There are many reasons this blog post is special. It's the 100th blog post I'm posting this year, it's the day before Mother's Day, and there's a new video on the Mormon Messages page.
This powerful video made me cry the first time I saw it this morning. So often, I take my mother for granted. I hardly realize all the things she does for me, and did for me as I was growing up. I'm going to make a better effort to notice my Mom and what she does, and to thank her for everything I see her doing. I'm so grateful I have my mother in my life. I don't know where I'd be now without her. I can honestly say with Abraham Lincoln, "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
The War Chapters - Alma 53:5
In Alma Chapter 52, Captain Moroni and his armies, by a fantastic strategy, captured a large army of the Lamanites and took them prisoner. In the next chapter, Alma 53, he put them to work, causing them to fortify the city Bountiful with a wall of earth and timbers.
This is why I love the war chapters. Everything is symbolic, but it also has a literal meaning that's easy to understand, so if you're not looking for a deeper message, you can just enjoy the literal account of what all the warriors and armies did, but if you're looking for symbolic meaning, you don't have to look for long.
Us: If something is important to you, like holding onto the Lamanite prisoners so you can trade them for Nephite prisoners, you put it in your stronghold. You protect it. You guard it. If something is truly, deeply important to you, you build a tall, thick, massive wall around it, so nothing could mess it up. So, what is important to you? What are you trying to protect or keep? How strong is the wall that currently stands around it? How strong is the wall around your testimony, your family, your standards? Is it an "exceeding stronghold," or could your defenses be stronger?
Satan: The adversary doesn't like giving up his prisoners. Once he's gotten hold of them, he holds on with all his might. If we yield to his temptations, he's going to lock us up in a spiritual prison and do everything in his power to keep us there. This is all the more reason to not fall into his hands in the first place, but for some of us, it's a little bit too late for that, and we're discovering to our dismay just how strong his "exceeding stronghold" is. There is a way to escape, and luckily, the Book of Mormon gives us some advice on this subject later. But for now, the message is to not under-estimate the captivating power of the evil one.
Us: We can't count on others to defend our treasures for us. You know the old saying, "If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself." The same is especially true in spiritual matters. No one can guard your testimony but you. If you want a wall built around what's most important to you, odds are you'll have to build the wall "with [your] own hands." It's going to be a lot of work, which is why, tragically, a lot of people don't bother. They don't think anything bad is really going to happen, so they don't take precautions against it. Then lo and behold, disaster strikes, and they wish they had built a wall there. When you know how important something is to you, you may find that it's worth it to you to put in the extra effort and build that wall. Cause you can bet that no one else is going to do it for you.
Satan: Unfortunately, the enemy has an easier job than we do. Or at least, a craftier plan. In his world, we are the Lamanites. The devil holds us captive in walls we build "with our own hands." But that's stupid. Why would we build the very walls that will hold us captive? There are a couple of reasons, but none of them are very good. The main reason is that Satan makes building ourselves into prison walls look fun and exciting, or really good stress relief. Do you know people who smoke or drink, or party? Why do they do it? I would guess that many of them don't know what they're doing to themselves. At least, not at first. It will, of course, eventually dawn on them, but by then, the walls they've built are probably thick enough to keep them in. At that point, they need outside help.
Us: What do you do when you're faced with temptation? Do you sing a hymn? Recite a scripture? Wash some dishes? I'll tell you one thing you shouldn't do when you're being tempted: Nothing. Doing nothing is one of the worst things we can do when the serpent comes after us. You see, if we just sit there while he's attacking our spirit, he just might find a crack in our spiritual defenses, or make one. We need to drive him away, the sooner the better. How do we drive him out? Some methods are better than others, and it may vary from person to person. Hymns and scriptures usually work pretty well (darkness can't abide in the light), but here's another trick for you: Just about anything will help. There's a method I've heard of called Distraction. The idea is that you set your mind to any task that doesn't involve yielding to temptation. As long as you're doing that, you won't be yielding to temptation.
Satan: But distraction is a two-edged sword. Sure, it can help us keep our distance from Satan, but it can also help us keep our distance from God. The tempter tries to distract us from doing good things simply by getting us to do other things. It doesn't have to be sin. It just has to not be the one thing we know we should be doing. It's easy for him to keep us off the right path when literally any other path will do. That's why we need to stay focussed and not spend too much time or energy doing things that don't really matter.
