"Standing Water Ahead"

Happy Sunday to everyone! For the next four weeks, I would like to react to the words spoken at the 180th General Conference of the Church. I know that the talks given were inspired of God, that the messages shared were meant for our uplifting, edification, and (most of all) learning. I sustain the Brethren of the Church as prophets, seers, and revelators. This means that they receive revelation for me and for you, and they can see the calamities and hardships that have, do, and will beset the entire human race. This is a grand assertion; nevertheless it is true, and as such we must all study the words of the prophets again and again, that we may know how to better govern our lives and the lives of our families.

In that vein, I would like to start "Conference Month" with yet another bold talk by Elder David A. Bednar, entitled "Watching with All Perseverance." In it, Elder Bednar talked about warning signs of all kinds, and how spiritual warning signs should lead to increasingly vigilant watching. He then directed the rest of his thoughts toward the family, and how parents can keep their children vigilant and watchful. He offered three imperatives, which we will assess in greater detail:

1. Read and talk about the Book of Mormon with your children
2. Testify spontaneously about Gospel truths
3. Invite children to act and not be acted upon

Read and talk about the Book of Mormon. Elder Bednar said the following about the Book of Mormon:

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that abiding by the precepts found in the Book of Mormon would help us “get nearer to God” than any other book (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 64). Regular reading of and talking about the Book of Mormon invite the power to resist temptation and to produce feelings of love within our families. And discussions about the doctrines and principles in the Book of Mormon provide opportunities for parents to observe their children, to listen to them, to learn from them, and to teach them.

Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the “familiar spirit” described by Isaiah (Isaiah 29:4; see also 2 Nephi 26:16). And the questions a child asks, the observations a child shares, and the discussions that occur provide crucial spiritual early warning signals. Importantly, such conversations can help parents to discern what their children are learning, thinking, and feeling about the truths contained in this sacred volume of scripture, as well as the difficulties they may be facing.

I really like how Elder Bednar says that regularly talking about the Book of Mormon brings the Spirit to resist temptation. I know this is true, because I've seen it in my own life. What great blessings he promises of we do this simple thing! It is also a spirit to teach, and discern the needs of our family members.

Testify spontaneously of Gospel truths. This is quite possibly the component that I learned the most about. It flows seamlessly from the first component, and is something that occurs naturally in our homes. In fact, Elder Bednar told us that the less regimented that bearing testimony is, the greater power it has to edify all who hear it. I agree with this wholeheartedly, and would emphasize that this is also true for he or she who bears the testimony. Elder Bednar said that testimony need not begin with "I bear you my testimony that..."

Our witness can be declared as simply as “I know I was blessed with inspiration at work today” or “The truth in this scripture always has been a powerful source of direction for me.” Similar opportunities to bear testimony also can arise while traveling together in a car or bus or in a multitude of other settings. The reactions of children to such impromptu testimony bearing and their eagerness or reluctance to participate are potent sources of spiritual early warning signals.

I know this to be true as well. Testimony becomes more effective when it is organic, that is, when it is intended to fill a need that salient in the very moment in which the testimony is borne.

Invite children to act, and not be acted upon. One step further, inviting children to act should be a natural progression from components 1 and 2. It is inviting children to become Gospel learners, to fill their reservoir of faith until overflowing. In an age of calamity, this is ever more important as children and adolescents each day are faced with challenges of their faith, as seen in peer pressure and popular media. We live in an age when being proactive is not value-added; it is crucial. Elder Bednar said:

Are you and I helping our children become agents who act and seek learning by study and by faith, or have we trained our children to wait to be taught and acted upon? Are we as parents primarily giving our children the equivalent of spiritual fish to eat, or are we consistently helping them to act, to learn for themselves, and to stand steadfast and immovable? Are we helping our children become anxiously engaged in asking, seeking, and knocking? (See 3 Nephi 14:7.)

