Reflections of a Consecrated Life

Note: This is a paper I had to write reflecting on a talk given by one of the General Authorities in the most recent conference session. I'd like to preserve some of the thoughts I had and, as my class requires frequent journal writing, this is the medium I'm using. The talk I referenced can be found here.

As with most college students, the issue of what to do with my life has been one that has weighed heavily on my mind recently. I am approaching the end of my academic career, though a year-long internship will post-pone my actual graduation date, and have had cause to look hard at the things I have and have not accomplished so far. A couple years ago, it was made plain to me what my direction for life should be and the assurance that I am headed in the right direction has remained with me since then. However, other aspects of my life have been neglected out of fear and distraction. The Lord has been firm with me lately regarding what else I need to be striving for. In light of this, I chose to focus on Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk “Reflections on a Consecrated Life”. In it, he gave five main elements to a consecrated life: purity, work, service, respect for one’s physical body, and integrity. This paper will focus on my reflections of each as they have appeared in my life.

The first element I will discuss is purity, especially as it applies to repentance. Elder Christofferson says that true repentance involves complete submission. It is putting off the natural man and “acceptance of all the Lord may require”. While I do well keeping myself clean, it is my stubbornness that I have had cause to repent of. It has come to my attention that there are blessings that the Lord dearly wants me to have at this time, blessings that I have tried to put off in favor of other, objectively equal, paths He has also asked me to pursue. I am learning, albeit slowly, that in order to fully consecrate my life I must also give up my fears, understanding that though they may be reasonable, they are not justified. It has no place if I truly have faith in the plans God has for me.

I am taking the liberty of combining work and service into one topic, as they are closely intertwined. Elder Christofferson states that “work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God” (emphasis mine) and that “God has designed this mortal existence to require nearly constant exertion”. Experiences in my youth led me to believe that I must never rely on or expect help from other people, save God. Success became defined as being able to take full responsibility for myself in every aspect: financially, spiritually, romantically, and the like. In many ways, I was blessed with this liberation for I could relate full well to the thought that Elder Christofferson quoted from Elder Evans: “Life offers you two precious gifts—one is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will”. Thankfully, the Lord was merciful enough to give me experiences that led me to start surrendering, or consecrating, my life to Him. While the job I am seeking now is one far below my original pay grade and esteem goals, it is the daily service that is rendered from it that makes it far more satisfying than I ever expected.

The next element of consecration is respect for one’s physical body. Elder Christofferson reminds us that our bodies are temples of God and the instrument of our spirits. It should thus be treated as a creation of God, not to be defiled or abused. Like most young women, I have struggled with my physical body, even frequently treating it as an enemy. Only in the past two years have I learned to appreciate what its true purpose is: to help me perform the duties I am called to do. The inappropriate attention from others that made me fear it, the hate the I directed towards it, and the things I did to it to simultaneously punish and “improve” it were no more than tools of the enemy that prevented me from forming a united soul (body and spirit) that could be presented to the Lord to be used for His purposes.

The last element that Elder Christofferson mentions is integrity, driven from knowledge that we are accountable to God for all our doings. Though perhaps one of the most important ones, it is the element I have the least to say about as developing it is a life-long process that requires I surrender even my character to God. It is dealing with all men honestly and fairly, with compassion and honor, and is reflected in the interactions that occur daily. I do not claim perfection in this. I can only say that I will continue to move forward and pray that God will aid me.

The impression I was given while listening to and studying Elder Christofferson’s talk is that living a consecrated life involves seeking revelation about the things the Lord would have you do and then acting on the revelations you receive without fail. Work and effort are guaranteed but will be made holy through divine purpose, purpose that very often involves serving others. Respecting the physical body will make it easier to perform the tasks you are given. Integrity is required as a daily commitment and purity is necessary in order to ensure the most open lines of communication between you and your Heavenly Father. But these are all self-supporting elements; the more they are strengthened the more readily they will be sustained. My intention is to have a fully consecrated life; my actions are still moving towards it.