Sabbathought: Elder L. Tom Perry of the Twelve urges, "Teach the doctrine!"

In a Saturday evening session of stake conference in Spanish Fork tonight Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered a strong message to the adults of the stake: "Teach the doctrine! To members of the Church and to those of other faiths, teach the doctrine so they will be converted to Christ.

"If I were to go forth like Alma," said Elder Perry, "who left the judgment seat to Nephihah [see Alma 4:19--20] in order to devote himself to his high priest calling, what would I teach to the people? I would teach the word, the doctrine---faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance---that they may all truly come unto Christ and be saved."

Elder Perry will be 89 in August, the oldest of the General Authorities, but his voice and his message were strong and powerful, vigorous and urgent: Teach the restored gospel, the doctrine of Christ!

Here is the key question: Do we know the doctrine of Christ so well that it comes out naturally in our teaching and in our habits and in our countenances?

Some years ago a BYU student came to Joseph McConkie's office on campus to announce that he had been called to teach his elders' quorum. "Well I hope you will teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ," enjoined Joseph.

"Oh yes, I never teach anything outside the manual," answered the student.

"Then it's high time you did," urged Joseph McConkie.

Significantly, with all his urging and exhorting in that meeting tonight, Elder Perry did not once mention the manuals. But he emphasized over and over again the scriptures.

As you no doubt are aware, there was a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan this week, with "the sea heaving itself beyond its bounds," as foretold in prophecy for the Last Days (see D&C 88:90, among other references).

It is not gloom-and-doom forecasting to draw attention to these things. It is simply to observe the times and the seasons, and to point out this: what is just ahead is designed to get our attention and summon our energies to what really matters. It has everything to do with the very points of Christ's doctrine, as opposed to the false ideas we embrace instead, wherein there is no salvation or safety.

Permit us in the weeks ahead to draw attention in bold relief to some of these false ideas and to encourage a careful consideration of the true doctrine of Christ.

As we spoke of last week, we neglect the doctrine at our peril. We cannot afford to ignore the doctrine, and we certainly must not be guilty of impeding the doctrine from getting through, like the man in the brown leather jacket.

It might be well to get a dialogue of exchange going on this. Please share your thoughts, your insights, your questions, your comments. If you are unable to use the Comments box below, please feel free to write to me directly at: limerick41@gmail.com

By sharing in this way it will strengthen and lift us all.

Best wishes,

Steve