Us: This is where that focus will really come in handy. We can all do great things, much greater things than we realize, but for many of the things we have the potential to accomplish, it will take "all [our] forces" to do it. Take Eternal Life for example. Do we have the potential to reach that goal? With a substantial amount of help from the Savior, yes. Is it going to be easy for us? No. It's going to take A LOT of effort on our part. It may well require "all [our] forces" to succeed. And I'll explain why:
Satan: As we've already established, Satan has a much easier job than we do. All he really has to do is bump us off the right track for starters, gently nudge us onto the wrong path, then sit back and watch us entomb ourselves in the strongest hold we can build. No, the enemy doesn't need to use "all his forces" to trap us. But he does anyway. Our souls mean an awful lot to him. He very strongly desires to enslave us and drag us down to hell. He consistently dedicates every power at his disposal to the blinding and captivating of people like us. That is why it will take all our forces to stand against him.
This is why I love the war chapters. One easily-overlooked verse, in the middle of not-much-going-on, casually laid down between one exciting battle and another, secretly carries, hidden in metaphor, some offensive and defensive strategies that are critical for winning the war for our souls.
5 And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.
This is why I love the war chapters. Everything is symbolic, but it also has a literal meaning that's easy to understand, so if you're not looking for a deeper message, you can just enjoy the literal account of what all the warriors and armies did, but if you're looking for symbolic meaning, you don't have to look for long.
And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites;
Us: If something is important to you, like holding onto the Lamanite prisoners so you can trade them for Nephite prisoners, you put it in your stronghold. You protect it. You guard it. If something is truly, deeply important to you, you build a tall, thick, massive wall around it, so nothing could mess it up. So, what is important to you? What are you trying to protect or keep? How strong is the wall that currently stands around it? How strong is the wall around your testimony, your family, your standards? Is it an "exceeding stronghold," or could your defenses be stronger?
Satan: The adversary doesn't like giving up his prisoners. Once he's gotten hold of them, he holds on with all his might. If we yield to his temptations, he's going to lock us up in a spiritual prison and do everything in his power to keep us there. This is all the more reason to not fall into his hands in the first place, but for some of us, it's a little bit too late for that, and we're discovering to our dismay just how strong his "exceeding stronghold" is. There is a way to escape, and luckily, the Book of Mormon gives us some advice on this subject later. But for now, the message is to not under-estimate the captivating power of the evil one.
yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands.
Us: We can't count on others to defend our treasures for us. You know the old saying, "If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself." The same is especially true in spiritual matters. No one can guard your testimony but you. If you want a wall built around what's most important to you, odds are you'll have to build the wall "with [your] own hands." It's going to be a lot of work, which is why, tragically, a lot of people don't bother. They don't think anything bad is really going to happen, so they don't take precautions against it. Then lo and behold, disaster strikes, and they wish they had built a wall there. When you know how important something is to you, you may find that it's worth it to you to put in the extra effort and build that wall. Cause you can bet that no one else is going to do it for you.
Satan: Unfortunately, the enemy has an easier job than we do. Or at least, a craftier plan. In his world, we are the Lamanites. The devil holds us captive in walls we build "with our own hands." But that's stupid. Why would we build the very walls that will hold us captive? There are a couple of reasons, but none of them are very good. The main reason is that Satan makes building ourselves into prison walls look fun and exciting, or really good stress relief. Do you know people who smoke or drink, or party? Why do they do it? I would guess that many of them don't know what they're doing to themselves. At least, not at first. It will, of course, eventually dawn on them, but by then, the walls they've built are probably thick enough to keep them in. At that point, they need outside help.
Now Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at their labor;
Us: What do you do when you're faced with temptation? Do you sing a hymn? Recite a scripture? Wash some dishes? I'll tell you one thing you shouldn't do when you're being tempted: Nothing. Doing nothing is one of the worst things we can do when the serpent comes after us. You see, if we just sit there while he's attacking our spirit, he just might find a crack in our spiritual defenses, or make one. We need to drive him away, the sooner the better. How do we drive him out? Some methods are better than others, and it may vary from person to person. Hymns and scriptures usually work pretty well (darkness can't abide in the light), but here's another trick for you: Just about anything will help. There's a method I've heard of called Distraction. The idea is that you set your mind to any task that doesn't involve yielding to temptation. As long as you're doing that, you won't be yielding to temptation.
Satan: But distraction is a two-edged sword. Sure, it can help us keep our distance from Satan, but it can also help us keep our distance from God. The tempter tries to distract us from doing good things simply by getting us to do other things. It doesn't have to be sin. It just has to not be the one thing we know we should be doing. It's easy for him to keep us off the right path when literally any other path will do. That's why we need to stay focussed and not spend too much time or energy doing things that don't really matter.
and he desired all his forces when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.
