Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference,
where two friends who love Jesus share our own
approach to studying the most recent General
Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's
jump into it. Welcome. Today we're going to talk
about the plan of mercy by Elder James R. Rasband.
So last April, soon after the joyful news that
the church had acquired the Kirtland Temple,
President Russell M. Nelson invited us to study
the dedicatory prayer of this temple, recorded
in section 109 of the DNC. The dedicatory prayer,
said President Nelson, is a tutorial about how
the temple spiritually empowers you and me to
meet the challenges of life in these last days.
It was such a good reminder to go back to that
dedicatory prayer. For sure. And the purpose
of this podcast, I think we've talked about it
in other ones, you know, the power that comes
as we study that section as we were directed
to by the prophet. But some blessings that just
kind of come right to the surface from that dedicatory
prayer. The blessings of God's presence and glory
will rest upon those who attend. We'll have protection
from our enemies. an outpouring of the Spirit
and knowledge. We'll receive forgiveness and
cleansing. We'll have power in the preaching
of the gospel. We'll have the ability to gather
Israel. There was blessings for leaders and saints,
vindication of the saints and God's work, and
there will be peace and unity. So these promises
and blessings were specific to the Kirtland Temple,
but also... reminded time and time again that
they have relevance in modern temple worship
and covenant living every temple that happened
from that point in this dispensation right right
i do appreciate that he said that that he said
you know this is this is specific to this temple
yes and it's overarching for every other temple
so it's still very um applicable which is why
the The prophet asked us to look at it. We each
can find a special connection to temples and
our worship there. And Elder Rasband took this
opportunity to share some of the truths that
he learned himself from taking the prophet's
invitation. So truth number one would be the
Lord is merciful and that our Heavenly Father's
plan of salvation is truly a plan of mercy. The
temple is designed to give us a real opportunity
to see how God intends for that plan to work
out. One of the coolest things that we've maybe
witnessed in recent years is that newly called
missionaries are encouraged to receive their
temple endowment soon after graduation, like
when they have to meet like 18 or graduation
or whatever, but as soon as possible. And the
reason is that they may serve as temple workers
before they begin their missionary service. As
the youth prepare for missionary service, it
might be possible. It possibly might be the greatest
teaching tool prior to entering the MTC to learn
more about God's covenants and the covenants
that His children can make. to understand them
more deeply so that then they can take that message
out into the world that they're going into. Previous
guidelines might have suggested that you might
wait until marriage or mission before receiving
your endowment. But the updated handbook emphasizes
receiving it as soon as one feels ready, provided
that they're graduated and at least 18 years
old. They personally feel ready. And then you
have to be, have been confirmed a member for
up to a year. So young adults are encouraged
to prayerfully consider when they are ready to
take the significant step in their spiritual
development. Not like, oh, you're getting married.
going on a mission right you know like your cattle
is just part of the thing go forward you know
what i mean like you're in the gate now no they
can decide for themselves i really do like that
uh truth too God empowers new missionaries, indeed
all of us, in an additional sacred way. The prophet
Joseph Smith prayed that when thy servant shall
go from thy house to bear testimony of thy name,
the hearts of all people would be softened, both
the great ones of the earth and all the poor,
the needy, and the afflicted. He prayed that
their prejudices might give way before the truth,
and thy people may attain favor on the side of
all, that all the ends of the earth may know
that we, thy servants, have heard thy voice,
and that thou hast sent us. Abby, I liked also
that he talks about a lot Elder Rasband. He touched
on the fact that Joseph Smith many times in this.
pled for Heavenly Father to have mercy on us
and that he really, it was really a prayer that
was straight from his heart as well. And then
we see all the blessings that flow from that.
I liked that part of it, just seeing that there
was a very human and a father and son relationship
in that. It's so good. That last phrase that
you were reading about, the promise that was
made, truth number two that he pointed out, so
nice for new missionary moms, you especially.
