Feast at the Table of the Lord

"Come Back and Feast at the Table of the Lord," an invitation Howard W. Hunter gave the day after we became the president of the Church, is the title of Chapter 12. "Come back. Stand with us. Carry on. Be believing. All is well, and all will be well. Feast at the table laid before you in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and strive to follow the Good Shepherd who has provided it." Surely in this noisy, darkened, uncertain world, we each need the safety and security that can be ours when we not only follow the Savior but also feast at His table.

Consider the counsel we received in our most recent general conference:

"We live in a world that can cause us to forget who we really are. The more distractions that surround us, the easier it is to treat casually, then ignore, and then forget our connection with God." - Donald L. Hallstrom1

"We live in a noisy and busy world. If we are not careful, the things of this world can drown out the things of the Spirit.” - Mary R. Durham2

"There will be times when the path ahead seems dark, but keep following the Savior. He knows the way; in fact, He is the way." Stephen W. Owen3

"Whatever our current direction or distance to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can choose to turn toward Them and draw closer to Them. To draw closer to the Savior, we must increase our faith in Him, make and keep covenants, and have the Holy Ghost with us. We must also act in faith, responding to the spiritual direction we receive. No matter where you stand in your relationship to God, I invite you to draw nearer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Benefactors and Givers of all that is good." - Dale G. Renlund4

So, while much of the lesson focuses on encouraging us to help others come back and feast, I couldn't help but feel that President Hunter's invitation to come and feast should be applied equally to all of us. Are we truly feasting at the table of the Lord? Do we appreciate the feast that is before us? Do we take all that is being offered? Do we appreciate the One who offers the feast? How can we help others have a desire to feast if we don't ourselves appreciate the banquet or the Provider?

Boyd K. Packer said, "We, as members of the Church, have the fullness of the gospel. Every conceivable manner of spiritual nourishment is ours. Every part of the spiritual menu is included. It provides an unending supply of spiritual strength. Like the widow’s cruse of oil, it is replenished as we use it and shall never fail."5

One item on that spiritual menu Elder Packer talked about is the temple. How often are we feasting there? M. Russell Ballard said, "Making and keeping sacred covenants in the house of the Lord is the most delicious course at the Lord’s table. It is the ultimate, satisfying spiritual feast of the gospel of Jesus Christ in mortality; it has eternal consequences."6

Elder Ballard taught that we "need to generate an appetite for gospel sustenance. We must 'hunger and thirst after righteousness' before we can be filled. We need to cultivate spiritual strength within ourselves before we can ever hope to engender it in others. Individual, personal testimony of gospel truth, particularly the divine life and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, is essential to our eternal life."6

I loved Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson's talk in April general conference. It was a much needed reminder for us to seriously think about what we have and what it means to us. She asked a couple of soul-searching questions, "Do we sometimes become so accustomed to the blessings we have been given as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that we fail to fully comprehend the miracle and majesty of discipleship in the Lord’s true Church? Are we ever guilty of being complacent about the greatest gift we can be offered in this life?"7

In his April 2006 general conference talk, Joseph B. Wirthlin warned, "The abundant life is a spiritual life. Too many sit at the banquet table of the gospel of Jesus Christ and merely nibble at the feast placed before them. They go through the motions—attending their meetings perhaps, glancing at scriptures, repeating familiar prayers—but their hearts are far away. If they are honest, they would admit to being more interested in the latest neighborhood rumors, stock market trends, and their favorite TV show than they are in the supernal wonders and sweet ministerings of the Holy Spirit."8

If we are merely nibbling or just going through the motions, are we truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Gerald N. Lund reminds us, "Conversion is not an either 'you are or you are not' proposition. There are different levels of conversion. Members who have been faithful and active in the Church for years begin to wonder whether it is all worth it, especially when life turns sour and things get rough. For others, they are still living the gospel, but as one stake president said, 'The joy is gone.' I don't believe we're expected to have our lives be filled with nearly endless joy and happiness. We all have things that challenge us, or make life a drudgery at times. But have we lost sight of the joy of the gospel? Have we lost hope and decided that the life of discipleship is only another burden to be borne until we leave this life? If so, we need to review our conversion, expand our vision, rekindle our faith, and rediscover the joy. We should all be asking ourselves, 'Is my level of conversion deep enough to see me through whatever hard times I am going through now, or those that yet lie ahead?'"9

Sister Oscarson said, "We all need to seek to have our hearts and very natures changed so that we no longer have a desire to follow the ways of the world but to please God. True conversion is a process that takes place over a period of time and involves a willingness to exercise faith. It comes when we search the scriptures instead of the Internet. It comes when we are obedient to the commandments of God. Conversion comes when we serve those around us. It comes from earnest prayer, regular temple attendance, and faithful fulfillment of our God-given responsibilities. It takes consistency and daily effort."7

As is always the case, the Savior is our perfect example! Following Him doesn't make life easy, but it surely makes it easier! He loves us! He has shown us the way. He is the light, life and hope we should seek. Jeffrey R. Holland beautifully taught, "In spite of life’s tribulations and as fearful as some of our prospects are, I testify that there is help for the journey. There is the Bread of Eternal Life and the Well of Living Water. Christ has overcome the world—our world—and His gift to us is peace now and exaltation in the world to come. Our fundamental requirement is to have faith in Him and follow Him—always. When He bids us to walk in His way and by His light, it is because He has walked this way before us, and He has made it safe for our own travel here. He knows where the sharp stones and stumbling blocks lie hidden and where thorns and thistles are the most severe. He knows where the path is perilous, and He knows which way to go when the road forks and nightfall comes. All who are hungering and thirsting, and sometimes wandering, hear this invitation from Him who is the Bread of Life, the Fountain of Living Water, the Good Shepherd of us all, the Son of God: 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, … and ye shall find rest unto your souls.'"10

May we accept President Hunter's invitation to “take literally the Savior’s invitation to ‘come, follow me.’ He is the only sure way; he is the light of the world.”