An Habit Forming Resolution (12/31/2009)

For my suggested resolution today, I would like to share an anonymous article from the January 1979 Ensign. The thing that I liked best about this article is how a resolution made became a habit through practice.
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"The idea came to me one afternoon in late December. I had just completed a six-week challenge suggested by a magazine article on doing good deeds daily. Some of the author’s activities had included writing letters, calling people he had intended to telephone for a long time, taking someone a pie, a plant, or a small remembrance, praying for others, and sharing the joy of living. It was such a joyful experience that he challenged his readers to emulate his experience.

"At the end of my six weeks I was absolutely ecstatic about all the good things that had happened. Then it hit me - why not make it a year-long adventure and commit myself to doing something good for someone every day? It intrigued me to think that at the end of the year I could have touched the lives of 365 people. And I could keep track of my successes or failures in my personal journal.

"As the year began I could hardly wait for each new day. It seemed so easy to think of good things to do. For example, I could catch up on my correspondence and lend a helping hand to neighbors with small children...

"I was able to touch other lives, too, through my Church callings. I had never before realized how tuned out I had been to the needs of those around me. I began to see those who were lonely, those who needed an arm around their shoulder, and those who needed something to spark a dull day.

"April and May found me making little spring treats to take to 'new' friends. My activities were developing a new dimension: not only was I touching those around me, but now I was reaching out to people I never knew before. I still felt the excitement of my resolution, but added to it now was a deeper, spiritual feeling that made me feel much closer to my Father in Heaven...

"As the summer days lengthened, I wanted my family to experience some of the joy I was finding in my 'journey of love.' We set aside Thursday for making treats or doing something nice for others. The children did the baking and delivering with me at their side, and they delighted in the joy that they brought others.

"By September and October my resolution had become a daily habit. Oh, I was still human. Sometimes my heart was not fully in tune when I started out to visit someone ill or down, but I always came away with a strengthened testimony of doing good...

"As the year has progressed, I have come to realize that charity is not always convenient, and that it sometimes takes much thought and planning. At first, I was proud of all the 'good' I was doing, but as the year comes to an end, I am humbled to realize how selfish I have been all my life. As I left the home of the bedridden, or listened to frustrated teenagers, or climbed the hills with my children, I often thought of all the lives I could have touched in previous years if only I had taken the time. My one consolation is knowing that I can make a similar journey in this coming year, and in all the years ahead."

Resolutions (12/30/2009)

Todays thought comes from Elder Joe J. Christensen in a speech given about resolutions. I have taken excerpts from the speech, but a link to the entire speech can be found here

"I am convinced that if we make and keep resolutions in those four areas, we will have a happier and more successful new year this coming year and every year for the rest of our lives. Let’s consider the nature of such resolutions and the benefits that can be ours if our resolve to improve ourselves is firm.

"Resolution number one: I resolve to expand my intellectual horizons, to increase in wisdom. This year, commit to read good books throughout your life. (see D&C 88:118, D&C 90:15)...

"Resolution number two: I will be resolute in preserving and strengthening my physical health. It is impressive that more than 160 years ago the Lord revealed a health code, the Word of Wisdom, that can make all the difference in how we feel and perform. With good health, we can be happier and more successful. Without it, we are curtailed in almost every way...

"The third major resolution: I resolve to be a truer friend and to become more socially acceptable to people of high standards. Learn to be the kind of person with whom others of high standards enjoy associating...

"The fourth resolve... I will grow spiritually - I will increase in favor with God. A few items are essential to our spiritual growth. Let’s start with the one that is most difficult and universally applicable. If we are to increase in favor with God, we must resolve to overcome as much as possible the sin of pride."

The thing that I like about Elder Christensen's method of making resolutions is the fact that he proposes making changes in four areas that can make us more well-rounded individuals. To add a personal note to Elder Christensen's fourth point, in the Gospel Essentials class that I teach, someone made the point a few weeks ago about how all sin finds its root in selfishness. When one is proud and thinks more of themself and what they want than they do of others, it is impossible for them to improve and achieve their eternal potential. I hope that as we resolve to improve that these steps may be of help.