The spiritual understanding you and I have been blessed to receive, and which has been confirmed as true in our hearts, simply cannot be given to our children. The tuition of diligence and of learning by study and also by faith must be paid to obtain and personally “own” such knowledge. Only in this way can what is known in the mind also be felt in the heart. Only in this way can a child move beyond relying upon the spiritual knowledge and experiences of parents and adults and claim those blessings for himself or herself. Only in this way can our children be prepared spiritually for the challenges of mortality.

It is my prayer that we may be tuned in to the warning signs, that we may save ourselves, and have the Spirit that we may teach our children, as well as any one over whom we have stewardship. May we do this, that we may have "eyes that can see far off, and ears that will hear the sound of trumpets."

Have a great week!

On Becoming a Righteous Priesthood Holder, Husband, and Father Part III

On this Easter Sunday, I would like to put a culmination to my thoughts on how to magnify our calling as priesthood holders. It is evident that the priesthood blesses the life of he who holds it, but only as the holder uses the priesthood to look outward to bless others, both temporally and spiritually. It is evident that the priesthood has a critical place in the family, as a governing force that leads the most basic but most important social unit toward salvation. It is also evident that sisters have a critical role in upholding the priesthood, that they may become joint heirs. The system of the Lord involves man and woman working together to create an eternal bond, bolstered by the priesthood, between themselves and their family as a whole, creating a type of blessings and responsibilities to come. A Melchizedek Priesthood manual explained:

“In the perspective of the gospel, ‘leadership’ does not mean the right to dictate, command, and order. On the contrary, it means to guide, protect, point the way, set the example, make secure, inspire, and create a desire to sustain and follow. Literally, the husband is to lead the way” (The Savior, the Priesthood and You [Melchizedek Priesthood course of study, 1973–74], 172).

While the father is the leader in the home, “his wife is his most important companion, partner, and counselor” (Family Guidebook [1999], 2). A husband and wife must work together to strengthen their family and teach their children the principles of the gospel. By fulfilling her role as counselor to her husband, a woman can reinforce her husband’s position as head of the home and encourage greater family unity.

Yesterday, at the 180th General Conference of the Church, Julie B. Beck, the General Relief Society President said that "so much depends on the daughters of God." She explained that there has never been a greater need for strong families and homes, so important for the sisters and everyone to understand. She referenced this to our ability to qualify for the Spirit and respond to personal revelation, which she said was "the single greatest thing we can learn in this life."

In that same session President Boyd K. Packer gave a beautiful dissertation on the priesthood, and its relation to the family. He said that in the world we will never dominate by numbers, but we have the priesthood, which is the power to act in God's name. He said that it is crucial for the sisters to know what is expected of the brethren, for the priesthood "will not have the power it should have until its power is firmly fixed in the family."

Today is a day of rebirth. We set out plastic, candy-filled eggs as a symbol of a newness that embodies the season when the Savior was resurrected, providing us all the chance to live again in glory with Him and with Heavenly Father. In the spirit of rebirth, I invite all priesthood holders to gain a renewed perspective on their duties, and how their duties apply to service of the whole human race. I know that we are only truly happy when we use our authority to serve, by "persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile."

The Savior desires to enlarge our souls. Let us let Him do so. Let us truly love those around us, and truly reverence the priesthood and the responsibility that comes with it. Let us also reverence women, who complete the priesthood so perfectly as to grant us all the blessings that this life has to offer, if we are but willing to accept them. It is my hope that we all may remember this on this Easter Sunday.

Have a great week!

On Becoming a Righteous Priesthood Holder, Husband and Father--PART II

Last week, we talked about Elder Bradford's three domains, areas in which priesthood holders are and can become "the governing ones." They were The Individual, The Family, and The Institutional Church. Elder Bradford laid it out plainly, exhorting the brethren of the Church to lay aside slothful things, and take hold of those things that last more than a lifetime. If the brethren of the Church always have a heart to serve others, I think that this becomes a reality. Laying aside pride, they look outward before looking inward, taking no thought beforehand for temporal conveniences and amenities (see Matt 6: 25, 31, 34). That should be a measure of a "governing one."

Another measure should be this selflessness as applied to the family setting. Priesthood and families go hand in hand, as neither can receive their full potential without the other. In the talk entitled “For Whatsoever a Man Soweth, That Shall He Also Reap” by Elder L. Tom Perry, we learn what we can put in to receive positive outcomes, foremost among these having a righteous, happy family in the midst of today's world. He gave this talk in 1980, and seemed to have an urgent tone as he described the spiritual stressors that families face. How more salient, then, is it for us to be proactive thirty years later! Here are some strategies that Elder Perry put on the table:

"If I were cast again in the role of having a young family around me, I would be determined to give them more time. I would try to see that the special times the Church has encouraged me to spend with my family were now strictly followed and properly organized to be more productive.

"With the change in the Sunday[referring to when Sunday meetings were changed to a three-hour block] program, I believe I would alter the format of the special weekly family times we have together. Since most of the children in the world today will never have the privilege of being taught and trained in a traditional family home, I would be determined to make certain that my children were not denied this privilege. I would want them to have the best possible experience of seeing a family that really works. Eternal families don’t 'just happen.' To enjoy this greatest of all gifts, we must earn it through our accomplishments here in mortality.

"First, I would be certain that sufficient time was calendared each week for a family executive committee meeting to plan family strategy. The executive committee, composed of a husband and wife, would meet together to fully communicate, discuss, plan, and prepare for their leadership role in the family organization.

"Second, I would make the family home evening times on Monday night a family council meeting where children were taught by parents how to prepare for their roles as family members and prospective parents. Family home evening would begin with a family dinner together, followed by a council meeting, where such topics as the following would be discussed and training would be given: temple preparation, missionary preparation, home management, family finances, career development, education, community involvement, cultural improvement, acquisition and care of real and personal property, family planning calendars, use of leisure time, and work assignments. The evening could then be climaxed with a special dessert and time for parents to have individual meetings with each child.

"Third, Saturday would be a special activity day divided into two parts: first, a time for teaching children the blessings of work, how to care for and improve the home, the yard, the garden, the field; second, a time for family activity, to build a family heritage of things you enjoy doing together.

"Fourth, Sunday would become the special day in each week. Careful preparation would precede the three-hour worship service time at the chapel. The family would arrive at church rested, relaxed, and spiritually prepared to enjoy the meetings together. The balance of the day would be spent in a climate of spiritual uplift. We would dress to fit the occasion—boys in something somewhat better than levis and T-shirts, girls in comfortable, decent dresses, not in shorts or slacks. It would be a time for our family scripture study, genealogical research, personal journals, family histories, letter writing, missionary contacts, and visits to extended family, to friends, and to shut-ins.(Ensign, Nov 1980, 7)"

On becoming a righteous husband and father, I posit (without any authority to do so) that it is work, just like anything else that is good. It is listening to the success of others, and implementing counsel of leaders, and applying it to your specific situation. But above all, it is love, service, and obedience. Since Elder Perry's talk in 1980, the Brethren gave us another way-point by which we might steer our families toward righteous living and happiness. Here is an excerpt from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" that I found particularly poignant:

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3 [Ps. 127:3]). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. 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. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

Every time I read this, I am amazed at how bold and straightforward the words are. I know that this document was inspired of God, and that it was revealed at a time in which we would need the words to strengthen our families from the ever more sophisticated buffetings of the adversary. These are words that I stand by as I look to the future, as I look to take my place as one of the Lord's "governing ones." The family and the priesthood are the system of the Lord. Make no mistake about it. I also know that if we violate the laws by which the system is set, we will have to face God for an accounting of our actions.

