Our Path of Duty by Bishop Keith B McMullin

My thoughts on a talk by Bishop Keith B. McMullin, April 2010 entitled Our Path of Duty.

This is a talk full of hope. Here is a great quote from his talk:

"For those who eschew evil and live good lives, who strive for a brighter day and keep the commandments of God, things can get better and better even in the face of tragedy. The Savior showed us the way. From Gethsemane, the cross, and the tomb, He rose triumphant, bringing life and hope to us all. He bids us, 'Come, follow me.'"

He also quotes the prophet, Thomas S. Monson:

"President Thomas S. Monson has counseled: 'If we are to walk with head held high, we must make our contribution to life. If we are to fulfill our destiny and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must keep His commandments and pattern our lives after the Savior. By so doing, we will not only achieve our goal of eternal life, but we will also leave the world richer and better than it would have been had we not lived and performed our duties.'"

Bishop McMullin also quotes Ecclesiastes 12:13:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

At this point, he focuses his talk more on our duties. He explains that our duty is "what we are expected to do and to be." He goes on to explain this about our duty:

"It is a moral imperative summoning forth from individuals and communities that which is right, true, and honorable. Duty does not require perfection, but it does require diligence. It is not simply what is legal; it is what is virtuous. It is not reserved to the mighty or high in station but instead rests on a foundation of personal responsibility, integrity, and courage. Doing one’s duty is a manifestation of one’s faith."

Sometimes we think that if it's legal, it must be right. How far from the truth is this! Legal is so far from moral and ethical. And we all have a conscience that helps us determine right from wrong. A large part of our path of duty is simply keeping the covenants and promises that we've made with the Lord.

He teaches that the duty of all men is first to God, and then to "one another, to their family, to their church and nation, to all things entrusted to their care."

The last part of his talk explains how we can know our duty in the midst of crisis. The key is prayer. We must pray in faith and as inspired by the Spirit. He concludes his talk with this powerful testimony:

"I bear my witness that our path of duty is clearly marked by an undivided faith and belief in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of prayer. This path is to be traveled by all of God’s children who love Him and desire to keep His commandments. For the young, it leads to personal achievement and preparation; for adults, it leads to renewed faith and resolve; for the older generation, it leads to perspective and endurance in righteousness to the end. It equips every faithful traveler with the strength of the Lord, protects him from the evils of the day, and endows him with the knowledge that 'the conclusion of the whole matter [is to] Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.' In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."