Category Archives: General

Lessons I Learned from Cactus

03 Sunday Jan 2016

Posted by in General, Opposition

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XJ900 shoes (no photos of Stadia shoes were available, apparently they were so bad no photographic evidence of their existence has survived)

When I was a kid, one of the most important decisions in life was which pair of shoes would I wear. One such occasion, it was time again for new shoes.  I remember going to the mall with my Dad and looking for the best, sweetest, coolest shoes I could find.  This was about the same time as Michael Jordan was becoming the most famous guy on the planet, and the cool shoe revolution was just beginning. Shoes had gone through the dark age years of Converse chuck Taylors and had blossomed into the Nike, and Reebok world of athlete sponsored awesomeness. I was on point. I would find the best shoes on the planet, and I would use their inherent powers to catapult myself into the dreamworld of NBA stardom.

When I saw the pair I wanted, my Dad looked at them and said, “Um, those are cool, but what about those Michael Jordan shoes right there?” I had looked past the best shoes on the planet, the shoes that the man himself wore while dominating feeble opponents in the NBA, and chosen a slightly lessor known brand known as “Stadia”. That is not a typo. Stadia. I had chosen some shoes that looked awesome, that were flashy, and that caught my eye and had called to me in a voice saying, “I will jettison you into unimaginable realms of basketball greatness”. I then waved off my Dad’s concerned council to “make sure that’s what you want, because those are Michael Jordan’s shoes right there” and doubled down on the Stadias. Good move? Have you ever heard of Stadias? Didn’t think so.

Fast forward two and a half months. Im now on our annual deer hunting trip to the far east border of Utah by Colorado. Tyson and I, still under the requisite real hunting age of 14, are prowling around our camp with our vintage pellet gun hunting for anything that moved. We were basically a two-man Seal Team 6 in training protecting our trailer camp circle from grizzly bears, cougars, wolves, Yetis, and bloodthirsty terrorists.

cactus-blooms

Then the inevitable happened. My shoes, now a mere 10 weeks old, proved to be worth every penny that was spent on them. I accidentally stepped directly into a cactus, and the hole that had formed around my big toe in the preceding 10 week period of NBA prep didn’t even slow the cactus needles down. I immediately fell to the earth in pain, and hobbled back to camp with Tyson as the first casualty in the war, having been defeated by nature itself. My grandma then spent the next two hours trying to fish out the needles from my big toe all while cussing my dad out for not buying me good shoes.

So, it was then that I learned two lessons. One, you get exactly what you pay for, and two, Its easy to be deceived. Flashy looks don’t always equal quality.  I had been deceived and fallen for a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Stadia shoes were not as good as Jordans, they were actually only slightly better than wrapping toilet paper around my feet. Those shoes and the Stadia brand  then went the way of Milli Vanilli, and faded into the archives of knockoff failures, all while Michael Jordan was winning slam dunk contests and scoring titles.

For us, the principle stays the same. Its easy to be deceived. That is what Satan does. He creates a knockoff brand for just about every good product put out by our Savior. For every lds.org, there are thousands of sites with online filth. For every hymn there are scores of demeaning songs on the radio. For every delicious raspberry, there is a disgusting sprig of Asparagus. For every good influence there are a bazillion awful ones. He tries to get us to buy the Stadia brand shoes so that we will hobble off the playing field with a big toe full of cacti.

Just look at what is termed “acceptable” in our society today in relation to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see Satan’s false products everywhere. Who has the “flashier” more popular definition of marriage? Who has the “coolest” lifestyle? Which type of music, movies, and all types of media receive all the awards from the critics? Who is labeled as the hero between the loving father and the man who decides to change his gender? We are all inundated with endless false products shoved at us from all sides.

We cant fall for his antics anymore. We have to realize that the real truth is the only thing that lasts. Sometimes the truth seems a little less flashy, or popular, or politically correct, but in the end, its the only thing that perseveres. Eventually, all of Satan’s faulty, false, showy, knockoff products will fall apart, and fade into the archives right next to Stadia shoes, Milli Vanilli records, and Asparagus.

The real lasting products that are right in front of us are the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon), prayer, our families, our spouses, our kids, and the gospel. These are built to last forever, and the sooner we realize that and change ourselves to be consumers of these lasting products, the sooner we will get to experience real happiness that lasts, and become more like the Savior, who is, after all, our real Hero.

D&C 46:8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;

5 Josephs

28 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by in Example, Fatherhood, General, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Prophets, Resurrection

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Joseph

Joseph

One of the cool things that comes with Christmas, are the new videos that the church puts out around this time. This year was a good one showing the birth of Christ through Joseph’s eyes. If you missed it, Here it is. These videos keep getting better and better. I really liked the fact that Mary and Joseph, and everyone around doesn’t look like they were born in Idaho, or that they are in the theatrical production department at BYU. They actually look, and speak as if they were in that part of the world. It makes it a lot easier to imagine what it would have been like in Jerusalem during that time.

We don’t really know a lot about Joseph through the scriptures, but we can draw several conclusions based on what we do know. The one simple thing that stands out to me is the name “Joseph”. I don’t think anything, especially having to do with the life of Jesus Christ, is by chance. Joseph’s name was not by chance. This was the man who would raise a perfect son. He would be the fatherly example to the one who would be the perfect example.

Just for fun, lets check out all the other Josephs we know. The pattern we see will show us that the name Joseph is kind of a big deal. As we think, maybe it will be even more obvious how great a man he must have been simply because God gave him a name was destined to be so meaningful.

Joseph #1.

Joseph in Egypt

Joseph Greets his Brothers in Egypt

Probably the Joseph after which most other subsequent Josephs are named. Was one of the 12 sons of Jacob, or Israel. He was sold into Egypt by his own brothers as a slave and, as the story goes, won over the heart of the Pharaoh, received visions from God warning of the 7 years of plenty and of famine, and basically saved or brought salvation to Egypt, and in turn, his whole family, the covenant family of Israel, from certain death. A branch of this Joseph’s lineage also happened to be a group led by Lehi, and Nephi, who were the first authors of a book called the Book of Mormon. Not too shabby at all.

Joseph #2

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Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea. This Joseph is just briefly mentioned in scripture as well, but what a privilege he had. He provided the tomb for the Savior after he was crucified. He acted against his peers and almost all the contemporaries around him, and provided a safe place for the body of the Lord. It was from his tomb, that the Savior would emerge in his resurrected glorified form. It was from his tomb, that the gift of immortality for all men would be realized. It was from his tomb that the realization of eternal life could be possible! It was from his tomb, that salvation came in the form of the glorified resurrected Lord!

Joseph #3

Joseph Smith Sr.

Joseph Smith Sr.

Joseph Smith Sr. was responsible for raising the future prophet that would restore the complete gospel of Jesus Christ in the last dispensation. He instilled in his son, and his whole family, the values, and lessons that gave  a young 14 year old boy the understanding that he could go to a grove of trees and ask the questions that would eventually change the world. As an added bonus, he was also the first patriarch of the restored church.

