What a blessing it is to know that, in addition to having the firm objective of bringing to pass “the immortality and eternal life”1 of His children and allowing them to live with Him2, God also desires to provide for His saints during our mortal state3.
These manifestations of commitment on the part of our Heavenly Father should be sufficient to increase our faith and our hope that it is possible to have enough both for our spiritual and temporal needs. All things are within our reach; there is nothing that He has retained for himself. In fact, the Prophet Joseph Smith said that everything that the Father hath will be given to us4.
But how is this possible? How can I achieve eternal life, or enjoy all that the Lord wants to give me? How can I receive all things?
The prophet Moroni tells us that we receive nothing until after the trial of our faith5.
The Savior said to the father of the child with an unclean spirit, “all things are possible to him that believeth.”6
Faith is an indispensable principle to receive all the spiritual and temporal blessings that are at our disposal but remember that faith without works is dead7. However great our desire to achieve the promises of the Lord, we can only enjoy them if we seek them with all our “mights, minds, and strength.”8, being diligent in all things9. Otherwise, we would be unwise servants 10 and deny ourselves joy in this life and in eternity.
This is how, through the atonement of Christ, we have within our reach the opportunity to cleanse ourselves of our sins, find strength for our weaknesses, and have a hope that we will live with Him. But, His sacrifice cannot help us if we do not try to live worthily and persevere to the end11.
During his recent visit to the Caribbean Area, President Russell M. Nelson invited us to keep the commandments. This invitation is not new, but is a simple and direct invitation from our Heavenly Father through His prophet for each of the saints in the entire Caribbean area to be faithful and receive the promise that “inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land.”12 My brothers and sisters, I believe that this is the most direct path to self-sufficiency.
I testify that this earth and everything in it have been created by our Heavenly Father to bless His children. These blessings are contingent upon striving to be worthy and diligent. God has done His part, the rest falls on each one of us.
I know that Jesus Christ lives and is our Redeemer and Savior and that He is at the right hand of our Father watching over the welfare of each of His children.
- Moses 1:39
- John 14:2-3
- D&C 104:15
- D&C 84:38
- Ether 12:6
- Mark 9:23
- James 2:17
- D&C 20:31
- D&C 103:6
- D&C 58:26
- D&C 14:7
12. 2 Nephi 1:20