LDS Thought of the day

The Spirit of Elijah (8/2/2010)

2010-08-02T13:19:00.001-07:00

Yesterday as I sat in front of my computer trying to decipher the handwriting on the 1900 Census of the United States for Ritchie County, West Virginia, my 13 year old daughter came up and asked me what I was doing. The new Family Search page has been a great tool and has made it easier for me to get names ready to take to the temple, something that I have never done before because most of our family history had already been done. With the passing of my grandfather a few years ago, I felt a need to work on his genealogy and, hopefully, perform some temple work along the way.

The process of putting these names together can be time consuming, and over the past month I have only been able to process just under 30 names for the temple work. When I processed the first group of names, I told my daughter that she could perform baptisms for the women in this group which made her happy, but since then the pace of my work has kept me from making any other exciting announcements.

I showed her how to do what I was doing, and then she asked for a chance to try. I let her do it while I monitored her work, and after inserting a few names then selecting the option to prepare these names for the temple, she got very excited and even though we had to stop so I could make dinner, she wanted to continue. The fact that she was able to take information recorded by someone over a century ago and convert that to work for her ancestors definitely caught her interest, and I anticipate several more Sundays working together on this.

I share this experience with you because to me it is another testimony that the power of the Spirit of Elijah as described in Malachi 4:5-6 is alive and well today. When I think of teenagers and their interest in their music and fashions and "hanging out," it seems unlikely to me that finding the names of people who are long dead would not have great appeal. Instead, my daughter appears to have caught that spirit to her benefit as well as to the benefit of those who have accepted the Gospel on the other side.

Missionary Work (7/21/2010)

2010-07-21T10:07:00.001-07:00

I would like to apologize for the lack of thoughts recently. Between my work and my personal life, I find it hard to find the few minutes every day to share something. I will keep working to provide a daily thought, but in the meantime, I hope that you will be patient with me.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend girl's camp with our ward as a priesthood leader. My niece who is not LDS came to the camp with me and my daughter and had a wonderful time. I am not entirely sure how she feels about the Church - I know that my sister frequently has the missionaries over - but I hope that with the good experiences there and the friends she made that she will come to see more of what the Church has to offer.

So many times when we talk about missionary work, it can evoke feelings of fear. The thought of approaching friends and family and talking about religion can be a challenge, especially where so many in the world today would rather not have religion in their lives. I was reminded by my experience last week, however, that missionary work does not have to be about pressuring people to accept something they would rather not have. Through being a good example and a true friend, we will have an impact for good on the lives of others. Then when they see the joy that the Gospel brings into our lives, our friends and family will be more inclined to explore the Church of Jesus Christ without the awkward feeling that we might otherwise have.

The Temporary Nature of Life (6/29/2010)

2010-06-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

Like many individuals in the world, I have been caught up lately with the World Cup. I like soccer growing up, and serving my mission in Spain gave me a whole new appreciation of the game and just how popular it is. While it has been fun to watch the teams from various parts of the world, I obviously followed the U.S. side closely during their run. One of the most difficult things to watch, however, was how they would fall behind early, giving up goals within the first 15 minutes in 3 of the 4 matches they played. In their elimination round game on Saturday they fell behind early, fought back to tie it, then fell behind again quickly in overtime, and in the end they ran out of time and opportunities and failed to advance.

This is the same with life. Everything that we face here is of a temporal nature, and sooner or later our time here will end. Amulek said it best when he said:

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors... therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world." (Alma 34:32-34)

I hope that we will take advantage of our time here and do all we can today so that when our time is up we can gain the prize that awaits us.

Life To The Fullest (6/22/2010)

2010-06-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

On the way to work this morning, I saw a bumper sticker that read "Live your life to the fullest or die trying." I have been pretty frustrated with several things going on in my life lately, and this bumper sticker served as something of a wake up call. It is easy to let the trials that we face drag us under, yet as my wife reminded me last night after one of my rants, we did not choose to come here to fail.

We were given the chance to come to this Earth with the idea that we would become like our Father in Heaven. I imagine that we understood - at least in part - the challenges we would face here, yet the potential reward we would gain made it seem worth the effort. Once we came here, however, the perspective that caused us to rejoice when the Plan of Salvation was announced was lost, and it can be a challenge to find here the optimism we once had. Our Father has offered to help us through, and gives us the gift of the Holy Ghost to give us guidance as we live worthily, but in the end it is up to us to live our lives as best we can... or die trying.

Finding True Happiness (6/15/2010)

2010-06-15T10:48:00.001-07:00

"Much of life's disappointment comes from looking beyond the mark, from seeking success and happiness where it cannot be found. When wealth, position, influence, and power become measures of success in life, we should not be disappointed when their attainment does not produce the satisfaction and blessings promised for fulfillment of the commandments of the Lord.

"The Savior declared as His work and glory 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.' (Moses 1:39) He enthroned love for one another, service to a neighbor, and building the kingdom of God for His glory and majesty as noble worthy goals that produce rewards beyond all power of expression." - Elder Richard G. Scott

My cell phone contract is up to be renewed. Because of this, my carrier is doing everything it can to sell me on the latest and greatest phone so that my life can be complete. I will admit that I am a bit of a sucker for this, and that being able to search the web or get my e-mail on my phone is a draw, but as I have been considering my options, I am bothered by two facts. First, in order to get the latest and greatest phone at a price that I have to commit myself to that company for two years. Failure to keep that commitment will cost me a great deal of money - far more, in fact, than the full price of the phone. The second thing is that no matter how new my phone is, within a matter of weeks it will be outdated and inferior to the latest offering. If I allow it, then, having a phone can become a constant battle of trying to avoid becoming ensnared by the cell phone company while trying to keep up with technology.

I think that Elder Scott's quote describes the problem quite clearly. It is easy to be caught up in the things of the world, but in order for them to bring us the happiness we so deeply crave, we must extend ourselves further and further, essentially making constant investments in things which "moth and dust doth corrupt." If we invest our energies in following the example of the Savior, however, and seek to help those around us instead of serving our own whims, today as well as in the end, we will enjoy true happiness.

Ordinances and Commitment (6/14/2010)

2010-06-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity yesterday to substitute for my Gospel Essentials class. The lesson was on baptism which led to an interesting discussion about principles and ordinances. The conclusion we reached was that an ordinance is an external manifestation of an inner commitment that comes from the principles we are taught.

One of the cautions given, however, is to make sure that such commitments are made "...with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent..." (see 2 Nephi 31:12-13) We can go through the motions of being baptized, of taking the Sacrament each week, but if we are not sincere about the commitments we make, our Father will not be fooled and our participation in these ordinances will mean little.

I don't share this thought by means of passing judgement - there are plenty of times when I need to pay close attention to my level of commitment as well. I just hope that as we renew our baptismal covenants each week, we will remember that this is a reflection of a commitment that comes from within.

Faith and The Atonement (6/7/2010)

2010-06-07T09:24:00.001-07:00

When Enos, the son of Jacob, approached our Father in Heaven in sincere prayer, he was told that his sins would be forgiven. Enos wondered what qualified him for such a blessing when he was told:

"Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole. (Enos 1:8)

I thought about this verse recently and wondered about whether or not I have enough faith. I know that God lives and that He is mindful of me in spite of the fact that I, like Enos, have never seen nor heard the Lord. The difference, I realized, was the fact that Enos demonstrated his faith through sincere prayer, where perhaps my actions, be they through prayer or obedience, are not what they should be. I do know that our sins can be forgiven, and I am thankful for the Atonement. It is my prayer that we can all have faith like Enos so that the Atonement can play the same role in our life as it did for him.

Death (5/19/2010)

2010-05-19T13:31:00.003-07:00

I have to admit that coming up with a thought today is more difficult than usual. One of the individuals with whom I work here at the University of Utah Hospital - someone who has subscribed to this list since its inception - suddenly passed away this morning at work. I have not seen much of him in recent years since we both moved offices to different locations, but it does not diminish the reality and the hurt of his death.

When my mother passed away 11 years ago, I was comforted then as I am today by the knowledge that this life is just a stepping stone along a much longer path. I feel bad for those who do not understand this, and who feel that when they die it is the end of everything. The time of separation from those who are left behind is painful as we remember the good that these people brought into our lives, but we are fortunate to have been taught that the end of our life here marks the opportunity to reunite with loved ones and await the day when we, because of the Atonement, can be resurrected and "in (the) flesh... see God." (see Job 19:26)

Death (5/19/2010)

2010-05-19T13:31:00.001-07:00

A Reason to Hope (5/18/2010)

2010-05-18T13:01:00.001-07:00

"How important it is that we heed the voice of a living prophet and conform our lives to the gospel of Jesus Christ! Even though the outlook for peace is bleak in the world today, it is not a time for despair. We live in a day when change can be effected very rapidly. The Lord has blessed us with a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and has also led us to an understanding of the technology that can bring about this change. This is a time not for despair but for preparation, courage, and action." - Elder L. Tom Perry

These words, written over twenty years ago, are more true today than ever. The pace of the world seems to grow faster and faster, and the hope of a world of peace and goodness seems to dim each day. The words of the prophets teach us, however, that there is more to this life than the day to day drudgery that we experience. As long as we are willing to stand up for that which is good and right and prepare ourselves for the life to come, we have reason to hope for a much brighter future.

Enjoy the moment (5/12/2010)

2010-05-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

Last night I was at the church when the bishop walked in. Since it was another rainy and cold day here, he wondered aloud whether summer would ever come. As one who is not particularly fond of summer (I can always dress up against the cold. Heat is another matter altogether.), his question made me stop to think about how often I am so anxious to move onto the next thing that I miss what is going on around me. It reminded me of a job I had while in college. Every afternoon my co-workers and I would spend our 15 minute break going out and watching the sunset. We didn't normally have much to say. We just sat and appreciated being in that moment, enjoying the beauty of the world.

Let me qualify my previous anecdotes by stating that we do need to keep an eye on our eternal goals. Without that vision it is easy to lose our way. I think it is important to stop and enjoy where we are as well. Our Father in Heaven created this beautiful world for us. He gave us a wide variety of landscapes, weather, friends, and many other things to make our lives here full and rich. We may not fully appreciate everything that comes our way - just like the bishop would prefer warm weather instead of the rain - but I hope that we will stop today and be thankful for all the good we do have.

What Would You Do? (5/5/2010)

2010-05-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

"I would give ANYTHING to..." How often do we hear a sentence that starts like that? Most of the time that statement is rhetorical, as there are probably plenty of things that one would not do in exchange for having that wish fulfilled, but it does beg the question - what would we do? When the discussion comes around to gaining the ultimate prize of returning to our Father in Heaven what are we willing to do then?

