Raising the bar

In seminary this year we are studying the New Testament, which I have been enjoying a lot. I just really like reading about the Savior's life. Right now we are focusing on the Sermon on the Mount. One thing that I learned, that I have never really noticed before, is that the sermon is directed to Jesus' disciples and basically to the church members (that means me!). It is more than just basic doctrine, it is higher. The old law is the Law of Moses (aka the ten commandments), but here Jesus introduces a new law, a higher law. He is telling us who already know the basics that it is time to meet a higher standard. The basics are not enough.

Elder Henry B.Eyring said, "One of the dangers of the times we are passing into is that we might be tempted to lower our expectations for ourselves and those young people we serve....We might be tempted to expect less....The Lord has given another signal, clear and powerful. It is that we can expect more, not less, of youth.... In the days ahead, the Lord will raise the spiritual bar again and again. And our youth will rise higher and higher to more than clear that rising expectation." Elder Eyring then referrers to the prophesy found in Joel 2:27-32 and proclaimed that this scripture will be fulfilled by the great youth of the Latter-Days.

The worlds standards have been getting lower and lower. But because of that our standards need to be even higher. The Lord wants us to prepare for His coming. Hard? Yes. Impossible? With His help nothing is impossible.