Family--Promises and Potential

Merry Christmas! As we reflect more on the life of the Savior in this Christmas season, and spend more time with our families, it is likely that in our lives is an air of happiness, peace, and contentment; or, it could just be a stomach full of fines meats, cakes, and candies, the setting in of what I lovingly call "Holiday Hangover."

Assuming that this warm, fuzzy feeling (see http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1117-27,00.html) is due to the Christmas Spirit, let me reflect on the importance that our families play in the whole scheme of happiness beyond the Yuletide gleam. Our families are ever important for our learning and growth, and they are essential to Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness. I know that through modern revelation prophets have declared that the family is ordained of God, and that we may live with our families eternally. This great blessing of having an eternal family is contingent, however, upon our being willing to follow the Lord's commandments throughout the duration of our mortal experience. Foremost among these commandments is making sacred covenants in God's Holy Temples. The standard for families is the same as the standard for individuals. Upon making promises in the temple we are also promised great blessings (as is the definition of a covenant), exaltation being the crown jewel. But this can only be achieved as we dedicate our lives to the love and service of our families, as well as all those who surround us. God commands us to be perfect (3 Ne. 12: 48); it is our job to figure out how to achieve it.

In 1995, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles released "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," which laid out in plainness Heavenly Father's opinion on the family as a unit. Here are some highlights, as summarized by Elder M. Russel Ballard in the October 2005 General Conference:

“Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.”

• “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”

• “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.”

• “Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.”

• “The disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.”

And the last words of the proclamation express the simple truth that the family is “the fundamental unit of society.”

He went on to say:

The world needs to know what the proclamation teaches, because the family is the basic unit of society, of the economy, of our culture, and of our government. And as Latter-day Saints know, the family will also be the basic unit in the celestial kingdom.

In the Church, our belief in the overriding importance of families is rooted in restored doctrine. We know of the sanctity of families in both directions of our eternal existence. We know that before this life we lived with our Heavenly Father as part of His family, and we know that family relationships can endure beyond death.

If we live and act upon this knowledge, we will attract the world to us. Parents who place a high priority on their families will gravitate to the Church because it offers the family structure, values, doctrine, and eternal perspective that they seek and cannot find elsewhere.

Our family-centered perspective should make Latter-day Saints strive to be the best parents in the world. It should give us enormous respect for our children, who truly are our spiritual siblings, and it should cause us to devote whatever time is necessary to strengthen our families. Indeed, nothing is more critically connected to happiness—both our own and that of our children—than how well we love and support one another within the family.

It is this "striving" that helps us endure through the trials that will come upon all families in the course of a lifetime. What does "striving" feel like? In my opinion, if this is done right, it feels difficult (and at times painful) but ever hopeful. It involves staying positive, and not being swayed by every wind of doctrine (James 1:6). As a family, it may mean putting off those things that seem so attractive in "the now," as those things that endure the world are more desirable. Might I suggest that we all look inside ourselves, and decide to strive to strengthen our families. This is in accordance with God's Plan. Upon doing so, we will find where we are lacking. Let us then have courage to move toward improving that we may reach our full potential. This, of course, is an inheritance as a family unit in the Celestial Kingdom. Oh, what a great blessing if we just strive today and tomorrow!

It is my hope and prayer that we all may remember why we are in families. They exist to strengthen us; let find strength, and give it as well. I hope that we will strive this coming year to love a little more, and remember a little more why we love our "loved ones."

Have a great week!

Accesing the Atonement and the Power of Positivity

This week I would like to center my thoughts on the battle that rages between the positive and the negative in life. It is a product of the larger war between good and evil, versus the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the Devil. It the former seems less consequential than the latter at times, but make no mistake: our attitude (be it positive or negative) is a catalyst to these respective spirits.

Let me provide a case example to elucidate. I know an individual who several months ago was diagnosed as having a level 4 glioblastoma in his brain the size of a baseball. Glioblastoma are cancerous tumors, and they are assigned five levels, based on their pervasiveness in the brain matter. This individual could have given up, and taken a negative attitude toward his pathology. He could have looked at the odds of survival (which were not good with the cancer at such a stage), and accepted defeat to his imperfect body. But he somehow knew that Heavenly Father had more for him to do on this Earth, and fought, and continues to fight. His neurosurgeons have told him that he is not just beating the odds, but is "clobbering" them. This individual is my former mission president, Jeffrey R. Morrow. To read the latest on his recovery, click here: http://jeffreymorrow.blogspot.com/2009/12/7th-inning-and-clobbering-odds.html.

President Morrow has been positive throughout, and in so doing has had the Spirit breathe life into him (Abraham 5:7). So what is it about people like Jeffrey Morrow that sets them apart? And why are there so few that have such a strong attitude, that it is necessary that those who do "beat the odds?" I have given much contemplation to these questions, and have resolved that the best answer is often the simplest: it is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The negative in life must needs exist that we learn in this life, and aptly prepare to meet God ( 2 Nephi 2:11, Alma 34:32). But those who stay positive, are filled with joy, and move forward despite hardship are those who truly apply the Atonement in their lives. We read in Alma 7:12:

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

It was a great revelation to me several years ago when I learned that the Atonement is not just for those things that I have done wrong, but for all that afflicts me. "Infirmities" is much like the Spanish "enfermedades," which means "sicknesses." Anything that causes me to be unwell was felt by the Savior in the Garden, and on the Cross. And what joy it is to actually believe that! And what joy it is to actually know that! I know that is the Atonement, as well, that helps me remain positive in the face of trial. I stay positive because I know that I can turn to the Savior, and make the negative go away as I access the powers of that supernal Gift. I am able to grow in faith, and change my view of the world around me. I like to think I got much of this from Jeffrey Morrow, as well as from my parents, grandparents, and all those who found joy in the Savior.