Us: This is where that focus will really come in handy. We can all do great things, much greater things than we realize, but for many of the things we have the potential to accomplish, it will take "all [our] forces" to do it. Take Eternal Life for example. Do we have the potential to reach that goal? With a substantial amount of help from the Savior, yes. Is it going to be easy for us? No. It's going to take A LOT of effort on our part. It may well require "all [our] forces" to succeed. And I'll explain why:
Satan: As we've already established, Satan has a much easier job than we do. All he really has to do is bump us off the right track for starters, gently nudge us onto the wrong path, then sit back and watch us entomb ourselves in the strongest hold we can build. No, the enemy doesn't need to use "all his forces" to trap us. But he does anyway. Our souls mean an awful lot to him. He very strongly desires to enslave us and drag us down to hell. He consistently dedicates every power at his disposal to the blinding and captivating of people like us. That is why it will take all our forces to stand against him.
This is why I love the war chapters. One easily-overlooked verse, in the middle of not-much-going-on, casually laid down between one exciting battle and another, secretly carries, hidden in metaphor, some offensive and defensive strategies that are critical for winning the war for our souls.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Light and Darkness - Entrance to Enlightenment
President Uchtdorf (Yes, him again) has in his office a painting titled Entrance to Enlightenment. The painting shows a dark room with an open door. The doorway, as well as a small area just in front of the door, are brightened by light, while the rest of the room is filled with darkness. To President Uchtdorf, "the darkness and light in this painting are a metaphor for life." In life, we often feel that we're locked in a dark room with no way to escape, but Jesus Christ has opened the door, making it possible for us to escape the darkness that surrounds us and come into an area of light.
Nevertheless, spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in darkness waiting for someone to flip a switch. It takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the Light of Christ.
So how do we open our eyes to the hope of God’s light?
First, start where you are.
The perfect place to begin is exactly where you are right now. It doesn’t matter how unqualified you may think you are or how far behind others you may feel. The very moment you begin to seek your Heavenly Father, in that moment, the hope of His light will begin to awaken, enliven, and ennoble your soul. The darkness may not dissipate all at once, but as surely as night always gives way to dawn, the light will come.
There is really nowhere else we can start to seek the light than where we are right now, unless we want to wait for things to get worse. The only way to truly escape the darkness of this world is by coming unto Christ, and the sooner we make the choice to do that, the less darkness we'll have to fight through to get to the door. By human nature, our carnal selves are always pulling us deeper into the darkness, unless we exercise the strength of our spirits to pull us closer to the light. It will be a struggle, but the sooner we start seeking the light, the less of a struggle it will be.
Second, turn your heart toward the Lord.
Lift up your soul in prayer and explain to your Heavenly Father what you are feeling. Acknowledge your shortcomings. Pour out your heart and express your gratitude. Let Him know of the trials you are facing. Plead with Him in Christ’s name for strength and support. Ask that your ears may be opened, that you may hear His voice. Ask that your eyes may be opened, that you may see His light.
I've never heard prayer spoken of this way. President Uchtdorf's method seems to combine many different ideas about prayer, including talking to God the same way you'd talk to another person (explaining your feelings, even though you know that He already knows how you feel), humbling yourself before Him (by acknowledging your shortcomings), and not being afraid to ask for blessings. With this method, you would speak to God as you would speak to a friend, to a king, and to a helper. It's hard for me to imagine anyone, even God, filling all three of those roles at once. I can see God as a king and as a friend, or as a friend and a helper, or maybe even as a king and a helper, but not all three. I can't wrap my head around how anyone, even God, could be that multi-faceted. I guess I need to understand the nature of God better. But first, Uchtdorf's third piece of counsel:
Third, walk in the light.
Your Heavenly Father knows that you will make mistakes. He knows that you will stumble—perhaps many times. This saddens Him, but He loves you. He does not wish to break your spirit. On the contrary, He desires that you rise up and become the person you were designed to be.
To that end, He sent His Son to this earth to illuminate the way and show us how to safely cross the stumbling blocks placed in our path. He has given us the gospel, which teaches the way of the disciple. It teaches us the things we must know, do, and be to walk in His light, following in the footsteps of His Beloved Son, our Savior.
The Savior is our exemplar. When we follow Him, we're following God's path for us. The Savior Himself said it best: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Blogging About Blogging
Next Saturday, I will write my 100th consecutive blog post. That doesn't mean that I'll have been blogging for 100 days this Saturday, because there were some days that I blogged twice, but it's still a good milestone by sheer number of posts.
Having committed to a daily morning blog, some days were easier than others. There were many days that took me hours to complete the blog post because I couldn't focus. But there were other days that I had a specific thought in mind that I felt strongly enough about it that I could write a long blog post about it in a short amount of time. Some of my blog posts have been more enriching than others, and I'm not sure why. I know that many of my blog posts were lame, but I'm not sure what, specifically, made the good ones good. I particularly don't understand what's so good about "It's Thursday!" It just felt like a normal blog post to me.
My favorite blog posts have mostly been about angels, engaging in spiritual conflict, and building on past mistakes. There's a theme there, which some of you may already know, but the rest of you I probably won't tell for years. We all have our own personal struggles. Let's just leave it at that.
