An address given in the Dripping Springs Ward August 24, 2019 by Summer Owens
First - Know your task. Before starting on a build I need to decide what to build and have an idea of what the finished product should look like. When we entered the waters of baptism each of us covenanted to take on the task of becoming like Christ. He is what the finished product looks like. Complete, of unmatched quality, perfect.
Second - Know what materials you need for the task and gather them. If I want to build a table I need wood, wood glue, screws, nails, etc. We’ve already been given all the materials we need to become like Christ. We each have a physical body, a conscious mind, and a unique identity. But the materials alone do not constitute being like Christ anymore than a pile of wood and screws constitutes a table. The potential is there but materials do not build themselves.
Third - Know what tools you need for the task and most importantly use them. The tools are the means to shaping the materials. But the tools will not function without a hand to wield them. We build ourselves into fledgling imitators of Christ as we act in faith to employ the tools of prayer, scripture study, service, repentance, and others.
Sister Becky Craven, 2nd counselor in the Young Women General Presidency has taught, “There is a careful way and a casual way to do everything, including living the gospel. As we consider our commitment to the Savior, are we careful or casual?” 1
A few years back I decided to build an arbor for our garden so the tomatoes and green beans would have something sturdy and pretty to climb. This was a project I had to drag my husband into helping with because of the large and heavy cuts of wood. We worked together, he mostly holding beams in place while I used my drill to secure them. After a few hours in the hot Texas sun I was sweaty, I was tired, and I became impatient to be done. In my haste my hand slipped and I ended up drilling into the soft skin between my thumb and index finger. Thankfully my carelessness at that moment didn’t result in permanent or devastating damage but since I work with a number of potentially dangerous tools on a regular basis a life changing injury is a distinct possibility and one that I try to remain mindful of. If I forego my safety glasses, use the wrong tool for the job, or get hasty with a saw I leave myself vulnerable to injury.
The tools used to build Christlike character may not be able to injure us directly but inattentive use or complete omission of them will leave us vulnerable to sin and loss of faith. Often neglect or omission of safeguards and tools, whether spiritual or physical, is due to insufficient understanding of their purpose or lack of belief in their power. For example, the purpose of a dust mask is to protect me from respiratory illness. I believe in it’s power to do that so I wear one when sanding. The purpose of a woodworking plan is to guide the builder through a series of steps to create a top grade product. If I believe in its power to do that, then I follow the plan carefully. I complete each step in order, using specified materials and tools, culminating with sealing the wood.
The purpose of the Plan of Salvation is to guide each of us through a series of steps to create a celestial grade product or existence in the hereafter. If we believe in its power to do that then we should follow the plan carefully. We complete each of the gospel ordinances in order, using specified tools meant to both safeguard and actively refine us, culminating with the temple sealing. But our task is not complete even if we perform all of the necessary ordinances. Just as regular maintenance is required to preserve and protect wood from weathering over time, regular maintenance is required to preserve the integrity of our character over time.
Sister Craven has encouraged us to ask ourselves: “Are we careful in our Sabbath-day worship and in our preparation to partake of the sacrament each week? Could we be more careful in our prayers and scripture study . . . Are we careful in our temple worship, and do we carefully and deliberately live the covenants we made both at baptism and in the temple? . . . Are we careful in how we minister to others and in how we fulfill our callings in the Church?”
Sabbath-day worship, prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, repentance, service. The same tools we use to act in faith initially are the tools we use to preserve faith continually. Since faith is the foundation upon which Christlike character is built and Christlike character qualifies us for the responsibilities of eternal life, maintaining faith is a vital part of the plan of salvation.
All faith begins with hope. Hope is the desire that someone or something can be trusted. Trust is the decision to act on that hope. Confidence is the assurance we gain as our trust is rewarded and motivates continued faith.
Often the most difficult part of maintaining faith occurs because we fail to recognize the rewards or blessings of our faith. If we hyperfocus on receiving exactly what we’ve asked for we may be blinding ourselves to what we’ve been given. We are allowed and encouraged to hope and ask for things that we want. Indeed we are taught that there are certain blessings God is willing to grant but that are made conditional upon our asking for them. 2
But we must remember that faith is not a tool used to change the will of God. It is a tool meant to align our will with God’s. True faith is being able to say as Jesus did, “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42) and open your mind to other possibilities through which your faith may be rewarded. God did not remove the bitter cup from His Son but He did send an angel to strengthen Him in his agony.
We all struggle with times of agony that may result in our pleading with God to take something away. One source of agony that has been with me since I was a small child is mental illness. I pleaded with God for many years that it would be taken away. When it wasn’t I believed that I must not have enough faith, when in actuality it was simply contrary to His will that it be removed. It was due to the fact that He did not remove this trial that my understanding of faith was refined which enabled me to recognize all the ways He had blessed me. Christ has taken my weakness and helped me to bear it. He has seen what I have learned from it and prompted me to share my experiences to help strengthen others. I’ve seen guilt swept away when people realize that while despair can come from sin, it can also come from mental illness in good people. I’ve seen hope kindled when others realize that not feeling the spirit doesn’t necessarily indicate being unworthy or unfaithful. The Savior himself was once subject to such distress when he cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” I’ve seen faith renewed as others learn they can recognize the Holy Spirit outside of emotional response. I’ve seen individuals empowered as they recognize that their will need not hinge upon what they feel or cannot feel. I never imagined that a burden so dark and so painful could produce such beautiful fruit. But with Christ all things are possible.
In Matthew chapter 11: verses 29 and 30 Jesus extended the following invitation: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Yoking ourselves with Christ means consistent re-evaluation, refocus, and repentance. But it also means we have consistent help and encouragement.
Brothers and Sisters mortality is where we build the foundation upon which the quality of our salvation relies. We have been given a plan and all the materials and tools needed. Christ is not only our model, He is the Master Builder and we have been invited to apprentice to Him. He asks us to take that first step of faith and then continue in faith with intention through all the certainty and uncertainties of life. We will make mistakes as we learn but He is not there to shame, laugh at, or abandon us because of them. He loves us and He loves our honest efforts even when they fall short.
Sister Craven has reminded us: “Although we may not be perfect, brothers and sisters, we can be worthy; worthy to partake of the sacrament, worthy of temple blessings, and worthy to receive personal revelation.”
[1] Careful versus Casual by Becky Craven
[2] Bible Dictionary: Prayer
Suggestions for additional study:
Reflections on Discipleship by Gaye Strathearn
Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father by Neal A. Maxwell
Have you Been Saved by Dallin H. Oaks
Consecrate Thy Performance by Neal A. Maxwell
In a World full of Choices by Gaye Strathearn
According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts by Neal A. Maxwell