For those of us who find that it is easier to be miserable, understand that happiness is real. I cringe when I look around at scores of people contented to live in discontent. Life is better than that; it includes the Savior Jesus Christ; it includes his infinite Atonement. Especially in this Christmas season, let us celebrate how positive our lives can be because of Christ's life, teachings, death, and resurrection. He lives. I know this with all my heart. May we all believe this is my prayer, that we may access the Atonement, and feel the power that comes into our lives as we change and become "new creatures" in Christ. (Mosiah 27:26, 2 Cor 5:17)

May all have a great week and a very Merry Christmas!

And the Lord Called His People Zion

I would like to start this post with two scriptures:

But verily I say unto you, I have decreed that your brethren which have been scattered shall return to the lands of their inheritances, and shall build up the waste places of Zion.

For after much tribulation, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, cometh the blessing.

Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down. (DyC 103:11-13)

And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them. (Moses 7:18)

In these two scriptures we learn foundational doctrine as to the literal gathering of Israel in the last days. This WILL happen in preparation of the Second Coming of the Savior, when He will reign for a Millennium, and when the earth will be restored to its paradisaical glory (Articles of Faith 1:10). The righteous will live in Zion, which will be established on the American continent. Zion will be a Utopian society where its citizens equally worship God, and consecrate themselves unto the Church, that there may be "no poor among them." This happens on two conditions, as was illustrated by the two scriptures above: 1) the people pass successfully through tribulation, and 2) the people are of one heart and one mind.

1) Pass Successfully through Tribulation

The Prophet Joseph Smith said that "a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation." (see Guide to the Scriptures, sacrifice) Have you thought about what that really means? As finite beings, we are unable to perfectly give ourselves unto the Lord, and in fact, it is part of His Plan that we are unable to do so. This causes conflict between our natural, imperfect desires, and the exigencies of God's commandments, which require perfection of us. The inability to live up to this standard causes tribulation and trial, which tests our ability to repent and otherwise apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our daily lives. But, if we are successful, we will be given all the blessings that the Lord already desires to grant us, that there "shall not be room enough to receive [them]." (Malachi 3:10)

2)Be of One Heart and One Mind

This, in my mind, is the more difficult requirement to be a Zion community. It is hard because a great part of this life is relishing in the differences that we have, and the diverse talents that we all have been given. I think that in order to be called Zion, we will have to take this a step further, glorying in others to a point that we already know how others will most fully contribute to the community. We will know this because we will all have the same goal in our hearts and minds: to glorify God and build his Kingdom here on Earth.

I believe that we can start doing this by remembering the simple, loving things that we like to do this time of year more than others. It starts by recognizing those we have difficulty loving, and making it a personal quest to learn to love them. And this does not mean in the way that we love everyone else, because that obviously doesn't work for those who need a different type of love. We need to find the diverse manners of love, just as diverse as we are today. Then, after we have done this, let us commit to do this for the rest of our lives, not just during a season when we can wake up a few days later and be unaccountable. That, in my opinion, is the flaw of the Christmas season, one that we all need to repent of. If we can do more to love others more perfectly at one point without much sacrifice, let us strive to do this to the point at which it becomes a great burden. If we are not sacrificing, we are not doing it right. This is plain and simple. It is my prayer that we may more fully adopt this way of thinking, myself included, that we may all one day be able to be called Zion.

Have a Great Week!!

On Holy Ground

This Sunday I wish to write on the importance of attending the temple, and being worthy to attend. The temple is a holy place where we can make sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father which enable us to stand blameless before Him in the last day. It takes "clean hands and a pure heart" (Psalms 24:4). Elder David A. Bednar said the following, referring to the early saints of the Church:

What was it that gave those early Saints such strength? It was the fire of the temple covenant that burned in their hearts. It was their commitment to worship and honorably hold a name and standing in the house of the Lord.

We do now and will yet face great challenges to the work of the Lord. But like the pioneers who found the place which God for them prepared, so we will fresh courage take, knowing our God will never us forsake (see “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” Hymns, no. 30). Today temples dot the earth as sacred places of ordinances and covenants, of edification, and of refuge from the storm.

It is my prayer that we all may be able to find refuge from the storm in the the Lord's holy temples. But it is important to remember that the temples are "holy ground" (Exodus 3:5), and we will only receive refuge if we are clean and pure. The Spirit can only touch us if we are in the right spiritual condition; therefore, may we repent that our ground may not be stony, but ever willing to receive the knowledge that God wishes to bestow upon us (Mark 4:5, 16). May we be morally clean, pay an honest tithe, obey the Word of Wisdom, and keep the Sabbath Day holy. May we obey all the Lord's commandments with a singleness of heart, that our joy may be full (Doctrine & Covenants 59:13). This is when we receive edification: when we obey because we love the Lord, and understand that His commandments are in place for our good.

It is my prayer that we may all find strength in the house of the Lord. Have a great week!

Agency--It's A Choice

My study this week began with the buzz word from last week: "expedient." I pondered on what it meant to have expedience, or to be expedient. I found this verse to be a helpful catalyst:

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
--2 Nephi 2:27

From that scripture, I moved on to 2 Nephi 26:24, which helped me understand that to be "expedient unto man" means to be of benefit to man. I searched the connection with Jacob 5:41, wherein the Lord of the Vineyard laments that the vineyard has died; moreover, he could not do more for the vineyard, as its trees chose to be overrun by wild fruits. I learned in Alma 26:37 that God is mindful of all this, and that he lets us choose liberty or captivity, because it is expedient unto us. In Mosiah 2:21, King Benjamin tells us that God created, preserved, lent breath to, and preserved us just so that we may have the ability to choose. The good king also said that we receive agency upon entering into a covenant with God (Mosiah 5:8).

I know that that was a lot of spurious information, so let's perform a little synthesis:

Expedient="of Benefit"
FREEDOM TO CHOOSE=What is most expedient

God is ever mindful of us and our choices

God has created and preserved us that we may have agency

God laments our bad choices, but lets us make them for our eternal benefit

The most freedom we can attain is when we enter into sacred covenants

It is apparent that agency is essential to the great Plan of Happiness. It is true that we must have the choice in order to learn, grow, and become more like our Father in Heaven. In this life we must undergo a refining process that involves the constant play between our choices, and the consequences that they elicit. This is the Plan we chose in the preexistence, and it is the Plan that we must choose to follow if our goal as Christians is to live with God and Christ once again one day, for nothing unclean can gain inheritance in the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:5). May we choose the better part is my hope and prayer for y'all this week, that we may gain eventual happiness in the eternities.