In fact, having my own personal struggle is part of why I created this blog, or rather, resurrected it. I knew that the solution to my personal challenge would have something to do with my specific strengths and weaknesses. Writing is one of my strengths. I figured that writing a few paragraphs on some random gospel topic each morning would help me be more spiritually-minded throughout each day. It hasn't really been working out that way, but still, blogging couldn't be hurting my spiritual progression.
Also, can having a love of music be considered a strength? Having a talent for music can be a strength, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about listening to music and having it affect me. I posted about EFY just recently. Listening to it has helped me with my personal struggle. Hymns help too, but not usually quite as much. There as some really good hymns, but most of them don't help me as much as the average EFY song.
I have basically two questions about this blog: How can I make my blog posts better for you who read it, and how can I make blogging a more powerful force in my spiritual progression? It'd be difficult for you to answer the second, but if you have any answers for the first or suggestions for the second, please share them with me. If I'm committed to blogging anyway, I'd love to find ways to make my blog a stronger force for good.
Here's another question: What are some topics that you'd like me to research and blog about? Of course, we'll try to keep it vaguely gospel-related, but I'm pretty sure I could tag a gospel-themed analogy to just about anything.
Snorkeling: It's beautiful, wonderful, and fun, but we have to stay by the surface, or we'll drown. However tempting it is to take a closer look at the beautiful things God created for us to enjoy, we have to do it in a way that still keeps us safe. And while we're looking at the reefs and anemones, we need to keep an eye out for other things that are going on around us as well. Otherwise, we may swim right into danger and not know it until it's too late.
Basketball: It's a team sport. However good you are, you still need your team to help you. And however poor you are at basketball, you can still be some help to your team. The fans only seem to care who scores the most points, but really, if anyone on the team scores points, the whole team scores. And if you helped make that basket happen, give yourself a pat on the back. You're helping more than most people realize. And if you're the star player, don't let your fan-base go to your head. Appreciate your team-mates, and TELL THEM you appreciate them. Team unity is a good way to win games.
So if you want me to blog about something random like that, go ahead and suggest it. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to strap an analogy to it. It'll actually be a fun and challenging writing exercise for me. =)
But anyway, this blog has been doing pretty well. It's helped a few people's days go a little bit better, so I'll call that success. Here's to even greater success in the future. Like the basketball players, we can make this blog awesome, together.
Having committed to a daily morning blog, some days were easier than others. There were many days that took me hours to complete the blog post because I couldn't focus. But there were other days that I had a specific thought in mind that I felt strongly enough about it that I could write a long blog post about it in a short amount of time. Some of my blog posts have been more enriching than others, and I'm not sure why. I know that many of my blog posts were lame, but I'm not sure what, specifically, made the good ones good. I particularly don't understand what's so good about "It's Thursday!" It just felt like a normal blog post to me.
My favorite blog posts have mostly been about angels, engaging in spiritual conflict, and building on past mistakes. There's a theme there, which some of you may already know, but the rest of you I probably won't tell for years. We all have our own personal struggles. Let's just leave it at that.
In fact, having my own personal struggle is part of why I created this blog, or rather, resurrected it. I knew that the solution to my personal challenge would have something to do with my specific strengths and weaknesses. Writing is one of my strengths. I figured that writing a few paragraphs on some random gospel topic each morning would help me be more spiritually-minded throughout each day. It hasn't really been working out that way, but still, blogging couldn't be hurting my spiritual progression.
Also, can having a love of music be considered a strength? Having a talent for music can be a strength, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about listening to music and having it affect me. I posted about EFY just recently. Listening to it has helped me with my personal struggle. Hymns help too, but not usually quite as much. There as some really good hymns, but most of them don't help me as much as the average EFY song.
I have basically two questions about this blog: How can I make my blog posts better for you who read it, and how can I make blogging a more powerful force in my spiritual progression? It'd be difficult for you to answer the second, but if you have any answers for the first or suggestions for the second, please share them with me. If I'm committed to blogging anyway, I'd love to find ways to make my blog a stronger force for good.
Here's another question: What are some topics that you'd like me to research and blog about? Of course, we'll try to keep it vaguely gospel-related, but I'm pretty sure I could tag a gospel-themed analogy to just about anything.
Snorkeling: It's beautiful, wonderful, and fun, but we have to stay by the surface, or we'll drown. However tempting it is to take a closer look at the beautiful things God created for us to enjoy, we have to do it in a way that still keeps us safe. And while we're looking at the reefs and anemones, we need to keep an eye out for other things that are going on around us as well. Otherwise, we may swim right into danger and not know it until it's too late.
