Putting off the Natural Man

I would like to make this blog more interactive. I feel that would motivate me to write more often and create some great discussions. Here goes my first attempt at shifting the focus of the blog to make it more interactive:

I've put a lot of thought over the years into the following scripture from King Benjamin's sermon in the Book of Mormon:

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)

There are a lot of things to learn from this verse and from the sermon that it comes from. One of the things that I've wondered about a lot are the attributes of the "natural man" and the "saint."

I would love to hear thoughts regarding these questions from anyone who reads this blog. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments!

What are some of the attributes that you have noticed of the natural man? The saint? 

One observation I've made (and experienced in myself) is that the natural man is a lazy man. I don't condemn relaxing and having leisure by any means, because there is a difference between leisure and laziness. Many times I have realized that I'm very unproductive with my time because of the thoughts and feelings of the natural man. "It's not that important to get that done today," the natural man tells me. "Look at everything you've done in the past. You're ahead of where other people are at in this aspect of your development. Just coast for a while," the natural man coaxes and persuades. Then I give in to the idea of doing nothing that evening, or that weekend, and the natural man wins.

The saint, on the other hand, is productive. The saint makes time for work, relaxation, leisure, meditation... but not for idleness. There is no place in the life of a saint for wasted time. The natural man in each of us would have us all judging each other and calling into question anything that everyone else does and how we spend our time. However, we are not the judges. God is the judge. He knows whether you are making time for the necessary relaxation time in your life or whether you are wasting time idly on pursuits that do not bring benefit to your life or the lives of those around you.

How have you seen success in putting off the attributes of the natural man and developing the attributes of a saint?

The times when I win the fight against the natural man are the times when I focus on the bigger picture. I know that every person I encounter each day is a child of God. I try to think the best of everyone. When I remember that perspective, it motivates me to take actions that the natural man would have persuaded me to avoid or procrastinate. I feel success in putting off the natural man when I don't put off the things that I need to do to improve my life and the lives of other people.

Creative Ways to Share the Gospel

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life. It defines who I am, and especially who I want to become. Sharing the knowledge that I have of God's plan for us as His children is one of the most important things I can do with my life.

I really like this example of missionaries who used the talents that they have in order to help people learn about the gospel. It makes me wonder... how can I best utilize the gifts and talents I have been given in order to share the gospel?

http://sethadamsmith.com/2011/04/24/russian-missionaries/

Tragedy and Triumph

There have been a lot of events recently throughout the world that have caused me to reflect on the nature of mankind, the choices that people make, and the effects of tragic events in general. From the Boston Marathon attack to the tornado that tore apart Moore, Oklahoma to the sickening murder of a British soldier in the streets of London, many things have given us all cause to mourn.

Although I mourn for the lives that have been lost and torn apart by tragedy, yet I have hope for mankind. I know that both God and Satan are real, and I see every day the influence of both of them in my life and the lives of those around me. Some people lose faith in God when they see the suffering that they have to experience. This doesn't need to happen. When we understand God's plan more completely, we can draw nearer to Him when tragedy strikes instead of pushing Him away.

I know that God's plan for us is dependent on the principle of agency. God will not force us to choose His ways, and so He allows us to make bad choices. However, He prepared a way for us to repent of the bad choices that we make through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ.

As time goes on, we will see a continuing polarization in the society of the world. There are going to be frequent causes to mourn. However, it is essential that we also see the reasons to rejoice. Look for the courage and strength of those who are helping and those who are standing up to the sources of evil and tragedy. Recognize the first responders, honor the victims who show the strength of the human soul, praise the people who sacrifice time, sweat, blood, and money to give to those who have lost so much. Choose to be among those who help. You never know when you might be the one suffering and feeling eternally grateful for someone giving to help you.

God loves you. He always has, He always will. The worth of every human soul is greater than the combined wealth of the entire world. Let us treat each other with that knowledge in mind.

I'm Planning on Writing a Book

One of the biggest questions that mankind asks is why there is so much suffering in the world. As I've gotten to know my family and friends, I have seen that everyone experiences difficulties, pain, and trials. However, I've seen that many of these same people who have experienced so much suffering also have a lot of joy in their lives.

What I would like to do is write a book to pull together the wisdom and experience of as many people as I can to help all of us get a bit more insight into a few different things:

• Why does all of the suffering happen?
• How can a loving God allow the suffering?
• How should we best approach the trials we face in order to grow and progress from them?
• What should we do to find joy in our lives?

