Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
In these chapters we see the love of the prophets for their people, and the heartache they feel when the people choose not to follow the Lord. “Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren. But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren.” (Helaman 7:7-9) The prophets never stop begging us to Remember the Lord, “Ye uncircumcised of heart, ye blind, and ye stiffnecked people, do ye know how long the Lord your God will suffer you that ye shall go on in this your way of sin?” (Helaman 9:21) “We can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.” (Helaman 12:1)
The prophet Joseph Smith said “Say nothing but repentance unto this generation.” Because repentance is what aligns our will with the Lord’s will, who better to have as the captain of our lives than the Lord? Repentance is a gift. Russell M. Nelson in his recent talk, “We Can Do better and Be better”, gives us an inspiring explanation of repentance. It changes the way repentance feels and looks when we understand the true purpose. “Too many people consider repentance as punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered by Satan. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ, who stands with open arms, hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purify, and sanctify us….The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means “change.” The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean “mind,” “knowledge,” “spirit,” and “breath.”
Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to “repent,” He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies…Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day…We need to do better and be better because we are in a battle. The battle with sin is real. The adversary is quadrupling his efforts to disrupt testimonies and impede the work of the Lord. He is arming his minions with potent weapons to keep us from partaking of the joy and love of the Lord.” This is why all prophets from the beginning of time have preached repentance, because they know it is the number one agent to keeping us on the covenant path. “O repent ye, repent ye!” (Helaman 7:17) “Blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved.” ( Helaman 12:23) “And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.” (Helaman 12:25)
We can put our trust in the prophet and his calling to receive revelation for the Lord’s church. “The Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be.” (Helaman 7:29) “Declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people.” (Helaman 10:4) “I command you, that ye shall go and declare unto this people, that thus saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty: Except ye repent ye shall be smitten, even unto destruction.” (Helaman 10:11) Each prophet —past, present, and future— has devoted his life to the work of the Lord. It has been through sacrifice, devotion, and perseverance that they have come to a point where the Lord knows their hearts are pure and righteous and ready to guide His people. “Because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.” (Helaman 10:5) They hold the keys of the priesthood here on earth—to bless all of us, and to help us to return home to our Heavenly Father as families. “I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.” (Helaman 10:7)
“I have served under the keys and directions of six prophets and Church Presidents, from Spencer W. Kimball to Russell M. Nelson. I testify that each one of them was and is God’s chosen prophet. They have taught us essential principles about the Church and the gospel and doctrine of Christ. President Nelson is carrying the Lord’s work forward at a breathtaking pace. I say “breathtaking” because he’s the only one of the Apostles who is older than me, and I am having a difficult time keeping up with him! I am a witness that the priesthood keys and the mantle of a prophet of God are upon him. President Nelson teaches the true, pure, and simple gospel of Jesus Christ. I bear my testimony that Jesus is the Christ and this is His Church—of which I testify humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” -M. Russell Ballard (April 2019)
-Written by Sherri Jorgensen
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