Basketball: It's a team sport. However good you are, you still need your team to help you. And however poor you are at basketball, you can still be some help to your team. The fans only seem to care who scores the most points, but really, if anyone on the team scores points, the whole team scores. And if you helped make that basket happen, give yourself a pat on the back. You're helping more than most people realize. And if you're the star player, don't let your fan-base go to your head. Appreciate your team-mates, and TELL THEM you appreciate them. Team unity is a good way to win games.
So if you want me to blog about something random like that, go ahead and suggest it. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to strap an analogy to it. It'll actually be a fun and challenging writing exercise for me. =)
But anyway, this blog has been doing pretty well. It's helped a few people's days go a little bit better, so I'll call that success. Here's to even greater success in the future. Like the basketball players, we can make this blog awesome, together.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Four Titles - Heir of Eternal Life
"The fourth title we all share returns us to the first title in our list," says President Uchtdorf. "As [children] of our Heavenly Father, we are heirs to all that He has." Saying that we're heirs to all that the Father has is bold claim, but President Uchtdorf isn't the only one making that claim. Right after saying that, he quotes a scripture to back it up.
But here's what gets me. This isn't a Book of Mormon scripture. It isn't from the Doctrine and Covenants or the Pearl of Great Price, either. (Though, for all I know, it could be quoted in any of those places.) This scripture came from the Bible; specifically Romans Chapter 8, verses 16-17.
This is a New Testament scripture. EVERY Christian reads the New Testament. I wonder... If they don't think it means what we think it means, what do they think it means?
The idea of us being heirs of the kingdom can't be just a Mormon doctrine. If the Bible says the we're "joint-heirs with Christ," there must be other churches that believe that, too. And yet, we're considered different for our belief in Eternal Progression and our claim that, through the Savior's mercy and the power of His Atonement, and eons upon eons of spiritual progress, we can become like our Heavenly Father.
Every child has the potential to become like his parents. He can develop the same attributes, learn the same skills, and essentially become very much like his parents. Of course, he won't be exactly the same as they were. He'll have been born with different talents and different physical strengths and weaknesses and a different personality. He'll be his own person, just as we will be even if we achieve Eternal Life. We won't be exactly like Heavenly Father, but we will be like Him in many ways.
President Uchtdorf spoke about this earlier in this talk when he said that, as disciples of Christ, we are to become like him, but that doesn't mean we must all be the same. "This would contradict the genius of God, who created every man different from his brother, every son different from his father." Even as we become more like our Heavenly Father, we'll still be ourselves.
I'm sure there are some things about us that we would like to change, and with God's help, we can work on that. But there are also parts of us that are good, that are worth keeping, that represent our true selves, the people we were created to be. There's a spark of Godhood already inside each of us. Our purpose in life is to find it and help it grow.
It's impossible for us to imagine what awaits us if we remain faithful. The blessings that God has promised us are more glorious than we can comprehend. We literally can't wrap our heads around it. Maybe that's why so many people don't accept it. "It doesn't make sense to me, so it can't be true." I feel the same way. I can hardly believe that I could ever become like God, no matter how many eons He gave me to work on it. I don't think I have a personal testimony of Eternal Progression, in that I think that it may work for other people, but I highly doubt that it'll work for me. I think I have the potential to be like Heavenly Father, but I don't think I have the capacity to live up to that potential.
That doesn't work, does it? I'm pushing a boulder up a hill. I'm strong enough to move the boulder, and I can make some progresses up the hill, but then I get discouraged or want to take a break or something, and I let the boulder roll right back down to the base of the hill.
Now, some of you would tell me that Eternal Progression isn't like rolling a boulder up a hill. Any experience is a learning experience, a growing experience. Even when we "backslide," we can build on that experience and move forward. "There is no backsliding in Eternal Progression," some would say. "The worst thing you can do is stop moving."
I don't know if that's true. That is, I don't know if I have a testimony of the principle. I wrote about it, I'm pretty sure, when I wrote about the Ladder of St. Augustine. I wrote that we can build on our failures. And in Sariah's comment to the Reclaiming our Landfills post, she said, "Sometimes, garbage that has been properly buried changes and can turn into something that becomes a nourishing part of the soil." Even a lifetime of sins and mistakes can bring us closer to God if we learn from them. And with a little bit of Eternal Perspective, maybe some lessons will be easier to learn.
So, what are we to do for now? We're not perfect. We could try, but it'll take an eternity to make that much progress. I think I've said earlier, if not here then in Elder's Quorum, that our current goal toward eventual perfection is just to get the ball rolling, to get the process started, to point ourselves in the direction and, if we can muster up the courage and strength, take the first few steps. I think I can do that much. And if I can accomplish that much in only a matter of years, imagine how much I'll be able to do in that much time times a thousand, times a million, times and infinite amount.
