In Tune with the Music of Faith

BY ELDER QUENTIN L. COOK

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


God loves all His children. He wants all of them to return to Him. He desires everyone to be in tune with the sacred music of faith.

Introduction:

Write on Board: In Tune with the Music of Faith.

When I read the scriptures or talks, I try to pick of the essence of what is being said.  I try to understand what I am reading in context of the whole gospel.  I try to picture in my minds eye what the people were really like that are being described in the scriptures I am reading. For example, Alma 1 reads:

19 But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ.
20 Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price.

Say:  Here I learn the community of believers in Alma's time were persecuted with words.  But, they were humble and bouyed each other up the word of God.  Let's read some more:

21 Now there was a strict law among the people of the church, that there should not any man, belonging to the church, arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church, and that there should be no persecution among themselves.
22 Nevertheless, there were many among them who began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite one
another with their fists.

Say: Here I learn that not everybody could withstand the persecution.  Some began to be proud and began to contend warmly with their adversaries even to the point of physical blows.

Let's read on:

23 Now this was in the second year of the reign of Alma, and it was a cause of much affliction to the church; yea, it was the cause of much trial with the church.
24 For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God. And also many withdrew themselves from among them.
25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them.

Say: Many left the church because of the persecution.  Their hearts were hardened.  But, there was another group, a patient group.  Let's read about this group:

27 And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.
28 And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again, notwithstanding all their persecutions.
29 And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth.
30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.

Say: When I read these scriptures, I ask myself, is this how I live?  Is this how we live together as a community of believers?  What do I need to do to participate more fully, walking by faith, filled with the love of God?

Say: Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teach a fundamental requirement for the development of Christian Communities (we call them wards and stakes of Zion).

Read A

A  Finally, there are those who are in tune with the music of faith. You know who you are. You love the Lord and His gospel and continuously try to live and share His message, especially with your families. You are in harmony with the promptings of the Spirit, have awakened to the power of God’s word, have religious observance in your homes, and diligently try to live Christlike lives as His disciples.

Q:  From what was just read, what does it mean to be in tune with the music of faith? (spirit, awakening, religious observance (q:), live Christlike lives)

Say: Brethren, we just a few verses in the Book of Mormon.
Q: Why is the Book of Mormon so important to us in getting in tune?

Q: Can we be out of tune but still do religious observances?

Say: Let's now discuss what make us out of tune?

Read B

B   We also recognize that many individuals are not in tune with sacred things. Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks of England, speaking to Roman Catholic leaders last December at the Pontifical Gregorian University, noted how secular some parts of the world have become. He stated that one culprit is “an aggressive scientific atheism tone deaf to the music of faith.”

Q: Is this aggressive scientific atheism something for us to be concerned about?

Read C

C   The great introductory vision in the Book of Mormon is Lehi’s prophetic dream of the tree of life. This vision starkly describes the challenges to faith that exist in our day and the great divide between those who love, worship, and feel accountable to God and those who do not. Lehi explains some of the conduct that destroys faith. Some are proud, vain, and foolish. They are interested only in the so-called wisdom of the world. Others have some interest in God but are lost in worldly mists of darkness and sin. Some have tasted of the love of God and His word but feel ashamed because of those mocking them and fall away into “forbidden paths.”

Q: What is the essence of the great divide or gulf that separates this in tune and those that are not?

Alma 12:11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell. (they lost what they knew)

Q: Is the divide getting greater?
Q: What conduct destroys faith (write on board)

Read D

D  It needs to be taught and understood that we love and respect all of the people whom Lehi described. Remember, it is not up to us to judge. Judgment is the Lord’s. President Thomas S. Monson has specifically asked us to have the “courage to refrain from judging others.”

Q: Can we be in state of Christ-like discipleship while we are judging others

Read E

E  We acknowledge that there are members who are less interested in and less faithful to some of the Savior’s teachings. Our desire is for these members to awaken fully to faith and increase their activity and commitment. God loves all His children. He wants all of them to return to Him. He desires everyone to be in tune with the sacred music of faith. The Savior’s Atonement is a gift for everyone.

Q: Can we apply this idea of being less interested and less faithful to ourselves?
Q: What are some of the things you do stay in tune? (write on board)

Read F

F   Clearly, a dividing line between those who hear the music of faith and those who are tone-deaf or off-key is the active study of the scriptures. I was deeply touched years ago that a beloved prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, emphasized the need to continually read and study the scriptures. He said: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”

Q: How many of you have this experience?
Say:  I liked the Mark Twain story.  Let's read it:

Read G

G  The Book of Mormon is of seminal importance. There will, of course, always be those who underestimate the significance of or even disparage this sacred book. Some have used humor. Before I served a mission, a university professor quoted Mark Twain’s statement that if you took “And it came to pass” out of the Book of Mormon, it “would have been only a pamphlet.”

Read H

H  In addition, when we inculcate into our lives scriptural imperatives and live the gospel, we are blessed with the Spirit and taste of His goodness with feelings of joy, happiness, and especially peace.

Read I

I  Please understand that having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His commandments are and always will be the defining test of mortality. Above all else, each of us must realize that when one is tone-deaf to the music of faith, he or she is out of tune with the Spirit. As the prophet Nephi taught, “Ye have heard his voice … ; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words.”

Q: As each of us grows in our Christian discipleship and becomes more and more in tune with the music of faith, what happens to the church collectively?


4 Nephi reads:

3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift....
15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land.

Conclusion:  I believe it is possible live and work together in unity and peace and establish Zion.  But, I believe it happens on person at a time.  As we all catch the vision - in tune with music of faith - our little community become increasingly blessed by the Lord and as stated in the verses just read, "surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God."


The End.