These aren't the only things that I would hope to address, but those are among the main questions that have led me to decide that I want to write this book. 

I plan on using lots of sources to bring everything together, but one of the very important sources I'd like to use is interviewing my friends and family members to get your insights. Please let me know if you would like to talk sometime about your experiences and your thoughts on the why and how of suffering and joy in our lives. I need your help!

Dealing with Tragedy in Boston

I absolutely love living here in Boston. The people I have met here and the experiences that I have had are treasured blessings in my life. Yesterday, there was a shadow of grief that was cast over our city alongside the joys and triumphs of the Boston Marathon, one of the greatest annual sporting events. If you are suffering right now, please reach out to me. I would love to provide comfort for you in any way that I can, even if that just means a listening ear for you to talk to.

My biggest hope and prayer in this time of tragedy in Boston is that each of us can soften our hearts and become closer to God through these experiences that we have. As more details are revealed and we discover who is responsible for these acts of violence, may we all find the courage and strength to forgive them.

I do not mean for mercy to rob justice, for that is not how God works. There are consequences that come as a result of committing such acts, and it should be so. However, I also know that filling ourselves with hatred, anger, and bitterness will not help anyone. Those emotions are like poison filling our souls, and they will only serve to create sadness in our lives. God has given us our agency, and we are free to choose. Although we do not choose to be struck by tragic events, we can choose how we respond to them.

The Savior taught us during the Sermon on the Mount how we should treat our enemies, found in Matthew 5:43-45:

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

God has also spoken to us about forgiveness through His modern Apostles. James E. Faust, an Apostle who passed away on August 10, 2007, gave a marvelous talk about forgiveness. President Faust described what happened after the incident of the milkman who murdered five of the daughters of the Amish community, injured five others, and then took his own life. We can all learn a powerful lesson from the miraculous power of forgiveness that the Amish people had in their hearts because of their faith in Christ.

President Faust described another story that is particularly poignant, given the events that happened yesterday here in Boston (emphasis added).

Here in Salt Lake City in 1985, Bishop Steven Christensen, through no fault of his own, was cruelly and senselessly killed by a bomb intended to take his life. He was the son of Mac and Joan Christensen, the husband of Terri, and the father of four children. With his parents’ consent, I share what they learned from this experience. After this terrible deed, the news media followed members of the Christensen family around relentlessly. On one occasion this media intrusion offended one of the family members to the point that Steven’s father, Mac, had to restrain him. Mac then thought, “This thing will destroy my family if we don’t forgive. Venom and hatred will never end if we do not get it out of our system.” Healing and peace came as the family cleansed their hearts from anger and were able to forgive the man who took their son’s life.

Forgiveness, not anger or hatred, is the answer that will bring the peace that we are all seeking in this time of suffering. I hope that each person who reads this will turn to the Lord and ask for His help in being able to find forgiveness. Peace and comfort will surely come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace.  

FREE Album from BYU Men's Chorus!

One of the most incredible experiences that I've had in my life is the two years that I spent as a member of BYU Men's Chorus. Though I've graduated and moved across the country, I still follow things that are going on with this choir because I loved it so much. The BYU Men's Chorus just released an album of beloved missionary hymns that is available for free download here. I invite you to feel of the joy of missionary work through the powerful music on this album. Enjoy!

Sunday Will Come

This is an excerpt from one of my favorite talks given by Joseph B. Wirthlin. For the full talk, visit this link: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/10/sunday-will-come?lang=eng


In all the history of the world there have been many great and wise souls, many of whom claimed special knowledge of God. But when the Savior rose from the tomb, He did something no one had ever done. He did something no one else could do. He broke the bonds of death, not only for Himself but for all who have ever lived—the just and the unjust.

When Christ rose from the grave, becoming the firstfruits of the Resurrection, He made that gift available to all. And with that sublime act, He softened the devastating, consuming sorrow that gnaws at the souls of those who have lost precious loved ones.

I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross.

On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth.

Those evil men who sought His life rejoiced. Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse. On that day they stood triumphant.

On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair. The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.

On that Friday the Apostles were devastated. Jesus, their Savior—the man who had walked on water and raised the dead—was Himself at the mercy of wicked men. They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.

On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.

It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.

I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.

But the doom of that day did not endure.

The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.

And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.

(2006 October General Conference, Sunday Will Come, Sat. Afternoon Session - Joseph B. Wirthlin)

Forgive Yourself

As I made a few mistakes at work today, one of my coworkers taught me a profound lesson. He said, "Don't beat yourself up, it only slows you down." As I thought about that sentence, it struck me deeply. What came to my mind was a physical analogy. If I was running a race and I tripped and fell, it would make no sense at all to sit there on the ground and hit myself. Punishing myself and wallowing in the failure or mistake I had experienced would do me no good. It certainly wouldn't help me win the race or even finish it!

I have often done something similar in the spiritual aspect of my life. When I make a mistake or realize there are things I've neglected or that I've done that I shouldn't have, I'll take significant time ruminating about it and being frustrated with myself for my mistakes because I should have known better. I am realizing that I need to focus my efforts and energy on doing something good instead of being angry with myself and thinking over and over about what I've done wrong. This will enable me to overcome my mistakes far better than ruminating and holding a grudge against myself for not being perfect.

These thoughts that I've had today reminded me of a great article that I read a few years ago. I'd encourage you to read it if you have ever had a hard time forgiving yourself for your own mistakes.

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/03/forgiving-oneself?lang=eng

A Reminder - The Purpose of This Blog

It has been over two years since I started this blog. Though my entries up to this point have not been frequent, they are sincere and heartfelt. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, that He and His Father have a divine plan of happiness for all of our Heavenly Father's children, and that the plan is made possible through Jesus Christ's Atonement - His sufferings in Gethsemane and on Golgotha, and His resurrection from the grave on the third day. I know that God has called prophets many times throughout the history of the world to be His mouthpiece here on earth, and I know that there is a prophet on the earth today - Thomas S. Monson. I know that the Lord speaks through him, in addition to the revelation that each of us can receive for personal guidance in our lives.

The poem below, which I wrote while serving my two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, provides the title of my blog as well as a small insight into my testimony of Christ. His gift of laying down His life for me and for all mankind has changed who I am and who I will yet become. I love and honor Him and I try to live my life in such a way that shows that.

That Man of Galilee

That Man who was above all others,
The One whose face I long to see-
He descended below all things,
Suffered and died, even for me.
He did not say He was one of many,
He boldly said "I am the way."
He's commanded us to be like Him,
So with all the energy of heart I pray-
Lord, wilt Thou forgive my weaknesses,
My many flaws you easily see.
Yet I know that with Thy strength,
Even I may become like Thee.

The Battle of Life and The Joy of Service

THE MAKING OF FRIENDS by Edgar A. Guest

If nobody smiled and nobody cheered and nobody helped us along,

If each every minute looked after himself and good things all went to the strong,

If nobody cared just a little for you, and nobody thought about me,

And we all stood alone in the battle of life,

What a dreary old world this would be!

Life is sweet because of the friends we have made and the things which in common we share;

We want to live on not because of ourselves, but because of the people who care;

It's giving and doing for somebody else - on that all life's splendor depends,

And the joy of this world, when you've summed it all up,

Is found in the making of friends.

As I make efforts to deepen my friendships, I have realized more and more that everyone has struggles. Everyone has trials. Everyone has sins that they find difficult to overcome. However, the fact that everyone has these things does not discount how hard they are. Rather, I point this out as a motivation for all of us to genuinely care for each other and help one another through our trials.

There are questions that I ponder about often and sins that I find very hard to overcome. I know that each person is different, and that we experience a different set of trials. However, I have faith that God has a plan for each of us and great blessings in store for us as we face our trials with trust in Him. "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 also might be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:16-18). 

All of us suffer in different ways, but our mortal experience is individually tailored to enable us to become who we are meant to be as children of God. "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48). I know that this refining, sanctifying, perfecting process is possible through the Atonement that Jesus Christ made for each and every one of us. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enabled me to gain a deep understanding of the plan that God has for me and for each one of His children. My membership in the LDS Church has also helped me to see that Jesus Christ is at the center of that plan - that without Him, we would not be able to overcome our sins and return to live with God after this life.

We do not stand alone in the battle of life - we have our friends, family, and God on our side. I know that as we serve each other, we are serving God (Mosiah 2:17). As we serve others, and therefore serve God, we come to know Him personally (Mosiah 5:13). As we come to know God through this service, we will become like Him and be given the greatest of all the gifts of God - eternal life. To know God and Jesus Christ is eternal life (John 17:3).

I hope that everyone who reads this post takes the opportunity to deepen at least one friendship this week. Learn something new about one of your friends, and try to see how you could give service to them to relieve a burden or worry that they have. Don't even worry about asking, "Is there anything I can do for you?" A simple, unexpected act of service that fills any need that you've recognized will certainly brighten their day and make you feel closer to them. 

Here's an added challenge - if the act of service you decide to perform isn't something they need to be present to receive, see whether you can do it without them knowing it was you! Somehow anonymity seems to put an added measure into the joy of giving service (Click here to read a talk that describes that principle).

General Conference

"Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear"

I want to share some thoughts that I had while reading the talk entitled "Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear." This talk was given by Elder L. Tom Perry, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon church).

Here is a link to his full talk: http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/perfect-love-casteth-out-fear?lang=eng

The main idea of Elder Perry's talk was that members of the Church should be anxious and willing to help those who are not of our faith to understand us better. He speaks of the visibility that our religion is receiving in many media outlets daily. 

One of the things he said that really stuck out to me was regarding stereotypes about the Church: "While the Church is becoming more visible, there are still many people who do not understand it. Some have been taught to be suspicious of the Church, to operate under negative stereotypes about the Church without questioning their source and validity." It is important to question stereotypes that we hear about other people or groups of people, especially when the stereotypes are negative. As fallen mortals, we often have a tendency to assume the worst of other people's intentions or acts. We are often suspicious. It is a truly divine quality to seek out and recognize the good which is most certainly there in each and every person on Earth.

My invitation to those who are not Mormons is this - please talk to me about my beliefs! If you have any curiosity regarding what I believe and why I believe it, I am more than willing to help you understand that. I would love to understand more about what you believe and why you believe it too. Whether you just have one simple question or you want to gain an in-depth perspective on why I choose to live my life the way I do, please ask!

My invitation to my fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is this - help me in helping those not of our faith to understand us better. There is much that we can learn by having a two-way discussion about religious beliefs with friends outside the Church, and much that our friends will learn as well.

Elder Perry shares these three main points in his talk with regards to speaking to our friends outside the Church about our religion:

1. Be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ
2. Be righteous examples to others
3. Speak up about the Church 

As we do these things in a spirit of Christlike love, we will bless the lives of our friends with greater understanding of our beliefs, and we will be strengthened ourselves. Talking to others about the convictions you have and your conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ does wonders for deepening your faith in the Savior.

The Earnest of the Spirit

There are a few instances in the scriptures in which the phrase "the earnest of the Spirit" is used. That specific phrase is found in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 2 Corinthians 5:5, and the blessing the phrase is describing is referred to, though not in the same words, in other scriptures.

So, what is an earnest? In the Bible Dictionary found in the LDS edition of the King James Version of the Bible, it is described this way: "Earnest. A pledge or security. The word thus translated is a commercial term denoting the deposit paid by a buyer on entering into an agreement for the purchase of anything. As used by Paul (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14) it means that the Lord gives us his Holy Spirit in this life as a foretaste of the joy of eternal life. The Spirit is also the Lord’s surety that he will fulfill his promise to give eternal life to the faithful."


What an incredible blessing, to think that the Lord gives us a foretaste of the joy of living with Him for all eternity! When we feel the Spirit in this life, that is exactly what it is - a foretaste, a small nibble, of the feast of blessings and glory prepared for us as we follow Christ. "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).


When things get hard, as they often do along our mortal journey, we need to keep in mind the earnest of the Spirit that we have received. As we continue faithful, that witness from the Spirit is God's personal assurance to us that we will receive eternal life.


I was reminded of this concept of the earnest of the Spirit as I was just reading in The Magician's Nephew, the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia. The characters are there as Narnia is coming into existence and they hear the song of Aslan, who is C.S. Lewis' symbol for Christ throughout the series of books. As the stars appear and join in glorious song with Aslan, one of the characters, a Cabby, exclaims "Glory be! I'd ha' been a better man all my life if I'd known there were things like this." What a poignant statement. If any of us could remember seeing the creation of the world, the majesty and beauty of that process would certainly motivate us to live better lives. If we knew everything about the blessings God desires to give us, we would certainly realize that the things that we often place above God are really of no lasting worth. 


My invitation is as the Savior's: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). For surely, as we receive the earnest of the Spirit, we understand a small piece of what it will be like to live with God. Knowing that what I have felt is only a foretaste of eternal joy, I want to give my heart, might, mind, and strength to the Lord so that, in the Judgment Day, I will receive the entire feast He has prepared. And oh, what a glorious feast it will be!

Accountability

Accountability is an essential principle for life. In the time of Moses, the Lord gave us the Ten Commandments. When speaking of not worshipping idols, the Lord tell us that for those who break this commandment, He will be "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" (Exodus 20:5).

This does not mean that the children will be held accountable for the sins of their parents. What it means is that the parents need to remember how accountable they are for their own actions. The wickedness of parents has a powerful influence on the level of righteousness among their descendants. Each individual does have agency and can choose to be righteous despite the iniquities of their parents. However, a negative example from parents - the people a child generally trusts the most - does have a large impact on how that child views the world. The teachings and example of parents can shape the views of children regarding what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, each of us must be continually aware of the influence we have on others through our teachings and actions - influences that will be felt unto the third and fourth generation and beyond.

Another example of accountability for our influence is found in Exodus 28:38 as well as Jacob 1:19. From Jacob we hear this example of taking accountability upon himself: "And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day." Due to the offices that Jacob and Aaron held, with the responsibility to help the people draw nearer to the Lord, each will be held accountable for his diligence in doing so. When the Lord sees each of us in the final judgment, He will ask for an accounting of what we've done with the responsibilities He has given us. This means we will be accountable for whether we've done all we can to become better each day - in family life, church callings, academics, spiritual studies, career pursuits, and all else that He has asked of us.

This may sound like a tall order… but that's exactly what life is! God has commanded us to be like Him - to become perfect. He will hold us accountable for whether we're trying to become more like Him each day or not. The greatest news is that our Savior, who is all-powerful, will give us the extra boost that each of us requires. We cannot become perfect, as God wants us to be, without His help. I am so grateful that He is so willing and desirous to give us His grace. That power will enable each of us to be what the Lord wants us to be if we rely upon Him.

My Testimony (or at least a portion of it)

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom these words shall come: I know that God lives. He is literally the Father of our spirits and knows and loves me. He knows and loves every person who has ever lived with a perfect love that we do not fully comprehend. However, I know that God desires us to do everything we can to comprehend it. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). He wants us to know everything about Him! I know that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are distinct people with specific roles that they play in our lives. I know that Heavenly Father desires for us to become like Him. This is why Jesus Christ taught "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).

I also know that as Christ's apostles and prophets foresaw, there was a falling away from the teachings of Christ after His crucifixion. "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first" (2 Thes. 2:1-3).

As terrible as it is that there was a falling away, I know that a restoration of the church and gospel that Christ established was also prophesied. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Rev. 14:6-7). I know that this restoration has taken place. God calls prophets in our day as He has from the beginning. He restored the church and gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith, and the power and authority given to him has been passed on to each prophet since then, including our current prophet Thomas S. Monson.

"In the genius of the gospel plan, there ultimately only has to be one witness, but that witness must be you. The testimony of others may initiate and nourish the desire for faith and testimony, but eventually every individual must find out for himself. None can permanently endure on borrowed light." -Elder Douglas L. Callister, "Knowing That We Know" (October 2007 General Conference)

This is my testimony. It has been revealed to me through a witness of the Holy Ghost to my spirit, and I cannot and will not deny it. I know that I know, and it is a sweet, sublime feeling. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God on the earth, and no unhallowed hand can stop the work of the Lord from progressing. God will lead me as I put my trust in Him and follow the promptings of the Spirit and the counsel of God's living prophets. He will give you a witness that the things I have written are true if you study them out and sincerely seek a witness of the Spirit from Him.

Happy Independence Day!

It is an amazing blessing to be a citizen of The United States of America. I am so happy to have been born here and to have the freedom that I do. Thank you so much to all who have given their lives defending that freedom, and to those who are fighting to defend it right now.

I often wonder how many citizens of the USA remember that this country was founded on faith in God, and that it will only continue to be free as long as we put our trust in Him. The founding fathers of our country knew this very well, and it is even reflected in our national anthem. We all know the first verse of Francis Scott Key's poem, but read through the whole thing and pay special attention to the last verse:

O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
’Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

We are truly a Heaven-rescued land, and it is God's power that has made and preserved us a nation. May we always fight for those causes that are just and forever keep as our motto: In God is our trust. Happy Independence Day everyone and remember who has made it possible to have this blessed nation exist! :)

Questions

It is intriguing to me how powerful questions are as a teaching tool. From Preach My Gospel, a manual used by missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help them become better missionaries, we learn the following about questions: "Jesus Christ often asked questions to help people ponder and apply principles. His questions prompted thought, soul searching, and commitment." (pg. 183)

As I watched the general conference sessions that we had this month, I wrote down questions that would help me ponder and apply the things that the speakers were teaching. Some of these may only make sense to you if you are also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I feel that most of them apply to anyone who is trying to follow Jesus Christ and become a better person. Some of these questions are very directly related to what was being spoken about, while others just came to my mind as I listened.

• Do I use the time when I'm taking the sacrament as a time of self-inspection?
• Does my love for God give me strength to overcome any adversity or temptation?
• When I experience pain, do I turn away from God or do I turn to Him?
• Am I willing to suffer and sacrifice all things for the kingdom of God?
• How well do I appreciate and acknowledge the role and contribution of women?
• Do I turn my feelings of sympathy into actions to bless others?
• Do I invite others to give, in addition to giving of myself?
• In what areas of my life do I need to readjust my desires?
• How often do I ask "What can I give?" instead of "What will I get?"
• Are we as priesthood holders living far beneath our privileges?
• What can I do to live up to my potential?
• When I say I'm going to do something, how long do I wait to do it?
• Am I merely going through the motions, or am I experiencing the feeling of joy that God desires for me?
• The heavens are open - how often do I take advantage of that?
• Would I rather push a handcart across the plains than talk about faith and religion with those whom I interact with?
• Who can really measure the influence of a mother's love?
• How well do I really understand the Atonement?

I hope you can learn something from thinking deeply about these questions. I also hope that whenever each of us has an opportunity to teach (believe me, you have them all the time) that we try to ask effective questions that really get people thinking and wanting to act. It's incredible how powerful a well-worded, well-timed question can be.

The "Do It" Switch

Yesterday night as I was watching the priesthood session of general conference, President Uchtdorf said something that really intrigued me. He called me out on something that I have done far too often in my life. He mentioned that far too often, we go to meetings with great intentions, write down some notes, even make an action list of things we should do... and then end up forgetting all about it. I know sometimes I'll come across some notes from a meeting that I went to far in the past and realize that I never called that person I thought of during that meeting, never went and studied those specific scripture verses with that new view on what to look for... and I regret never doing those things.

The way that President Uchtdorf described it was that we have put our "do it" switch to the "later" setting. I am starting to realize that I have left my switch on the "later" setting far too much in my life. President Uchtdorf said that we need to move our switch to the "now" setting. There are so many benefits to just doing things now rather than unnecessarily delaying. First of all, you don't end up forgetting the things you need to do! You also will receive the results of those actions sooner rather than later. For example, one thing that we as mortals often delay is repentance. However, the sooner you make the decision to repent and do all that you can to achieve that, the sooner you will receive the sublime peace and forgiveness that is sure to come. The sooner you decide to share any feelings (positive or negative) that you have about your relationship with anyone, the sooner you can have the open communication necessary to strengthen that relationship. Those are just two of many examples that can show how important it is to not delay things in our lives.

Starting now, I commit to doing the most important things each day, and not delaying big assignments or duties until the last possible hour. I know that the Lord will bless me for planning ahead even better in the future than I have in the past, and that I will achieve much more in my life as I leave my "do it" switch to the "now" setting rather than "later." I would invite anyone who reads this to do the same. We will all miss out on many opportunities in life if we delay pursuing the righteous things that we desire, so don't delay! Do it now.

Essay on Honor

I wrote this essay for an essay contest at BYU about the "Circle of Honor." The purpose of the essay is to discuss what honor means to me, and why it is important. The idea behind the essay contest comes from this quote from Karl G. Maeser, who was one of the first presidents of BYU:

"I have been asked what I mean by “word of honor.” I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls—walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground—there is a possibility that in some way or another I might be able to escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of that circle? No, never! I’d die first."

Here is my essay (please let me know what you think of it or any additional insights you have!):

While I was serving in the great Idaho Boise Mission, I met a man who I feel exemplifies honor. Joe was a humble man who lived in a camper that would usually be placed inside the bed of a pick-up truck. The first time that I met him, he told me this: “I don’t have much in this world. I’ve got my horse, and I’ve got my word, and both of those mean a lot to me.” This was a man who understood that when you give your word, you don’t betray the commitment you’ve made. We started teaching Joe about the gospel, and he would never give us his word that he was going to come to church on Sunday. However, the one time he finally told us he was going to come, he was there. I’ll never forget how much Joe’s word meant to him, and the lesson that he taught me by his example. I feel the way that Joe feels – giving my word of honor means a lot to me.