Joseph #4

Joseph Smith Jr

Joseph Smith Jr.

One of the beneficiaries of the amazing Joseph Smith Sr. was his son, Joseph Smith Jr. This Joseph grew to be the great prophet of the restoration. He received more by way of revelation, and prophetic writings than any other prophet. Ever. He saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. Through this Joseph, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored, which provides the necessary ordinances that brings salvation to all men.

Joseph #5

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Joseph and Jesus

All of these Josephs are amazing, they make up an elite All-Time All-Joseph team. So, is it any wonder, that the final Joseph, the Joseph that raised Jesus, the humble carpenter, also carries that name?  Our Father in Heaven would not leave his son in the care of an ordinary man. He needed a humble, righteous, obedient, and loving man. He needed a man that would, quite literally, fill his own role in an earthly sense. He needed a man who would teach and raise the only begotten Son of God as if he were his own. He needed a man in whom he would entrust the Savior of the world. He needed a man, who would be humble enough to accept his calling, even though the boy he would raise, knew at a very early age, who his real Father was. Joseph was that man. So, even though we learn precious little about Joseph the man who raised Jesus, we can imagine that he may be one of the greatest men to ever walk on earth, because God the Father trusted him, and only him, to care for his little boy, the Savior of us all!
So, whats in a name? A lot. when we pause and think about the intricate symphony that our Father in Heaven is directing, it is evident. Every name has meaning, every note is where its meant to be, every moment, every place, every event is just as its meant to be. The name Joseph, by itself, is an honor. Lets think about that great man a little more this Christmas, and give him his place among the greatest Josephs of all time!

P.S. Other Josephs that that were also awesome but for this list earned “honorable mentions” include Joseph (brother of Nephi), Joseph Fielding Smith, Joseph F. Smith, and the apostles Joseph F. Merrill (1931), and Joseph B. Worthlin (1986). As a side note, it is interesting that since the restoration of the gospel in 1830, 3 of the 16 presidents of the church have been named Joseph.

Christ and Rudolph

22 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in General

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If there was a Hall of Fame for Christmas Movies Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer would be a voted in on the first ballet via unanimous decision. It’s a classic. We’re all familiar with this story in this movie. However today for the first time it dawned on me how similar Rudolph is to Christ!

Yes, I realize what I just said and no I’m not crazy (well at least I tell myself that) so let me explain:

Rudolph is born different from the start. He enters the world different than his friends, his family, and all other of his species. It’s apparent early on that he is special. He has something no one else has… a red nose that can glow! You would think that the other reindeer would be like “dude, Rudolph that’s totally awesome!” and embrace it and him also, but they don’t. In fact, they don’t even accept him at all. Why not? Did they hate him because he was different? Were they secretly just super jealous of his illuminated nostrils? We may never know. Instead they laughed and called him names (like Pinocchio) and what’s worse, they never let poor Rudolph join in any Reindeer games (like Monopoly). They mistreated him, teased him, mocked and shunned him. He found refuge only in Clarice and his own parents. However, despite the small amount of supporters in comparison to the “haters” it wasn’t enough for Rudolph and ran away. Skipping ahead in the story after an awesome series of events Rudolph finds himself back at the North Pole.

It’s Christmas Eve and Santa is in a heap of trouble! Reindeer poop is about to hit the fan! It’s crunch time, it’s down the wire but “it’s one foggy Christmas Eve”! What are the Reindeer to do? Santa can’t see. The other Reindeer can’t see. There is no way out of this mess! Christmas for the entire world is in jeopardy. Every child on earth’s Christmas happiness hangs in the balance. Yes, it seems as though the fog and darkness will destroy all happiness and there is no way to cut through it. They needed someone’s saving grace, to save Christmas for not only them, but each and every person on earth! They needed a redeemer of sorts, but who? Bam! Remember Rudolph? You know, that other Reindeer? Santa did, and then came to say: “Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

It’s key to notice Rudolph’s reaction. He had been mistreated, teased, tormented and slighted his whole life by these reindeer, but now, in the biggest of all situations he was needed by his tormentors. Yes, the same ones that never gave him the time of day. Yes, the same ones who relentlessly and adamantly opposed him. What was he to do? He could have dished up a piping hot plate of “karma” with a side of crow and offered them a nice warm glass of “shut the heck up” to wash it down with but he didn’t. Rather he busted out the greatest display of awesomeness those Reindeer had ever seen. He put on a clinic of forgiveness. He forgave all the other Reindeer on the spot and rushed to their aid! Christmas for not only the reindeer but for every person on earth was saved by him and through him. Then all the Reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee “yippee, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer you’ll go down in history” (like Columbus).

As you can see the similarities between the story of Rudolph and the life of Christ are actually pretty plentiful. In fact, they may even be approaching plagiarism on Rudolph’s part. Maybe it’s meant to be that way. Maybe the story of Rudolph is really the story of Christ in disguise? Maybe it’s a way we can all remember Christ that much more? Maybe when we sing and understand Rudolph’s story we’re really meant to sing about and understand Christ’s story. I don’t know if that’s the real intention, but what I do know is things were different with Christ from the start also.

From the prophesy of his birth, the star, the means of Mary conceiving, his entrance into the world in such humble circumstances and more it was clear he was different from the start. How ironic that the Savior of the world, the greatest of us all, was born in not in pomp and palace, but in a manger. Christ was welcomed to this world not surrounded not by precious stone, marble, and countless servants but rather with animals and hay. Ironic, but incredibly symbolic and telling of who he was, is and always will be.

Just as there is now, to all goodness and love there is opposition. In Christ’s case there was the despicable action taken in attempt to prevent Christ’s very birth. Man’s attempt to thwart God’s will failed. As Christ grew so did the number of followers and opposition he had. He was polarizing. Those who were pure in heart saw him for who and what he truly was, while the others clouded by the fog and darkness of jealousy and pride didn’t want to or even refused to see.

The world was ripe. They needed help whether they new it or not. They needed a Redeemer. We all did. However, just like the Reindeer did, they were mocking the one, THE ONLY ONE, who could, and had the ability to help them!

Christ was wrongfully accused and allowed himself to be taken to the cross. There, while on the cross mere moments after demonstrating the single greatest display of love, and forgiveness history has ever or will ever see, he then died to perform the single greatest act the world has ever or will ever know.

It’s mind boggling to understand even a small or simple portion of this. Personally, I don’t know if our minds are even capable of doing so. Even the tip of this iceberg is jaw dropping. To understand that in the very moment, in more pain than we could even imagine or withstand, while being tortured, ridiculed, spat upon, and tormented, Christ, while hanging from a cross he himself was forced to carry himself, with nails driven through his wrists and hands, while wearing a crown of thorns and bleeding forgave those who had done or even supported these actions in the very moment they had and were doing them. This goes beyond Job’s life, this goes beyond anything we can even comprehend! Then he died. Did he die for his supporters in the crowd? Yes… and of course also those who hated him, despised him, laughed, mocked  and jeered at him as they watched his mortal life slip away. He gave his life for EVERYONE. Words don’t exist that properly put that into perspective. It’s absolutely amazing.