I can do this. Theoretically. I just need to focus. I need to not worry about the past or the future, but to just take it one day at a time. One day. I can do that. I can try to be Christlike today.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
But here's what gets me. This isn't a Book of Mormon scripture. It isn't from the Doctrine and Covenants or the Pearl of Great Price, either. (Though, for all I know, it could be quoted in any of those places.) This scripture came from the Bible; specifically Romans Chapter 8, verses 16-17.
This is a New Testament scripture. EVERY Christian reads the New Testament. I wonder... If they don't think it means what we think it means, what do they think it means?
The idea of us being heirs of the kingdom can't be just a Mormon doctrine. If the Bible says the we're "joint-heirs with Christ," there must be other churches that believe that, too. And yet, we're considered different for our belief in Eternal Progression and our claim that, through the Savior's mercy and the power of His Atonement, and eons upon eons of spiritual progress, we can become like our Heavenly Father.
Every child has the potential to become like his parents. He can develop the same attributes, learn the same skills, and essentially become very much like his parents. Of course, he won't be exactly the same as they were. He'll have been born with different talents and different physical strengths and weaknesses and a different personality. He'll be his own person, just as we will be even if we achieve Eternal Life. We won't be exactly like Heavenly Father, but we will be like Him in many ways.
President Uchtdorf spoke about this earlier in this talk when he said that, as disciples of Christ, we are to become like him, but that doesn't mean we must all be the same. "This would contradict the genius of God, who created every man different from his brother, every son different from his father." Even as we become more like our Heavenly Father, we'll still be ourselves.
I'm sure there are some things about us that we would like to change, and with God's help, we can work on that. But there are also parts of us that are good, that are worth keeping, that represent our true selves, the people we were created to be. There's a spark of Godhood already inside each of us. Our purpose in life is to find it and help it grow.
It's impossible for us to imagine what awaits us if we remain faithful. The blessings that God has promised us are more glorious than we can comprehend. We literally can't wrap our heads around it. Maybe that's why so many people don't accept it. "It doesn't make sense to me, so it can't be true." I feel the same way. I can hardly believe that I could ever become like God, no matter how many eons He gave me to work on it. I don't think I have a personal testimony of Eternal Progression, in that I think that it may work for other people, but I highly doubt that it'll work for me. I think I have the potential to be like Heavenly Father, but I don't think I have the capacity to live up to that potential.
That doesn't work, does it? I'm pushing a boulder up a hill. I'm strong enough to move the boulder, and I can make some progresses up the hill, but then I get discouraged or want to take a break or something, and I let the boulder roll right back down to the base of the hill.
Now, some of you would tell me that Eternal Progression isn't like rolling a boulder up a hill. Any experience is a learning experience, a growing experience. Even when we "backslide," we can build on that experience and move forward. "There is no backsliding in Eternal Progression," some would say. "The worst thing you can do is stop moving."
I don't know if that's true. That is, I don't know if I have a testimony of the principle. I wrote about it, I'm pretty sure, when I wrote about the Ladder of St. Augustine. I wrote that we can build on our failures. And in Sariah's comment to the Reclaiming our Landfills post, she said, "Sometimes, garbage that has been properly buried changes and can turn into something that becomes a nourishing part of the soil." Even a lifetime of sins and mistakes can bring us closer to God if we learn from them. And with a little bit of Eternal Perspective, maybe some lessons will be easier to learn.
So, what are we to do for now? We're not perfect. We could try, but it'll take an eternity to make that much progress. I think I've said earlier, if not here then in Elder's Quorum, that our current goal toward eventual perfection is just to get the ball rolling, to get the process started, to point ourselves in the direction and, if we can muster up the courage and strength, take the first few steps. I think I can do that much. And if I can accomplish that much in only a matter of years, imagine how much I'll be able to do in that much time times a thousand, times a million, times and infinite amount.
I can do this. Theoretically. I just need to focus. I need to not worry about the past or the future, but to just take it one day at a time. One day. I can do that. I can try to be Christlike today.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Four Titles - Healer of Souls
"Brethren, if we truly follow our Lord Jesus Christ, we must embrace a third title: healer of souls. We who have been ordained to the priesthood of God are called to practice 'the healer’s art.' ”
That's still a little bit vague, but maybe it was meant to be vague. Maybe there is no 'one true way' to heal souls. Everybody's soul is completely unique, and everyone's heart is wounded in a different way. President Uchtdorf couldn't have said "To heal other people's souls, have a heartfelt talk with everyone you meet who is suffering," because not everyone is ready to talk about what's bothering them. He couldn't have said "If you see someone struggling, give them a hug," because some people really don't like being hugged, and it's probably not the kind of help they need anyway. Because we and the problems that bother us are unique in each situation, there is no one technique that will enable us to heal every soul we encounter, but there is one attitude that is always certain to help: Love.
