How to Pray (3 Nephi 19:28-29)

Do you notice how the Saviour prays to His Father?

He prays, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen..."

He gives thanks for the Father's endorsement. He notices what part Heavenly Father plays in His life. And they are busy talking to each other about their service to God's children.

He prays, "because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified in me."

They look to the past in gratitude: "because of their faith"; they look to the future with gratitude: "and also for them who shall believe..."; they look to the present with gratitude: "I pray for them".

They discuss the motivation behind their actions, why things went well, and what needs to happen to move forward in the work. They give credit where credit is due: Heavenly Father for the purification, God's children for their faith.

He prays, "Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith..."

Discussing the matters of the heart, the motivations, the objectives one has with the Father has a multitude of benefits.

The Son is on the search for those who are in the world but not of the world. And in this search, He prays. He prays to find the requirements necessary for glorification: He prays,

"that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them."

That's the goal. Discussing goals together, and how to get there. The goal to become united eternally.

How does the pattern of the Lord's prayers apply to me in my career pursuits?

"Father, I thank Thee that thou has given me opportunities to grow and connect..." where I thank the Father for His endorsement of the paths I have chosen, or rather, the signs He has given me that I am on the right path.

"...because of my faith and faith of those who believe in me, I am where I am now." where I give credit where credit is due, recognizing my blessings and how I got where I am now. I thank those who have been examples for me, and those fellow students and careerists who have travelled with me.

"Father, I strive to avoid distractions and evil influences that would bring me down, such as friends who invite me to go drinking, or the temptation to connect with friends through dedicated video gaming. I thank Thee for Thy teachings in such things, and for the guidance of the Spirit in helping me recognize such temptations." where I am grateful for the Lord's teachings and the guidance of His Spirit, recognizing the role of the Lord, His teachings, and the Spirit in my life. I discuss with Heavenly Father what it means to be in the world but not of the world.

"That I may one day raise a family unto Thee as a righteous priesthood holder is my goal, dear Father. That I may be well enough off that I might be able to dedicate my heart and soul to building the kingdom of God, without worry of finances. That I might provide for my family and raise my little ones unto Thee." That's the goal. That I might unite myself and my family with the Godhead eternally.

Let Him Ask of God II

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ”
              - James 1:6-8

Why do you ask?

Are you just curious? Will the answer be lifechanging?

Are you asking on behalf of another person? Or yourself?

Do you already know the answer?

Are you asking for confirmation? For knowledge? For understanding?

What emotions are involved in your question?

Why do you ask?

Let Him Ask of God

One day as I was driving, a friend said to me “One day someone is going to be in your blind spot.”

Although that aggressive comment is true – and I am grateful for that comment – it may not be the best way we would want to approach someone about their blind spots.

In the social circle, friendship groups know of the saying, “every group has one” regarding one friend who is “stranger” than the rest – and that individual doesn’t even seem to notice it.

We may all know of one person who is so full of themselves. Elder Jeffrey R Holland said, “Haven’t you ever been with someone who was so conceited, so full of themselves that they seemed like the Pillsbury Doughboy? Fred Allen said once that he saw such a fellow walking down Lovers’ Lane holding his own hand.”

We would all like to give those people more than a few words.

But really, before we approach any of these people, we ought, of course, to look at the beams in our own eye. We might then discover that there was no mote in the other person’s eye to begin with.

Any flaw in my personality or perspective that may be obvious to others but of which I am oblivious to, let us call blind spots.

Blind spots are painful to deal with and sensitive to address. We all have one friend that is very honest with us – and thank goodness we do because the rest of our friends will let us figuratively keep that small blob of ketchup on our cheeks the entire time of hanging out with them.

God is one such friend who is honest. But in my scripture study this morning, it dawned on me as to what ways He may present and has presented His honesty.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”              - James 1:5

Wisdom: The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

The verse thus suggests that in answer to our queries and prayers out of a lack of experience, knowledge, and judgement, the Lord will give us experiences that will increase our knowledge and cause us to develop good judgement. Like many movies I see, one who is lacking wisdom is led by a mentor to have experiences that cause the mentee to see life in a different light.

One may be expecting the still small voice to give Him knowledge, when really, God has placed an event or two in the upcoming days, months or years in the timetable of that individual’s life.

For me, an example was my prayers and desire to have more charity. On top of all the studying the Lord guided me through, the Lord sent me on a mission. It was from a mission that I discovered all the blind spots I didn’t know about in my personality. On the topic of charity, He demonstrated that the way I treat others is good in this and this and this way, but terrible in this and this and this way. I am ever grateful that He showed them to me, despite any intellectual and emotional pride that at that time blocked my view. He saw my sincerity, and gave me my mission (experience) with missionary companions, where I could learn (knowledge) to see what charity is, and develop a higher perspective (good judgement) of what it also is not.

That is one interpretation – out of many interpretations – of James’ words.

Eternal Love

“However much other kinds of love may satisfy the Platonic, charitable, compassionate kinds of love, and however much one must enjoy a measure of love from his family and his fellowmen, a little love from many – to be really happy, and to find true joy, it is crucial that we have the complete, unshared, fully expressed love of one.”

“A boy ought to love a girl. He ought to desire with all the desire a life’s companion. He ought to love fully and completely and righteously. He ought to be preoccupied with finding a sweetheart, and having found her, to love her. Permanently. This power, this yearning to love, and to be loved is something so magnetic, so powerful, and so compelling, and so important, that it is not to be ignored.

“Young people sometimes get the mistaken notion that the religious attitude and spirituality interferes with the experience of love. They assume that the requirements of the church are interferences and aggravations which thwart the full expression of love. Oh youth, if you could know: the requirements of the church are the highway to love. With guardrails securely in place, with guide-signs plainly marked, with help along the way. How foolish is the youth who feels that the church is a fence around love to keep him out. How unfortunate to resent counsel and restraint. How fortunate the young person who follows the standards of the church, even if just from sheer obedience or habit, for he will find a rapture, and a joy fulfilled.