--Sean

What is Expedient

In my studies this week, I was particularly struck by these verses:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?

For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.

And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. ...And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
(Moroni 7: 27-29, 33)

This is kind of a continuation of an impression received during Elder Ballard's talk now two weeks ago in the Trinity Chapel in Boston. I would like to flesh out here two aspects of miracles: their existence (and what they look like) and how to become an agent by which miracles come to pass.

I think it's obvious from the verses above that miracles do exist. In fact, this is a doctrine that is not confined either to just our Church; many people around the world believe that God is full of grace, and enacts miracles, imparting his tender mercies upon his children. But what do these miracles look like?

I submit that a miracle is anything that happens within God's will for our good, but beyond our mortal conception. And even if we do conceive it, miracles come when we recognize that the blessing received would not have been possible had it not been for the Lord's intervening hand.

For example, a family decides to pay their tithing in faith, but nevertheless does not know how they will pay their pending expenses. But somehow, some way, they are able to make ends meet. Someone comes to the plate, impulsed by the Spirit to lend a helping hand in some way. This, my friends, is a miracle.

But notice that miracles come to those who believe. If we do not have faith that the Lord can make miracles happen in our lives, then they will not come to pass. Likewise, if we don't have faith in God's power we will not be an instrument by which miracles come to pass.

I included verse 33 in the above excerpt because we must understand that God works through his children, and thus we must be ready to serve others around us. We must have faith that we may gain power to do whatever is "expedient in him," only expecting to do that much. Into play comes the balancing act between our will and His, which I am convinced can only be performed on our knees. Pleading with Heavenly Father to grant us faith and charity for his children, we may be able to exact miracles that he sees fit to happen.

The picture above is of the prophet who wrote the above verses. His name is Moroni, and he had the singular fate of being the last believer on the earth in his time. It was his great hope that the Lamanites, his distant and unbelieving relatives who now populated the land, would one day come to believe. He knew that it would take a miracle. He knew that only God would restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth, and that this would be a miracle as well. Basically, he wrote these verses from personal experience. Now, we will never be in Moroni's shoes, but we can emulate the faith he had. When was the last time you saw a miracle? What did it look like for you?

I am grateful for the knowledge that miracles do exist. I am grateful for the knowledge that I may be an instrument in God's hands to bring about miracles, as well. And finally, I am grateful for the veil that he puts over my eyes to not see that miracles that do enact on his behalf, that I may maintain a semblance of deference and devotion to God's will.

I am grateful for the Spirit by which I have been compelled to write today. It has filled my heart with hope for God's choicest miracles to happen in my life, granted that he is willing.

I know that God lives. I know that Christ is his literal Son, and that Jesus performed the Atonement for all mankind, that we may repent and believe on Him, one day returning to His presence. I know that the Book of Mormon, from which the above excerpt was extracted, is true Scripture, brought about in the modern era that we may have a bolstered testimony of Christ and His true Gospel. It is my prayer that we may all grow to know these simple truths.

Have a Great Week!

--Sean

It's the Resovle that Counts

I once again apologize for missing a post last week. I was on a drive back from New England, where I spent the weekend at the LDS Education Conference, held in Boston, Mass. Read on for a report of the conference:

The conference began at the large and spacious Trinity Church, which is owned by the Episcopal Church. It was the only place large enough to fit everyone on a Friday night; by my count there were more than 1,000 people in attendance to hear Elder M. Russel Ballard address us. As I sat by the massive pipe organs on one of the balconies, I was impressed by the fact that wherever the true Gospel is preached, it does not matter the venue, for it is the same. I was also impressed with the idea that moving to the East Coast has truly allowed me to forge a testimony of this in my own heart. I have seen miracles in only two months, and expect to see many more during my tenure, however long it may be. And Elder Ballard spoke on miracles that first night, saying that miracles occur any time that the power of God is manifest. How grateful am I for the knowledge that the Priesthood has been restored, that God's power can be made manifest to exact miracles!

Saturday's portion of the conference was dedicated to the Young Single Adults (YSA's), of which I am a part. There were 600 of us who gathered in Salon H of the Copley Marriott, a few blocks from the Trinity Church. Elder Ballard spoke to us again, stressing on that morning repentance, balance, and simplicity in life. In jest he said that none of us are perfect, and so we should just find someone and get married! Everyone had a laugh at that. Elder Ballard also said that life's great quest is learning how to feed the spiritual side of our being as well as the physical side, which takes a lot of "spiritual education." So true!

The rest of Saturday was dedicated to missionary work. It was presented in the guise of our great desire to do missionary work, but our fear of how and where to begin. We heard from David Neeleman, who is the former CEO of JetBlue, and a member of the LDS faith. He talked on using the internet as a missionary tool to drown out those voices that speak untrue doctrine about the Church. He is a chair of the MoreGood Foundation, which strives to flood the net with positive, truthful content. He talked about how they have about one baptism per week from people who see one of their 250,000 sites, feel the Spirit, and are converted.

The next speaker was Clayton Christensen, Harvard Business professor who I heard two weeks prior in the Philadelphia area. He brought up myths about missionary work, as seen below:

1. We have the power to judge who is ready for the Gospel and who is not
2. We need to prepare people for the Gospel through developing friendships
3. We should focus our Gospel discussion on how it will make your life better
4. We should teach what we think they should know
5. People already know how to pray
6. It's okay to put off till tomorrow what can be done today
7. You are successful only if your friend accepts baptism
8. If we can't find someone for the missionaries to teach, it's because we don't know anyone who is interested.
9. Perfecting the saints, then, must be our lot in life

Brother Christensen said that these 9 things actually keep many from hearing the Gospel that we know to be true. He said that most people in the United States have a deeper need to serve others than to be served, and therefore should be included in any service opportunity. He also said that to keep people accountable we should give out homework assignments; these would be questions about the reading the missionaries assign, with the prompt to answer in essay format. The protocol for homework is as follows:

1. Pray out loud to begin homework, telling God what you are about to do.
2. Read the assigned passage.
3. Formulate a rough draft in response to the questions assigned.
4. Pray again, asking God for inspiration as you read the passage again.
5. Read the passage again.
6. Revise your answers.
7. Pray a third time, asking God if the things you read and wrote are true.

