When The Devil Shall Send Forth His Mighty Winds...

When I arrive home early enough to say goodnight to my little sister, we have a pre-sleep conversation where we catch up on each other's lives together.

That time may be spent listening to the other's lamentations or joys of the day. It may be spent wrestling and tickling each other.

Almost always, by the end of the conversation or session together, she has her arms around my neck, or holding on to my arm, or somehow holding me.

"I don't want you to go!" she says, and holds on tighter.

We then have a fun struggle of me trying to escape.

That girl is persistent! She may get to the point where she is holding on to my leg, and I am walking out the door with a new product of footwear (being her).

We build cherished memories on those nights.

While in Sacrament Meeting today, an image entered my mind, as the final speaker quoted Helaman 5:12 - a verse amongst the most beloved scriptures in the church.

"And now, my sons [and daughters], remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

The image that entered my mind, was of a man in a whirlwind, holding on for dear life, frantically gripping the ground as hard as he can. I know many of us may have symbolically experienced lives like that before.

It is not enough to have, for example, a caravan parked on the rock of Christ - a whirlwind can still pick it up. We need to be firmly anchored in Christ. Like houses built in countries known for many earthquakes or cyclones or so forth, we need to be deeply rooted in the gospel. We need to have the structure of our lives strongly connected eith Christ.

On my mission, my mission president and his assistants identified Helaman's use of the word "shaft" as significant.

A shaft in the whirlwind, they taught, was such that a small needle, carried by the excessive speed of the whirlwind, could penetrate brick walls.

In each of our lives, it is a guarantee that our weaknesses will be tested, poked at and challenged. It will be a test for us, to show God whether we will do all things whatsoever He commandeth us. That test comes in His timing.

If we stand alone, those attacks and tests will bring us down. With God, those tests may penetrate us, but we can remain on safe ground.

Like my sister, when life threatens to take away your testimony, your faith, you relationship with God, your covenants, your loved ones, your righteous goals and dreams - when life may seem to drag us down to the very depths - we hang on tighter.

No wonder Christ prayed more earnestly during His infinite suffering. Christ? the perfect being? praying more earnestly? He did. He needed to, for the suffering was infinite.

We are linked to Christ through believing He is the source of true happiness, that He is the way to walk, the truth to trust in, the life to live.

We are linked to Him by changing our ideas about life to adopt His. By changing our ways to match His. To change our characters to reflect His.

We are linked to Christ through the promises we make with Him, in priesthood-performed ordinances in making covenants with Him. We make, keep, and renew those covenants.

We are linked to Him by exercising His power in our lives - following the Holy Ghost, exercising priesthood power, loving and forgiving, setting high goals, serving.

We are linked to Him as we hold on to the commandments, the principles and doctrines of the gospel with our heart, our mind, our soul - our very being! No matter what trials are thrown our way.

Christ's nature becomes such a part of us, that we become as firm and steadfast and immovable as the rock we are holding on to. Growing strength to lift heavier weights is like growing strength to hold on tighter, because a harder wind has blown our way.

I testify of Christ's ability to see us through all things - He saw Himself through it all. He can do so for us.

Ironies

A simple list of the ironies of the Gospel. They are truths that we need to believe in life.

- God owns worlds without end, beauties of nature, wonders of the universe, powers beyond comprehension... yet, of most worth and importance to Him, is us.

- The being who lived life perfectly, who loved without error, who is the truth, the way, and the life, was also the being who suffered the most.

- A baby - before, during, and after birth - has hardly done anything for his/her parents. Yet, loving parents give their lives to their baby's nourishment, teaching, raising, progression, joy... Heavenly Father views us in this way.

- God has established this life, such that by giving, we receive. In keeping, we lose. A testimony grows by sharing and giving it. Love grows by giving it.

- The one being in life who never forsook the Father in His ways, His thoughts, His life and devotion, His loyalty, became the one to lose the Father's presence during the Atonement, for no fault or mistake of His own.

Up the Down Escalator

Life is like travelling up a down escalator.

I want to get to the top of the escalator, but if I stand still, the downward escalator will bring me lower.

This is the waiting where people choose to be acted upon - waiting for life to happen to them. Goals as they see it are dependent upon others and other things.

If I walk downwards, obviously I am not going to get to the top.

This is likened unto rebellions.

If I walk upward at a slower speed than the escalators descent rate, or walk upwards at the same rate it is descending, I won't progress anywhere...

These are those who are giving effort to life, but not giving their life. They wonder, "what's going on? I'm not getting anywhere..."

