Hey there, everybody. Welcome out to another episode of Redeemed Through His Blood. I'm Scott Durfey and I'm joined as always by David Durfey, soon to be Elder Durfey. We have some news, Dave. I'm not set apart, but this letter... Soon to be. This letter I've got right here in front of me says, Dear Elder Durfey. So... Well, Dave got his mission call, everybody. February 21st, 2025. And you know that we're usually two to three weeks late in releasing these because we
do have a few in queue and so on. So when you get this, it'll probably be mid -March towards the end of March. But Dave received his mission call this past week, and he's got some great news for us. Pretty sweet. Tell us about it. So I just, you know, I want to read the letter. And I think I've read it enough, I won't get emotional this time. But when it came, I was actually on my phone looking at my emails and all of a sudden it popped up and said that your
mission call is in the portal. I can't even imagine. What did your stomach do right then? Well, my wife was there in the kitchen. I was sitting in the family room. And I said, hey, Chris, our mission call just came. She said, what? Anyway, we went in my office. We knelt down and prayed, cried. We got up, opened the portal. We read the call and cried. And then after we read it, we knelt back down and thanked our Heavenly Father.
So it was kind of a sweet. You know, I've always felt strongly and pictured in my mind that when we received the call, I didn't want to open it and read it for the first time when everybody was cheering and yelling and loud, you know, and whatever. I wanted to have it be quiet. I wanted it to be peaceful. I wanted it to be between me and my sweetheart and God. And it was really a moment we'll never forget. And then my sweet granddaughter had just come home from a mission
two days before. Sweet Sierra. This was last Friday, and Sierra had just come home from Philadelphia on her mission Wednesday, and she was speaking on Sunday. So Chris and I decided, we can't even tell our family we've got our call because we don't want to have it ruin Sierra's... first weekend at home and her homecoming and her talk and the family get together at the house. We didn't want them talking about our call. We wanted
them talking about her. So we didn't want upstage, you know, this event, this big welcome home, which she deserved. She was an amazing missionary. I was just so grateful and humbled by her talk, which was amazing, Scott. She really gets it.
She really understands it anyway, so we It wasn't until Sunday afternoon when things were really winding down that I Told the rest of the family Hey, mom, and I got our call and we're gonna read it Monday night tomorrow night And so that was so exciting for them and So they didn't have to wait too long, 24 hours. They came over Monday night. And we got everybody around and read it. And there was cheering. And I think somebody recorded it. I think it's on Facebook or something.
Yeah, Isaac did. OK. I didn't know if they were going to do that. I didn't either. I haven't even seen it. But Deb's the one that told me that she had seen it. But Isaac did. Anyway, it was sweet. And we're thankful that. Our family was so excited about it, and just then we had Banana Splits. That's an appropriate crescendo to opening the mission call. I don't know if they call bananas down there. That's great. So
go ahead and read it. Anyway, the only reason I want to read it is because of the doctrine here. If someone hasn't... And there's I'm sure a few out there listening to the podcast and have never really heard What the missionary letter says and I think it's it's awesome Dear elder Durfee, my wife also received one. Oh, really? Okay said dear sister That was because when you read dear elder Durfee, I'm like, what about
Chris? She receives you got her over it Okay, does it say exactly the same thing same thing? Okay But I think that's so sweet. I do too. We each got our own letter and it would have been fine if they would have said dear elder and sister or dear sister and elder, but Anyway, dear elder Durfee You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints So I guess I'm already called Haven't been set apart But I'm called it's official.
I'm called. I'm a missionary That's awesome. I need to start acting like it. That's the first line of the first paragraph. You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. Second paragraph. You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. A lot of doctrine in that. You will be an official representative of the Church.
As such, you will be expected to honor the covenants you have made with your Heavenly Father, keep the commandments, maintain the highest standards of conduct, and follow the righteous counsel of your mission president. Follow the righteous counsel of your mission president. Maybe there are some that aren't so righteous. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, you will be blessed with increased knowledge, testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.
