Adequate Motivation

And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. --Moroni 10: 7

Today I would like to focus on the reason why it is so important to serve others with real, sincere intent, with meekness and love unfeigned (D & C 121: 41). My words will be a conceptualization of Moroni's words found in Moroni 10, the final chapter in the Book of Mormon. Like most of the Book of Moroni, chapter 10 has special significance for me, because Moroni wrote in the shadow of his pursuers, not knowing when they might take his life (Moroni 1: 1). Knowing that the Lord preserved Moroni for me gives special purpose to what he wrote. So why not study Moroni in greater depth?

And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. --Moroni 10: 8

The above verses (7 & 8) give me an idea that God, who is infinitely powerful, manifests his power in such sublime, subtle ways that we must be in touch with the Spirit (the purveyor of God's power) to understand that we are constantly being blessed. This is ever salient for our talents, which we receive by many different means, for our benefit. How comforting it is to know that all that I receive is for my benefit!

For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;

And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;

And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;

And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;

And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;

And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.

And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.

And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.

Verses 9-18 outline examples of different gifts that we receive. A couple of aspects of this passage are of particular comfort to me: 1) "every man [and woman]" is entitled to receive gifts from God if they are willing to receive them, and 2) all these gifts come from Christ, the "fountain of all righteousness" (Ether 12: 28). These two facts give me adequate motivation to continue serving others, knowing that if they let their lives become subsumed in the Lord's will, they will be able to profit of the Lord, and be blessed, enabled to bless the lives of others around them. This gives me adequate motivation to work to reveal strengths in even those who seem to have none.

And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men. --Moroni 10: 19

It comforts me to know that God will never change, which includes his perfect love for all of us. He will always bless us as we let him enter into our lives. It takes faith to live as though Heavenly Father has already blessed us (though, in my experience, he has but we fail to notice it), and hope that he will bless us with those things that we need in the very hour when we need them. It takes charity to see this same manifestation and potential manifestation in others, and then faith and hope again as we serve them to the best of our abilities.

I have found this to be so as I strive in good faith to learn how to help individuals who have strayed from the safe path, or whose path was never explicitly defined before them. It is my faith that a God who doesn't love me more than those I serve is willing to grant them blessings similar to those outlined by Moroni; however, sometimes it takes an extra exertion of faith, hope, and charity that others might be able to arrive at a point where they "deny not the gifts of God." It takes someone who can see those gifts, and the pattern of behavior necessary that enables accessing those gifts. Although individuals with special needs or mental illness have trouble accessing the gifts of God, it is my faith that all have strengths foreordained unto them by a loving and just Heavenly Father. This provides me adequate motivation to strive to find strengths in those in the direst of circumstances.

And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. --Mormon 9: 19

Have a great week!

Let Your Light So Shine

What is the point of staying positive through all our hardships and trials? Can't we just let ourselves get angry, frustrated, sad, and just overall "have a tough time?" Sure, we can, and by virtue of the Fall, we all do experience negative emotions. We all experience darkness in our lives, but it's not because we let it in, but that we let our light shine dimmer than before. That is when we begin to experience despair. We experience it as we are exposed to the reality of the effects of the Fall, our carnal and imperfect state.

We become acquainted with what the natural world has to offer, and are prone to acquaint ourselves more with its offerings as we fall into a pattern of placating pain and anxieties in the manner that takes the least effort out of our self. But what happens when we buck the trend, and morph into something that goes beyond the expectations of the natural world? What happens when we pain ourselves in the right way, going against the grain of the natural world?

This action, in my mind, is the very pursuit of light, and its result is that we absorb and then emanate the true light which we find. Christ said,

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

...But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Matthew 5: 14-16; Luke 22:32)

So how do we go about doing this? How do we go from the active pursuit of light and truth to the active conveying of that which is good? In my mind, it is simple. It comes in not pursuing in secret, i.e., not holding in the great things we find as we search the Gospel. This can come in the form of Gospel conversations, the bearing of testimony, reading the scriptures with someone else, or just being open and honest in all things, including our faith. Quentin L. Cook said in our last General Conference the following:

The moral foundation of our doctrine can be a beacon light to the world and can be a unifying force for both morality and faith in Jesus Christ. We need to protect our families and be at the forefront together with all people of goodwill in doing everything we can to preserve light, hope, and morality in our communities.

