Be Hung High Above The Pacific Within...

I always feel most humble as I stand before a body of men who hold the priesthood. The priesthood of God is the power by which all things were done in the universe, but the priesthood that you hold is the power of God delegated to you to act in his name in the office to which you have been called. ¶

Just think what that means, the authority that is given to us, for the Lord has said to his elders that they may baptize an individual, and he is baptized; he is as much baptized as if the President of the Church had baptized him, or any of the Twelve. And when he is confirmed, it is of the same effect as if the Lord himself had confirmed him. And then when he is ordained a deacon, teacher, priest, elder, it is of the same effect. That authority is given to us, and with that authority goes a great responsibility. ¶

Keeping promises This evening I should like to address my remarks to the topic: the importance of keeping pledges. There are many kinds of pledges. Maybe some of you would think that the things I am listing here are not pledges. I say keeping an appointment is a pledge. You may not think it is very important, but keeping an appointment is important, and that is a good place to start to learn to keep pledges. I should hate to miss my appointment when I leave this frail existence, and be found someplace for which I hope I am not preparing, just because I am late. ¶

To pay a bill or a note is a pledge that is very important; to keep one's word in anything one says or agrees to do is a pledge. When one joins the Church, he pledges certain things as he goes into the waters of baptism. When accepting the priesthood, we make a very definite covenant with the Lord. When partaking of the sacrament, we renew our covenants. Notice that I am using covenants, promises, and pledges interchangeably. ¶

When partaking of the sacrament, we renew those covenants. When accepting office in the Church, we agree to do certain things. We take upon ourselves certain covenants; we make certain pledges. You who have been to the temple know the covenants you make and the obligations you take upon yourselves. ¶

In home teaching, or any assignment that is given to us, if we accept that assignment, we certainly covenant with the Lord and the one who is giving the assignment that we will perform that duty. ¶

Honoring covenants Now some may emphasize one covenant or one requirement or one of the commandments; but we covenant to keep all the commandments when we join this Church, accept and are ordained to the priesthood. ¶

The Prophet spoke out clearly on Friday morning, telling us what our responsibilities are. He mentioned and spoke emphatically of liquor by the drink. A man said to me after that, "You know, there are people in our state who believe in following the Prophet in everything they think is right, but when it is something they think isn't right, and it doesn't appeal to them, then that's different." He said, "Then they become their own prophet. They decide what the Lord wants and what the Lord doesn't want." ¶

I thought how true, and how serious when we begin to choose which of the covenants, which of the commandments we will keep and follow. When we decide that there are some of them that we will not keep or follow, we are taking the law of the Lord into our own hands and become our own prophets, and believe me, we will be led astray, because we are false prophets to ourselves when we do not follow the Prophet of God. No, we should never discriminate between these commandments, as to those we should and should not keep. ¶

A man said to me just a few days ago — and he is a member of the Church and thinks he is a pretty good member, and I am not questioning him on that — but he said, "You know, this Church requires too much of its people. There isn't another church in the world that requires or demands as much of its people as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon Church." ¶

I said, "Brother, the Church doesn't demand anything of you. It offers you great opportunities and many privileges that are not given to any individual any place in the world other than through the Church of Jesus Christ. And the priesthood offers opportunities, privileges, and blessings that one can enjoy only as he accepts the rules and keeps the covenants upon which these privileges and blessings are predicated. You may choose what you wish to do in this Church, and you will be blessed accordingly. It is entirely up to you." But I added, "As far as I am concerned, brother, I would rather walk barefoot from here to the celestial kingdom and back into the presence of my Heavenly Father, if I can get there, than to let the things of this world keep me out." ¶

And I am serious about it. These privileges that are offered to us, holders of the priesthood, just cannot be evaluated. If we keep these covenants, we are blessed. As we go to the temple, we make those covenants that I mentioned before. And I would like to say to you men who hold the priesthood, just remember three words: keep the covenants. Now, anybody who is listening tonight, anybody who holds the priesthood, surely can remember three words: keep the covenants. ¶

The covenant of the priesthood I should like to read a covenant that I have read before in priesthood meeting; to me it is most important, the covenant that we make when we accept the priesthood. I shall read from the 84th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants: ¶

"For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. ¶

"They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. ¶

"And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; "For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; "And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; "And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. ¶

"And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. ¶

"Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved. ¶

"But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, . . ." is left on his own. (D&G 84:33-41.) Note that the Lord says (and I am not quoting word for word): "I cannot break this covenant, but if you break it there is no promise." Isn't it something to think about when the Lord says he cannot break a covenant that he makes with his people. That covenant stands as long as we will keep the covenant, but when we break the covenant, there is no covenant as far as the Lord is concerned. ¶

Honoring covenants brings blessings Referring to these covenants in the temple, I would like to say to you again, remember these three words: ¶

keep the covenants. And I think I am safe in saying to you that if you and your families will keep these covenants, you will be happy, you will be successful, you will be respected, you will have good families that you can take back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. All you will have to do is remember three words: keep the covenants, the obligations that you have taken upon yourselves, the pledges that you have made. Keep the covenants. ¶

Now among our fellowmen, neighbor to neighbor, it is important that we keep our covenants, our pledges, our agreements. A young man came to me not long ago and said, "I made an agreement with a man that requires me to make certain payments each year. I am in arrears, and I can't make those payments, for if I do, it is going to cause me to lose my home. What shall I do?" ¶

I looked at him and said, "Keep your agreement." ¶

"Even if it costs me my home?" ¶

I said, "I am not talking about your home. I am talking about your agreement; and I think your wife would rather have a husband who would keep his word, meet his obligations, keep his pledges or his covenants, and have to rent a home than to have a home with a husband who will not keep his covenants and his pledges." ¶

I don't know whether everyone here agrees with me or not; in fact, I am wondering. There are too many today, I feel, who are prepared to take the easy way out of paying their debts by not paying them and take whatever action is necessary to keep them free. ¶

It is important, brethren, that we keep our pledges and our covenants and keep our name good. A man's good name is worth more than any material thing he could have. ¶

Keep all covenants and promises And if it is important that we keep our covenants with our neighbor, with a man with whom we have made an agreement, how much more important it is that we keep the covenants that we make with our Heavenly Father when we hold the priesthood and accept office in this Church. ¶

Brethren, it is a pleasure to be with you, to join with you men of the priesthood; I feel most humble in your presence, and particularly do I feel humble when I realize that the body of the priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ is the only body that holds the power of God to act in his name in the office to which they have been called. And think of the responsibility that has been placed upon us to take this message to the world. We have been told by these two speakers tonight, Brother [Bernard P.] Brockbank and Brother [Arch L.J Madsen, how we are striving to make it possible for everyone to hear the gospel. Our lives, brethren, will help to determine how they receive it. ¶

A man told me that he was just about ready to accept the gospel when he met a particular LDS family. Then he said, "If that's the way your people live, I don't want to have anything to do with it." ¶

I want to bear you my testimony that I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is here in our midst; it has been restored. The priesthood has been restored and it is most important that we honor that priesthood. We are guided by a prophet, who has been called and given the authority and responsibility of directing our work here. May we follow him and keep the commandments of the Lord. May we choose to keep all the commandments, not those which we ourselves choose. May we accept the Prophet and not be our own false prophet, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. ¶

Amen. ¶