Restored gospel. It's not just gospel. It's restored gospel. It's in that paragraph twice. But what a promise. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, you will be blessed with increased knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ. You know, we're going to go on a mission for a lot of reasons, Scott, but I can't think of any reason or blessing that would be greater
than that. Increased knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ That's the second paragraph third paragraph Your purpose will be to help others Come unto Christ by serving them as the Savior would So I got to go to work and Find out Scott how the Savior serves others helps to heal others teaches others I I love that line. Your purpose will be to help others come unto Christ by serving them as the Savior would. They could have said
a lot of things there, Scott. They could have said by teaching them, by filling the blank, but it's by serving them. Then continuing in that paragraph. As you serve, With all your heart, might, mind, and strength, you will feel the joy that comes from giving of yourself to lift others. They too can then have the opportunity to receive sacred ordinances and make covenants with Heavenly Father." That's the end of paragraph
3. I think that's... What's the end result? to help others to receive sacred ordinances and make covenants with their Heavenly Father. Isn't that awesome? Yeah, I love that. Re -read the part about joy, too. Yeah, as you serve with all your heart, mind, and strength, you will feel the joy that comes from giving of yourself
to lift others. Anyway, so that's paragraph 3 paragraph 4 This is the big one this one everybody waits for and we're all Nobody heard anything in those first three paragraphs and they seldom do This you are assigned not called assigned so I'm called to be a missionary But I'm assigned to a mission and assignments can change. This is really important. I remember when I was branch president missionary training center The Brother made a big deal out of that. You're not called
to a mission. You're called to be a missionary. And then you are assigned to a mission. And assignments can change. So don't get stuck on the mission. Focus on being a missionary, no matter where the assignment might be. You know, some couldn't get their visa or they, for health reasons, couldn't, their missions had to change. That happened all the time to missionaries in my branch at the Missionary Training Center. And it could be devastating to them because they felt like they had been
called to a certain mission. You're not called to a mission. You're assigned a mission area. That's an interesting insight that I had never considered. That's important. Yeah, I can see how it is important. For those few individuals who struggle or feel guilty that they didn't... Well, I got called to Japan, but I couldn't go because of this and this and whatever. You're not called to Japan. You're called to be a missionary.
And sometimes when we think that we are called to Japan and then we're not able to go to Japan. Exactly. How have I let Heavenly Father down? Because there's probably people there waiting for me to come. And if I don't come, they're not going to get a chance. I know. I know. So I think that's really important. You're called to be a missionary. Thank you for that. And that's in the very first paragraph. fourth paragraph, does it say, you are assigned. And we still don't
know where that is, so. Drawing it out, aren't I? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You are assigned to labor in the Australia Sydney mission. Wow. Isn't that sweet? Yeah. Wow. I look at that, and I'm still a little in shock. Yeah. You know we have listeners in Sydney now. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, I'm coming. He's coming. I'm coming. I can't wait. So it continues this fourth paragraph. Your main assignment is to serve as a member and leader support missionary. MLS for short, MLS missionary,
which is awesome. We'll have so many options and we'll just do whatever we're called to do by our mission president. Under the direction of the mission president, you may also be invited to teach the gospel, strengthen new and returning members of the church. minister to local leaders and units and fulfill other assignments as needed. David, we don't need, in writing, something to tell us that you will be teaching the gospel.
