We will be examined on what we did to build the kingdom

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood Session of the October 1985 Conference.

 

There were two talks I liked from this conference that were a bit different from the usual sort of talk. One was a talk by an astronaut, Don Lind. He told about taking the sacrament in space! Did you know anyone had ever done that? I didn't. His talk wasn't doctrinally dense or anything, but if you like astronauts and space like I do, you will find it interesting to read!

The other talk was a Q and A with President Hinckley—he answered some questions that people had written in. One of the questions was about critics of the church, and I thought it was good partly because it was so perfectly President Hinckley-ish (I could just hear his voice saying this!) and partly because it still applies so well today! Here's what he said:

[Question]: What about the critics of the Church who have been so vocal of late? 

[Answer]: We have them. We have always had them. They are not as vociferous as they once were. Noisy as they are, they are not as threatening. People ask whether we are fearful of research of our history. My reply to this is no, of course not, provided it is done with balance and integrity, as has been done by some scholars both in and out of the Church. 

However, we are under no obligation to spend tithing funds to provide facilities and resources to those who have demonstrated that it is their objective to attack the Church and undermine its mission. These funds are sacred. They have been consecrated by the faithful to advance the work, and that is the way they will be used. 

Our responsibility is to teach the gospel to the nations of the earth, to bear witness of the reality of God our Eternal Father, to declare the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, to testify that Their work has been restored in this dispensation for the accomplishment of Their eternal purposes, and to move that work forward under the mandate given us. This will require our time, our energies, and the resources available to us. 

When we are called before the bar of God to give an accounting of our performance, I think it unlikely that any of us will be commended for wearing out our lives in an effort to find some morsel of history, incomplete in its context, to cast doubt on the integrity of this work. Rather, I believe we will be examined on what we did to build the kingdom, to bring light and understanding of the eternal truths of the gospel to the eyes and minds of all who are willing to listen, to care for the poor and the needy, and to make of the world a better place as a result of our presence.

Isn't that a great summary of what really matters in life? I love it. It makes me excited about the upcoming General Conference next week, when we will get to hear prophets remind us what is most important for us to be doing with our time and energy right now. I always feel like I need their counsel so desperately and I am glad the time is finally almost here!