It's nice to think that the promise to have prejudice
give way before the truth to obtain favor. the
sight of all, to have the world know that they're
sent by the Lord. It's nice also for us, we think
of ourselves as member missionaries, to have
access to that same blessing. Each of us really
needs the same blessing in our lives. Because
I think too often we're fearful that we're going
to be rejected so we don't open our mouths. And
it's like, whatever we're able to testify of
Jesus Christ is a positive thing, regardless
if somebody takes that on them or not. I think
it's worth spending some time. thinking how that
blessing in section 109 is ours to have, is our
blessing to have. Wouldn't it be nice to know
that hearts were going to be softened as we interact
with neighbors or coworkers, those people like
closest to us in our circles? How do you think?
temples bring forth this blessing. I think it's
cool that it says, you know, have prejudices
give way before the truth, because that really
can be our own prejudices. Like we thought things
were going to go a certain way. We don't realize
they're prejudices. But when you're in the house
of the Lord, again, he's able to, his spirit
is able to dissolve any borders and any walls
that there may be up between you and truth. So
you would just hope that you're able to bring
that spirit with you and that it would help to
dissolve others. Like you were saying with coworkers
and with friends and neighbors, that that spirit
would, the spirit of Christ that dissolves borders
would be with you. You'd be able to carry that.
I love that. The dedicatory prayer does not explain
exactly how our time in the temple will soften
others' hearts, but I'm convinced it is bound
up with how time in the house of the Lord softens
our hearts, our own hearts, by centering us on
Jesus Christ and His mercy. Yes, what you said.
I love that he said that, too, because, again,
he brought it right back to we focus on ourselves.
We're not going to the temple to change other
people. We are going to the temple to change
our very natures, that we become new creatures
in Christ. And again, as that happens, we go
out into the world and our interactions are different.
Well, and if there's like a coworker or a specific
child that's on your mind as you go into the
temple and you have, what can I do to benefit
or bless them? Focusing on Jesus Christ and willing
to be his hands, but not what we're trying to
do to change them, but what you can do to serve
them. I think that seems like one manifestation
of what we're talking about. Very good. I like
that. From the very first prayer in the sacred
grove, Joseph wanted to know his standing before
the Lord. He wanted to know, would his sins be
forgiven? This prayer opened the windows of heaven.
In the dedication prayer, a similar plea for
mercy is answered, just like you were talking
about. His plea first for mercy was for members
of the church, then for enemies of the church,
for leaders of the country, for the nations of
the earth. Very personally, he pled with the
Lord to remember him and have mercy upon his
beloved Emma and their children. So sweet. One
week later, on Easter Day, 1836, as recorded
in Section 110, the Savior appears in the Kirtland
Temple and says, I have accepted this house,
and my name shall be here, and I will manifest
myself to my people in mercy in this house. President
Nelson taught last April this promise also applies
to every dedicated temple today. And again, We
can see right here that it was a very direct
answer to his prayer because what did he pray
for the whole thing? Mercy all throughout. And
he says here, I will manifest myself in mercy.
That 14 -year -old child opened the windows of
heaven. all those years ago and because he would
listen to the lord and and and moved the church
and the restoration along then we get to this
point where they did indeed listen to the lord
asking him build a house into my name and like
let the powers that i'm ready to unleash come
come forth here uh from the talk truth number
three there are so many ways in which we can
find mercy in the house of the lord the lord
first commanded israel to build a tabernacle
and place at its center the mercy seat wasn't
that a great reminder yes we find mercy in the
covenants we make at both baptism and the additional
covenants we make in the temple when we bind
ourselves to the father and son by covenant we
are given increased access to what president
nelson has taught is a special kind of love and
mercy called hesed in hebrew we find mercy in
the opportunity to be sealed to our families
for eternity in the temple we also come to understand
with greater clarity that the creation the fall
the savior's atoning sacrifice and our ability
to enter again into our heavenly father's presence
Indeed, every part of the plan of salvation are
manifestations of mercy. It might be said that
the plan of salvation is a plan of happiness
precisely because it is a plan of mercy. Oh,
that's so good. I love that. Truth number four,
the Lord's mercy is one of the most powerful
ways to fill the witness of the Holy Ghost, and
pondering on His mercy opens the door to a testimony
of the Book of Mormon. Similar principles beautifully
taught in Moroni 10, 3 -5. And oftentimes we
shorthand these verses to teach that if we sincerely
pray, then we can use that to learn whether the
Book of Mormon is true or not. But the shorthand
can neglect the important role of mercy. Could
you maybe read those verses for us? Sure. Three.
Behold, I would exhort you that when you shall
read these things, if it be wisdom in God that
you should read them, that you would remember
how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children
of men from the creation of Adam, even down until
the time that you shall receive these things
and ponder it in your hearts. Number four, and
when you shall receive these things, I would
exhort you that you would ask God, the eternal
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, if these
things are not true. And if you shall ask with
a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith
in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto
you by the power of the Holy Ghost. Number five,
and by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know
the truth of all things. So thank you for the
emphasis on that word. merciful. And it's good
to point out Moroni urges us not just to read
these things, the record he was about to seal
up, but ponder. The stories, the words that the
Book of Mormon reveals about how merciful the
Lord has been unto the children of men. So it's
in the pondering upon the Lord's mercy that then
prepares us to ask God, the Eternal Father, in
the name of Christ, if those things are true.
