Repentance

After I baptized Seth eight days ago, we stepped out of the water and into the changing room, and I asked him how he felt. After a tepid “good,” I asked what was wrong, and he told me that now that he’s accountable, he’s concerned about his ability to keep the commandments. I briefly talked about repentance as we dried off, but it occurred to me that it would be a good idea to have our next few family home evenings continue to focus on baptism (as our previous few had) – kind of like new member discussions – and to include a special focus on repentance, and the blessings of the Atonement.

Moroni 8:10 says, in part: 

“Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin…”

Meanwhile, D&C 68:25 says: 

“And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.”

I think that as parents we often tend to focus on items 1, 3, and 4 in the First Principles of the Gospel; perhaps it’s natural since the children we are preparing for baptism are not technically in need of repentance…yet. But as soon as they come out of the water, that need begins.

So, clearly, we are to teach our children repentance. But it shouldn't be all doom and gloom; to the contrary, repentance is a most beautiful and uplifting doctrine.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, “Repentance is a rescuing, not a dour doctrine. It is available to the gross sinner as well as to the already-good individual striving for incremental improvement.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, 

“Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life…the invitation to repent is an expression of love. When the Savior ‘began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ it was a message of love, inviting all who would to qualify to join Him ‘and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life [itself] in the world to come.’ If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another and to ourselves. A permissive parent, an indulgent friend, a fearful Church leader are in reality more concerned about themselves than the welfare and happiness of those they could help. Yes, the call to repentance is at times regarded as intolerant or offensive and may even be resented, but guided by the Spirit, it is in reality an act of genuine caring.”

I had the great blessing of serving in a branch presidency for young single adults with a branch president who understood this doctrine: as a result, we convened, on average, one church disciplinary council a month during my time serving in that calling. These were amazing opportunities to watch young single adults change their lives, be lifted from the shadows of sin, defeat and despair; be cleansed and renewed, and to turn their lives around – through the repentance process.

I testify that it is critical that we follow Christ’s admonition to “Say nothing but repentance unto this generation,” and that is most especially and critically applied to us as parents teaching our children – who should be able to take comfort in knowing that as they make mistakes, they can truly have them washed away by the Savior.

I am so grateful for repentance, for I need it (and the power of the Atonement) every day. It is my obligation and joy to now teach that principle to my wonderful son.

Baptism!

My son and I have something in common: we both remember our baptisms. Mine was nearly 17 years ago in Oregon. His was yesterday, in Utah.

About to enter the waters of baptism...

Baptism is an essential saving ordinance. It is a commandment, and our Savior, Jesus Christ, set the example by being baptized Himself by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, 'I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?' And Jesus answering said unto him, 'Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.' Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" - Matthew 3:13-17

My boy has been eagerly awaiting his own baptism for several years now. It is the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to baptize children when they reach the "age of accountability," which has been established via revelation to be eight years old.

My son is now old enough to understand the covenant he made with the Lord yesterday. He was able to choose for himself to be baptized, and he is now able to repent and be cleansed by the ongoing power of the Atonement. Prior to yesterday, that was not necessary:

"Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me. And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children. Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children. And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins. But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism! Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell. Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell. For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism."   -Moroni 8:8-15

Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "Baptism is the gate through which all must enter to accomplish the Lord’s desire to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "When we are baptized, we take upon ourselves the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Taking upon us His name is one of the most significant experiences we have in life."

It was indeed a significant and wonderful day yesterday, filled with the Spirit. I love my son, and I am so grateful that I hold the priesthood and was worthy to perform this important ordinance. My only regret is that it all happened so quickly (the immersion itself) - less than a second and it was all over. I wish to savor that second in my mind and heart for eternity.

One happy boy!

I love my son, I love the Gospel, and I am pleased that I was also able to confirm him as the newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, confer upon him the gift of the Holy Ghost, and pronounce a blessing upon him at that time. He is a great example of love, faith, and sweetness. I know he will be blessed as he continues to grow in the gospel.

Yesterday was one of the best days of my life, ranking right up there with the day I married my lovely wife, and the day our son was born.

Baptism is awesome. I highly recommend it!

The Lord is Hastening His Work

Wow, what a day!