The young man who asked the Savior had such a question. He had followed the commandments and apparently had led a good life, yet when the Savior asked him to sell all that he had, give the money to the poor, and follow Him, the young man went away sad because that seemed too difficult. (see Matthew 19:16-22) So what do we need to give in order to gain eternal life?

Balak, a king of Moab, once asked the same question, and this is the answer he received: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8) Stated a different way, if we hope to gain the prize, we must give a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." (3 Nephi 9:20) Our innate desire to choose our own way might make this a gift more difficult to give than all of our money and possessions, but in the end such a gift will be more meaningful than any other we can offer.

Acting in Accordance with Our Beliefs (5/3/2010)

2010-05-03T13:40:00.001-07:00

Elder Robert D. Hales once gave a speech in which he counseled "Remember who you are and act accordingly." He then followed that advice with this:

"Sometimes I think we go through life in a speedboat. As we go through the harbors of life, we never look over our shoulders at the sailboats and the lifeboats and the dinghies that are swamped in the wake of our actions. I would hope that you'd start looking over your shoulder."

No decision we make happens in a vacuum. Everything we do has an impact on those around us for good or for evil whether we see it or not. That is why it is crucial to remember to behave according to the standards that the Savior has established for us. If we are careful about the decisions we make, we can be assured that our actions will not have a negative influence on those around us, and ultimately we will have less worry about when the time comes for us to give an account about how we lived our lives.

Judging (4/30/2010)

2010-05-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is cook. I especially love cooking for other people, as many are surprised that I, as a guy, can make something other than macaroni and cheese or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Today I have put on a crock pot of chili for our ward chili cookoff, and honestly I have no idea how I will fare in the judging this time around. I am using a recipe that won me second place in the cookoff two years ago (my other entry won first that night), but if past experience is any indicator, I will not do as well this time around. I say this because I submitted my two-years-ago first place entry in last year's cookoff, and it didn't even place. Of course there was none left to take home, so people didn't necessarily hate it, but it just goes to show that when it comes to judging, people's tastes vary. With all that said, if people like what I made, I will be happy.

As I was preparing the chili last night and trying to decide how to season it, I started thinking about the way our Father in Heaven judges us. While this might not be an ideal comparison, I did realize that we judge situations and individuals according to our own experiences and biases. Our Father, on the other hand, sees beyond our facade and knows who we really are. (see Mosiah 4:30, Isaiah 55:8-9) Because He understands that, He will always judge us fairly because He knows if we have truly put forth our best effort.

Enjoy The Ride (4/28/2010)

2010-04-28T13:20:00.002-07:00

"Life is like an old-time rail journey - delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." - Jenkin Lloyd Jones

In our world of instant gratification, people are always looking for that next thrill. There seems to be an endless search for happiness, looking for those things that please the natural man. Movies and television programs promise us that if we choose to partake of the things of the world that our lives will be better. Of course these rarely portray the seedier side of the world. Alcoholism, drug addiction, or the pain caused by extra-marital affairs is rarely exposed, yet with glib indifference the characters of these shows demonstrate how these things supposedly contribute to a better life.

Our lives are meant to be challenging. Our purpose here is to learn how to become like our Father in Heaven, and this can only be achieved through obedience to His commandments. None of us here can expect to have a life devoid of problems, and those who adopt the ways of the world to avoid their problems will often find that their issues are larger than the ones they started out trying to avoid. I hope that we can take the advice in this quote and, when things are not as smooth as we might like them, we will remember that it is all just part of our experience here.

Trials (4/26/2010)

2010-04-28T13:20:00.001-07:00

This past Friday, our family entered a new phase of our life. My wife, after taking 12 years off to start our family, received her college degree. The past two semesters have been particularly difficult, as all of us in the family have made sacrifices in order for her to realize this dream. There were plenty of evenings when I would come home from work only to find that my day was just beginning instead of ending. To make a long story short, these past few years I have found myself in the dense forest, often able to see only the trees around me.

I don't say these things to complain. I simply wanted to use this experience as an example of a life lesson I have learned. When trying to focus on attaining the goal we came to this Earth to achieve, we will always encounter obstacles. Sometimes - as has happened to me lately more often that I care to admit - overcoming the individual obstacles becomes the focus instead of reaching the overall goal. What I have learned and am working to bring my life back around to is the fact that as long as we are doing those things we need to do to return to live with our Father in Heaven, all of the other obstacles will melt away.

Trials come to an end. The challenges we face today will be a distant memory next week or next month or next year. In fact, those may be the very things upon which we look back and laugh, or even realize how much stronger they made us. The important thing I have (re)discovered is the importance of focusing on the things that will matter most in the end.

Never Give Up (4/20/2010)

2010-04-20T12:46:00.001-07:00

In his second epistle to his son Moroni, Mormon reminds his son "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God." (Moroni 9:6) The conditions under which Mormon wrote these words were appalling at best. Men had lost all love for each other as demonstrated by the fact that they were more interested in killing one another and engaging in all manner of depraved acts. It was clear that even Mormon didn't have much hope that he could make a difference to the Nephites, but still he tried.

There are plenty of times that it seems like it would be easier to give up than to keep going. For example, I have several elderly neighbors who are not members of the church who have expressed no interest in the church. It would be easy to just ignore them because they are entirely different than we are, yet we still do what we can to be good neighbors and good examples. None of them has ever come to church, nor do I think that there is a chance that they ever will, but by opening the door and being their friends, who knows what good might come of it. Just because the task seems impossible doesn't necessarily mean it is, and as Mormon reminds us, we need to do as much as we are able.

The Atonement (4/15/2010)

2010-04-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

"The gospel of the Savior is not simply about avoiding bad in our lives; it also is essentially about doing and becoming good. And the Atonement provides help for us to overcome and avoid bad and to do and become good. There is help from the Savior for the entire journey of life - from bad to good to better and to change our very nature."
- Elder David A. Bednar

One of the main things non-members with whom I interact focus on is the things that we, as members of the church, are not allowed to do. Things like the Word of Wisdom and tithing come up (even though these elements exist in many other religions as well), and they wonder how I can choose to live such a life. Of course, many of these same conversations talk about how friendly Mormon's are, and those who are better acquainted with the Church comment on how they are impressed with our humanitarian efforts.

As Elder Bednar suggests, the church is not just about denying ourselves worldly things. It is about improving ourselves - about becoming perfect (see Matthew 5:48). On their website, the Church now has sections that talk about how we can become more independent through avoiding the shackles of the world such as debt and addiction, how we can prepare ourselves for whatever contingencies might arise in our lives, and in short about improving our life. Of course, all of these temporal preparations will avail us nothing without the Atonement. As we strive to become perfect, we will make mistakes. Because of the Atonement, however, we can overcome those errors and have hope that the path we are on will lead us towards perfection and our Heavenly home.

Doing All We Do in His Name (4/13/2010)

2010-04-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

"Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore." (Moses 5:8)

I have come across several verses in Moses 5 recently that have made me think. When I read this one, I understood it in a context that I had never thought about it before. It is easy to think of saying prayers and carrying out church callings in the name of Jesus Christ. When I apply that same thought to the idea that everything I do - from my work to the way I parent to the activities in which I engage - should be done in His name, it takes on an entirely new meaning.

Suddenly I realized that I need to be much more selective about the way I act and think. It made me start to question which of my actions were worthy to be done in His name, and as I consider those actions that are not worthy, I now see room for improvement in my life. Is there anything new in this concept? No, but this scripture reminded me in a different way the importance of my actions.

Playing Our Best Part (4/12/2010)

2010-04-12T10:10:00.001-07:00

One of the things of which I am most guilty is procrastination. For whatever reason, there are plenty of times in my life when I look at what needs to be done, become overwhelmed, and then find something else that needs to be done which is easier and, in all likelihood, less important. While taking the easy path might seem better at the moment when it is chosen, in the end, it leaves undone things for which one day I will have to account. This was brought home to me forcefully recently when I read a talk by Elder Holland in which he paraphrases an essay from C.S. Lewis entitled "The World's Last Night."

"The doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when Christ will come and the world drama will end. He may appear and the curtain may be rung down at any moment. This kind of not knowing seems to some people intolerably frustrating. So many things would be interrupted. Perhaps you were going to get married next month. Perhaps you were to graduate this spring. Perhaps you were thinking of going on a mission or paying your tithing or denying yourself some indulgence. Surely no good and wise God would be so unreasonable as to cut all that short. Not now, of all moments!

"But we think this way because we keep on assuming that we know the play. In fact, we don't know much of it. We believe we are on in Act II, but we know almost nothing of how Act I went or how Act III will be. We are not even sure we know who the major and who the minor characters are. The Author knows. The audience, to the extent there is an audience of angels filling the loge and the stalls, may have an inkling. But we, never seeing the play from the outside, and meeting only the tiny minority of characters who are 'on' in the same scenes as ourselves, largely ignorant of the future and very imperfectly informed about the past, cannot tell at what moment Christ will come and confront us. We will face him one day, of that we may be sure; but we waste our time in guessing when that will be. That this human drama has a meaning we may be sure, but most of it we cannot yet see. When it is over we will be told. We are led to expect that the Author will have something to say to each of us on the part that each of us has played. Playing it well, then, is what matters most. To be able to say at the final curtain 'I have suffered the will of the Father in all things' is our only avenue to an ovation in the end."

Rewards for Our Efforts (4/6/2010)

2010-04-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the other day about all of the things we are commanded to do. Pray. Study our Scriptures. Attend the temple. Work on our family history so we have something to do at the temple. Attend church. Do our home teaching and visiting teaching. Hold regular family home evenings. I could go on, but I think that you all pretty well know the list. And it seems like the more we do, the more we are asked to do.

It can be overwhelming, but then I realized that with such work comes the inevitable blessings. The means to accomplish what has been asked of us will always be there. (see 1 Nephi 3:7) We have been promised that as we do what is asked of us, we will receive the blessings according to our faithfulness. (see Doctrine and Covenants 82:3, 130:20) And the greatest comfort of all is that as we strive to do good, the Lord has promised that He will "go before (us); he will be with (us), he will not fail (us), neither forsake (us): fear not, neither be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8) I hope that as we work our hardest to become perfect that we will see these blessings in our lives.