With that said, next week I plan to write on how to synthesize these ideas. In my experience, man is much more effective when "anxiously engaged" (D&C 58: 27), rather than vacillating in fear of failure. But for today, as priesthood holders, I hope we may fully understand the scope of our calling. I hope, as well, that for the sisters out there, that you may fully understand the scope of your calling in reference to that of the priesthood.

Have a great week!!

On Becoming a Righteous Priesthood Holder, Husband and Father--PART I

I have had the desire to write on this topic for quite some time now. It began almost three weeks ago, sitting in my cube after work, trying to decide what to study on. Lately at work I have been quite intrigued by a systems approach to psychology, and at times, have become quite frustrated by systems. So, I decided to search "system of the Lord" on lds.org. I almost blindly chose two talks to read: "The Governing Ones" by Elder William R. Bradford, and "For Whatsoever a Man Soweth, that so Shall He also Reap" by Elder L. Tom Perry. I was soon flooded with inspiration on where to take a future theme. But this blog is not about me; it's about the doctrine.

Both of these talks were given thirty years ago. The fact that they are applicable even today is a testament to the inspiration of the those who gave them , as well as the timeless nature of the Gospel in general. It is true. This much I know. Elder Bradford directed his words the the brethren of the priesthood, those who are to be the "governing ones" in the Church. He described three aspects in which the brethren govern: the individual, the family, and the institutional church. As Elder Bradford is one bold character, I decided to pull excerpts from his talk, and let them speak for themselves:

THE INDIVIDUAL

Holding the priesthood means being commissioned by the Lord to act as he would act if he were here personally. Is your television habit compatible with that holy commission? If you have a twenty-hour-a-week television habit and would repent and convert it into a gospel-study habit, in one year you could read the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the entire Bible. In addition, you could read Jesus the Christ, The Articles of Faith, Gospel Principles, the basic priesthood manual, the basic women’s manual, the basic children’s manual, all three volumes of Doctrines of Salvation, The Miracle of Forgiveness, The Promised Messiah, and Essentials in Church History, and could then reread the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. This would still leave time to read the Ensign,New Era, and the Friend each month and the Church News each week. This is based on your ability to read only ten pages an hour. The average person can read twenty pages or more an hour. If you are average, this leaves you with ten hours a week to govern yourself in other kingdom-building activities, such as keeping a personal journal, genealogy and temple work, improved home teaching, welfare services, civic and patriotic involvement to protect our freedom, and much more. I repeat: “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

THE FAMILY

How, then, do you govern the family? By virtue of the priesthood. “By persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

“By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

“Reproving betimes with sharpness when moved upon by the Holy Ghost” (D&C 121:41–43).

You teach fasting and prayer. You teach the doctrine contained in the holy scriptures and encourage individual private study of them on a regular basis. You involve yourself in and teach the steps of repentance. You obey the commandments and teach them. You serve one another. The pattern of a home- and family-centered gospel-living system is then established: faith in Christ, repentance, keeping the commandments, and rendering service to one another. This system meets all of the temporal and spiritual needs of the family members at every age level.

THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH

This is the institutional Church. It organizes the volunteer services of the members of the Church into programs and auxiliaries designed to be a resource to individuals and families. These programs and auxiliaries are to be governed by and be auxiliary to the priesthood. Members called to serve in them should submit to this government. These programs should never become powers unto themselves. If they do, we create a chapel-centered gospel-living system, rather than a home- and family-centered gospel-living system. This is not the Lord’s way. He has taught the process. His charge is to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the Church. Visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. Be with and strengthen them, and see that there is no iniquity in the Church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking. And also see that all the members do their duty (See D&C 20:50–51, 53–55).

As the governing ones, make no mistake about it, this decree was made to the priesthood. We love and need the auxiliaries. They are staffed by great, faithful servants. But the very name by which they are called, auxiliary, which means “helper,” should make it clear to us that the full weight of governing the Church rests squarely upon the priesthood.