It started at 8:00 a.m. with a meeting with the bishopric to discuss missionary work in the ward, and the new directive from the stake to provide two appointments per week for the full time elders. We made some specific plans for the next ward council. Then I gave a talk in sacrament meeting on missionary work. For the third hour of the block, I presented some of the material from last month's worldwide training broadcast. Unfortunately, I had some technical difficulties that limited which video clips I was able to show. I showed Elder Perry's message, but I also really wanted to show the musical vignette, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go," and President Monson's remarks. You can watch those at the link above, if you like. I especially recommend the musical vignette. After church, I went home teaching, visiting with a wonderful family in our ward who I just love. Then I attended the monthly stake missionary training. After that meeting, I co-hosted a special fireside with the other ward that meets in our building, an event we called Ward Mission Conference (which will become a quarterly meeting). It went really well, and I was glad to see the folks who turned out. Finally, I baked some brownies and delivered them to another home teaching family. Whew!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the Brigham City Temple with my good friend Ryan and perform baptisms for the dead. They had a shortage of Melchizedek Priesthood holders on hand, so we got to not only do Ryan's family names, but also assist with some youth who were there. We each got to fulfill six different roles: baptizer, proxy baptizee, baptism witness, confirmer, proxy confirmee, and confirmation witness. The trip took four hours all told, and it was really nice that we had no restraints on our time and could just relax, wait, be patient, serve, and enjoy the spirit of the temple. That's really the way to do it!

So, a great spiritual weekend all around! Exhausting, but refreshing all at once. (Note: I mention all these things not to "toot my own horn," but simply to recommend to you the great blessings that come from being active in the Lord's work. It takes effort, but it really makes you feel good!)

Anyway, here's a transcript of the talk I gave in sacrament meeting today. Hopefully it may be of some use to you. (Note: a small portion of this talk was previously published as a post on this blog.)

Sacrament Talk: Missionary Work in the Ward

This talk may not be for everybody. It is really only for some of you.

So, if you are someone who has no interest in missionary work, no desire at all to fellowship the less active, befriend the part-member family, or be an example to non-members in your neighborhood, this isn’t for you. If you are convinced that you can personally never make any difference in someone else’s life, if you are certain that you’ve got nothing to offer and you don’t ever want to try to be a missionary, if the whole idea of member missionary work is impossible to you –I guess you can just go home and take a nap until Sunday School starts.

Meanwhile, if you’re a complete missionary superstar – fully on board with the program, totally ON FIRE with missionary spirit, bursting with excitement over the Church’s big new emphasis on missionary work and are currently providing me and the full-time elders with multiple solid referrals and teaching opportunities each month – and to be honest you’d rather be out in the neighborhood right now spreading the gospel – well, you don’t need to hear what I have to say either. You can leave.

Oh. So, I guess you’ve all self-selected to fall into the third group – those who, deep down, WISH they could do more to build up the Lord’s Kingdom, who truly desire to make a difference and to be a faithful member-missionary, but perhaps struggle with overcoming the challenges of stepping out of your comfort zone, or maybe have a hard time with thinking of things you can do. Perhaps you have a desire to share the gospel, to be an example, to make more friends – but you just don’t have time. You have no idea who to talk to – you don’t know where to start. Maybe you’re just tired, overwhelmed, or scared.

Well, looking around, I see you are not alone.

And brothers and sisters, I’m in that category, too.

What I’ve found, as I’ve analyzed my situation, is that I have many excuses. I’ve also determined that most of them are pretty lame. Maybe these sound familiar:

I'm too busy. I am too shy. I don't want to offend anyone or make them feel uncomfortable. I would rather keep to myself. I don't want to open up that "can of worms." The status quo is just fine. I feel awkward – I don't even know where to begin a gospel conversation. Someone else is better qualified. I don't know anyone who could use the gospel message. So-and-so would never want to hear it. The time is never right.

While it's possible that each of these statements is technically, in some way, true; it does not excuse my inaction. It does not absolve me of the responsibility – the duty I have – to do what I know is right. It just helps me to rationalize and justify my personal failures.

That said, it's not productive to beat myself up, either. It's time to just recognize the fault, and fix it.

