The Holy One
In the scripture it is written:
“O . . . my beloved brethren, . . . the way for man is
narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the
gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is
none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord
God is his name” (2 Ne. 9:41).
Salvation and exaltation, I believe, are not matters of
heavenly bookkeeping, but of the qualifying of the soul that comes with knowing
the Lord.
. . .
Each of us will enjoy all of God’s blessings that we are
willing to receive.
But how do we manifest that willingness? A prophet
answers: “How knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a
stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?”
(Mosiah 5:13).
We know and choose him and enjoy his blessings through
serving him, through qualifying for his friendship, and by keeping him always
in our hearts and minds. In our afflictions and gropings and forebodings we
turn to him for comfort and support. He is always accessible to those who seek
him.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
“Lo, I am with you alway,” he said, “even unto the end of
the world” (Matt. 28:20).
“I will not leave you comfortless” (John 14:18).
He understands our infirmities and pressures and
problems. Better than any other, he understands how it is to feel all alone.
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt.
27:46).
. . .
Choose him—and love
We have two great challenges, you and I, and the
challenge never ends as long as breath lasts: to choose him and to love each
other. Then we may be sure we will know him in this world and at last in that
kingdom which is not of this world, where “God is with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them,
and be their God.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:3–4).
God bless us that we may meet the test, in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen. (Marion D. Hanks, "Willing
to Receive," General Conference [April 1980])
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