You will be teaching the gospel, even if it's just through the way you live or those that you influence. I'd love to be teaching it. Maybe I'll teach it. Wherever they send me, I'll start an institute class or something. Yeah. Yeah. Or I don't know. Anyway. Maybe you'll need some assistance. Maybe we'll get a work in the temple. Oh, yeah. You know, and do a ceiling session once in a while. Or I don't know. I know there's,
I think, four districts in this mission. And maybe they'll need a patriarch to do if they get. The mission president, to do that, would have to get permission from the president of the Quorum of the Twelve. But if they got permission from the Quorum of the Twelve, I could give patriarchal blessings to members of the church in the districts in the mission. So we'll see. All those things are possibilities. You will begin your missionary training on Monday, July 14, 2025, after being
set apart by your stake president. Please see the missionary portal for additional information on your training experience. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. So I think, you know, I was a little disappointed to hear I had to wait so long. But I understand after the packet and the portal fills up with all this information that takes a while to get a visa. So we have to go to work on getting the visa. And that may take a few months. Yeah. So
you're leaving in July. That'll bring you back home. Which will be winter there. Right. But that'll bring you back home in December. Or January. Or January. And you will be experiencing summer there to come home to winter here. Right. Yeah. Right. Last paragraph, which is so sweet. Promise. This is this first sentence. our Heavenly Father will reward you and your family for your service. And the most important thing in there is your
family. I know Chris and I will be blessed, but really I'm more concerned about this being a blessing to our family. And I know it will be. As we serve Heavenly Father's kids, I know He blesses my kids. That's been a true pattern throughout my life. Well, Dave, we've talked a lot about your mission to Fresno, California, a lot on here. And I don't think it's, if you've been listening to the podcast for any length of time at all, you know how much Dave has loved his
mission. David and I were actually talking about some experiences from his original mission early this morning. It's always on my mind. Before we got started here, as did I. It'll be interesting now. I think that that was a super special experience for you and one that'll never be matched. And it'll never be matched. But just think how wonderful it is to be going with a companion that you chose. This last paragraph continues. Great blessings
and joy. There's joy again. Great blessings and joy await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord. in this labor of love among His children. We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary. Sincerely, Russell M. Nelson, President. That's the letter. And so, so exciting. Yeah. But yeah,
Scott, you're right. When I came home from my mission, I've probably told this before, but Chris, who was attending BYU and had been waiting for me, and was one year behind me in high school, and we fell in love my junior year, her sophomore year, and were high school sweethearts. And when I went on my mission and then came home, I remember her telling me. that she felt like maybe she
should go on a mission. That she had gone to a fireside and Steve and Covey had singled her out and told her what a great missionary she should be and maybe she should go on a mission and she started getting that in her mind so that by the time I came home she was starting to think she was going to go on a mission. Back then you had to be 21 to go and she was only 20. So she wouldn't even be able to go for another year. So you had a year to work on her. Which means
I'd have to wait a year and a half. So it'd be two and a half years before we could get married. And I remember saying, Chris, we should just get married and raise up our children to go on missions. And I promise that when you and I are older, we'll go on a mission together. You should go on a mission and you are a missionary and we should go on a mission together So I I always felt like that was a sacred. Yeah promise I had
made to her. Yeah, and I've been so Throughout my life prayerful Desiring expressing my desire to my Heavenly Father that I could fulfill that promise and I'm just So grateful that that that time has come but that he's blessed us to be able to do this together and I I Don't know. I may have told you this Scott, but about six weeks ago. I Was in the temple and I was doing
a ceiling session. I Had this ordinance card in front of me, you know each couple or child to parents They have an ordinance card and each couple the names of the couple in there where they were married and the date they were married is on an individual ordinance card. Well, I'm performing this sealing and all of a sudden I start to get just out of nowhere. I just start getting really emotional. I feel the spirit of the Lord and I start to tear up. My voice starts
to quiver. I'm looking at this ordinance card and I see Australia. I can't remember the town, but it was from Australia. This couple had lived and been married in Australia. And I had this powerful feeling come over me that these were my people and that I had this connection with Australia and that maybe we should serve in Australia.