However, if I walk up at a rate faster than the escalator's descent, I will get somewhere!

These are those that live life at the top of their lungs! These are those that receive strength from God because they spend their lives giving others their strength. These are those that feel that life is not about themselves, but about what God wants, which is the happiness of His children.

The truly happy learn at true happiness is found in giving - one of life's great ironies.

Have You Been Grafted In?

What does "grafted" mean?

I think of a giraffe, for some reason, in my initial ignorance of its significance.

Graft
/ɡrɑːft/
a shoot or twig inserted into a slit on the trunk or stem of a living plant, from which it receives sap.

What a phenomenon!

I can - speaking lightly - chop off a this branch from one tree, slice another tree and stick that branch in, and if their *sap system* (will research for correct terminology) connects, then that branch is now a part of that tree, and will grow! That branch has been grafted in.

Nephi speaks of being grafted in an interesting way, that I haven't noticed before.

"And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer."
- 1 Nephi 10:14

It is interesting how he equates the process of being grafted in with - spiritually speaking - coming to the knowledge of the true Messiah.

Just as the attached branch I typed of earlier needs to have its sap system connect with the host tree's sap system, we also need to be attached to the source of Christ.

His teachings, his truths, His ways, His love, needs to be inside us, flowing in us. We need to feel it in our bones, our souls, our lives. Just like the sap from the tree fueling the grafted branch.

"The solutions to life's problems are always gospel solutions." Jeffrey R Holland said.

Have you a struggle in life you desire to overcome? Learn how Christ would handle it.

Have you a wayward friend or family member in need of God's light? Learn how Christ would love them.

Have you a question, burning your soul? Learn of Christ's answers.

Nephi said, "And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God." (1 Nephi 10:17.)

He used the word "receive". The power is not ours to produce. It is God's to give.

Christ said: "I am the true vine." (John 15:1.)

Let's be grafted to Him.

The Tests of Life

If we face life without the Atonement, then God's tests are too much.

With the Atonement, He can never test us too much.

There are many tests in life, but they are all really one test: will I put God first?

Regarding my weaknesses, without the Atonement, they are a natural, unchangeable part of me.

With the Atonement, those weaknesses are a choice.

They can be overcome either in this life or the next.

For those we can overcome in this life, I can choose to develop it into a strength, through the Atonement, or I can choose to live with it forever.

Me and My Drum

All of us have different strengths and talents. Some more than others. God gives us what we need.

I'm sure you - like me - have faced times in your life when you've wondered, "I don't have what it takes. I'm not who I should be yet. I'm not sure I can meet His expectations."

What good desires! Yet, therein we lack an eternal perspective. (As a side note, we might say that the perspective is Terrestrial - still good! But not good enough. We want a Celestial perspective. That's a blog post for a later day).

Yes, it is true that we cannot be enough on our own. King Benjamin taught,

"I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants" (Mosiah 2:21).

How depressing! For the Terrestrial minded, that is.

Nephi balances the equation:

"...it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23).

Brad Wilcox once shared in his talk (reference needed), that the word "we" in this verse is inclusive of Christ. It is by grace we are saved after all Christ AND I can do. In another talk, Brother Wilcox says that life is not about filling requirements, but it is about filling us. I add, that life is not about checking boxes, but about checking our hearts.

Let's look at the heart of the little drummer boy.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum.

(http://m.carols.org.uk/little_drummer_boy.htm)

The lyrics of The Little Drummer Boy touch me, because he had not much. But of what he had, he says, "I played my best for Him", and in return, "Then He smiled at me."

God is easy to please. He will absolutely love and adore everything and anything good you give to Him.

He is also hard to satisfy. He will say, "THAT'S SO GOOD! ...can I have some more?"

I love the thrill of playing the piano as a musical item for a congregation. I still make mistakes, here and there. Humbly I speak when I say, I have developed a talent for covering most of the mistakes, so that it sounds normal, and the Spirit is not distracted by the congregation hearing the mistake. I still say, after each musical item, "I did my best!"

But the Little Drummer Boy's story is not finished. We have not seen the effect of his giving his drum to the Lord thereafter.

I would guess - as is in harmony with my spiritual thought today - that the little drummer boy received grace.

Now, grace is the enabling power of Christ's Atonement.

This enabling power goes hand in hand with Christ's cleansing power. As the Atonement's cleansing power cleanses us from sin, the Atonement's enabling power strengthens us by changing our nature and desire away from sin.

The enabling power is also known as grace and strengthening power.

Enabling power, because it enable us to do this we would not otherwise be able to do on our own.