“You are at an age now as college students when there is a compelling urgency for you to be complete. You want to find the fulfillment in life that you know you cannot find alone. The powers that awakened earlier in your lives have been growing. You have been responding to them, probably very clumsily. But they now form themselves into a restlessness that cannot be ignored. You are old enough now to fall in love. Not the puppy love of elementary years, not the confused love of the teens, but the full blown love of eligible men and women, newly matured, ready for life. Romantic love, with all the full intense meaning of the word, with all of the power, turbulence and frustration, the yearning, the restraining, and all of the peace and beauty and sublimity of love. No experience can be more beautiful. No power more compelling, more exquisite, or if misused, no suffering more excruciating than that connected with love.

“The day comes… when that source [of love] is no longer available. A young person may develop the ability to provide for himself this vital necessity of living. Not only will that source of love be gone, but then a new kind of love becomes necessary. In our youth we learn to relate to other people, earning little amounts of love and affection and friendship by bestowing them on others. When we have reached college age, it is assumed that we are prepared to find love for ourselves in order that our lives may be normal, full and rewarding.

“The question is, ‘do you want her as the mother of your children.’”

“The power of love between man and woman is not completely defined, but like electricity, it can be used and controlled and directed even though we don’t know exactly what it is. We know that love has the power to create – think of that, just think of that – love has the power to create life. When a wife and a husband live together in love, the product of the most exalted and most sacred expression of love is life itself. Children are born out of love."

 - Boyd K Packer

People Come to be Lifted

“When you are with people, remember they are each filled with troubles. Lift them to a higher plane. People come to be lifted. Build. Bring comfort from the Spirit. Don’t bring new programs or duties. People need lifting. 

“Remember to keep your own kingdom intact. This is your first stewardship—mother and father, brothers and sisters, children, husband, friends. These are eternal and they are given to you first. 

“When you can’t give more, when you’ve gone beyond your ability to give, then sit still. Call on the Holy Ghost and angels to come to you. Be still and get full.”

- Julie B Beck as quoted by Sharon Eubank

The Intensity Felt by a Drowning Person

In our recent general conference session, Elder Nelson's address included the words,

"When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do."

What imagery!

What powerful words.

What a measuring stick to rule ourselves by - once can ask themselves: am I reaching up to God with the same intensity as a drowning person?

What does a drowning person experience?
⦁ panic.
⦁ rush.
⦁ the educated ones will know to hyperventilate and calm down.
⦁ the spiritual ones will know that they have to act - and it will be by pure instinct: analogously and obviously, if I am drowning, I have to swim to the surface!
⦁ those practiced at swimming will know how to stroke to get around.

What does this mean for us spiritually?

Well firstly, what does it mean to drown spiritually? It can be interpreted in multiple ways - and President Nelson has left it open to the interpretation under the Holy Ghost's influence. Let's explore, shall we?

The obvious first answer is by sinning. Our spiritual selves find it hard to spiritually breathe when we are living a life of sin. When our desires are turned from God. When we are breaking commandments and being comfortable in it.

But like Nephi (2 Nephi 4), who desired to flee from his enemy and be freed from his influence, we too can run from ours. Trials are to be endured, but temptations are to be escaped from - we are to resist temptation by diminishing and relinquishing it (1 Corinthians 10:13-14).

"Like Joseph in the presence of Potiphar’s wife, just run as far away as you can get from whatever or whoever it is that beguiles you. And please, when fleeing the scene of temptation, do not leave a forwarding address" (Holland, Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul). Who wants to return to drowning anyway?

Unfortunately, the adversary has convinced many in the world that sin is an escape from worldly struggle. That justifying your unrighteous behaviour is justified. Well analogously, he's telling us to drown ourselves.

Here is a second way drowning can be interpreted, and I draw upon another visual analogy.

The Allegory of the Olive Tree (Jacob 5) is designed as an analogue of the timeline of earth and the demonstration of the role of missionary work in the Lord's plan. However, it has many "mini-analogies" amidst the beauty of the allegorical text.

In one instance, a tree grew a large root system, larger than its size above ground - it consequently died. This is symbolic of over-relying on the Lord, and not relying enough on oneself. On a small scale, this behaviour merits the Lord's reply in the form of "What will ye that I should do" as He said to the brother of Jared.

On the other hand, another tree in the allegory became oversized above ground with a little root system. It also died, symbolic of over-reliance in oneself.

As Christ is the Living Waters (and I may be taking this image of His into unnecessary territory), we can drown in His love as we over-rely on Him. Elder Maxwell said, "those who do too much for their children will soon find they can do nothing with their children. So many children have been so much done for they are almost done in" (The Man of Christ, 1975).

Those who believe God will have everything in place, and they themselves do hardly much to bring forth God's purposes in their lives will meet a similar fate to that spoken of in 2 Nephi 28:8.

"And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear Godhe will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God."

Having given the above two examples, what is the antidote of choice for each one?

For the latter, we would do well to follow Elder Christofferson's words:
"...And we do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity or goodness before God will helpdivine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. But I know that beyond desiring His help, we must exert ourselves, repent, and choose God for Him to be able to act in our lives consistent with justice and moral agency. My plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with" (Free Forever, to Act for Themselves).

For the former, we can follow Elder Holland's words:

"So how does one “come unto Christ” in response to this constant invitation? The scriptures give scores of examples and avenues. You are well acquainted with the most basic ones. The easiest and the earliest comes simply with the desire of our heart, the most basic form of faith that we know. “If ye can no more than desire to believe,” Alma says, exercising just “a particle of faith,” giving even a small place for the promises of God to find a homethat is enough to begin. Just believing, just having a “molecule” of faithsimply hoping for things which are not yet seen in our lives, but which are nevertheless truly there to be bestowedthat simple step, when focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, has ever been and always will be the first principle of His eternal gospel, the first step out of despair.

"Second, we must change anything we can change that may be part of the problem. In short we must repent, perhaps the most hopeful and encouraging word in the Christian vocabulary. We thank our Father in Heaven we are allowed to change, we thank Jesus we can change, and ultimately we do so only with Their divine assistance. Certainly not everything we struggle with is a result of our actions. Often it is the result of the actions of others or just the mortal events of life. But anything we can change we should change, and we must forgive the rest. In this way our access to the Savior’s Atonement becomes as unimpeded as we, with our imperfections, can make it. He will take it from there.

