Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Truly converted disciples, though still imperfect, will pursue “the life of
the soul” on any day, in any decade, amid any decadence and destruction.
Within the swirling global events—events from which we are not totally immune—is
humanity’s real and continuing struggle: whether or not, amid the cares of
the world, we will really choose, in the words of the Lord, to “care . . . for the life of the soul” (D&C
101:37). Whatever our anxious involvements with outward events, this inner
struggle proceeds in both tranquil and turbulent
times. Whether understood or recognized, this is the unchanging mortal agendum
from generation to generation.
When we strive to keep God’s commandments, “the inward man
is renewed day by day” (2
Corinthians 4:16). Then, even on bad days, we will
still “keep our own soul” regardless of external conditions (see Proverbs
19:16). Granted, some inward decisions to “care . . . for” and “keep” our
souls occur in otherwise uneventful times, as with the prodigal son. He had
fed the swine day by day, finally experiencing a special day when he “came
to himself” (Luke 15:17). Whatever else happened on that particular day in
that “far country” (Luke
15:13), the prodigal son had “thought on [his] ways”
(Psalm 119:59) and firmly concluded that “I will arise and go to my father” (Luke
15:18). Transformation followed introspection. Even so, one homeward-bound
swineherd would scarcely have been noticed by the passersby, though things
of eternal significance had happened to him.
At other times, however, the interplay of outward
and inward things is more visible. Pilate was dealing with a seemingly
local disturbance
surrounding one Jesus of Nazareth. His new accord with Herod—with whom Pilate
had been “at enmity” (Luke
23:12)—was doubtless political news among those
in the know. Though ambivalent, he yielded to a conditioned crowd, amnestying
Barabbas instead of Jesus. With washed but dirty hands, Pilate apparently
returned to Caesarea. Christ, however, went on to Gethsemane and Calvary,
performing the agonizing but emancipating universal Atonement whereby billions
and billions would be resurrected.
Today, war clouds here and there rain upon the
just and the unjust, but Christ’s glorious gift of the great Resurrection
will be showered upon us all! Just as the whitecaps do not disclose the
deep sea changes underway,
so in the case of the Atonement, things global and eternal in their significance
were happening in a small garden and upon an obscure hill.
The unfolding of God’s work often proceeds quietly. For example,
whatever the immediate economic reasons the Joseph Smith Sr. family had for
moving from New England to upstate New York, they were being led—unawares—to
sacred plates, buried in Cumorah’s Hill, waiting to become “another testament
of Christ” for “as long as the earth shall stand” (2
Nephi 25:22).
Therefore, though ours is a time of conflict,
quietly caring for “the life of the soul” is still what matters most. Though events set up
the defining moments which can evoke profiles in righteousness, outward commotions
cannot excuse any failure of inward resolve, even if some seem to unravel
so easily. If hostilities break out here and there, we still need not break
our covenants! For example, adultery cannot be rationalized merely because
there is a war on and some wives and husbands are separated. There is no footnote
to the seventh commandment reading “Thou shalt not commit adultery except
in times of war” (see Exodus
20:14).
In another time of war, President David O. McKay
counseled members in the military to “keep yourselves morally clean” amid “the beastliness
of war” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1969, 153).
Even though nations shall rise against nations,
such turbulence does not justify business partners rising against their
partners or against
their stockholders by stealing or bearing false witness, thereby violating
both the eighth and ninth commandments—for which there are no excusing footnotes
(see Exodus 20:15–16).
Uncertainty as to world conditions does not justify
moral uncertainty, and distracting churn will not cover our sins nor dim
God’s all-seeing
eye. Furthermore, military victories are no substitute for winning our individual
wars for self-control. Nor do the raging human hatreds lessen God’s perfect
and redeeming love for all His children. Likewise, the obscuring mists of
the moment cannot change the reality that Christ is the Light of the World!
