Understanding Grace A Little More

The occasional stroll through your Facebook feed indeed does feed you with interesting updates.

I felt the need to post a spiritual thought in response to this photo that a dear friend of mine posted.

In the most bold, clear and straightforward way I can express myself, I declare that the message given in this image is false doctrine.

Robert E Parsons shared:

"One cannot be an active Christian or a student of the scriptures without being introduced to the term grace. It is as much a part of Christian theology and doctrine as are faith, baptism, the Atonement, and the Judgment. Just as we grow in our spiritual understanding of these principles, so we must grow in our spiritual understanding of grace. Scriptural statements about grace are clear and faith-promoting to those who understand the gospel. But they are often misunderstood by those who interpret them without a proper understanding of the gospel, and they are but foolishness to those who reject Christ as their Redeemer."

(https://www.lds.org/ensign/1989/07/i-have-a-question?lang=eng, 30/11/2015)

President Uchtdorf said:

"It is a most wondrous thing, this grace of God. Yet it is often misunderstood. Even so, we should know about God’s grace if we intend to inherit what has been prepared for us in His eternal kingdom."

(The Gift of Grace, April 2015, General Conference).


So, having quoted some brethren, what is grace?

"Grace is God’s love in action. It is his doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves."

(https://www.lds.org/ensign/1989/07/i-have-a-question?lang=eng, 2015)

Grace did save Noah, for grace was found in the reliability of a ship that never sank in a forty-day-and-night flood. It was found in the strength and reliability of every plank of wood. It was found in the cooperation of every animal that embarked that ship. It was found in the commandment God gave Noah to build an ark. I'm not sure Noah had built an ark before, so it would've been found in the inspiration of every choice Noah made in how to build the ark. Indeed, our every breath is from God, and every moment is a gift from Him, as part of His grace. Taking grace away is taking away our every capacity to do anything. It was through God's grace that Noah had the ability and capacity to obey, and to comprehend the importance of obeying.

God loves doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Our freedom to choose and act is something we can do for ourselves. In His love and mercy, He gracefully endows each of us with agency – the freedom to choose between right and wrong. Grace alone does not save. Obedience alone does not save. It is through grace we are saved after all that Christ and us do together.

The grace of God flows from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement is a wonderful, amazing doctrine, infinitely deeper than any of man's discoveries or any other teaching in this world, or in any world through all time. It requires all spiritual and physical senses to learn about, and no mortal man in this life can learn the smallest fraction of it on his own.

I exhort all to give serious thought, study, ponderation and prayer to the doctrine of the Atonement, and the doctrine of God's grace.

Could Ye Not Watch with Me?

A church article brought to me the image of the Saviour, asking and pleading with me, "can't you stay with Me? Please don't abandon Me in this critical moment. You need Me, and I need you."

By Maritza Gonzales Espejo:

"One day I was preparing to give a talk in sacrament meeting. I was studying the article “The Atonement of Jesus Christ” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the March 2008 Liahona. In his article, Elder Holland relates a dream Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931) had in which he saw the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane. Elder Whitney described the pain and suffering he saw the Savior bear. Then he wrote:

"“Presently He arose and walked to where [the] Apostles were kneeling—fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or scolding, asked them if they could not watch with Him one hour. …

"“Returning to His place, He prayed again and then went back and found them again sleeping. Again He awoke them, admonished them, and returned and prayed as before. Three times this happened.

"As I read this, the spirit of revelation entered my mind. In that instant, I realized that the way I could “watch with Him one hour” was in the way I approached sacrament meeting each Sunday. Since then, I have learned that this is an hour in which we can pray to our Heavenly Father in a more meaningful way. Prayer is fundamental at all times, but the Spirit present in that hour of the sacrament is an opportunity to elevate ourselves closer to Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we focus our thoughts on the Lord, it is, in a way, accompanying Him at the moment of the agony He endured when taking upon Himself our sins. It is a time to acknowledge the pain He suffered for us."

Perfectly Christ-Centered

“The world in which we live is putting great pressure on good people everywhere to lower or even abandon their standards of righteous living. However, despite the evils and temptations that surround us each day, we can and will find true joy today in living a Christ-centered life.

“Centering our lives in Jesus Christ and His gospel will bring stability and happiness to our lives, as the following examples illustrate.

“Elder Taiichi Aoba of the Seventy, who resides in a small mountain village in Shikoku, Japan, was asked to teach a class at a youth conference. “Stand Ye in Holy Places” was selected as the theme of the conference. After considering the theme and what to teach, Elder Aoba decided to use his vocation as a teaching tool. His work is making pottery.

