The ultimate consecration is yielding up of oneself to God, Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve said Saturday afternoon.
" 'Heart,' 'soul,' and 'mind' were the encompassing words of Christ in describing the first commandment, which is constantly, not periodically, operative. If kept, then our performances will, in turn, be fully consecrated for the lasting welfare of our souls."
Speaking of those who find consecration too abstract or daunting, Elder Maxwell said: "Spiritual submissiveness is not accomplished in an instant, but by incremental improvements and by the successive use of stepping stones. Stepping stones are meant to be taken one at a time anyway," he continued. "Eventually, our wills can be 'swallowed up in the will of the Father' as we are 'willing to submit . . . even as a child doth submit to his father.' Otherwise, though striving, we will continue to feel the world's prop wash and be partially diverted."
Elder Maxwell then gave examples of how people are "partially diverted" and said: "Shrinking occurs in many ways. The terrestrial kingdom, for example, will include the 'honorable,' clearly not bearers of false witness. Yet they were still 'not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.' The best way to valiantly testify of Christ is to become steadily more like Him, and it is consecration that carves out the emulative character."
Elder Maxwell explained that holding back "part" deprives God's work "of some of mankind's very best intellects." In addition, he said, inordinate attention, even to good things, can diminish one's devotion to God. "On the two great commandments, Jesus declared emphatically, everything else hangs, not vice versa!"
Elder Maxwell counseled the congregation to "first acknowledge God's hand." He related the account of Moses at Meribah, recorded in Numbers 20:10-12, when Moses said to the Israelites, "Must we fetch you water?" Elder Maxwell said: "The Lord mentored remarkable Moses through the pronoun problem and further magnified him. We would do well to be as meek as Moses.
"Jesus never, never lost His focus! Though He went about doing so very much good, He always knew the Atonement awaited, pleading with perspective, 'Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.' (John 12:27; John 5:30; John 6:38.)
Elder Maxwell then asked the congregation to consider: "What of Jesus' ministry if He had performed additional miracles but without the transcending miracle of Gethsemane and Calvary? His other miracles brought blessed extensions of life and lessened suffering — for some. But how could these possibly compare with the greatest miracle of the universal resurrection? The multiplying of the loaves and fishes fed a hungry multitude. Even so, recipients were soon hungry again, while those who partake of the Bread of Life will never hunger again.
"In pondering and pursuing consecration, understandably we tremble inwardly at what may be required. Yet the Lord has said consolingly, 'My grace is sufficient for you.' " (Doctrine and Covenants 17:8.)