Elder Cree-L Kofford - Opening Address
from the J. Reuben Clark Law Society Conference in Washington, D.C.
reprinted from Meridian Magazine

In the opening address of the conference, Elder Kofford said, "As Latter-day Saint attorneys we have some things to be aware of that are not true for other people."

Since he was speaking to attorneys, he said he'd put it in their language, "You've made contracts with the Lord over your life. First of all, you will remember that special day in a sacred place where in a solemn and dignified manner you committed to live the law of consecration." This means, he said, that you give all that you have and all that you are to the blessed sacred cause of the gospel.

"Each is entitled to individual inspiration to know what that means in our personal lives. One size does not fit all," he said. "His love and compassion are such that there is room for each of us. He is willing to tailor to our own circumstances that which we have contracted to do."

"Many of the contracts you've entered into are multiparty. You knelt across an altar in a sacred place. If you are man, you said to a young woman and to your Father in Heaven that you would take her to be your sweetheart and wife for eternity. You promised her and you promised your father that you would cherish and protect her and you would accept her as an equal, full-voting partner. If you are a woman, you gave yourself to your husband. You said, I will sustain him, I will support him. I will recognize his responsibility to provide the sustaining priesthood authority in our home.

"You entered into additional covenants. Together as a husband and wife you committed yourself to multiply and replenish the earth... We understood there that in order to receive the blessings, we also contracted away various rights. You contracted away not to have children. You contracted away your freedom to use all of your time in your own selfish ambitions.

"Can you practice the law under those confines? Not only can you practice it, you can excel in it. You can reach the pinnacle of success in our profession and still do all that you have contracted to do. You must do so in recognition of your contract, for the moment you cease to recognize and obey the terms of your contract you cease to have the qualities that will make you an outstanding lawyer.
"How are we ever to compete with those who have no standards to which we have ascribed? How are we compete with those who can practice seven days a week, 14 hours a day? You are not more brilliant than they are. You can excel because you can have the power of revelation. In Doctrine & Covenants 88:67 we read, "And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light..."

"Light in other places is called pure intelligence," said Elder Kofford. "And that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things."

"There were times when I would have failed but for the comprehension provided by the spirit," he said. "There isn't a man or a woman with experience in this room who hasn't felt that being filled with light and suddenly comprehending things that we otherwise wouldn't have comprehended.

"It will be with you as your whole life is turned to living in the way you have covenanted to live."