Presidency Message

Evaluating My Level of Spirituality
Carol J.

We are in competition with ourselves. - Niel Maxwell

Like a variety of the people from our scriptures, we can start off weak and become strong, perhaps even become weak again. Elaine Cannon from the November 1983 Ensign said "Spiritual maturity is understanding that we cannot blame anybody else for our actions. Some factors may make it harder for us to perform according to God's plan for us, but being accountable for how we use our agency means being answerable for our own behavior." It is easier to blame someone, or something else, than taking personal responsibility, but it isn't the right thing to do.

There are many indicators of having spirituality. Going to Church is an indicator of spirituality, but not always. How we treat others, meaning family or strangers, is another indicator. Using Jesus Christ as our example, praying to our Heavenly Father, listening and acting on the promptings of the Holy Ghost, serving, and keeping sacred covenants are all indicators of spirituality. In John 5 we learn that Jesus followed the Father. "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise (John 5:19). If we follow the Father, then we need to seek his will. As Jesus did, we need to submit to His will, and be obedient. Because of the obedience of the Son, He glorified the Father. "And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." Because of our obedience, it glorifies, and increases the light, of the Father.

Dallin H. Oaks said, "I don't want to do what I want to do. I want to do what thou would have me do." When we use our agency, we can do a lot of good, when we aren't told. If we have to be told, our spiritual progression stops. There is no true freedom without responsibility. We shouldn't be obedient because we are forced to, but because we want to, and have decided to obey our Father, and act upon the promptings of the Holy Ghost. With agency comes responsibility. We can choose to be obedient. It doesn't take long to figure out that making the good chose, and all of its circumstances, are better, and easier, than making wrong choices. When we choose the right, it frees us.