Edward Dube

(black text is the original talk; all yellow highlights are things I am commenting on;All blue text are my thoughts and are my opinions only and do not represent the official position of the speaker or the church.)

Look Ahead and Believe

By Elder Edward Dube
Of the Seventy

In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done or where we have been but much more where we are willing to go.

While I was a boy working in the fields with my mother, she taught me one of the most important lessons in life. It was late in the morning, the sun was up, and we had been hoeing for what I thought to be a very long time. I stopped to look back at what we had accomplished and said to my mother, “Look at all we have done!” Mother did not respond. Thinking that she had not heard me, I repeated what I had said a little louder. She still did not reply. Raising my voice a little higher, I repeated again. Finally, she turned to me and said, “Edward, never look back. Look ahead at what we still have to do.” It can be motivating to look back at how far you have come. But the temptation will come to stop there. Looking back only serves it's purpose to fight discouragement; that you are getting nowhere in your climb to the top. But you must turn your face forward and press on. My guess, is that as a boy, he was wanting to look back to say "we have done enough; let's quit"

My dear brothers and sisters, the covenant a promise you chose to make we made with the Lord when we were baptized, “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in” we agreed it doesn't matter when, what, or where (Mosiah 18:9), is a lifelong commitment.  we promise that we'll never get tired or say we are "done". President Dieter F. Uchtdorf counseled, “Those who have entered the waters of baptism and received the gift of the Holy Ghost have set their feet on the path of discipleship and are charged to follow steadily and fully in the footsteps of our Savior” we don't pick and choose, we don't take "vacations" from that path (“Saints for All Seasons,” Ensign or Liahona, Sept. 2013, 5). The Lord through His servants calls us to serve in various callings, some harder than others, some more fun which we accept with total commitment. TOTAL...no half-hearted, head-hanging-down, "if I have to" or "no big deal" acceptance speeches When a release has been extended and a call in a different assignment has been issued, we joyfully accept it, keep the big picture in mind...who are you serving?  knowing, as our forebearers  what is he thinking of here, specifically, with our forebearers? What are the pioneer stories of saints who had this vision of "serving where they were called"? knew, that “in the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how” (J. Reuben Clark Jr., in Conference Report, Apr. 1951, 154). It seems at first that he is making two separate statement here. First; be committed to standing as a witness of Christ your whole life. Second; accept church callings. But they are in the same paragraph, so I believe he is teaching us about church service. You don't get to sit on the back bench because you are older. You don't refuse a calling in the nursery because you've been a stake president or bishop. In any calling you have the opportunity to express your love for the Savior and your witness of Him. The "all places" you may be asked to stand in may not be the place you would choose; or you may have "stood" there many times before and seek to "stand" somewhere different. But that is not our covenant. We promise to stand where we are called. As the "calls" change we let go and start anew with joy in the knowledge we are "steadily and fully" following the Savior's example. This explains his opening story. Are you tempted to say, "Look how much I've done" to justify not serving in a calling?

Thus when a stake president or a bishop is released, he joyfully accepts his release, and when a calling is extended to serve in any way which the Lord, through His servants, “seeth fit” (Mosiah 3:19), he is not overshadowed by his previous experience, nor does he look back and think that he has served enough. He is “not weary in well-doing,” because he knows that he is “laying the foundation of a great work” with a clear vision that such efforts bless lives for eternity. Thus “out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). I wonder what experiences he's heard of that motivated this example. I have not heard of this happening. But maybe he chose the extremes of the spectrum to show that it applies to all. I always think of the prophets when people think they have "done enough". These men, according to the world, should be out golfing and fishing. But instead, they running a worldwide church, preparing talk after talk...maybe working harder than ever before.

We should all be “anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [our] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness” (D&C 58:27). we should be "eagerly occupied" with the business of bringing to pass much good...just because we want to:)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled: “The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers take these forward with you to spark new fires of learning from glowing experiences but not the ashes. don't hang on to the ashes; what is lost, broken, or gone And when we have learned what we need to learn "when" suggests a beginning and an end. Go ahead and look at the past; learn what is needed; then move forward. and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future” (“The Best Is Yet to Be,” Ensign, Jan. 2010, 24; or Liahona, Jan. 2010, 18). (see also "Remember Lot's Wife")

While my mother’s lesson of looking ahead was directed toward the visible weeds in the field, that challenge was minor in comparison to what the early Saints Elder Hales just referenced the trials of the early saints. Listen and learn how to get through what is coming...went through. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin described this experience so well: “In 1846, more than 10,000 [people] left the thriving city [of Nauvoo] that had been built on the banks of the Mississippi River. With faith in prophetic leaders, those early Church members left their ‘City Beautiful’ and struck off into the wilderness of the American frontier. They did not know exactly where they were going, precisely how many miles lay ahead, how long the journey would take, or what the future held in store for them. But they did know they were led by the Lord and His servants” (“Faith of Our Fathers,” Ensign, May 1996, 33). I believe we will be asked to do the same. Will you be able to do it?

