King David in Psalms 51:10 pleads with the Lord:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Our obedience begins with a right spirit. To please the Lord we do what is right for the right
reasons.

In Sunday School last Sunday we read about the offerings of Cain and Abel. Abel's offering was
accepted, but Cain's was not because he could not offer it in faith and in the way prescribed by
God. The command had been to offer the firstlings of their flocks (Moses 5:5,7) in similitude of
the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Cain's heart was not right. He asked, "Who is the Lord that I should know him?" He loved Satan
more than God. He listened to Satan and made an offering of the fruit of the ground contrary to
the command to sacrifice the firstlings of their flocks.

In the preexistence we chose good over evil. In this life we do so by exercising our faith in Jesus
Christ. (DC 76:44) Jesus wants our love for Him and Heavenly Father to motivate our obedience
to the commandments. The Lord told us, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
We need to take delight in following and serving the Lord. (Isaiah 58:13-14). As we follow our
Savior we become more Christlike.

To keep our hearts right and keep us on the right path 1) we need to pray. Revelation comes
through prayer. 2) We need to learn to hear the voice of the Lord which will direct us. 3) We
need to obey the word of the Lord as it is given to us. We must do as God bids us to do, no
matter how hard it may seem to us, and to do it now. (Ensign, Nov 2008, p 52)

President Harold B. Lee said:

“You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may conflict with your
political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life
… Your safety and ours depends upon whether or not we follow … Let’s keep our eye on the
President of the Church.” (Conference Report, October 1970, p. 152–153.)

As missionaries we need to follow the prophet and we need to follow the counsel of our mission
president who is directed by the Spirit. Our safety in staying on the right path depends upon our
strict adherence to mission rules.

God sent us to earth to prove us. "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all
things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." (Abraham 3:25)

In DC 38:40-42 we read, "[Let] every man, both elder, priest, teacher, and also member, go to
with his might, with the labor of his hands, to prepare and accomplish the things which I have
commanded. And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in
mildness and in meekness. And go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye clean
that bear the vessels of the Lord. Even so. Amen."

As missionaries we must be clean. The world has lost its way. The Ten Commandments, the
foundation of Christian civilization, are ignored. We must lead and set an example.

You've heard the story of Joseph F. Smith, the son of Hyrum Smith, who became the 6th
president of the church. While he was on a mission in Hawaii as a young boy, he had a dream.

He dreamed he was on a journey, and he had to hurry or he would be late. He rushed as fast as he
could. He was only conscious of having a little bundle, a handkerchief with a small bundle
wrapped in it. He came to a wonderful mansion. He saw a notice which read B-A-T-H. He went
into the bath and washed himself clean. In the bundle was clean clothing which he put on.

Then he rushed to a great door. The Prophet Joseph opened the door. The first words the prophet
said were, "Joseph, you are late." Joseph F. Smith replied, "Yes, but I am clean - I am clean."

The prophet clasped his hand and drew him in. The great and good men he had known were
there, and his mother was there. In the dream he pressed his hand up against the Prophet and saw
a smile cross the Prophet's countenance..

He said after this dream there was nothing he feared. Being clean gave him self-assurance and
courage in facing anyone or any situation. (Ensign, May 2007, p 60-62)

Being clean qualifies us to be servants of the Lord. In Helaman 3:35 we read that the humble
Saints yielded their hearts to God and did fast and pray often and grew stronger and stronger in
their humility and firmer and firmer in their faith of Christ until their hearts were purified and
sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ.