Nearly 200 years ago, the American short story
"Rip Van Winkle" became an instant classic.
The main character, Rip, is an unambitious man
who is very good at avoiding two things: work and his wife.
One day, while wandering in the mountains with his dog,
he discovers a group of strangely dressed men
drinking and playing games.
After accepting some of their liquor,
Rip becomes drowsy and closes his eyes for a moment.
When he opens his eyes again, he's
surprised to find that his dog is gone, his rifle has rusted,
and he now has a long beard.
Rip makes his way back to his village only
to discover that everything has changed.
His wife has died, his friends are gone,
and the portrait of King George III in the tavern has been
replaced by a portrait of someone he does not
recognize--by General George Washington.
Rip Van Winkle had been sleeping for 20 years!
And in the process, he had missed one of the most exciting
periods in the history of his country--he had slept through
the American Revolution.
In May of 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
used this story as an illustration for his speech
"Don't Sleep Through the Revolution."
Today, I would like to take the same theme
and propose a question to all of us who hold God's priesthood:
Are you sleeping through the Restoration?
Sometimes we think of the Restoration
of the gospel as something that is complete, already behind us.
Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon.
He received priesthood keys.
The Church was organized.
In reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process.
We're living in it right now.
It includes "all that God has revealed, all that He does now
reveal," and the "many great and important things"
He will yet reveal.
Brethren, the exciting developments of today
are part of that long-foretold period of preparation
that will culminate in the glorious Second
Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.
This is one of the most remarkable periods
of the world's history.
Ancient prophets yearned to see our day.
When our time in mortality is complete,
what experiences will we be able to share
about our own contribution to this significant period
of our lives and to the furthering of Lord's work?
Will we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves
and labored with all our heart, might, mind, and strength?
Or will we have to admit that our role was mostly
that of an observer?
I suppose there are many reasons why
it is easy to become a bit sleepy with regard
to building the kingdom of God.
Let me mention three major ones.
As I do, I invite you and all of us
to ponder if any might apply.
If you see room for improvement, I
ask you to consider what could be
done to change for the better.
First, selfishness.
And we have heard about selfishness tonight already.
Selfishness.
Those who are selfish seek their own interests and pleasure
above all else.
The central question for the selfish person
is, what is in it for me?
Brethren, I'm sure you can see that this attitude is clearly
contrary to the spirit required to build God's kingdom.
When we seek self-service over selfless service,
our priorities become centered on our own recognition
and pleasure.
Past generations had their struggle
with variations of egotism and narcissism.
But I think today we are giving them serious competition.
Is it any coincidence that the Oxford Dictionary recently
proclaimed "selfie" as the word of the year?
Naturally, we all have a desire for recognition.
And there's nothing wrong with relaxing and enjoying
ourselves.
But when seeking "the gain and the praise of the world"
is an essential part of our motivation,
we will miss the redemptive and joyful experiences
that come when we give generously
of ourselves to the work of the Lord.
What is the remedy?
The answer, as always, lies in the words of Christ:
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his live shall lose it;
but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake
and the gospel's, the same shall save it."
Those who wholeheartedly turn their lives over to our Savior
and serve God and fellowman discover a richness and fulness
to life that the selfish or egotistic will never
experience.
The unselfish give of themselves.
These may be small gifts of charity
that have a grand impact for good:
a smile, a handshake, a hug, time spent in listening,
a soft word of encouragement, or a gesture of caring.
All these acts of kindness can change hearts and lives.
When we take advantage of the unlimited opportunities
to love and serve our fellowmen, including our spouse
and family, our capacity to love God and to serve others
will greatly increase.
Those who serve others will not sleep through the Restoration.
Another thing that may cause us to sleepwalk
through this significant season of the world is addiction.
Addictions often begin subtly.
Addictions are thin threads of repeated action
that weave themselves into thick bonds of habit.
Negative habits have the potential
to become consuming addictions.
These binding chains of addiction
can have many forms, like pornography, alcohol, sex,
drugs, tobacco, gambling, food, work,
the Internet, or virtual reality.
Satan, our common enemy, has many favorite tools
he uses to rob us of our divine potential
to accomplish our mission in the Lord's kingdom.
It saddens our Heavenly Father to see
how willingly some of His noble sons
extend their wrists to accept the chains
of devastating addictions.
Brethren, we bear the eternal priesthood of Almighty God.
We are truly sons of the Most High
and are endowed with unspeakable potential.