If an individual or a family needs help in the process that will bring about their temporal and spiritual salvation, it is the responsibility of the priesthood. As the priesthood needs help in this work, and it will, it will call upon the resources of the auxiliaries.

The time must quickly come when, as the governing ones, we fully shoulder our responsibility as the shepherds of Israel. Our work must not be done by the restrictions of the calendar or as convenient to the schedule of our habits, but on a need basis.

Brethren, in some things there remains a considerable distance between what we are and what we should become.

That we may understand and fulfill our roles as the governing ones, in lockstep with our living prophet, who is the mouthpiece of God, I plead, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Master, amen.

We have established three aspects that in which we must fulfill our duty as priesthood holders. For those of us who are not priesthood holders, make no mistake--you have the duty of upholding the priesthood, who by nature do not live in a vacuum. We are met with opposing forces every hour, and have been charged with facilitating the gathering of Israel. This can become overwhelming, if not for the support of righteous sisters. It is my hope that this week we can all think on this "system of the Lord," for as it turns out, that's exactly what it is. May we all magnify our callings; may we all stay true to the faith which our fathers have cherished, for which martyrs have perished.

Have a Great Week! Tune in next week for Part II!

Having Moral Courage

In this month's Ensign, the First Presidency Message is entitled "Moral Courage," written by President Henry B. Eyring. In the article, President Eyring outlines the ways we can stay diligent even in the face of the most taxing adversity. These basic things give us courage to move forward, and faith in true principles which grant us hope for a better world in the future. The "helps" that Elder Eyring cites are as follows:

The Atonement of Jesus Christ
We have great helps to give us courage in this life. The greatest is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of what He did, sins can be washed away in the waters of baptism. We can renew that blessing when we partake of the sacrament in faith and with a repentant heart.
I am glad that President Eyring listed this one first. It is the obvious first line of support. How grateful am I for the sacrifice the Savior wrought for me and you, taking upon Himself the sins of all people, in all times, and for all worlds. It does make me shrink to think how much I still have to learn in regards to apply this supernal gift. The Savior lives. I know that if we turn to Him, we will be blessed against the fiery darts of the adversary, he who would have us for his own. Remember that as corporal inhabitants of this Earth, we are God's! And, if we repent, we are of his Son, as well, fit to be called heirs to eternal life.

Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are another help. We receive the Spirit of Christ at birth. That gives us the power to know when a choice before us would lead toward eternal life. The scriptures are a sure guide when we read them with the Holy Ghost as our companion.

President Eyring here displays a few different gifts, all of which lead us to have greater strength. How grateful am I to have the ethical and logical knowledge that has been granted unto me through birth in this world. The Light of Christ can be a hope when all other seems dim; however, even this light grows dim if we do not feed its fire. I like how President Eyring says that it helps us see what decisions are correct that will point us unto eternal life. How often do we think of our decisions in those terms? Perhaps this bears a little more credence than we give it; if we do, I feel that we will make more righteous decisions. If we have an eternal perspective on all our gifts, we will think about how we can use what we've been given to better serve others and build up the Kingdom of God here on earth.

The Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost lets us express thanks and ask for help in prayer with the clarity and confidence we once enjoyed with our Heavenly Father and which we will have when we return to Him. That communication with God helps banish fear from our hearts as it builds faith and love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I love how he says in this portion that the Holy Ghost helps us express thanks with clarity and confidence. I think it is important to recognize the Holy Ghost as it works on us in all facets of life, for as we do so, we will in turn see the Lord's hand direct us slowly toward eternal life. How grateful I am to have the Gift of the Holy Ghost in my life. As I repent, the Holy Ghost returns, and gives me the clarity and confidence that President Eyring spoke of, but also in how to better serve as much as to better communicate with my Heavenly Father. May we all see that thankfulness, confidence, and clarity come from God, and that as we turn to the Lord in humble prayer, He will grant us the Spirit that will build faith and banish fear fro our lives.

