To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

In the 15th Chapter of I Samuel we read: "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." It is in pursuit of my calling as a minister of the gospel, as a missionary in the Church of Jesus Christ, that I stand here in obedience to the call that has come, to bear my testimony. ¶

To me there is nothing in life comparable with the feeling, the faith, the knowledge that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. To feel and know without a doubt that one hundred years ago this spring ¶

God in his mercy to his children opened the heavens and permitted the great truth of his personality and the truths of his gospel, his plan of salvation, to be made known to the children of men, is a real blessing. To me the joy of working and preaching that gospel in the world is beyond anything earth offers. The joy, the satisfaction, the great pleasure of being a missionary, a bearer of his word to the peoples of the world, to know the responsibility of working with the young men and the young women of Zion in preaching this great gospel message is a rare privilege. ¶

I say, my brethren and sisters, to obey is better than sacrifice. It is the obeying of the call, not the sacrifice that is made, that makes these men and these women mighty. When God gives a command, that command has a purpose. I read in the holy scriptures that, "Though be were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered, and, being made perfect, he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." ¶

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the biggest thing in the world today. A testimony of that gospel is the most precious possession that a human soul can have. To stand up and bear that testimony is the greatest privilege that comes to any Latter-day Saint. Unto you, my brethren and sisters, unto every member of this Church and especially to those who have been specifically designated to be missionaries is the great responsibility of declaring to the world that God has spoken from the heavens in these the last days. There is nothing under heaven to compare with it. What is wealth, what is position, what is influence, if in gaining these things you jeopardize your place with God? I say, unto you, my brethren and sisters, is this responsibility given. ¶

The command has come to you. You must obey, there is no other way under heaven whereby you can be saved. There is no other name under heaven whereby you may obtain salvation. Knowing this to be a fact, and being spurred on by the testimonies that have been borne during this conference, dare you stand back, dare you let the adversary conquer you, dare you let pass any opportunity to declare that God has spoken from the heavens in these the last days? I declare to you as a servant of the Lord, as a missionary in his great cause, that nothing that you will ever possess will give you the satisfaction of retaining, by righteous living, by obedience to his law, by obedience and respect to the Priesthood, that testimony which has been given you, and which has been greatly strengthened during this conference. God bless you. Amen. ¶