August 2006 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

52
when you say: “You will know after you decide! It takes an
exercise of faith. You may not know at first and have that
firm conviction, but it will come.”
The Word of Wisdom
Surely you can understand where the Word of Wisdom
fits into this. How significant it is, “given for a principle with
promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest
of all saints, who are or can be called saints” (D&C 89:3).
This principle comes with a promise: “Run and not be
weary, . . . walk and not faint” (D&C 89:20). That is desirable.
But there is a more important promise: “And shall find
wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even
hidden treasures” (D&C 89:19).
Can you see the necessity of the Word of
Wisdom? We press our people, almost beg our
people, to behave themselves, to keep their
spiritual person in tune so that they can have
the reception of the Holy Ghost. Your body is
the instrument of your mind and spirit. You
must take proper care of it.
Never Will Fall Away
If people are properly taught, they never
will fall away: “And as sure as the Lord
liveth [that is an oath], so sure as many as
believed, or as many as were brought to
the knowledge of the truth, through the
preaching of Ammon and his brethren,
according to the spirit of revelation
and of prophecy, and the power of
God working miracles in them—yea,
I say unto you, as the Lord liveth
[a second oath], as many
of the Lamanites as
believed in their preaching, and
were converted unto the Lord,
never did fall away” (Alma
23:6; emphasis added).
Those who have been
taught and who receive
“As many of the
Lamanites as
believed . . . and
were converted
unto the Lord,
never did fall
away.”
the gift of the Holy Ghost, the baptism of fire, will never
fall away. They will be connected to the Almighty, who will
guide them in their lives.
The Comforter
You never need to feel or be alone:
“I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; . . .
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you”
(John 14:16, 18).
“The field is white already to harvest; wherefore, thrust
in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind, and
strength.
“Open your mouths and they shall be
filled. . . .
“Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and
you shall be laden with sheaves upon your
backs, for lo, I am with you” (D&C 33:7–9).
The baptismal prayer given in the Book of
Mormon states:
“These are the words which ye shall
say, calling them by name, saying:
“Having authority given me of
Jesus Christ, I baptize you in
the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen” (3 Nephi
11:24–25).
I bear witness of these
words and of these Names. I
invoke the blessings of the Lord
upon you as an Apostle of the
Lord Jesus Christ to the end
that His Spirit will be with
you, and you will understand
and can move forward accompanied
by that power of the
Holy Ghost. ■
From an address given on June 24,
2003, at a seminar for new mission
presidents, Missionary Training Center,
Provo, Utah.
THE ANTI-NEPHI-LEHIES BURYING THEIR SWORDS, BY DEL PARSON, MAY NOT BE COPIED