I learned this method on my mission after Brother Christensen spoke to us there on the same topic. One might notice that this is the method that he used as a pupil at Oxford University, only with prayer added in place of being critiqued by a mentor. I believe that this method indeed works as we put God into the equation, making him a fundamental part of our spiritual inquiry.

The whole weekend was amazing, but I realized this: many will walk away from this spiritual feeding unchanged. Many of the 600 I am sure left apathetic to the things taught, not any more willing to fulfill their duty to help 'bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man' (Moses 1:39). I am convinced that it is the resolve that counts, fueled by a humble desire to be better, to be a greater instrument in the hands of the Lord. This desire is fueled by a testimony that must be burned into the soul; this testimony is a knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the entire human race, and it is a knowledge that His true Gospel lies in the hands of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the Book of Mormon and the Bible; It is the Priesthood restored on the Earth; it is a Prophet and Twelve Apostles.

I am grateful to have this knowledge, which leads my path each moment of each hour of each day. It is my prayer that we may all come to know these things, and better serve the Lord.

Have a Great Week!

Slow to Anger

As a budding psychologist, I have been able to draw countless corollaries between the Gospel and forging healthy interpersonal relationships. It feels neat to live my craft as I learn it, and there is no needed paradigm shift or need to be anyone but myself as I help others. The best psychologists are patient, humble, assertive, and, most importantly, full of charity.

With this as a backdrop, I have found it easy to talk with members of my cohort about these simple Gospel principles in the guise of good social science. One of these was the principle of contention vs. peace. I find that when ideological or political arguments emerge in the workplace (a natural with four headstrong upstarts), I am quicker to cede ground to others, knowing that in the end that which is discussed is of no import to the big picture, which is being able to better help others. I was able to process this with one of my co-workers, stating that a 'bad vibe' enters the room when contention arises. He agreed, adding that it doesn't solve anything.

This was the psychological answer, but oh how I wish he were ready for the spiritual answer!! The Savior has said:

For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away. --3 Nephi 11:29-30

How grateful I am for that answer, for it's something that I don't have to "figure out" on my own. It's already decided. How grateful I am as well for living prophets who remind us of these simple truths. Thomas S. Monson, Prophet and President of the LDS Church, recently said the following in General Conference:

"We’ve all felt anger. It can come when things don’t turn out the way we want. It might be a reaction to something which is said of us or to us. We may experience it when people don’t behave the way we want them to behave. Perhaps it comes when we have to wait for something longer than we expected. We might feel angry when others can’t see things from our perspective. There seem to be countless possible reasons for anger.

"...My brethren [and sisters], we are all susceptible to those feelings which, if left unchecked, can lead to anger. We experience displeasure or irritation or antagonism, and if we so choose, we lose our temper and become angry with others. Ironically, those others are often members of our own families—the people we really love the most."

"...May we be worthy sons [and daughters] of our Heavenly Father. May we ever be exemplary in our homes and faithful in keeping all of the commandments, that we may harbor no animosity toward any man but rather be peacemakers, ever remembering the Savior’s admonition, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”"

It is my hope that this week we can be a little slower to anger, and a little more patient. It is my hope that we may have a little more charity toward our fellow man (and woman), and that we may serve those whom we don't understand, being the first to act out of charity. We cannot afford to wait for others to be kind and loving towards us. We must live up to our standard. I know we all can do this as we seek the Lord's aid, that our imperfections may be helped through the great Atonement He wrought for us.

Have a great Week!

Finding a Sacred Place

My heart is full on this autumn morning with many things to say, and unfortunately, many things to leave out. Of all the things that I could write on this week, let me focus on Finding a Sacred Place. This theme was inspired by a conference I attended yesterday whose keynote speaker was Clayton M. Christensen, former Area Authority Seventy over the Northeast Area, and current professor at the Harvard Business School. Both his professional and spiritual accomplishments are amazing, and it's easy to say that everyone was richly fed. He gave us singles five seemingly small decisions that he made that have impacted his life greatly, and encouraged us to apply those in our own lives. They were 1) the decision to get the most education possible, 2) the decision to keep the commandments 100% of the time (because it was easier than following 98% of the time), 3) the decision to put the Kingdom of God first, 4) the decision to call yourself on a mission, and 5) the decision to find out if the Book of Mormon is true.

The last on the list was particularly important to Brother Christensen, who said that the knowledge he gained of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon serves him multiple times every day, while he uses his knowledge of applied econometrics only a couple times a year. He made this decision while a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. Studying in the Queen's College, one night he knelt down in a quiet place, and told the Lord that he would devote his life to His service if the book were true, but if it were not, to let him know what was true, so that he might pursue that. Brother Christensen would read a page in the Book of Mormon, then kneel down, and offer the same prayer. He repeated this ritual every night for an hour each night, until he received that all important answer--it was true! He finally knew with a surety that the Book of Mormon was true, and in turn, that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was God's Kingdom here on earth. Brother Christensen says that he now tries to return to Oxford as often as he can with his family, not because it's a tourist spot, not because there he received an education, but because when he goes in front of the Queen's College, he can point at the very window to the room where he finally knew. For him, it was a sacred place.