Resolutions (12/29/2009)

With each passing year, I see more and more flaws in myself that require my attention to fix. It seems that every conference talk points out something that I should be doing as a follower of Jesus Christ. As we prepare to embark on a new year, this is the customary time to renew our dedication to improve ourselves, so my thoughts for the next few days will contain resolutions that the prophets and apostles have suggested as we prepare our own resolutions for the year to come.

Today, I would like to quote from a General Conference talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard in October 2002. He was speaking to the young men, preparing them to go on missions. One of the great quotes from that talk stated "This isn’t a time for spiritual weaklings." He then counseled the young men about what they need to do in order to demonstrate that they are true followers of Christ. Elder Ballard's advice here, however, could be taken to heart by all of us:

"As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I call upon you to begin right now - tonight - to be fully and completely worthy. Resolve and commit to yourselves and to God that from this moment forward you will strive diligently to keep your hearts, hands, and minds pure and unsullied from any kind of moral transgression. Resolve to avoid pornography as you would avoid the most insidious disease, for that is precisely what it is. Resolve to completely abstain from tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Resolve to be honest. Resolve to be good citizens and to abide by the laws of the land in which you live. Resolve that from this night forward you will never defile your body or use language that is vulgar and unbecoming to a bearer of the priesthood.

"And that is not all we expect of you, my young brethren. We expect you to have an understanding and a solid testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We expect you to work hard. We expect you to be covenant makers and covenant keepers."

Christmas (12/24/2009)

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I pray that wherever you are, or whatever condition you find yourself in, that the spirit of this holiday will touch you in the same way it has touched me and my family. I would like to share with you a thought from President Hinckley in a talk where he described some of the things that Christmas meant to him.

"Christmas means the Christ child, the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger while angels sang and wise men traveled far to bring gifts. It is a beautiful and timeless story, and I hope each of us will read it again this season.

"(Yet) here is something more than a babe in a manger; here is the Creator of all that is good and beautiful. I have looked at majestic mountains rising high against the blue sky and thought of Jesus, the Creator of heaven and earth. I have stood on the sand of an island in the Pacific and watched the dawn rise like thunder — a ball of gold surrounded by clouds of pink and white and purple — and thought of Jesus, the Word by whom all things were made and without whom was not anything made that was made. I have seen a beautiful child - bright-eyed, innocent, loving and trusting — and marveled at the majesty and miracle of creation."

The Promise (12/23/2009)

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this week, I would like to share a thought from Elder Russell M. Nelson about the promise that the Savior brought when He came to this Earth:

"In section 68 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we read this commandment from our Master: "Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."

"Lovingly we cling to that promise. Difficult days are ahead for all mankind. Sin is on the increase. We live in a time of wars and rumors of wars. The Church and its members will come under attack and endure persecution. Jesus descended below all things in order to rise above all things. He expects us to follow His example. Yoked with Him, we can rise above all challenges, no matter how difficult they may be."

The Best Christmas Ever (12/21/2009)

There are so many things that I love about my children, but one of them is the fact that, no matter how bountiful or sparse the gifts have been, they declare year in and year out "This has been the best Christmas EVER!" As a parent of six, I am glad that they are thankful for what they receive, since what I would like to give them rarely equals what I am able to give them.

In his First Presidency message last year, President Monson told the story of another best Christmas when two young girls shared the holiday with their neighbors who had so little. President Monson ended the story with this advice:

"If we are to have the very best Christmas ever, we must listen for the sound of sandaled feet. We must reach out for the Carpenter's hand. With every step we take in His footsteps, we abandon a doubt and gain a truth.