“Elder Aoba relates that his classroom of youth really sprang to life when they saw how he was able to almost magically transform the shape of the clay in his hands to plates, bowls, and cups. After his demonstration, he asked them if any of them would like to give it a try. They all raised their hands.

“Elder Aoba had several of the youth come forward to try out their new interest. They assumed, after watching him, that this would be quite simple. However, none of them were successful in their attempts to make even a simple bowl. They proclaimed: “I can’t do this!” “Why is this so hard?” “This is so difficult.” These comments took place as the clay flew all around the room.

“He asked the youth why they were having such difficulty making pottery. They responded with various answers: “I don’t have any experience,” “I have never been trained,” or “I have no talent.” Based on the result, what they said was all true; however, the most important reason for their failure was due to the clay not being centered on the wheel. The youth thought that they had placed the clay in the center, but from a professional’s perspective, it wasn’t in the exact center. He then told them, “Let’s try this one more time.”

“This time, Elder Aoba placed the clay in the exact center of the wheel and then started to turn the wheel, making a hole in the middle of the clay. Several of the youth tried again. This time everyone started clapping when they said: “Wow, it’s not shaking,” “I can do this,” or “I did it!” Of course, the shapes weren’t perfect, but the outcome was totally different from the first attempt. The reason for their success was because the clay was perfectly centered on the wheel.

“The world in which we live is similar to the potter’s spinning wheel, and the speed of that wheel is increasing. Like the clay on the potter’s wheel, we must be centered as well. Our core, the center of our lives, must be Jesus Christ and His gospel. Living a Christ-centered life means we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His example and keep His commandments with exactness.

“The ancient prophet Isaiah stated, “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

“If our lives are centered in Jesus Christ, He can successfully mold us into who we need to be in order to return to His and Heavenly Father’s presence in the celestial kingdom. The joy we experience in this life will be in direct proportion to how well our lives are centered on the teachings, example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”

- Elder Richard J Maynes

Repetition in the Small and Simple Things

“Our challenge is that when we see a wonderful family or a financially successful person or a spiritual giant, we don’t see all the small and simple acts that produce them. We watch Olympic athletes, but we don’t see the years of daily training that made them champions. We go to the store and buy fresh fruit, but we don’t see the planting of the seed and the careful cultivating and harvesting. We look at President Monson and other General Authorities, and we sense their spiritual strength and goodness, but what we don’t see are the simple, daily disciplines repeated over and over again. These things are easy to do, but they are also easy not to do—especially because the results are not instantaneous.”

- Elder Randall L Ridd

Spurious Materials in Circulation

Source: https://si.lds.org/bc/seminary/content/binary-content/binary-content/news-tim-gurr/publication_caution---a_greater_tomorrow_my_journey_beyond_the_veil_04-statements-in-circulation3831.pdf

Rumor: Sister Missionary Quote Attributed to President Gordon B. Hinckley

Additional Information: [March 10, 2014] The following is being circulated in some locations as a statement President Gordon B. Hinckley made in relation to young women serving missions:

“Many young women are serving missions. Many are preparing to serve, not because they aren’t married or have nothing else to do, but because they have a desire to serve and therefore are being called to the work. The reason so many are going is because in the next generation, Heavenly Father will be sending his Priesthood Army to the earth. And He wants to send them to mothers who have been properly trained and taught in the gospel. And what better training can a young woman have than that of serving a mission!”

This statement is without foundation and should not be perpetuated. If you have seen it (or anything similar to it), do not quote or pass it along

Rumor: Missionary Calls to China

Additional Information: [December 10, 2012] Recently several rumors regarding missionary calls to China have been circulating throughout the Church. These rumors are without foundation and should not be perpetuated. If you are made aware of such rumors, please help dispel them. We continue to ask S&I personnel to treat all hearsay as suspect.

Rumor: Statements on Self Reliance and Food Storage

Additional Information: Several statements are being circulated and used regarding self reliance, preparedness, and impending doom. One such statement purports that President Boyd K. Packer told a group of leaders at a stake priesthood leadership meeting in 2006 that President Gordon B. Hinckley instructed the Brethren to no longer discuss preparedness since members had been counseled about it for over a hundred years. Another purported statement attributed to President Packer in 2006 relates to him telling his family that something serious was coming and that they should have their storage and preparedness items ready and be prepared to leave their homes. Please consider these statements spurious and do not use them.