"Third, in as many ways as possible we try to take upon us His identity, and we begin by taking upon us His name. That name is formally bestowed by covenant in the saving ordinances of the gospel. These start with baptism and conclude with temple covenants, with many others, such as partaking of the sacrament, laced throughout our lives as additional blessings and reminders. Teaching the people of his day the message we give this morning, Nephi said: 'Follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, … with real intent, … take upon you the name of Christ. … Do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer [will] do.'"

He then gives a glorious promise.

"Following these most basic teachings, a splendor of connections to Christ opens up to us in multitudinous ways: prayer and fasting and meditation upon His purposes, savoring the scriptures, giving service to others, “succor[ing] the weak, lift[ing] up the hands which hang down, … strengthen[ing] the feeble knees.” Above all else, loving with “the pure love of Christ,” that gift that “never faileth,” that gift that “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, [and] endureth all things.” Soon, with that kind of love, we realize our days hold scores of thoroughfares leading to the Master and that every time we reach out, however feebly, for Him, we discover He has been anxiously trying to reach us. So we step, we strive, we seek, and we never yield" (Broken Things to Mend, 2006).


This is a life that reaches out to God with the intensity of a drowning person.

Quote of the Day

"Changes in belief always precede changes in behavior."

- Brad Wilcox

Quote of the Day

"It is said that authors don’t choose their topics, their topics choose them."

- Brad Wilcox

The Father's Compliment

"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him."

Today I focus on the word "well."

Or more like the compliment "well."

From the beginning of the creation of the world, Heavenly Father kept His eyes on the prize of creating things that are good.

His stamp of approval is the best stamp of approval anything and anyone can have: of the Lord looks upon yoir efforts and says, "it is good" or "it is well," could there be any greater a compliment?

True joy in this life comes from seeking the approval of the Father - seeking it from anyone else is to ask for trouble, for confusion, for a depreciation of identity. It is only The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost from whom we should seek the confirmation that we are on the right path.

The Role of Religion

There are those who believe that the world has its working remedies for the struggles of this life, and that those remedies are sufficient.

I say that they have a limited view on the purpose of life. Sure, it is wonderful to have remedies in this world, of this world. But by relying on those remedies without turning to God is like meditating without prayer: you fulfill a purpose limited to this life, rather than extending oneself to eternal goals and potential.

It is like entering a university degree to study and learn, but not seek, nor accept a job by your university efforts–for this life is a university for the next life.

I quote below seven reasons Elder Oaks so beautifully explains why religion is a necessity in our public domain. There are many others in both personal and societal contexts.

Here are seven other examples of the social values of religion:

1. Many of the most significant moral advances in Western civilization have been motivated by religious principles and persuaded to official adoption by pulpit preaching. So it was with the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire, the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States, and the Civil Rights movement of the last half-century. These advances were not motivated and moved by secular ethics but were driven primarily by persons who had a clear religious vision of what was morally right.

2. In the United States, our enormous private sector of charitable works—education, hospitals, care for the poor, and countless other charities of great value—originated with and is still sponsored most significantly by religious organizations and religious impulses.

3. Western societies are not held together primarily by the overall enforcement of laws, which would be impractical, but most important by citizens who voluntarily obey the unenforceable because of their internal norms of correct behavior. For many, it is religious belief in right and wrong and an anticipated accountability to a higher power that produces such voluntary self-regulation. In fact, religious values and political realities are so interlinked in the origin and perpetuation of Western nations that we cannot lose the influence of religion in our public life without seriously jeopardizing all our freedoms.

4. Along with their private counterparts, religious organizations serve as mediating institutions to shape and temper the encroaching power of government on individuals and private organizations.

5. Religion inspires many believers to render service to others, which, in total, confers enormous benefit on communities and countries.

6. Religion strengthens the social fabric of society. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has taught: “[Religion] remains the most powerful community builder the world has known. … Religion is the best antidote to the individualism of the consumer age. The idea that society can do without it flies in the face of history.”7

7. Finally, Clayton M. Christensen, a Latter-day Saint who is hailed as a worldwide “thought leader” on business management and innovation,8 has written that “religion is the foundation of democracy and prosperity.”9 Much more could be said about the positive role of religion in economic development.

I maintain that religious teachings and the religiously motivated actions of believers are essential to a free and prosperous society and continue to deserve special legal protections.

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2017/06/religions-vital-global-role?lang=eng&_r=1&cid=HP_TU_27-6-2017_dPFD_fLHNA_xLIDyL2-3_

The "it"s and the "who"s

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him. (3 Nephi 11:7)

Today, I shall focus on the word "who."

"Who" has an interesting flavour about it - whether from cultural changes, tides of the time, whatever.

You see people in movies get offended when someone refers to an important individual as "it." And on the other hand, enemies and haters may objectify their targets or pawns by calling them "it" rather than who.

The negative side of these examples is the choice (or mistake) of not recognizing an individual as human.

The positive, on the other hand, is more honourable.

The Lord cares about the distinction between all the "it"s and all the "who"s. In fact, His culture is to respect all "it"s and "who"s anyway: all things have intelligences (reference needed; to review) but that's a topic for another day. Wouldn't you respect and cherish things you created? Especially if you looked at the finished product and said "it is good"?

A step up in topical intensity brings us to Elder Russell M Nelson's words:

"As Latter-day Saints, we refer to His mission as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which made resurrection a reality for all and made eternal life possible for those who repent of their sins and receive and keep essential ordinances and covenants.

"It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as “the Atonement” or “the enabling power of the Atonement” or “applying the Atonement” or “being strengthened by the Atonement.” These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

"Under the Father’s great eternal plan, it is the Savior who suffered. It is the Savior who broke the bands of death. It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance. It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death.