Learning from General Conference (4/5/2010)

2010-04-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed listening to General Conference this past weekend. While there were many things that I took from the messages presented, one of the best was from President Uchtdorf's talk on patience in the Priesthood session. From his talk:

"Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring... staying with something and doing all we can - working, hoping and exercising faith."

I talked afterwards with my oldest son who attended the meeting with me about this talk (since patience is one of those things both he and I could use help with). His reaction was that he had failed to reach the mark established by President Uchtdorf, but I pointed out to him that he cannot have failed because he has not yet reached the end of his life. The messages we hear at General Conference are not meant to condemn us for our shortcomings (though it may sometimes feel as though they are). They are intended to teach us, to remind us of what we need to do moving forward. I understand where my son was coming from, but with his comment, I realized that as long as I wake up every morning, I have the chance to apply what I have been taught and strive to become better.

Seeing Who We Really Are (4/1/2010)

2010-04-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

In the March First Presidency message entitled "Moral Courage," Elder Eyring made a statement that really made me think:

"Before we were born, we knew God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, personally. We could see Them and listen to Them as They taught and encouraged us. Now a veil has been placed over our minds and memories. Satan, the father of lies, has an advantage because we must see the reality of who we are through the eyes of faith, while our bodies make us subject to carnal temptation and to physical weakness."

I think that we all struggle at one time or another with the idea that we are not as good as we could be. There are always times we wish we were smarter, wish we were better looking, wish we could lose those additional pounds... the list goes on. When I read this statement, however, it occurred to me that one of Satan's great lies is that we will never be good enough.

If we take a step back and try to see ourselves as our Father in Heaven sees us, we will realize that He does not view us as the sum of our faults. He sees us as His children, and loves us in spite of everything. Of course we need to constantly strive to become more perfect, but President Eyring's message reminded me how important it is to see our true worth as we work down that path.

Becoming Perfect (3/29/2010)

2010-03-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

As we were discussing the Savior in our Gospel Essentials lesson yesterday, I had an idea that had never crossed my mind. When Jesus was on the Earth, He had mortal attributes which came from His mother as well as immortal attributes which came from His Father. This gave Christ the ability to choose everything for Himself, so when He fasted for 40 days, even though His mortal side must have truly felt the effects of that ordeal, He was able to live because His life was His alone to give up. Satan, of course, appealed to the mortal pains that Jesus felt, but He was able to overcome those temptations and become the perfect individual that was required to make an Atoning Sacrifice for all of our Father in Heaven's children.

This realization led me to several thoughts, two of which I would like to share. The first of these thoughts is that because the Savior suffered temptation beyond what we could bear, He understands what we are going through. No matter how hard the road seems, we can always turn to the One who has felt as we do, and who truly understands us. The other idea I would like to share is that we too have a spiritual side to counter our mortal side. I will be the first to acknowledge that allowing our spirit to master our mortal body can be an immense challenge, yet if we look to the example laid out by the Savior and rely on Him to help us along our path to perfection, we too can daily become more as He is. (see 3 Nephi 18:11-15)

Doing (3/24/2010)

2010-03-24T09:22:00.001-07:00

"There is but one path of safety to the Latter-day Saints, and that is the path of duty. It is not testimony, it is not marvelous manifestations, it is not knowing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true,... it is not actually knowing that the Savior is the Redeemer, and that Joseph Smith was His prophet, that will save you and me, but it is the keeping of the commandments of God, the living the life of a Latter-day Saint." -President Heber J. Grant

When I read President Grant's quote, it struck me as being simple yet deeply true. If one has matches and wood and tinder, it will never make a fire unless someone assembles the materials and strikes the match. Having a recipe, flour, sugar, and eggs will never make a cake unless I put the ingredients in the mixer and prepare the recipe as directed. The same can be said of the Gospel - as important as it is to have a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, the thing that will ultimately help us is to live as we have been taught.

Optimism (3/18/2010)

2010-03-18T11:56:00.001-07:00

Today, I would like to share a brief thought from President Gordon B. Hinckley about the attitude that will make our lives more enjoyable:

"I come with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I'm suggesting that we accentuate the positive. I'm asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort.

"Let our faith replace our fears. When I was a boy, my father often said to us, 'Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve.'"

Building Spiritual Strength (3/17/2010)

2010-03-17T12:46:00.001-07:00

In my thought yesterday, I talked about the idea that our Father in Heaven will never test us beyond that which we are able to bear. This was witnessed in Nephi's confidence when he was sent to retrieve the Brass Plates. Instead of asking why and giving the thousand excuses about why it couldn't be done, he simply replied that he would go do it and trust that because the Lord had commanded it, the Lord would make it happen. Was it an easy task? Absolutely not. It cost Nephi and his brothers their worldly wealth. It almost cost them their lives. But in the end, through persistence and faith, Nephi was able to get the scriptures that kept his descendants on the right path (more or less) for the next 1000 years.

I thought some more about this in the context of a trainer at the gym. When one works out with a trainer, I doubt that after 5 minutes on the treadmill they will hear "Great! Now let's go to the snack bar and get a smoothie!" At least in my experience, the trainer will push you as far as you can go, then when you decide that your body can take no more, they yell at you to keep going. The reason they do that is because not only can your body take it, that is the time when the most beneficial training occurs. That extra time is when you gain the most strength and endurance.

The same can be said of our spiritual fitness. It may be easy to say our prayers, to go to church every week. But are we being the missionary we should be? Are we the home teacher or visiting teacher that is making the effort to do more than the once-monthly visit? There are so many ways that we can serve in the Gospel, and as we step outside ourselves and truly lengthen our stride as President Kimball admonished us, we will be able to grow in ways we never imagined possible.

Perfection (3/16/2010)

2010-03-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

I heard a quote from Elder Neal A. Maxwell recently that really made me think:

"The scriptures concerning life's purposes do make it clear that we are to become like the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ: 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect' (Matthew 5:48). 'Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.' (3 Nephi 12:48) 'Therefore, what manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.' (3 Nephi 27:27)"

Perfection is one of those things that I always question whether I will be able to attain. I see all of my shortcomings and realize that there are many times when I am about as far away from the Savior as I could be. Yet this quote reminded me that the Lord will never give us any commandment that we cannot fulfill. (see 1 Nephi 3:7) His goal is for us to succeed, to overcome the obstacles that we will encounter in this life, and as long as we seek His help, we are sure to succeed.

The Book of Mormon (3/9/2010)

2010-03-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

"Do eternal consequences rest upon our response to this book? Yes, either to our blessing or our condemnation.

"Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life. There is a difference between a convert who is built on the rock of Christ through the Book of Mormon and stays hold of that iron rod, and one who is not."

- President Ezra Taft Benson

I love to read. Especially when my kids come home with a new book, I like to see what they are reading and have been known to read several hundred pages over the course of a week in just the few minutes I can muster here and there. When I saw this quote, however, I realized that more than a few minutes every day should be spent studying the Book of Mormon. Making a study of the book is more than just reading the obligatory chapter daily. It is prayerfully reading it and seeing how we can apply the things we read in our lives. Only then can this Book help draw us nearer to our Father in Heaven and realize our full potential.

Loving Ourselves (3/4/2010)

2010-03-04T08:02:00.000-08:00

In the movie "Groundhog Day," the main character is accused by the girl whose affection he is trying to win of never being able to love anyone but himself. His reply? "That's not true. I don't even like myself!" Even though his reply is good for a laugh, I think that there are many people who feel this way. In a talk, President Faust suggested a way to work through this all-too-common feeling.

"The commandment given by the Savior was to love others and yourself.
Am I secure enough in my love of myself to laugh at myself, to admit my mistakes, to graciously accept a compliment? Am I secure in my love of others to smile and say hello to a perfect stranger?

"Years ago in seminary our class was taught:

"I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I want to go out with my head erect.
I want to demand all men's respect.
I never can hide myself from me;
I see what others may never see.
I can never fool myself, and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and conscience free!"

A Sure Foundation (3/3/2010)

2010-03-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

I was conversing with a friend in my ward last night about some of the people who had become less active over the past year or so, including one who had previously served in a bishopric. Each of these individuals had reasons for their inactivity, and a common them was that someone had said or done something to offend them. While I believe that I am strong (or ambivalent) enough to avoid this pitfall, it is important to take the advice that Helaman gave to his sons Nephi and Lehi:

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

Satan will use whatever tactic he can to lure people away from the Church. While this is not news to anyone, I think that this is an important reminder to strengthen ourselves now so that when the time comes that we are tempted to drift away, we will be able to withstand it with our Savior's help.

Finding Peace (3/1/2010)

2010-03-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

One of the things that people often seek in this world is peace. The problem to me seems that they are looking for it in all the wrong places. They want to continue living the life that the natural man says they should live, but then they hope to reap the dividends of peace and a good life. Unfortunately for them, as the prophets have told us, wickedness will not bring happiness. (see Alma 41:10) This morning, I would like to share a thought from President Eyring on this topic.

"God has told us through his servants, the road to travel to find peace. No road leads to peace, for a person or for the world, unless it leads away from the effects of sin and Satan. Satan has always taught men and women to take what they want by taking life. I like the forthright way John Taylor, a president of the Church in this dispensation, gave us the direction to follow. He said:

"'Peace is the gift of God. Do you want peace? Go to God. Do you want peace in your families? Go to God. Do you want peace to brood over your families? If you do, live your religion, and the very peace of God will dwell and abide with you, for that is where peace comes from, and it doesn't dwell anywhere else.'"

The Way to Happiness (2/24/2010)

2010-02-24T06:44:00.001-08:00

The years after Christ visited the people in the Americas had to have been a wonderful time to live. It is recorded of this time:

"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God." (4 Nephi 1:15-17)

When I read these verses, the thing I take from it is that everyone truly loved their neighbor. All of the sins that were not present in these years are sins, I believe, that come from the individual worrying more about themselves than they do about others. When people take the time to care about others, however, those sins and all their negative consequences abate, and people can be truly happy.

Outward Appearances (2/23/2010)

2010-02-23T08:28:00.001-08:00

Last week I was preparing some potatoes for baking to go along with our dinner. As I scrubbed them and cut off the blemishes, I found one large potato with a small blemish. When I removed the blemish, however, the potato split in my hand and I discovered that the entire center of it was rotten. Had I not taken the time to remove this blemish, it would have been too late before we realized that someone would be without a potato to accompany their dinner.

It reminded me of the story of David, and how Samuel felt that there was no way that David was suited to be king. "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Even though I know that most, if not all, are familiar with this story, the potato served as a good reminder that I need to rely less on outward appearances and try to discover the good that lies within others. Better stated, it took a potato to remind me that I need to do a better job of practicing the principle of looking beyond what I see and focusing on who an individual really is.