Here’s where the story differs. With Rudolph, after his miraculous act, “all the Reindeer loved him”. With Christ it’s much different at the moment. Even though Christ has already performed the ultimate act if sacrifice for  each of us, and offered a means to be saved for everyone, and despite what we has done for us since then, and will continue to do for us… not all the “reindeer” love him! There are many who still hate, still scorn, still despise him. Yet he still remains patient, still hoping and pleading with those to take a gift that will make them happy beyond measure and provide endless joy and happiness that unfortunately still remains wrapped.

If your like me your wishing this story had a happy ending. Well, it does… because we’re not all the way through the story are we!

If you skip to the end of the story, to “the last page” you’ll read the promise: “EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST”! That, is a happy ending!

So this season, let’s take a minute to try to understand, so we can realize that not only this time of year, but every day that Christ is the gift. The perfect gift in every way. What more do we need? What more could we want? He is Christmas. He is life. He is the reason and the goal. His life, his death and the atonement is the gift we can use every single day, every moment of our day. He is joy, love, happiness, forgiveness, mercy, kindness, and understanding. He is everything we can ever or will ever need. He is not only what Christmas is all about, but rather what LIFE itself is about.

Merry CHRIST-mas

 

 

 

 

The Crumbling Walls of Stone

22 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Battle, Faith, General, Jesus Christ, Loyalty, Poems, Prison, Trials, Weakness

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No matter what is happening in our world, or even in our own neighborhoods, or communities, we can be safe. Its hard to believe sometimes given the nature of our enemies. Real safety isn’t a mortal achievement at all, but an eternal one. Once we realize that our lives don’t really start  when we are born, nor end when we die, we can see with the proper perspective to understand this.

Sometimes it seems like we are living in a modern day movie of history repeating itself. If that is so, lets look to what our ancient forefathers did to keep themselves safe, or what they didn’t do to bring on their demise.

In the scriptures, we learn that our modern difficulties will only increase, times will be harder, and evil will grow in scope, and power. We need to be able to recognize what is really happening all around us, and not repeat the same mistakes that so many throughout history have made- the mistake of forgetting God. We cannot forget who we are, why we are here, and in whom we must rely to find real safety, and real peace.

 

The Crumbling Walls of Stone

The walls of stone around us built by hands of mortal make,
have claimed to offer solace from dark storm, strong wind, and quake.

Protecting from our foes without, this shelter here inside,
constructed by the hands of those who fought, and bled, and died.

And for these many years have stood, sustained by God alone,
As men within these walls have knelt before our Maker’s throne.

But now, dark forces in and out, relentlessly conspire,
to weaken all these stones, by fear, and flame of dragon fire.

For not all men within now kneel before the strength and pow’r,
of Him whose hand would strengthen all in desperation’s hour.

Now as the walls around us fall, and enemies abound,
He still extends His call to us, His safety can be found,

And we can be untouched by flying shards of rending stone,
To walk in peace and safety- even though we walk alone,

And as our father Alma walked with pow’r from prison rent,
So can we, if we rely, on Him who Father sent.

These great walls, sustained by God, now stand all on their own,
Relying on the strength of men, and crumbling ancient stone.

Are we now ready, in our hearts, to face the world outside?
To kneel, to walk, and stand alone, and in the Lord confide?

Come feel His warming love, and light, that neither fades nor dims!
Petition his eternal peace that comes through faith in Him!

Though enemies deride, and tempests beat before our face,
Our souls can stand fulfilled, instilled, with everlasting grace!

 

Graduating from the Obliviousness of the Benchwarmer

16 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Battle, Divinity, General, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Sports

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bench

When I was a sophomore in high school, I was able to dress out, and sit on the end of the bench during the varsity basketball games. There were 4 or 5 of us. We loved it because we felt absolutely no pressure to win because we were just afterthoughts, or decorations really. We were basically cheerleaders in uniforms, as we were so far down the bench we could barely see the coaches at the other end.

On occasion, however, when we (the varsity team) were up big, we would get our chance to play in garbage time. We would get in and play our hearts out for our shot at getting our name in the paper by scoring a point. That was the ultimate goal, in our 15 year old minds, to become famous by getting our name in print.  Of course, we also had a great time inventing the now infamous celebratory dance that we named “the chicken”. The game itself meant nothing to us really, because we weren’t seniors, and it wasn’t really even our team. We just thought about how awesome we could dance, and hoped we could get some playing time, maybe. We looked a lot like these guys..Who are hilarious by the way…

Although we had a great time, and made fools of ourselves dancing, the thing we didn’t understand really until later, was that the games actually meant something. Not that what we were doing was anything bad, but we kind of missed the opportunity to be more of a part of the real game that was going on. We were a little oblivious to the reality of what was at stake. We were a bit blinded by whatever-ness, or lack of perspective. We were content in our little party space at the end of the bench, while the real game was happening all around us.

Today, I feel, many of us are still living our lives like we are the benchwarmers. We are content in our little corners of our lives and sometimes fail to see the importance and gravity of the game that is going on all around us. We are in a game for our lives. The outcome determines our  place in the eternities. And sometimes we are only concerned if we can get mentioned in the paper the next morning.

If we take a step back, and look at the test we are in we can think…who are the players? Who are we playing against? Do we even realize we are living right in the middle of the final minutes of the most important game ever?

So how does this look in real life? Over the last few months, there have been an increase in dramatic events that have changed the way many people feel about their lives. With terrorist attacks in Paris, and now in San Bernadino right here at home, it has created an increased level of anxiety and fear. People are grasping at anything, everything, and anybody who claims to offer safety and security. Safety and relative peace cannot be guaranteed, and seem unattainable even impossible. But, we need to remember… what game we are playing?

Are we playing the “whoever dies with the most stuff wins” game? Or,  the “whoever gets their name in the paper the most wins” game? Or, the “whoever can dance the most awesome chicken at the end of the bench” game? If so, we will look for peace and safety in the wrong places. We will fall prey to the illusion of secular security, which is nothing more than false security.

When we look at our lives differently, the way we should see them, everything changes. We then begin to realize that the real game is between good and evil and we are here to choose for ourselves which team we want to be on, and then become key players on the team. The only way to win, and achieve true safety and real peace is to align ourselves as close as possible to the One who will ultimately win the game. He is the author of the peace we seek, the Prince of Peace.

Jesus Christ is the only way to find peace. He alone provides the real lasting safety that we all seek, because that is the whole point of this game of life we are all playing. In this game, the elusive sentiment of true happiness is only awarded when we completely and fully disregard the world’s mirage of secular security. When we stop concentrating only on how awesome our chicken dance is, and actually start playing to win.