"There is no amorphous entity called “the Atonement” upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source. Sacred terms such as Atonement and Resurrection describe what the Savior did, according to the Father’s plan, so that we may live with hope in this life and gain eternal life in the world to come. The Savior’s atoning sacrifice—the central act of all human history—is best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him."

By quoting this, I have done two things:

1. Extended the application of "it"s to non-tangible things, like events. Here, the example of the event is the Atonement ("it") compared to the Saviour ("who").

2. Which brings me to the second point. Here, Elder Nelson has clearly taught that the power of God unto salvation is in the Saviour ("who") rather than the event or accomplishment ("it").

This allows me to finish a full circle from where I started: in His introduction to His Son, Heavenly Father refers to Christ as a "who". And individual above all individuals ever born on this earth. Yet "He descended below them all" (D&C 121).

Lastly, a quote from President Monson.

"Never let a problem to be solved [it] become more important than a person to be loved [who]."

Belonging

"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him." (3 Nephi 11:7)

Heavenly Father says "my". Let's assume for the moment that translationally, this is still correct. (Regardless, the following principles are true.)

Everything belongs to Heavenly Father. Which is why we can thank Him for the air we breathe, for the beauty of nature, for the functionality of every physical constant and system. Christ Created all of this under the direction of the Father.

When I have created something, it's mine. When I have worked for something, it's mine. It's mine in the sense that, I don't let anyone claim it unless I gift it otherwise. I love it, and I keep it cared for.

Isn't Heavenly Father the same way?

Many of us feel abandoned, forgotten, neglected or lost. If ever it is our fault, we can repent. If ever it is not our fault, we can turn to God. Why do we not sense that God is so very extremely immersed in His interest in our progression? We belong to Him! As if He would let us run off on our own without protection and a way back.

During the depths of his anguish in liberty jail, Joseph's first words from Heaven as recorded was "my".

In the Garden of Gethsemane, anyone near might have heard Christ call out "My God, my God, ..."

When we speak of the Saviour. we may say along with Job, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter-day upon the earth."

We know the gospel is about families. It's about eternal progression and reward. It's about overcoming all things. Let's add to this list that it's about belonging. This may remind many of the high school English theme of belonging - oh how I wish I had known then what I knew now: the gospel is about belonging. We belong to Heavenly Father. He belongs to us: that is, Heavenly Father is MY Father.

At the end of the movie Charly, a husband loses His wife. He had struggled for a long time with the question, "Why wouldn't God save my wife?" When instead He realised within Himself that the real question was, "Why wouldn't God cry alongside me?" Because He did. God suffers along with us. He is sad when we are sad, and happy when we are happy. The marginal or large moments in life when we are depressed are because we have forgotten - we have demonstrated the opposite of the most important word (remember) - forgotten how we felt when the Spirit testifies to us, forgotten what it is like "to earn a great reward" after a long hard slogged effort, because we didn't "shun the fight?"

Let's make an implication from a collection of axioms: We belong to Heavenly Father, who is filled with immense love, and knows everything. Therefore, His plan is best. Therefore, His ways are highest. Therefore, He has everything in control if we are striving to push forward with all we can do, teamworking with Him.

"His delays may always seem long, but they are always calculated to bless." (Henry Eyring)

Let me extend the concept of belonging a little more.

In my lifetime, I have had a few people who I have had unkind feelings for - even hated. A concept that is more likely relatable to those who have had children, Heavenly Father loves both myself and the people I've hated equally. The feelings of a parent watching their fighting children is depressing, and has been around since before the world was: Satan's fall from Heaven. Cain's murder of his brother. Joseph's brothers selling him into Egypt. Laman and Lemuel's rebellion.

Regardless of all of these negative events, Heavenly Father still has a love for these people. My brother was in a Q&A session with our bishop, who taught that maybe outside this eternal timeline, Satan does have another chance. But that's deep doctrine for another day.

Let us remember that we belong, and hold that in our hearts forever, because it is true forever.

3 Nephi 11

Do What Is Right

One catalyst for my spiritual growth has been the speeches of spiritual giants given at BYU campuses. I encourage all to read, dissect and take the time to internalize the speeches there - I have many favourites.

One such is by Richard G Scott: Do What Is Right.

I cannot explain the motivation and fire it has given me inside to liver worthily, and make my "worthy dreams become realities."

He shares incidents in his life when he learned deep, important lessons. Here is a link to his talk.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/richard-g-scott_right/

Without further ado, I quote some of his words.

"You are growing in spiritual discipline--that is, your ability to discern the promptings of the Spirit and your capacity to follow them. Over time, that capacity will increase and grow stronger until it becomes easier and easier to automatically do the right things. You have built a shield against temptation. But now, while that spiritual discipline is developing, you must be very careful to avoid choices that would take you from the path of happiness."

"Every time you make the right choice in the face of potential criticism, you build strength that makes it easier the next time. The reverse is also true. Satan counts on that."

"A decisive, correct choice made once and consistently kept thereafter will avoid much heartache. You then can use your energy in keeping your resolve rather than repeatedly wrestling with the same challenge. Also, you will greatly reduce the possibility that you will be overcome by temptation."

"Do what is right; let the consequence follow."

The Simplicity, and the Mysteriousness of the Gospel

"For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

 - Matthew 13:15

Last night, a friend ask me about how I overcame my almost-life-long issue of negativity. My answer as I expressed it to her really did sum up to "my relationship with the Saviour." But everyone hears that answer (everyone in church, that is). Everyone has that idea firmly planted in their minds that Christ can do something about all the problems we have.

But the implementation is a little more mysterious. The substance of meaning in His gospel seems to be like his parables: hidden in plain sight.

The true substance of what Christ wants us to understand is, as I believe it, hidden like the meaning of parables: it takes one who has eyes of the Spirit to see the meaning. That is not to say that all who don't understand don't have eyes of the Spirit, but rather, everyone has the opportunity to do what it takes to see as Christ sees, feel as He feels and know what He knows.

And we all know how to do that: it's been repeated over and over and over and over and... and over and over. Scriptures study, prayer, and pondering.