Put simply, it's time to repent. Time for change.

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend a special worldwide broadcast training for mission presidents – it was opened up to members of Ward Councils and their spouses as well – and is now available for viewing online by anyone. It was called “The Work of Salvation.” I found it to be a great motivator to remind me of my obligations, and to inspire me to do what's right.

And, lucky you, if you have not already seen it, I will be showing portions of it today during the third hour in a special joint meeting of the Priesthood and Relief Society.

In that video, our wonderful leaders are so inspiring. They make you want to change – not by making you feel guilty, but with gentle and loving counsel designed to inspire, uplift, and remind us of the great blessings we enjoy. The messages instill in us a true desire to live up to our divine potential, to serve, to share, and above all, to love.

As has been said several times recently by the prophet and apostles, the Lord is hastening His work. I do not take that message lightly. It means great things are ahead. It also means that I need to step up my own game, because the Lord's work (you know, that one that is hastening) is performed by His people – His followers – His Saints. We are the ones who must accomplish that work, as His hands, doing His work on the earth as His servants, blessing and serving others.

AsKing Benjamin said, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

Now is the time to serve our fellow beings, and thereby serve our God. All it takes is love, and a willingness to act upon that love. If you let love be your motivator, and let the Spirit be your guide, all you need to do is ignore your excuses (say "no" to laziness, "no" to fear, "no" to any and all of those false obstacles in my "excuse" list I mentioned earlier) – and you will have success.

In that training video, we were reminded of some great and wonderful facts by President Monson and the apostles:

• As we do our best, Heavenly Father will not let us fail.
• When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to His help.
• Wishing will not make it so; the Lord expects our action.

These are powerful messages that can help us overcome the things that we let prevent us from sharing the gospel.

When I think of how happy the gospel makes me, when I consider the great blessings in my life that come because of the gospel, and when I think of the eternal significance of the gospel – I am driven, I am motivated, I am urged from deep within my soul to share the wonderful truths of the restored gospel.

Now all I need to do is ignore the excuses and do it.

The best way to share the gospel is in the way we live our lives. We should let it be evident in the way we live and serve others and build friendships that we love others and want them to share in the joy we experience in the gospel. If we can shift our focus ever so slightly away from ourselves and look outward to those around us, this should not be hard.

In a message found in the February 2013 edition of the Ensign, called “A Word to the Hesitant Missionary,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

“Disciples of Jesus Christ have always been under the obligation to take His gospel to the world. Nevertheless, sometimes it is difficult to open our mouths and speak about our faith to those around us. While some members of the Church have a natural gift for talking to others about religion, others are a little hesitant or may feel awkward, embarrassed, or even fearful of doing so.”

He then outlines four important things to consider when being a member missionary:

1. Be a light: that is, let the joy radiated in your life be, in itself, a reason why people may ask you questions to find out what it is that makes you so happy.
2. Be conversational: here he includes the simple method of not avoiding references to the Church when speaking with others not of our faith – in fact, we should freely speak of Church-related things, as it opens a door for people to ask questions. In the past, I've found myself editing my speech by saying "my neighborhood" when I really mean "my ward." I really should just use the language of the gospel, as it opens up doors. President Uchtdorf also mentions using social media to be conversational about the Church - something that's easy for us all to do – as simple as clicking "like."
3. Be full of grace: meaning, be clear and kind and civil; do not be disagreeable.
4. Be filled with faith: for this one, I will quote President Uchtdorf – “Sometimes we take upon ourselves too much credit or too much blame when it comes to others accepting the gospel. It’s important to remember that the Lord doesn't expect us to do the converting. Conversion comes not through our words but through the heavenly ministrations of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes all it takes is one single phrase of our testimony or about an experience to set in motion the softening of a heart or the opening of a door that can lead others to experience sublime truths through the promptings of the Spirit… The Lord can magnify the words you speak and make them mighty. God doesn't ask you to convert but rather to open your mouths. The task of converting is not yours—that belongs to the person hearing and to the Holy Spirit.”

So, by your efforts, you can bring the Spirit, and then let him do the work.