Grace, because it is from God, and God is graceful.

Strengthening, because it strengthens us.

That little drummer boy might have very well grown up to practice drumming throughout his life. He might have become the drummer for some popular rock band... I don't know many rock bands, I don't listen to rock. (I was going to say the Beatles, but one of them placed himself above Christ, which is a sore disappointment to me... this is the other extreme of using God-given talents thinking you are above the giver of the gift).

That little drummer boy, in a choice to consecrate his life to the Lord, would have experienced the joy of meeting insurmountable obstacles - then, with trust in the Lord, and pushing against those obstacles, he realizes that the Lord gives the strength and answers and help that we need in the very moment we need it.

We all have a need to understand that we must walk to the edge of the light, obediently going as far as the Lord has told us to go before expecting him to help us with the next step. Why not, in this connection, link the better known and far more dramatic crossing of the Red Sea with the episode involving Joshua and the children of Israel when the time came for them to cross the flood-swollen Jordan River. Notice that in the latter episode the Lord required them to get the soles of their feet wet first before he stopped up the swollen Jordan so dramatically:

“And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.

“And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

“That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap. …

“And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were a passed clean over Jordan.” (Josh. 3:13, 15–17.)

“And the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,

“Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.

“Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.

“And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.” (Josh. 4:15–18.)

(Neal A Maxwell, Teaching Opportunities from the Old Testament)

Behind my piano playing performances (alliteration intended), are months and years of practice - years filled with frustration, impatience with myself, giving up then trying again. Those struggles are more than worth the experience of playing for an audience, and knowing the Spirit touches many, because I see it in their eyes. I love touching lives.

And so, it is my prayer, that we fear not the frustrations of life - how are we meant to work on our weaknesses unless God plucks the painful strings of weaknesses in our character? I don't know if a string is off-tune until it is played anyway.

Throughout my entire life, for the rest of my life, I pray the Lord stands by me, as I try to give Him the best of me, with all that I have, playing my little drum.

Developing Temperance

This spiritual thought is particularly for those who - like me - are working on the bridling of their temper, anger, patience and love.

I begin with Elder Kent D Watson's story, as shared in the October 2009 general conference.

"A few years ago, I was driving home from work when a large semitruck, traveling in the opposite direction, lost one of its dual tires. The tire flew over the median separating our lanes. It came bouncing down my side of the freeway. Cars were swerving in both directions, drivers not knowing which direction the tire would bounce next. I dodged left when I should have dodged right, and the tire took its final bounce right on the corner of my windshield.

"A friend called my wife to inform her of the accident. She told me later that her first thought was of lacerations from shattered glass. Indeed, I was covered with beads of broken glass but did not suffer a single scratch. It was definitely not because of my driving skills; rather, it was because the windshield of my little car was made of tempered glass.

"Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily break into jagged shards that can injure.

"Likewise, a temperate soul—one who is humble and full of love—is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today’s world."

I, like Elder Watson, and all of us, wish I could be like that glass. In application of a previous spiritual thought I've shared, it is not a weakness of mine - it is a developing strength.

I am interested in Elder Watson's description of how glass is tempered.

Says he, "...tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength."

The moments in my life when I have been under pressure are moments that I could choose to see as an irritation from Satan.

Though, an eternal perspective provides this thought: Heavenly Father allowed Satan on this earth, to tempt us and to try us. Thus, this moment of temptation can be considered and perceived as the following:
• An opportunity to show my love for the Lord.
• An opportunity to grow my temperance.

Like the glass, I may break down in life, from the struggles I face. Though, such breaking down of mine can also be - by my choice - tempered.

Elder David A Bednar teaches of Christ's demonstration of this principle (Video excerpts for his published work: "Increase in Learning", "Act in Doctrine", " Power to Become" and other places).

He pointed out the agony Christ had suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. He then speaks of the comparatively infinitesimal, minute suffering of the Roman guard after the apostle Peter's swift surgical removal of his ear.

Elder Bednar points out that if He were in Christ's place, he probably would not even notice the guard in pain.

The Christ demonstrated temperance to the point where, despite his own pain, He rescued another who was in need. He helped another who was in pain.

Christ had broken down in Gethsemane to the point where He - a God - asked His Father if there was another way. Yet He saw this suffering through to the end, and ministered to others in the midst of such suffering.

Let us be like Christ. Let us be temperate. Don't search for the trying times of temptation to be angered. They come when they come. Let us be ready in heart and mind for them when they come. They will provide the spiritual heat necessary for our growth.