He then admonished us to find our own "Queen's College". He said we should find somewhere sacred to us, where we may return and say that there we came to find out of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. If we already knew of its truthfulness, then we should find a place where our faith was renewed to call sacred. I have a definite testimony of this, because we can never hold on to only one or two spiritual experiences, and hope to "be okay" by the end of our earthly tenure. Life is filled with leaps of faith; however, we can only jump so far before we inevitably fall into the abyss of sin, sorrow, and despair. Constantly seeking after sacred places and experiences, and more importantly constantly seeking to put the Lord first will cause those "safe points" to come closer together until we will be able to walk and then run across, leaving all ungodliness in our wake. This is easy to say, but much more difficult to do; nevertheless, we MUST strive to put the Lord first. Our life is His, not our own.

It is my hope that I can accomplish this, and that all who read may be inspired to be better in a like manner. Have a Great Week!

That they Might Have Rest

My conceptualization for this week is a result of my study of Chapters 12 & 13 in the Book of Alma. The first portion is a great example of good teaching; the second provoked further thought as to what really is "the rest of the Lord."

1. While performing missionary work in the Land of Ammonihah, Alma and Amulek were met with resistance from the people. Alma Chapter 12 is a prime example, as Alma contends with Zeezrom, who had already just contended with Amulek on the existence of a Supreme Being. Amulek was successful at quieting Zeezrom, and Alma then took the opportunity to teach true doctrine.

In verse 8 Zeezrom, now convinced that Alma and Amulek can perceive the thoughts of his heart, asks what Amulek meant when he said that the just and unjust would rise again, and be brought before God to be judged according to their works. Here is Alma's response:

It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell. (v 9-11)

I like how Alma deflects Zeezrom's question in a manner that might be easier for him to understand, as well as for the people who had gathered to watch the exchange. Alma starts at a more basic level, because this is what Zeezrom needed. Alma then teaches more fully in verses 14-18, that there is a spiritual death that possibly accompanies temporal death, if our works are not works of righteousness. Then, with prompting from Antionah (a chief ruler who took watched the exchange), Alma then explains why the plan of redemption is so necessary, due to the transgressions of our first parents and our inherent imperfection upon living life on Earth. Nevertheless, it is given unto us to choose good or evil (verse 31), but we must be aware that the commandments are laid out for our benefit. If we repent, our sins will be remitted of us, and we will be able to enter into the rest of the Lord.

2. What is the rest of the Lord?

Chapters 12 & 13 are full of references to "the rest of the Lord." We find that the requirements to enter into His rest are purity, humility, sincere repentance, faith, hope, and love of God (Alma 13: 12-28). But what is it, exactly? Is it peace upon experiencing that temporal death to which we referred? Questions like these make me grateful for living revelation through study, prayer, and the voice of modern prophets. Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church, said the following:

What does it mean to enter into the rest of the Lord? Speaking for myself, it means that through the love of God I have been won over to Him, so that I can feel at rest in Christ, that I may no more be disturbed by every wind of doctrine, by the cunning and craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; and that I am established in the knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ, so that no power can turn me aside from the straight and narrow path that leads back into the presence of God, to enjoy exaltation in His glorious kingdom; that from this time henceforth I shall enjoy that rest until I shall rest with Him in the heavens.

President Smith goes further to speak on this matter, and I suggest that you go to http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=0327f48fa2d20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=88021b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD to get the full account. I like how he explains the rest of the Lord as a peaceful reassurance that one is living according to God's commandments. But does this preclude us from continuing to work? It most certainly DOES NOT. My thoughts are that the 'rest of the Lord' is just that--a rest! The reason we take rests is to be able to recharge ourselves to take on obstacles and challenges that we will face in real life! May we all keep this in perspective, myself first and foremost, that this time on Earth is appointed to all of us to WORK out our salvation. But, when we need it, we can become recharged sufficient so that we may work more efficiently. My favorite mode of recharging my spiritual batteries is through attending the temple. Often referred to as "the mountain of the Lord," it is a place of peace from the cares of the outside world, where we can gain further, undiluted perspective on our eternal worth and purpose. In the temples worthy members can receive that rest, and reassurance that God knows each one individually, better even than the individual knows him or herself. I know this because I have experienced it time and time again in my own life.

I know that God lives. I know that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer for our sins, that we might repent, overcome spiritual and temporal death, and have ultimate rest, which is eternal life. I know that we are taught line upon line, precept upon precept, and are only given that for which we are ready, like Zeezrom in the Book of Mormon. I know that that book is true scripture, and if we study it, we will be given a more effective and inspired route to eternal life.

Have a Great Week!

General Conference Reactions

I feel really privileged to post on this blog my reaction to the words spoken at this October's General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As I sat in my living room in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, I felt a certain connection to the Brethren that I had never felt in my three full years living in close proximity to the headquarters of the Church. Listening to the messages given emboldened my faith, and strengthened me at a time when I truly needed God's revealed Word. I loved hearing Elder David A. Bednar tell us to express our love and show it, bear testimony and live it, and to be consistent. I was blown away by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (whom I have now dubbed the "clean-up hitter") and his ability to explain doctrine so simply, in regards to the weightier matters of the soul on Saturday afternoon, and with the simple admonition to Work and Learn during Priesthood Session. And of course, I was inspired and comforted by the words of President Monson as he taught us to be a little kinder, to serve a little more, and to swim against the current. But amidst the cornucopia of inspiring messages, I would like to focus on the words of Elder Neil L. Anderson, the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I know that he has received a special witness of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it showed in his address.

Elder Anderson referenced scriptures in Jacob 6:5 and Alma 5:33 that speak of Christ's arms being extended in mercy towards those who might come unto Him. This is similar to the metaphor found in the Bible where Christ declares that he stands at the door, knocking, waiting for us to let Him in. So how do we accomplish this? Elder Anderson makes it clear: through true and sincere repentance. He even calls it a blessing, which I agree with wholeheartedly. I also believe that God's love for the repentant is "incomprehensible," which means that I cannot explain it with my analytical mind, nor can anyone ever come to understand God's love in its entirety.

