http://www.byub.org/talks/Talk.aspx?id=2146
Wonderful talk.
It caused me to pause and think about my personal habits, and wither I live the Gospel with "steady and tranquil dedication" or "short frenzied outbursts of emotion".
(Spoiler Alert!- Putting off finishing something until the last minute and then cramming all into the night is actually against Gospel principles as Elder Oaks lays them out...)
I also had to think about his comments at the beginning about those who after hearning a message from the General Authorities say they "enjoyed his talk", and those who take them to fulfill their real purpose and are inspired to take the necessary action to change and recommit themselves.
Here are some of the highlights that caused me to think:
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I have titled my talk "The Dedication of a Lifetime." I borrowed this title from something said by Governor Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois, who was the Democratic Party candidate for president of the United States in 1952 and 1956.
In speaking to an American Legion Convention, Stevenson gave this wise statement about patriotism: "What we need are not short frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the steady and tranquil dedication of a lifetime". I like that -- "not short frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the steady and tranquil dedication of a lifetime." I will use this description of patriotism as a formula for how we should live the gospel.
Some people live the gospel with ""short frenzied outbursts of emotion,"" followed by long periods of lapse or by performance that is intermittent or sputtering. What we need in living the gospel is ""the steady and tranquil dedication of a lifetime.""
So what does it mean to obey the commandments, to keep our covenants, and to serve the Lord with ""the steady and tranquil dedication of a lifetime"? It means to be a 100% Latter-day Saint, 100% of the time. In scriptural terms, it means to follow the direction King Benjamin gave to his people: "I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his" (Mosiah 5:15). It means to follow the plea Father Lehi gave to a wavering son: "O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!"(1 Nephi 2:10).
The "dedication of a lifetime" requires one to be steady and tranquil, steadfast and immovable. We hold fast to our covenants and to the leadership and teachings of the servants of the Lord so that we will, as the Apostle Paul wrote, "be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14). That is our standard and our goal. This steadfast requirement requires us to avoid extremes. Our performance should be the steady 100% of a committed servant, not the frenzied and occasional 120% of the fanatic.
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The principle I have espoused, that we should pursue steady dedication and avoid frenzied excesses, could be understood as implying that we should have "moderation in all things." Not so. The Savior has commanded us to serve with all our "heart, might, mind and strength" (D&C 4:2), to "seek . . . earnestly the riches of eternity" (D&C 68:31), and to be "valiant in the testimony of Jesus" (D&C 76:79). He has also told us that if we are lukewarm, he will spue us out of his mouth (see Revelations 3:16). The thrust of my examples is that we should be steadfast and consistent in our dedication, our commitment, and our efforts.
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