Receive

My talented, generous, wonderful friend Rebecca Scott sent these thoughts to post. 
Thanks, Rebecca!

The word "receive" is something that the bishop of our last BYU married ward (who was amazing) really emphasized. Soon after he became our new bishop, he challenged us to pray and ponder what the most important word in the gospel is. People came up with different answers like "love," and "faith," but he explained that this word came before those. That is when I realized that the word was "receive." As our bishop explained, before we can love someone, we must receive them. Before we can have faith we must receive the gospel. Receiving is the first step toward any progress. As he showed us the importance of receiving, I started to ponder what exactly it meant to receive. It seemed important to me, but I had never heard anyone else emphasize its importance or talk about it in detail before.


I spent a long time thinking about it. First of all, I started to think about what sort of things we “receive” and how this word is used. We receive many things in this life. As we go through our lives, we may receive answers, the gospel, blessings, Christ, grace, responsibility, callings, love, and many other such things. We receive the Holy Ghost, the priesthood, endowments, and a spouse. We could not physically survive on this earth without receiving, because to live we must receive food, water, oxygen, and shelter. Likewise, we cannot survive spiritually without receiving. If we do not work to progress spiritually, we will lose what light we have, eventually resulting in spiritual death (see Alma 12:10-11).

It is important to note that in order for us to receive something, it must be given. We receive everything we have, either directly or indirectly from God. He gives us life, love, blessings, the Holy Ghost, ordinances and covenants, prophets, power, the priesthood, responsibility, etc. All these things are gifts. In fact, we commonly refer to many of the things He gives us as such: the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Gifts of the Spirit, the Gift of the Atonement, etc.

Yet obviously not all gifts are given to everyone in this world. Why? Because we cannot have God’s gifts without receiving them. (Other factors also play into this which I will not detail much here, but that should be noted. For example, time. Not all gifts are given to everyone right now because the Lord’s timing for those gifts has not been reached yet. For this reason certain nations and peoples do not yet have access to the gospel, many good people have not yet found an eternal companion to be sealed to in the temple, etc.)

Receiving is the first step to progressing. For example, we can only gain a testimony after first receiving the gospel. (See Moroni 10:4). We must receive the Holy Ghost for it to benefit us. We receive the priesthood before exercising it. We receive a spouse to start a family and receive children.

So, what is involved in receiving? Well, every blessing has a law upon which it is predicated (D&C 130:20-21), so the requirements for receiving different things will vary some depending on what gift is at stake. However, for most things within the gospel, in order to receive gifts from God we must be worthy of them. As we receive and follow the laws we have been given, we will be worthy to receive higher laws/blessings/gifts. Receiving involves proper use of what we are being given. If we abuse or misuse it, it will be taken from us. If we break the “law” or covenant we made to receive that thing, it will be taken from us. Thus receiving involves a level of responsibility to use what we have been given wisely as God intended us too. In many cases, such as receiving the priesthood, this involves blessing the lives of those around us. All the gifts we receive are meant to help us progress and learn too. Thus, God’s gifts are blessings and responsibilities for His children. I believe receiving then them means we are accepting both the responsibilities and blessings that come from any gift God gives us.

I think that the marriage/sealing covenant is a very special covenant that is a bit unique in that it involves a giving and receiving covenant between two people plus God rather than just between God and an individual. The covenants we make at the alter in the sealing room of the temple are not just to God, but to our spouse. By listening carefully to the words, I think that one can understand how a marriage relationship made under this covenant should be a continuous round of each spouse receiving and giving.

In the end, all giving and receiving has both sides involved in both parts to some extent, even with our Heavenly Father. As I have read the scriptures, I have noticed how God is usually referred to as the one giving. God gives us everything. If we are faithful, then through Christ we will be able to receive God’s greatest gift: Eternal Lives. Through Christ’s atonement, God then will be able to receive us into His presence and into His kingdom (see 2 Nephi 10:25). We will be able to be a blessing to God who has taken the responsibility for us as His spiritual children.

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"I bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (see Moses 6:27) and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (see Ezekiel 33:2–16). The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for your families—“watching . . . with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)."  Elder David A. Bednar, "Watching with All Perseverance," April 2010

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"Parents should be vigilant and spiritually attentive to spontaneously occurring opportunities to bear testimony to their children. Such occasions need not be programmed, scheduled, or scripted. In fact, the less regimented such testimony sharing is, the greater the likelihood for edification and lasting impact. “Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man” (D&C 84:85)."  Elder David A. Bednar, "Watching with All Perseverance," April 2010

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"Regular reading of and talking about the Book of Mormon invite the power to resist temptation and to produce feelings of love within our families. And discussions about the doctrines and principles in the Book of Mormon provide opportunities for parents to observe their children, to listen to them, to learn from them, and to teach them.

Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the “familiar spirit” described by Isaiah (Isaiah 29:4; see also 2 Nephi 26:16)."  Elder David A. Bednar, "Watching with All Perseverance,"  April 2010

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"The convincing and converting powers of the Book of Mormon come from both a central focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the inspired plainness and clarity of its teachings.  ...The unique combination of these two factors—a focus on the Savior and the plainness of the teachings—powerfully invites the confirming witness of the third member of the Godhead, even the Holy Ghost. Consequently, the Book of Mormon speaks to the spirit and to the heart of the reader like no other volume of scripture." Elder David A. Bednar, Watching with All Perseverance,"  April 2010

God Bless America

"[Many places] have special meaning not so much for the soil or brick itself but because of what has happened (or will yet happen) there.

'...From lowest place when virtuous things proceed, the place is dignified by the doer’s deed,' said Shakespeare. (All’s Well That Ends Well, II. iii. 123–24.)

The most sacred of places, then, will always be those locations which God has designated for holy and eternal purposes, locations where he is the 'doer of the deed.' ...America is such a place."  Jeffrey R. Holland, "A Promised Land," July 1976

(The whole talk is worth a read, friends!  Happy 4th!)