Many years ago, President David O. McKay
told of a beautiful experience he
had while sailing on a boat toward Samoa.
After falling asleep, he "beheld in vision something
infinitely sublime.
In the distance," he said, "I beheld a beautiful white city.
...
Trees with luscious fruit ... and flowers in perfect bloom
abounded everywhere.
...
A great concourse of people [was] approaching the city.
Each one wore a white flowing robe.
...
Instantly my attention ... centered upon their leader,
and though I could see only the profile of his features ... ,
I recognized him at once as my Savior!
The ... radiance of his countenance [was] glorious.
...
[The] peace about him ... was divine!"
President McKay continues, "The city ... was his, ...
the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide
there in peace and eternal happiness."
President McKay wondered, "[Who are they?
Who are these people?]"
He explains what happened next:
"As if the Savior read my thoughts,
he answered by pointing to [words in] a semicircle that
... appeared above [the people], ... written in gold ...
:
"These Are They Who Have Overcome the World--
"Who Have Truly Been Born Again!"
For decades, I have remembered the words,
"These are they who have overcome the world."
The blessings that the Lord has promised
to those who overcome the world are breathtaking.
They will be "clothed in white ...
and [named in] the book of life."
The Lord "will confess [their names] before [the] Father,
and before his angels."
Each shall have a "part in the first resurrection,"
receive eternal life, and "go no more
out" from the presence of God.
Is it possible to overcome the world
and receive these blessings?
Yes, it is.
Those who overcome the world develop
an all-encompassing love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
His divine birth, His perfect life,
His infinite Atonement at Gethsemane and Golgotha
assured the resurrection of each of us.
With our sincere repentance, He alone
is able to cleanse us from our sins,
allowing us to return to the presence of God.
"We love him, because he first loved us."
Jesus said, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Later He added, "I will that ye should overcome the world."
Overcoming the world is not one defining moment
in a lifetime but a lifetime of moments
that define an eternity.
It can begin as a child learns to pray
and reverently sings, "I'm trying to be like Jesus."
It continues as a person studies the life of the Savior
in the New Testament and ponders the power of the Savior's
Atonement in the Book of Mormon.
Praying, repenting, following the Savior,
and receiving His grace lead us to better understand
why we are here and who we are to become.
Alma describes it this way: "A mighty change [is] wrought
in their hearts, and they [humble] themselves and put
their trust in the true and living God, ...
[remaining] faithful until the end."
Those overcoming the world know that they
will be accountable to their Heavenly Father.
Sincerely changing and repenting of sins is no longer
restraining but liberating, as "sins [of] scarlet ...
[become] white as snow."
Those of the world have difficulty with accountability
to God--like a child who parties in his parents' home while they
are out of town, enjoying the ruckus,
refusing to think about the consequences when the parents
return 24 hours later.
The world is more interested in indulging the natural man
than in subduing him.
Overcoming the world is not a global invasion
but a private, personal battle, requiring hand-to-hand combat
with our own internal foes.
Overcoming the world means treasuring the greatest
commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength."
The Christian writer C. S. Lewis described it this way:
"Christ says 'Give me All.
I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money
and so much of your work: I want You.'"
Overcoming the world is keeping our promises to God--our
baptismal and temple covenants and our oath of faithfulness
to our eternal companion.
Overcoming the world leads us humbly to the sacrament table
each week, asking for forgiveness and pledging
to "remember him and keep his commandments ... ;
that [we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us]."
Our love for the Sabbath day does not
end when the chapel doors close behind us
but instead opens the doors to a beautiful day
of resting from routine tasks, studying, praying,
and reaching out to family and others who need our attention.
Instead of breathing a sigh of relief when church is over
and frantically running in search of a television
before the football game begins, let our focus
remain on the Savior and upon His holy day.
The world is incessantly pulled by a flood
of enticing and seductive voices.
Overcoming the world is trusting in the one voice that
warns, comforts, enlightens, and brings peace "not as the world
giveth."
Overcoming the world means turning ourselves outward,
remembering the second commandment,
"He that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
The happiness of our spouse is more
important than our own pleasure.
Helping our children to love God and keep His commandments
is a primary priority.
We willingly share our material blessings
through tithing, fast offerings, and giving to those in need.
And as our spiritual antennas are pointed heavenward,
the Lord guides us to those we can help.
The world builds its universe around itself,
proudly proclaiming: "Look at me compared to my neighbor!
Look at what is mine!
See how important I am!"