They knew how it was to look ahead and believe. what were they looking ahead to and what did they believe? A decade and a half earlier, some of these members were present when a revelation was received: What revelation did we receive 15 years ago? Did you look ahead? Did you believe? Pres. Hinckley was heard to have said, "I believe I will be remembered as 'the prophet that nobody listened to'....kind of makes you want to go back and read what he warned us about...We were supposed to have heard him then, looked ahead, and believed, and acted. Did you?

“For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.Keep the commandments...no matter what..."and should we die, before our journey's through...happy day...all is well. We then, are free from toil and sorry too, with the just we shall dwell."

“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation” (D&C 58:2–3). I think we should all memorize this verse..

We too can look ahead and believe. We can embrace the invitation instead of complaining about the trial, welcome the invitation of the Lord. What does He invite us to do? of our Lord, who with stretched-open hands invites us:

“Come unto me, "come"...remember the opening hymn? all ye that labour and are heavy laden, description of those in tribulation and I will give you rest. how does He give you this rest?

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. See the talk before this one on "meekness"...

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30). I always think of this scripture when people quote: "I never said it would be easy; I only said it would be worth it." Then I go, "Yes, He DID say it would be easy!" We have no idea how "hard" we make our lives with the our incorrect views; our natural man reactions to others. What could be easier than a life where you have on the armor of God and the sword of truth!

Our dear prophet, President Thomas S. Monson; his counselors; and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have extended an invitation I personally take all "invitations" from the prophet to be the "word of the Lord", which makes it a commandment, which I have covenanted to obey...for us all to participate in the work of salvation. This is not a new "invitation", but the means we have to accomplish it and the hearts that are prepared to receive the gospel in this "time of hastening" IS new! The new converts, youth, young adults, those who have retired from their professions, and full-time missionaries need to be equally yoked "carry the load together" in hastening the work of salvation. Interesting list: no mention of the age group between 30 and 65 (unless you are a convert). However he began by saying "all" so I don't think he means to exclude them. What is special about the groups listed? Enthusiasm, energy, or time. The 30 - 65 age group are probably more fully engaged in raising families and work?

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, once attended an ox pulling contest, where he drew out an analogy. He said of the experience: “A wooden sledge was weighted with cement blocks: ten thousand pounds [4,535 kg]—five tons. … The object was for the oxen to move the sledge three feet [91 cm]. … I noticed a well-matched pair of very large, brindled, blue-gray animals … [the] big blue oxen of seasons past.”

In speaking about the result of the contest, he said: “Teams were eliminated one by one. … The big blue oxen didn’t even place! A small, nondescript pair of animals, not very well matched for size, moved the sledge all three times.”

He was then given an explanation to the surprising outcome: “The big blues were larger and stronger and better matched for size than the other team. But the little oxen had better teamwork and coordination. They hit the yoke together. Members are all so different. You may feel unequal to someone else. Yet, with teamwork and coordination, we can "hit" this task to share the gospel together, right now, at exactly the same time, and move a seemingly impossible load. Pres. Monson just announced church membership reached 15 million. Wait til next October...I bet it will be 30 million! Both animals jerked forward at exactly the same time and the force moved the load” (“Equally Yoked Together,” address delivered at regional representatives’ seminar, Apr. 3, 1975; in Teaching Seminary: Preservice Readings [2004], 30).

