Elder Walter F. Gonzalez
Of the Seventy
"Knowledge alone is not enough. We must take time to apply the principles
in our lives."
English is the language of the Restoration, and in this conference session,
English spoken with an accent symbolizes Church growth all over the world. I'm
from South America, where the Church has grown tremendously. When I joined the
Church 30 years ago, we had 108,000 members and 6 stakes. At that time we had
no temple on our continent. Now we have 2,600,000 members and 557 stakes. Eleven
temples are functioning, and two are under construction. Nephi, the son of Lehi,
said: "But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as
of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them
by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them" (2
Ne. 33:3). This heartfelt cry is being answered in our day through the Book
of Mormon. Nephi was praying that the word he had "written in weakness would
be made strong unto" us, "for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh
known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them
to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal" (2
Ne. 33:4).
I have seen how the doctrine and gospel principles are guiding more and more
members in South America. Our task both in South America and everywhere continues
to be seeking for the principles found in the scriptures and the teachings of
the prophets and writing them "not with ink, but with the Spirit of the
living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart"
(2 Cor.
3:3). Such establishing of gospel principles requires time. Time is required
both to be exposed to the truths of the gospel and to apply them in our lives.
For most South American members, our exposure to gospel principles started
with devoting time to hearing the discussions and testimonies from the missionaries.
We took time to listen, and now we cannot help but feel profound gratitude to
the missionaries who served in our countries. Our deep gratitude is not only
to the missionaries but to the families from which they came. (Now thousands
of South Americans are sending their own children to serve missions to share
the glad tidings of the restored gospel.) Those of us who are first-generation
Church members also feel great gratitude for our nonmember parents who took
time to teach us righteous principles which prepared us to recognize and welcome
the gospel message.
Missionaries initiated the task of learning doctrine and gospel principles;
however, maintaining the gospel in our hearts is an ongoing task which requires
time. Knowledge alone is not enough. We must take time to apply the principles
in our lives. For example, Nephi knew that the Lord answers our prayers. He
applied his knowledge centuries ago and thus brought everlasting blessings upon
us today. If we read carefully, we see that Nephi prayed with great faith unto
God because he knew that God was going to hear his "cry" (see 2
Ne. 33:3). How grateful we are for Nephi's taking time to apply his knowledge.
How grateful we are that Nephi wrote this knowledge in his heart "not with
ink, but with the Spirit of the living God."
Like scholarship, discipleship also requires time. Sometimes we recognize that
a principle is true, but we don't change our priorities to make time to live
the principle. In so doing, we miss valuable opportunities to develop a change
of heart as we are taught by the Holy Ghost. Consider for a moment the example
of Enos, who delayed the application of the knowledge he received from his father.
He eventually took time to live up to that knowledge; a number of blessings
flowed to us because he did. Enos tells us that it was when he went to hunt
beasts in the forest that his father's teachings about eternal life and the
joy of the Saints deeply touched his heart, so he decided to devote time to
praying (see Enos
1:3–4). In divine response to his prayer, the Lord covenanted with
Enos that He would bring the records forth unto the Lamanites in His own due
time (see Enos
1:16). God answers our prayers. Enos took this principle from the stone
tablets and wrote it in the fleshy tablets of his heart, thus obtaining a higher
level of knowledge. This brought blessings both upon him and us in this dispensation.
A number of things hinder our good intentions of devoting time to learning
and especially to living a gospel principle. For example, the abundance of information
about any specific subject which comes from various media can be overwhelming.
Such an abundance of information may cause some to be "ever learning, and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2
Tim. 3:7).
Each of us can evaluate ourselves, determine which things are preventing us
from taking time to live a gospel principle, then repent and make the necessary
adjustments so that we can have time to apply that gospel principle in our lives.
If we do so, the Lord has promised that we'll have an increased understanding
of His truths as Enos did. The Savior declared, "If any man will do his
will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak
of myself" (John
7:17).
Making time in our lives to learn, to ponder, and especially to practice gospel
principles will bring us the joy and peace which come from the Spirit. The Church
will continue to blossom in South America and other parts of the world because
more and more members will continue to write gospel principles not with ink,
but with the Holy Ghost; not in tablets of stone, but in the fleshy tablets
of their hearts. I testify that scriptural truths can develop from intellectual
appreciation to our becoming Christlike as we take time to incorporate those
truths into our lives. I know the Savior is the Living Christ. Of these things
I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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