It pains me to see when people do not keep their word, and it pains me to realize the times when I have not kept my word! I realize that nobody on this campus is perfect, and the Lord doesn’t expect that we will be perfect immediately. However, becoming honorable men and women is an important way in which we can move toward perfection. When we allow honor to become a vital part of our character, we will achieve great things, and those around us will be able to depend on us for strength and consistency.

Honor could be interpreted in many ways, but I feel that giving our word and staying committed to what we have promised is at the heart of honor. I fear that far too many of us give little or no thought to giving our word that we will or will not do something. As we each come to BYU, we sign the Honor Code. We sign our name, certifying that we will live our lives to a higher standard. We promise to do our part to maintain the magnificent, unique spiritual environment and culture that is found on this campus.

Showing honor at BYU is done by small, simple acts. I see honor every time students take quizzes in class, all sitting at the same table, and nobody trying to look at the papers of other people for the answers. I see honor displayed triumphantly every time I see a girl jogging down the road dressed in a way that shows she really understands what it means to live the dress and grooming standards at all times. I see honor every time someone points out that it’s almost time for the opposite gender to leave the apartment for the night. At that same moment, there is honor shown by those who don’t complain about leaving, because they have given their word and are glad to keep that standard. The list goes on, but the point is simple. There are thousands of examples of honor every day on this campus, and that makes me so happy to be a BYU Cougar. I hope that I can be that kind of example throughout my life, no matter where I am.

We have all heard Karl G. Maeser’s quote about the circle of honor. Why could he never cross that chalk line? It was because he gave his word. Consider this: If you drew that chalk circle and gave your word not to cross that line, would people trust you? Would they really believe you were not going to cross that line? Or would you cross that chalk line as soon as you saw some people playing your favorite sport just across the courtyard from where you’re standing in your chalk circle? After all, it’s just a line drawn on the ground. Or do your good name and your honor mean more to you than that?

Believe it or not, we can find a wonderful example of honor in a very wicked man in the Book of Mormon. When Captain Moroni and his army have Zarahemnah and the Lamanite army surrounded, Moroni tells Zarahemnah that they must surrender their weapons and give an oath that they will not come against the Nephites in battle again. The other choice that Moroni presents is for the Lamanite army to be slain. Pay attention closely to Zarahemnah’s response: “And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings he came forth and delivered up his sword and his cimeter, and his bow into the hands of Moroni, and said unto him: Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an oath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children” (Alma 44:8). Zarahemnah, this very wicked man, would not give his word because he knew he was not going to keep it!

I hope that each of us can take this lesson from Zarahemnah, from Karl G. Maeser, from that girl dressed modestly as she jogs, from the student who refuses to cheat, and from my friend Joe who had nothing in this world but his horse and his word. Betraying your word is betraying your honor. Keep your word to keep your honor.

Casting Your Burdens on the Lord

This is my first post that has come from a topic suggestion from another person. My mother asked me the very interesting question: "How does one go about casting their burdens upon the Lord?" So, this post is my response to that question. It is a little bit lengthy, but I wanted to really go in depth on this one. I have written about the reality of burdens in our lives, the invitation the Lord has given us to cast our burdens on Him, reasons why we can cast our burdens on Him, and how we can cast our burdens on Him. Hopefully you can learn a little bit from this, because I sure have! Please feel free to make other suggestions to me about topics I should write about: manofgalileetopics@gmail.com

Our Burdens

The reality of this mortal life is that you will face adversity. Nobody is exempt from it. According to http://new.lds.org/study/topics/adversity?lang=eng , "As part of Heavenly Father's plan of redemption, all people experience adversity during their lifetime. Trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache are a difficult part of life, but with the help of the Lord they can lead to spiritual growth, refinement, and progress. Each person's success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on his or her responses to the difficulties of life." The way you react to adversity is a contributing factor to how burdened you feel in your life. There are many things that happen in our lives that can lead to us feeling burdened. You may feel burdened by sins of commission or omission. You may feel that way because someone that you love is going through a particularly difficult time in their life, or you may be going through one of those times yourself. You may feel that way because it seems there are far too many things that are expected of you and that you will never be able to accomplish them all.