Let us, therefore, be like the young man with
Elisha on the mount. At first intimidated by the surrounding enemy chariots,
the young man’s
eyes were mercifully opened, and he saw “horses and chariots of fire,” verifying
“they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2
Kings 6:16, 17). Brothers and sisters, the spiritual arithmetic has not changed!
Our own intellectual shortfalls and perplexities
do not alter the fact of God’s astonishing foreknowledge, which takes into account our
choices for which we are responsible. Amid the mortal and fragmentary communiques
and the breaking news of the day concerning various human conflicts, God lives
in an eternal now where the past, present, and future are constantly before
Him (see D&C 130:7). His divine determinations are guaranteed, since whatever
He takes in His heart to do, He will surely do it (see Abraham
3:17). He knows
the end from the beginning! (see Abraham
2:8). God is fully “able to do [His] . . . work” and
to bring all His purposes to pass, something untrue of the best-laid plans
of man since we so often use our agency amiss! (see 2
Nephi 27:20).
God has assured us:
“I will lead you along” (D&C 78:18).
“I will be in your midst” (D&C
49:27).
He will be “with [us],” brothers and sisters, “in [our] time
of trouble” (D&C 3:8), including through the guidance of His living prophet,
President Gordon B. Hinckley.
Meanwhile, the defining moments in the “life of the soul” continue
to turn on whether we respond with self-indulgence or self-denial in our
daily, individual decisions, as between kindness and anger, mercy and
injustice, generosity and meanness.
Wars do not repeal the second commandment. It knows no borders.
Its adherents wear no national insignia, nor do they have skin of a particular
color.
We may experience hunger, for instance, but if
so, we can still respond as did the widow who used the last of her meal
to feed Elijah
(see 1
Kings 17:8–16). Such sharing amid real deprivation and poverty is always
touching. Earlier in his life, a wonderful bishop of my youth, M. Thirl Marsh,
repeatedly tried to be hired at the mines during the Depression. Being underage
but large of stature, he persisted and was hired, but several friends were
not. Apparently, on more than one occasion after his hard day’s work, generous
young Thirl shared his earnings equally with these friends until they, too,
were hired. No wonder he was such a caring shepherd of the flock later on.
When pondering “the life of the soul,” it helps to strive
for our own full conversion whereas the gospel seed first falls on “good ground”—which
is defined by Jesus as those with an “honest and good heart” (Luke
8:15).
Sequentially, such an individual “heareth the word” with “joy,” “understandeth
it,” “beareth fruit,” and “endureth,” and finally learns what it is to “hunger
and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew
13:20, 23; Joseph Smith Translation,
Matthew 13:21; Matthew 5:6). It is “a mighty change” (Mosiah
5:2). Conversion
basically represents the transformation from the “natural man” to becoming
the “man of Christ” (Mosiah
3:19; Helaman 3:29; see also 2
Corinthians 5:17).
It is a labor which takes more than an afternoon.
The outcomes of this ongoing process include
having “no more
disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah
5:2). No wonder,
therefore, this process enables those so converted to “strengthen [their]
brethren” (Luke 22:32) and so lift others by being “ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1
Peter 3:15). Such righteous individuals perform another vital but quiet service
to mankind: they become part of the critical mass which can evoke God’s much-needed
blessings on all humanity.
Truly converted disciples, though still imperfect,
will pursue “the life of the soul” on any day, in any decade, amid any decadence and destruction.
This process constitutes being about our “Father’s business” (Luke
2:49; see also Moses
1:39).
Since this full conversion is what is supposed to be happening
anyway, stern events and turbulence may actually even help us by causing a
resumption of the journey or an acceleration.
Brothers and sisters, amid the volatile and vexing
cares of the world, let us, as instructed, care for the “life of the soul.” Thanks
to Jesus’ glorious Atonement, the life of that immortal soul outlasts the
stretching longevity of any star and hence the short span of passing mortal
events, even if grim!
I so testify, in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen!
Previous