Elder Clayton M. Christiansen said in February 2005:

“The ability to share the gospel isn’t a ‘gift’ that has been given to only a few Latter-day Saints and denied to the rest. We have concluded from our own experiences and from watching others that finding people for the missionaries to teach can be easy and natural for all of us—if we go about it the Lord’s way.”

One of the things Elder Christiansen mentions is the importance of not editing people off your list of “possibly interested” folks, simply because you don’t think they’d be interested (for whatever reason – usually some kind of judgment on your own part). You simply never know who is ready, unless you provide the opportunity. He described how he and his wife had made a list of possible contacts for the missionaries, but left certain couples off the list as “obviously not interested.” When the missionaries became desperate for referrals, they offered those “unlikely” names, only to surprisingly find that they were receptive. Elder Christiansen says, “The only way all people can have the opportunity to choose or reject the gospel of Jesus Christ is for us, without judgment, to invite them to follow the Savior.”

Now, while much of what I am saying today has to do with building friendships with our neighbors in the context of missionary work, I think Elder Christiansen said something very interesting. He said, 

“Over the past 20 years, we have observed no correlation between the depth of a relationship and the probability that a person will be interested in learning about the gospel. But the reverse is almost always true: Everyone who accepts an invitation becomes a closer friend, regardless of whether or not he or she ultimately accepts baptism. We have also learned that even when people decline our invitations, they are not offended if they can feel our love and God’s love when we invite them to learn about Christ’s gospel. They typically have expressed gratitude that we cared enough about them to want to share something so personal and important.” 

That’s worth thinking about.

As many of you may know, a few decades ago, President David O. McKay stated that every member should be a missionary. Of course, he didn’t mean that you – with your busy life, your job, family, and other responsibilities – needed to be a full-time missionary every hour of every day of your life.

Instead, you might think of your missionary efforts – the sharing of the gospel through words and actions, being a friend and being an example – as something you tithe. A tithe is ten percent, so with 168 hours in a week, that works out to 16.8 hours of missionary work a week. Nah, that’s WAY too much to expect. So, how about we just go with a tithe of a tithe – just one percent of your time. Well, that’s a little over 90 minutes a week. Still too much? Okay, how about just 0.3% of your time – which works out to about a half hour a week?

But what can you accomplish in a half hour a week, when it comes to missionary work? It turns out there’s a lot you can do. Here are a few ideas. I’ve arranged them into three levels that represent varying degrees of “stepping outside your comfort zone.”

LEVEL 1:

1. Wave and smile to a neighbor you don’t know very well.
2.  Say “hello” to a neighbor you don’t know very well.
3.  Say “Hello, how are you?” and stop and wait for the reply.

LEVEL 2:

1. Bake some cookies and bring them to a neighbor you don’t know very well.
2. Without being asked, perform a small service, such as bringing their trash can in from the street (preferably AFTER the trash has been collected), pulling a few weeds in their yard when you’re already out doing yours, mowing their grass when you mow yours, or some other little thing.
3. Invite a neighbor over for dessert or perhaps a barbecue.

LEVEL 3:

1.  Invite a neighbor to a church-related activity, such as a picnic, fireside, or other event.
2.  Invite a neighbor to church.
3.  Invite a neighbor to meet with the missionaries in your home.

Of course, the different ideas may be applicable to different neighbors. For example, if you already say “hello” to a certain neighbor, and have been doing so for the last four years, maybe it’s time to move to the next level with them, and bring them some cookies. Or, if you have a neighbor with whom you regularly exchange treats, maybe it’s time to ask them over for dessert *inside* your home. There is great power to touch hearts in the sacred and spiritual environment found in your home. Make use of it.

There are a bunch of other ideas, too, such as those found in our Ward Mission Plan. You may not be familiar with the Ward Mission Plan…I had intended to post it on the wall over here in our corridor, but have not done so yet. But here it is:

The purpose of the 2013 Fox Hollow Ward Mission Plan is:

• to help every member of the Fox Hollow Ward fulfill the prophetic admonishment to be a member missionary
• to help every less active member within our ward boundaries return to full activity and receive the blessings attendant thereunto
• to assist the full time missionaries in their efforts to teach the gospel to non-members within our ward boundaries by regularly providing qualified referrals

You and your family can advance the purposes of the ward mission plan by participating in the following ways:

• February/March: Prayerfully select a specific family to invite to visit the church investigator website www.mormon.org or to whom to give a pass-along card.
• April/May: Prayerfully select a specific family to give a Book of Mormon. Write your family’s testimonies in it to give meaning to the gift.
• June/July: Prayerfully select a specific family to invite over for a family dinner, BBQ or FHE.
• August/September: Participate in our neighborhood “Snack ‘n’ Shuffle” and invite a less active or non-member neighbor to participate. By the way, that Snack n Shuffle is two weeks from today, on August 11^th at 6pm. And I’ll be talking to a few of you very soon about being “snack stations.”
• October/November: Prayerfully select a specific family to invite to Sunday church meetings.
• December: Prayerfully select a specific family to invite to visit Temple Square and see the lights.

For the youth (as a year-round challenge): Prayerfully select one specific non-member friend to invite to a weeknight Young Men/Young Women activity.

For the primary children (as a year-round challenge): Help your little ones think of a less active or non-member friend they can invite to Primary.

If your efforts through the year are successful, you may also want to prayerfully select one specific family to hear the missionary discussions in your home.

Review these goals regularly to assess progress, and pray about missionary opportunities daily.

I also recommend taking full advantage of digital opportunities to share the gospel – such as blogging and social media – per Elder M. Russell Ballard’s suggestions found in the June 2008 Ensign. It was that message that inspired me to start my gospel blog, called Intelligent Life, found at brittonwrite.blogspot.com. It is a blog that is strictly about Church doctrine, intended to be used a missionary tool. I really wanted to have the opportunity to be a missionary in that way, since I did not have the opportunity to serve a full-time mission, being an adult convert.

Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “With a relationship of trust established and with help from the Lord, we generally can feel comfortable moving beyond the realm of friendship and can invite our friends to learn more about the Church.”  He also emphasized that you must set deadlines for yourself, or things don’t get done.

Also, if you haven’t been to lds.org lately, check it out. There are tons of great resources there now for sharing the gospel – they have really put a lot of effort into the missionary direction and it’s actually pretty cool.

The work is hastening. Doctrine & Covenants 4:1-2 says, “Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.” As a covenant people, you have already embarked in the service of God. Let that service, then, be with your whole heart and might and mind and strength.

The General Authorities have passed along expectations to the stake, and the stake has passed those expectations on to the wards. We are to provide two new names each week for the full time missionaries to visit. These can be names of non-member investigators, part-member families, or less-active members. This does not mean names for the missionaries to cold-call. They must be folks with whom you have already spoken, and who have agreed to have the missionaries over.  Yes, it is a daunting challenge, but remember, that’s not two new names for each member, that’s for the whole ward. Together, we can do it. The important thing is to not think that someone else will take care of it, because if everyone thinks that, it won’t happen. But think of it this way: based on the math, you really only need to provide a referral about once every six months – but it may take you six months of relationship-building to get to that point with one of your neighbors. So, I encourage you to start now.

Think about your nearest neighbors – on each side, and across the street. Which one of them will you start improving your relationship with today? Who will you say “hello” to today? Or bring a treat to? Pray about it, then act on it.

If you have any additional ideas, please let me know. You can email or text me anytime. Also, you may wish to bring your ideas to a special fireside we are having tonight. It’s a joint meeting with the other ward that shares our building. We’ll be talking about the referral challenge, and also doing some hands-on practice in stepping outside the comfort zone. That’s at 7:00 p.m.

Brothers and sisters, I’m glad you decided to stick around for my talk. I know that your family will reap many wonderful blessings as a result of your concentrated, focused missionary efforts. It will definitely bless your children and increase the faith and love in your home. It will prepare your children for their missions. And it will help build the Kingdom of God.

I testify that as you make the effort, you will be blessed. We can and will, as a ward family, meet the challenge that’s been set forth by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to share the gospel with the world.

God lives. He loves us. He wants all of His children to have the opportunity to choose to come unto Christ. I know that Jesus Christ suffered and died for me, and was resurrected. I know that this is His restored Church, and that we are led by a true prophet. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Time for Change

Excuses.