That was six weeks ago when we were just about ready to resubmit our papers after fulfilling all the medical requirements after our challenges health challenges and anyway, I Went home and the first thing I said when I got home was hey Chris I had an interesting experience and I told her about it and I said I I think maybe we should edit our Mission papers and maybe we should request to go to Australia And she said, no, David, she
was really resolute about this. No, David, I just want the Lord to call us wherever we need to be, wherever He wants us to be, wherever He can. Let's let the Lord call us. So the first time we submitted our papers and then resubmitted
them, we never asked to go anywhere. Yeah, we just wanted the Lord to call us and we made that clear in our application that we would go anywhere Well when we read this call in my office on Friday That came that came flooding back to me this experience that I had the temple about Australia and you know So it was it was very sweet confirmation, but I got to tell you one more thing When I was 18 19 getting ready to go on a mission 19 really didn't go until I was You know after 19 years
old and and I remember everybody asking me Where do you want to where do you want to serve and my answer was always Australia? huh, and I would say well, I really want to go to Australia, but Because because I want to go to Australia the Lord will probably send me to Alaska That was my answer And you know, I learned, as you know, that your assignment, wherever you serve, is not so much about weather or geography or any
of that. It's about people and where you can be most effective and maybe where the Lord has prepared people for you, whatever the assignment may be. Anyway, that was always my answer. I always wanted to serve a mission in Australia. So this is kind of a sweet thing, Scott, to be able to see that desire fulfilled and have kind of a witness of it before the call even came. And I'm so glad that Chris was resolute on that. Firm. Yeah. He was very firm about that. Right.
Right. That makes this experience even more faith building. Really sweet. Really, really sweet. We're excited about it. We have a lot of work to do to get ready. Yeah, we're excited for you, too. Because of that, we're going to wind this podcast down. And that'll be kind of sad and hard in a way for you and me. But anyway, we'll maybe do three or four more. I'll go on my mission.
We'll pick it up in 18 months or whatever. There you go So we'll probably just for logistics sake, we'll probably be releasing our last episodes the first or second week of April. That means that we'll be recording through March. Now's a great time, gang, to submit your questions. It would definitely be appropriate for you to send well wishing emails if you feel so inclined to Dave here and Chris for their mission. You can do that. He redeems us. What I'd really love
is to learn something about Sydney. Yeah, there you go. To learn something about Sydney. You know what I've already done since I've only had the call for what, three or four days? Yeah, since well before. About a week, five days now. Anyway, what I've already done, Scott, is I've gone through the church website, looked up everything on Sydney, gone to YouTube and all of that. And I've actually prepared a map of the mission. Oh, how cool. And I've circled every and how
many chapels are in each town. Are there a lot of chapels? Yeah, they've got quite a few. In the Sydney Mission, I counted 53 chapels. Oh, is that right? And in a lot of those, there are multiple wards. Sure. So I think they have well over 100 wards in this mission. Oh, very cool. Like several stakes. They have 25 buildings in
Sydney, the suburbs of Sydney. And then they've got them all the way kind of back into the hinterland up to probably saying this wrong Dubo Dubo and up to Narrabri and up to almost the Gold Coast. Our mission goes up almost to the Gold Coast up near Brisbane up to Coffs Harbor. So I've written down where all of the chapels, meeting houses are located. in the Sydney mission and I guess we could be called any of those and Serving that ward or wards or steak or what whatever.
Yeah, but Well, so if you're if you're in Australia you're familiar with that then please help me then send stuff that way to prepare me He redeems us at gmail .com. That's our email address. He redeems us at gmail .com. So go ahead and send those questions. Get David all informed on his new adventures. I hope he comes back with a really cool accent so that our next iteration of the podcast might be even more interesting. Dave, that's change. I do think I have this one down.