As Christians, we are supposed to love and serve our neighbors, and by "our neighbors," God meant everyone. It can be hard, and sometimes impossible, to love everyone, but God somehow does. So if we love God, even people we really deeply hate are "friends of a Friend." And, out of sheer love for our Friend, we can show love for His friends, because deep down we know that's what He would want us to do (and I think He'll take note of how much of an extra sacrifice it was to show love toward someone we hate).
Two weeks ago maybe, I had a thought that heaven is heavenly because good people live there, and hell is like hell because mean people go there. (A corresponding thought is that even if all Mormons go to hell, as some people believe we will, our Elders' Quorums and Relief Society will roll up their sleeves and establish Zion right there on the side of the pit. It won't be much like hell if a bunch of active Mormons live there.) Similarly, we can do our part to make Earth like heaven by treating everybody nicely, by binding up broken hearts and strengthening feeble knees. The more angelic we as individuals are, the more Earth will be like a place where angels live.
The more we fulfill our role as Healers of Souls, the happier we, and the rest of the world, will be.
Again, President Uchtdorf is speaking specifically to Priesthood holders, but again, I don't think his message is for Priesthood holders exclusively. He said, "As home teachers, we are healers. As priesthood leaders, we are healers. As fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands, we should be committed and dedicated healers." The root of that statement seems to be that, no matter what position we hold, we are meant to be healers. I believe that he could have just as truthfully said to the women of the church: "As visiting teachers, you are healers. As members of the Relief Society, you are definitely healers. As mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives, you can be committed and dedicated healers."
But I would ask "How? How can we be Healers of Souls?" President Uchtdorf counseled us:
to follow the Savior’s example and reach out to those who suffer. We “mourn with those that mourn … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.” We bind up the wounds of the afflicted. We “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”
The Savior is the worker of miracles. He is the great Healer. He is our example, our light, even in the darkest moments, and He shows us the right way.
Let us follow Him. Let us rise up to our role and become healers by serving God and our fellowmen.
That's still a little bit vague, but maybe it was meant to be vague. Maybe there is no 'one true way' to heal souls. Everybody's soul is completely unique, and everyone's heart is wounded in a different way. President Uchtdorf couldn't have said "To heal other people's souls, have a heartfelt talk with everyone you meet who is suffering," because not everyone is ready to talk about what's bothering them. He couldn't have said "If you see someone struggling, give them a hug," because some people really don't like being hugged, and it's probably not the kind of help they need anyway. Because we and the problems that bother us are unique in each situation, there is no one technique that will enable us to heal every soul we encounter, but there is one attitude that is always certain to help: Love.
As Christians, we are supposed to love and serve our neighbors, and by "our neighbors," God meant everyone. It can be hard, and sometimes impossible, to love everyone, but God somehow does. So if we love God, even people we really deeply hate are "friends of a Friend." And, out of sheer love for our Friend, we can show love for His friends, because deep down we know that's what He would want us to do (and I think He'll take note of how much of an extra sacrifice it was to show love toward someone we hate).
Two weeks ago maybe, I had a thought that heaven is heavenly because good people live there, and hell is like hell because mean people go there. (A corresponding thought is that even if all Mormons go to hell, as some people believe we will, our Elders' Quorums and Relief Society will roll up their sleeves and establish Zion right there on the side of the pit. It won't be much like hell if a bunch of active Mormons live there.) Similarly, we can do our part to make Earth like heaven by treating everybody nicely, by binding up broken hearts and strengthening feeble knees. The more angelic we as individuals are, the more Earth will be like a place where angels live.
The more we fulfill our role as Healers of Souls, the happier we, and the rest of the world, will be.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Four Titles - Disciple of Christ
The second title that President Uchtdorf gave us was Disciples of Jesus Christ, and the first thing I looked for when I came to this part of the talk is a definition of what he meant by that. I'd readily call myself a Christian, because I believe in and try to follow Jesus Christ, but I don't know if I'm good enough to call myself a disciple. Luckily, President Uchtorf's definition of "disciple" is found early on in this part of the talk: "all who strive earnestly to follow the Christ are called His disciples."
Now, I know that I strive to follow Christ, but do I strive earnestly? What does "earnestly" mean, exactly? President Uchtdorf doesn't say, but Dictionary.com does: "Serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker." So, in order to be a disciple of Christ, I have to be sincerely striving to keep His commandments, not just saying that I am. This is a good cause for self-evaluation. But first, I should probably move along with President Uchtdorf's talk:
This should sound familiar. We've heard it many times before. "We're not perfect, but we should keep trying anyway." "The church isn't for people who are already perfect, but for those who are imperfect, but are trying to improve." Or other, similar phrases. In this very talk, President Uchtdorf called discipleship a "lifelong journey":
At this point, I'm reminded of words of comfort that he gave earlier in this talk, "Our Father in Heaven mentors His children and often sends unseen heavenly help to those who desire to follow the Savior." Note that the qualifying quality of this promised blessing is to "desire to follow the Savior" (Emphasis Added). I'm sure we can all manage at least that much. Then, with the "unseen heavenly help" God grants us, we can succeed in at least striving to follow the Savior.