Rumor: No Foundation to China Rumor

Additional Information: A rumor has been circulating that select members are being called on missions to China. The rumor claims that someone in a relative’s ward, or in a friend’s ward, received a letter extending a mission call but the field of service was left blank. According to the rumor, the individual was instructed to call a phone number and then was “patched through to President Gordon B. Hinckley,” who then asked if the prospective missionary would be willing to serve a three-year mission to mainland China, the first year consisting only of humanitarian service. The Church News had been advised that this rumor has no foundation. No such mission calls have been extended (Church News, 23 Dec. 2006, 13).

Church Leader Refutes Quote

President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, has released the following concerning a statement he is said to have made: “We continue to receive reports of the distribution of a quote attributed to me which begins, ‘The youth of the Church today were generals in the war in heaven,’ and ends with the statement that when they return to heaven ‘all in attendance will bow in your presence.’ “I did not make that statement. I do not believe that statement. “The statement, on occasion, has been attributed to others of the First Presidency and the Twelve. None of the Brethren made that statement.” President Packer has sent a letter to mission presidents requesting their help in clarifying this matter among missionaries and members, and has had posted on some Internet sites carrying the statement a notice that he did not make this declaration (Church News, 28 April 2001, 5).

Lessons from Nephi

The Book of Mormon has a way of conjuring up the images of imagination, as if I could see Nephi working on the ship, with his brother helping him. As if I could see Lehi and Sariah watching in excited anticipation. As if I could see the family boarding the ship, alighting waves of the water and weathers of windy guidance.

The Book of Mormon as we have it today is a condensed version of all the records the Nephites had in their time. When I say "condensed," I really mean "condensed." I am under the impression that they had A LOT of recordings. I wrote so much on my mission, with about five journals written. That was two years for one person, so imagine their writings

Therefore, I type some of my thoughts and feelings on the individual verses in 1 Nephi, chapter 18.

"And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship."

- 1 Nephi 18:1

I like to compare the ship in it's building process to my life. Every day adds a nail here, a plank of wood there. My life on earth is a preparation for the next life, just as Nephi and his family's ship-building was a preparation for them embarking a journey on the watery seas.

Fear not, though. For the Lord knows the seas of the next life. He wants to guide in our preparation for the next life, by showing us "from time to time after what manner" we should build our lives (Alma 34:32-34).

"Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men."

- 1 Nephi 18:2

Have you been mocked for believing in Christ? Have you been teased for reading and valuing the scriptures? Or have likewise been put down for the way you have chosen to live your life?

If it is the way of life the Lord has shown unto you by revelation, then you have no need to fear. You are prepared for the next life. You are also living "after the manner of happiness" (2 Nephi 5:27) for this life, and the life to come (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Our ways are not the world's ways. The world is searching for the truth, but "know not where to find it" (D&C 123:12). Elder Maxwell said, “The laughter of the world is merely loneliness pathetically trying to reassure itself” (The Neal A Maxwell Quotebook).

"And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things."

- 1 Nephi 18:3

How often do you spend time with the Lord?

Climbing that mountain must have taken at approximately/at least half an hour. I don't think he'd climb that mountain just to stay up there for ten minutes, either. I'm sure he pondered along the way, just as my friend once expressed to me, how she enjoys turning the car stereo off, so she can ponder and pray as she journeys on her way.

In doing so, the Lord can show us many great things.

"And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land."

- 1 Nephi 18:8

I am in awe at just what it means when the Lord declares His love for us.

I leave this as a question to ponder: "What is the significance of the wind guiding the family towards the promised land?"

"And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked."

- 1 Nephi 18:11

Laman and Lemuel through a rebellious, zealous, and rude party. Nephi stood up in faith, fearing the judgments of God upon his family. How interesting that Laman and Lemuel fought against the very things in their life that would bring them true happiness, peace, and safety.

Following scriptures show us Nephi's righteous example, which we can all learn from.

"Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest, and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loose me."

 - 1 Nephi 18:13

I leave this as a question to ponder: what is the significance of the storm digressing their journey? Did it change their final destination?

"...the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions."

- 1 Nephi 18:15-16

I know of many whose lives, or a part of their lives, have felt as a raging storm all day and all night. Nephi had his brothers threatening to kill him. I don't think they fed him. We know they caused much grief upon other family members also (1 Nephi 18:17-19). His wrists were swollen unto great soreness.

