus we see that except
the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions … they will not
remember him.” (Hel. 12:3.) However, the Lord knows our bearing
capacity, both as to coping and to comprehending, and He will not give
us more to bear than we can manage at the moment, though to us it may
seem otherwise. (See D&C 50:40; D&C 78:18.) Just as no temptations
will come to us from which we cannot escape or which we cannot bear,
we will not be given more trials than we can sustain. (See 1 Cor.
10:13.) Therefore, given the aforementioned grand and overarching
reasons to rejoice, can we not “be of good cheer” in spite of stress
and circumstance?
4 Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or
suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the
ability to do God’s will and accept His timing. When you are patient,
you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and
hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith--you must wait for
the Lord’s promised blessings to be fulfilled.
5 Paul wrote of how, even after faithful disciples had “done the will
of God,” they “[had] need of patience.” (Heb. 10:36.) How many times
have good individuals done the right thing initially only to break
under subsequent stress? Sustaining correct conduct for a difficult
moment under extraordinary stress is very commendable, but so is
coping with sustained stress subtly present in seeming routineness.
Either way, however, we are to “run with patience the race that is set
before us” (Heb. 12:1), and it is a marathon, not a dash. When you and
I are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we like our timetable
better than God’s. And thus, while the scriptural phrase “in process
of time” means “eventually,” it also denotes an entire spiritual
process: “The Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth;
and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into
heaven.” (Moses 7:21)
6 Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the
ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are
perfected.
7 From Harry Emerson Fosdick we read, “The most extraordinary thing
about the oyster is this. Irritations get into his shell. He does not
like them. But when he cannot get rid of them, he uses the irritation
to do the loveliest thing an oyster ever has a chance to do. If there
are irritations in our lives today, there is only one prescription:
make a pearl. It may have to be a pearl of patience, but, anyhow, make
a pearl. And it takes faith and love to do it.” (In The Treasure
Chest, ed. Charles L. Wallis, New York: Harper & Row).
8 “Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental
anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we
were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be
excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make
saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and
self-mastery.” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, Deseret Book Co., 1973,
pp. 97–98.)
9 He is well disciplined who develops patience in his dealings with
his fellowmen. In conversation he is considerate and knows how to
listen. A courteous conversationalist is not a boaster, a babbler, or
a boor. Wise is the man who says what needs to be said, but not all
that could be said.
10 Have you ever been following a slowpoke car that is doddering along
with the driver looking at everything along the way, and you know that
if he doesn’t speed up you are never going to get through on that
green light? But then he does speed up--just enough to get through on
the yellow light--and you have to stop. This has a great tendency to
test the patience. Sometimes we even start thinking rather
derogatorily about him as he drives away. However, it just may be that
the Lord is protecting us from an accident two miles down the road
because we stopped at that light, even though we did it reluctantly.
If you entertain these kinds of thoughts, it may have a tendency to
make you thankful instead of irate or angry, which is much better for
your digestion.
11 George Q. Cannon wrote in Gospel Truths: “So it is with all of us.
We have great afflictions from time to time. It seems to be necessary
that we should be tried and proved to see whether we are full of
integrity or not. In this way we get to know ourselves and our own
weaknesses; and the Lord knows us, and our brethren and sisters know
us. Therefore, it is a precious gift to have the gift of patience, to
be good-tempered, to be cheerful, to not be depressed, to not give way
to wrong feelings and become impatient and irritable. It is a blessed
gift for all to possess.” (Jerreld L. Newquist, ed., Salt Lake City:
Deseret Book Co., 1957, 2:198.) Yes, there are obstacles and
challenges. Men sometimes become cynical. Some despair and lose hope
and faith in the future, but the message stands: do not abandon, for
the Lord lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer; he is the Prince of
Peace. The great assurance of life, the great reason for eternal life,
is the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
12 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and
your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree
to bring forth fruit unto you.
13 Again, as one reviews the various areas of life’s activities and
appreciates the many human inadequacies, the great value of patience
is seen as an important part of being a peacemaker. Sometimes we are
misunderstood, even by those who are closest to us. Under such
circumstances, patience will develop within us the capacity to accept
criticism if warranted or not. The ability to exercise forbearance
under provocation means that we are following the Savior’s teachings
to do good to those that despitefully use us and to turn the other
cheek. (See Matt. 5:39, 44.) Patience is truly a mighty virtue and can
be developed as we become peacemakers and make up our mind to be
patient within our own life as well as with others. I am grateful that
the restored gospel of Jesus Christ incorporates the remarkable
principle of patience. I am most thankful for the patience my Father
in Heaven has evidenced with me in my life.
14 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience,
and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile
against those who do cast you down, lest ye become sinners like unto
them; but that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with
a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.
15 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and
experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
16 Friends and loved ones often offer strength and support when our
own resolve is weak. In turn, our own strength and capacity will be
doubled when we help others endure. I pray that God will help us to
endure well, with purpose and power. When we so do, the meaningful
declaration in 2 Tim. 4:7 will take on a new dimension: “I have fought
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
17 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye
have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
18 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Younger Elder Brooksby
1-“After Much Tribulation Come the Blessings” by Adney Y. Komatsu,
October 1979 General Conference
2-Patience, a Key to Happiness by Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 1987
General Conference
3-“Be of Good Cheer” by Neal A. Maxwell, October 1982 General Conference
4-Preach My Gospel Chapter 6: How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?
5-“Endure It Well” by Neal A. Maxwell, April 1990 General Conference
6-D&C 67:13
7-Adversity and You by Marvin J. Ashton, October 1980 General Conference
8-Gifts of the Spirit by James A. Cullimore, October 1974 General Conference
9-Proper Self-management by Marvin J. Ashton, October 1976 General Conference
10-That Ye May Have Roots and Branches by Hartman Rector, Jr., April
1983 General Conference
11-To Follow or Not, That Is the Question by Charles Didier, October
1981 General Conference
12-Alma 32:43
13-Be a Peacemaker by Franklin D. Richards, October 1983 General Conference
14-Alma 34:40-41(edited)
15-Romans 5:3-5
16-“If Thou Endure It Well” by Marvin J. Ashton, October 1984 General Conference
17-Hebrews 10:35-36
18-Hebrews 12:1-2
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