A Godly Life

President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“Each of us has a fourfold responsibility. First, we have a responsibility to our families. Second, we have a responsibility to our employers. Third, we have a responsibility to the Lord’s work. Fourth, we have a responsibility to ourselves.

“First, it is imperative that you not neglect your families. Nothing you have is more precious. Your wives and your children are deserving of the attention of their husbands and fathers. When all is said and done, it is this family relationship which we will take with us into the life beyond. To paraphrase the words of scripture, ‘What shall it profit a man though he serve the Church faithfully and lose his own family?’ (see Mark 8:36).

“Together with them, determine how much time you will spend with them and when. And then stick to it. Try not to let anything interfere. Consider it sacred. Consider it binding. Consider it an earned time of enjoyment.

“Keep Monday night sacred for family home evening. Have an evening alone with your wife. Arrange some vacation time with the entire family.

“Two, to your business or your employer. You have an obligation. Be honest with your employer. Do not do Church work on his time. Be loyal to him. He compensates you and expects results from you. You need employment to care for your family. Without it you cannot be an effective Church worker.

“Three, to the Lord and His work. Budget your time to take care of your Church responsibilities. Recognize first that every officer has many helpers, as we have been reminded today. The stake president has two able counselors. The presidency has a high council of dedicated and able men. They have clerks as they need them. Every bishop has counselors. They are there to lift the burdens of his office from his shoulders. He has a ward council, together with others to whom he may and must delegate responsibility. He has the members of his ward, and the more he can delegate to them, the lighter will be his burden and the stronger will grow their faith.

“Every priesthood quorum president has counselors, as well as the membership of the quorum. It is so with the Relief Society. No bishop can expect to fill the shoes of his Relief Society president in ministering to the needs of the members of this ward.

“Four, every Church leader has an obligation to himself. He must get needed rest and exercise. He needs a little recreation. He must have time to study. Every Church officer needs to read the scriptures. He needs time to ponder and meditate and think by himself. Wherever possible he needs to go with his wife to the temple as opportunity permits” (“Rejoicing in the Privilege to Serve,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, June 2003, 22–23).

The Faith to Move Mountains

I like to equate the use of the term "faith" with the following:
• Spiritual vision.
• Sticking to it (whatever God requires of us).
• Not even one tiny element doubt or fear.
• Full Assurance In The Heart, taking the acronym.

"...let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth... let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground..."

The Israelites had reached the shore. Cornered by the sea on one side, approached by the pursuing Egyptians on the other.

They had nowhere to go.

In times like this, when I have had nowhere to go, I have learnt that God is really helping me learn of the only Way to go.

The Way to go is Christ.

Said He, "I am the way..." (John 14:6).

God opened up the way for the Israelites to escape. He worked through Moses, who was faithful, worthy and courageous.

Jacob 4:6
"Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea."

I wish my childhood-owned bonsai plant obeyed my thoughts to stay alive, despite my frequent forgetfulness to water it. Maybe I needed more faith.

My mission president, President Lon Edgar Henderson, presented the process of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the following manner - we may recognize it as more elaborate than our well-known 4th Article of Faith.

1. Agency
2. Obedience.
3. Faith.
4. Repentance.
5. Covenant making, keeping and renewing.
6. Spiritual Power.
7. Eternal Life.

With the agency we are given, we can choose to be obedient.

Obedience brings blessings from God of
• faith,
• associated blessings of the commandment kept,
• a witness of receiving blessings from obedience.

Such building of faith, or spiritual vision, builds our motivation, vision, and capacity to repent.

Repentance invites the cleansing of the Atonement from sin, and prepares us for covenant making. Repentance also builds our sense of commitment to God, which prepares us for covenant keeping. Repentance gives us a sense of "I made mistakes, but I've learnt from them. Thus, through the Atonement, I can progress onward", thus preparing us for covenant renewing at the sacrament table.

All covenants consist of the promise of God's power in our lives - be it the companionship of the Holy Ghost, authority to act in God's name, and other blessings of higher nature.

These blessings enable us to hold on to eternal life - the conquering of every mountain given us, the triumph over every foe. This is what faith leads to. This is how faith moves mountains.

Jacob Chapter 5 - The Allegory of the Olive Tree

One of The Book of Mormon's most appealing characteristics for me, is its versatility of interpretation for the blessing of our individual lives.

I can read a verse of scripture, and receive revelation regarding the demonstrated principles of truth in it, and have my best friend next to me reading the same verse, but receiving revelation on an entirely different topic.

Jacob chapter 5 is a chapter which I have discovered to be extremely open for interpretation.