I would bring emphasis on pondering, since the other two are straightforward. The other two can be done lightheartedly if there is no pondering. When an individual is pondering something, that individual is musing over the most meaningful and important things in their life. They have come to accept that some things they love in life must take a back seat to those things which will last forever: A relationship with God. A testimony. A conversion. Continual spiritual, secular, physical and emotional education. Family bonds. Progression. Missionary work. Redeeming the dead.

Once an individual opens their hearts to what God sees is important, they are inviting the Spirit into their life. Make and keep covenants, and the Spirit can progressively trust that individual with treasures of hidden knowledge, even the mysteries of God.

I am reminded of a quote from the Sherlock Holmes novels: "'When I hear you give your reasons,’ I remarked, ‘the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain your process.'" (Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes A Scandal in Bohemia.)

We will all experience Watson's beffuddlement until the Spirit opens our eyes.

Now, what does this have to do with repentance and faith, Aaron?

Just quickly, let me define repentance and faith.

Repentance is turning away from things not of God, and turning to God. Faith is the correct exercising of correct gospel principles, or otherwise explained, the decision making and execution involved with coming closer to God.

Simple, right? I've discovered that repentance and faith has been the solution to my problems over and over again - solutions that don't just last a few weeks or a year like some of the world's solutions - gospel solutions that last forever, for as long as we care to implement them.

I am reminded of Jeffrey R Holland's quote: "The solutions to life’s problems are always gospel solutions" (How do I love Thee?)

Now I did say "simple, right?" Well, this is where the pondering comes in - because it's easier said than done. Easier mentioned than understood. I have discovered that in order to fully apply the principles of faith and repentance in my life, I have needed to pray and ponder over how to apply them.

During the Atoning suffering of Christ, the scriptures said of Christ, "being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
Luke 22:44

He prayed more earnestly? Christ? He who did no sin? He who lived life perfectly, with no offense to the Father?

Elder James E Talmage taught that the greater struggles of life call upon the greater struggles in prayer and fasting. (Somewhere in his authored book Jesus the Christ.)

In summary, when a friend asks for spiritual things, it takes a spiritual answer to convey the message God intends, and no human being can adequately express that. I end this post with Elder Richard G Scott's introductory words from his talk, "Do What Is Right."

"I have prayed about, pondered over, and worked on this message because each one of you is an exceptional daughter or son of our Father in Heaven and I want to help you. Early on, I strongly felt impressed to discuss with you how to make your noble dreams and aspirations a reality. I am sure that each one of you has treasured dreams of what you want your life to be. Having moved down the path of life ahead of you, I have learned that while there are growing challenges along the way, life is most beautiful. As you continue to exercise faith in the Master and are obedient to His commandments, you will receive magnificent blessings. Some of those blessings you will have dreamed about. Other blessings He plans for you are beyond anything you can conceive of now. My earnest desire is to help you live so that your worthy dreams become realities.

"I have wrestled with many different ways to communicate principles that I know—if understood and applied—would greatly help you. As this evening approached, I realized I did not yet have a satisfactory way to express what I know to be true. Then a peace enveloped me. I felt that if I strive the best I can to talk to you, and you listen with an open mind and heart with real intent, having faith in the Lord, then it won’t matter too much what I say. You will have impressions come to you that will be individually tailored to your needs. As you write those impressions down and follow them, they will be guidelines for your life and will help you realize your righteous dreams."

To Have It All?

My scripture readings right now on this train on the way to uni have me pondering about… well, everything of course.

And this thought occurred to me: miracles to us are in Heavenly Father’s eyes quite ordinary. At will He can bring them about, and surely upon our gratitude to Him for them, He would reply “Oh, it was nothing” (in less colloquial language of course).

So, what really does amaze Him? It is the reason why He may delay miracles, why He sent us to earth to be tested. It is the turning of our hearts to Him. Although He can foresee this, it never grows old for Him. It is like a grandparent experiencing the joys of grand-parenthood with each grandchild born.

His joy is continually made full in the positive dynamics of His family unit.

How do you know so Aaron?

1 Corinthians 13:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Surely at some stage, all of us will come to realize that having every possession is incomparable to having a loving, tight-knit family unit. An innumerable number of movies have demonstrated this theme. Heavenly Father has it all. But one of the lessons He wants us to learn in this life is that you can have it all, but have nothing. Or you can have the love of a wonderful marriage, a family risen up in Christ, without much money, with a humble job, with little influence in the world, and believe that you have everything in the world—because it’s all that really matters: your family. All other things in life don’t amount to the value of an eternal family, aside from your relationship, testimony and conversion to God.

This all being said, many of us suffer from the injustice brought about by others. If a happy family is not opportune in this life, we should ready ourselves for an eternity of happy family time in the next life. So be worthy. Repent. Fulfil the Lord’s will. Be valiant in your testimony of Christ.

In the meantime, many of us singles can prepare to be the best spouse and parent that our future family could ever imagine – with leeway for human frailty (lots of leeway). And we can learn to identify relationships that destroy us, and relationships that build us.

Raising people from the dead? Turning water into wine? Walking on water? No… the greatest miracle is the turning of hearts to good, to better, and to the best things the eternal spiritual world can offer. The greatest miracle is seeing the light in your child’s eyes as they learn to value the importance of repentance. The greatest miracle is a spouse into whose eyes you see eternity—an eternity of walking through thick and thin, and staying loyal because you have God on your side, and can accomplish anything. The greatest miracle is the sacrifice of One so beloved, pure and perfect in order for the family to have the aforementioned miracles, leading us back to the presence of the Father to dwell in happiness forever.

Education of the Soul

“Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.”

Let's dissect this verse a little, shall we?

“Satan had great power...”

I've heard a general authority say, "what power does Satan of himself have?" paraphrased. His power is only what we give to him. But let us observe the influence he can have on us.

“...unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity...”

Stirring. Do you allow Satan to stir you? What does stirring look like? It looks like provocation. It looks like chipping away to get to my core. It looks like catching us off guard. It pooks like a recipe for disaster – his disaster, calculated to destroy us.

“...and to the puffing them up with pride...”

