I've been struggling to come up with what to write that last few months but after a recent issue that has come up in the public eye, I have something I could go on about for hours and that's a good thing because it's actually quite a beautiful irony in my own life and others as well I'm sure.
If you haven't, watch National Treasure with Nicolas Cage. It's a really cool movie. For those who haven't seen it, the movie is about the hunt for the Templar Treasure. Ben Gates (Cage) is following clues, built by the Free Masons into things like the liberty bell tower, the dollar bill, the declaration of independence, all of which most people believe are just radical, ridiculous conspiracies that are just a bunch of hogwash. But Ben believes the treasure exists and ends up finding all the clues, that they are all completely real and just before the end, they find what they think should be the treasure room in a series of underground caves, from what the room looks like, but there's no treasure there.
Ben's father Patrick (Jon Voigt) has been reluctantly pulled into the treasure hunt by that point and has believed the whole time that they're just searching for nothing, that Ben is delusional and overly obsessed. However, when they find the supposed treasure room, Ben gets discouraged because there's no treasure there and Patrick says this: "This room is real, Ben. And that means the treasure is real. We're in the company of some of the most brilliant minds in history because you found what they left behind for us to find, and understood the meaning of it. You did it, Ben, for all of us - your grandfather and all of us." and this is the awesome part that leads into what I want to talk about, "and I've never been so happy to be proven wrong."
Happy to be wrong about something? Yup! I've been there before, too and if you approach that thought from the right angle it feels great.
The issue that I believe warrants my writing about this is the controversy surrounding Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing for Trump's Presidential Inauguration. I'm not here to talk about whether they should or shouldn't sing (though I think they are setting a Christ-like example by doing so). I'm also not going to talk about the member who quit the choir because of that event. I'd like to ask my readers to consider this. Whether you dislike Trump, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's choice to sing for his event or anything, what if you're wrong? Whether you think that the kid who was mean to you in school was just a mean-hearted jerk or that one customer service rep was rude to you because they just don't care about anything but money, what if you're wrong? Perhaps you think that teacher graded you unfairly or that politician is corrupt to the core and has an evil heart or that person who sent you a mean comment on facebook finds some sadistic pleasure from trolling you or seeing you get upset, but what if you're wrong?
Of course there are people who are actually like that, but only God knows the hearts and minds and deep feelings and motives of everyone personally. Honestly, I do believe that most politicians don't really have as much interest in the public good as they say they do, but do you know how happy I would be if I found out that I was wrong? If I found that they really are trying their best to look out for everyone under their jurisdiction? I would be ecstatic to know that that customer service rep was just having a bad day and wished they could correct their mistake. I would be overjoyed to find out that someone I love who appears to be losing their faith is just going through a phase and that they would come out of it stronger.
There are so many examples of assumptions we make about negative things, in politics, religious, social drama, etc. that we would be so much happier about if we found out that we are wrong. Does Trump seem like he will be a terrifying tyrant of a president? To many, yes. And their fears and frustrations are real. But what if they're wrong? That would be a huge relief for them to find out, right? I personally believe that Obama was the worst president in the history of the world, that his presidency was littered with scandals and tyranny, broken promises, carelessness and brazen dishonesty, but I would also love it if I found out that many of the negative things I've heard about him are simply misrepresentations of truth or even complete lies.
We all say we all hope for and desire a better world, but do we really? A lot of us today seem to seek more for the latest bombshell about that one bad thing that person did and find entertainment in speaking our mind against perceived injustices. This is ridiculous. Part of our purpose in this life is to be happy. With society as saturated as it is with bad news and more bad news and more bad news, you would think that if people really wanted to be and stay happy that they would be looking for reasons to disbelieve negative news about people.
One good way to do this, I believe, is to consider the last part of this quote (don't know the source):
Small minds talk about people
Average minds talk about events
Great minds talk about ideas
I shake my head in disbelief when I see people obsessing about that one reality show, the "racist", "bigoted" or "sexist" statement made on social media when there are things much more deserving of our attention, good things that needs to be given more attention so that people have reason to rejoice about the good in the world.