Inspiration (2/22/2010)

2010-02-22T06:50:00.001-08:00

As baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost. This unique gift allows us to receive inspiration in all that we do when we are living in accordance with the principles of the Gospel. This morning, I would like to share with you a quote from President Marion G. Romney of specific things we can do to have the Spirit with us.

"If you want to obtain and keep the guidance of the Spirit, you can do so by following this simple four-point program.

"One, pray. Pray diligently. Pray with each other. Pray in public in the proper places... Learn to talk to the Lord; call upon his name in great faith and confidence.

"Second, study and learn the gospel.

"Third, live righteously; repent of your sins by confessing them and forsaking them. Then conform to the teachings of the gospel.

"Fourth, give service in the Church...

"If you will do these things, you will get the guidance of the Holy Spirit and you will go through this world successfully, regardless of what the people of the world say or do."

Choices (2/17/2010)

2010-02-17T10:00:00.001-08:00

Last night, I played a game that I recently purchased with my children. It is called "Blokus," and the objective of the game is to lay as many of your different shaped pieces on the board and prevent your opponents from laying theirs down. The strategy I employed was to lay down my largest and most strangely shaped pieces first so that my smaller and more conventional shaped pieces would be left as the board filled up. My children, however, did not quite grasp this strategy, so as the game progressed I still had pieces to play after they had run out of options.

This game made for an easy transition into a discussion about choices. Most individual choices we make will have little to no impact at the moment in which they are made, but with each additional decision made, the aggregate effect is one of establishing patterns that direct what future choices we make. In the case of the game, using the easy pieces first left my children with difficult choices to make later on, and in the end it meant that there were pieces they were unable to play.

In life, the choices we make on a small scale largely help shape the more critical decisions we will have to make. In other words, making the correct choice at the moment of crisis will be far easier if we have made a thousand smaller decisions to choose the right before that time. So while it was just a game we were playing last night, it helped me teach my children a much more valuable lesson about character and the importance of each decision, no matter how small.

You Are Important (2/16/2010)

2010-02-16T08:10:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I had an idea that I have had before, though the magnitude of it really struck me this time around. In the scriptures, it is revealed to us that our Heavenly Father has created "worlds without number." (see Moses 1:33,35) When He explained to Moses that He has created so many worlds and heavens that they are innumerable to man, that really made me stop and think.

In this history of this Earth, experts believe that roughly 100 billion people have lived here. Now, if I take that number and multiply it by even a comparatively paltry 10,000 (a number to which I believe I could count) worlds, and if each of those worlds has had a similar number of individuals on them, that would mean that our Father in Heaven has an unfathomable amount of children. But the greatest miracle to me in all of that is that with so many children my Father in Heaven is still mindful of me, one of His children, and provides for my every need and many of my wants.

I will testify to you without a doubt that God lives, and I know from my personal experience that He loves each of us and is aware of our needs. He goes on in Moses 1:35 to state that "all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them." Christ expanded on that thought when he told his disciples that the Father is aware of even the sparrows, and that our value to Him is greater than that. When I consider all the other things upon which our Father in Heaven needs to focus, I find the attention and love He gives us to be an absolutely fabulous miracle.

Love (2/12/2010)

2010-02-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

"There are many sources of power in the world. Recently we have been concerned with the shortages of some of those sources. But to me the greatest power of all is the power of love. I refer to love as proclaimed by the Savior in Matthew: 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind' (Matthew 22:37) and 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' (Matthew 22:39) The development of this power to love God and fellowmen is, to me, the greatest power that one may possess here upon the earth. The power of love is the power by which great leaders lead. The power of love is the power by which great teachers teach. The power of love is the power by which one may achieve true accomplishment." - Elder Russell M. Nelson

In a world where there is so much focus on the individual and so much emphasis on immediate gratification, Elder Nelson's words show the only way to true happiness. As we love our Father and follow His commandments, joy comes into our lives. As we learn to love and serve our neighbors, that joy increases. When the trite happiness that comes from the selfishness the world advocates is held up against the joy that comes from service and obedience, it quickly becomes evident that there is a real and lasting difference.

Agency (2/10/2010)

2010-02-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday, the Gospel Principles lesson we discussed was lesson 4, "Freedom to Choose." They used an analogy in the lesson that I shared with my children this week in Family Home Evening and wanted to share with you today:

"Imagine seeing a sign on the seashore that reads: 'Danger—whirlpool. No swimming allowed here.' We might think that is a restriction. But is it? We still have many choices. We are free to swim somewhere else. We are free to walk along the beach and pick up seashells. We are free to watch the sunset. We are free to go home. We are also free to ignore the sign and swim in the dangerous place. But once the whirlpool has us in its grasp and we are pulled under, we have very few choices. We can try to escape, or we can call for help, but we may drown."

With the diagnosis of my daughter, there has been a lot of discussion about my wife's father who also had diabetes. He was 15 years old when he was diagnosed, and he fought his parents and the doctors about the restrictions they were placing on him. His mother says that his attitude was one of "If my friends are going for burgers and shakes, then so am I," regardless of the potential harm it would cause his body. Now I am not entirely familiar with all of the medical causes behind his early death, but I have to wonder if he had chosen to take the advice of the doctors if he would have been able to be there when I married his daughter.

Agency is a great gift in that allows us to choose what path we will take. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to choose the consequences of our actions, so we must be careful and heed the commandments, as illustrated in the whirlpool example. The best part of having our agency, however, is that it will allow us to one day feel the satisfaction that will come when we recognize that we have attained perfection through our own good choices.

Finding Blessings in Adversity (2/9/2009)

2010-02-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

I would first like to thank those of you who sent kind words and prayers. Just so you know, my daughter is doing fine (in fact were it not for the medical tests, there would really have been no way to know that she was ill). We are still working to understand what it will take to work with her diabetes, but for now things are going well.

One of the thoughts that keeps coming to mind for me with this new trial in our lives is that we will not be given anything beyond what we can bear. The scriptures tell us that our temptations will not be more than we can overcome (see 1 Corinthians 10:13, Alma 13:28), and based on my observations of the past few weeks, I believe the same is true of the challenges we face.

Above all, I have been able to see blessings in all of this. This probably sounds strange, as I think all parents would want their children to go through life unscathed, but where this did happen to my daughter, I think that there is good in the way that it happened. We caught it early, so the chance of the diabetes doing further damage to her has been minimized as long as we maintain it. Another blessing is her age. Had this happened to my 15 year old or my 13 year old, I am sure that it would be much more difficult for them to grapple with changing their lives, where my daughter's young age of 4 means that she will not require overcoming years of habits. She is also exceptionally bright and has a personality that will not let her quit, so I think that all of these things work in her favor.

It seems strange in the face of this diagnosis to speak of blessings, but again, knowing that we can overcome any trial with the help of our Father in Heaven has helped me to see that there is still much for which I have to be thankful.

Update (1/28/2009)

2010-01-28T13:26:00.000-08:00

I would like to apologize for the lack of a thought this week. My four year old daughter was diagnosed this past weekend with type 1 diabetes, and she has been at Primary Children's Hospital up until late last night, and today I am trying to wrap my arms around how life at home will be which does not leave a whole lot of time for much else. That, coupled with the fact that I am traveling on business next week, will probably prevent me from publishing a thought for the next week or two, so I just wanted to let you know. I have not abandoned you - I just need a little time to deal with life. :)

Thanks!

Paul

Children of God (1/21/2010)

2010-01-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

Last night my daughter was interviewing me as part of a school project, and she asked me one thing that I would do to change the world. After some thought I replied that I would make it so everyone could understand everyone else's circumstances. I think that is one of the most difficult barriers we have to overcome. When we perceive another as being rude or inconsiderate of our feelings, there are probably other things going on in that individual's life that we may never know. If we had a more intimate understanding of the trials of others, however, we would likely be more empathetic when they react the way they do.

As the second lesson of the new Gospel Principles manual reminds us, we are all children of God, and each of us deserves to be treated as such. I hope that we can remember this when others are insensitive to our needs, and that we can treat everyone with whom we interact with kindness befitting a child of God.

The Things That Matter Most (1/20/2010)

2010-01-20T11:10:00.001-08:00

In a speech back in 1978, Elder David B. Haight spoke of a regional conference where President Kimball spoke. "All of the General Authorities were also in attendance at this very solemn but historic assembly to receive instruction and counsel, 'to be built up in faith and testimony.', and to reaffirm to these Church leaders our mission: to assist in saving the souls of mankind and to focus on the things that matter most.

"In this comprehensive review of the Church's progress, we could sense again (President Kimball's) anxiety and concern for this work. We who are near our prophet sense his restlessness - because time is moving swiftly, and the world population is growing. But the keys of the kingdom and salvation are here and available to all. We - all of us here tonight - are His disciples."

In the world today, there are a million entertainments and diversions that will allure us from the path back to our Father in Heaven. When I read this speech, I was reminded of how important it is to focus on those things that matter most. All of the fun and amazing gadgets and software that fill our lives today will mean nothing when the time comes for us to be judged by our Father in Heaven. The questions we will have to answer then will deal with how we treated our fellow-man, and how faithful we have been in keeping the commandments. Regardless of how long it will be until our Savior comes again, hopefully the uncertainty of this life will encourage us to live each day anxiously engaged in the good cause.

The Things That Matter Most (1/20/2010)

2010-01-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

Doing Our Part (1/13/2010)

2010-01-13T09:53:00.002-08:00

As Moroni wrote his dissertation on faith in Ether 12, he lamented the fact that those who would receive his words would discount them because of his weakness in writing. He prayed that we Gentiles would be willing to forgive him that weakness, when the Lord answered his prayer.

"And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father." (Ether 12:37)

Reading this verse with my family the other night, I was impressed that the Lord told Moroni that since he had done his part, he would be blessed. This led me to think how we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, have been instructed to share the Gospel with our family, friends, and neighbors. Too often I know that I worry about how people will perceive me if I start to talk to them about religion, but this verse reminded me that as long as I truly do my part, I will be blessed.

We do not know what goes on in the hearts of the people with whom we associate (see 1 Samuel 16:7), and it just might be that someone we know needs what we have to offer. With that in mind, I hope that we will be more diligent in our missionary efforts.

