Those not fully participating in the Church and also seeking a personal spiritual conversion are missing necessary experiences, because the Church's teachings and work are essential in bringing to pass the eternal life of man, said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred

General Authorities and officers of the Church listen during address by Elder Robert Steuer

Addressing the Saturday afternoon session, Elder Oaks told of inviting a non-participating member to serve the Savior. The person replied: "What has He done for me?"

"This astonishing answer moved me to ponder what people expect to receive from Jesus Christ, from His gospel, and from participating in His Church," said Elder Oaks. He said some stopped going to Church because, they said, it was not "meeting their needs."

"Which needs could they be expecting the Church to meet?" he asked. "Persons who attend Church solely in order to get something of a temporal nature may be disappointed. On the other hand, he said, "Persons who attend Church in order to give to their fellowmen and serve the Lord will rarely be disappointed. . . . The Church gives us opportunities to serve the Lord and our fellowmen. If given in the right way and for the right reasons, that service will reward us beyond anything we have given."

Elder Oaks explained that throughout his life, he had been blessed by participation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he described some of those blessings: partaking of the sacrament and renewing the cleansing effect of baptism and "the promise to always have His spirit to be with us, bringing testimony and truth into our lives. . . . In the day-to-day decisions of my life and in my personal growth, I have enjoyed the fulfillment of that promise," he said.

"What is there in life — on the lakes or streams, in places of commercial recreation or at home reading the Sunday paper — that can provide anything comparable to these blessings?

"No recreational pleasure can equal the cleansing renewal and the spiritual guidance and growth God has promised those who fully partake of the sacrament and honor Him each Sabbath day."

The gospel also provided him with the assurance of forgiveness of sin and the hope and possibility of mercy, as well as offering comfort at the death of loved ones. "The Spirit affirms that there is purpose in mortal adversities and gives assurance of the resurrection and the reality of family relationships sealed for eternity."

He spoke of the gospel teachings of leaders and teachers who have been a light to his path, and the blessings of obedience to the Word of Wisdom, of paying tithing, and of the many personal associations with "the finest possible role models and friends."

"Over the years, my active participation in the Church has provided me access to the counsel and inspiration of leaders of the Church on things I should do as a husband and father and as a leader in my family," he said.

By following the counsel of the scriptures, he said he had been able to avoid such enslaving and trapping pitfalls as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, pornography and gambling.

"What has our Savior done for us? He has given us His atonement, His gospel, and His Church, a sacred combination that gives us the assurance of immortality and the opportunity for eternal life."