The Priesthood
The holy priesthood gives us courage in our service. In its ordinances we receive power to serve God’s children and to withstand the influence of evil. When He calls us to serve, we have this promise: “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).

Lastly, we have the priesthood which gives us courage. This may be applied to those of us who are priesthood holders, as well as those of us who receive blessings from the presence of the priesthood in their lives. As a holder of the priesthood, I have noticed that this works twofold: I am given courage as I grant it unto others. I am so grateful for the promise in DyC 84:88, as well, which amazes me how I, the least of all, am able to teach with the Spirit. I am very grateful for the promise to be surrounded by angels, and I have felt being "borne up" many times inmy life. It takes the form of knowing the right thing to say for the right person in the right moment, or even doing the right thing in similar fashion. I am grateful for the chance I have to bless others, and this gives me courage to continue on through what too often is a veil of tears. But with the priesthood, there is hope to effectively apply the Atonement, and move toward eternal life.

May we all have a little more courage this week. When things get hard (as they will), may we all remember all the gifts we've been given, and work to become a little more like the Savior as we apply them in our lives.

Have a great week!

Learning from Microcosms

The [Book of Mormon] was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.

...

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10: 3-5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.
...

Wickedness. Destruction. Pride. Carnage. Confounding. Extinction.

These are some words that, from a historian's perspective, might be associated with the Book of Mormon, and with the Book of Ether, which may be considered a microcosm of the events of the entire canon. As the above Explanatory Introduction to the Book of Mormon states, the Jaredites were a people, come to the Americas before the Nephites, who experienced destruction, due to their disbelief. However, this "mini Book of Mormon" is as much a didactic tool as is the macro. We see the consequences of pride, and of failing to rely completely on the merits of the Savior and His Atonement.

“And behold, the Spirit of the Lord had ceased striving with them, and Satan had full power over the hearts of the people; for they were given up unto the hardness of their hearts, and the blindness of their minds that they might be destroyed; wherefore they went again to battle.” (Ether 15:19.)

Such words may invoke fear in the believer, fear that letting the adversary take hold of their lives may lead to similar destruction. This is a fear of getting to the point where we are so self-deceived that we fail to recognize even our most basic needs, effectively handing our own prosperity, well-being, and destruction to a hollow cause.

...

Faith. Hope. Redemption. Legacy. Salvation. Striving. Conversion. Eternal Happiness.

Never to be upstaged by the negative, these are words that also describe the 15-chapter Jaredite experience. The book shows a faithful family, putting their full trust in the Lord, and receiving great blessings as they exercise that faith. This is a lesson applicable to all of God's children:

Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with ^asurety ^bhope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which ^chope cometh of ^dfaith, maketh an ^eanchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in ^fgood works, being led to ^gglorify God...And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that ^afaith is things which are ^bhoped for and ^cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no ^dwitness until after the ^etrial of your faith. (Ether 12: 4, 6)

The Book of Ether also provides us with the example of resilience, or how to be successful in the face of adversity. The foremost example of this is the Prophet Ether, who strove to serve the Lord, despite outright rejection and wickedness of the people he taught. Elder Neal A. Maxwell recounts:

Ether’s great love for the people reflected a selflessness and lack of concern for his own life. Ether said, “Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God.” (Ether 15:34.) The willingness to die which is born of a despair and a disdain for life is not the same thing as Ether’s courage, in which he was willing to suffer before death and then to die, if necessary—even though he loved life.( Ensign, Aug 1978, 6)

In closing, we see examples in the Book of Ether that are also apparent in the entire Book of Mormon. Ether, as a microcosm, gives us a snapshot of the purpose of the entire volume. It is to believe in Christ, and to gain a personal witness of His divinity, and power to redeem us from the effects of the Fall. The Brother of Jared had this witness confirmed, as the Savior appeared to him, and said:

Behold, I am he who was ^aprepared from the foundation of the world to ^bredeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the ^cFather and the Son. In me shall all mankind have ^dlife, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my ^esons and my daughters. (Ether 3:14)

May we all use the Holy Scriptures to gain this witness. Have a great week!