"It was said of Jesus of Nazareth that He 'increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.' Do we have the determination to do likewise? One line of holy writ contains a tribute to our Lord and Savior, of whom it was said, He 'went about doing good... for God was with him.'

"My prayer is that at this Christmas season and all the Christmastimes to come, we may follow in His footsteps. Then each Christmas will be the best Christmas ever."

Our Father and Jesus Christ Live and Love Us (12/17/2009)

Today I would like to share part of a talk from Bishop H. David Burton in which he discussed the 1999 head-on collision which occurred on a remote highway in Western Australia that almost took the life of Australian art critic Robert Hughes.

"Charlie Fishhook, an Aborigine, came upon the accident scene and sounded the critical alarm for help. A friend, Danny O'Sullivan, upon hearing of the accident, used his radio and cell phone to summon help from the nearest town, seventy-five miles away. He then raced to Robert's side to reassure him that assistance was on its way. Aborigines of the Bidyadanga people formed a semicircle around the car and chanted a prayerful song. A Filipina nurse from the Bidyadanga settlement comforted his badly broken body until police and medics airlifted him to the Royal Perth Hospital. Skilled physicians operated for thirteen hours to carefully restore his body. His loving and deeply concerned family arrived from the United States to keep vigil until he awoke from a thirty-day coma."

After the accident, he made some remarks in an article in Time magazine using this experience to try and further his point that God does not exist. He stated, in essence, that since Jesus Christ was not there to welcome him to "the other side," neither He nor God must be real. This article elicited some replies that I would like to share with you:

"A perceptive gentleman by the name of Pedro Costa from Portugal wrote: 'I would like to ask [Robert Hughes] if he also didn't see Christ among the Aborigine family that found him, the Bidyadanga people who chanted to keep him alive, the Filipina nurse who wept for him, his friend Danny who raced to save his life, the police and the medics who got to the scene, the medical personnel who decided to fly him to Royal Perth Hospital, the people who operated for 13 hours - or in the midst of relatives and friends who gave him the support and affection he talks about in his article. Hughes just might have missed Jesus in such a crowd.'

"From Stellenbosch, South Africa, Marius J. DeWaal profoundly wrote: 'Robert Hughes said of his near-death experience that Jesus didn't show. But one cannot expect to find Christ in death if one has not known him in life."

I can testify that our Father in Heaven and our older brother Jesus Christ live and that they love us. I have felt their love in my life. I have seen prayers answered, and I know that they are real. The answers, however, often come through others, just as Mr. Costa stated, and in fact, there may be times when we are that answer. To the second letter, I would agree that those who have not sought will not find, just as much as those who do seek will find the Savior.

Serving Like Christ (12/15/2009)

"The story is told of a little crippled boy who ran a small newsstand in a crowded railroad station. He must have been about twelve years old. Every day he would sell papers, candy, gum, and magazines to the thousands of commuters passing through the terminal.

"One night two men were rushing through the crowded station to catch a train. One was fifteen or twenty yards in front of the other. It was Christmas Eve. Their train was scheduled to depart in a matter of minutes.

"The first man turned a corner and in his haste, plowed right into the little crippled boy. He knocked him off his stool, and candy, newspapers, and gum were scattered everywhere. Without so much as stopping, he cursed the little fellow for being there and rushed on to catch the train.

"It was only a matter of seconds before the second commuter arrived on the scene. He stopped, knelt, and gently picked up the boy. After making sure the child was unhurt, the man gathered up the scattered newspapers, sweets, and magazines. Then he took out his wallet and gave the boy a five-dollar bill. 'Son,' he said, 'I think this will take care of what was lost or soiled. Merry Christmas!'

"Without waiting for a reply the commuter now picked up his briefcase and started to hurry away. As he did, the little crippled boy cupped his hands together and called out: 'Mister, Mister!'

"The man stopped as the boy asked, 'Are you Jesus Christ?'

