Builders

Nephi and his family built a ship, and boarded it to embark on the watery journey of a lifetime! (1 Nephi 18:1-6.)

The performance of their ship was dependent upon following of the blueprints God provided Nephi.

As for ourselves, we are builders of our own ships in life.

If I am complacent with my practice, my ship will be full of holes and bumps, inefficiency and errors.

If I am diligent, faithful, patient, hardworking, smart working, sacrificial, consecrated - Christlike, I can be sure that not only will my ship be firm and reliable, but my attitude in life will be right before God.

President Monson said, "When the time for performance arrives, the time for preparation is past" (Our Sacred Priesthood Trust).

I build the ship of my piano talents as I practice - whether in daily diligence or lazy monthly practices - and I use this ship in the moment when my talents are required before God, to perform for the blessing of lives.

I build the ship of my mathematics skills as I ponder hard puzzles, and work through hard problems, focusing on the basic principles found therein, fueled with a purpose and passion for that work.

I build the ship of a future marriage as I work on my Christlike attributes NOW, erasing pride, erasing the intention to be right, erasing unkindness, and developing sensitivity, a listening ear, a loving heart, obedience to God and other attributes coloured throughout the scriptures, and the principles of the gospel.

A wise man once asked me to reflect on why I had not achieved my worthy goals in life. In response to my lack of surety, he gave me this counsel: "your 'why' was not big enough."

"Why do you want to earn a degree at university?" - someone may ask me.

I could reply with any of the following:
- well, I don't.
- well, my parents want me to.
- hmm... I need something to do in life.
- I have lots of friends there at uni.
- I am in search of pretty girls.
- I need something that excites me!
- I want to find some direction in life.
- I want to make something of myself.
- I believe education is important.
- I want to obtain a good job for the future.
- I desire to place food on the table for a future family I will raise.
- I want to continue to progress and become like God.
- I want to develop my talents and skills to obtain opportunities to build, help and even save lives in this world.
- I want to make this world a better place.

I think we all know which of the above are poor motives, which are mediocre motives, and which are exalting motives.

I pray we all become builders of real intent, with the highest motives possible, dreaming high with goals and plans that can help us reach the greatest things in life that we could ever achieve!

I end with a quote (modified), from a wise man and friend:

"A goal is not necessarily something to achieve, but something to aim for - if we are to progress to become like God, we will achieve it sometime in the future anyway."