Good day, mate. Say it one more time. Good day, mate. Yeah, keep working on it Yeah, I don't know I don't know what makes me an authority on that accent keep working on it nonetheless I'm not too good with languages Including the English language. I would disagree with that. Let's let's move into a question. I So congratulations. First of all, congratulations Chris. We're so happy and all of obviously nervous Yeah, for sure. You know, Chris, bless her heart, has been
on a mission. She wants to be a perfect missionary. So we've memorized the missionary purpose. Doctrine and Covenant, Section 4? Well, no, it's in Preach My Gospel. Invite others to come unto Christ by receiving, anyway. Yeah, that was before. I mean, that came after my mission, too. But anyway, we're excited for you. I got a text. This is from a listener, Dave. Good friend of mine, but also a listener. And this man has meant just an awful lot to me. He's been a leader to
me. It was really important to part of my coming back to the church after I had had my membership removed, you know, 20 years ago -ish. And this man was really instrumental in loving me through that process. But he sends this question. He sends this question. He says, I'm just going to read it. He says, I would love to share my thoughts and questions about this, but I'm struggling to figure out on how to communicate those thoughts through text. And then he goes on. And I love
this. This is somebody who's really paying attention. to their own relationship with deity. No matter how often Christ reminds us to focus on the Father and His plan, for some reason, we focus on Christ and His participation instead of the Father. I think my question is part of my attempt to feel more of the Father's involvement in His plan. We talked a little bit about that this morning. Dave, do you want to just kind of share
some of your thoughts on that? Well, I think it's awesome that this person is really sensitive about their relationship with their Heavenly Father. That's kind of what I hear in that question. That they're really concerned about that, and that they're concerned about not putting the Son before the Father, and nobody would be more offended by that than the Son Himself. I know that. Jesus Christ, everything He did was to deflect. to the Father over and over and over
again. He always said, this isn't me that's doing this. I'm doing this because of the Father. I do the will of the Father. I mean, people were praying to Him and He apologized to the Father. It's in 3 Nephi 19, right? They're praying to Him and He apologizes to the Father. They're praying to me, he says, because I am with them. And he teaches over and over and over again, don't pray to me, pray to the Father, in my name.
And it's interesting, Scott, that in Jacob chapter 4, we of course worship the Godhead, the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, they are one. They are one in mind. They're one in purpose. They're one in unity. We worship them. Of course we worship the Father in the name of the Son. Of course we worship the Son. He is our spiritual Father, the Father of our salvations, the Father of our spiritual lives. We've taken His name upon us. We have been born of Him, Jesus Christ. Of course
we worship Him. Of course the Holy Ghost plays a role in our worship and that through the Holy Ghost it makes our prayers heard and answered. The Holy Ghost has such an important role to connect us to the Father and to the Son. The Holy Ghost speaks the words of the Son. I mean, they're so connected that you can't separate them out or think that we worship one and not the other. They're all involved in our sacred
worship. They're all involved in that. And so it's kind of wrong to see that you worship one and not think about the others. However, there is so much emphasis right now in the church about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the answer to all of our questions. He's the solution to all our problems. This is taught over and over and over again lately, as it should be. And it's all true. And amen, right?
Amen, hallelujah. However, I think this good brother who's asking the question has a real... legitimate concern. And that is, you better not think about the Son and put Him first before you think about the Father and think about who's in charge. And there is, whether we like to think of them all as one in unity and every else, there is hierarchy in this Godhead. There is hierarchy. And we worship the Father in the name of the
Son through the Holy Spirit. so I mean, that's the pattern and Jacob teaches that so I Jacob who's such a doctrinal you know his his Doctrinal discourse in second Nephi to chapter. I'm sorry doctor second Nephi chapter like six through ten He gives us such an he gives the most amazing. I think it's the most amazing doctrinal sermon in the entire Book of Mormon so I've always kind of thought of Jacob the brother of Nephi is mr.
Doctrine and he understands this relationship and the Kind of process of worship verse 5 if you want to read it Scott. Yeah, so this is Jacob chapter 4 verse 5 Behold they believed in Christ and worshiped the father in his name and also we worship the father in his name and For this intent we keep the law of Moses Behold, they believed in Christ. Their faith is in Christ. Their faith is in Christ and His atonement. Their faith is in Christ, His atonement, His redemption.
It's through Christ that we're redeemed. We get that. Our faith is in Christ. That's the fourth article of faith. Right? But who did they worship? They worshiped the Father in the name. of Christ. I think that's so critical. I mean, we don't have to read the rest of it. I just think that's so important. And over in verse 11, he talks about that the reconciliation is through the atonement of Jesus Christ, redemption, the power of His resurrection. Why not speak of the atonement,
he says? I've always loved that. Why not speak of the Atonement? Why not speak of Christ? Let's get on the rooftops and bear witness and shout the name of Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him. But it's not the Son's plan, Scott. The Son fulfilled the plan of the Father. Praise the Lord. Jesus Christ. But it is the Father's plan and the ultimate form of our worship and our praise and our gratitude should go to the Father in the name of the Son who fulfilled.
