Successful people follow a set of principles aligned with their specific goals. Often those principles are defined by an expression, a mantra, or set of mantras, relative to the objectives they were trying to accomplish. In the Church we have our own mantras such as “Come Follow Me” or “Hear Him,” which stimulate and focus our minds and souls on the Savior. These expressions are designed to help us keep the Savior forefront and active in our hearts and minds as we pursue our personal mortal journey. Perhaps another guiding mantra worthy of our consideration would be “Study, Pray, and Obey.”
In this Church we have been taught that in order to obtain a kingdom of glory we must become perfect. Presumably, that means that we must become Celestially perfect, Terrestrially perfect, or Telestially perfect to enter into whatever kingdom our behavior in this mortal sojourn qualifies us for. This can be a stressful thing to contemplate. It is particularly so when we realize that no mortal person is perfect nor will they be in this second act of the three act play we call the Plan of Salvation. While not a discussion to pursue here, D&C 93:38 does provide one interesting view on a possible reason for the far-reaching effects of the Atonement and why our role as actors in this play is essential.
My first encounter with this overwhelming objective of becoming perfect came as a young man attending Seminary. It was more than my adolescent mind could deal with at the time. A sashay into D&C 82:7 almost derailed any optimism. It reads “And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God.” (italics and bolding are mine) How could a person be expected to achieve perfection when each time we sin, “the former sins return”? It seemed like trying to pay down a credit card at 29% interest. You might pay a large monthly sum, but depending on what you owe, it can go up faster than you can pay it down.
As Gospel maturity gradually made its appearance, it became apparent that none of us were ever going to achieve that complete, and required, perfection in this life. However, something else began to appear. The reason “the former sins return” had everything to do with the word obey. The pattern, Study, Pray, and Obey began to take shape.
When we encounter the phrase “but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return” our hearts may sink. But simply put, whenever we sin or transgress, we are in disobedience of God’s commands, His laws. In other words, disobedience is the sin. Therefore, when we repent of a sin and return even to a different one, “the former sins return” because we are once again disobedient. One could look at obey as the only command God has ever really given to us.
Much of what we generally call commandments were given as a result of disobedience to God’s instructions that He had previously given to His Prophets. The nature of disobedience may vary, as well as the relative consequences, but regardless, we fail the test of perfection required to enter any kingdom of glory through disobedience. When considered in the light of the Gospel it is also clear that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, and sincere repentance, we can escape the just consequences of almost any disobedience. Somehow, in a way no mortal fully understands, Jesus’ atonement, through sincere repentance, compensates for disobedience.
Such thinking led to a logical next step. What if we could become of an obedient nature? Then any significant decisions we faced would simply require us to study it out and pray for strength to identify and follow the obedient path. Having an obedient nature would tend to push us in the proper direction. When faced with more general experiences we would have already identified the proper response and our obedient nature could again serve to propel us in the right direction. Can we submit to the Lord our heart and soul in such a way as to allow Him to change us from the “natural man” to a “saint”? He can change our fundamental nature if we will allow Him to help us do so.
Missionary service gave a new perspective into this yet undeveloped mantra. In the missionary discussions, potential converts were committed to study, pray, and attend Church. Attending Church was simply an act of obedience. That pattern solidified the expression. We must study the words of the Lord to his prophets, pray to obtain a testimony and gain strength to follow the truths we learn, and then obey those truths to the best of our ability. It all began to fit!
All these thoughts and experiences prompted a deeper study into why the Lord would give a commandment, to be perfect, that He knew was impossible for us to achieve in this life. Gradually, through study, prayer, then doing our best to obey, it becomes more apparent. It is also some relief to note that Moroni teaches in Ether 12:27, “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (italics are mine) God actually gave us some of the weaknesses we have and stands by to help us develop strength to overcome them.
We wouldn’t presume to attribute all our weaknesses to God, nor would it be appropriate to presume that God gave weaknesses of an evil nature. It does appear that He gave each of us a fundamental set of flaws that would makes us stronger if we overcame them. Again the pattern to overcome those weaknesses is the same. We study the scriptures to understand God’s will, pray for strength and direction to work through those difficulties, and obey the promptings of the Holy Ghost to conquer them. While perfection may not completely occur in this mortal life, there are areas where it can be achieved. We can be perfect at saying our prayers. Most of us can be perfect payers of tithes and offerings. Most can be perfect at not murdering anyone. We can obey the Word of Wisdom perfectly. Attending Church, serving and numerous other character traits can become perfect. The pattern “Study, Pray, and Obey” continues to emerge. It is a cyclic thing.
Only through study of the words of the Savior and His prophets, combined with meaningful prayer for strength and insight, and obedience to the truths we learn, can we obtain the assurance that the course we are pursuing, though not perfect, is acceptable to God. We must study “…that you [we] may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;” (D&C 88:78) and continue to “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39) We must “Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward.”, (D&C 31:12) Finally we must “… Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” (Jeremiah 7:23)
It should be obvious to us by now that in surrendering our will to God we become more closely aligned to the Savior. It was Jesus who declared that He came “not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). He also taught us that if we do [obey] His will, we would know “of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17) If a being so strong, so powerful, and so perfect as Jesus Christ could voluntarily submit himself to the will of the Father, is it not likely that if we were to do the same, the very nature of our being would be transformed as well?