However, we can understand what it feels like to know that we have been forgiven. When we have truly come unto Him and repent, it is like being engulfed in the loving arms of a dad that has come to the rescue, quelling a fright, tantrum, or any otherwise traumatic moment. Love becomes palpable, as it is felt by the recipient so overwhelmingly that it often brings the toughest and gruffest to tears. It makes us "as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)

But as we become willing to submit, we must continually remember that "relief and healing will come in the timetable of the Lord." The Atonement must be continually applied to our wounds, and we must accept that this is what the Lord sees fit to inflict upon us. Elder Anderson admonished us to petition the Lord to see what further changes we must make to further refine our spirit, which thing came as a revelation to me. I knew that suffering deserved the Atonement, but never realized that I could ask for revelation to know why I am suffering, with the end of future (and hopefully immediate) repentance of a revealed wrong. We all have them. We all in some way err from perfection, but are kept from being fully self-aware, rather being taught line upon line, precept upon precept (2 Nephi 28:30, Isaiah 28:10, D&C 98:12). How grateful am I for this spiritual nugget!

Suffice it to say that I was richly fed this weekend as I sat at the foot of God's chosen servants. I was moved by the words of the closing hymn sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which beckon the Lord to "refresh us, oh refresh us, traveling through this wilderness." (Lord, Dismiss us with Thy Blessing) May we never take for granted the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and always cling to its precepts, and the stars that will guide us ultimately to our Heavenly Home.

Have a Great Week!

Where Can I Turn for Peace?

My thoughts this week revolve around the construct of relativism. Relativism is the increasingly popular idea that there exists no absolute truth, and that change is the only constant. In its extreme forms, relativism espouses the complete lack of espousal, that is, the lack of standards, which ultimately leads to a universal acceptance of anything as right, as one's judgment is unjustly skewed by bias and other personal experience. I have personally seen the beginnings of relativism in the lives of those around me, and feel sad for a world that neglects some of the most essential life values. My words go out to those who perhaps long ago became disillusioned with the idea of values, who were forced to choose their own without any light to guide them by. My words also go out to those who were raised on relativism, chose their lives, but find themselves in conflict, or without peace and rest in their lives. And finally, my words go out to those who will actually read this--those who have firm value systems, but may know someone or many people who seem to navigate the tumultuous waters alone.

First let me say that God does exist. He is a perfect Being in every way: in body, in mind, and in spirit. He knows each and every one of us personally, even more than we know ourselves. He knows our foibles, and He knows our deepest, darkest secrets that we dare not divulge until our dying day.

But amidst our imperfection, He loves us so dearly and perfectly that He wants us to live in ultimate peace and happiness with Him after we gain experience during our life here on Earth. He has provided many tools for us to use in order for us to accomplish this, the primordial tool being sincere prayer. It is my testimony that we can kneel down, speak to our Heavenly Father, and that He will listen to and answer our humble pleas. God wants us to obey His commandments, and we can show our love to Him through our obedience. Essential to this plan is the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which comprises His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, as well as His suffering and death on the cross at Calvary. Through the Atonement we may be freed from the toils and strife of daily life, and be lifted of the burden that sin brings upon us.

Now, this may be a lot to take in, but let me assure you that believing in God is not a cultural fad, and believing that He plays an active role in our lives is not an easy way to explain coincidence, or any other life events that we do not fully understand. Many may say that God does exist, but that He takes no interest in our day-to-day lives. I assure you that He does care, insomuch that He lets us make our own choices, and He lets us suffer the consequence of those choices. This occurs so that we may turn to Him in humility, looking to then keep His commandments and serve His children.

To help us positively cope with hardship, Heavenly Father has placed us in families, that we may live together, love together, and learn together. He also from the beginning of time has called prophets, special men who receive direct revelation from Him for us. Prophets are like lighthouses, illuminating the path which we should follow. Often the people reject their counsel, for the people often find their counsel difficult to bear. But God will always call another prophet, as He did in the early 1800s, calling Joseph Smith to be the first prophet in the modern era. God has continued to call prophets, Thomas S. Monson being the Lord's servant in actuality.

Prophets testify of Jesus Christ, that He is the literal Son of God and Savior of the whole world. I know this to be true. I know that Christ suffered for our sins that we might repent, come unto to Him, and follow His teachings. Christ taught ultimate truth; it exists, and will ever exist for the eternities. The Savior taught us to love God with all our hearts, and love those around us in that same fashion. This is absolute truth. I know this because I have felt it in my own life. I have felt the Spirit of God testify to me through peace, calm, and through logic that love and obedience are the true pathways to happiness.

Now, it doesn't take perfection to receive this witness for ourselves. In fact, as was earlier noted, Heavenly Father wants us to turn to Him as broken beings. We can feel of His presence through a simple prayer of faith, asking for an answer. It is my testimony that He will not leave us alone if we let Him in.

I could go on forever about this, but suffice it to say that relativism at its core is in opposition of our eternal purpose as children of our Heavenly Father. We all need something to hold onto, something from which to define ourselves. May we seek the Lord in our times of need, and in the times that we feel we don't need Him. May we have faith that God will answer our prayers, and that he will guide us through all the trials that beset us in this earthly experience.

Have a Great Week!

BEST OF ME: Empathy--More than an inkling, more than a feeling

Hello! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday! On this day, let us strive to always remember the Savior, and all that he has done for us. For those of us who are fasting, let may our fast not be in vain, but be counted in Heaven for our good, and for the good of he or she for whom we wish a special blessing.

As a part of my "Best of Me" series, I chose to bring back a post from about 18 months ago on fasting. Enjoy!


EMPATHY--MORE THAN AN INKLING, MORE THAN A FEELING

ORIGINAL POST DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

I'm Baaack!! Thanks to all those who patiently awaited me getting my act together. It has been a little precarious trying to figure out my Sunday schedule, i.e. when I would take the time to sit down and write a good, thoughtful blog post. I hope that this week does not disappoint; rather, I hope it does the exact opposite, providing direction to those who earnestly seek it.

My thoughts today are a culmination of over two weeks of contemplation, and as such, may seem a bit disjointed, but I will do my best to pull it all together. I want to discuss the doctrine of fasting, but I want to do so in context of the construct of empathy.