Miracles (1/8/2010)

2010-01-13T09:53:00.001-08:00

"Never lose faith in yourselves or in your capacity to do worthwhile things. And call upon the Lord for help that your minds may be enlightened and your understanding quickened. Then go to work with that assurance inside of you that somehow you can do it." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

I love this quote from President Hinckley because it reminds me that a miracle is not usually a one-sided event. When we require something in our lives, we should certainly call upon our Father in Heaven to give us according to our needs. Once we have done that, however, it is up to us to get up and do something to address that need. This part of our eternal existence gives us the chance to learn and to grow to become more like our Father in Heaven. If we were to allow Him to do everything for us, we would not be able to extend ourselves and achieve the growth that we wanted to achieve when we chose to come here, so through our efforts - with His help - miracles can happen every day.

The Whole Picture (1/7/2010)

2010-01-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, our family took a day trip. Because we have a two year old and a four year old, we used the VCR in our Suburban to play Disney movies to help fill the time between home and our destination. Since the audio plays through the stereo speakers in the car, it was interesting to listen to the movie Cinderella without actually being able to watch it. I noted how much of the movie was just music and sound effects, something that had never come to my attention while watching the animation. Without the pictures, the story made far less sense, and would not have kept my attention if the audio was all I could rely on.

For whatever reason, this got me thinking about how in Nephi's vision, the angel explained how many "plain and precious parts of the Gospel" had been removed by the great and abominable church. (see 1 Nephi 13:26-40) So while many people in the world have parts of Christ's word to help them, they are not able to see the whole picture. And just like I would not have been able to understand the whole movie my children were watching had I not seen it before, it must be difficult for these individuals to grasp what our Father in Heaven intends for us. This is just one reason of many why I am thankful that Joseph Smith restored The Church of Jesus Christ in these last days, and why I am grateful for ongoing revelation today.

Relationships (1/5/2010)

2010-01-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

In Ether 9, we read about how several individuals fought over becoming king. First Jared sought to gain the throne by killing Omer, his father. Omer was warned by the Lord, however, so he escaped and Jared took power. Once he was in power, his son in law Akish - the same one Jared had enlisted to kill Omer - killed Jared and he took over. He then locked away his son and starved him to death, possibly because he was afraid that his son would try and kill him to gain power. However, another one of Akish's sons, Nimrah, was upset at this filicide and organized the rest of the family and other members of the kingdom which led to a war that almost entirely eliminated the people living there.

I tell you this account to illustrate a point that occurred to me when reading this yesterday. Satan has one goal - to make all of us as miserable as he is. (see 2 Nephi 2:27) To achieve this goal, he will make people all sorts of promises he has no intention of keeping, and ultimately, he will make sure that people tear each down over things of no eternal consequence.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, has us build each other up as we work towards a common goal of eternal life. The fact that one person gains eternal life does not prohibit another from gaining the same gift, and in fact as we help each other work towards that goal, we become stronger and forge relationships that can last throughout the eternities, something far greater than the counterfeit relationships that Satan encourages.

Adversity (1/4/2010)

2010-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

"We all will have adversity; it is a part of life. We will all have it because we need it for growth and the forging of our righteous character. I have learned that the Lord has a consummate capacity to judge our intent. He is concerned about what we are becoming by the choices we make. He has an individual plan for each of us. This concept is very comforting when we consider how to understand difficult matters such as the early death of someone who seems to be so needed on earth. It is most helpful when we struggle with illness or a severe handicap." - Elder Richard G. Scott

One of the things I cannot understand is how some individuals believe that there is no design or reason to what happens here on Earth. I would think that those people who subscribe to this chaos theory have no reason to hope for anything. Understanding, however, that the events of our lives are part of a larger plan somehow makes it easier to accept them. I remember when my mother passed away, it was not easy - I think that losing a loved one is a challenge for even the best of us - but knowing that I had hope to see her again after this life was of great comfort.

All of us will face adversity in this life regardless of our personal righteousness. As long as we can use this adversity as a chance to grow and become stronger instead of letting it defeat us, we will be able to look back at some future time and see how our trials have made us stronger and drawn us closer to our Father in Heaven.

An Habit Forming Resolution (12/31/2009)

2009-12-31T08:40:00.001-08:00

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.
_______________________

"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)

2009-12-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-12-29T08:53:00.001-08:00

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)

2009-12-24T09:50:00.001-08:00

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)

2009-12-23T14:00:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-12-21T11:19:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-12-17T13:22:00.001-08:00

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)

2009-12-15T11:36:00.001-08:00

"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)

2009-12-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-12-09T09:35:00.001-08:00

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)

2009-12-07T09:11:00.001-08:00

"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)

2009-12-02T08:17:00.001-08:00

"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.

Follow The Prophet (11/30/2009)

2009-11-30T14:01:00.001-08:00

Last night I performed in a multi-stake production of Handel's Messiah. The orchestra has been rehearsing the various numbers for about two months now, and overall I think it is safe to say that we felt pretty comfortable with the music. At least until the performance.

The orchestra alone starts the piece with an overture, then almost everything else is either vocal soloists or choral pieces. The overture last night began just fine, but about a quarter of the way through it, the first chair first violinist stopped playing. Others in her section continued, but it was not long before it was evident that they were not with the rest of the group. This in turn confused other players, and to make a long story short, I am not sure whether the orchestra or the audience was more relieved when the piece mercifully ended.

I have obviously thought quite a bit about this since it happened. The one idea that keeps occurring to me is how much we in an orchestra rely on each other. While it is true that we musicians should follow the director and count through the different measures of the music, I often find myself relying more on audible cues from other sections of the orchestra to know where I am supposed to be. The down side to that is that when other musicians become lost, then I do as well.

I think that the same thing can happen in the Church as well. We have a leader in President Monson who tries to direct us in the way we should go. Sometimes, however, I think that we place stock in the testimony of others, so when they get lost, we too wind up losing our way. I hope that we will look to the one individual who has been called and set apart to lead us today so that no matter what else goes on around us, we will still know where we should be.

Gratitude (11/20/2009)

2009-11-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

"A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves." -Henry Ward Beecher

I love this quote for the fact that it makes me reflect upon my own actions to determine how proud I am. If I feel as though I have been cheated out of something that I have not earned or is not mine to begin with, then I need to adjust my course to be thankful for the things I do have. King Benjamin actually put it best when he said:

"I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another — I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants." (Mosiah 2:21)

When I think of it in those terms, everything I have down to my most basic breath is a gift. Since gifts from our Father are freely given whether we choose to reciprocate or not, it might well be said that everything we receive is more than we deserve. I hope that as we enter this week of Thanksgiving that we will renew our commitment to actively demonstrate our gratitude to our Father for the myriad of gifts that are ours.

Escaping the Doldrums (11/19/2009)

2009-11-19T14:02:00.000-08:00

"I have learned that where there is a prayerful heart, a hungering after righteousness, a forsaking of sins, and obedience to the commandments of God, the Lord pours out more and more light until one finally has power to pierce the heavenly veil and to know more than man knows." - President Spencer W. Kimball

I think that I found this quote for today by inspiration. It is easy for me to get lost sometimes with all that I have going on, and when I am lost, I tend to set aside the things I know I should do. Some might tell me to just "snap out of it" when I start feeling sad that things are not going the way that I think they should, but I know that President Kimball's advice here is a more sure way to escape the doldrums that might steer us away from the path we should follow.

Peace and Freedom (11/17/2009)

2009-11-17T11:09:00.000-08:00

In the news today, there is a story about a woman who gave her 9 month old baby to her drug dealer "because she was homeless, addicted to meth and unable to care for the child." As a parent, it is difficult for me to imagine something so compelling in my life that it would take precedent over my children, yet here is evidence that such things do happen. I feel for this woman and for her child. It is evident that a series of choices have been made in the mother's life that have led her to a place where I am sure she would rather not be.

President Hinckley told about a conversation he once had with a young man who sought freedom and peace through the ways of the world. After his account, President Hinckley observed: "Today there are persons numbered in the millions who, in a search for freedom from moral restraint and peace from submerged conscience, have opened a floodgate of practices that enslave and debauch. These practices, if left unchecked, will not only destroy these individuals but also the nations of which they are a part."

Our Father in Heaven has stated through His prophets that His goal is to help us gain Eternal Life (see Moses 1:39) - the greatest peace that anyone could want to achieve. Satan also makes a counterfeit offer of peace, yet his ultimate goal is to make us just as miserable as he is (see 2 Nephi 2:27) by having us surrender our agency to things that stimulate the senses, such as pornography or drugs. So while the world would have us break the moral fetters that keep us from doing whatever we want in life, I hope that we will be aware that those who accept Satan's offer of "peace" run the risk of losing everything, just as this mother's choices led her to lose her child.

The Restored Gospel (11/16/2009)

2009-11-16T12:29:00.000-08:00

"The Restoration responds resoundingly and reassuringly to the key human questions and provides the firm framework of our faith. Do we actually live in an unexplained and unexplainable universe? Is there really purpose and meaning to human existence? Why such unevenness in the human condition? Why so much human suffering?

"The marvelous truths of the Restoration respond to these questions and are highly global, highly personal, and even galactic in their dimensions! Identity exists amid immensity. We are enclosed in divine purposes! There is no need for despair! No wonder the restored gospel is such 'good news.'" - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

One of the things I often express gratitude for in my prayers is how the Gospel gives me an understanding of the big picture. It is so easy to get caught up in the little things that don't go right in life, yet when I stop and think about how my time here is just a step along a much longer path, it makes everything else easier to manage. I am thankful for the prophet Joseph Smith and for the truth that he restored so that we can all know what we need to do in order to inherit eternal life.

Following the Savior (11/12/2009)

2009-11-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

I have volunteered to play in an orchestra for a neighboring stake that is performing Handel's opus The Messiah. I don't know what it is about the music that gets stuck in my head, but I have heard in my mind many of the passages over and over lately. One of the verses that I have heard lately comes from Isaiah:

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

"Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

"All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all." (Mosiah 14:3-6; see also Isaiah 53:3-6)

How often do I "hide my face" from my Savior, favoring what the world would have me do instead of what I should do? How far have I, like a sheep, gone astray from the loving Shepherd? Jesus Christ did everything He could to make it possible for us to return to live with our Father again. He atoned for the mistakes we would make, He showed us a more perfect way, and He calls to each of us to follow Him. I hope that we can all come to a greater understanding of what the Savior did for us, and that we will be more diligent in heeding His call.

The Last Days (11/11/2009)

2009-11-11T12:37:00.000-08:00

"You will live in the midst of economic, political, and spiritual instability. When you see these signs - unmistakable evidences that his coming is nigh - be not troubled, but, 'stand... in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come.' (Doctrine & Covenants 87:8) Holy men and holy women stand in holy places, and these holy places include our temples, our chapels, our homes, and the stakes of Zion, which are, as the Lord declares, 'for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth' ((Doctrine & Covenants 115:6).

