Rise Up, O Men of God

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of Kings.

Rise up, O men of God,
In one united throng.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up, and make her great!

Rise up, O men of God!
Tread where his feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!
(Hymns, no. 324; third verse in The Oxford American Hymnal, ed. Carl F. Pfatteicher [1930], no. 256)

I love this hymn. It has been amoung my favorites since my mission president talked about it some years ago. While it is a priesthood song, I believe it applies to all of us.

About three years ago, President Hinckley gave a talk by the same title "Rise Up, O Men of God." I bring it up today because I had an interesting exchange with someone I don't know recently. Based on some things I had on a profile about education, they pegged me as a materialistic person.

When I first read their comment, I was taken back a little. I didn't ever think that someone who is a driven learner, wanting to find someone else with the same nature, was a materialistic thing. This caused me to think back to this quote by President Hinckley in that talk:

"I call your attention to another matter that gives me great concern. In revelation the Lord has mandated that this people get all the education they can. He has been very clear about this. But there is a troubling trend taking place. Elder Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of Church Education, advises me that in the United States nearly 73 percent of young women graduate from high school, compared to 65 percent of young men. Young men are more likely to drop out of school than young women.

"Approximately 61 percent of young men enroll in college immediately following high school, compared to 72 percent for young women.

"In 1950, 70 percent of those enrolled in college were males, and 30 percent were females; by 2010 projections estimate 40 percent will be males, and 60 percent will be females.

"Women have earned more bachelor’s degrees than men every year since 1982 and more master’s degrees since 1986.

"It is plainly evident from these statistics that young women are exceeding young men in pursuing educational programs. And so I say to you young men, rise up and discipline yourself to take advantage of educational opportunities. Do you wish to marry a girl whose education has been far superior to your own? We speak of being “equally yoked.” That applies, I think, to the matter of education."

Can I just say "wow!"? I shared this with that person and told them I didn't think it was wrong to be looking for someone who is being obedient to the commandments of the Lord. In my life, I am looking for someone who can, and will, become my equal on all levels; and I on his. I do not seek for anything less.

Does that mean that intelligence is tied to a piece of paper in my mind? No. My father is a wonderful engineer and mechanic, and he never finished college. He is one of the most intelligent people I know; he is a constant learner. And that is what is important to me, finding someone who is ever learning.

So, rise up, o men of God and get going. If you don't, you just might loose that girl you could have had. Obedience is everything, and it is only by being totally obedient that the Lord can bless us.