That's great. The Book of Mormon is full of examples
of God's mercy, like we've been talking about
through this whole talk. Alma taught that God's
plan of mercy assures that every person who ever
lived on this earth will be resurrected and that
they will be restored to their perfect frame.
Amula taught. that the Savior's mercy satisfied
all the bitterly real demands of justice that
we would otherwise be obligated to pay. Instead,
he encircles us in the arms of safety. Then there's
Alma. He testified that Christ suffered not only
for our sins, but for our pains and afflictions,
so that he could know how to succor his people
according to their infirmities. King Benjamin
taught that as a free gift, he atoned for the
sins of those who have died, not knowing the
will of God concerning them, or who would have
ignorantly sinned. That's kind of special. I'm
just thinking about Abinadi who himself suffered
bruise and like burning, whatever. I mean, he
said it in words, but he in action understands
those words maybe more than any of us. Absolutely.
We're invited to ask ourselves, could these stories
possibly be true? And Elder Rasband answers that
himself. He says, I testify that it is and that
the peace giving and hopeful teachings of mercy
in the Book of Mormon are true. I love that testimony.
I love that he knows this for himself and is
willing to share a personal struggle he faced
himself. He kind of reached out to those who
are struggling to fill anything despite faithfully
reading and their prayers. He said many years
ago. My own first couple of reads of the Book
of Mormon did not yield any immediate and clear
answers to my prayers. And so his advice to focus
on specific examples of mercy shown to God's
children in these stories and then ponder on
them, whether these things could be true, and
if that same mercy could be available to each
of us, comes from personal knowledge and understanding
of doing that process absolutely and maybe it
won't work for everybody or maybe people aren't
struggling they're like i read and i got the
answer and it was so great but he's reaching
people like a lot of us we're asking we're asking
we're asking we want to know we want to have
that firm like that burning in our bosom to know
and he promised us the truth that he knows is
that reading it and pondering on it can lead
to that realization so good Amy, he gave us a
specific invitation. You want to read what he
said to us? Sure. May I invite you to follow
Moroni's counsel to ponder on the many ways the
Book of Mormon teaches how merciful the Lord
hath been to the children of men. Based on my
experience, I hope that when you do, the peace
of the Holy Ghost can enter your heart and you
can know, believe, and feel that the Book of
Mormon and the plan of mercy that it teaches
are true. That's so good, Abby. I really do love
that we have touched on the word mercy and the
principle of mercy all throughout. And that again,
it's a plan of mercy. That Heavenly Father is
a father of mercy. Yes, we have all of his commandments,
all of the guidelines. He has just pretty much
shown us that through the Book of Mormon and
also through all of our temple covenants and
everything that we learned there, there's just
more and more mercy extended if we will just
take that. Take his hand. In our little valley,
we experienced a very tragic loss. Just a young
woman, she passed away in a tragic accident last
week. And kind of just letting the family process,
you know, their emotions. But the Facebook posts
have been coming out and the family member, one
in particular, just expressing his love of his
family, their temple covenants, and the father's
plan. being the most important thing right now
so i was like in this tragic moment when you
can testify that uh mortality works and that
you know there is a merciful god in heaven and
rather than just being angry like my natural
inclination probably just to be angry in the
situation but i find so much peace knowing that
they're going to find peace so much sooner because
they they know that the plan is is good those
covenants that they made are real and that God
is merciful. So, you know, she's doing just fine.
On the other side, she's going to continue to
be an awesome little missionary like she's been.
But the family that's left behind to suffer,
if they can hold on to those truths that they
know that, you know, that they've already accepted
that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and
that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is on
this earth, and if they can cling to that, it's
going to make the storm that they're being asked
to weather so much. more tolerable i guess yeah
painful still right and like you said the real
miracle of it is that they can find peace now
that that is that would be my biggest hope for
them so that's that's what they're demonstrating
right now and like that's my prayer that all
of these people that she's touched their lives
that they'll cling to those truths that they
know amidst it being easy to just get angry right
His final testimony, I express my gratitude for
the Savior's great plan of mercy and for the
Savior's willingness to carry it out. I know
that he will manifest himself in mercy in his
holy temple and in every part of our life if
we seek him. And this he does in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Thanks for being with
us. See you next time.