By Christopher Seifert
Jesus Christ gave mankind his all and now mankind must give him theirs, said Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Saturday afternoon session of general conference.
An individual must consecrate to God his heart, soul and mind, Elder Maxwell said. This is difficult for many, but necessary nonetheless, he said.
'Many ignore consecration because it seems too abstract or too daunting,' Elder Maxwell said. 'The conscientious, however, experience divine discontent because of progression mixed with procrastination.'
Many people are reluctant to surrender the final portion of their will to God, Elder Maxwell said.
'Thus, whatever else we may have already given, the last portion is the hardest to yield,' he said. 'Granted, partial surrender is still commendable, but it resembles, more than faintly, the excuse, ''I gave at the office.'''
Elder Maxwell said each individual, in a small way, must emulate the 'breathtaking submissiveness' of the Savior as he suffered 'the anguish and agonies of the Atonement.'
'In pondering and pursuing consecration, understandably we tremble inwardly at what may be required,' he said. 'Yet the Lord has said consolingly, ''My grace is sufficient for you.'''
God will not bless an individual completely until one''s wills are congruent to His, Elder Maxwell said.
'Having our wills increasingly swallowed up by the will of the Father actually means an enhanced individuality, stretched and more capable of receiving ''all that hath,''' he said.