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.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Charity and Christmas (12/9/2009)
Christmas is not a day or a season,
but a condition of heart and mind.
If we love our neighbors as ourselves;
if in our riches we are poor in spirit
and in our poverty we are rich in grace;
if our charity vaunteth not itself,
but suffereth long and is kind;
if when our brother asks for a loaf,
we give ourselves instead;
if each day dawns in opportunity
and sets in achievement, however small;
then every day is Christ's day
and Christmas is always near.
- John Wallingford
There are always opportunities to serve our neighbors. Sometimes we are too busy to see them. Sometimes we allow the din of the world to drown out those requests. Yet when we take the chance to stop and help another without any thought of compensation, we demonstrate that pure love that our older Brother Jesus Christ demonstrated for all of us. Yes, it is easier to do at this time of year when everyone is focused on giving. When we take down the lights and put away the tree, however, I hope that we will be able to still keep Christmas with us.
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.
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Spirit of Christmas (12/7/2009)
"Jesus Christ is not just a general truth or a fact in history, but the Savior of men everywhere and at all times. When we strive to be Christlike, he is 'formed' in us; if we open the door, he will enter; if we seek his counsel, he will counsel us. For Christ to be 'formed' in us, we must have a belief in him and in his atonement. Such a belief in Christ, and the keeping of his commandments, are not restraints upon us. By these, men are set free. This Prince of Peace waits to give peace of mind which may make each of us a channel of that peace." - President Howard W. Hunter
At this time of year, there is obviously a great deal of focus that is placed on the birth of the Savior. It is a time when people renew their resolve to be kind to others and to live better lives. We hear talk at this time of year about keeping the Spirit of Christmas with us throughout the year, and when I read President Hunter's quote, I felt like this was a very appropriate description of what the Spirit of Christmas is about. As we commit ourselves to better lives this season, I hope that we will not only open the door to the Savior, but that we will invite His Spirit to stay with us throughout the year.
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.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Choosing Good (12/2/2009)
"The act of choosing is more than nodding assent or passive shoulder shrugging. It reflects real choices made over time that form definite patterns... (T)here can be no agency avoidance. No decision is a decision. Delay is a delusion, and that delay always discards the holy present. It simply throws it away." - Elder Neal A. Maxwell
An often quoted axiom states that "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." I think that this is critical to remember in our lives as saints. It is not just enough to avoid those things that would cause us spiritual harm. We need to teach our children why those things are inappropriate and encourage them to choose the good. We can speak out when appropriate against that which is wrong and encourage others to make good choices. And above all, we can serve others and help to bring the light of Christ into their lives.
Yes, our lives are hectic and it is difficult to get to all the things we should. If we choose to work for good today instead of using the excuses about why we can't do it, it will make a difference in our lives and in the lives of those we touch.
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.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Follow The Prophet (11/30/2009)
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.
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.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Gratitude (11/20/2009)
"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.
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.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Escaping the Doldrums (11/19/2009)
"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.
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.
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