Build a foundation on Jesus Christ, Bishop Waddell invites

After arriving within the Salt Lake Valley after the long trek across the plains, Brigham Young and a number of companions climbed a tall hill and raised an ensign, or a normal, to the nations.

“You are being prepared to be your individual version of an ensign to the nations,” Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, first counselor within the Presiding Bishopric, told Ensign College students in a devotional on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

“The foundation, to which you should anchor, allowing you to face firmly on high ground, is Jesus Christ,” he said.

This foundation will allow the scholars to remain on high ground, with their standard firmly anchored, so the sunshine which emanates from them will be seen.

Must, when and can’t

Helaman 5:12 reads, “And now, my sons, remember, keep in mind that it’s upon the rock of our Redeemer, who’s Christ, the Son of God, that ye must construct your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts within the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall don’t have any power over you to pull you all the way down to the gulf of misery and limitless wo, due to the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men construct they can not fall.”

Bishop Waddell identified three words from that verse — “must,” “when” and “cannot.”

He said “must” indicates that there are not any alternatives that may provide the identical form of sure foundation that Jesus Christ can provide.  

“We must construct our foundation on Jesus Christ.  There is just too much at stake. Any other alternative, some other foundation will ultimately fail us.” 

The word “when” is a reminder that the challenges of life are usually not optional — they usually are an element of this mortal life.

Bishop Waddell shared how within the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees, present in Jacob 5, the Lord of the vineyard directed the servant to not clear away the bad abruptly. 

“We need opposition to grow. That is how we will probably be strengthened,” he said.

The word “cannot” is definitive — “‘They cannot fall’ is a sure promise to people who select to construct on the muse of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Waddell said. 

The best and worst of times

Bishop Waddell invited the scholars to offer careful thought to how they’ll balance their careers, family responsibilities and church callings — all of which is able to impact the form of foundation they construct in an effort to stay on high ground, their “ensign to the world.”

Charles Dickens’ book “A Tale of Two Cities” begins thus: “It was the very best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness …”

Today on one side are the “worst of times,” with Satan’s strong influence on the earth, thick mists of darkness and a crowded and mocking spacious constructing from Lehi’s vision.

But today is also the “better of times.” Never has the trail that results in the tree of life been more clearly marked, Bishop Waddell said. 

“Never has the rod of iron, the word of God, as given through scriptures and by living Prophets and Apostles, been more easily available and simply gripped on the trail to the tree of life.”

3 tools to attract near to the Savior

Bishop Waddell said the Lord has provided three tools to assist His children draw near to the Savior and to learn of Him as they strive to determine a sure foundation for his or her lives.

1. Learn of Him within the temple.

Church President Russell M. Nelson taught in October 2021 general conference that the temple lies at the middle of strengthening faith and spiritual fortitude — since the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple.

2. Draw near to Him through the scriptures.

Studying the scriptures regularly brings the spirit into the house and provides guidance and direction, Bishop Waddell said. “Keep the Book of Mormon as a part of your day by day study.”

3. Hear His voice while listening to modern prophets and apostles.

“You should view general conference weekends as a very powerful weekends of the yr and do all that you may to never miss them,” Bishop Waddell said.  “… Remember, prophets don’t stand between us and the Savior, they stand next to us, pointing us to the Savior.”

With these tools and constructing a foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ, people will have the ability to determine their ensign and let their light shine and be seen.