The Nature of Needs ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take four minutes to seven minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a BYU Devotional in February 1986, and it is called "The Nature of Needs" by Elder Derek A. Cuthbert. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional and I hope that you would be able to learn something new. 

Elder Cuthbert has mentioned the following; "Anciently, the Apostle Paul gave firm assurance that “my God shall supply all your need[s]” (Philippians 4:19). ... As we study man in his many roles and challenges in life, we find that there is not a single one of God’s children who does not have many needs. ... Indeed, he wants to fulfill our needs. ... A need can be a “necessary duty or obligation.” It may also be a “lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful.” Sometimes it can be a “condition requiring supply or relief,” which in the extreme case means the “lack of the means of subsistence.”

Let us consider, then, the nature of needs. This will help us to identify them, and then to fulfill them.

By Duty or Obligation - First, there is our need to do certain things, whether by duty or obligation. 

Of paramount importance here is the need to pray. ... Jesus taught us not only the need to pray but how to pray showing reverence and gratitude, making petition and commitment, praying daily, and in his name. However, the adversary places many obstacles in our paths such as the spirit of rebellion, feelings of selfishness, and a false sense of spiritual self-sufficiency. ... Promptings such as “I won’t pray!” “Why should I pray?” “I have no need to pray” can all be overcome. 

What great blessings come from prayer, which not only brings rich rewards, but is its own reward. ... Answers to prayer are not in man’s time, but in God’s time. Patience, faith, and humble submission are finally rewarded. ... 

There are many other duty–needs, of course, as important as prayer. ... This is surely a duty and an obligation,

for we owe him a great debt of gratitude. ... We show our gratitude by our faith, and we show our faith by our thoughts, words, and especially our deeds. 

Any thinking person would like to make a fresh start, begin a clean sheet, correct past mistakes, and go forward, untrammelled by the past. It all becomes possible by first having faith in Jesus Christ as our personal savior and redeemer, and second, by making the necessary changes to conform with his teachings through the process of repentance. We all have a need to repent and make changes, every day, every month, every year. After repentance a person is ready to be baptized. Baptism is also a fundamental and universal need, for it is the gateway into the Lord’s church, the church of Jesus Christ. ...

There is a great need for every person in the world to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost in their lives. The Holy Ghost helps us in our work and in our studies, protects and warns us, and brings things to our remembrance. This great gift is bestowed upon us following baptism into the Lord’s church. It is indeed a duty to seek to have this gift, for we can bring blessings to others and live purposeful lives ourselves when we have the Holy Ghost. ...

“Things Ye Have Need Of”

... I would like to discuss with you the second kind. These are the needs that represent “a lack of something.” Sometimes we do not recognize these, but it is good to have the assurance that our “Father knoweth what things [w]e have need of” (Matthew 6:8).

Your needs.

A Need for Knowledge

I will select a few of the many needs, beginning with knowledge, especially knowledge of the Almighty God, and of his beloved son, Jesus Christ. ... 

The missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are such teachers, who will not only impart facts and share knowledge, but who will also help us to develop wisdom.

... There are many more great teachers exemplars of whom I could tell but I just have one more, my dear wife. How much I have learned from her in charity, in patience, in endurance, in joyfulness. She has lifted me now for over forty years, and has shown me wisdom as we have counseled together, prayed together, laughed together, and cried together. ...

Sometimes we do not realize what knowledge or wisdom we need, but God knows and we should “ask the Father ... for what things soever [w]e shall stand in need” (Mormon 9:27). ... What of us? Some of us tend to say, “I keep the commandments, I attend my church meetings, I pay my tithes and offerings, and I live the Word of Wisdom.” Then the Lord gives us a real test. Leave the things of the world and give yourself in service. Will we do it? Will you do it when the call comes?

Why should we respond to such a demand, such a sacrifice? Why did the Savior respond to the great demands upon him as he endured persecution, ridicule, and betrayal? Why did he, the Son of God, respond by sacrificing his very life? He did it because he loved us, and loves us, unconditionally. Why should we respond? “As I have loved you . . . love one another,” he has challenged (John 13:34). The degree to which we follow him and keep his commandments indicates the depth of our gratitude to him and the sincerity of our love for him. Each of us has different needs, but the gospel fulfills them all. I can truly testify to you today that since becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have had all my needs fulfilled—spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially." 

Stay Tuned until next time.