If we both live and proclaim these principles, we will be following Jesus Christ, who is the true Light of the World. We can be a force for righteousness in preparing for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We look forward to that beautiful day when “free hearts will sing when the lights go on again all over the world.”

Have a great week!

The Ripple Effect

About midway through the week, I was driving to the store, and suddenly in my musings a strong impression came to mind--the "Ripple Effect" is ever more salient than any of us can ever understand. We gain glimpses into understanding it as we grow older, and as I grow older I am beginning to recognize ripples for what they are, consequences of past actions. But I feel to say that our awareness of the consequences that our actions have over time is an imperfect result of the Fall and our probationary state (see Alma 12: 24, Alma 42), and that we gain self-awareness "line upon line, precept upon precept". (Isaiah 28: 10, 13; D & C 98: 12)

One of these tender mercies for me was the knowledge that most often it is not a single act but a combination of acts that cause the biggest ripples. Although I had been told this many times over the years (and surely I told it to others, as well), I didn't internalize it until seeing the same principle in the behavioral sciences.

Because human behavior, emotion, cognition, and personality are extremely complex domains of scientific measurement, it takes a multitude of different tests measuring different domains to authoritatively speak to what a person is like. Taking personality as an example, the most scientifically respected personality tests are usually surveys that ask hundreds of questions, with each specific question getting at a certain facet of personality. Each question in isolation means practically nothing, but when combined with similar questions draws an accurate map of personal nuances. We can't usually tell what each question is getting at when we see it by itself, but the test scorer, with a key, can look at the answers from a broad perspective. He makes connections between small details, and creates meaning through their combination.

I believe that it is likewise in our lives, that we often do not understand the consequences of our small acts of good or ill until, when combined with many similar acts over time, draw a map of the type of person we have developed into. Readily available are examples from the scriptures, both of the positive and negative effects of making small, similar decisions in succession over time. Even the most miraculous and most devastating accounts show this pattern.

Take, for example, Alma the Younger. Along with the Sons of Mosiah, Alma went about persecuting the church and its members, which was likely devastating to his father, Alma the Elder, who was the prophet at the time. Nevertheless, Alma and the other believers fasted and prayed for Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah. They did the same as Alma the Younger lie in a coma for three days, after he and his cohorts received a heavenly wake-up call. During this time of "torment" (Alma 36: 17), Alma the Younger arrived at a point of self-awareness, and he "remembered also to have heard [his] father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world." Alma the Elder had caused a ripple, and in my mind, the true miracle was that his son was able to ride the top of it to dry ground, not sinking further in despair. Alma the Younger learned that small things in succession can truly have great effects, evidenced by his words to his son Helaman:

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

--Alma 37: 6-7--

Let us not revile the small things, but treat them as they truly are, stepping stones to future behavior, feelings, and thoughts in our personal lives, as well as in the lives of our posterity. Let us internalize an attitude of going against the grain of the natural man, choosing to fill our lives with good, and recognizing filth for what it truly is. President Spencer W. Kimball said:

“Substitute habits, change environment. Change comes by substituting new habits for old. You mold your character and future by thoughts and actions.

“You can change by changing your environment. Let go of lower things, and reach for higher. Surround yourself with the best in books, music, art, and people” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 172).

I know that as we follow this counsel we will be "laying the foundation of a great work." (D & C 64: 33) Let us not be weary of are well-doing, rather let us be cognizant of the long-term effects of small and simple acts of good, and the eternal ripples which will bless our lives for all of existence.

Have a great week!

On Humility

Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.
--Moses 1:10

It is a long time coming that I write explicitly on humility, as it is one of things that I need to work on the most. Perhaps it was pride, the nemesis of humility, which has kept me from broaching which I sense for many is a difficult topic to face.