the plan. In verse 11 right there of Jacob 4, it really kind of points out the hierarchy that you were talking about earlier, right? Yeah. Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto Him through the atonement of Christ. Unto who? Unto the Father. So be reconciled unto the Father. So the ultimate reconciliation... Not Jesus. No. That's the reconciliation comes through Jesus, administrated through the power of the Holy Ghost. Absolutely. But our relationship and the hierarchy
is just absolutely established there. Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto Him through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Unto Him, unto the Father. So the Father is... where our ultimate worship goes. Yeah, we do worship the Son, and there's worship of the Holy Ghost too, but ultimately even that worship, David, the way I see it, even that worship, because it's done through the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, ultimately transcends to the
Father as well. Yeah, absolutely. Now in that verse God in verse 11 wherefore beloved brethren be reconciled unto him if you take that pronoun and you take it back the next Preceding three or four verses the real him is really the Lord now the Lord I Just I gotta say this sometimes people pray and they say oh Lord and Some people get upset about that. I've had people come to me upset about that and say they're praying to
Jesus by saying the Lord. And I always say, listen, the Lord in the Old Testament, L, capital L, little o, little r, little d, is Elohim. The Lord can mean Elohim. The Lord is a title. It's not a name. The Lord is a title. So the Lord can be the Father, and sometimes it can be the Son. capital in the Old Testament, capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D is Jehovah. I just think that's really important to understand
when the Lord's a title, they have titles. So you're right about this, that's how I read that, that we are reconciled to the Father, the Lord, Elohim, through the Atonement. of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. I think so many times when it's Christmas, Scott, we don't focus enough on the Father. I think when it's Easter, it's so easy to sometimes leave the Father out of the picture and of all the people who suffered. It was the Father who had—think of the suffering.
I mean, honestly, any parent who's listening to this podcast, Knows that this the suffering the mental anguish is is greater watching your child suffer Then if you were to suffer how many children have or I'm sorry how many parents have prayed? That the suffering of their children be transferred to them. I Mean we don't give the father enough attention or credit for what he suffered for what he sacrificed. I mean, the Savior sacrificed his life. The Father sacrificed
his son, which is the greater sacrifice. The Father tried to teach that to Abraham when he told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. What do you think Abraham would have preferred to
sacrifice? Yeah, himself, no doubt. So I mean we we all need to We all need to pay more attention and understand to greater degree the role of the father his plan of redemption and What he was willing to sacrifice for his children and for the world because he loves the world I I just I just love that I You know, I love the scripture in John chapter 3. In John chapter 3, God so loved the world. God, the Father. That
He gave His only begotten Son. So loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. But here's the next verse, Scott. And the Father sent His Son into the world, Not to condemn the world But that through his son the world might be saved I'm off a few words there, but that's the point the father Sent the son into the world not to condemn the world, but that through Him the son the world might
be saved you got that You had it. Job 3 .17. I'll just read 16 and 17. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Through Him. I know. That's it. Through Jesus, we go back into the presence of the Father. But we
don't pray to Jesus. We pray to the Father. And on that point, it's so important, I think, that we understand the synonymous relationship between prayer and worship. It's Amulek, I think, in Alma chapter 33. Verse 3 or 4 there, Scott. In Alma 33, listen to what Amulek tells the people on the hill of Oneida about after Alma has taught them about faith, Amulek begins to question them.
