During this last session of the April 1985 General Conference, Elders Oaks and Maxwell spoke of the idea of willing to give up all. How willing are each of us to give up all and come unto the Lord?

I believe this is the most important question to ask ourselves as inhabitants of the earth. We have to be willing to give up all that we think is so important to us (all the world can offer us) in order to receive all that the Father has, which is so much more glorious.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell speaks high-mindedly, which causes us to listen a little more carefully. For example, quoting from the scriptures, he states, “Alas, insofar as we mind the things of the flesh, we simply cannot have the mind of Christ” (see Romans 8:5 and 1 Cor. 2:16).

We already know we can’t serve two masters, but do we really understand what that means? The only way to really see the difference between the masters is to put Christ first and become experts in receiving personal revelation. I can be absolute in this statement because we have all experienced being completely wrapped up in some selfish activity, having no realization of what we’re doing, until someone breaks the all-consuming bubble. Only then do we realize how far we’ve walked away from our Savior.

Our agency in choosing Christ guides us into a clear choice that spurs decisive action on our part. Our problem is that we tend to waffle back and forth between decisive action and inattentive indecisiveness.

The news is full of awful things right now. And what is our first line of defense? We tend to want to change laws, murmur, hunker down with self-preservation, seek professional advice. Pretty much everything EXCEPT turn to the Lord.

Don’t we realize yet that bad things happen for one reason? Wickedness. And the only cure is to come unto the Savior. We cannot save ourselves; we can only ask Jesus Christ to save us. And when we ask Him, the price is to give up our willful wills.

I’m pretty sure I’m in good company, but most of the time I feel like I’m all alone when I’m overwhelmed, and my life is out of control. Yes, I usually know what I should be doing, but sometimes I simply don’t feel like it. The poor me syndrome is my excuse. If I don’t protect me, who will?

Both of these talks stand as that needed, constant reminder of what our Redeemer did and does for us. In seriously pondering the “awful arithmetic of the Atonement” (as Elder Maxwell puts it), I must stop looking for excuses and willingly let go of my anxiety, fear, worry, and even sin.

According to Elder Dallin H. Oaks, the moment we partake of the Sacrament, we agree to do something. But not just do something, we promise to be willing to do something. What are we willing to do?

Trust in Jesus Christ. We willingly give Him what we are most afraid of: our weaknesses and our sins. And we willingly promise to obey His commandments so when He finally comes, we will be ready to receive Him.