Its originally intended message was regarding the scattering and gathering of the House of Israel, alongside the grafting of the Gentiles into the fold of God.

Though, I have learnt personal lessons of life from Jacob's words.

Some examples follow.

Jacob 5:54
   "And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I planted whithersoever I would are yet alive; wherefore, that I may preserve them also for mine own purpose, I will take of the branches of this tree, and I will graft them in unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of their mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own self, that when they shall be sufficiently strong perhaps they may bring forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of my vineyard."

In terms of being patient with the wayward, the Lord's way is to:

First: identify and see the good in them. In the words of Jacob, "And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I planted whithersoever I would are yet alive..." (verse 54). Like the Lord of the vineyard, we can choose to see that the natural goodness of God is still in the heart of the wayward. In the words of an efy song I love, "I believe there's love in everyone inside, I swear there's love in every heartbeat, and I'm gonna see it in everyone."

Second: "wherefore, that I may preserve them also for mine own purpose, I will take of the branches of this tree, and I will graft them in unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of their mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own self..."

We can do two things as demonstrated here. We can give our vision, desires, plans we have for the wayward, to God. Trust in God for His plan to unfold, remembering that His ways, visions, desires and plans is higher and better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

We can also graft into the wayward principles of truth - through teaching. The best teaching being through example. We demonstrate in our lives what we would expect of others to be. We live our lives as we know the truth would be executed, even as Jesus Christ is the truth. And we lovingly teach the wayward in consistent, unfailing efforts.

Third: "...that when they shall be sufficiently strong perhaps they may bring forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of my vineyard."

Be patient. Wait for the wayward to grow they're strength and have their personal teaching experiences from God.

The Lord will give all chances people need to choose exaltation. Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus in the Christ - the timing of this is not controlled by us, but can be accelerated by us through our love, testimony and personal lives of righteousness. It can be decelerated by our laziness, unrighteousness, lack of commitment to the gospel, and so forth.

Here's another example.

Jacob 5:23, 25
   23 "And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first. But, behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit; therefore, gather it, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self."
   25 "And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others."

Here, the Lord of the Vineyard planted a tree in poor quality soil, and another tree he planted in good soil.

The tree in poor soil brought forth high quality, healthy fruit.

The tree in good soil brought forth a mixture of good and bad fruit.

The poor soil can be symbolic of lives and circumstances of struggle. We might have low income for the family, loneliness experienced in life, a mental or physical disability, and so forth. The Lord may suffer us to be placed in these circumstances, like the Lord of the vineyard placed the tree in poor soil. Yet, I have learnt from this single verse of scripture (verse 23) that being placed in poor circumstances doesn't take away our potential. It just alters the path we need to take to get there.

For an excellent example, watch movies with this demonstrated. A personal favourite is the Ben Carson Story: Gifted Hands.

The tree planted in a spot of good ground brought forth fruit both good and bad.

Liken this to our friend Richard in his movie Richie Rich. His childhood was one of perfection in providence. He lacked nothing. It was not until he struggled with the issue of having true friendships, that he discovered he had not much at all.

A boy was once given a gift: a cocoon, soon to hatch. Excited and ecstatic, he accepted the gift and took it home.

Before long, he noticed the cocoon beginning to wiggle on its own. A small crack was followed by an opening, and a butterfly struggled from inside to push the cocoon open.

The boy wanted so desperately to assist. After watching for a painful minute or so, he pulled the cocoon apart. The butterfly flew for a moment, but thereafter dropped to the ground dead.

The Lord's creation of the cocoon and the butterfly is such that the butterfly strengthens its wings in pushing against the cocoon shell. The boy's opening of the cocoon removed this required experience, and the butterfly did not have the strength it needed to fly.

Likewise did our Heavenly Father watch His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in the hours of suffering He endured that Atoning Friday night. Heavenly Father would not remove the cocoon for His Son, because it would mean the failure of Christ's mission, and hence the eternal fall of the entire human race on earth (2 Nephi 9:6-10).

Moral: struggle gives necessary growth and preparation for the future.

I definitely am not saying that being placed in bad circumstances in life guarantees success. Nor am I saying that being placed in perfect, spoonfeeding circumstances predestine one for failure. Rather, I am pointing out the possibilities that exist. No doubt someone given wonderful, perfect opportunities in life can still achieve wonderful things, and needless to say, those placed in bad circumstances can, by their neglect, become themselves bad.

Overall, the principle taught here is that our destiny - because of Christ - is a choice.