It is then we will realize that we are involved in a game on a much larger playing field than we ever thought, and we aren’t just hoping for the few minutes of playing time awarded to the scrubs in garbage time, our minds and hearts can be more committed to the pursuit of real and lasting peace, love, security and divine safety that comes only through the Savior of the world.

Joseph Smith wrote about the way the game will end, and its perfect to read when we feel overwhelmed with all the negative or when the evil in the world seems overwhelming, and the game seems to be lost. Just remember, we choose which team we want to be on!

He wrote, “the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).

Real peace and safety can come to us. But, it comes when we look to Christ. He pours it upon us when we try to be like Him, and follow Him. He has invited all of us to do so, and find the peace and safety only He provides.

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Psalms 4:8)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)

“Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.” (D&C 6:34)

The Overwhelming Importance of Tee Ball

02 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Discernment, General, Prophets

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One of the most difficult tasks in all of sports is to hit a good curveball. It comes at you traveling sometimes up to 90 miles an hour, from only about 60 feet away. You have only a split second to recognize the velocity and direction, make a decision on whether to swing or not, and then adjust your hands, wrists, arms, legs, and head to make contact with the ball. It takes years and years and hours and hours of practice to be able to do it with even a little bit of consistency. But for the most part, we would all look foolish standing in the batter’s box facing the worlds best pitchers and their wicked curveballs. The professional hitters often do.

So what would it take to get to where we could hit that curveball? It would take the same amount of time, effort, practice and experience that the best hitters in the world put in. But even they started with the basics. Tee Ball.

When kids start playing baseball, they’re usually tiny, and are just as interested in the butterfly’s floating in the outfield as they are with the bat and ball. But hitting is taught with the ball sitting stationary, on a tee, ready to be hit. Its simple, easy, and the perfect way to practice your swing.

As the years go by, and you become more experienced, hitting becomes more advanced and difficult, the coach pitches to you, then the other kids. Eventually those kids get older, better, grow muscles, and a mean streak, and pretty soon, instead of that friendly floating ball thats easy to hit, its a hurled projectile that may or may not have any control on it. sometimes its within the strike zone, and sometimes you duck to save your face.

After a while, the simple straight fast ball isn’t the only thing coming your way, its mixed with an off speed slower one, a curving bender, a sliding knee buckler, or the knuckleball that dances just like the butterflies from tee ball.

But with time, experience, practice and some luck, you can still hit them. Even the best pitches can be hit. Even though at times it seems nearly impossible. But one thing is for sure, if you haven’t practiced, or seen them before, your chances are slim. You may even have a slight heart attack simply watching the pitch scream towards you.

The same concept is playing out today in our society. Especially in a spiritual sense. Our opposition in society is throwing curveballs, sliders, knuckleballs, and a nasty heater almost every pitch. But it seems like not all of us have put in the time, and practice to have a reasonable shot at fending off those pitches and being successful at the plate.

We need to go back to basics. back to Tee Ball.

When we were little, in primary, we all learned the how to do what our Heavenly Father asks of us. Choose the right, follow the prophet, love one another, and love God. We learned who we were, and what our purpose on earth is. The gospel was taught in a simple way that was simple to understand. It was tee ball.

As we grow older, life seemingly gets a little more complicated. But the basics are still the same, just like keeping our eyes on the ball, taking a smooth step, and having a level swing. We still need to love God, love our neighbor, choose the right, follow the council of the prophets, and recognize who we are, and why we are here.

The game changes as we grow older spiritually as well. Just as in baseball,  the opposition gets better, grows muscles, and a nasty streak. He tries to cheat, and fool us by throwing different pitches. He tries to deceive us. And he has a nasty curve.

So how do we hit his curve, his split finger, or his dancing knuckleball? We have to start with the basics.

We need to follow the formula for success, and practice and practice, and practice. We do this by being close to the Lord, His spirit, and follow and live His teachings. As we do so, we become familiar with it, and recognize when He is influencing us, when He is speaking through His prophets, and most importantly, we begin to recognize the curveball. We see it coming, we are prepared for it, and we can hit it.

The basic fundamentals of the gospel are as simple as keeping our eyes on the ball. Its being in the scriptures, praying, and genuinely wanting to be like our Savior. If we do that, we will be ready for the curve, because we will see and recognize it.

And the curves are coming. Today, a lot of people, even within the gospel, are having a hard time with some of the curveballs coming from the opposition. The society norms are being passed off as good, and touted as progress, but in reality are in direct opposition to the gospel truths taught by the Lord and His prophets. The best curveballs look just like a fastball until the last second when the bottom falls out, but then, its too late, because we’ve already started to swing.

If we start young or old, it doesn’t matter, we need to keep our eyes on the ball, and practice, practice, practice. If we do, and listen to, and follow the advise, council, and teachings of the living prophets and apostles (best 15 coaches you could ask for), we will be prepared for, and recognize the curves when then come. It is the 9th inning after all, and the game is coming to an end, and we need to really decide….whose team are we on?

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The Divine Duality of Adversity

22 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in atonement, Faith, General, Opposition, Patience

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Sports can teach us almost anything. Growing up, I played baseball, basketball, football, golf, pickle ball, wiffle ball, and, everyone’s favorite 5th grade sport, butt ball. Each one of these sports taught me about how to work hard, practice, work as a team, and all of those happy feel good things that are common to sport analogies. But, it also taught me about the reality of loss, pain, sorrow, discouragement, and disappointment.

In today’s society, there seems to be a growing trend to try and shelter our kids from these realities. We give out trophies to all who participate, no one gets thrown out at first, no one loses, and no one wins. We do this to make sure that we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. The problem with this thinking, is that it can create a false bubble of reality where nothing but contrived happiness and joy exists and never teaches the lessons of how to process the reality of losing, or the unavoidable disappointment that life will bring.

When we do this, we find ourselves just like the inside of Riley’s head in the movie, Inside Out, where “Joy” the happy emotion, tries to completely eliminate “Sadness” from ever having any kind of control over Riley’s emotions, she tries to protect Riley from ever feeling anything but joy. A great idea right? But, in the end, Joy realizes that sadness is not only acceptable, but an essential necessity to feel the complete fullness of joy. The contrast, or recovery from sadness, is what highlights true happiness in its fullness.

Some of us go through challenges that are nothing short of devastating. For some, the disappointment or sorrow hits hard as in when a child passes away. For others its watching a son or daughter lose their way. Some circumstances seem almost unbearable, with no hope for any good to come of them. What do we do then? How do we deal with devastation? We need help. We cannot do it alone. That is the whole point of passing through disappointment, and sorrow, or pain and suffering. We are supposed to learn from them.