Yet, Nephi never murmured. In fact, the complete opposite of negativity, and absence of neutrality: he praised the Lord! What would he pray in those circumstances? What bright sunlight of positivity was on his mind amidst a raging storm of brotherly anger and tempestuous waves?

I make the following suggestions:

• My running track record of surviving the wilderness for a long time, and escaping and enduring the wrath of my brothers is 100% so far, so I think I'll do this one really well.

• Thank you, Heavenly Father, for always teaching my brothers the consequences of good and evil.

• Thank you, thank you, thank you for another minute of my life to see my wife and kids, and my family!

• My brothers didn't toss me overboard, thank you!

• "On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:9-10).

• This life is short. This experience is short. My reward is in Heaven, and it will last forever!

• This is a small part of my token sufferings, in similitude of Christ's sufferings for me and all mankind. I can be grateful that I am given a tiny bit more understanding of what He went through for all of us.

"And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm."

- 1 Nephi 18:21

Nephi desired the compass to work, and it worked. He prayed and pleaded for the storm to cease, and it ceased. I recall the Savior doing similarly. We know that the Savior hushed the wind on Nephi's behalf.

Doctrine and Covenants 121 speaks of a dominion that naturally flows to the pure and righteous, whose only desires are to serve God and do His will. These people can experience their righteous desires met instantaneously. Like Harry Potter obtaining the Philosopher's Stone, our desires are fulfilled in their lack of selfishness - in the needs of others.

Elder Bednar said it this way, speaking about charity, and generalizing it to receiving any good thing.

"The more we have it, the more we quit worrying that we have it. 

"We get in a mode of "I want to get this!" and I would suggest that the very motive "I want to get this" gets in the way of us getting it. 

"So, that's a turn to the Savior, because we're trying to get it, but there's a little bit of looking back: which is the "I want this". 

"Men are a lot worse at this than sisters are. Now, someone will hear this and think that it's sexist - it's not sexist. There is a divinely designed difference in the natures of men and women. So men like to get stuff and say "I got it!" and show off. 

"By and large, sisters, because of their divine nature want that so that it can be used to bless somebody else. 

"So, a spiritual gift, like charity, is bestowed upon us when God trusts us to be a tool in His hands, through whom a blessing can be delivered to somebody else. 

"So you get charity when God can deliver the associated blessings of that to somebody else, through you. 

"I don't think we ever get those because we want them... But the more we get out of the way, the more it can be brought to us."

It makes more sense watching his training video when he said those words. In my personal summary, I say, "I don't get <charity, or knowledge, or whatever good thing> when I want it - I get it when someone else needs it, and the Lord can trust me to have it to bless the person(s) in need."

I recall an experience when I felt prompted to practice on the piano.

I walked towards the piano room, then felt another prompting to spend time with my brother. I turned to look at him as he was minding his own business. I was standing in the doorway of the piano room, whilst looking back at him.

I thought to myself, "Which one should I do? I want to do both. I wish my brother would join me on the piano."

Immediately after that thought, he turned around, and came to me. I asked, "would you like to join me on the piano?" and he excitedly consented.

It was a fun piano session.

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land. And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land."

- 1 Nephi 18:22-23

Missions end. Mortality has a completion. Exams and assignments eventually pass. Live them well!

Families are forever. Lives end never. God lives forever! Love them well!

Meditation VS the Media

“We pay too little attention to the value of meditation...”

Said President David O McKay.

President McKay lived from 1873 to 1970. If the people of his time were struggling with valuing meditation, how much more would we be struggling, in our world of more efficient technology, proliferation of cars on our roads, planes in the air, faster downloads and a seemingly busier world?

The Guardian's article by Professor Lea Waters expresses this generalization beautifully:

"In our warp-speed world, stillness is a rare experience. 

"Parents are working longer hours and children’s lives are fully timetabled. Being “busy” has become the new social currency. It carries status. People marvel at those who are busy. The greeting “hello” has been replaced with the question “keeping busy?” It seems if you’re not busy, you’re not important."

(http://www.theguardian.com/university-of-melbourne-partner-zone/2015/oct/06/imagine-if-we-taught-stillness-in-classrooms)

President Hoesli (who is now Brother Hoesli, having been released from the temple presidency of the Sydney, Australia Temple) was the first from whose lips I heard an acronym to "busy".

Be

Under

Satan's

Yoke

When I have free time, I do love to search the scriptures. I turn to my phone.