"By the look on his face, it was obvious the commuter was embarrassed by the question. But he smiled and said, 'No, son, I am not Jesus Christ, but I am trying hard to do what He would do if He were here.'"

I was touched by this story, related by President Ezra Taft Benson. I don't know that I have ever really stopped to think about the consequences when I stop to help someone. This account helped me realize that when we stop to help someone, we are doing what Christ would do if He were here. When we think of it in that light, I hope we will realize that service rendered to another is of the greatest worth.

Stand Firm (12/14/2009)

A quote in the Joseph Smith lesson about the martyrdom stood out to me yesterday. As he was counseling the apostles in the last months of his life, he said:

"Stand firm, my friends; never flinch. Do not seek to save your lives, for he that is afraid to die for the truth, will lose eternal life. Hold out to the end, and we shall be resurrected and become like Gods, and reign in celestial kingdoms, principalities, and eternal dominions."

The world will throw all sorts of epithets our way. They will try and discredit everything about the church and make us out to be fools for believing what we believe. I will concede that it is rarely easy to face opposition in the choices we make, but the day will come when everything that has been said and done against the Church of Jesus Christ will be shown in its true light, and those who have remained true and faithful to our Father in Heaven will receive the rewards He has promised.

Charity and Christmas (12/9/2009)

Christmas is not a day or a season,
but a condition of heart and mind.
If we love our neighbors as ourselves;
if in our riches we are poor in spirit
and in our poverty we are rich in grace;
if our charity vaunteth not itself,
but suffereth long and is kind;
if when our brother asks for a loaf,
we give ourselves instead;
if each day dawns in opportunity
and sets in achievement, however small;
then every day is Christ's day
and Christmas is always near.

- John Wallingford

There are always opportunities to serve our neighbors. Sometimes we are too busy to see them. Sometimes we allow the din of the world to drown out those requests. Yet when we take the chance to stop and help another without any thought of compensation, we demonstrate that pure love that our older Brother Jesus Christ demonstrated for all of us. Yes, it is easier to do at this time of year when everyone is focused on giving. When we take down the lights and put away the tree, however, I hope that we will be able to still keep Christmas with us.

The Spirit of Christmas (12/7/2009)

"Jesus Christ is not just a general truth or a fact in history, but the Savior of men everywhere and at all times. When we strive to be Christlike, he is 'formed' in us; if we open the door, he will enter; if we seek his counsel, he will counsel us. For Christ to be 'formed' in us, we must have a belief in him and in his atonement. Such a belief in Christ, and the keeping of his commandments, are not restraints upon us. By these, men are set free. This Prince of Peace waits to give peace of mind which may make each of us a channel of that peace." - President Howard W. Hunter

At this time of year, there is obviously a great deal of focus that is placed on the birth of the Savior. It is a time when people renew their resolve to be kind to others and to live better lives. We hear talk at this time of year about keeping the Spirit of Christmas with us throughout the year, and when I read President Hunter's quote, I felt like this was a very appropriate description of what the Spirit of Christmas is about. As we commit ourselves to better lives this season, I hope that we will not only open the door to the Savior, but that we will invite His Spirit to stay with us throughout the year.

Choosing Good (12/2/2009)

"The act of choosing is more than nodding assent or passive shoulder shrugging. It reflects real choices made over time that form definite patterns... (T)here can be no agency avoidance. No decision is a decision. Delay is a delusion, and that delay always discards the holy present. It simply throws it away." - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

An often quoted axiom states that "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." I think that this is critical to remember in our lives as saints. It is not just enough to avoid those things that would cause us spiritual harm. We need to teach our children why those things are inappropriate and encourage them to choose the good. We can speak out when appropriate against that which is wrong and encourage others to make good choices. And above all, we can serve others and help to bring the light of Christ into their lives.

Yes, our lives are hectic and it is difficult to get to all the things we should. If we choose to work for good today instead of using the excuses about why we can't do it, it will make a difference in our lives and in the lives of those we touch.