I have so many of them. Most of them are pretty lame. Many of them are quite common:

I'm too busy. I am too shy. I don't want to offend anyone or make them feel uncomfortable. I would rather keep to myself. I don't want to open up that "can of worms." The status quo is just fine. I feel awkward - I don't even know where to start. Someone else is better qualified. I don't know anyone who could use the gospel message. So-and-so would never want to hear it. The time is never right.

While it's possible that each of these statements is technically, in some way, true; it does not excuse my inaction. It does not absolve me of the responsibility - the duty - to do what I know is right. It just helps me to rationalize and justify my personal failures.

That said, it's not productive to beat myself up, either. It's time to just recognize the fault, and fix it.

Put simply, it's time to repent.

Time for change.

A great meeting like tonight's worldwide broadcast for mission presidents - The Work of Salvation - which all members have been invited to watch, can be a great kick in the rear to remind you of your obligations, and to inspire you to do what's right.

And our wonderful leaders do it so well - not by making you feel guilty, not by bullying or cajoling, but with gentle and loving counsel designed to inspire, uplift, and remind us of the great blessings we enjoy. The messages instill in us a true desire to live up to our divine potential, to serve, to share, and above all, to love.

The Lord is hastening His work. This has been repeated many times lately by the Brethren. I do not take that message lightly. It means great things are ahead. It also means that I need to step up my own game, because the Lord's work (you know, that one that is hastening) is performed by His people - His followers - His Saints. We are the ones who must accomplish that work, as His hands, doing His work on the earth as His servants, blessing and serving others.

As King Benjamin said, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

Now is the time to serve our fellow beings, and thereby serve our God. All it takes is love, and a willingness to act upon that love. If you let love be your motivator, and let the Spirit be your guide, all you need to do is ignore your excuses (say "no" to laziness, "no" to fear, "no" to any and all of those false obstacles in my "excuse" list above) - and you will have success.

Tonight, we were reminded of some great and wonderful facts by President Monson and the apostles:

• As we do our best, Heavenly Father will not let us fail.
• When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to His help.
• Wishing will not make it so; the Lord expects our action.

These are powerful messages that can help us overcome the things that we let prevent us from sharing the gospel.

When I think of how happy the gospel makes me, when I consider the great blessings in my life that come because of the gospel, and when I think of the eternal significance of the gospel - I am driven, I am motivated, I am urged from deep within my soul to share the wonderful truths of the restored gospel.

Now all I need to do is ignore the excuses and do it.

The best way to share the gospel is in the way we live our lives. We should let it be evident in the way we live and serve others and build friendships that we love others and want them to share in the joy we experience in the gospel. If we can shift our focus ever so slightly away from ourselves and look outward to those around us, this should not be hard.

And so...it's time for change.

On the BSA Kerfuffle: Faith Brings Peace

Although it's been almost four months since my last post here, this subject actually dovetails very nicely with the subject of my previous post.

Several weeks ago, when the BSA was debating the policy changes, I discussed the situation with my closest friends and with my wife. I took a very hard-line attitude toward the issue, believing that any move to be inclusive of boys who struggle with same-sex attraction would be a terrible mistake, strategically and tactically.

Since my own personal opinion on the matter appeared to be in conflict with the way Church policy was shaping up, I took a step back.

I got down on my knees.

I humbly asked for peace on the issue.
My heart was softened.

It was my desire to sustain, trust, and follow the Brethren - because I believe that doing so is a sure road to peace and safety, and because I believe that doing so is a logical and requisite component of true discipleship. That is to say, either the Church is true, or it is not. If it is, then Jesus Christ stands at its head and directs His chosen servants to lead it as He wants it led. (And if a leader goes astray, per Brigham Young, he is removed from his place by God.)

I believe that to be true. I know it to be true.

Thus, I decided, in that prayer, to let go of my own attitudes and opinions on the matter, and instead trust that the Brethren know what they are doing. That took humility, and a sincere desire to be obedient, and to understand.

While I am not to be blindly obedient, I am commanded to be obedient. Unless I believe the current prophet, Thomas S. Monson, is no longer legitimate in the administration of Church affairs, and is no longer operating under the direction of Jesus Christ, then it devolves upon me to fall in line and support him and the Brethren regarding Church policy decisions and Church doctrine.