Let us turn to some of the words of Joseph Smith and his namesake Joseph who was sold into Egypt.
On March 7, 1831, Joseph Smith received the revelation found in D&C 45. In that revelation, and almost parenthetically, the Lord in verses 60-62 instructed Joseph to cease translating the Genesis chapter he was engaged with and begin working on the New Testament. The Lord further indicated that in doing so, he would “be prepared for the things to come” and “that great things await you.” By the time he received this revelation, Joseph had worked his way to Genesis 24:41.
By this time Joseph had learned a great deal about obeying the Lord. The day following receipt of D&C 45, March 8, 1831, he immediately began his translation of Matthew Chapter 1, in the New Testament. He did not return to work in the Old Testament until some 16 months later in July 1832. This quickness to obey the Lord’s commands had become a mantra for Joseph. Later, in November 1834, he wrote: “No month ever found me more busily engaged than November [1834]; but as my life consisted of activity and unyielding exertions, I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it.”1
Joseph who was sold into Egypt was also one who embodied strict obedience to the Lord’s commands. The story of Joseph is recounted in Genesis 37-50, taking up 28% of the LDS King James Version of that book. The lessons we learn from Joseph of Egypt, as well as Joseph Smith, include obedience to the Lord’s commands quickly and absolutely. We learn how to weather adversity, great or small, how to fear God rather than man, how to remain morally clean and a host of other principles including prayer, study, obedience, integrity, honesty, and faith. We also learn that we must never excuse ourselves, regardless of how seemingly small the sin may be, for the sin is always disobedience, therefore “all the former sins return.”
After Joseph Smith completed the New Testament in July 1832, he redirected his attention to the Old Testament where he had previously left off, in Genesis 24. He quickly came to the story of Joseph of Egypt. He did not significantly modify the story of Joseph of Egypt until near the end. It is a marvelous ending to a beautiful story regarding the progenitor of many people including members of the Church, as revealed in their Patriarchal Blessings.
Genesis 50:22-31
22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house; and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation; the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
24 And Joseph said unto his Brethren brethren, I die, and go unto my Fathers; and I go down to my grave with Joy. The God of my Father Jacob be with you, to deliver you out of affliction in the day of your bondage; for the Lord hath visited me, and I have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of my loins, the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch, out of my lines; and unto thee, whom my Father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet, not the Masiah, who is called Shilo; and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt, in the days of thy bondage.
25 And it shall come to pass, that they shall be scattered again, and a branch shall be broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Masiah cometh; for he shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power; and shall bring them out of darkness unto light; out of hidden darkness, and out of captivity unto freedom.
26 A seer shall the lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my lines. Thus saith the lord God of my fathers unto me, a choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment, that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren; and he shall bring them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy father; and he shall do whatsoever work I shall command him; and I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work; and he shall be great like unto him whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel, out of the land of Egypt; for a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy lines, to deliver my people out of the land of Egypt; and he shall be called Moses, and by this name he shall know that he is of thy house, for he shall be nursed by the Kings daughter and shall be called her son.
27 And again, a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them in the last days. Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the Knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. and out of weakness shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall go forth among all my people, which shall restore them who are of the house of Israel in the last days. And that seer will I bless, and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise I give unto you, for I will remember you from generation to generation; and his name shall be called Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his Father; and he shall be like unto you; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, shall bring my people unto salvation.
Using The Joseph Smith Translation, Red-Letter Edition, Old Testament, we readily identify insights from Joseph of Egypt. In verse 24 we learn that the people of Jacob who will go into bondage will be released by the efforts of a Seer, identified in verse 26 as Moses. Verse 24 also affirms that Shiloh, referred to in Genesis 48:10, is definitely the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Verse 25 promised Joseph of Egypt that a branch of his descendants would be broken off and taken into a far country. We recognize this branch as the peoples of the Book of Mormon, particularly the Nephites and Lamanites. We learn from verse 27 that Joseph of Egypt saw the latter-days and identified Joseph Smith2 as the Seer of the last dispensation and that his work in bringing forth The Book of Mormon would result in reclaiming all of scattered Israel.
All these promises from the Lord came only through the process of Study, Pray, and Obey as it was so powerfully exhibited in the lives of Joseph of Egypt and the Prophet Joseph Smith. The stories of both prophets vividly show the results of following the mantra Study, Pray, and Obey even while under great duress and in the case of Joseph Smith at the expense of his own life.
We are indebted to the Prophet Joseph Smith who through his efforts to Study, Pray, and Obey, The Joseph Smith Translation was created. It provided much of the foundation for his own learning for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the last days. Once again Joseph Smith has shown us that he was the Lord’s Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Translator.
