The Lord Said the Saints Needed to Be “Chastened and Tried, Even as Abraham,” to Help Them Learn Obedience, Remember Him, and Become Sanctified
Doctrine and Covenants 101:4–5
4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.
5 For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.
President Russell M. Nelson said:
“Many of you have already qualified for endowment in the temple, and others will have that great privilege yet in the future. In the temple, with the authority of the sealing power, blessings of the Abrahamic covenant will be conferred. There, we may truly become heirs to all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
“Each of them had severe trials in life. So will each of us, without exception. Speaking to the Saints of our day, the Lord said:
“‘They must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.’
“‘For all those who will not endure chastening . . . cannot be sanctified’ (D&C 101:4–5; see also D&C 136:31).
“Submissive suffering is just as essential to our sanctification now as it was to patriarchs and prophets before. Knowing who we are helps us to endure our own Abrahamic tests.”
(In “Thanks for the Covenant,” BYU devotional address, Nov. 22, 1988.)
