Consciously in place — Best defense: faith in Savior
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PROVO, Utah — Conscious faith in and a testimony of the Savior is "the very best and most certain defense we have against the temptations of the devil," Elder W. Rolfe Kerr of the Seventy told young adults ages 18-30 during a fireside Sunday, Feb. 5.
Elder Kerr, who also serves as the Church Commissioner of Education, spoke from the Marriott Center on the BYU campus during a Church Educational System fireside that was broadcast via satellite to meetinghouses in many parts of the world.
"I emphasize having faith and testimony not just firmly in place, but consciously in place," said Elder Kerr. "If you are consciously thinking of the Savior, you will not allow temptations to overpower you. More importantly, if you have the Savior and your faith in Him firmly and consciously in your mind and your heart, you will not allow yourselves even to get into tempting situations."
A longtime educator, Elder Kerr said that besides the three "R's" of secular education, he would talk about a corresponding three "R's" of faith.
"Children in elementary and primary schools around the world are taught the basic and essential elements of learning," Elder Kerr said, "reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic. . . . As I think about the basic and essential doctrines which underpin my faith, I again find three R's: Resurrection, revelation and Restoration. In these, we learn much of what the Lord would have us carry to the world. In these, we learn of the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. In these, we learn of how God communicates through His chosen servants. In these, we learn of the Prophet Joseph Smith and of the restoration of the gospel.
"Though these are not inclusive of all the wonderful and illuminating doctrines of the gospel, in these we can find the basis of a faith which can strengthen us in withstanding every temptation of the devil."
The Resurrection "is an essential part of our Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness," Elder Kerr said. Victory over physical death, as well as spiritual death, comes about through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, he added. The Savior's unconditional gift of the Resurrection comes to all mankind and removes the effects of the physical death. Overcoming the spiritual death is also a gift from Christ, but this gift is conditional, requiring faithfulness and obedience.
"As we contemplate the significance of the Resurrection and of the sacrifice of the Savior, keeping Him and these glorious truths firmly and consciously in our minds and hearts, we will experience a shield and a protection against the evil one. If our love for the Savior is as it should be, we will not allow ourselves to compromise that which we know to be right."
Turning to the second "R," he acknowledged the blessing of personal revelation, but said he would speak about revelation through living prophets to and for the Church.
"The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ was the result of many heaven-sent revelations," he said. "These revelations were given primarily to a Latter-day prophet chosen, prepared and ordained for that divine purpose. Our message to all the world is that Joseph Smith was that chosen prophet. It is our witness that God has again spoken, and is still speaking, revealing His secret unto His servants the living prophets."
Elder Kerr described his own search for consistency in the means by which prophetic revelations have been received. He stated that there is a distinct pattern consistently found throughout the scriptures, ancient and modern.
Elder Kerr counseled his listeners, "If you should face a moment of serious temptation, force yourself to think of President Gordon B. Hinckley. Think of him as a prophet, seer, and revelator who receives direct revelation from the Lord for the Church. Think of the revelation he received regarding the construction of small temples all around the world, making the sacred blessings of the temple available to an ever greater number of the members of the Church. Allow the conscious thought of a living prophet receiving current revelation regarding sacred temples to turn you away from that tempting moment and preserve your worthiness to receive the sacred temple blessings."
Speaking of the third "R," Elder Kerr said that among the blessings of the restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith is a greater understanding of the resurrection and revelation.
He stated, "The message of the Restoration is that God lives, Jesus is the Living Christ, the gospel has been restored to the earth in its fulness, Joseph Smith truly was and is a modern-day prophet of God, Gordon B. Hinckley is a living prophet today, and the Book of Mormon is the Word of God, standing now and forever with the Bible as one in the hands of the Lord."
Continuing, he said, "The Restoration of the gospel stands as a bulwark to our faith in our defense against the designs of the evil one. It is my prayer that you will keep these truths firmly and consciously in your minds and in your hearts."
Elder Kerr concluded with a testimony of the Savior saying, "He lives! I testify that the reality of the Resurrection, the relevance of revelation and the reliability of the Restoration will increase your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and help you withstand every temptation of the devil."
E-mail to: ghill@desnews.com