We often refer to extremely difficult times as being put through the refiner's fire. I feel like we focus too much on the "fire" of that phrase because we feel like we know about fire. We know what it does - destroys everything in its path, right? I don't think that is the symbolism the Lord would have us picture in our minds when we picture being put through the "refiner's fire." In Malachi 3:3 it says that the Lord "shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" and I think there is a lot to be learned from that. A refiner of silver knows the material that he is working with very well. He carefully prepares the fire to be the right temperature to remove all of the impurities in the silver. He watches over the silver very carefully as it is in the fire, knowing exactly when to pull it out. He pulls it out of the fire when he can see his own reflection in the silver. Think about all of those things - and then think of yourself as the silver and God as the refiner.

The Lord's Invitation

I firmly believe that "some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns" (Hymns of the LDS Church, ix). One of the biggest comforts to me when I feel burdens upon my shoulders is the invitation given in the wonderful hymn "How Gentle God's Commands" (#125):

How gentle God's commands!

How kind His precepts are!

Come, cast your burdens on the Lord

And trust His constant care.

Beneath His watchful eye,

His Saints securely dwell;

That hand which bears all nature up

Shall guard His children well.

Why should this anxious load

Press down your weary mind?

Haste to your Heavenly Father's throne

And sweet refreshment find.

His goodness stands approved,

Unchanged from day to day;

I'll drop my burden at his feet

And bear a song away.

This hymn represents an open invitation that the Lord has given to you to cast your burdens on Him. It is also found in the scriptures: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

Why This Invitation?

So why can you cast your burdens on the Lord? One reason is because He loves you. Your close friends are always there for you when you are in need, and that is because they love you. God loves you far more than any of your friends or family members do, so you can trust that He will definitely be there to help you in times of need. Another reason why you can cast your burdens on the Lord is because of what He went through for you. Before our Savior, Jesus Christ, even came to earth, Alma prophesied about the Savior's sufferings for you: "And he shall go forth, suffering pains, and afflictions, and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me" (Alma 7:11-13). Because He took all things upon Him when He performed the Atonement, you are able to cast your burdens on Him and He will perfectly understand them and be able to help you through them or even take the burdens away from you.

How to Accept the Invitation

Now comes the real question: How do you cast your burdens on the Lord? From my studies, I have found that one of the most important and powerful ways to cast your burdens on the Lord is through prayer. According to the Bible Dictionary in the LDS Edition of the King James Version of the Bible: "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings" (BD p. 752-753, emphasis added).

When we realize the true nature of our relationship with Heavenly Father, it is much easier for us to trust Him and to ask for and receive blessings from Him. I know that one way that I cast off my burdens is simply to talk about what my burdens are with someone who cares. As I pray more often and more meaningfully, I am able to cast my burdens on the Lord more easily. Talking with Him becomes more natural and I am able to trust that He hears me, cares about my burdens, and will help take those burdens from me. It will be the same for you. As you pray more often and more meaningfully, your understanding of God's love for you will grow. You will be able to cast your burdens on Him easier because you will trust Him more.

A recent experience taught me another way that we can cast our burdens on the Lord. I was struggling all day long with something in my mind and was not able to completely focus on the things I needed to do. That evening I had an opportunity to talk with a friend about the gospel and teach her some things that I have learned that I felt would help her. When I arrived back at my home, I was able to think clearly again! Though the issue I had been thinking about all day was not gone, the worry and anxious feelings and confusion had settled down and I was able to have a clear mind and focus on what I needed to accomplish.

The lesson that I learned was that teaching others and testifying of Christ is an immense help in casting my own burdens onto the Lord. He helped me because I was helping others. You can feel that blessing in your life as well. When you feel burdened and overwhelmed with difficulties and trials, seek to open your eyes and heart to the physical and spiritual needs of those around you. As you help people in need, God will lift some of the burden off of you as a blessing in return.

As a word of warning, you must realize that the Lord will not always immediately take your burdens off of you. There are times when you need to learn an important lesson from burdens that you have. However, you can always trust that God will give you the strength you need to live through the trials until the time when He does lift the burdens. As our prophet Thomas S. Monson said in the April 2009 General Conference, "The Lord shapes the back to bear the burden placed upon it." We can also see this principle in the lives of Alma's followers, when the Lord tells the people "I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage" and we see that "the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease" (Mosiah 24:14-15). Though the burdens were not removed, the people were strengthened to bear them easier. As you read the rest of that chapter, you see that the Lord did deliver the people from bondage because of their faith and patience during their time of trial.

As you pray with all of your heart, serve others, and trust the Lord's will and timing, the burdens you feel will be lifted. If you ever feel that I might be able to help lift a burden that you have, please tell me!