"Whether by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)

So, when the Brethren released their statement yesterday, I received it with perfect equanimity, and peace in my heart. Though it was contrary to what I had previously believed was in the best interest of the Church, the BSA, the boys, and the ongoing conflict between righteousness and "the world," I truly had no problem with it. That felt good!

And when I thought about it, I realized that what the Church did was not at all cowardly or "caving" to the world (as some have suggested - as if this is politics, rather than the administration of Christ's kingdom), but, quite to the contrary, it was a great courageous decision because the Church chose to be Christlike in the face of potential criticism. The Church chose kindness and love and forgiveness and understanding over worrying what it might "look like" in the eyes of either the hard-hearted members like myself, other churches, or those driving the homosexual agenda. Like Christ healing on the Sabbath to the "shock" of the Pharisees, or choosing not to condemn the woman caught in adultery, to the chagrin of the bloodthirsty crowd, the Church has said, in effect, "Let us care for all of God's children, regardless of what they struggle with, or what the world may say." And I say, "kudos."

Last month in General Conference, Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught,

"Alma taught that 'the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.' In order to understand this, we must separate the sin from the sinner." 

Too often, it is easy to conflate the sin with the sinner - to be judgmental. I know that because this is one of my biggest weaknesses.

In considering this, my wife suggested a thought experiment: how would I feel if my precious son, or a brother or other person near and dear to me, were struggling with same-sex attraction, and was shunned and excluded from the Boy Scouts based on that? How would that exclusion hurt that boy? And how would the virtues of kindness and understanding be developed in the scouts who were part of excluding others? Might not the scout program itself, and the good influences found there, be of help to a young boy with those struggles? Might involvement in scouts not help that boy to better understand his identity and divine destiny and to overcome the temptations that beset him? Do we exclude people from Church participation because they are imperfect, struggling with temptations to sin in various ways?

Christ's ministry focused on serving and helping the individual, not on creating collateral damage in a war of agendas.

In the last General Conference, Craig A. Cardon of the Seventy said:

"Preach My Gospel speaks of the difficulty in overcoming addictive behavior and encourages priesthood leaders and members to 'not be shocked or discouraged' if investigators or new members continue to struggle with such problems. Rather, we are counseled to 'show confidence in the individual and not be judgmental … [treating] it as a temporary and understandable setback.' Could we do less with our own children or family members who struggle with similar problems, having temporarily strayed from the path of righteousness? Surely they merit our steadiness, patience, and love—and yes, our forgiveness. In general conference just last October, President Monson counseled: 'We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions. ... We can help them to overcome their shortcomings. We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become.'"

While same-sex attraction may not be a "temporary" problem (it is in the eternal perspective), surely it is not a reason to be judgmental and exclusionary. Personally, I will strive to avoid such sins and be kind to others, regardless of what they struggle with. How awful it would be, for example, if I were to be excluded from a Church activity because of my own tendency to judge others!

And it should be noted that the Church's position on this issue has not actually changed: as it says in the statement, boys in the scouting program are required to adhere to the moral standards found in the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet - the guidelines are the same. Moral behavior is still required for participation. Nowhere in the Church are people penalized for uncommitted sins - condemned for a mere propensity or temptation - and that should be no different in Scouts.

Might this be a slippery-slope? Sure. No worries, the Brethren have it in hand. Will I be accompanying my son on any and all campouts? Certainly - but that was a decision I made for safety reasons long ago, before any of this debate ever came up. Today's world is dangerous, and this policy, one way or the other, doesn't change that fact.

Bottom line: Whatever the pros and cons of this policy decision may be, my faith is strongly - immovably - placed in the wisdom and divinely-inspired leadership of the Prophet and his counselors and the apostles. I am not too proud to say that they know better than me. I know that they are doing the Lord's will, whether I fully understand it or not. I am sure they have contingency plans in place for whatever troubles may lie ahead (and if not, they will receive appropriate revelation at the appropriate time). I am certain that, since this decision came from Jesus Christ Himself, that it can only, in the long run, come to good.

Any other conclusion, for me, requires me to disavow my own testimony - which I cannot do, and shall never do.