A friend of mine has made the observation that graduates from private schools have had knowledge and skills spoonfed to them, and hence the struggle when they enter university, where you fend for yourself in time management, learning schedule, etc. Such students (generally speaking) obtain lower marks. Contrast this with public school graduates, who may have poor teachers, poor education quality, and must figure many things out for themselves. They are not spoonfed, and learn for themselves how to succeed. They seem to (again, generally speaking) obtain higher marks in university. (Of course, many factors come into play - this is a generalisation of sufficient accuracy.)

Hence the saying, "Don't take away my sufferings, I'm learning life's deeper lessons as God wills it to be."

I think those two examples suffice, given my unbridled habit of long elaboration.

Weaknesses?

Sermon in a sentence:

Because of Christ, I don't have weaknesses... only developing strengths.

Judge Not

I think it suffices for me to quote herein the words of Bruce C Hafen, in his BYU Speech, "Love is not Blind".

Consider also the case of Peter on the night he denied any knowledge of his Master three times in succession (see Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18). We commonly regard Peter as something of a coward whose commitment was not strong enough to make him rise to the Savior’s defense, but I once heard President Spencer W. Kimball offer an alternative interpretation of Peter’s situation. In a talk on this campus in 1971, President Kimball, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, said that the Savior’s statement that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed might have been a request to Peter, not a prediction. Jesus just might have been instructing his chief apostle to deny any association with him in order to insure strong leadership for the Church after the Crucifixion. As President Kimball asked, who can doubt Peter’s boldness and willingness to stand up and be counted when he struck off the ear of the guard in the garden of Gethsemane. President Kimball did not offer this view as the only interpretation, but he did point out that there is enough justification for it that it ought to be considered. So what is the answer—was Peter a weakling, or was he so crucial to the survival of the Church that he was prohibited from risking his life? We are not sure. This is a scriptural incident in which there is some ambiguity inhibiting our total understanding.

Payment

We hear the phrase often: "The Atonement paid the price for us."

Now, if I understand correctly, when I go to the store, and purchase a product, I should be able to take it, right?

Since Christ paid the price for my sins, my suffering, my doubts, my fears, my guilt, my loneliness, my worries, I should give them to Him, right?

If I keep them, then I am stealing from the Lord, in a sense.

I bear testimony that we all have the potential to become as Heavenly Father is. It's a journey though, and it should be a journey. I need my brother's and sister's help to accomplish this, and arm in arm, we'll reach there together.

More than just the price of our sins and our sufferings - He paid the price for US.

1 Corinthians 7:22-24
"For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
"Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God."

I love how C. S. Lewis expressed it:

"Christ says, "Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good...Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked--the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.""

It is beyond the worth all the universe's worldy treasures, without end, to become like Christ.

This whole idea of giving myself to Christ is sacred. Christ spent His whole life in service to others, in giving others his attention, in healing, in caring, in loving and sharing.

I loved the thrill on my mission, of meeting with someone I've never met before, and with the deepest prayer in my heart, make friends with them. What an amazing experience it has been, to see someone open their heart, even share some tears with my companion and I on a bus or by the sidewalk, because the Spirit touched them. I will forever remember those experiences, being in the service of my God.

And so, I love to zone in on those sitting alone at church meetings (with an effort to not scare them), and make a friend. Miracles have come through my prayerful, faithful efforts as I forget myself and go to work. Often I have been humbled in finding that they have helped me with a concern or question I've been praying and pondering over during the week.

I feel the joy of the Lord as I give to Him what belongs to Him, because He has paid for me.

I pray we continue our journey together. I pray we learn to give, to sacrifice, to consecrate - for therein is the secret to happiness.

I close with the Saviour's words.

JST Matthew 16:25-29

"25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
26 And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments.
27 Break not my commandments for to save your lives; for whosoever will save his life in this world, shall lose it in the world to come.
28 And whosoever will lose his life in this world, for my sake, shall find it in the world to come.
29 Therefore, forsake the world, and save your souls; for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

He's Been There Before

Thanks to one of my best friends, Dominique Tago, for emailing me a copy of this poem while we were both on our missions.

One of the great successes of serving missions is the realization that life is not about ourselves, as well as the increased capacity, determination, and accomplishment of living a life full of service for others.

Enjoy the poem!

He's Been There Before by Elder Whittle

The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet
I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets

A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise?
It seems like just a second ago, I was able to shut my eyes
The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such
When it's time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much

"We have a super day planned,"
My comp. says with a grin
I lowly utter a faithless breath,
"Yeah, if anyone lets us in."

