The gospel in words: 'Magnify'

"Attend to thy calling and thou shalt have wherewith to magnify thine office." (Doctrine and Covenants 24:9)

If you are like me, when you hear the word "magnify," you think of a magnifying glass or lens. Indeed, a definition of magnify is "to increase the apparent size of an object by means of a lens, microscope, etc., or to cause to appear larger" (Oxford English Dictionary). Though there is some application of that definition to the scriptural use of magnify, the concept in the scriptures is much deeper and more real than to simply increase the apparent size or make something appear larger.

The original sense of magnify was "to praise highly, to glorify, to extol," specifically, "to praise or render honor to God." While the modern sense of magnify is connected to appearances, the older sense was to, in fact, "make greater in size, status, importance, to enlarge, increase, augment, or advance" (OED). To magnify is also "to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

While we most often think of the word "magnify" in terms of magnifying our callings, there are a number of different uses in the scripture. For example, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving" (Psalm 69:30). Also, "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together" (Psalm 34:3). And, of course, Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord" (Luke 1:46).

Nephi rejoiced in the vision of the coming of the Lord, "for I have seen his day, and my soul doth magnify his holy name" (2 Nephi 25:13). The Apostle Paul's great hope was that "Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death" (Philippians 1:20).

President Thomas S. Monson gave a wonderful talk titled "Our Sacred Priesthood Trust" (Ensign, May 2006). He quotes from the oath and covenant of the priesthood, noting that one of the requirements of the oath and covenant is "the magnifying of their calling" (D&C 84:33). President Monson then quotes the late Elder Delbert L. Stapley, of the Quorum of the Twelve, that to magnify one's calling is "to honor, to exalt and glorify, and cause to be held in greater esteem or respect. It also means to increase the importance of, to enlarge and to make greater.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith was once asked, 'Brother Joseph, you frequently urge that we magnify our callings. What does this mean?' He is said to have replied, 'to magnify a calling is to hold it up in dignity and importance, that the light of heaven may shine through one's performance to the gaze of other men. An elder magnifies his calling when he learns what his duties as an elder are and then performs them.' "

Joseph A. Cannon is editor of the Deseret News.

E-MAIL: cannon@desnews.com