These scenarios have played out since the beginning of time, and they will continue. Lets just look at a few examples of adversity and painful things happening, even to good and righteous people…

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Mormon was the prophet and military leader that knowingly watched as his entire people ignored his inspired pleas for repentance, and openly chose wickedness. These were his people, the very ones for which he was responsible. His teaching fell upon deaf and rebellious ears, and 230,000 of his men, the Nephites, were slaughtered in a single battle. They were completely wiped out by the Lamanites, because they chose wickedness. We can only imagine the disappointment and sorrow he felt. He wrote, “O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord!..how could ye have rejected that Jesus who stood with open arms to receive you! How is it that ye could have fallen! But, Behold ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.” (Mormon 6:16-19)

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Moroni, Mormon’s son, also witnessed this last great battle as a captain over 10,000 men. He then watched as the Lamanites killed his father, and turned after him. He then spent the remaining years of his life completely alone, running for his life.

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Ether, a Jaradite prophet, just like Mormon and Moroni, witnessed the entire wicked self destruction of his people when they refused to listen to his pleadings for their repentance. The great final battle claimed the lives of over 2 million men women and children. They not only rejected his teachings, but tried to kill him for doing so.

There are countless examples of devastating disappointments and sorrows. How did they deal with them? How did they continue to go forward while it seemed everything in the world was against them, even though they were doing what was right?

Think of it this way, what positives came of the examples of Mormon, Moroni, and Ether? What can we learn from them? Mormon, and Moroni both penned some of the most powerful chapters in the Book of Mormon, probably at the same time they were dealing with the destruction of their people. Moroni’s promise, that has led to the spiritual conversion of countless people, was written while completely alone, wandering in the wilderness. One of the best chapters in scripture on the principle of faith was written by the prophet Ether as he watched his people completely self destruct. Sometimes bad things do happen to good or great people, but sometimes great things come from it.

Part of life is understanding that we will have problems, that we will lose, we will be dealt a crap sandwich once in a while. But, what do we do with that crap sandwich? Do we bury our head in the sand and give up? Or, do we try to deal with it like the best chef’s on Chopped, and add bacon, chipotle peppers, and transform that crap sandwich into a chorizo preschutto, drizzled with a poblano pepper aoli?

The Lord told Joseph Smith while he was illegally imprisoned in the Liberty Jail, “that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:7)

The Lord also taught this when his disciples were feeling abandoned, lonely, helpless, and overwhelmed (and he will say the same to all of us), “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come unto you” (John 14:18) “Come unto me all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you, and learn of me;…. and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matt 11:28,29)

When we turn to the Lord, our Elder Brother, He comforts us, He succors us, He changes us. As hard as it is, we need to try and see our lives as our Father in Heaven does. We need to try and see our disappointments and sorrows as opportunities to allow Jesus Christ to be the one who stands by our side to lift us up.

The ultimate lesson from our Father in Heaven is this, He wants us to grow, experience a full life. We really gain the experience He wants us to have when we pass through disappointment, and then use the gift of the Atonement of His Son to help us through the hard times. So, even though the sorrow is real, and the disappointment unbearably hard and devastating at times, these times are, in reality, opportunities to better know His Son. This is the divine duality of adversity. They are opportunities to open ourselves to the fullness of His Comforter. The contrast we then feel becomes the knowledge and experience our Father in Heaven needs us to understand. And maybe our experiences will benefit us in the future, or may benefit others who can learn from us.

Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish,
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.

He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace here finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind,
Love without end.

Hymn 129 Where can I turn for Peace?

All-ness

05 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by in General

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A few weeks ago I was reading a book where the author made a point using a particular scripture in a context that I had not thought of.  This allowed me to see more of it’s full meaning – especially when I compared it with other scriptures (which I will also share).  I had read the passage before, but had either forgotten about it or had not understood it fully until it was delivered in the context that it was, which allowed it to finally stick in my mind and more importantly to understand its importance.

D&C 29:34-35

“Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.  Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself; and I gave unto him commandment, but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments are spiritual; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual.”

I would just like to highlight the absolute-ness of the word ‘all’ as used above.  All means all.  All means every single thing.  It’s opposites (‘neither’ or ‘no’ or ‘not at any time’) are also used to further emphasize the all-ness of it.  Here are some related passages:

Moses 6:63

And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

Alma 30:44

…the scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

2 Ne. 11:4

Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

So, let’s recap what we’ve learned so far – all things:

  1. Are spiritual unto God
  2. Have their likeness (can be seen as ‘types’) that bear record of Christ.
  3. Have been created for that express purpose (to bear record of Christ)
  4. Denote or witness (prove) that there is a God
  5. Are the typifying of him (Christ)

At first glance, this list might seem obvious, but let’s not forget exactly what ‘all’ means.  It really does mean all.  Yes, it means that the more obvious things like attending church and partaking of the sacrament, and reading the scriptures are spiritual and point us to Christ, but it also means that all of our daily activities and even (seemingly) temporal commandments like food storage, debt avoidance, tithing, the word of wisdom, the law of Moses, church ball, and every last one of the programs and commandments and suggestions given by the church, are also spiritual and are ‘the typifying of him’ and have been created to bear record of him (Christ).  If we haven’t seen how that is possible, it is because we aren’t looking or we are attempting to place temporal and spiritual things into separate boxes when they should all be in the same (spiritual) box.

But, we aren’t talking about just the commandments; could all things really mean that folding the laundry, washing the dishes, getting dressed each day, mopping the floor, fixing the doorknob that broke, getting the oil changed in my car, driving to work, scrubbing the toilet, or any one of the billion other tasks that we do as humans in this world (at home, at school, at play) can and will testify of and point me to Christ?”  Yes.

What about newsworthy issues in the world today?  Constant war, crime, terrorism, non-stop litigation, pornography, genocide, increasingly hostile political climates, opinions, or organizations, advertisements on TV, social media, rampant bullying (in person and via social media), and the disintegration of tolerance and the increasing barrage or indifference towards free speech, rights, the constitution, political kindness and the importance and sanctity of the traditional family unit?  Yes – these things are all spiritual and are the typifying of him.

If that weren’t enough to open our eyes, we can rest assured that every single commandment (morals laws, remember) that we’ve ever been given (including the ones that we think are just in place to make our temporal or non-church lives easier) ‘are spiritual unto God’.  He said so himself.  Every single commandment – whether it comes from his mouth or the mouths of his prophets – is a spiritual commandment.  Remember that he said “not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal.”  That’s pretty absolute.

What this means for all of us, is that ordinary life, and the mostly unglamorous parts of that life that we all live (full of its seemingly unending and often frustrating, repetitive and non-spiritual details), are way more spiritually important than we might have realized.  In the abstract, this seems logical and even amazing right?  We get to live and participate in the daily happenings of an earth patterned after heaven, all while every single thing we see points to nurturing and teaching some of God’s precious children through various means and amazingly spiritual scenarios.  I wonder if in the pre-existence we marveled at  this thought, viewed all of the simple yet profound things that we could see on earth and the patterns of commonplace things that are present here (as they were in heaven) and we thought to ourselves “how can we not succeed in that spiritual wonderland”?

