Elder D. Todd Christofferson: 'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten'
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181st Annual General Conference — Church News coverage
Church members should adopt one particular attitude and practice to help them meet Heavenly Father's high expectations — accepting and even seeking correction, said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve.
"Correction is vital if we would conform our lives 'unto a perfect man, [That is] unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,'" (Ephesians 4:7) he said. "Though it is often difficult to endure, truly, we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct."
Speaking Sunday afternoon, Elder Christofferson said Heavenly Father has high expectations.
"In all of this, God's purpose is that we, His children, may be able to experience ultimate joy, to be with Him eternally and to become even as He is."
Elder Christofferson said divine chastening has at least three purposes: "to persuade us to repent, to refine and sanctify us and at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path."
"If we sincerely desire and strive to measure up to the high expectations of our Heavenly Father, He will insure that we receive all the help we need whether it is comforting, strengthening or chastening," he said. "If we are open to it, needed correction will come in many forms and from many sources. It may come in the course of our prayers as God speaks to our mind and heart through the Holy Ghost. It may come in the form of prayers that are answered, 'no,' or differently than we had expected. Chastening may come as we study the scriptures and are reminded of deficiencies, disobedience or simple matters neglected."
Elder Christofferson said correction can also come through others, especially those who are God-inspired to promote the happiness of God's children.
"Apostles, prophets, patriarchs, bishops and others have been put into the Church today just as anciently 'for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,'" (Ephesians 4:11-12) he said. "Perhaps some of the things said in this conference have come to you as a call to repentance or change which, if heeded, will lift you to a higher place. We can help one another as fellow Church members; it is one of the primary reasons the Savior established a church. Even when we encounter mean-spirited criticism from persons who have little regard or love for us, it can be helpful to exercise enough meekness to weigh it and sift out anything that might benefit us."
Elder Christofferson said gentle correction can come from one's spouse. Parents, he added, can and must correct.
"Eventually, he said, much of our chastening should come from within — we should become self-correcting."
All Church members can meet God's high expectations, however, great or small their capacity and talent may be, Elder Christofferson said. "May God sustain you in your striving to meet His high expectations and grant you a full measure of the happiness and peace that naturally follow."
