Gospel, change produce celestial citizens
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The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges people to change, said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve.
" 'Repent' is its most frequent message, and repenting means giving up all of our practices — personal, family, ethnic and national — that are contrary to the commandments of God," Elder Oaks said. "The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change."
The traditions, culture or way of life of a people inevitably include some practices that must be changed by those who wish to qualify for God's choicest blessings, he added. Chastity, for example, has been commanded by both ancient and modern prophets.
"Yet these eternal commands have frequently been ignored, opposed or mocked by powerful traditions in many lands," Elder Oaks said.
Weekly attendance at Church is another example of a commandment contrary to popular tradition, Elder Oaks added. The Lord has also commanded that His people abstain from alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee — a law that runs counter to the traditions of many. Honesty is another example.
"Some cultures condone lying, stealing and other dishonest practices," Elder Oaks said. "But dishonesty in any form — whether to appease, to save face or to get gain — is in direct conflict with gospel commandments and culture."
A less serious worldly tradition that conflicts with gospel culture is the idea of upward or downward movements in Church positions, Elder Oaks said. "In the world, we refer to the up or down of promotions or reductions. But there is no up or down in Church positions. We just move around."
The Lord's present-day servants don't attempt to make Filipinos or Asians or Africans into Americans, he added.
"The Savior invites all to come unto Him, and His servants seek to persuade all — including Americans — to become Latter-day Saints. We say to all, give up your traditions and cultural practices that are contrary to the commandments of God and the culture of His gospel and join with His people in building the Kingdom of God."
The gospel's culture or lifestyle comes from the plan of salvation, the commandments of God and the teachings of the living prophets. "The principles stated in the Family Proclamation are a beautiful expression of our gospel culture," Elder Oaks said.
Those baptized in the Church make covenants requiring them to make changes from family, ethnic and national culture, he added.
The gospel plan is based on individual responsibility. The Savior's followers are commanded to give to the poor, and many do. "But some gifts have promoted a culture of dependency, reducing their recipients' need for earthly food or shelter, but impoverishing them in their eternal need for individual growth. The growth required by the gospel plan only occurs in a culture of individual effort and responsibility," Elder Oaks said.
The gospel raises people out of poverty and dependency, but only when gospel culture — including the faithful payment of tithing by even the very poor — prevails over the traditions and cultures of dependency, he said.
"Repentance means more than giving up our sins," Elder Oaks said. "In its broadest meaning it requires change, giving up all of our traditions that are contrary to the commandments of God."
