Every Word of Command with Exactness
“Every Word of Command with Exactness”
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
October 13th, 2025
I hope you were able to enjoy General Conference last weekend. I am grateful for the inspired instruction we were provided by our Church leaders. I do not remember leaving a conference more inspired.
During my recent cycle of interviews, a few missionaries have shared with me their concern seeing other missionaries being casual about their obedience to basic missionary standards. One district leader reported to me, “some missionaries in my district believe that because they work hard, they do not need to be obey all the standards.” I was disappointed and surprised by this report. Every time we meet, we review the CASRM Quadrant of “high love” and “high expectations.” Rationalizing away acts of disobedience, for any reason, only leads to greater disobedience – and reduces our culture of discipleship. Please do not use any excuse to rationalize away your obedience to missionary standards.
President Oaks recently taught:
“The commandments of God provide the guiding and steadying force in our lives. Our experiences in mortality are like the little boy and his father flying a kite on a windy day. As the kite rose higher, the winds caused it to tug on the connecting string in the little boy’s hand. Inexperienced with the force of mortal winds, he proposed to cut the string so the kite could rise higher. His wise father counseled no, explaining that the string is what holds the kite in place against mortal winds. If we lose our hold on the string, the kite will not rise higher. It will be carried about by these winds and inevitably crash to the earth.”
President Oaks went on to teach:
“That essential string represents the covenants that connect us to God, our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. As we honor those covenants by keeping Their commandments and following Their plan of redemption, Their promised blessings enable us to soar to celestial heights.” (President Oaks, GC 2October 2024)
There is much we can learn and apply in our missionary work from this instruction given by President Oaks. Please take time in your next district council to discuss how the direction given by President Oaks applies to our missionary work here in CASRM.
I know that obedience to missionary standards is essential to maximize the spiritual strength and inspiration required in our work. The first covenant we make in the temple is Obedience. Helaman, when writing about the 2000 Stripling Warriors, taught the blessings that come from obedience:
“Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; … (Alma 57:21)
Note the words “every” and “exactness” in this verse of scripture. These young warriors were blessed and protected in their battles with the Lamanites largely because of their strong faith built through their exact obedience. Their faith in the Lord, built through their obedience, allowed them to be blessed with miracles. I know we can enjoy the same protection and success.
Please do not be deceived believing there are “small” standards that can be broken vs. “big” standards that need to be followed. When we rationalize our disobedience to any commandment/standard, we run the risk of rationalizing other acts of disobedience. These rationalizations can result in spiritually damaging consequences (see account of Lehonti in Alma 47:6-18) and deny us the companionship of the Holy Ghost – an essential partner for us in this work.
I testify this is the Lord’s work. It is a work of miracles (see the CASRM Quadrant). I know we qualify for miracles through our obedience. As President Oaks taught, our obedience to missionary standards will serve as the string attached to a flying kite. We will be blessed to climb to new heights of discipleship individually and collectively in CASRM.
Love,
President Quinn
(630) 881-4030