On the train on the way to work, I have time to fulfil some duties and run some tasks, usually involving communication. On my phone.

I am almost always thinking about being efficient and effective.

Taking inventory of how often I use my phone each day, for things important, seemingly important, useful and useless, it appears that I personally am on a road to developing technological addiction, and I'm not happy about that.

But overall, I am happy to have caught myself in midair, coming to give the doctrine of meditation more attention. This post is a fruit of my non-hypocritical application of my previous spiritual thought on searching for answers to the questions of our souls.

Returning to the words of President McKay from earlier,

“We pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. In our worship there are two elements: One is spiritual communion arising from our own meditation; the other, instruction from others, particularly from those who have authority to guide and instruct us. Of the two, the more profitable introspectively is the meditation. Meditation is the language of the soul. It is defined as 'a form of private devotion, or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious theme.' Meditation is a form of prayer.”

(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O McKay, Chapter 4: Elements of Worship)

I am pretty keen on receiving counsel from friends, family, and priesthood leaders. I love the work of sifting through all the counsel, and linking the pieces together to grow a network of understanding the gospel, and life's educational opportunities in general.

Personally, the meditation has been on the decline. It has been in need of being guided, recently. I have discovered my mind racing every day now, and my mental calmness has been borderline. Typing thoughts and feelings down in my journal and on blogs is a great help, but always, the racing mind returns.

Professor Waters has more to say in this regard.

"I led a team of researchers at the University of Melbourne who recently conducted a meta-review of meditation education that included 15 studies combining almost 1800 students from Australia, Canada, India, United Kingdom, United States, and Taiwan. 

"The results showed that meditation is beneficial in the majority of cases and led to higher optimism, positive emotion, self-concept, self-care and self-acceptance as well as reduced anxiety, stress, and depression in students. Meditation was also associated with faster information processing, greater attentional focus, working memory, creativity and cognitive flexibility."

It seems my desires to be efficient and effective have prompted me to move like Esau after his pottage, forgetting to keep my decisions in line with true principles. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" (https://www.lds.org/liahona/1984/01/on-the-wrong-bus?lang=eng).

So, all things considered, how do we meditate?


I share from the worldly discoveries, then from the Lord.

Professor Waters continues:

"Self-observation exercises can be as simple as sitting, walking, eating, listening and learning with full attention. 

"Mindfulness-meditation is one [of] the more popular practices being taught at schools and involves a three-step mental process where students are asked to 1) focus their attention on a particular object (e.g. their own breathing), 2) notice when their attention has wandered away from the object and 3) bring their attention back to the attentional object. 

"Students engage in this practice with a stance of non-judgment and open curiosity which allows them to identify patterns in their thoughts and feelings, leading to a clearer mind and a more peaceful heart."

From the March 1975 Ensign, Chauncey C. Riddle wrote:

"The helpmate of mighty prayer is meditation. In meditating, one tries to minimize his involvements with the physical world for a time in order to concentrate on something inner, on ideas and feelings. As a person prays sincerely with the Holy Spirit as his guide, that Spirit will bring to him many thoughts and feelings. This is part of the process of revelation. To take full advantage of this revelation, one would do well to mull over the matter under consideration, piecing together what one already knows with the new insights received. 

It is one thing to have a revelation. It is quite another to understand and obey. Understanding comes in the process of careful, prayerful reflections of meditation upon what one has received. To pray is often like asking for food and then being blessed with a sumptuous meal. What would you think of a person who, when thus honored, merely took a sniff, then put the meal on a shelf and left it? Though greatly blessed, he would not be nourished. 

So it may be with those who pray and do not meditate. They may have much but may be little edified. 

Meditation cannot be taught, because it is something personal and private; it is the venturing of the soul into the unknown. But it can be learned by anyone who has the courage to think for himself. A likely initiation to meditation is to ponder the scriptures, the words of the living and the dead prophets of God. Banish all commentaries for a moment; forget hearsay teachings. What does the Lord actually say? What does the Spirit whisper as to how this passage or that doctrine should be understood? Where two scriptures appear at first reading to be contrary, what is the real intent of each? 

That soul who has bravely ventured into the sea of scriptural interpretation, who humbly seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit and rejects the opinions of men, soon makes a marvelous discovery. In the midst of the tumult of human interpretation there is a rock! He cannot see it, for it is spiritual, but he can plant his feet firmly upon it. Then the winds and waves of opinion can beat upon him from any direction. He is no longer tossed to and fro by every wind and wave, but rests firmly on that rock, and on his own two feet. He now has a foundation for his salvation. He has found the rock of revelation from the Savior. 