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (and, by extension, His kingdom on the earth, His church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the leadership He put in place)." (Joshua 24:15)

I very much hope this helps folks who are struggling with the Church's decision. Though it has happened many times in the past, a disagreement on a point of policy would be a tragic reason to forfeit one's eternal blessings.

Don't worry. It will all be okay. Have FAITH.

Receiving Revelation and "Receiving" Revelation

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that we are each entitled to receive revelation. That doesn't mean we are all prophets - it just means that we are all capable of getting communication from our Father in Heaven.

As I've mentioned previously, revelation is specific to the sphere of influence of the receiver. For example, each person is entitled to receive revelation that applies to his or her self, a parent may receive revelation that applies to the family, a bishop receives revelation for the ward, a stake president for the stake, and the president (prophet) of the Church is the only one entitled to receive revelation that applies to the whole Church.

So, while we all may receive revelation, we are each entitled only to a specific "level" or "type" of revelation commensurate with our position.

But what I want to talk about here is somewhat different: when our leaders receive revelation, how do we "receive" it? Do we accept it with obedience and commitment and a sincere desire to follow the leaders God has appointed to watch over His flock, or do we we receive it with a skeptical heart, a reluctant mind, and a begrudging spirit? Do we pick and choose which revelations we will willingly "receive"?

This principle applies in  many ways. Do you "receive" the revelation from your bishop by taking seriously the idea that your calling (or someone else's calling) was inspired? Or do you doubt? Do you "receive" the revelation from the prophet that the Saints should not watch rated R movies? Or do you choose to believe that doesn't apply to you?

The Lord has made it clear in the scriptures - in revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith - that we are to "receive" the revelations of our leaders:

"Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith." (D&C 21:4-5)

And again, most poignantly:

"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)

That's right - when you ignore the prophet or dismiss your bishop, it is the same as disregarding the Lord Himself.

Yes, we can all receive revelation when God communicates with us through the Holy Ghost. But I think we often may neglect to actually "receive" revelation when it comes through another human being.

So what's the problem? An aversion to (or misunderstanding of) obedience? Perhaps it's pride, or a lack of faith - or something else.

What do you think?

Book of Mormon Challenge

Back on November 8th, my wife said we should have a Book of Mormon challenge: that is, to try to read the Book of Mormon, in its entirety, between November 8th and December 31st. I said, "Sure!" and created a Facebook event, in case any of our friends wanted to participate, too.

I invited 250 of my 500 Facebook friends (it turns out half of my friends are LDS). Of those invitations, 26 signed up to take part. I was surprised that many did, and was glad to have prompted some folks to get reading!

I created a spreadsheet charting the amount of progress needed for each day in order to complete the reading by the end of 2012, and shared that sheet with any who signed up. Then I kept a close watch on my progress as the days and weeks flew by. I read entirely on my smart phone this time, which was very convenient, since it is always with me.

In the end, I didn't make it. I ended up finishing this morning, January 15th. Had I been only a little more diligent, I could've met the goal. But, it's all right; I still outperformed my wife, and that's what really matters. :)

So, here's what I took away from the experience:

1) The challenge helped me get back into the habit of committing a fair amount of time each day to the scriptures. I needed that reintroduction of discipline in my life. It became clear that I waste too much time on other, less important stuff. 
 
2) I've read the Book of Mormon through several times before, and I notice different things each time. There were many specific things, but overall I particularly felt the humanity of the writers (prophets) - what they must have felt at the time they inscribed the plates. 
 
3) A brisk read also helps with recognizing the distinct voices of the different writers within the book.
 
4) I feel my faith was strengthened, as at this point in my life (unemployed) I really need that extra boost.
 
5) As always, it was, at many times throughout the book, so abundantly clear that this was not the work of one young man (Joseph Smith) - aside from the translation, of course - but that it is a true record of ancient date and of immeasurable worth.

I know the Book of Mormon is true. I encourage all to read it, cover to cover, and then pray about it with real intent, believing you will receive an answer.

I also challenge you to study it this year in a way you have not before - study by topic, keep a journal, read it straight through, or whatever. Trying a new way of studying it can really make a difference!

Happy reading in 2013!