February 18, 2026

This quote by Abraham has come up for the past few weeks and I absolutely love it. "Having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness".

He is righteous, which was an initial choice. I'd imagine not an easy choice, either, seeing as everyone around him, including his father, had forsaken the gospel taught to Adam, and even more recently, Noah. But he chose to be righteous.

He then desired great knowledge. We gain knowledge in the temple, the scriptures, from our worship and from church leaders. The greatest teacher is the Holy Ghost. Great knowledge comes from righteousness.

But Abraham did not stop there, he desired to be a greater follower of righteousness. He did not want a bite of the fruit, he wanted to feast. And with greater righteousness comes greater knowledge, and an increased closeness to God and our Savior.

What a great example Abraham is for us. I am grateful for this pattern he gives us. If we want to want a greater thirst for righteousness, we have to start by doing the things we know to be good and right. As we do these things we will gain greater knowledge, and that knowledge opens our eyes and our hearts, it builds testimony of the impact of the good things we are doing, filling is with a greater hunger and a clearer vision of God's plan of happiness.

Pharaoh, the great grandson of Noah, was a righteous man who strived to imitate the order of the fathers. He was good, he sought good, he walked with and learned from Noah. However, he did not have the priesthood.

A church without the power and authority of God may teach righteousness, but without the priesthood the work of salvation cannot be accomplished. Without the priesthood, even if everyone lived a righteous life, the earth would be utterly wasted.

Why can't I just live a good life? Why do I need religion? Because the true gospel of Christ comes with the power and authority to exactly His children. Good is not enough.