However, what happens is we get slapped in the face with real life where things never go exactly as planned, we forgot who we are, where we came from, we have these weird and complex physical bodies that we struggle to master, and in our homes nobody cleans up after themselves, messes seem to appear out of nowhere, homework doesn’t get done, stuff breaks all the time, kids fight, and we get sucked into the realization that some if not all of the tasks (cooking dinner, running kids around, going to work every day, paying bills, being an adult, having responsibilities, etc.) that we thought made up a spiritual wonderland (before we actually experienced them) seem to be the very things that develop the most disruption, and present themselves as the most non-spiritual, time consuming, and energy-draining moments imaginable.  Combine those chores with the complexities of the emotional world where God’s other children are given full agency to ‘choose for themselves’ creating a spiderweb of consequences that we didn’t realize add up and weigh heavily on our individual perception of reality. If we are honest, we’d rather not be doing most of these chores at all (I don’t like to sweep the kitchen or do the dishes) – so what possible explanation could there be that these activities and stressful consequences are somehow sacred and spiritual, when they feel like anything but?

I would love to provide that explanation, but the fact is I can’t even answer it – at least not the way I’d like to.  You are welcome.  But, please thoughtfully consider the question.

I will offer this additional information for your pondering that question: we read in the Bible Dictionary that “only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness.”  I think part of the explanation has to do with our everyday, repetitive, chore laden homes being that spiritual wonderland that we previewed from heaven despite the chaos, and maybe even because of the chaos, when we remember what it is we do there.

Sometimes we become frustrated when we try to compare our homes to the temple because the only factors we are using for comparison are spot-free cleanliness, white clothing, celestial décor, and the presence of courteous whispers.  We try to use like for like comparisons – which may not be appropriate. It says that our homes are the only places that compare with the sacredness of the temple, but it didn’t and doesn’t mention anything about the need for perfect cleanliness, reverent whispers, fancy chandeliers, or white clothing.

Let’s think about what we do at the temple, and maybe more importantly, why we do it.  Each of the ordinances (steps) performed in the temple prepare us to receive something more – but the temple also teaches us that the only way to receive that something more is by being driven out of the garden of Eden where everything is awesome into a world full of problems – just where we find ourselves these days – and overcome it.  And we overcome it by working through it day by day and minute by minute one step at a time.

The crowning ordinance performed in the temple is the creation of an eternal family unit – the sealing of a husband and wife together for all eternity.  And by ‘creation’ we mean the starting point.   The temple creates a new family unit, and then in our homes every single day during the laborious chores of life (i.e. life outside of the garden of Eden) take us in and out and up and down and all around while that development process is continued, strengthened, tested, and refined over and over and over again.  We learn about it in the temple, but we practice it at home.

Our home is the best place to understand that without misery there can be no happiness, and without pain there can be no joy.  Our home is also the best place for us to understand how “their journeyings in the land, their sufferings, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their incomprehensible joy”1 all fit perfectly into the same sentence.  Our home is the only place where we can somehow be satisfied when we see the results of our long, hard and thankless work wiped away by a simple smile, or an innocent giggle from one of our precious children.  In that small moment, we can feel and we can somehow understand what sacred really means – and how our home can indeed be the most sacred place of all because of what we are doing and becoming there.  Then, we start to feel completely overwhelmed with gratitude that fills our hearts because the Lord allows us such a privilege to help build his kingdom by building its inhabitants.

Perhaps this is what we need to understand; that normal, everyday home life is presenting each of us with a multitude of opportunities to capitalize on the opposition, trials, and learning in the most common of all circumstances.  And since God loves us, he gives us a lot of chances to learn and to help us “establish [our own] house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God”2 just like his.  We just need to look for the smiles that help us remember why – because there is no other way.

As we start to see things “as they really are, and things as they really will be”,4 we can start to see the Savior in all things.   We will see that Jesus himself worked, walked, clothed, washed, fed, swept, gathered, dried tears, helped, healed, restored, fished, played, talked, and did every other seemingly unspiritual and mundane activity (in this same fallen world we live in) all while teaching his friends the greatest truths, overcoming death, and redeeming all of creation.

Let all of us look for ways in which our homes and daily lives can help us to remember that all things bear record of him, all things are the typifying of him, and that all things are spiritual.  That is what Jesus did.

Notes

1 Alma 28:8

2 D&C 88:119

3 Jacob 4:13

Endure to the End!

18 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by in General, Preparation, Pride, Sports, Strength, Success, Types

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I love college football. This is my favorite time of year. Each year I have renewed hope at what possibilities lie ahead. New players emerge, older players get better, every game counts. It it exciting, thrilling, heartbreaking, and devastating all at the same time.

Sports in general can teach us so much about life, and overcoming obstacles, opposition, and adversity. It is an almost perfect type for our own lives. College football yesterday, gave us that perfect example of a principle I have been thinking about lately. Enduring to the end.

This example, is of a game between bitter rivals. It was a hard fought game between Michigan, and Michigan State. All game it had been a grudge match back and forth, neither team could move the ball very well against the other, both defenses had dominated the opposing offenses, and as time ran down to the last 10 seconds, Michigan found itself ahead by two points with the ball, and just about a minute left. They could almost just take a knee, and let time expire and win the game. Almost.

As time slowly clicked away, Michigan ran the ball to make sure the clock didn’t stop and were able to get time down to just about 10 seconds left. It was 4th down, the ball was on Michigan State’s 48 yard line, and all they had to do was punt the ball away, make one tackle, and the game would be over. They would win the heated rivalry game over their higher ranked bitter enemy. Life was good for Michigan fan. They were basking in the eminent victory. They were on cloud nine. Years of being second fiddle in the state and listening to Michigan State fans trash talk would finally end. The battle was nearly over, and they would be victorious!

Then Michigan snapped the ball. And their 10 second nightmare began.

The punter for Michigan bumbled the snap, the ball fell a few feet in front of him, and in his sudden panic, lunged forward, grabbed the ball, and made a last second heroic effort to kick the ball away. But Michigan State hit him with 3 guys just as the ball left his hand headed towards his foot.

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The momentum of the hit sprayed the ball to the right, through the air, and landed perfectly into the hands of a surprised Michigan State player. Upon receiving the miraculous gift of a fumble, he took off, headed towards the end zone 45 yards away. He had a procession of blockers, and only 2 potential tacklers, time seemed to stand still and Michigan fan went from the peak of elation to the depths of despair in mere seconds. Michigan State rolled down the sideline, and lunged into the end zone with no time left to win the game.

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Michigan fan could do nothing but stare in disbelief. That actually just happened. One of the most unlikely wins and final plays that could even be conceived. If any of a number of things didn’t go exactly right, or exactly wrong, the game would have ended with Michigan on top. It was unbelievable. The odds of Michigan State winning that game before the final snap were 0.2%. 2 in a thousand! Yet it happened. Michigan State never quit. Michigan State endured to the end. Michigan did not.

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The punter had made a huge mistake, but, in the moment, when all the pressure was heaped on him, he actually made it worse by trying to kick the ball again. Had he just fallen on the ball, it would have been downed, and Michigan State would have had to pull off a hail mary pass to win, another unlikely chance. But, in the moment when panic set in, the situation became critical and the decision he made while in that mindset was horribly bad and exactly wrong. And it cost them the game. Had he thought out all the options should anything unplanned happen, the outcome might have been different.