The world is easily irritated, disinterested,
demanding, loving the cheers of the crowd, while overcoming
the world brings humility, empathy, patience,
and compassion for those different than yourself.
Overcoming the world will always mean
that we will have some beliefs that
are ridiculed by the world.
The Savior said:
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me
before it hated you.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own."
President Russell M. Nelson said this morning,
"True disciples of Jesus Christ are
willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from people
of the world."
A disciple of Christ is not alarmed
if a post about her faith does not receive 1,000 likes or even
a few friendly emojis.
Overcoming the world is being less concerned
with our online connections and more concerned
with our heavenly connection to God.
The Lord gives us safety as we heed the guidance
from His living prophets and apostles.
President Thomas S. Monson has said, "The world can be ...
challenging.
...
[As we go to the temple], ...
we will be more able to bear every trial
and to overcome each temptation.
...
We will be renewed and fortified."
With increasing temptations, distractions, and distortions,
the world attempts to beguile the faithful
into dismissing the rich spiritual experiences of one's
past, redefining them as foolish deceptions.
Overcoming the world is remembering,
even when we are discouraged, the times
we have felt the love and light of the Savior.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained one
of these experiences this way: "I had been blessed,
and I knew that God knew that I knew I had been blessed."
Although we may temporarily feel forgotten, we do not forget.
Overcoming the world does not mean
we live a cloistered life, protected from the unfairness
and difficulties of mortality.
Rather, it opens the more expansive view of faith,
drawing us to the Savior and His promises.
While perfection is not complete in this life,
overcoming the world keeps our hope aflame that one day we
"shall stand before [our Redeemer];
[and] see his face with pleasure" and hear His voice,
"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you."
On December 28 of this past year,
our dear friend and beloved General Authority Elder Bruce
D. Porter completed his mortality.
He was 64 years old.
I first met Bruce when we were students at Brigham Young
University.
He was one of the best and the brightest.
After receiving his doctoral degree from Harvard University,
emphasizing Russian affairs, Bruce's thinking and writing
brought prominence that could have derailed him,
but the wealth and praise of the world never clouded his view.
His loyalty was to His Savior, Jesus Christ;
to his eternal companion, Susan; to his children
and grandchildren.
Bruce was born with a kidney defect.
He had surgery, but over time his kidneys
continued to decline.
Shortly after Bruce's call as a General Authority in 1995,
we served together with our families in Frankfurt, Germany,
where his work centered in Russia and eastern Europe.
Life for Elder Porter changed dramatically in 1997
when his kidney function and health began to fail.
The Porter family returned to Salt Lake City.
During his 22 years of service in the Seventy,
Bruce was hospitalized numerous times, including 10 surgeries.
Doctors told Susan on two occasions
that Bruce would not live through the night, but he did.
Bruce was on dialysis to clean his blood
for more than 12 years of his service as a General Authority.
For much of that time, the dialysis
consumed five evenings a week for four hours each treatment
so that he could serve in his calling during the day
and accept conference assignments on the weekends.
When his health did not improve after several priesthood
blessings, Bruce was puzzled, but he knew in whom he trusted.
In 2010, Bruce received a kidney from his son David.
This time his body did not reject the transplant.
It was a miracle, bringing renewed health,
eventually allowing him and Susan
to return to their beloved Russia in the Area Presidency.
On December 26 of last year, after fighting
continuous infections in a hospital in Salt Lake City,
he asked the doctors to leave the room.
Bruce told Susan "that he knew through the Spirit
that there was nothing the doctors could
do that would save his life.
He knew ... that Heavenly Father would take him home.
He was filled with peace."
On December 28, Bruce returned to his family home.
A few hours later, surrounded by loved ones,
he peacefully returned to his heavenly home.
Years ago, Bruce Porter wrote these words to his children:
"The testimony I have of the reality and love
of Jesus Christ has been the compass of my life.
...
It [is] a pure, burning witness of the Spirit that he lives,
that he is my Redeemer and Friend in every time of need."
"Our challenge ... is to come to know [the Savior] ...
and, through faith in him, to overcome the trials
and temptations of this world."
"Let us be faithful and true, trusting in him."
Bruce Douglas Porter overcame the world.
May we each try a little harder in our efforts
to overcome the world, not excusing serious offenses
yet being patient with minor slips and falls,
eagerly hastening our speed and generously helping others.
As you trust more fully in the Savior,
I promise you blessings of greater peace in this life
and a greater assurance of your eternal destiny,
in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.