The Lord taught Joseph Knight, Sr. in May 1829 that “no one can assist” in His work “except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care” (Doctrine and Covenants 12:8).
The phrase “temperate in all things” appears once in the Bible. The apostle Paul teaches church members in Corinth, home to an athletic competition called the Isthmian Games, that the path of discipleship is like the training of an athlete:
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Just as athletes carefully control their diet, sleep, and fitness regime, we must discipline ourselves as followers of Christ, engaging in activities which strengthen our faith and eliminating activities which would distract us from our ultimate goal of eternal life.
Alma urged the people in the city of Gideon to exhibit a number of Christlike attributes, including “being temperate in all things” (Alma 7:23). He later told his son Shiblon, “I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things” (Alma 38:10).
Elder Kent D. Watson compared a temperate soul to tempered glass. He was once in a serious automobile accident in which a tire from a large truck flew into his windshield. Although the glass shattered, he did not suffer a single laceration. He explained:
Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily break into jagged shards that can injure.
Likewise, a temperate soul—one who is humble and full of love—is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today’s world.
“Being Temperate in All Things,” General Conference, October 2009
Today, I will strive to be temperate in all things. Like an elite athlete, I will exercise self control. Like tempered class, I will develop the ability to maintain my composure under stress in order to avoid harming myself or others. I will remember that temperance is required for all servants of Jesus Christ.
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