President J. Ruben Clark Jr. (a counselor to three presidents of the Church including President David O. McKay) pled, as he did many times—for unity in a general conference talk: warned us against being selective in what we will obey. He put it this way: The Lord has given us nothing that is useless or unnecessary. He has filled the scriptures with things that we should do in order that we many gain salvation…. When we partake of the Sacrament we covenant to obey and keep his commandments. There are no exceptions. There are no distinctions, no differences (CR Apr 1955, 10-11)
President Clark taught that just as we repent of all sin, not just a single sin, we pledge to keep all the commandments. Hard as that sounds, it is uncomplicated. We simply submit to the authority of the Savior and promise to be obedient to whatever He commands. It is our surrender to the Authority of Jesus Christ which will allow us to be bound as families as a Church, and as Children of our Heavenly Father.