If he can help us get to the level of self-motivation for evil, his work is all the more easier. He says to us as he said to Cain, "God doesn't determine your life. You do." He says to us as he said to Judas, "You have the right to challenge God – He will prove Himself in the end anyway."

“...tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.”

All things against the principles of righteousness outlined in section 121 of the doctrine & covenants. Ironically, if we follow God we can receive all tha the Father hath. He asks that our priorities be in line.

I walked with a friend through the shadows of our university buildings once. I asked him, "which do you think is more important: education of the mind? Or education of the heart?"

Which do you think?

When the Moment Challenges Me...

“And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.”

On some large and small degree, I have learning.

Am I humble?

The scenario came to mind of a critical decision to be made: one that would affect my company. My knowledge suggests a way contrary to the Spirit's guidance.

How will I react? Will I have practiced this situation much beforehand, choosing the right? Will I be prideful with my knowledge, fearful of authorities or humbly follow the Lord?

Lord, prepare me for the challenges to come.

Hope in Things to Come

Just some thoughts from my morning scripture reading.

My friends and I have all fallen victim to a mental and emotional weight that can give us reason to reduce our commitment.

The righteous in the Book of Mormon received the same temptation. The wicked planned a day when they would destroy the righteous. They made fun of those who believed in the signs of the birth of Christ: a full day, night then a day that when the brightness would only be as one day.

"And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been in vain" (3 Nephi 1:6).

I find myself thinking that the time has passed for a job application to be accepted - that's my current thoughts. Another friend is scared that he will never find someone to marry - he's only in his early twenties. And yet many of my friends have similar fears - understandable. But it's not in God's ways to let these doubts stay and grow.

"...and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass. But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were not night, that they might know that their faith had not been in vain" (3 Nephi 1:7).

If we can wait in cheerfulness, then we can do it better than the righteous in this story. Granted, the righteous did have more struggles that your average struggle. But the reward feels and is greater when we invest more faith in the wait!

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:17).

Satan: The Inception Artist

My daily Book of Mormon reading has brought me up to a reppetitive part of the Nephite storyline: high frequency pride cycle.

They had just believed the words of Samuel the Lamanite, but many began to do wicked things. Of the righteous, they reasoned that they were trying to keep them in ignorance:

“...therefore they can keep us in ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they are true” (Helaman 16:20)

...speaking of the prophecies that habe been fulfilled, and will yet be fulfilled.

Satan had successfully convinced them that good is evil, and evil is good! And what a great way for them to rationalize their evil doings. (Not!)

I recall from the movie Inception a scene where Eames and Cobb discuss the approach of incepting an idea in a CEO's mind. Eames points out that to approach the topic of corporate dynamics would become convoluted due to all the aspects involved. But if they can pinpoint a simple aspect of the CEO's life, they can based their inception on it.

They choose to influence the CEO's relationship with his father: the desire to please his father. This CEO had recently inherited the company from his him.

Looking at the movie in a strange and different perspective, I make the following comment: had the CEO been guided by more righteous motives, he would not have been deceived.

Satan likewise exploits the desires of our hearts that are unrighteous. We will always have some part of us that isn't perfectly aligned with God, and Satan tries to use that as leverage.

Our Heavenly Father's counter to this is simple: keep the commandments. A set of laws, founded by doctrines of love and salvation that we can measure ourselves by.

Satan has been known in the scriptures to perform anonymous inceptions of thoughts – if he can convince us that the planted idea is our own, not his – or better yet, God's idea – he can get away with a lot!

Was there evil inception in Saul's choice to save the best of the lands he was commanded to utterly kill? Was there possible inception in Judas thinking he was doing Jesus good? (Read Talmage's Jesus the Christ) Was there obvious inception of Satan convincing Cain to offer an unworthy sacrifice to God? Yes.

My Institute teachers have recently reiterated that the tandard works are so called because they are the standard against which we can measure all other beliefs. Scripture study is thus a magnificent defence against the anonymous inception Satan seeks to employ.

I pray we not be deceived.

Elder Lawrence in the April 2017 genereal conference said,

"The devil is brazen when it comes to putting wicked ideas into our minds. The Book of Mormon teaches that Satan whispers unclean and unkind thoughts and sows thoughts of doubt. He nags us to act on addictive urges and to entertain selfishness and greed. He doesn’t want us to recognize where these ideas are coming from, so he whispers, 'I am no devil, for there is none' (2 Nephi 28:22)."

God has declared, “And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (JS–Matthew 1:37). Let us do so.

An Angle on Improvement

Have you ever observed your mother -- or father (whoever is the chef of the family) empty the liquid out of a can, like canned tomatoes?

Instead of opening the can completely, it's easier to obtain the fluid inside if you puncture a hole for the fluid to flow out of. A puncture is made on both ends of the can. If you don't make both punctures, the liquid won't come out that easily.

Why are both punctures needed? So that air can enter the top hole while the liquid pours out the bottom hole. Otherwise, the liquid will find it hard to exit.

I have discovered this to be like bad habits.

During my high school years, I used to swear a lot. I know right? I was so bad.

Eventually I gained a testimony, and realized within myself that swearing is not good. So I tried stoppping - which was hard! But I figured that I could replace swear words with other words. My mother would say "Oh sugar!" My piano teacher would say, "<Oh no, I forgot! But it was funny!>"

Cold turkey clean language was harder than this replacement theory in practice.

I believe this applies to any habit - just find a replacement, and it should make it easier.

Trinkets in the Desert

My trip to university found me growing an attachment to the Navier—Stokes equation. It is a mathematical formula named after Claude-Louis Navier and George Gabriel Stokes that describes how fluid flows, and can be applied to the ocean, to the atmosphere, to blood flow, to pollution dynamics, and many more things.

However, it is currently unsolvable. Our currently greatest mathematical minds and tools can’t solve it – unless there is something simplified about it – for example, say we have water flowing through a pipe. We can solve it then if that pipe is a simple, straight pipe.

Today is Tuesday. And every Tuesday finds me in Institute at university. 2pm. I’m hardly ever late.