The word empathy is derived from the Greek empatheia, which connotes a combination of affection and suffering. It is defined as an intellectual identification with or a vicarious experience of another’s feelings. The definition seems pretty dynamic, but I submit that it has the potential to be even more applicable. Oftentimes empathy can only be reached through learning from personal experience, and then aptly applied to similar situations of others.

Let’s take fasting as an example. From a scholar’s perspective, fasting is going without food or drink for two meals or up to 24 hours, donating the money that would have been used to the needy of the Church, and praying for both personal and impersonal purposes. The scholar perhaps does not see the synergy that these three things produced when righteously combined, but it is invariably unmistakable in the eyes and gait of the true disciple. There’s something about pushing oneself to the edge of their ability, there’s something about putting aside convenience, willingly laying oneself down for a further benefit. This is especially salient when the fast is performed on behalf the welfare of another. This takes faith that one’s own needs will be met as he or she selflessly turns toward someone in greater want, trusting that a loving Heavenly Father will bless others just as the faster has been blessed. He or she who fasts in this vein is overcome with love for God and fellow man, so much that their personal welfare is an afterthought. This is the point at which affection and suffering reach their peak. This is true empathy.

We should all have the goal to reach the point of true empathy, but also understand that we will never fully reach it unless we fully turn to the source of true empathy:

Surely he hath 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.
--Isaiah 53:4-5


That fount of every blessing (including empathy), of course, is Jesus the Christ. His empathic understanding transcends experience on intellectual or vicarious grounds, for He experienced everything, as is evident in Alma 7:11-12 and D & C 19:16-18:


And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

I know that the prophecies in the former scripture were fulfilled, and I know that the words in the latter are the honest, literal words of the Savior through a modern prophet. I am grateful to have a source for my striving, to have a reason to give up my own will, and seek the welfare of others. I hope that one day I will be able to have that type of empathy that only requires love, and nothing else. But for all of us, purification process is necessary. Let us all be able to willingly walk that path. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (Liahona, 1999) said the following:

Revealed truths reassure us that we are enclosed in divine empathy. As Enoch witnessed, we worship a God who wept over needless human misery and wickedness (see Moses 7:28–29, 33, 37). Jesus’ perfect empathy was ensured when, along with His Atonement for our sins, He took upon Himself our sicknesses, sorrows, griefs, and infirmities and came to know these “according to the flesh” (Alma 7:11–12).

He did this in order that He might be filled with perfect, personal mercy and empathy and thereby know how to succor us in our infirmities. He thus fully comprehends human suffering. Truly Christ “descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things” (D&C 88:6).

I echo his testimony with my own. May we all continue to emulate the Savior in all that we do! Have a Great Week!

Check out this link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYhDhiojBPA

I think these words are very salient for us right now. No wonder President Monson is the Prophet!

Patience: It's About Time

This week I would like to focus on the doctrine of patience. What does it mean to be truly patient in a Gospel sense? Then, after figuring out that, how can it be applied?

I would first like to introduce the concept of necessary trial, hardship, and persecution. This concept is not new to this blog, and I think it's for good reason as dealing with hardship seems ever salient. In the context of patience, time is introduced. Take the revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Doctrine & Covenants Section 98:

Now, I speak unto you concerning your families—if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded;
But if ye bear it not patiently, it shall be accounted unto you as being meted out as a just measure unto you.
And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time, and you revile not against your enemy, and bear it patiently, your reward shall be an hundredfold.
And again, if he shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it patiently, your reward shall be doubled unto you four-fold;
And these three testimonies shall stand against your enemy if he repent not, and shall not be blotted out.

For [I] will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.
(98:23-27, 12)

So, how can we over time be counted among those given line upon line, and not have our trials counted against us as righteous judgment? Looking at these verses, it seems to me that there are four characteristics that describe the inpatient, and I think it's good to know what the low standard is in this case, that we may know when our patience is lacking. Here they are:

• Reviling
• Seeking Revenge
• Not recognizing the purpose of trials
• Not considering the Lord's timing

The first two can be easily picked out of verse 23, as being two measures of inpatience. But what exactly do these two descriptors mean? In the general context, it seems to me that reviling is analagous to asking Why Me, and it seems that "seeking revenge" can be related to deflecting personal responsibility, and thus blaming others. These two constructs are inwardly focused, taking into consideration only the individual, and nothing else.

the latter two constructs are also inwardly focused. I thought of them as I contemplated inpatience, and feel that they too deserve consideration. To be counted among them who are given line upon line, we must first understand that a perfect God has a perfect understanding of each of us, and also has a perfect individualized plan to help us become more, if we so desire. This is directly related to the perfect timeline set for our improvement, therefore the inclusion of the last construct.

Understanding what not to do, however, is just the beginning. The "line upon line" feels like daily striving to do the Lord's will, to serve others, and hope that future blessings will be ortogated unto us. We have to be nurturing of our selves and our faith, as was expressed by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in his talk "The Way of the Disciple" in the last April General Conference:

Too often we approach the gospel like a farmer who places a seed in the ground in the morning and expects corn on the cob by the afternoon. When Alma compared the word of God to a seed, he explained that the seed grows into a fruit-bearing tree gradually, as a result of our “faith, and [our] diligence, and patience, and long-suffering.” It’s true that some blessings come right away: soon after we plant the seed in our hearts, it begins to swell and sprout and grow, and by this we know that the seed is good. From the very moment we set foot upon the pathway of discipleship, seen and unseen blessings from God begin to attend us.
But we cannot receive the fulness of those blessings if we “neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment.”

Knowing that the seed is good is not enough. We must “nourish it with great care, that it may get root.”Only then can we partake of the fruit that is “sweet above all that is sweet, and … pure above all that is pure” and “feast upon this fruit even until [we] are filled, that [we] hunger not, neither shall [we] thirst.”