In mulling and pondering the scriptures, our venturer has found the Holy Spirit to be an able and willing guide as well as a comfort and a bulwark. Flashes of insight come. Now he sees how God is both just and merciful. He rejoices to learn how God can govern and control all things yet man can be free. He is overcome as he glimpses what the Savior has done for him. Now, having his own light from eternity, he is a new person, a little child born again in the image of the Master. 

Having learned to think, to meditate upon the scriptures, the venturer is now prepared to meditate upon the spiritual gifts that come in connection with his own prayers. Now mighty prayer is so rich an experience that he can hardly contain it. Ideas, hopes, and feelings tumble into his mind, then are carefully fit together under spiritual guidance, into the fabric of his new life. They become part of his robe of righteousness as he prepares to meet the Bridegroom. 

He who learns to meditate on the things of the Holy Spirit need never suffer the rebuke that came to Oliver Cowdery: 

“Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. 

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. 

“But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me. 

“Now, if you had known this you could have translated; nevertheless, it is not expedient that you should translate now. 

“Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared and the time is past, and it is not expedient now.” (D&C 9:7–11.)

I close with two more quotes. (Canst thou not tell of my love for quotes? and my lack of proper grammar?)

President Ezra Taft Benson:

Ponder the significance of the responsibility the Lord has given to us. The Lord has counseled, “Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.” (D&C 43:34.) You cannot do that when your minds are preoccupied with the cares of the world.

(Seek the Spirit of the Lord, April 1988, First Presidency Message, https://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/04/seek-the-spirit-of-the-lord?lang=eng)

...and finally, President Spencer W Kimball:

“I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel.”

(“What I Hope You Will Teach My Grandchildren and All Others of the Youth of Zion,” address to Seminary and Institute personnel, Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966, p. 6.)

This is My Battle

"No, stay your weapons. This is Peter's battle."

Peter had wielded his sword before, but never had he fought with it yet, let alone shed any blood.

The bold, majestic voice commanding all to stand back and watch, was the same voice of trust in Peter's ability to rise higher, and discover something more about himself, than he had ever discovered before.

The tip of Peter's blade pointed shakingly at the threatening wolf. He was only desirous to protect his sisters, who had climbed a tree to escape the wolves. Now with Aslan the lion by his side, the sisters were safe, and the battle was only for himself.

He was in no real potential for permanent harm.

This is a scene in C. S. Lewis' Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Like Peter before the wolf, I have found many times in life a confronting situation, making life look worthless, and my hopes bleak.

From the fear of darkness at night, to mourning the death of a loved one, everyone can encounter moments of hopelessness and doubt.

In reality, these times would indeed be hopeless if God didn't have a plan for us. This plan involves being sent to this earth life to turn good people into better people - mediocre individuals into lions of spirituality.

Aslan could easily have taken out the two wolves who were causing such great fuss. Instead, he secured one of them, and set the perfect stage for Peter to learn for himself, what he was capable of. Peter had been empowered with the sword - he needed to learn to use it.

Indeed, this mortal life is the perfect stage for us to learn for ourselves, what we are capable of. We have been empowered with the Atonement, with a mortal body, with life, and with agency. Indeed, we have prayer, the scriptures, revelation, the Restoration, and so much to be empowered with, to face the battles of this life.

The unsurety of Peter in how to fight this wolf surely parallels our unsurety of how to tackle many of life's challenges. Yet, the Lord always gives battles He knows we can handle, and we can learn from, with His help, and with Him standing beside us.

He stands beside us as He did Peter, as a kind of reassurance that all is well.

He helps us with encouragement, vision, and the empowering of the gospel.

Our battles are not always with wolves. The fear of darkness is one my family is working on encouraging my younger brother to overcome. The mourning of a loved one's death is a battle many are crippled from. The accumulation of required tasks can pressure an individual to buckle under its weight. The struggle of loneliness can make one feel he is not in control of his fate.

This is why God asks us to place Him first in our lives, so we can have His constant companionship through His Spirit. This is the Spirit of the scripture:

"Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
(Doctrine & Covenants 88:63.)

Whenever there is a challenge, a trial, or temptation, we can know that our imperfect, stumbling walk along our path to God merits the Savior's accompaniment. He says "this is your battle."

I have had need to return to this post, with fear that someone may falsely apply the principles here.