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street
prepared to Face another day of humidity and heat

It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through
My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot
Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air Box"
We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete
The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It's past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,
Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep
In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray
I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say

"Oh, Father" I begin, "What happened to us today?
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away
My hands, my aching hands - worn, hurt and beat;
If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street"

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?
The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike
Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see"

"Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff
Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack
I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back"

"And what about my family: They don't have much to say
I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day
Oh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time?
Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind"

"My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?"
The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see
Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do
That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you"

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed
I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead
Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away
Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I'm standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice
A man walks towards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ"
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet
"Arise," He states, "Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak"

My attention's towards my Savior, total and complete
He says, "Your mission is similar of what happened to me
I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through
In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you"

"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you
At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do
I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet
Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds"

"I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate
I remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!
I see you don't like your companion- you'd rather have someone else-
I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth"

"It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you
I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back"

"Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way
It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see
I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

"We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see
I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me"
He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love
With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head
I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed
My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"
I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through,
When we feel we can't take more
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ,
He's been there before!

By Elder Troy Whittle
Texas Houston Mission

The Man of Christ

Today, I copy and paste a story that touched me deeply - I am a man, but I haven't cried this hard in a long while, as I listened to this story.

I pray the Holy Ghost teaches all who read or hear this story, about what it means to be consecrated.

Vaughn J Featherstone shares the story in his talk, "The Man of Christ", a BYU speech.

I begin the quote:

As I have thought about the man of Christ, I have also thought about many other things. You may recall a Dr. Kenneth McFarland. I guess he is one of the internationally renowned speakers of all time, a great super-patriot, and a wonderful individual. He told two incidents that I would like to share with you this morning.

One occurred on a farm somewhere in the central part of Kansas. The people there had what they called Pole Pond. Pole Pond was a large pond, and it was fairly deep. They put a pole out to mark the drop-off so that the children in the community who couldn’t swim very well wouldn’t go out over their heads. As the children were swimming one day, one of the boys got a little too far out, went around the pole, and all of a sudden had stepped off of the drop-off point. He was in water over his head. A farmer walking nearby heard the rest of the boys yelling for help. He ran as quickly as he could and saw the boy drowning. Although unable to swim, he went out into the water and with his mighty arm threw the boy back into shallow water. He himself, in water over his head, drowned. During the next week, the boys and the youth in the community talked about nothing else except this brave man who had gladly given his life in an instant. I believe the man of Christ would do just exactly that.

This same Dr. McFarland was once invited to speak at the graduation exercises in Coffeeville, Kansas. As he was preparing to give the talk, he was meeting with Dean Blakesmire. They talked about the arrangements for the next day, and Nancy Hollingsworth came in. She went over to the desk, ordered her regalia, and then said, “One seat in the parents’ section, please.” Dr. McFarland said he remembered well that she asked for only one seat. Soon she left, and Dean Blakesmire and Dr. McFarland talked for a few minutes more and went out in the hall where Nancy was waiting. She said, “Dr. McFarland, I’ve got a special favor to ask of you. Would you mind doing something for me?”

“Well, if I possibly can. That’s what it’s all about is to help people. I’ll do it if I can.”

She said, “Can I share a story with you?”

“Yes.”

She said, “Many years ago, just after I was born, my father, who worked on the railroad, somehow slipped under a train and was killed. And so my mother started raising the three children—Richard, my brother Tommy, and me. She did that all through the years. She’d go to work in an apparel shop and then she’d come home in the evening and stay with us. We just loved her. We didn’t have one other living relative except my mother’s brother, Uncle Ben, and he was a drunken ne’er-do-well. It seemed Mother didn’t care to have Uncle Ben come to our home, but we kids just loved him because whenever he’d come he’d always have time to play with us. He’d work just long enough to get a little money, and then he’d spend it on booze. But we loved him and we thought he was all right. During all those years mother tried to compensate for not having a father in our home. She would take us upstairs and tuck each one. of us in our beds, and then she’d sit and tell us stories. One night when I was about six, she tucked Richard in bed and kissed him, and then she tucked Tommy in bed and kissed him, and then she came over and sat on my bed and tucked me in. She told us some stories, and we laughed so hard that night I got a pain in my stomach. My mother had to rub it out with her hand. Then she kissed me and left. Well, during that night, Dr. McFarland, our mother passed away. The angels came and got her for some reason, and the next morning we three children got up and went into mother’s room. We found her dead. We didn’t know what to do, and so we ran down to Uncle Ben’s house and told Uncle Ben, ‘Our mother has passed away. We don’t know what to do. What are we going to do now?’ He said, ‘I don’t know, kids, but it’ll never be as good as you had. You’ll never have anyone who’ll love you like your mother loved you. But after the funeral arrangements, I’ll go to see the judge and see if he will let me take care of you.’ When the funeral ended, he went down to see the judge and got custody of us. During those years, Dr. McFarland, I can’t tell you what a job he has done. It’s been over twenty years now. He has never missed a day’s work, and he has never even been sick—not once in all of those twenty years. He has not had a drink in all of those twenty years. And we’ve never heard one complaint. You know, Dr. McFarland, they always ask all the parents of the graduating students to please stand. My Uncle Ben won’t even sit in the parents’ section. He doesn’t feel he’s worthy to do that. He thinks that’s a place where only our mother ought to sit, and he doesn’t feel he could take her place. Would you mind asking my Uncle Ben to stand with the parents tomorrow night at the graduationexercise?”

