Temperate in All Things

In the most recent general conference, Elder Ulisses Soares quoted these words of the Lord to Joseph Knight: “Behold, I speak unto you, and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work; And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care.” Elder Soares focused on this invitation to be temperate and said this: “The Savior’s guidance, recorded in this sacred revelation, reminds us that temperance is an essential reinforcement for a firm foundation in Jesus Christ. It is one of the indispensable virtues, not only for those who have been called to serve but also for all who have made sacred covenants with the Lord and accept to follow Him faithfully.” He also taught, “Disciples of Christ who strive to cultivate this Christlike attribute become increasingly humble and full of love. A serene strength arises in them, and they become better capable of restraining anger, nurturing patience, and treating others with tolerance, respect, and dignity, even when the winds of adversity blow fiercely.” I love that idea of a “serene strength” that comes of cultivating temperance such that we respond in all circumstances with a measured, careful, patient way.

                This reminds me of what my seven-year-old said to me recently. He was asking for something persistently and I told him that he needed to wait. He responded this way: “I can’t wait! I don’t have patience!” The way he said it was as if he had forgot to grab his store of patience that morning and so, unfortunately, waiting was not going to be possible that day. While children certainly can exhibit at times a severe lack of patience, the rest of us as well often struggle. Responding to stressful situations with temperance can indeed be very challenging, and we certainly all need to be sure that we don’t forget to bring along and use an adequate supply of patience in every circumstance. As always, the Savior is our perfect example of patience and temperance. Elder Soares said, “The Savior’s ministry on earth was marked by the virtue of temperance in all aspects of His character. Through His perfect example, He taught us to ‘be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile.’ As He taught that we should not give in to anger because of disputes and contentions…. With a temperate attitude and a compassionate heart, He assured us that when we are treated with harshness, unkindness, disrespect, or disregard, His kindness will not depart from us, and the covenant of His peace shall not be removed from our lives.” To me one of the most powerful scenes in the scriptures is when the Savior stood in an illegal hearing before the Sanhedrin and “one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand” for what He said to the high priest. Jesus answered with perfect temperance, not responding with violence or hatred or an angry retort. Instead He calmly invited this man to serious reflection, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?” (John 18:22-23)

                Truman G. Madsen once told a family story about Brigham Young that he got from Zina Brown, granddaughter of Brigham Young. It shows incredible temperance on the part of the second president of the Church: “In a meeting the Prophet [Joseph] rebuked Brigham Young from his head to his feet for something he had done, or something he was supposed to have done but hadn’t—the detail is unclear. And it may well have been that the Prophet was deliberately putting Brigham Young to a test. When he had finished the rebuke, everyone in the room waited for the response. Brigham Young rose to his feet. He was a strong man. He could have responded: ‘Now, look, haven’t you read that you’re not supposed to rebuke in public, but only in private?’ Or, ‘Brother Joseph, doesn’t it say something in the revelations about persuasion, and long-­suffering, and gentleness and meekness?’ Or, ‘You’re dead wrong. It’s not so.’ But he said none of the above. In a voice everyone could tell was sincere, he said simply, ‘Joseph, what do you want me to do?’ And the story says that the Prophet burst into tears, came down from the stand, threw his arms around Brigham, and said, in effect, ‘Brother Brigham, you passed.’” That is the kind of patience and temperate attitude we should strive to cultivate so that all our responses are filled with humility and restraint. Doing so will help us come unto the Savior who was, as He invited Joseph Knight to be, “temperate in all things.” I love this final witness and invitation of Elder Soares, “I solemnly bear my testimony that the constant pursuit of temperance purifies our soul and sanctifies our heart before the Savior, gently drawing us nearer to Him and preparing us, with hope and peace, for that glorious day when we shall meet Him at His Second Coming.”