I think it suffices me to quote Elder Robert D Hales.

“One of the purposes of the scriptures is to show us how righteous people respond to temptation and evil. In short, they avoid it! Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife. Lehi took his family and left Jerusalem.  Mary and Joseph fled into Egypt to escape Herod’s wicked plot. In every instance, Heavenly Father warned these believers. Similarly, He will help us know whether to fight, flee, or go with the flow of our unfolding circumstances. He will speak to us through prayer, and when we pray, we will have the Holy Ghost, who will guide us. We have the scriptures, the teachings of living prophets, patriarchal blessings, the counsel of inspired parents, priesthood and auxiliary leaders, and, above all, the still, small voice of the Spirit.

“The Lord will always keep His promise: “I will lead you along.” The only question is, will we let ourselves be led? Will we hear His voice and the voice of His servants?”

May we see all of life's negatives with the positive outlook of growth, learning, improvement, the trust the Lord has in us to face them, and the trust we can place in Him to stand beside us in our battles.

Link to movie segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLtNZgWK32A

Value

"Can I choose the movie?" I asked my mother as we engaged in dietary preparation and consumption.

When I am home from uni during the weekdays, mum and I have lunch together, or at the same time. She is cooking dinner while I had heated up some leftovers from last night's dinner. We fill this time with catching up on life, and having meaningful conversations. Or just mucking around.

I chose Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

I love this movie, for it's parallels with the gospel. I planned to look out for them - I hadn't seen this movie in years!

In my vast stores of memory - mostly filled with... nothing - I had no recollection of the beginning of the movie, set in the timeline of 1940 - the beginning of World War II.

Awaking to great tumult of war planes, gunshots and bombings in the night, a fatherless family flee their home for safety. Once out of the house, Edmund suddenly rushes in return to obtain an object in the house.

His computer? his phone?

No, a photo of his father.

"He almost got killed! Shows the importance and value of the photo," my mother commented.

"These days, we see an old photo and think, 'oh, that looks nice.'"I replied.

The old cliché question "What would you grab if your house were on fire?" is worth pondering.

However, this question is not about the objects we would grab. It is about our heart.

Have you heard that saying, "History is his story"... behind the photo Edmund obtain was a story. Someone's life. Someone who was loved.

How do I value my photos of those I love? I think we do a good job of keeping them organized these days - on Facebook, on our phones, on our computers, and so forth.

How do I value my food?

I think I gobble it too quickly at times. Particularly when I'm watching a movie at the same time.

How do I treat my body? Do I keep the word of wisdom? Do I admire healthy eating?

How do I treat my belongings? Are they to be thrown around or left carelessly on the floor?

How clean is my room? The Lord has lent me a room to sleep in and to study in.

How do I treat my family?

How do my deceased ancestors feel about my dedication to completing their needed ordinances in the temple?

I smile shamefully in my hypocritical observations.

How did the Apostles handle the body of the Savior, during the time of His death?

Upon the high standard I have suggested in this spiritual thought, I also make this comment: I think Heavenly Father calls for progression each day, to reach the perfection He plans for us.

Searching for Answers

One of the sweetest experiences in life I have encountered, is to have unanswered questions, and then go through Heaven's prescribed process in searching for the answers to those questions.

These unanswered questions can have a way of burning our soul, weighing us down to be less productive during the day. Indeed, they can occupy our mind, taking away our focus from given tasks.

These unanswered questions can even tempt some of us to leave behind whatever answers we have already discovered in life, such as by leaving the church, stopping praying, ceasing to read the scriptures, and so forth.

These questions can truly test us in our character. Impatience can settle in our hearts. Our relationships can be ruined as we reject the help others so willingly want to give. Even our relationship with God can become distant.

What a beautiful thing it is, that God trusts us in coming to earth to be tested. This test involves seeing our reaction to situations, where we are not given the full equation, the complete knowledge, the big picture.

The part of our character that can grow if we choose, in these moments, is our trust in Heavenly Father and His plan, His ways, and His timing.

I see Heavenly Father watching over me. At times, He sees my silly reactions, and says, "Aaron, it's right there in front of you. Just pick it up."

This mortal experience is real. Our challenges, however real they may be, are temporary. Knowledge of God's plan, seeing things as He sees (also known as an eternal perspective) can help us smile in the midst of the most difficult circumstances, and feel peace as we enquire upon the deepest questions of our souls.