We read of a glorious revelation given Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery: a vision given to them of the three degrees of glory, and what amazing blessing await the faithful! We made a list of only some of them:

• ·         Enlightened by the Spirit
• ·         Know His will
• ·         Understanding
• ·         Wisdom
• ·         Wonders of Eternity
• ·         All mysteries

A big smile comes to me when I think about how God knows the solution (or knows if one exists) to the Navier-Stokes equation – along with all the other problems that the Clay Mathematics Institute will reward a million dollars to he or she who solves any of them.

All mysteries! Just think about that. Nothing is mysterious to Him, for He knows it all!

And sometimes I am tempted with my passions to study mathematics and cut my scripture study short. I am reminded of the words of Johann Schmidt. He finally claims the tesseract – a powerful substance which he uses to unleash upon his enemies – and says, “And the Fuhrer digs for trinkets in the desert.”

After some research online, I discovered that it is a reference to the hunt for the Ark of the Covenant in Indiana Jones. The Ark is impressed to give great power to its possessor, and Schmidt holds in his hands a power that will grant him likewise.

Schmidt is a villain in the movie, but for a positive reference, I ask us: what power do we seek? Do we spend our time seeking influence over others? Do we use our time in education, for knowledge is power?

Elder Neal A Maxwell said, “If, in the end, you have not chosen Jesus Christ it will not matter what you have chosen.” And “Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!” Do we have room and time for Christ to be a part of our everyday life?

Personally, I feel a very stark difference to my day when I have sincerely spent time in prayer and scripture study as one of the first things I do each day, compared to when I have not.

One of the big questions I face in my life is, “What weaknesses do I have that are unknown to me, but everyone else can see, and they struggle with me because of it?” On one hand, it would be nice to see it all, so I can stop it all. On the other hand, I’m not so sure I could handle knowing all my weaknesses – I have enough to deal with already, whilst being open to improvement still.

Speaking of those who enter the Celestial Kingdom, The Lord revealed that “They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace” (D&C 76:94).

Wouldn’t it be great, to see myself clearly, every part of me, with such a great understanding of who I am? It might be a false quote, but we can capture the idea of our potential if it is true: “If we were to see ourselves in the pre-existence, we would bow down and worship ourselves” (attributed to Joseph Smith).

There is so much more to life than the video games we may play, or the movies we watch, or the Navier-Stokes equations, or our favourite football or movie star. All these are good, as long as we use them for good purposes.

I pray we find that trinket of living the gospel in our daily lives, and discover the joy that comes with it!

Lessons from an Apostle and His Wife's Life

“It’s been amazing to me how many times I’ve seen the hand of the Lord act and intervene in my life every single day if I have the faith, courage, and discipline to do that. You have to act and pray or you miss the Lord’s hand in your life."

- Sister Susan Bednar

Just before a conference in another country, Elder Bednar had a few minutes to speak with missionaries at the missionary training center. Elder Bednar felt inspired to give an overview of his last general conference talk on the difference between being called to the work and being assigned to a specific area to serve. “Why in the world did I talk about that? If I’ve only got 10 minutes, why did I talk about that?" Elder Bednar asked his wife after leaving the meeting.

Elder Bednar learned the powerful reason later, when the MTC president asked him how he'd learned about the sister missionary in the front row—someone Elder Bednar knew nothing about.The MTC president explained the missionary's assignment had been changed just three days previously, something that upset and distressed her. "I think the message you just delivered was just for her,” Elder Bednar recalls the MTC president saying.

Elder Bednar then met with the sister missionary. “I told her, ‘I’m here for a lot of reasons, and maybe the major one was the Lord sent me to deliver that message, which I had not planned to do, so that you would know He knows you by name,'” Elder Bednar told East Idaho News. “What I’ve learned over the years is we’ll travel halfway around the world and we always find one person or a series of individuals that the Lord sends us to bless.”

- Elder Bednar

All Things Typify of Christ

Nephi said,

"...all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him."
 - 2 Nephi 11:4

In applying this thought to the signs and wonders Samuel the Lamanite spoke of, I found some symbols of Christ in the destructions prophecied of.

Helaman 4:20
"...the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you..."

 - During the Atonement, the Father withdrew His presence, just as the sun now withdraws its light.

Helaman 4:21
"...and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, which are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up;"

 - Christ is the great foundation. He has been bruised, broken, torn for us.

Helaman 4:22
"Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yeah, both above the earth and beneath.

- A speaker a listened to yesterday quoted this song: "Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Another song I know sings, "Broken hearts are deeper: they've been open wide. And the tears become containers to hold more love inside."

Helaman 4:23
"...mountains laid low, like unto a valley..."

 - Many, many interpretations come to mind. One is, what people esteemed important to criticize Christ of, will soon be seen as something ridiculous and insignificant to focus on - even seen at the wrong angle. What people wrongly esteemed as nought in Christ will be brought forth with great power.

Helaman 4:24
"And many highways shall be broken up..."

 - Highways are manmade, designed to help us get to places fast. They can be symbolic of man's designed routes to success. Whatever unfairness in this life comes due to the highways for the unjust, the wealthy, the influential, the popular - their highways shall be broken up.

Helaman 4:24
"...many cities shall become desolate."

 - What was once the big, reliable thing - money, jobs, people, Centrelink - will become desolate once all discover the truth that is in Christ. They who are the inspiration of our time - Grant Cardone, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, the influential and the popular - as wonderful as they are, will pale in comparison to He who owns worlds without end, and who just suffered and died for them. Indeed, in one moment someday, all will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ.

Helaman 4:25
"And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead..."

Christ brings us to life. No matter how dead we feel, or how impossible a good thing may seem, Christ can bring our righteous dreams to life. He can heal our families. He can resurrect our strengths.

An Incredible Example

Give us... hmm... maybe 500 years? How improved would we be by then?

Some of God's spirits choose to reach incredible spirituality levels quite early. Nephi is one such example, of whom I am reading of right now in the Book of Mormon.

Nephi had just predicted two major events: the murder of the chief judge, and the confession of the murderer.

