Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve told of a visit to his office by a four-star general and his wife who admired the Church because of the conduct of the youth. During the visit, the general's wife mentioned her children, of whom she was justly proud. But she expressed a deep concern. "Tell me," she said to Elder Packer, "how are you able to control your youth and build such character as we have seen in your young men?"

Elder Packer, relating the incident during the April 1983 general conference, said he was interested in the woman's use of the word "control."The answer, Elder Packer told them, centered in the doctrines of the gospel. "They were interested; so I spoke briefly of the doctrine of agency," said Elder Packer. "I said we develop control by teaching freedom. Perhaps at first they thought we start at the wrong end of the subject. A four-star general is nothing if not a disciplinarian. But when one understands the gospel, it becomes very clear that the best control is self-control.

"It may seem unusual at first to foster self-control by centering on freedom of choice, but it is a very sound doctrinal approach.

"While either subject may be taught separately, and though they may appear at first to be opposites, they are in fact parts of the same subject.

"Some who do not understand the doctrinal part do not readily see the relationship between obedience and agency. And they miss one vital connection and see obedience only as restraint. They then resist the very thing that will give them true freedom. There is no true freedom without responsibility, and there is no enduring freedom without a knowledge of the truth. The Lord said, `If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' (John 8:31-32.)

"The general quickly understood a truth that is missed even by some in the Church. Latter-day Saints are not obedient because they are compelled to be obedient. They are obedient because they know certain spiritual truths and have decided, as an expression of their own individual agency, to obey the commandments of God.

"We are the sons and daughters of God, willing followers, disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and `under this head are [weT made free.' (Mosiah 5:8.)

"Those who talk of blind obedience may appear to know many things, but they do not understand the doctrines of the gospel. There is an obedience that comes from a knowledge of the truth that transcends any external form of control. We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see. The best control, I repeat, is self-control.

"The general knew then why we teach our children the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ and where they get the resolute determination to protect individual freedom."

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(Additional information)

Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the Gospel Doctrine course of study.

Information compiled by Gerry Avant

Sources: The Miracle of Forgiveness, by Spencer W. Kimball; Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, by Bruce R. McConkie; and April 1983 general conference report.

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Jesus' mission was to 'light the way'

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness. . . ." (John 8:12.)

Jesus used simple analogies: To the woman who had come to Jacob's well, He spoke of "living water." (John 4:6-15.) After He provided loaves and fishes to thousands, He proclaimed Himself as the "living bread" sent down from heaven. (John 6.)

"And now," wrote Elder Bruce R. McConkie in Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, "apparently while the great golden lamp-stands in the temple were blazing forth their light as part of the festivities of the Feast of the Tabernacles, He took occasion to associate Himself with the Messianic prophecies by announcing, `I am the light of the world.'

"His hearers well knew that their Messiah should stand as a light to all men; that is, they knew that He as the very source of light and truth, would stand forth as a light, an example, a dispenser of truth; they knew that His would be the mission to mark the course and light the way which all men should travel. Messianic prophecies given to their fathers promised that He would be `a light to the Gentiles,' a light piercing the darkness of error and unbelief." (Isa. 49:6; 60:1-3.)

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"[The] connection between effort and the repentance which attracts the Lord's forgiveness is often not understood," wrote President Spencer W. Kimball in The Miracle of Forgiveness.

"In my childhood, Sunday School lessons were given to us on the 8th chapter of John wherein we learned of the woman thrown at the feet of the Redeemer for judgment. My sweet Sunday School teacher lauded the Lord for having forgiven the woman. She did not understand the impossibility of such an act. In my years since then I have repeatedly heard people praise the Lord for His mercy in having forgiven the adultress. This example has been used numerous times to show how easily one can be forgiven for gross sin.

"But did the Lord forgive the woman? Could He forgive her? There seems to be no evidence of forgiveness. His command to her was, `Go, and sin no more.' He was directing the sinful woman to go her way, abandon her evil life, commit no more sin, transform her life. He was saying, Go, woman, and start your repentance; and He was indicating to her the beginning step - to abandon her transgressions.

"The Lord's prophet Amulek has said emphatically: ` . . . Ye cannot be saved in your sins.' (Al. 11:37.) "It was this same Lord Jesus Christ who made the laws, and He must observe them. Accordingly, how could He have forgiven the woman in her deep sin? When she had had time to repent; when she had abandoned her evil ways and evil associates; when she had made restitution so far as she could; and when she had proved by her works and the living of the commandments that she was `born again' and was a new creature - when she had done these things the forgiveness of the Savior could overshadow her and claim her and give her peace."

President Kimball further wrote: "The Lord cannot save men in their sins but only from their sins, and that only when they have shown true repentance."