Being vs. Doing: Creating Proactive and Reactive Strategies, and an Analysis of Christlike Attributes that Grant us Our Inheritance

I start this post with a classic dichotomy that will ever be in question until the end of time, and then apply its precepts to ideas related to the Gospel, as well as behavioral science. The classic dichotomy pits being against doing, nature against nurture. Now, much controversy has sprung up around this theme in recent years, but I would like to focus on this dichotomy as applied to the Great Plan of Salvation.

We know that we were foreordained, before we were born, to come to this Earth to obtain bodies and gain experience. Our nature is divine; we are children of God. Our potential is infinite; we may become even as God is. On the 'doing' side of things, we must use our mortal timetable (i.e., the time we have alive on Earth) to work out our salvation, ever repenting and serving all around us. In this case, being and doing work hand in hand, seamlessly proving that "improvement and progression are one eternal round." (Hymns, #184).

What do improvement and progression feel like? In my experience, they are two brothers who like to inflict immediate pain on the unprepared. They are the impetus to the refiner's fire (3 Nephi 24:2; Malachi 3:2), which eventually converts us into "new creatures." (Mosiah 27:25-26). And make no mistake--the fuel to this fire is repentance. As we do so, we become more aware of our surroundings, and are better able to discern between truth and error. The Spirit works through us to plan and prepare for the future onslaught of the adversary, and if we are humble, meek, and submissive (Mosiah 3:19), we may weather the storm.

In thinking about how we plan to weather the storm, I noticed a corollary with modern behavioral science, which may help us with the "doing." Recently, I have had the opportunity to perform functional behavior assessments for the "problem behaviors" of certain clients whom I serve. The idea of the assessment is to find the underlying causes or "functions" of what the client is doing wrong (e.g., concluding that a certain client is aggressive because he/she is seeking attention). After finding out the functions of behavior, strategies are created and implemented to help the target behavior from occurring, as well as helping douse it when it does occur. Both the "proactive strategies" and "reactive strategies" are connected back to the core function, and therefore are effective in their implementation. As we strive to improve, I hope we can think of what really is behind our sins. Why, really, are we acting in such a way? Yes, it is understandable that we are all imperfect, but I believe that Heavenly Father has given us the capacity to think and grow by the Spirit; I believe that finding the functions of our behavior, and creating strategies to ameliorate them is within that capacity.

As far as "being," I think the simplest explanation is the best: it lies in our Savior Jesus Christ! I implore us all to study the life of the Savior, to see how we can become more Christlike. Some of these include faith, hope, charity and love, virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence, and obedience. And in putting these into practice, we can employ the same strategies that we use to ameliorate our "problem behaviors." For example, in Preach My Gospel, Chapter 6 (aptly named "Christlike Attributes") we find useful steps to implementation:

• Identify the attribute you wish to develop
• Write a definition and description of the attribute
• Record questions to answer as you study
• List and study thoroughly passages of scripture that teach about the attribute
• Record your feelings and impressions
• Set goals and make plans to apply the attribute in your life
• Pray for the Lord to help you develop the attribute
• Evaluate your progress periodically in developing each attribute (p. 123)
  

I feel that these steps are inspired by God, and can be applied to any of us as we choose to enter the refiner's fire. It is my prayer that we may make this choice. It is likely the most difficult choice to make. But hope springs eternal, as all we need to start the smoothing process is to have a desire to believe in Christ, and His complete redeeming power (see Alma 32:27). May we all strive one more day, one more week, one more year, until the time for us to leave this mortal sphere is passed. If we do so, I know that we will receive our inheritance, and I know that it will be sweet. We have divine natures, and eternal potentials. Let us act like it. Moreover, let us take the actions necessary that put us in a position to act this way. That is the crux of the issue!

Have a great week!