God knows that we are not perfect. He doesn't expect us to be. He just wants us to try, and to try earnestly, to follow the Savior's example and teachings. As long as we strive to keep His commandments, we are His disciples.
To close, I'd like to quote a fictional character in a webcomic I read, authored by Rich Burlew. I do so without his knowledge or permission, but I don't think he's the kind of person who'd mind. At this point in the story, a main character has died and is now half-way between heaven and earth being judged according to his deeds. We spend quite some time recalling the things he's done in past comics, good and bad, and, considering the number of times this person has done something good, but went about it in a less-good way, the judge reveals that our hero would likely be sent to a less-good afterlife, if not for one thing: "You're trying."
Now, I know that this isn't anywhere near doctrinal. It's fictional. But take it as a personal opinion that I'd be a bit surprised if God's mindset was any less understanding of human weakness than this. God knows we're only human. He knows that we'll fail time and time again. But I believe that what's important to Him is that we try.
Now, I know that I strive to follow Christ, but do I strive earnestly? What does "earnestly" mean, exactly? President Uchtdorf doesn't say, but Dictionary.com does: "Serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker." So, in order to be a disciple of Christ, I have to be sincerely striving to keep His commandments, not just saying that I am. This is a good cause for self-evaluation. But first, I should probably move along with President Uchtdorf's talk:
Although we recognize that none of us are perfect, we do not use that fact as an excuse to lower our expectations, to live beneath our privileges, to delay the day of our repentance, or to refuse to grow into better, more perfect, more refined followers of our Master and King.
Remember that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is built not for men and women who are perfect or unaffected by mortal temptations, but rather it is built for people exactly like you and me.
This should sound familiar. We've heard it many times before. "We're not perfect, but we should keep trying anyway." "The church isn't for people who are already perfect, but for those who are imperfect, but are trying to improve." Or other, similar phrases. In this very talk, President Uchtdorf called discipleship a "lifelong journey":
Brethren, discipleship is a lifelong journey following our Savior. Along our metaphorical path from Bethlehem to Golgotha, we will have many opportunities to abandon our journey. At times it will seem that the path requires more than we had wished for. But as [disciples of Christ], we must have the courage to follow our Redeemer, even when our cross seems too heavy to bear.
At this point, I'm reminded of words of comfort that he gave earlier in this talk, "Our Father in Heaven mentors His children and often sends unseen heavenly help to those who desire to follow the Savior." Note that the qualifying quality of this promised blessing is to "desire to follow the Savior" (Emphasis Added). I'm sure we can all manage at least that much. Then, with the "unseen heavenly help" God grants us, we can succeed in at least striving to follow the Savior.
With every step we take following the Son of God, we may be reminded that we are not perfect yet. But let us be steadfast and constant disciples. Let us not give up. Let us be true to our covenants. Let us never lose sight of our Advocate and Redeemer as we walk toward Him, one imperfect step after another.
God knows that we are not perfect. He doesn't expect us to be. He just wants us to try, and to try earnestly, to follow the Savior's example and teachings. As long as we strive to keep His commandments, we are His disciples.
To close, I'd like to quote a fictional character in a webcomic I read, authored by Rich Burlew. I do so without his knowledge or permission, but I don't think he's the kind of person who'd mind. At this point in the story, a main character has died and is now half-way between heaven and earth being judged according to his deeds. We spend quite some time recalling the things he's done in past comics, good and bad, and, considering the number of times this person has done something good, but went about it in a less-good way, the judge reveals that our hero would likely be sent to a less-good afterlife, if not for one thing: "You're trying."
People forget how crucial it is to keep trying, even if they screw it up now and then. They figure that if they can't manage it perfectly every waking second, then they should just [give up] because it would be easier. But it's the struggle that matters. It's easy for a being of pure Law and Good to live up to these ideals, but you're a mortal. What matters is that when you blow it, you get back up on the horse and try again. You....well, your record is full of grey spots, but you never stop working at improving it. That's what's important. To us, anyway.
Now, I know that this isn't anywhere near doctrinal. It's fictional. But take it as a personal opinion that I'd be a bit surprised if God's mindset was any less understanding of human weakness than this. God knows we're only human. He knows that we'll fail time and time again. But I believe that what's important to Him is that we try.
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