The Lords Why | thoughts_from_an

The Lords Why

Moses 1:39 gives us the explanation of why the Lord does everything He does! "For this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Such a strong doctrinal statement, the Lord loves us so much that He gives us everything, so that we can- 1) have immortality, and 2) have eternal life!

Gospel Doctrines answer the question of “why?” For example, Why does the Lord do all that He does? Immortality and Eternal Life of Man, therefore it is the Lords Why Statement. To explain that, your why statement should be: simple and clear, actionable, focused on how you will contribute to others, and expressed in affirmative language that resonates with you. It should also be “evergreen”, meaning that it should resonate with everything you do, both personally and professionally. Because everything the Lord has given us, done for us, and will continue to do for us is to bring us back to Him, it is the very definition of His "why" statement.

For clarity on the statement Immortality and Eternal Life, I share the following by Elder Joseph B Wirthlin, who explained the difference between Immortality and Eternal Life this way-

"Bringing to pass immortality is essentially a work of creation. God speaks, and worlds are formed. At the culmination of this work, man is placed upon the earth to learn, be tested, and gain experience.

Because of the sacrifice of the Son of God, the hour will come when “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

"Eternal life is “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7). Eternal life is the culmination of existence. As spiritual children of God, you and I are heirs to this priceless fortune, benefactors to a glorious future, recipients of grace.

If immortality is God’s work, then eternal life is God’s glory. However, eternal life does not come automatically. We must purge our hearts of evil and fill them with the desire to do good continually. Our Heavenly Father, with love that is scarcely within our power to comprehend, desires more than just our immortality. He desires each of us to partake of this greatest of all gifts: eternal life."

You can clearly see the difference between the two that Elder Wirthlin is describing. The question is, what do you do now?? How does this information help us while we are here on this earth? We have to start by looking at the Character of our Heavenly Father. Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “To gain salvation, men must come unto the Father, attain the faith that he exercises, and be as he is. Christ has done so; he is both a saved being and the perfect and only illustration of what others must do to gain like inheritances and be joint-heirs with him. He is thus the way to the Father; no man cometh unto the Father but by him and by his word. He is our Mediator, Advocate, and Intercessor, all because he wrought out the perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. Through him, and through him only, fallen men may be reconciled to God if they repent and work righteousness.

Christ and his Father are one. They possess the same powers, are of the same character, embody the same attributes, and stand as beacons to all others with reference to the same eternal perfections. The words and acts of one are the words and acts of the other. The Father was in Christ manifesting himself to the world. Hence, faith in the Son is faith in the Father. And as Christ is the way to the Father, faith centers in him and in his redeeming sacrifice and goes thereby to the Father." Our Heavenly Father is a man of perfect moral character, he has good values. Values are the core beliefs and principles that guide our actions and decisions. They shape our behavior and determine how we interact with others.

In order for us to receive all that our Heavenly Father has, and obtain Eternal Life with Him, we must align ourselves with the Lords Why statement! Aligning why we do all that we do, and your values with the Lords, offers numerous benefits for both you and other ward members. Let's explore some of these benefits:

Authenticity: When your actions align with your values, you are perceived as authentic and genuine. This authenticity builds trust and credibility within your ward or stake, making it easier to influence and motivate others. There is no place for anything but honesty, truthfulness, integrity, and authenticity in the church. These values are all of the Lord!
Membership Engagement: Values-based leadership fosters a sense of purpose and meaning among members. When members feel that their work aligns with their values and the organization's values, they are more engaged and committed to the work of the Lord. It is possible to have more that just the Same Ten People (STP) to perform 80% of the work! Work with each other, teach each other, love one another and the overall engagement will increase.
Retention: A values-driven culture attracts and retains top talent. Members who share the same values as the church organization are more likely to stay and contribute to its success. This will drive retention of all membership. How wonderful would it be to see people get baptized or return from inactivity and enjoy being there!? Change the culture to one of caring and compassion, one of ministering as the Savior would, and they will!
Moral Cleanliness: When faced with difficult decisions, your values can serve as a guide. By making decisions that align with your values, you can ensure the spirit will guide you in making the hard decisions. You will have personal peace because the adversary will have no control over you!
Organizational Alignment: When leaders and members share the same values, it creates alignment throughout the organization. This alignment promotes collaboration and enhances the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the church organization. Could you imagine how powerful it would be if we all were in perfect alignment with the Lord? We would have created another City of Enoch and we would all have been translated!

I have a testimony that by aligning ourselves with the Lord, we can become truly converted to the Lord and His gospel. Elder Bednar stated, "True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ and to act in His doctrine." We can become more Christlike and receive our Heavenly Father. "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." (D&C 84: 35-38)

Bishop Scott J Carroll's WHY Statement:

"To do all in my power to work for the Lord, aiding Him in His efforts to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"