"Heed the Lord's counsel to the Saints of this dispensation: 'Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.' ((Doctrine & Covenants 133:10) This preparation must consist of more than just casual membership in the Church. You must learn to be guided by personal revelation and the counsel of the living prophet so you will not be deceived." - President Ezra Taft Benson

These prophetic words uttered by President Benson almost 20 years ago become more manifest every day. It is frightening to me to think of the events that will precede the Lord's coming, yet as we see the prophecies fulfilled, I hope that we will remember that these things are given to us as a testimony that what the prophets say is true. Things might look grim now, but as we see the events of the last days happen, it gives us reason to hope that the prophesies of a better future will also come to pass.

The Pain of Death (11/9/2009)

2009-11-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, a friend of mine experienced a great tragedy when his 15 month old daughter was run over and killed by a dump truck driven by his friend. As I was up late Saturday night mulling this event over in my mind, I thought what I could say to Gary that could somehow ease such a sudden blow. It is easy being removed one step from the situation to say that everything will work out fine, and that he and his wife will have the chance to see their daughter again one day, but I don't know how much that helps someone who is actually suffering at that moment.

While I was thinking along those lines, it occurred to me that as tragic as this death was, there is a worse kind of death that we can suffer. Gary and Amber know that they will be able to see their daughter again one day, and that hope has helped see them through this ordeal. Our Father in Heaven, however, risks the chance of losing us to death as well, but the spiritual death that we experience means that we might be lost to Him forever.

I think that many play near spiritual dump trucks without ever realizing the danger that they pose. Whether those are things like drugs, alcohol, pornography, or whatever, they might seem like an interesting and even fun place to play, but unfortunately there will come a time when that dump truck moves and can crush the individuals around it. Perhaps this is why the prophets counsel us to stay as far away from sin as we can.

As deep as our love is for our children, and as much as a loss like the one suffered by my friends must hurt, I can only imagine how much more our Father hurts when one of His children that he loves with a perfect love is lost. I hope that I can live my life in such a way that my Father in Heaven will not have to hurt on my account.

Repetition (11/4/2009)

2009-11-04T12:38:00.001-08:00

President Heber J. Grant once stood in priesthood meeting and said, "I have a letter from a man who made a suggestion concerning what subject I should address at conference. This man said he felt I had spoken too many times concerning the Word of Wisdom and strongly urged me to speak on a different topic. That is one man who obviously needs to hear more about the Word of Wisdom, and therefore I shall address that topic tonight."

Our leaders remind us in every General Conference that we need to study the scriptures. They remind us to seek out that which is good and wholesome, and strongly counsel us to avoid that which is not. These warnings must keep coming because there are still members of Christ's church who not doing what we have been commanded.

I see the same thing as I parent. For example, if my children keep their rooms clean, I do not have to harp on them to get it done and we can move on to other activities. Only when they do not do what they are asked do they get incessantly nagged by me and their mother to complete their chores, and they don't get the time to do the things they want to do. I hope that we can be more diligent in doing those things that we have been commanded so that we can receive more of the instruction that we will require to achieve our eternal goals.

Equals (11/3/2009)

2009-11-03T10:55:00.001-08:00

A friend recently told me how they had interviewed for another job in their organization. This individual was afraid that they would not get the job, however, because the area that was hiring did not view the department this person works for in a favorable light. So in spite this individual's "can do" attitude and work ethic, because one group of people feels as though they are better than another, my friend may get passed over for the better job.

All this got me to thinking about how King Benjamin reminded us that we are all equal. He counseled his people "For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?" (Mosiah 4:19)

How much better would our homes, our wards, our places of business be if everyone could view each other as equals? How much more effective would we be if instead of viewing others as being inferior - or superior, as the case may be - to ourselves if we could look at each other as children of God instead of "that guy in the biker jacket who smokes" or "that neighbor who is snotty to me every time I try to talk to them?"

Yes, I realize that we are all individuals, and that as such, there will be parts of our character that do not blend well with others in our life. I hope, however, we can work to get to the point where we will view others in the same way that our Father in Heaven does, as His children.

Using All Means in Our Power (10/28/2009)

2009-10-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites found that there were robbers among them they were exceedingly sorrowful; and they did use every means in their power to destroy them off the face of the earth. But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings. (Helaman 6:20-21)

I think that one would be hard pressed to make the honest observation today that the world is not growing more wicked. Scandals involving politicians and other prominent members of society occur almost daily, yet the consequences for their actions seem almost non-existent. How much, then, is our society like this one?

In verse 21, we see the impossible odds that the Lamanites faced, yet verse 20 tells how the Lamanties used every means in their power to stop these illegal activities. Obviously we are not going to be able to change governments singlehandedly, but I hope that we will do what we can, whether it is researching out the candidates that most closely embrace the principles the Savior would have us live and actively supporting them or simply by praying for those who are already in power to make wise choices, to help rid our society of the kinds of activities that were the eventual downfall of the Nephites.

Strength Equal to our Challenges (10/27/2009)

2009-10-27T10:13:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, I was reviewing notes from a lesson I had given a while back and I came across a quote which said, in effect, "Don't pray for tasks equal to your strength. Pray to have strength equal to your tasks." In other words, when we are faced with challenges, we should embrace the chance to learn and grow. Today, I would like to share with you part of a talk from Elder Bednar which emphasizes this point:

"As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who 'act' rather than objects that are 'acted upon.' (2 Nephi 2:14)

"Consider the example in Mosiah 24 as Alma and his people are being persecuted by Amulon. As recorded in verse 14, the voice of the Lord came to these good people in their affliction and indicated: 'And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs.'

"Now if I had been one of Alma's people and received that particular assurance, my response likely would have been, 'I thank thee, and please hurry!' But notice in verse 15 the process the Lord used to lighten the burden: 'And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.'

"Brothers and sisters, what was changed in this episode? It was not the burden that changed; the challenges and difficulties of persecution were not immediately removed from the people. But Alma and his followers were strengthened, and their increased capacity and strength made the burdens they bore lighter. These good people were empowered through the Atonement to act as agents and impact their circumstances - 'in the strength of the Lord.'"

Learning Good (10/23/2009)

2009-10-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

"If men would be great in goodness, they must be intelligent, for no man can do good unless he knows how; therefore seek after knowledge, all knowledge, and especially that which is from above, which is wisdom to direct in all things, and if you find any thing that God does not know, you need not learn that thing; but strive to know what God knows, and use that knowledge as God uses it, and then you will be like him; (you) will... have charity, love one another, and do each other good continually, and for ever...

"But if a man have all knowledge, and does not use it for good, it will prove a curse instead of a blessing as it did to Lucifer, the Son of the Morning." - Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards, Millennial Star 14:22, 15 January 1852)

When I think of learning and knowledge, I think of math, science, language, arts. This quote, however, reminded me that while such academic cores are important, if I am to become like my Father in Heaven, there are other things I need to learn as well. I need to learn charity, need to study being good until I can do it by rote. Of course, if I learn all of these things and fail to act on them, it will do me no more good than if I were to hang my college degree on the wall and sit and stare at it. Only by applying the things I have learned am I able to improve my corner of the world and financially support my family.

I hope that we will strive to learn how to become like the Savior, and as we are taught through prayer, scripture study, and meeting attendance, I hope that we will apply what we have learned to make the world around us a better place.

Who Do We Listen To? (10/21/2009)

2009-10-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

"And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out.

"Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil.

"But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth — and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him. (Helaman 13:25-28)

A few years ago, I came across an old acquaintance of mine. Without going into any detail, he was involved in some acts that were obviously questionable, yet I said nothing to him about those. He was quick, however, to become defensive about his actions, and our whole conversation had a strange air about it, and overall left a very bad impression on me. I heard more news about him a few weeks ago, and it is evident that he has continued in his questionable ways to an even worse degree than he had at the point of our reunion.

We have a conscience that tells us what is right and what is wrong. The natural man in all of us would love to have someone there to tell us that we are OK to do whatever we like, but the truth of the matter is that unless we are willing to listen to the Lord and His servants, the prophets, we ultimately fight not only against them, but against our own conscience as well. If we discover that we do not like the things that we hear from President Monson and the other leaders of the Church, perhaps it is time that we listen to our conscience and make sure we are on the right path.

Serving Others (10/19/2009)

2009-10-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

"You are all called of God to serve his children. You may be called as a clerk or a home teacher or a visiting teacher. You all are a son or daughter or a brother or sister. None of those are accidental calls. And each places you in service to invite someone to choose the right, to come unto Christ. None of the people for whom you are responsible can be truly served without your bearing testimony, in some way, of the mission of Jesus Christ.

"Now you know that the mission of the Holy Ghost is to bear testimony of the Savior. When in faith and under assignment you go forth to do that, the Holy Ghost is your ally. The Savior said: 'But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.' (John 15:26)

"You could, this moment, begin to think of those for whom you bear responsibility. If you do, and do it with the intent to serve them, a face or a name will come to you. If you do something tonight and make some attempt to help that person come unto Christ, I cannot promise you a miracle, but I can promise you this: you will feel the influence of the Holy Ghost helping you, and you will feel approval. And you will know that, for at least those minutes, the power of the Holy Ghost was with you." - President Henry B. Eyring

When I read this quote by President Eyring, I started to think of the callings I have in life and the impact they have on others. Our job here is to serve each other and to help people come unto Christ. Whether we are a stake president, a Sunday school teacher, a visiting teacher, or even just a neighbor, we need to be certain that our focus is to testify of Christ and help those with whom we associate feel the Spirit. By working to have the Spirit with us and helping others to feel it, we will be able to bring our brothers and sisters to the truth, and strengthen them as they catch the vision of the higher purpose of this life.

Listening (10/16/2009)

2009-10-16T10:17:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was listening to a live recording of a Simon and Garfunkel concert that I have. In one of their songs, "The Sound of Silence," they talk of people who are "hearing without listening." I found a gem of wisdom in Simon's lyrics - how often do I hear something like a talk in General Conference or a scripture without really listening to what it is saying? Or if the Spirit is talking to me, how often do I listen to and follow its promptings?

We have been given prophets and other leaders to help guide us through these last days. The challenges we face today are unlike any others the world has ever seen. It is not just enough, however, to hear their counsel if we are to have hope to escape these days unscathed. We must also listen to their meaning and then work to apply their messages in our lives. As we re-read the conference talks online or in the Ensign and the Liahona, I hope that we can truly listen to these messages that come from our Father.

