Our Desires

One theme that we see in the scriptures is that much in our eternal progression depends upon our desires.  Many accounts in the scriptures teach us the importance of earnestly desiring righteousness in our lives.  Abraham was one whom we now remember because of the incredible blessings and promises he received from the Lord.  But he first was one who sought blessings and commandments from the Lord with all his heart.  He said he sought happiness, peace, and rest, “desiring to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness.”  He didn’t just expect the Lord to grant him blessings for the asking, for he likewise said that he desired “to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God” (Abraham 1:2).  Because of his earnest, righteous desires the Lord granted him innumerable blessings that still impact the world today.  Nephi similarly wrote that he had “great desires to know the mysteries of God” and because of that he did “cry unto the Lord” (1 Nephi 2:16).  His earnest desire to “see, and hear, and know” of the things that his father said led to the great visions he described in 1 Nephi 11-14 (1 Nephi 10:17).  Enos also showed an intense desire to know of the things that his father knew, describing it saying, “My soul hungered” (Enos 1:4).  This led him to pray all night, and he ultimately received the forgiveness and knowledge that he desired. 

                In our dispensation the Lord has promised us that we will receive according to our desires.  For example, the Lord’s requirement for missionaries to be called is at the core based on what our true desires are: “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work” (D&C 4:3).  The Lord spoke about desire throughout the Doctrine and Covenants.  He told Oliver, “I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation” (D&C 6:8). To Hyrum the Savior said just about the same thing: “I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you” (D&C 11:8).  Further in the same revelation He said, “According to your desires, yea, even according to your faith shall it be done unto you” (D&C 11:17).  In describing Peter and John as these two apostles discussed their desires about death, “Ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both joy in that which ye have desired” (D&C 7:8). 

                When two disciples came and followed Jesus at the beginning of his ministry, “Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, “What seek ye?” (John 1:38).  He wanted to know what they were really looking for.  I think that we can apply this to ourselves and envision the Lord asking, “What do you really want?  What do you most desire?”  The first step to following Him is to desire it. Do we really desire knowledge and righteousness and to receive instruction from the Lord like Abraham?  Our desires will play a huge role in our final judgment and as they scriptures show, they will greatly affect the revelations we receive from the Lord.  In the end it’s our deepest desires that will count.  Alma left us these words about desire: “I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction” (Alma 29:4).  Ultimately we will choose the outcome of our existence through what we truly desire.