He said, “Well, Nancy, I’d love to do that.”

The next night at graduation, it was a beautiful, cool evening. They had the exercises out in the stadium. Dr. McFarland said, “Everyone was there well ahead of time. The graduating students came in and took their places. Behind the students was the parents’ section, and then behind that was the relatives and friends’ section.” He looked down and saw Nancy Hollingsworth on the front row. They went through the commencement exercise, had the opening hymn, the invocation, and then several talks. Finally they got around to Dr. McFarland. He stood up, and, as was customary, he had all the parents stand up.

Then they sat down, and he honored them. Then he looked down on the front row and saw Nancy Hollingsworth. Her chin was just about on the floor. She thought that he’d forgotten Uncle Ben. But Dr. McFarland said, “Now, I’d like to have all those Uncle Bens who have graduates in this class, please stand.” It was very quiet. Everyone looked around, and there was just a murmur that went throughout the entire congregation of people. Nothing happened, so he said, “I’m not going to go on with my talk until the Uncle Ben who has a graduate in this class stands.” Way back behind the students, the graduates, the parents, way back in the friends and relatives’ section, a very tall, lean man slowly made his way to his feet. As he stood up, it looked as if everything in him were pulling him down, but he was being forced to stand. An ovation started across one part of the stadium and roared through to the other end. It lasted for several minutes as he stood there with his head bowed, somewhat embarrassed at this great thing that was taking place in his life. Finally it finished, and he sat down. Then Dr. McFarland went on with the talk.

After the main talk at the commencement exercise, each graduate received his or her diploma. “Pomp and Circumstance” was played as the graduates filed out. Then Dr. McFarland said, “Quite a number of people came up on the stand to shake hands with me. All of a sudden, Nancy Hollingsworth was there. I took hold of her hand, and she said, ‘Would you please come with me? I want you to meet my Uncle Ben.’” He excused himself from the others and went down off of the stand. Halfway down the aisle, here was Uncle Ben coming up. Nancy introduced him to Uncle Ben, and he shook hands with him and said, “Now, Uncle Ben, I want to have you tell me what it was like. Just answer a couple of questions. First, what was it like when all these people were applauding you for what you had done through all those years?”

He said, “Oh, I thought I was dreaming. I thought I was asleep. I thought, ‘If I’m asleep and dreaming and it’s Nancy’s commencement exercise night, then I’ve missed it.’”

Then Dr. McFarland said, “Well, now the second question: How were you ever able to talk the judge into letting you take the children? As I understand it, you didn’t have much of a reputation.”

He said, “Well, after the funeral, we went down to see the judge, and I said to him, ‘Judge, if you’ll let me take these children, I promise you I’ll never have another drink as long as I live. Then I’ll get down on my knees every single day of my life and I’ll ask God to give me the gumption to keep that promise. Will you please let me take them?’ The judge took his glasses off, looked out the window for a long moment, and then he put them back on. He said, ‘Ben, I’ll go with that. We’ll put you on probation for about six weeks. If you can keep that promise, then we’ll make the children yours permanently.’ We went home after that. We got inside of the house and talked for a minute. Then the three children and I knelt down together. We prayed to the God of heaven to give me the gumption to live the way that I had promised the judge I would. And the five of us—God and the three children and me—have been going along ever since.”

I believe the man of Christ would be that kind of individual. When it was required that his life would change and conform to correct principles, he would do it. There are many other things we could talk about. I believe the man of Christ would have an unparalleled commitment to serve his fellowmen. I think he would have total faith. I believe he would have a pure heart and soul. I believe he would have a reverence for the Savior if he were truly a man of Christ.

Close quote.