I do not share specific steps in order to find answers - I have had enough experiences with finding answers to questions, that I know He gives His answers in the most strangest of ways sometimes.

Instead I provide some ways I have found answers - what I have done, and how God has communicated to me.

• Prayer is indispensable. I laugh in reflection of times when the answer has been whispered in my ear before I have started asking the question.

• Scriptures are irreplaceable. Its rebuke is sweet. I have come to love correction. Its redirection is needed in our world of many voices.

• Church is a wonderful place where we sometimes find out that other people are struggling with the same thing!

• Temples are grand. I get goosebumps as I reflect on the multiple times I have bumped into someone who has given me answers to prayers. Also, I have been calm and reverent enough in my mind, my heart and my composure in the temple, so the Lord has been able to whisper to me with His still small Voice.

• I am embarrassed when I have spent months on a question, then find the specific question as a title of an article in the Ensign.

• A listening ear. This is obvious, but not when we are in the moment of asking. Sometimes I don't notice that someone who has been speaking (sometimes, not directly to me) had answered my question. I later reflect on life as I'm driving or studying, then realize, "hey, that person answered my question!"

Overall, I have learned that all these methods are important. One that seems to always be necessary is diligence. Never give up. I met a woman on my mission who said that for about 30 years of her life, she was searching for God, but never found her. I am close to tears as I reflect on the emotion in her voice as she relayed to me her story.

I have learned that the solutions of the gospel are always simple - no matter how complicated the question or involved the problem is. Even these methods I have shared above are simple!

If only I could adequately express the sweetness of the experience of discovering God's light after searching for so long! I echo Alma - not in magnitude - when he says,

"Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."

God has promised he will answer. There are always answers. He has answers to everything.

I testify of how sweet our Savior is. As redeemer, He is romantic in His timing. As friend, He is worth following. He is eternal and enduring.

Grace

It has only been recently: I have overcome my shying away of audio books and podcasts, and am now engaging thrillingly in the learning process of listening, pondering, and recording notes as I listen to the voice of a teacher who lives on the other side of the world.

Currently, one of the audio books I am listening to is Brad Wilcox's "The Continuous Atonement."

I desire not to take away from him so much of his book or chapter(s), but to echo important principles that helps us develop an eternal perspective. I share a knowledge that has been confirmed in my heart and soul by the Holy Ghost. I also note that it has become a knowledge that has been realized over an extensive (and I emphasize 'extensive') period of time - and it is definitely still solidifying and growing.

I have had, many times in life, an experience of guiltiness and shame over a transgression or sin. Then, after working hard at praying for forgiveness, and committing to its abstinence, had realized a cleanliness of spirit, mind and heart.

Those moments are sweet and worth one's full effort and heart.

I have also had many times in life, when I have experienced strength beyond my own. My mission was a bountiful experience of such - everyday was an opportunity to exercise faith, set new goals, and spend the given 11 hours of that day chasing after Heaven. What a thrill! Not a day goes by when I don't think about my mission.

These two types of "moments" in life are both fruits of Christ and His Atonement.

Brad Wilcox taught that Jesus Christ is called both Savior and Redeemer. Are they not identical?

I tabled Brother Wilcox's teaching.

Justification (Christ as Savior)	Sanctification (Christ as Redeemer)
Exchanging His goodness for our sin.	Exchanging our worldly nature for a celestial nature.
Alters our standing.	Alters our state.
Frees us from sin’s penalties.	Frees us from sin’s tyranny
Clean hands.	Pure heart, given to God.
Permits us to enter Heaven, because we are cleansed.	Helps us feel comfortable in Heaven, because we have become Heavenly.

So, it's interesting to see the contrast between the two. They are not completely different, yet, not completely the same. They are inseparable as a team, for we cannot have one without the other.

Those who find themselves committing the same mistakes over and over again, may find that they keep on being forgiven and cleansed as they honestly, sincerely and effort-fully repent. Their repetition of the mistake might be due to a need for patience in the redeeming role of the Savior, as bit by bit, He exchanges a bit of the natural man's characteristic for a celestial characteristic.

These are things that other Christian churches are missing in their doctrines.

I pray we learn this difference in its application our lives, then help others with the same - especially as missionaries in Zion.

I testify of the Savior's cleansing power. I can be forgiven, I can be freed from sin and its eternal consequences. I can feel renewed, and live life as if I had never made that sin.

I also testify of the Savior's transforming power. I can be changed. I can be freed from my susceptibility to sin. I can feel different, and live life to never make that sin again.