In
conference in April, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles gave a talk about the Restoration of the gospel,
eternal families, and missionary work. I'm going to start with what
he said in conclusion: “I thank God and His Son, Jesus Christ, for
the Restoration and its power to propel a magnificent wave of truth
and righteousness across the earth. May we catch this wave and
fulfill the Lord’s command to take the gospel 'to every nation, and
kindred, and tongue, and people,' I pray in the name of Jesus Christ,
amen.” In his talk he gives ways that people in their various
circumstances can catch this wave of missionary work. He encourages
young men and women to be worthy of mission calls and encourages
teenagers to “embrace [their] new curriculum and teach one another
the doctrine of Jesus Christ” saying “Now is your time to prepare
to teach others about the goodness of God.” He stresses the
importance of preparing for your advanced education before your
mission. If you apply to your college or university of choice before
going on your mission, you can often get a deferral so you won't have
to worry about where you'll go to school when you get back. He also
encourages adults and senior couples to help the “spiritual,
physical, and financial preparation of future missionaries.” We can
save money and plan for a future time when we can go on missions. We
could also send our money to the General Missionary Fund.
Elder
Nelson advises us, especially those on the ward council and the ward
mission leaders, to “help [the missionaries] to fill their daily
planners with focused and meaningful teaching opportunities.” We
can work on finding those who are ready to talk to the missionaries.
He encourages parents and teachers to “prepare our rising
generation to be worthy of missionary service” and to lead
exemplary lives. If we can be an example and draw the interest of
friends or neighbors, we need to be ready to answer why we live as we
do. Elder Nelson instructs, “Be ready to give a reason for the hope
and joy that they see in you. When such questions come, you might
respond by saying, 'Let’s ask the missionaries! They can help us!
And if you desire, I will be at your side as the missionaries respond
and teach you.'” If we live our religion, those around us will see
it. Be ready to talk about things if they ask. The prophet Joseph
Smith said of missionary work, “We don't ask any people to throw
away any good they have got; we only ask them to come and get more.
What if all the world should embrace this gospel? They would then see
eye to eye, and the blessings of God would be poured out upon the
people, which is the desire of my whole soul” (History of the
Church, 5:259). We want to share the truths of the restored gospel
with everyone in the world to bring them the joy that the gospel
brings us.
This
wave of missionary work started with the Restoration which started
with the First Vision where the prophet Joseph Smith saw God the
Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Elder Nelson explains, “our living
God is a loving God! He wants His children to know Him and Jesus
Christ, whom He has sent! And He wants His children to gain
immortality and eternal life!” In the Bible, the apostle Peter
spoke of this time of restoration, saying, “Repent ye therefore,
and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall
send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the
heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things,
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the
world began” (Acts 3:19-21). I know Christ and the Father did
appear to Joseph Smith and usher in the Restoration of His gospel. To
live His gospel is to follow His example, to have faith, to repent,
to be baptized, and to receive the Holy Ghost (A of F 1:4, D&C
39:6, 3 Ne 27:13-14,21).
Due
to the Restoration we now have The Book of Mormon, which is another
testament of Jesus Christ and gives an account of the former
inhabitants of this continent and contains the fulness of the
everlasting Gospel, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient
inhabitants (JSH 1:34). Included in the Restoration was the
restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood, “knowledge
and essential ordinances for salvation and exaltation”, and
teachings about tithing. I add my testimony to Elder Nelson's that
you will be blessed for obedience to the law of tithing.
Also restored were teachings
about baptism for the dead and the plan of happiness, and priesthood
keys for the gathering of Israel and the sealing authority. Temple
work was restored. The prophet Joseph Smith had a brother who had
died before the church was restored; In the Doctrine and Covenants he
said, “Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who
have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received
it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the
celestial kingdom of God;” Elder Nelson joys that “Ordinances for
our deceased ancestors are now performed vicariously in 141 temples
throughout the world! There is no other way to offer salvation to our
ancestors who died without a knowledge of the gospel!” In the
Doctrine and Covenants Joseph Smith taught about needing to link the
fathers and the children and how these ordinances were “prepared
before the foundation of the world, for the salvation of the dead who
should die without a knowledge of the gospel” (D&C 128:5).
Through
the restoration we know that families can be together forever. The
family relationships we nurture on earth can last eternally. Couples
can be sealed in the temples of God and have their children sealed to
them. We can provide this same opportunity to generations past
through temple work and family history. The words of a primary song
can help me express my joy in the knowledge of eternal families:
I
have a fam'ly here on earth.
They
are so good to me.
I
want to share my life with them through all eternity.
Fam'lies
can be together forever
Through Heav'nly Father's plan.
Through Heav'nly Father's plan.
I
always want to be with my own family,
And
the Lord has shown me how I can.
(Children's Song Book, Families Can Be Together Forever, 188)
I
am exceedingly glad about this part of Heavenly Father's plan: that
those we know and love in this life, especially those who are closest
to us, will not be lost after death.
I'll
wrap up with a couple of my favorite quotes from Elder Nelson. “Our
inquiring friends and neighbors not of our faith can also catch the
wave. We encourage them to keep all that is good and true in their
lives. And we invite them to receive more, especially the glorious
truth that through God’s eternal plan, families can be together
forever.” “Together, members and missionaries invite all to learn
of God, of Jesus Christ, and of His gospel. Each inquiring individual
should seek earnestly and pray fervently for the assurance that these
things are true. The truth will be manifest by the power of the Holy
Ghost.” I need to add my testimony that I know Heavenly Father and
Jesus Christ are there for us. I know that through God's plan of
redemption we can be saved from our sinful fallen state. As Alma
taught his son Corianton in Alma ch.42, through the Atonement and
repentance we can be reclaimed from the spiritual death brought by
the fall. We can be with our loved ones again after our mortal lives
have ended. I know this is the true church and want others to know
what I know. I hope I can live in such a manner that I will draw
others to Christ and His Restored Church. In the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.