All the hard work, battle, struggle, sweat, and effort for 59 minutes and 50 seconds just went up in smoke. It was kind of like performing a perfect face plant 25 yards from the finish line of a marathon, and never making it to the end. Sometimes we get SOOOOO close!

On the other hand, Michigan State never gave up. They played every last down until the whistle blew, there is ALWAYS a chance that things may bounce your way. But in order to get those bounces, we need to be in the right spot, and playing as hard as we can.

Whether its in a football game, basketball game, baseball game, tennis, running a marathon, or any other competition or challenge, the principle is the same, Never quit! Never stop fighting, clawing, pushing, crawling or clenching towards the finish. Never slow down, never let up. Ever.  Our lives are a race, a race to finally get back home, to our Heavenly home, and in the process, be as close to our Savior as we can be, and as much like Him as we can be.

Its never easy, sometimes it seems like its impossible to win, that we might as well just leave, because we are getting our butts handed to us. But thats not why we are here. We are here to compete, to get better, and to endure.

To me, one of the most fascinating parts of the Book of Mormon comes in the final few years of the Nephites  just before the coming of Christ to the Americas. At this time, the Nephites and righteous Lamanites actually come together in one body because the Gadianton robbers are so powerful, that they had overtaken nearly the entire country. All the people that followed the prophets gathered together to join forces and preserve their food and protect themselves from invasion.  After a long siege, and with the help from God, the Nephites eventually defeated the Gadianton robbers after a massive battle, (the slaughter was the greatest since Lehi had left Jerusalem) and completely eliminated them from the country. God had helped and preserved them according to their faith and trust in Him.

This major battle happened in the 19th year after Christ was born, and lingered until sometime after the 21st year. Christ would begin his ministry halfway around the world in a mere 8 years! So, 600 plus years had passed since Lehi and Nephi left Jerusalem, with countless prophets, wars, contentions, missions, etc. And now, in the 4th quarter, the Nephites had just seemingly defeated the last enemy and could now live in peace until the Lord would visit! Right? They just had to hang on for another few years. And they would celebrate with Christ himself!

After this massive battle, this is the mindset of the Nephites:

”And they did rejoice and cry again with one voice, saying: May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, protect this people in righteousness, so long as they shall call on the name of their God for protection.

31 And it came to pass that they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies.

32 Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God.

33 And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.  (3 Nephi 4:30-33)

The very first verse in chapter 5 says, “Now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets..”

A few verses later, it says,”And there had many things transpired which, in the eyes of some, would be great and marvelous; nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book; yea, this book cannot contain even a ahundredth part of what was done among so many people in the space of twenty and five years;

They seem to be sitting pretty don’t they? Now its down to the final 8 years until the sign of Christ’s death and resurrection. kind of like being up by 2 points with the ball,  and only 10 seconds left? All they needed to do was make a decent punt, and make one tackle, and they would be celebrating with the Savior. But, lets watch what happens in just a few very short years…

In the 26th year, they all separated again, and went back home after having lived together as one people.

In chapter 6, it sounds the warning bell, “And now there was nothing in all the land to hinder the people from prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression.” (3 Nephi 6:5)

Kind of like a scouting report that warns about the stone hands of the punter.

Fast forward 3 short years, and this is what you get, “But it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year there began to be some disputings among the people; and some were lifted up unto pride and aboastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions; (3 Nephi 6:10)

Uh, oh. The punter just bumbled the snap. Better just land on it, and take your losses, repent, and get right with the Lord.

But, just like the football game, the worst possible thing that could have happened did.

“Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world. (3 Nephi 6:15,)

Now, the opposing player is running towards the end zone, and the game is slipping away.

“And thus in the commencement of this, the thirtieth year, they were in a state of awful wickedness.” (3 Nephi 8:18)

“…and there were but few righteous men among them.” (3 Nephi 7:7)

Year 30. Christ is just beginning his mortal ministry, and will eventually come to visit the Americas in just 3 more years! Thats it! 3 years. After 600 years of preparation, they bumbled it all away at the last moment. They couldn’t quite endure till the end.

We cannot let this happen to us! We need to play every down, every play the best we can. we have to endure, and persevere through the finish line. The tricky part is that we don’t know exactly when the finish line comes, but we cant let ourselves turn into the Nephites who face planted 3 years before the finish line.

Christ was so close! All they had to do was hold on just a little bit longer, and finish strong! He is our end goal! He is why we are here. He is why we can win, and why we even have a chance at all.

Sometimes we can learn lessons from other people’s mistakes. Lets look at the punter for Michigan, and the Nephites, and learn what not to do, so that we can be better prepared to work, and fight, and endure all the way through the finish line!

He is there waiting for us, coaching us, and rooting for us to succeed. Lets all try just a little bit harder to never let up, never slow down, never give up and never lose hope for the win!

The Power of Virtue

24 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in General

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According to LDS topics1, virtue:

  1. Is a prerequisite to entering the Lord’s holy temples and to receiving the Spirit’s guidance.
  2. Is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards
  3. Encompasses chastity and moral purity
  4. Begins in the heart and in the mind
  5. Is nurtured in the home
  6. Is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions

To coincide with those definitions, the dictionary2 defines virtue as follows:

  1. Moral excellence; goodness; righteousness
  2. Conformity of one’s life and conduct to moral and ethical principles
  3. A good or admirable quality or property
  4. Effective force; power or potency

Interestingly, when we hear the word virtue we think of ideals, morals, thoughts, chastity or purity, and it is often included anytime we make a list of good or desirable character traits3 but how often do we think of virtue as an “effective force or power”?  Yet, that is exactly what virtue is – effective, potent, and forceful power.  I don’t intend those consecutive words to be thought of as synonyms, but as a single and continuous sentence.  Virtue is an effective and potent and forceful power.  Let’s not limit it to an ideal.

Elaine S. Dalton indicated that “the Latin root word virtus means strength.”  She continued “Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost.”4 But, in case we think that our inner strength or virtue is something that is limited to our own use, let’s remember that virtue is an “effective” force.  Or in other words, it is a goodness and a forceful and motivating power that can be – and should be – given away.

