Spiritual Work

[laronius]

Recently I remembered hearing a phrase repeated in a couple of Pres Nelson's general conference talks and knowing if a prophet repeats himself it's generally a point of emphasis so I decided to find them and study up on it. That phrase was "spiritual work." So I did a search looking for the two or three talks he says it and was surprised to find out that he has mentioned it in six different talks since becoming president of the church.

"...when you yoke yourself to Jesus Christ and do the spiritual work required to overcome the world, He, and He alone, does have the power to lift you above the pull of this world."

"Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation."

"Do the spiritual work to seek miracles."

"It takes persistent, rigorous spiritual work to repent and to put off the natural man through the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

"Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out."

"Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly."

Now it may not mean anything more than just a phrase he picked up over the years to convey the general idea of living the gospel except that my search did not yield any GC talks prior to his becoming president where he used that phrase. To me it sounds like he is trying to drive home a point. While I interpret the general meaning behind the phrase to be a general rejection of the idea of what some call cheap grace and that we cannot simply be spectators in the gospel it does make me wonder if there is a particular concern he is addressing that perhaps did not always exist in the past. Any thoughts?

Edited April 1 by laronius

[mikbone]

1 hour ago, laronius said:

Time is running out.

Not sure if time is running out for everyone.  It certainly is for some.

[NeuroTypical]

I don't have any immediate thoughts, but I'll add the phrase to my General Conference bingo card.

[zil2]

4 hours ago, laronius said:

Now it may not mean anything more than just a phrase he picked up over the years to convey the general idea of living the gospel except that my search did not yield any GC talks prior to his becoming president where he used that phrase. To me it sounds like he is trying to drive home a point. While I interpret the general meaning behind the phrase to be a general rejection of the idea of what some call cheap grace and that we cannot simply be spectators in the gospel it does make me wonder if there is a particular concern he is addressing that perhaps did not always exist in the past. Any thoughts?

IMO, this talk gives a good example of how one can go through the motions and miss the point: "Sir, We Would Like to See Jesus".  One can do "Church" work without doing "spiritual work".  I think many have been taught to do Church work, on the assumption they would naturally come to understand the spiritual and that the spiritual can't be taught.  Meanwhile, some of us didn't pick up on the fact that there was something more, something not being taught...  Fortunately, today in the Church, we also teach the spiritual.  It's the difference between exhausting checklists and exalting gospel living.

[mikbone]

Reminds me of Enos.  

I know darn well that his uncle Nephi and Father Jacob taught him numerous times many details of the gospel.  Surely he had gone to church on a routine basis

Enos 1:4-8

Yet, the knowledge without the spiritual work does not allow one to take advantage of Jesus Christ’s Atonement.

It took Enos a might prayer to gain his testimony, and forgiveness.

All of us must pass a personal test of spiritual work.  

Salvation does not occur via osmosis.

Having a prophet father figure probably helps though.