The great Gospel reference book True to the Faith tells us that humility is "an acknowledgment that your talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that you know where your true strength lies." (p. 86) This is referring to the notion that our strength lies in the Savior and His Atonement. On paper this is an easy thing to say, but how difficult it is to truly acknowledge this in our daily lives!

I think that becoming truly humble, recognizing the Lord in our lives starts by gaining faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His power to save. It does not come in the self-effacing form, being of a "sad countenance" (see Matt. 6:16). Humility is not publicly belittling ourselves.

I learned this as a youth from a golf instructor who had learned this principle long before I started taking lessons from him. Every week I would receive lessons from him on the driving range, and if I did well during the beginning of the lesson he would take me out on the course to play a few holes with him. He of course always beat me, but in kind was always willing to provide positive support when I did well. On one occasion he complimented me for a good hole, and I responded that I really wasn't that good. As I recall, he asked why I answered in this self-effacing manner, and I responded that I didn't want to look proud. He calmly replied that a "thank you" would suffice. That experience has stuck with me to this day, and reminds me that it's okay to have talents, but it's not okay to misattribute their source. Humility comes as we recognize that our talents, just as fast as we receive and develop them, may be taken away if we do not use them to serve.

In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin gave a wondrous discourse on human nature, including a nugget on the importance of humility:

And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

--Mosiah 4:11-12

How great are these promises if we remain humble! If we know that we can be always rejoicing, be filled with love of God, have a remission of sins, and grow in knowledge of the Savior, why is it that we tend to exalt ourselves over our brother or sister? This question can be answered in a number of ways, but I would like to simply say that it is because we are imperfect, and tend to look toward helping ourselves before helping our neighbor.

This brings me to a point about gaining humility: we are humble as we sincerely acknowledge others before ourselves, finding joy in the accomplishments of others. My childhood golf instructor was again a great example to me of this virtue, constantly involved in my well-being, seemingly laying aside his own preoccupations to teach me about golf and life. There were many times that I showed up late to lessons, or forgot to bring my check in on time. However, he always saw past this, because he seemingly knew that these issues were non-issues in the grand scheme of life. He truly emulated Christlike qualities.

It is my prayer that we all may be able to emulate the Savior in all that we do. May we always acknowledge that our strength comes from Him, and his Atonement which makes growth and progression possible.

Have a great week!

Happy New Year!

It has been quite a while since I've posted here, and I'm grateful for the chance to do so now. Last week I was asked to write on the importance of the Book of Mormon in the context of our stake president's challenge to finish it from start to finish by the end of the year. I have included that blurb here. Enjoy!

Shortly after I moved into the ward we had stake conference, which was my first opportunity to hear from our Stake President. I was impressed by the power that he emanated from the pulpit, and could tell that he is a man of god who truly loves for and cares about each one of us individually. I don't try to understand how he can have such a love, but I can see it in his eyes, and know that he has it. In his stake conference address President Todd gave out some challenges, and at this point I was ready to listen. he challenged us to pay heed to the promptings of the Spirit, with the promise that we would be "richly" blessed. He said that if we honor God, he will honor us. He also made a very specific challenge: finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, and you will have greater desire to do good.

I took this challenge to heart, and am currently (12/24/10) finishing up the final chapters. This promise, like the others, is an "if-then" statement, wherein if we do something, we will then get something in return. President Todd's Book of Mormon promise had a time-line to it, which would cause one to believe that my "greater desire to do good" would not come until after I fully completed the task, However, this is not so. I have seen myself have a greater desire to do good as I have faithfully read the Book of Mormon. More specifically, this desire to better serve I believe has increased when I truly gave time to studying and cherishing the Book of Mormon, and really feeling the power that the book contains.

In completing this challenge I received a confirmation of the testimony that the Gospel is not a passive one. We should not wait for the blessings to flow if they've been promised contingent upon doing something.

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."
--D & C 58: 27-28--

I know that as we anxiously go about doing those things which we've been asked to do, the Lord will bless us, granting us the most righteous desires of our hearts.

--Sean