"Choose to be Good" (Part Two)

"To Draw Closer to God"

by Henry B. Eyring

"How much better to choose to be good and to do it early, a long way upstream from the terrible effects of sin.

"People who postpone repentance may run out of time. They will find more misery in more sin, not the happiness they hope for but can't find.

"'But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.' (Helaman 13:38.)"

"'And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.' (2 Nephi 2:21.)"

"The best guides, the safest source of standards, have always been the people called by God to lead [us].

"The only safe standard to guide our choice to be good is God. Those who can speak for him, under authority, are holding up the true standard of goodness."

"God asks only that we approach him humbly, as a child...A child can enter the kingdom of heaven..'For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his faith.' (Mosiah 3:19)."

"'..The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.' (Moroni 7:15-16)."

"Read the scriptures to try to feel what the Savior feels."

"As I try to feel what he felt, I've tried to do another thing, both as I read and in prayer: I've tried to know what he would do if he had my opportunities..try asking today, 'What is there that you would have me do?' That prayer will be answered if you are sincere and if you listen like a little child, with real intent to act."