And what does he say in verse 3 or 4? Verse 3, do you remember to have read what Zenas, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship? Prayer or worship synonymous. Yeah prayer worship is synonymous. So who do we worship? We worship the father we pray to the father. We worship the father In the name of the son, of course, I worship my savior and Redeemer. Of course I do but not in the same way I Don't pray to Jesus It's not appropriate. I Pray to
the father in the name of Jesus. Nobody would be more hurt or offended If I prayed to Jesus, then Jesus. He deflects everything to the Father. So it's just, I think, really important in our mind we remember that. Who are we praying to? Who do we worship? In the name of the Son, through the Son. Temple makes this very clear, right? very clear delineates very clearly the difference between Elohim and Jehovah. We're trying to get back into the presence of the Father through
His Son and His Atonement. I mean that's the whole process of the temple endowment. So I just think it's such a great point that that our friend listener brings up and one that we all need to kind of think about in terms of am I guilty because I think it would be blasphemy to ever put the son before your relationship with the father and You know this good brother is probably about my same age Who's asking this and he probably remembers the kind of condemning? Condemning
is that the right word? I think it is Anyway the powerful the powerful talk of Bruce R McConkey back in I think March of 1981 or 1982 it was 82 then he talks about the relationship between the father of the son and the Holy Ghost that we should not seek to have a special relationship with Jesus at the cost of affecting our relationship
with the Father. And if we are going to get out of whack and out of balance, if we're going to worship a member of the Godhead or have a relationship with a member of the Godhead more than any of the other two, maybe we should err on having a relationship with the Holy Ghost. Because the Holy Ghost is the one that connects us to the Father and the Son through His Spirit. Through the Holy Ghost, we receive revelation. Through the Holy Ghost, we become sanctified, justified.
I mean, you know, so I just think it's really important that we understand the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and our relationship to them. Keep all of that in balance and in perspective, in proper, holy perspective. Right. Love it. Philip, Philip, I just bring this up. Philip wanted to see the Father. Show us the Father, which ought to say something about what Jesus had taught about the Father and the
Son. their relationship and not being the same physical, corporeal being, you know, flesh and bone. Philip says, show us the Apostle Philip, not the Seventy Philip. The Apostle says, show us the Father. And Jesus says, Philip, Philip, Philip, how long have I been with you? If you've seen me, you've seen the Father. Now it's true, if I really want to know the character. and personality and the attributes of the Father. I can learn
that best by studying the life of the Son. So it's obvious that we study the life of the Son. But why? If it's just to have a relationship with Jesus, we're out of whack. We study the life. I mean, this was what Jesus was telling Philip. We study the life of the Son. that we may not only know Him and love Him, but Jesus would even be happier if through His life we came to know the Father and loved Him. That was His purpose. Everything. Well, good day. Thanks
for sharing your mission. Yeah, excited about that. I have a lot of preparation to make. I'm grateful that we had this question asked, and definitely something that should cause pause and consideration for each one of us, and at least an opportunity to take personal inventory.
and maybe even do a personal assessment on where am I with my relationship with deity and have I over rotated to one or the other or am I in danger of ever doing that and what do I need to do to maintain my focus on the Father because of the Son through the Holy Ghost? Good question, Scott. Yeah. Hope everybody will. really ponder those questions. They're important questions and the answers to these questions are the very things that guide our lives in the ways that
we claim that we want them guided. So there we have it. Instruments of grace. Thank you everybody. Thanks for being with us gang Appreciate you being with us each and every week as we draw these to a close We're gonna be doing it with some a little bit of sadness in our heart But we are really grateful for for your attendance and being with us before I close today again Just a reminder to send us your questions that
he redeems us at gmail .com Another thing and I should probably make mention of this at the beginning of the podcast next time We record this as well. We have a lot of new listeners A lot of you are brand new to us within the last several weeks. And we love that. We welcome you.
We hope that you've been. Fortified we hope that you've been blessed by being here with us I'm going to extend an invitation to those of you who are just joining us if you will go back to season 3 we're in currently in season 3 I think this will be episode 66 or something like that. So if you'll go back approximately 66 weeks to season 3 episode 1 and participate in the coursework that follows right along with the Divine Gift of Forgiveness. You'll learn all about that when
you go there. David was very instrumental in helping produce that piece of work with Elder Anderson. So go back and do that course beginning with week one and go all the way through it. And for having done that, I promise you a new. closer relationship with all of deity. Hey gang, thanks so much for being with us today. We love you, we hope you feel that, but more importantly we hope you feel of the love from our Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost. Thanks for being
with us. We look forward to being with you again next week and until then, be well.