Discipleship is a journey. We need the refining lessons of the journey to craft our character and purify our hearts. By patiently walking in the path of discipleship, we demonstrate to ourselves the measure of our faith and our willingness to accept God’s will rather than ours.

May we act when Heavenly Father deems it time for us to act, and may we be able to recognize the call when it comes, after vigilantly waiting for blessings to arrive. Invariably we will end up like Naaman, who expected Elisha to visit to clean his leprosy, and who upon hearing that he should wash seven times in the River Jordan, thought that there were cleaner rivers in which he could possibly be cleansed. It is my prayer that we all can put the Lord's will and timing before our own, and learn to take those steps that will bring us happiness in the long run, as Naaman ultimately did. Have a great week!

Justice v. Mercy

A while ago I posted about the importance of showing mercy unto others. I felt that it was important to do this in order to receive mercy from others and from the Lord. However, in recent conversations the question arose about mercy's relation to justice, and which was more important to understand. When I posted several weeks ago, I definitely leaned toward the indipensibility of mercy, but now have decided to consider the other side.

Justice is Primordial

We see evidence of justice at the dawn of man, when Adam and Eve were given commandment in the Garden of Eden to not eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were given the ultimatum that if they so did, they would "surely die." (Moses 3:17) This was the punishment affixed to disobedience, and as we all know, Adam and Eve did disobey, bringing forth necessary imperfection to the whole human race.

Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given thee is no punishment;and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the Atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.

--2 Nephi 9:25

Laws are demanding. They are cut-and-dry. Furthermore, with the collective and individual imperfection that we present with, there is no way we can meet the demands of those laws. Alone we would be inevitably overwhelmed. Luckily the Atonement exists to help us through mortality, which time is an essential passkey to our eternal reward. Luckily our days were "prolonged" (2 Nephi 2:21) that we may ultimately put ourselves on Christ's side, and with Him satisfy those demands.

The painting above by Jonathan Linton shows another aspect of the justice-mercy relationship: penitence. Only through sincere and humble repentance may we be able to take hold of the light that comes through forgiveness and mercy. Then and only then will we truly abide the law that has been given us, and be able to stand blameless at the last day. It is my prayer that we might be able to understand the truem meaning of the laws that we agree to abide, and realize that it is only through the Atoenment that we may be able to ever fully abide by them.

Have a Great Week!!

Helaman--Wise Beyond His Years

For this week I decided to branch out into the biographical realm. Helaman is one that I wanted to learn more about, and so here goes!

The first that we learn of Helaman is when is father, Alma the Younger, gives him counsel in Alma 36-37. I gleaned two imprtant points that we should note: 1) The importance of conversion and 2) the importance of record keeping. The bulk of chapter 36 is dedicated to the relation of Alma's conversion story, and one must wonder why he used the space to include it in such detail, and why it was directed to Helaman. My thoughts are that Helaman needed to understand what it took to arive at full conversion, so that he could help others, and have confidence in his impending calling as prophet. In like manner he needed to understand the sacred nature of the records, because he would be their keeper upon Alma's death.

We see that the main purpose for writing to Helaman was to prepare him. Interesting to note is that this occured apparently while Helaman was still "in his youth" (Alma 37:35), which made me wonder what it was about "youth" that makes it such a pivotal time. I looked at the footnotes which led me to Ecclesiastes and Lamentations. From those scriptures I surmised that youth is a time when we are able to change perspectives, and when we can carry more burdens. The biggest burden is "learn[ing] to keep the commandments of God," which takes repenting and refining and learning to trust in the Savior. Suffice it to say that Helaman did learn in his youth, and refined his character into a person who is still quite worthy of emulation. Here are some traits that we can emulate from Helaman:

• He acted upon instruction that he received (Alma 45:22)
• He was a stalwart leader even in times of strife and turmoil (Alma 45:22-24)
• He had a knowledge of the importance of covenants (Alma 53:14-15)
• He was a kind, loving patriarch (Alma 56-57)
• He put others before himself (Alma 53:22)
• He saw the Lord's hand in his life (Alma 57:26)

I encourage you to search these scrptures, and find out for yourself about the man behind the 2000 Stripling Warriors. It i my testimony that we may look to the prohpets of old as well as the living prophets to guide our lives.

Have a Great Week!!

Testing...1,2,3...

So this week I have thought on what it means to be tested, and why we need to be tested of the Lord. I thought on great stories from the Scriptures, including those of Helaman, the Brother of Jared, Abraham, and the Prophet Joseph Smith. Note the account of the most former:

Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.

And it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma came unto his son Helaman and said unto him: Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those records which have been kept?

And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe.

And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?

And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou hast spoken.

And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my commandments?

And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart.

Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall prosper thee in this land.

But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee; but what I prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled; therefore write the words which I shall say.

And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief.

Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct—

Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come. And when that great day cometh, behold, the time very soon cometh that those who are now, or the seed of those who are now numbered among the people of Nephi, shall no more be numbered among the people of Nephi.

But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall become extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled.

--Alma 45: 1-14

We see that Alma was only willing to divulge one of his most important recorded prophecies after Helaman was tested of his faith. It seems that this is a common thread, that greater blessings and commandments are only awarded after we have proven ourselves worthy of the "next level." Another example is when the Savior petitioned Peter ad nauseum (well, to Peter, at least), "lovest thou me?" Only after Peter confessed his love for Jesus did Peter receive further instruction on how to more effectively manifest that love.

So what is the take-home point? I think it lies in first realizing that Heavenly Father has plans for us that we are not even close to conceptualizing. After that (yes, it is easier said than done), we must relish in difficulty and trial (also easier said than done). We must realize the following that we receive no witness until after the trial of our faith (Ether 12:6), and that we surely do want to receive more knowledge, more responsibility, and more blessings. But it must always come through the refining process that tosses and turns us, until our faith is "finished" (Hebrews 12:2) sufficient for us to be instruments in the hands of the Lord. It is my hope that this week we may more objectively look at our trials, and see them as tests that we must pass so that the Lord may bless us even more. Have a great week!