“And now there were some among the people, who said that Nephi was a prophet. And there were others who said: Behold, he is a god, for except he was a god he could not know of all things. For behold, he has told us the thoughts of our hearts, and also has told us things; and even he has brought unto our knowledge the true murderer of our chief judge.”

And what do they do next?

“And it came to pass that there arose a division among the people, insomuch that they divided hither and thither and went their ways, leaving Nephi alone, as he was standing in the midst of them.”

...why?! I guess it is true: miracles don't convert people, unless they've opened their hearts.

Nephi's reaction is natural.

“And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him... being much cast down because of the wickedness of the people of the Nephites, their secret works of darkness, and their murderings, and their plunderings, and all manner of iniquities...”

Nephi had followed every word the Lord had given him, and yet the wicked Nephites still didn't repent. Is this a lesson here for any perfectionists?

But the Lord recognizes his obedience.

“...as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people... And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea,”

And this is the amazing part:

“...even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.”

...huh?

Did I read that right?

Whatever Nephi says, will happen.

God gives him this power because he is so trustworthy.

If there is to be any doubt in a reader's mind as to what exactly the Lord means, He elaborates:

“Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people. Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.”

Now, if this doesn't prompt a reader to take introspection, I'd assume that reader was me the first few times I read the Book of Mormon.

But one can imagine what life would be like if every word I spoke came true. If every thought I had would be fulfilled.

Now, that's a depressing thought for me... unless I understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ: which I do. Enough to know that God designed this mortal life for growth and development, not for perfection.

I mean, missionaries once summed up the total hours required to keep all their missionary rules: 25 hours. In general, it's impossible to be perfectly obedient.

But as Brad Wilcox taught, our relationship with Christ is like our relationship with our mother who pays for piano lessons. We don't (and probably can't) pay mum back. But we can show our appreciation for her payment by practicing the piano, listening to our teacher.

As Christ paid the ultimate price for us – the price required For falling short – we now have time on our side. We can now have the consequences of sin and mistakes mostly and eventually completely alleviated. We have the opportunity to grow and be perfected one day. I take for granted, every day I live, for that plus one day I live, and for the laughter, the joy, the experiences I have, which would be weighed down by the consequences of my past mistakes if I didn't have my Saviour.

May we appreciate both the alleviation and the destination, as we sojourn through this glorious life!

Thought of the Day: The LDS Lifestyle

...and I mean "LDS" when I've titled it so. In otherwords, a saintly life.

Christ said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

Well then, what if we thought of the gospel, comprising all the covenants, commandments and principles as a way of life? Not just dos and don'ts?

Let me illustrate with a juxtaposition.

A man is content with simply paying his tithes and fast offering. His fasting is spiritual,

Sure, he is keeping his commandment, but is he doing so much more? More that internalizes the principles behind tithes and offerings?

Does he make the mental link between his payments and the opportunity to attend chapels and temples? Does he know where his tithes and offerings go? When he actually meets the homeless, does he spare a meal for them? Does he reach out to serve the needy not only through his fast offering? Does he truly have a spirit of service toward the needy and widowed? It is true religion anyway.

This idea of a commandment or principle being a lifestyle can be applied to... yes, any commandment or principle.

Take faith for example.

Ariel Szuch said in her article, "The Practice of Choosing Faith:"

“More than anything, I’ve learned over time that choosing faith isn’t a big, one-time choice (“I’ve chosen faith, and therefore I will never have any doubts or fears ever again!”)—it’s a practice. It’s an ongoing effort made up of many smaller choices strung together over days and months and years. There are ups and downs, and I may not always progress as fast as I think I should, but God is patient with my progress, and if He is, I can be too. He is pleased with every effort; all He asks is that I keep trying and keep turning to Him instead of clinging to my fears. And I can do that.”

She has learned that faith is a lifestyle. That is thinking beyond "faith is a principle of the gospel," into the realm of "faith is my life!"

I encourage all of us to see every commandment and principle of the gospel in this way.

Favourite Quotes

Here are some of my favourite, most impactful quotes.

“You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary’s mischief will be that power.”

• President Boyd K Packer, The Power of the Priesthood

“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”

• Doctrine & Covenants 121:45-46

“...you ought not to teach even the alphabet or the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God.”

• Brigham Young, Karl G. Maeser: A Biography

“The most important principle I can share: Anchor your life in Jesus Christ, your Redeemer. Make your Eternal Father and His Beloved Son the most important priority in your life--more important than life itself, more important than a beloved companion or children or anyone on earth. Make their will your central desire. Then all that you need for happiness will come to you.”

• Richard G Scott, The Power of Correct Principles

“Thee lift me and I’ll lift thee, and we’ll ascend together.”

• Quaker Proverb

“No empty chairs.”

• Unknown origin

Moses: Among the Most Meek

Moses was raised as Egyptian "sovereignty." His life was one without want. But for him it seemed his heart had lied in the people he had as slaves.

He broke the sixth of the ten commandments. His flee sent him to the wilderness. While there he tended flocks of sheep – a life different, but, was he in despair?

He married and became acquanted with the God of Israel. The rest of his life was tilted by a burning bush he found.

From the bush he receieved encouragement, purpose, and faith. All gifts from God that carried him throughout the rest of his days.

Can you imagine being the mouthpiece to turn water into blood? Or calling on the locusts, or freeing slaves from an entire nation?

Can you imagine leading an entire, rebellious nation through wilderness of testing, sieving and repenting?

Nowadays, Moses lives among the Greats. He returned once for Christ, then for Smith. But remember that it started from his obedience to a bush's voice.

What does this mean for us, when our hearts start to burn within? This is when the Saviour is knocking – will you open and let Him in?

If we follow that warm burning, and feed it spiritually, we'll find a life magnificent  in happiness and righteous dreams.

For some it's not a burning. It might be goosebumps or just an idea. But whatever is good cometh from God, so follow it, I beg of you.

For then one day you'll be among the Greats – you'll turn around and see Moses. And reach the Father's embrace. It's His warmth that you and Moses felt from the burning of a heart or a bush.