Knowing how commonly the name of God is spoken in vain, I wanted to make sure they were crystal clear on what was appropriate.

This led to some teaching moments when they thought any mention of God was inappropriate, so context had to be taught. For example, I had to emphasize that hearing the sacrament prayers at church start, “Oh God, the Eternal Father…” was not inappropriate.

Reverence for sacred things was the topic spoken of by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the semiannual gathering of the church in April. “Reverence for sacred things” was, in fact, the title of his address.

“Reverence for the sacred fosters genuine gratitude, expands true happiness, leads our minds to revelation, and brings greater joy to our lives,” Elder Soares said in his talk as written on the church’s website.

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

Defining reverence, Elder Soares said:

“The word reverence can be traced to the Latin verb revereri, which means to ‘stand in awe of.’ In the gospel sense, this definition mingles with a feeling or attitude of profound respect, love, and gratitude. Such expression for the sacred by those who have a contrite heart and deep devotion to God and Jesus Christ fosters increased joy in their souls.”

Elaborating, Elder Soares continued:

“Reverence for sacred things is the greatest manifestation of a vital spiritual quality; it is a by-product of our connection to holiness and reflects our love for and proximity to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is also one of the most elevated experiences of the soul. Such virtue directs our thoughts, hearts, and lives toward Deity. In fact, reverence is not just an aspect of spirituality; it is the essence of it–the foundation upon which spirituality is built, creating a personal connection to the divine, as taught by our children when they sing, ‘When I am rev’rent, I know in my heart Heav’nly Father and Jesus are near.’

“As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are invited to cultivate the gift of reverence in our lives in order to open ourselves to a deeper communion with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, simultaneously strengthening our spiritual character. Had we more of such feelings in our hearts, there would be undoubtedly greater joy and delight in our lives, and there would be less room for sorrow and sadness. We must remember that showing reverence for sacred things gives meaning to much of what we do every day and strengthens our feeling of gratitude–inspiring awe, respect, and love for higher and holier things.”

As I look at the world and I see the decrease in reverence for sacred things as evidenced in simple ways, such has how normalized speaking God’s name in vain has become (even by many who profess to be Christians), I find myself wondering, is it any wonder why so many don’t have joy and delight in their lives? Is it any wonder that sorrow and sadness permeates society? Is it any wonder that divisiveness and evil have increased? To me, the connection is obvious. If we want a society that has more joy and delight and less sorrow, sadness and hostility, we need to increase our spiritual connection to God through our reverence for sacred things.

Speaking of the reality of irreverence and its consequences, Elder Soares said:

“Unfortunately, we live in a world where showing reverence for sacred things is becoming increasingly uncommon. In fact, the world celebrates the irreverent, as any perusal of a tabloid magazine, television program, or the internet attests. The absence of respect for the sacred produces an increasing casualness in attitude and carelessness in conduct, which can rapidly spiral one generation into apathy and catapult the next generation into misery.

“Irreverence can also lead us away from the bonds that covenants with God provide and diminish our sense of accountability before Deity. Consequently, we run the risk of caring only about our own comfort; satisfying our uncontrolled appetites; and ultimately arriving to the unholy place of despising sacred things, even God, and consequently our divine nature as children of Heavenly Father. Irreverence toward sacred things furthers the adversary’s aims by disrupting our sensitive channels of revelation, which are crucial for our spiritual survival in our day.”

When we see the blessings of reverence, like joy and delight, and we see the effects of irreverence, as Elder Soares articulated, I’m not sure why anyone would choose irreverence. Having had moments myself where I’ve been more in tune with the spirit than others through my choices, I’ve come to see the difference firsthand in my life, and it’s stark.

Elder Soares went on to warn against using technology – specifically, artificial intelligence – as a “substitute for the inspiration, edification, and witness that can be received only through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Speaking specifically about how to be more reverent, he noted the importance of “praying before our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ and seeking to better know our Savior through our diligent study of the word of God found in the scriptures and in the teachings of our prophets.”

He also emphasized striving “to honor the covenants we have made with the Lord by living in obedience to the commandments,” saying that “focusing on such actions can surely help transform our homes into reverent places of spiritual refuge–personal sanctuaries of faith where the Spirit resides…”

Additionally, Elder Soares highlighted the importance of church and temple worship.

Speaking of a personal experience that he said “caused a meaningful transformation” in the discipleship of him and his wife, Elder Soares said:

“I remember like it was yesterday walking through the cemetery before burying our second child, who was born prematurely and did not survive, while my wife was still recovering in the hospital. I recall praying to God with great fervency and reverence, asking for help to cope with that challenging trial. In that instant, I received a clear and powerful spiritual assurance in my heart: Everything will be fine in our lives if my wife and I endure, holding on to the joy that comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. What seemed like an overwhelming, sorrowful challenge at the time turned into a sacred, reverent experience, a capstone that has helped sustain our faith and has given us confidence in the covenants we have made with the Lord and in His promises for me and my family.”

Elder Soares concluded:

“My brothers and sisters, reverence for the sacred fosters genuine gratitude, expands true happiness, leads our minds to revelation, and brings greater joy to our lives. It places our feet on holy ground and lifts our hearts to Deity.

“I testify to you that as we strive to incorporate such virtue into our daily lives, we will be able to increase our humility, expand our understanding of God’s will for us, and strengthen our confidence in the promises of the covenants we have made with the Lord. I witness that as we embrace this gift of reverence for sacred things–whether in the mountain of the Lord’s house, in a meetinghouse, or in our own homes–we will be filled with astounding amazement and awe as we connect to the perfect love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”

Despite tragedy that few can comprehend or even truly imagine, I have experienced an increase in genuine gratitude, an expansion of true happiness, greater capacity to receive revelation and more joy as I have shown reverence for sacred things.

It might sound surprising that such is possible, but it’s not really. Those blessings come because of reverence for the sacred, and they are available for anyone, no matter who, as abundantly as they are desired, regardless of the situation.

Contact Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.