We are designed to soar freely through the heavens.
We are not meant to be shackled to the earth, imprisoned
in straitjackets of our own making.
What is the remedy?
The first thing we must understand
is that addictions are so much easier to prevent than to cure.
In the Savior's words, "Suffer none of these things
to enter into your heart."
Several years ago, President Monson and I
were offered an opportunity to tour Air Force
One, the magnificent aircraft that transports
the president of the United States.
There were painstaking security checks by the Secret Service.
And I somehow smiled a little as agents searched our dear
prophet prior to boarding.
Then the pilot in command invited
me to take the captain's seat.
It was a remarkable experience to again sit
at the helm of a wonderful flying machine like the kind
I had flown for so many years.
Memories of flights across oceans and continents
filled my heart and mind.
I envisioned exciting takeoffs and landings at airports
all over the world.
Almost unconsciously, I placed my hands
on the four throttles of the 747.
Just then, a beloved and unmistakable voice came from
behind--the voice of Thomas S. Monson.
"Dieter," he said, "don't even think about it."
I'm not admitting to anything, but, um ...
it just may be that President Monson read my mind.
When we're tempted to do things we should not do,
brethren, please let us listen to the loving warning
of trusted family, friends, our beloved prophet,
and of course always the Savior.
The best defense against addiction is never to start.
But what of those who find themselves
in the grip of addiction?
Please know, first of all, that there's hope.
Seek help from loved ones, Church leaders,
and trained counselors.
The Church provides addiction recovery
help through local Church leaders, the Internet,
and in some areas through LDS Family Services.
Always remember with the Savior's help,
you can break free from addiction.
It may be a long, difficult path,
but the Lord will not give up on you.
He loves you.
Jesus Christ suffered the Atonement to help you change,
to free you from the captivity of sin.
The most important thing is to keep trying.
Sometimes it takes several attempts
before people find success.
So don't give up.
Don't lose faith.
Keep your heart close to the Lord,
and He will give you the power of deliverance.
He will make you free.
My dear brethren, always keep far away
from habits that could lead to addiction.
Those who do so will be able to devote their heart, might,
mind, and strength to the service of God.
They will not sleep through the Restoration.
A third obstacle that prevents us
from fully engaging in this work is the many competing
priorities we face.
Some of us are so busy that we feel
like a cart pulled by a dozen work animals,
each straining in a different direction.
A lot of energy is expended, but the cart doesn't go anywhere.
Often, we devote our best efforts
in pursuit of a hobby, a sport, vocational interests, community
or political issues.
All these things may be good and honorable,
but are they leaving us time and energy for what
should be our highest priorities?
What is the remedy?
Once again, it comes from the words of the Savior.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it.
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Everything else in life should be
secondary to these two great priorities.
Even in Church service, it is easy to spend a lot of time
just going through the motions without the heart
or the substance of discipleship.
Brethren, we as priesthood bearers
have committed to be a people who love God and our neighbor
and are willing to demonstrate that love through word
and deed.
That is the essence of who we are
as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Those who live up to these principles
will not sleep through the Restoration.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "Awake thou that sleepest,
and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."
My dear friends, know that you are sons of light.
Don't allow selfishness.
Don't allow habits that could lead to addiction.
Don't allow competing priorities to lull you into indifference
or detachment from blessed discipleship
and ennobling priesthood service.
There's too much at stake for us as individuals,
as families, and as Christ's Church,
to give only a halfhearted effort to this sacred work.
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not an effort of once a week
or once a day.
It is an effort of once and for all.
The Lord's promise to His true priesthood holders
is almost too grand to comprehend.
Those who are faithful unto these two priesthoods
and magnify their callings "are sanctified by the Spirit unto
the renewing of their bodies."
Therefore, all that our Father has will be given unto them.
I testify that the cleansing power
of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the transformative power
of the Holy Ghost can heal and rescue mankind.
It is our privilege, our sacred duty, and our joy
to heed the Savior's call, to follow Him
with a willing mind and full purpose of heart.
Let us shake off the chains with which we are bound
and come forth out of obscurity and arise from the dust.
Let us be awake and not be weary of well
doing, for we are laying the foundation of a great work,
even preparing for the return of the Savior.
Brethren, when we add the light of our example
as a witness to the beauty and power of restored truth,
we will not sleep through the Restoration.
Of this I testify and leave you my blessing,
in the sacred name of our master,
even Jesus Christ, amen.