Mr. Bones and Me (Helping Others) (10/13/2009)

2009-10-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Today I have Mr. Bones. Mr. Bones is a bear that I purchased some years back for Halloween, and during the month of October, he always goes to school or work with someone in the family, then when we sit down for dinner, the person with Mr. Bones tells what they did and then passes the bear on to the next person.

As I listened to President Monson's Sunday morning General Conference address, I knew that Mr. Bones would come with an additional responsibility this year. President Monson spoke of a Dr. Jack McConnell whose minister father would always ask his children at the dinner table "And what did you do for someone today?" I added the twist, however, that the person with the bear had to do something for someone within the family (with the hopes of fostering better will between siblings) and for someone outside the family.

It has been an interesting exercise to actively look for ways that I can help people, and wondering what really makes a difference. Does my commiserating with the challenges a co-worker faces help even though it is beyond my ability to fix the problems they face? Do I actually have to DO something for it to help? There are a hundred questions that have run through my mind as I have looked for someone who could use help simply because I know that at the dinner table tonight I will be asked, probably not unlike the questions I will hear when I meet the Father again, "And what did you do for someone today?"

Our Journey (10/12/2009)

2009-10-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended." -Nelson Mandela

Even though Nelson Mandela was referring here to his work against apartheid in his nation, I think that this quote is a good one for us all. There are spiritual hills that each of us climbs during our life, and when we crest the summit of one of these hills, it can be satisfying to see how far we have come, and how beautiful the panorama is from this new vantage point. If we spend longer than a moment considering our accomplishment, however, we risk losing not only the progress we have yet to make but also the progress we have made.

I will be the first to acknowledge how difficult it is to just keep putting one foot in front of another some days. As long as our journey here is not over, we need to forge ahead every day as we travel home to our Father.

Our Worth (10/9/2009)

2009-10-09T11:29:00.001-07:00

Today I would like to share a thought from Elder Russell M. Nelson. One of Satan's missions is to try and convince us that our efforts here are in vain, but the message from our Father is far different:

"In our quest for faith, hope, and charity, we must beware of the dangers of doubt, despair, or disdain for the divine. Moroni so taught: 'If ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.' (Moroni 10:22)

"Each of you is special, valued, and needed in building the kingdom of God. The adversary is also aware of your worth and will surely taunt you. When Satan's temptations come your way, please remember this counsel from Alma:

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear... Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts." (Alma 13:28-29)

Knowledge (10/6/2009)

2009-10-06T09:37:00.001-07:00

"The quest for knowledge is endless. It seems that the more we know, the more there is yet to learn. It is impossible that man may learn all the ways of God. But as we are faithful and are deeply rooted in scriptural accounts of God's magnificent creations, we will be well prepared for future discoveries. All truth is compatible because it all emanates from God." - Elder Russell M. Nelson

Elder Nelson's remark here is one that I have often made. It seems that every time I learn something new, I realize that there is so much more that I need to know. Yet as we seek to involve our Father in Heaven in our lives, our ability to learn will increase. He is the Creator, and as such He knows everything, and He will share with us what He knows, teaching us through the Spirit, "line upon line, and precept upon precept" when we are ready to listen and learn.

Listening to the Spirit (10/5/2009)

2009-10-05T09:57:00.001-07:00

One of the most meaningful messages I took away from Conference this weekend was the need to listen to the Spirit. In a world that is increasingly confused, a world where the "gray area" seems to be constantly shrinking and the draw to Satan's side of the line seems to be more powerful each day, using this gift with which we have been blessed is increasingly vital.

Of course, it is incumbent upon us to live our lives in such a way that we can hear what the Spirit is telling us. To help illustrate this principle to my children, I had them each make as much noise as they could. Six children can make a lot of noise when asked, and when they finally figured out that I really was telling them that it was OK to be noisy, I started to quietly give them an instruction. Of course none of them could hear my instruction over the din, and pretty soon their curiosity got the better of them and they quieted down so that they could hear what I was saying.

Our lives can be polluted with different forms of noise as well. Whether it is the actual noise of loud music or whether it is the million things we need to get to that clutter our spiritual hearing, I heard the message this weekend that it is vital to take the advice to "Be still, and know that I am God..." (Psalms 46:10) When we can do that, we will be ready to be guided through these difficult last days.

Learning to Choose Good (9/28/2009)

2009-09-28T10:10:00.001-07:00

"And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me — that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world." (Ether 4:12)

Here is a litmus test that struck me when I read it recently. If I look at my choices, how many of them persuade me to do good? Does the music that I listen to fit the bill? The movies I watch? There is no absolute answer to these questions, as there is good and bad in all that I do, but when I read this verse, it reminded me that I need to be more diligent in making good choices. And as I pay more attention to the choices I am going to make, I can now ask a simple question - will this choice lead me to do good? - and determine whether or not it is something that I should do.

Gratitude in Trial (9/25/2009)

2009-09-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

"The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!" - President Joseph F. Smith

On Wednesday, my son got in trouble at school. When I got home from work and we had a chat about what had happened, he shared with me just how horrible his life was. He was upset that nobody was interested in hearing how the other kids in class were acting up too, or about how incompetent the teacher was. In short, his life was terrible because I did not accept any of his excuses about why he was kicked out of math class.

After I listened to him rant for a minute, I explained to him that he should be thankful for the things he does have. Like President Smith said in this quote, I started to enumerate the things for which he could be grateful. Life will not always give us what we hope for - it is not always fair in our favor. But if we will stop and be thankful for the things we DO have, it will make enduring the difficult times easier.

Lowering Clouds (9/23/2009)

2009-09-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

"Naturally, believing Christians, even those who have a mature faith in the gospel, are concerned and disturbed by the lowering clouds on the horizon. But they need not be surprised or frantic about their portent, for, as has already been said, at the very beginning of this last dispensation the Lord made it abundantly clear that through the tribulations and calamity that he foresaw and foretold and that we now see coming upon us, there would be a people who, through acceptance and obedience to the gospel, would be able to recognize and resist the powers of evil, build up the promised Zion, and prepare to meet the Christ and be with him in the blessed millennium. And we know further that it is possible for every one of us, who will, to have a place among those people. It is this assurance and this expectation that gives us understanding of the Lord's admonition, 'be not troubled.'" - President Marion G. Romney

These words by President Romney were spoken over 40 years ago in a time that saw the assassination of an American President, the dawning of an ugly war in Southeast Asia, and eroding social mores. Perhaps the events that define today are different, but the concern about the "lowering clouds" among those faithful to Christ have not changed. Then again, neither have the words of encouragement. Regardless of what takes place in the world around us, as long as we remain faithful to the Savior and strive to improve ourselves and our homes, we will have no reason to fear. I hope that as we furrow our brow over today's headlines that we can maintain the eternal perspective that all of these things will soon pass.

Developing On Our Own (9/22/2009)

2009-09-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

“There must be works with faith. How foolish it would be to ask the Lord to give us knowledge, but how wise to ask the Lord’s help to acquire knowledge, to study constructively, to think clearly, and to retain things that we have learned.” - President Spencer W. Kimball

My fifth grader has been assigned a report on a famous person to be completed next month. The teacher has outlined the steps he is to take to complete the report, from compiling data on the person to writing the rough and final drafts of the report. It represents a fairly substantial effort, and with the progress he has made based on the effort he has put into the report so far, I confess that I am a bit concerned about his ability to finish it.

Now I am certain that if I wanted to, I could write this report for him, complete with citations, good spelling, and passable grammar. It would not take nearly as much effort as it is taking him, and the results would probably be better. The only problem with a plan like that is that it would not give him the chance to learn what is involved in writing a report, so when he gets to junior high, high school, or college, he will still not know what is involved in that process. Further, the chances are good that if he is ever able to develop this skill, it will be more difficult to learn it later than if he were to learn it now.

Our Father in Heaven wants to give us the same opportunity to learn. He could give us the knowledge and resources we need to overcome every challenge, but were He to do that, we would be deprived of the chance to learn from our own experiences. It is good to ask for our Father's help while we are here on Earth, but as President Kimball says, we still need to do all that we can on our own to learn and grow.

Our First Resource (9/21/2009)

2009-09-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

"Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you." (3 Nephi 18:19-20)

I just finished re-reading "The Count of Monte Cristo." In this story, a young man named Edmond Dantes is imprisioned for a crime he did not commit. When he is first thrown in the dungeon, Dumas, the author of this story, makes this observation:

"He (Dantes) was sustained at first by that pride of conscious innocence which is the sequence to hope; then he began to doubt his own innocence, which justified in some measure the governor's belief in his mental alienation; and then, relaxing his sentiment of pride, he addressed his supplications, not to God, but to man. God is always the last resource. Unfortunates, who ought to begin with God, do not have any hope in him till they have exhausted all other means of deliverance."

I find this an interesting observation. When I read this quote, it made me really start to wonder how often I rely on my own intelligence and strength to overcome the obstacles in my life. I hope that as we - myself included - face challenges in life, we will remember to ask our Father for His help, not as a last resort as Dumas suggests, but all along the way.

Tuning In (9/10/2009)

2009-09-10T12:06:00.001-07:00

"My first radio was a crystal set. It was hard to tune to the frequency of a particular radio station. One had to literally scratch the receiving wire whisker over the top of the rough crystal to find the right pin point, a little valley or peak on the crystal, where the signal was received. Just a millimeter off on one side or the other of that point and you would lose the signal and get scratchy static. Over time, with patience and perseverance, good eyesight, and a steady hand, you could learn to find the signal point on the crystal without too much difficulty.

"So it is in learning to attune ourselves to the inspiration from God and tune out the scratchy static. We have to work at being tuned in. Most of us need a long time to become tuned in most of the time." - President James E. Faust

In our world today, there are a myriad of things that will interfere with our ability to feel the Spirit and recognize its influence in our lives. So much noise and chaos are not conducive to hearing a still, small voice. If we will patiently strive to seek the Spirit through righteous living, however, we will be able to recognize its guiding influence. And as we continue to practice the principles taught by the Savior, feeling the Spirit will become as natural and effortless as President Faust found it to tune his radio.

Acting in the Savior's Name (9/9/2009)

2009-09-09T12:52:00.001-07:00

First of all, I would like to apologize for the lack of a thought recently. Apparently working with computers for a living does not exempt one from having issues with them. I am limping along again, however, and hopefully will be back to full force this week.