As we look ahead and believe, Seriously!  Believe what you are being told and asked to do! Believe that this very day is as historic a moment as the First Vision! I can hardly wrap my head around that one! Look ahead...the Savior IS coming! This is what you were saved for! You can do this! we need this same teamwork in hastening the work of salvation as we invite others to come unto Christ. In our individual capacities, we need to follow the counsel of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf to “stand close together and lift where we stand” I think that means to do your part, taking into account your age, energy, talents and means. But add some faith to where you stand..and don't just stand there...LIFT...right there where you are! (“Lift Where You Stand,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 56). We can tap our full potential, we live far below our privileges...just as was observed by Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve: “As I travel throughout the Church I marvel at all the positive things that are occurring. Yet I never feel that we, as a people, are living up to our real potential. My sense is that we do not always work together, that we are still too much interested in aspirations for personal honors and success, and show too little interest in the common goal of building the kingdom of God” So what gets in the way of us realizing our full potential? We do. Get out of your own way...get out of God's way. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God...not climbing the corporate ladder of success in that great and spacious corporate building that has no foundation that will surely fall... (“United in Building the Kingdom of God,” Ensign, May 1987, 35).

May we all unite in a common objective “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Zion...one heart...one mind...one objective...one truth.... We can still be a little ox and a big ox. We don't have to be the same ox...but we can get in the same yoke and hit the task together, at the same time, with all we have and it will work!

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, who sees from the beginning to the end, knew very well the road He would travel to Gethsemane and Golgotha when He proclaimed, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done or where we have been but much more where we are willing to go. This goes back to the accepting of callings example. Except...consider that the call could be anything...to go anywhere. Wait...we ALL just got a calling to BE on a mission!  With your vision firmly fixed on preparing the world for the Second Coming, and determined to keep your covenants no matter what...then there is no where to go, but forward! Do not look back on the "easy" time of your "yesterday". The best is yet to be! We have to become a Zion people so we can build Zion so the Lord can return. Are you willing to become that? to go there? Don't look back...there is so much to do ahead of us...

Our guiding principles were taught to us by the Prophet Joseph Smith: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 49). This calls to mind Elder Hales talk where he says The Living Christ: Testimony of the Apostles was prepared for a time when we will really need it. It will need to be our "guiding principle" upon which "all other things are only appendages"

I testify that as we follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and raise our hands to the square with action in sustaining that means you believe he IS a prophet and speaks the mind and will of the Lord...so you WILL follow his lead our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, we will find peace, comfort, and joy, and we “shall eat the good of the land … in these last days” (D&C 64:34). In a day of rumors of war; natural disasters; and prophesied famine (not to mention Satan has been loosed on the earth) ...this is very comforting. I will follow the prophet. I will get in the yoke with the missionaries! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

IMPERATIVES 

• Look ahead at what we still have to do
• Do not look back at your accomplishments to justify stopping your progress
• Keep your covenant to stand as a witness of God, at all times, in all things and in all places...in any calling
• Follow fully and steadily, the footsteps of the Savior...accept any calling
• Accept callings to serve, with total committment
• Accept releases joyfully 
• Be not weary in well-doing; lay the foundation of a great work; out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
• Be “anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [your] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness”
• Learn from the past; do not live in it
• Look ahead and believe
• Remember: Faith is always pointed toward the future
• Lessons from the early Saints:
• have faith in prophetic leaders
• be willing to leave your "City Beautiful"
• be willing to go into the wilderness, with faith, not knowing where, how far, how long, or what the future holds
• Know you are led by the Lord and His servants!
• Keep the commandments in life or death
• Be faithful in tribulation 
• Embrace the invitation of the Lord to 
• come unto Him
• take His yoke upon you
• learn of Him
• be meek and lowly of heart
• find rest unto your soul
• Participate in the work of salvation
• Work as a team: member and missionary, to hasten the work of salvation
• Invite others to come unto Christ
• Stand close together and lift where you stand with our individual capacity
• Tap your full potential
• Unite in the common objective to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" 
• Have as your guiding principle, the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ.

  DOCTRINAL INSIGHTS

• In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done or where we have been but much more where we are willing to go.
• The covenant we made with the Lord when we were baptized, “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in” is a lifelong commitment.
• In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how 
• In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done or where we have been but much more where we are willing to go.
• “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it”

  PROMISES

• “For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and  
• he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven. 
• “Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation” (D&C 58:2–3).
• “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls...For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”
• As you follow the example of the Savior, and sustain the prophet, you will find peace, comfort, and joy, and you “shall eat the good of the land … in these last days”

  WARNINGS 

• “As I travel throughout the Church I marvel at all the positive things that are occurring. Yet I never feel that we, as a people, are living up to our real potential. My sense is that we do not always work together, that we are still too much interested in aspirations for personal honors and success, and show too little interest in the common goal of building the kingdom of God”(Perry)
• “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).