In January 1986 Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve met with some 66 stake presidents and taught, "Brethren, these are the words you must remember and must teach to your people." . . . He then taught the power of the restored gospel that is in the six words that follow.

If you were to compact the power of the restored gospel into six words, which words would you choose?

The words Elder Packer emphasized, and taught that we should emphasize in our teaching and in our lives, can be said to constitute the roots of the tree of life. If the roots are in sound condition and are nourished, the fruits will take care of themselves.

Paul spoke of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance [self-control]. There are others, many others: chastity, honesty, courage, virtue, and many more, and they are the fruits of exercising our agency in living the restored gospel. But first we have to know before we can obey.

Note that love is a fruit, more than it is a root. Faith also. . . . If we tended an orchard or a vineyard it would be a mistake to climb a ladder to pour needed living water on the fruits in order for them to grow and produce. No, the living water is needed at the roots. This is an obvious fact of agriculture, and a less obvious truth in the agriculture of the soul. . . . We get good fruits by nurturing the roots.

What are the roots? Elder Packer's six words, to be "remembered and to be taught" are: doctrine . . . covenants . . . ordinances . . . priesthood . . . revelation . . . scripture, all of which surely qualify as the roots of the power that is in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Each of those words is centered in Jesus Christ. Consider: "the doctrine of Christ" as found in the Book of Mormon. Indeed all "true doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior" and brings us unto Christ.

Every ordinance carries a covenant. The ordinances and covenants---from baptism and sacrament to the ordinances of the House of the Lord---are designed to teach us of, and to bring us to Christ.

It takes priesthood keys and authority to perform the ordinances. Indeed the priesthood itself is the power of God, and is the "Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God" (see D&C 107:1--4), so it derives from and leads to Jesus Christ.

Revelation comes by the Holy Ghost whose role and function is to reveal, teach, and testify of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (see Ether 12:41; John 14). The basic revelation that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (see Matthew 16:16--17) we call a testimony, and comes through the Holy Ghost by revelation to each individual who conforms to the truth in hungering and thirsting after righteousness. It is not an automatic or a casual thing.

All scripture is given to testify of Jesus Christ, as we discussed last week.

So, these six words from Elder Packer, see how they interconnect and focus us on Jesus Christ and His restored gospel! The world is more or less familiar with these words, but the revelations of the Restoration open them up to us in a way that the world cannot guess at. As we plant these root words in the soil of our souls they bring forth rich fruit.

One illustration: we spoke last week of Joseph of Egypt and of how he was a prototype of Christ. One of Joseph's actions confirms and illustrates all we are saying here about these six words and roots and fruits.

In Genesis 39:9 we find Joseph resisting the advances of Potiphar's wife to lie with her (verse 7). He resists with these words: " . . . thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

Do you see the doctrine? . . . The covenant? . . . Joseph does not say, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against Potiphar." Nor does he say, " . . . and sin against my father Israel who taught me never to do that wickedness." Nor against the wife herself, . . . but against God. This is a covenant matter; it is good doctrine. It is a root of chaste conduct, which conduct is the fruit.

We do not effectively teach chastity by speaking about chastity. Chastity, morality of any kind, is a fruit of strong belief in sound doctrine, of covenant promises and obligations that are only available through priesthood ordinances. The scriptures teach these truths, and they come to us by revelation even in the very hour we need them if they are planted deep enough in our soil . . . But if we rely on the philosophies of men, or on a social gospel, we and Joseph of Egypt, the father of our tribe would not have the power of the gospel to shield and protect us.

What a blessing it is to have these truths at our disposal! It would be a gross error to dispose of them by neglect. Let's get them so deep into our souls that they come out in our character, and in our countenances, and in our teaching. . . . We are all teachers.

More later. Warmest regards,

Steve