This week in Fast and Testimony meeting, one of the good brothers of our ward got up and shared his testimony about the importance of being a good home teacher. He recounted how when he moved into the ward, he had been assigned to a family, but there were always other things to do and home teaching did not happen as much as it should have. Years later, the father of the family to which he had been assigned confided to him that at the time he had been their home teacher, the son of the family was struggling, and he felt that the home teacher could have done a great deal of good to help his son.

I understand that there is a great deal of speculation in this scenario, but the lesson was well understood. We never know the influence we can have if we fail to do our part. It might seem silly to say "hello" to someone with whom we are not well acquainted, but a simple greeting may have a huge impact on the recipient of that greeting. The young mother might be able to prepare meals just fine, but who can say how much it would relieve her stress for one night if someone prepared a little extra in their meal and shared with her. Like the song says, "there are chances for work all around just now." I hope that we will take the time to look for them so that we can act in the Savior's name.

Knowing Who We Are (9/1/2009)

2009-09-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

"Many of you are familiar with the musical Fiddler on the Roof. It is a favorite of mine... Tears come to the viewer as he hears the beautiful strains of 'Sunrise, Sunset,' and he seems to appreciate Tevye's love for his native village when the cast sings 'Anatevka.'

"The gaiety of the dance, the rhythm of the music, and the excellence of the acting all fade in significance when Tevye speaks what to me becomes the message of the musical. He gathers his lovely daughters to his side, and, in the simplicity of his peasant surroundings, he counsels them as they ponder their future. 'Remember,' cautions Tevye, 'in Anatevka we know who we are and what God expects us to become.'

"As Latter-day Saints, we know who we are and what God expects us to become." - President Thomas S. Monson

I often share President Kimball's advice with my children when they leave the house to remember who they are and what they stand for. That is not always the easiest thing to do, as the peer pressure of family, friends, and co-workers comes to bear on us. We need to remember what we have been taught, however, and think upon our eternal potential when we decide how we will act in any given situation. As the children of a loving Father, we know what is expected of us, but we also know that there are better things that await us after this life if we will be faithful.

Moroni's Counsel (8/31/2009)

2009-08-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

"O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.

"Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God." (Mormon 9:27-28)

I love Moroni's counsel to us in this chapter. When I read this chapter recently, it is almost like a checklist of things that I should be doing. Remember to ask our Father in faith for the things I need. Do ALL things that are asked of me. Be willing to submit to the Father's will instead of being prideful. Pray with faith for help to avoid temptation. I can testify that as we seek to involve our Father in Heaven in our lives each day and turn our hearts to Him and His will, He will help us overcome the challenges we face so that we can return to Him again.

Being Christian (8/28/2009)

2009-08-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

This morning, I would like to share a thought with you that Elder M. Russell Ballard gave in a commencement address earlier this month:

"When all is said and done, the most important thing about you and your testimony is that you base your beliefs on what Jesus Christ taught, and you try to follow Him by living your life in a way acceptable to our Heavenly Father and to the Lord.

"This is your foundation. It was Joseph Smith's foundation. He said: 'The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, he was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.'

"Whenever you are having a conversation about the Church, you should try to make this a point. We follow Jesus Christ. We try to live as He taught. That's the basis of our faith and our lives. This is the strongest nondefensive position you can take. You don't have to defend or justify anything when you are basing your position on the teachings of the Son of God and the fact that you are doing your best to keep His commandments."

The rest of the world squabbles over whether or not we are Christians in the way that everyone else is Christian. If we continue to try and live our lives as He did, then when the time comes for individuals to decide for themselves what their position is on this matter, however, it will be clear to them that this Gospel, restored in these latter days, is truly the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our Characteristics (8/27/2009)

2009-08-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

"And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still." (Mormon 9:14)

I think that a popular misconception is that when we leave this Earth, all of our problems will go away and we will suddenly be happy. Based on what Moroni says here, however, I think that nothing could be further from the truth. When we depart this life, we not only take the knowledge we have accumulated, but we also take with us the attitudes and characteristics that define who we are.

If our overall attitude is one of optimism, when we die, that same attitude will go with us; if we desire those things which are righteous, we will continue to desire those things after our time here is complete. Conversely, those who desire that which is not good will not suddenly have different inclinations. That is why Moroni, in addition to other prophets, have encouraged us to make the changes to improve our lives while we are here so that when we move to the next stage of our existence, we will be prepared.

The Atonement (8/25/2009)

2009-08-25T08:01:00.001-07:00

"Jesus was born of an immortal Father and a mortal mother. From His immortal Father, Jesus inherited the power to live forever. From His mortal mother He inherited the fate of physical death. He declared this reality regarding His own life: 'No man taketh it from me,' He said, 'but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.'

"Those unique attributes were essential for His mission to atone for the sins of all mankind. Thus Jesus the Christ was born to die. He died that we might live. He was born that all humankind could live beyond the grave. His Atonement was wrought in Gethsemane - where He sweat great drops of blood - and on Golgotha (or Calvary) - where His body was lifted up upon a cross above the place of the skull, which signified death. This infinite Atonement would release man from the infinitude of death. His Atonement made the Resurrection a reality and the gift of eternal life a possibility for all who would obey His teachings. His Atonement became the central act of all human history." - Elder Russell M. Nelson

Life is replete with choices. We choose how we can act or react to any given situation. To most of us it is given the chance to choose what we will make of our lives, or what we will do with the talents we have been given. If we are to follow the example of the Savior, I think that it is important to note that He chose to give everything in order for everyone - wicked and righteous - to have the chance to return to live with our Father again. Because He made that choice, we now can choose whether or or not we will come to Him with the broken heart and contrite spirit that He asks of us, and take advantage of His Atoning Sacrifice. Our Older Brother understood what He was doing when He made His choice on our behalf. I hope that we can also work to understand what He did, and to make His sacrifice a larger part of our lives.

Success in Trials (8/14/2009)

2009-08-14T10:18:00.001-07:00

"Thoreau reminded us that men were born to succeed and not to fail. The line between success and failure may be so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it. Often we throw up our hands at times when a little effort and a little more patience would have achieved success. Persistence can turn what seems to be hopeless failure into joyous success. There is no failure except in no longer trying. Failure is not in falling down, but in staying down. There is a single factor that makes for successful living. It is the ability to draw dividends from defeat." - Elder L. Tom Perry

Lately, I have faced some challenges in my life, but I just keep putting one foot in front of another, relying on the Lord and hoping that tomorrow will be better. Elder Perry's words here comforted me, letting me know that as long as I am patient, sooner or later things will improve, and that even when things are not going well, there are still lessons that I can learn and apply in my life.

Light (8/12/2009)

2009-08-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." (Mosiah 16:9)

I have always loved the visual image of Christ being the light of the world. One of the great things about light is that darkness cannot stand against it. Last week, I bought some night lights to put in the bedrooms of my younger children and in the hallway, and it was amazing what a difference it made - it was a great example of how the light pushes away the darkness and makes things clearer and easier to see.

The other thing about light is how beautiful it can make things. I took my children to the open house of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah temple last month, and one of the things that first attracted the eye were the beautiful chandeliers. The way they cast light enhanced the beauty of everything around them, just as the light the Savior has enhances the lives of those who choose to follow Him.

I hope that each of us will follow the Savior so that we can share a portion of His light to those around us.

Constancy in Trial (8/10/2009)

2009-08-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepares us for whatever life brings. This kind of faith prepares us to deal with life's opportunities - to take advantage of those that are received and to persist through the disappointments of those that are lost. In the exercise of that faith we should commit ourselves to the priorities and standards we will follow on matters we do not control and persist faithfully in those commitments whatever happens to us because of the agency of others or the timing of the Lord. When we do this, we will have a constancy in our lives that will give us direction and peace. Whatever the circumstances beyond our control, our commitments and standards can be constant." - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

One of the things about our lives is the fact that rarely does everything stick to the plans we make. It can be a challenge for us to accept it when things go wrong, but I love Elder Oaks' quote here because it reminds me that even though we may encounter resistance, as long as we are constant in following the Lord, He will bless us and eventually help us overcome all obstacles.

Happiness (8/5/2009)

2009-08-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

"We are enticed daily to pursue worldly pleasures that may divert us from the path to happiness. But the path to true and lasting happiness is, repeating the Prophet Joseph Smith's words, 'virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God...' The more faithfully we keep the commandments of God, the happier we will be." - President James E. Faust

It should come as a surprise to nobody that materialism runs deep in our society today. Many people see the latest electronic gadget or other object they cannot live without and go to almost any lengths to possess it. And while it is true that such items may bring us moment of happiness, in the end all of the neat possessions we have acquired in this life will mean nothing. I hope that we will take President Faust's advice and find our happiness by keeping the commandments and following the example set forth by the Savior.

Example (8/4/2009)

2009-08-04T12:21:00.001-07:00

"And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites, and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies, for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions." (Mormon 5:1)

Here is one of the parts of the Book of Mormon that I would love to better understand. Mormon, having told the Nephites that he would not longer lead their armies, accepts the responsibility of command again even though he goes on to confess that he had no hope for either the Nephites or their cause. One thing was very clear to me as I read this verse with my family this morning, however. The Nephites knew that Mormon was a man of God, and because of Mormon's righteousness, they felt that his righteousness could save them.

Whether we recognize it or not, there are individuals in our lives who look to us as well. People have an idea of the things we find acceptable and those that we do not. Because of this, I know of several individuals who look to us as members of Christ's church to set their own moral compasses regardless of whether they embrace the teachings of the Gospel. That is why it is vital for us to remember to be the example of good at all times. That way, when those around us need someone to look to for guidance, we can be that individual.

One More Chance (8/3/2009)

2009-08-03T12:25:00.001-07:00

"Dad! Please give us one more chance!" This is the plea I heard from my 8 year old and 10 year old last night, as I told them that because they refused to stop talking and go to sleep, they would not be able to come to work with me today. I continued, saying that because they had been warned multiple times, and because their younger sisters were not going to sleep as a result of their incessant chatter, there would be no more chances.

As I left their bedroom, however, the idea crossed my mind that I have often found myself in their same position. I will make a mistake, then needing to correct it, I will turn to my Father in Heaven to ask His forgiveness - for one more chance. Unfortunately, I sometimes find that I will slip again and I find myself in a position where I need to ask for another chance.

With that thought in mind, I granted my boys the extra chance they requested, and I heard nothing from them for the rest of the night. Hopefully I will, like my sons, make the most of the chances that our Father in Heaven gives me.