Recall with me, the “certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse”.  When she heard of Jesus, she “came in the press behind and touched his garment.”  She had faith to be healed just by touching his clothes, yet Mark records the following: “And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, tuned him about in the press, and said, who touched my clothes”?5 If that’s not clear enough, in Luke’s record he actually quoted the Savior (after the same event) saying “somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.”6

On another occasion, “a great multitude of people” came (from Judaea and Jersualem) to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases (which they were), and Luke recorded that “the whole multitude sought to touch him; for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”7

Now, before we limit this fine tuned ability – the ability to perceive that some or much virtue has gone out of you – to Christ himself or to only the amazing prophets, we should evaluate or ponder if maybe once or twice (or many times), we have ourselves been able to perceive that virtue has gone out of us.  For example; how many times after going to church, which is only a 3-hour block, have we returned home absolutely famished and completely exhausted?  Sometimes we get to the point where you just need to eat the first thing that you see when you walk in the door for fear of actual starvation.  I think some of us feel like we just completed an Ironman after sitting still for 3 hours.  How about after an especially intense spiritual experience and you find your physical frame a bit “weaker”?  Ask Nephi or Lehi or Alma or Ammon or king Lamoni about that.  In Ammon’s particular case the record states that he “sunk” with joy8.  We usually think of joy as uplifting and strictly energizing, but in many cases we feel the spirit so strongly that we can’t help but cry (and we may start to feel less physical strength) and start to ‘sink down’ in order to just let the spirit envelop us.  This is perhaps a time when spiritual ‘virtue’ is being shared or transferred and the mortal frame is just not quite on the same level (yet).

I think that if we are honest with ourselves, we can all point to a time or two when we’ve felt virtue go out of us (whether we identified it then or not).  These times are most likely special times when we are purposefully trying to lift someone else’s burdens (seen or unseen), or to help and serve with completely pure intentions, and the spirit can “sink us down” with joy as it goes out of us.  No doubt we all recognize the dual benefit of giving away this virtue to others9 since when we act like the savior, we can feel like the savior and when we serve others, we are in fact serving him.10

Joseph Smith was once asked by Jedediah M. Grant about an incident in which he turned pale and lost strength after administering to (blessing) some children.  He referred to the same scripture passage quoted above (Luke 8) and indicated that “the virtue referred to is the spirit of life11; and a man who exercises great faith in administering to the sick, blessing little children, or confirming, is liable to become weakened.”12

This idea has been on my mind recently, as I have identified the use of ‘virtue’ in various places that help me understand it’s effective power more than its lofty character traits.  One is found in the very first sentence of The Living Christ.13 I quote fifteen of the most amazing men to ever live by saying “we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of his great atoning sacrifice”.  Of all the words in the English language that could have been used in that sentence, they used “virtue”.

Another reference is found in Alma 31:5 (a classic reference) which reads “And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.  Of all the words that could have been used in that sentence, he used “virtue”.

The last reference (for this post) is found in the absolutely timeless passage of D&C 121.  This section can be “likened” unto parenting, fatherhood, motherhood14, general leadership, or any other worthy cause since it is worth studying over and over and over again.  The verse that I’d like to include is verse 41 “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.”  We could spend years understanding that one verse and all that it means for us.

I have read the advice that “to be a good leader, we need to be a good follower,”15 and “to be a righteous father, we need to be a righteous son.”16 This (and logic) leads me to think that for us to be able to have “virtue go out from us” we need to have virtue “within us”.  This means we need to “receive” virtue in abundance.  Lucky for us, the apostles and prophets have testified (as quoted above) of the “infinite virtue” that is available through Christ and his “great atoning sacrifice.”  That means that it won’t run out – no matter what.  As often as we want to receive it, and qualify for it, and ask for it, and search for it, and seek it, and plead for it, and cry for it – it will be given.  In the amount that “is expedient for us”17 to have and in the dosage that “we are willing to receive.”18

Therefore, let virtue begin in our hearts and in our minds. Let that “virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly”19 so that it can become a consistent pattern of thought and behavior, while being nurtured in our homes.  Then, by the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions, our lives can become an effective and strong and powerful force for good in the world.

I will end with a question, but not one that I ask.  One that someone much smarter than me asked exactly 35 years ago.  It’s a long question (since it’s more than one), but it’s a question that deserves much reflection.

“Parents are ‘called,’ but are they ‘chosen’ by their children to be an influence in their lives? How can parents convey the kind of love our Heavenly Father offers? Are parents prepared to rely entirely on their increasing virtue and righteousness to elicit loyalty, cooperation, and harmony among their children? What a challenge, to qualify to influence only through relationship! Yet only then can parents establish an ‘everlasting dominion’ or eternal family that can function and will endure ‘without compulsory means,’ as our Eternal Father has done. What we find so very difficult to do within our own homes, God has brought to full fruition among the innumerable hosts of heaven.20

Notes

1 lds.org/topics=virtue.  These are given verbatim by Elaine S. Dalton (in paragraph form) in her talk “A Return to Virtue” given in the October 2008 Conference.  She also references “Preach My Gospel (2004) pg. 118 in her explanation of number 2.

2 Dictionary.reference.com/virtue

3 See the Articles of Faith 1:13, and many scripture lists (for a few see Philip 4:8, 2 Pet. 1:5-8, D&C 4:6, D&C 88:40, and D&C 121:41-45) not to mention it is an element (value) in the Young Women personal progress program.  See also D&C 107:30 for an awesome list and use of virtue in a context not often thought of.

4 “A Return to Virtue” – October 2008 Conference

5 This account is found in Mark 5:25-30.

6 This account is found in Luke 8:41-48

7 Luke 6:17-19

8 See Alma 19:6-14

9 This idea seems especially true in the context of the scripture stories previously shared.  For example, when the Lord helped the woman with the issue of blood (by his virtue), he wanted to know who it was so that he could help her even further.  He recognized her faith to be healed physically, and wanted to heal her spiritually – and thus both were joyful.  See Mark 5:31-34

10 Mosiah 2:17

11 Somehow a note for (a) seemed better than another number.  This reference “the spirit of life” is also very interesting and worth addressing during a topical study.  Because I haven’t done this, my note will be brief.  I did find it intriguing (today) that after a search for that exact phrase – I was only able to find 2 scriptural references in which it is used.  Each reference is rather powerful and it would be worth your time to discover those two passages and what doctrines they address.  Especially if the virtue referred to [in Luke 8, and by extension this blog post] is ‘the spirit of life’” as the prophet said.

12 Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, pg. 280-281

13 The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a document prepared and signed by the first presidency and the quorum of the twelve apostles dated January 1, 2000.

14 See “Women and the Priesthood” by Sheri Dew, particularly chapter 7.  Her quote (see note 5 of that chapter) as it pertains to this post is “It is an interesting exercise to read D&C 121:40-46 and contemplate how those verses might apply to women with respect to the doctrine of motherhood.”  See also “Righteous Influence” by Lee Tom Perry, who indicates “the lessons of leadership (not specific to groups, classes, genders, or types) found in D&C 121 apply to everyone who is attempting to lead in righteousness.”

15 See “Righteous Influence” by Lee Tom Perry

16 I couldn’t find the specific reference for this, so I cannot be certain where I read it, but I did read it somewhere.

17 See 2 Ne. 2:27

18 See D&C 88:32-33

19 D&C 121:45

20 This question came from an article in the September 1980 issue of the Ensign titled “The Name ‘Melchizedek’ some thoughts on its meaning and the priesthood it represents”.  The entire article is fantastic and I encourage all to read it.