Am I suggesting that we disregard the negative things that, to be sure, happen everywhere? Of course not. There are seemingly countless people in legitimately really hard circumstances who need our help, empathy, condolences, etc. But with all that kind of thing in the world today, does it not make sense to seek for reasons to disbelieve that rumor about that celebrity or to doubt that that person who cut you off on the road today is a bad driver? Maybe their father or sister is sick and they are scared and are trying to get there as fast as possible. You'd feel better knowing that people are better than you think they are. You'd likely feel more peace knowing that you are mistaken and that there's really nothing to worry about.
There's already enough negative things that actually do happen and enough people who really do have evil in their hearts all the time. I'd say it's about time we stop succumbing to the hype that news sources try to induce for the sake of "controversy" and "attention" and shift our focus to good people, great ideas, hard work, forgiveness, love, great achievements, cheering for the underdog, celebrating goodness, truth, courage and honesty. I'd say it's about time we stop being afraid to say about our negative perceptions of people, "I hope I'm wrong."
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Politics: A Clear Voice In the Face of Chaos
Ah, yes, likely the all around most contentious topic of conversation in existence today aside from religion. So why the heck am I writing about it? To be honest, I do my best to avoid this subject matter, but there's something happening in the world right now within politics about which so many are (both innocently and willfully) ignorant that I feel a great need to publish this as a reminder to disciples of Christ and a warning and message of hope to anyone else who will read this.
To the best of my memory, ever since Nixon, people's trust in the U.S. government has been doing a total nose dive with no apparent hope of any kind of recovery in that area. Every four years since then, the majority of the United States population have allowed themselves to be manipulated by fear mongering, controlled by hate and anger and given into the lie that mortal men can solve all the countries problems. The whole reason we are in this mess of a country we have is because of mortal men, so more of them sure as heck won't get us out. If we want to have any voice of clarity in all this chaos we need to be turning to Someone who is always clear no matter what else is going on anywhere in the universe, our Savior Jesus Christ. Elected politicians may never again give us anything more than unfulfilled promises and bravado. Yes, there are some who actually do want to do good for us by keeping traditional, biblical family values at the core of society, but there are so many of them who don't that they usually end up snuffing out the voice of the few politicians who have any kind of moral compass.
For a while I was actually considering writing in a name instead of checking off one of nominees for any party but at this point (pre election 2016) I have chosen my candidate. Part of this is because of the fulfillment of the Book of Mormon, written for our day, where "their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted." (Helaman 5:2) The other part is because, as I have quoted before, from Elder Maxwell, “If, in the end, you have not chosen Jesus Christ it will not matter what you have chosen.” Only one the candidates who even tried in the race for nomination have given me any indication that they are basing their campaign enough around principles of Christ and His Plan and Atonement but even with him, I'm nervous that he will, at some point, slip into the same pattern that every other politician does. Christ is the center my moral code and in order for me to vote for a person to fill the office of president, I need to be convinced that they have, as much as possible, the Savior at the center of their focus.
As Glen Beck said, "If you’ve ever been to Washington, D.C., you know the architecture of the buildings. These guys go to work every day in historic buildings and say, ‘Dig me. Look how important I am.’ And some people in the government actually believe, ‘This is never going away. We’ll never lose this. We’ve been through worse times than this.’ No, we haven’t. Nineteen trillion dollars in debt? No, we haven’t. The public as angry as they are now? No, we haven’t. The only other time it’s been like this was the Civil War. You couple the Civil War with $19 trillion in debt, and it doesn’t last." There are more divisions and bickering and hardened minds and hearts among all groups of people today than there ever was. Even among Latter-day Saints, the most religiously united group in the world, the intensity of radical divisions in our political opinions this time around proves what President Kimball said, that we are in a "battle royal with an enemy so powerful, entrenched, and organized that we are likely to be vanquished if we are not strong, well-trained, and watchful."
The United States has now become the Divided States, and not just by a factor of which state is more "blue" or "red" than another. It is also divided within each state to different extents per state. Even in states like Texas or New York, where the majority of the population is one political "color", there are sizable areas where large and bitter divisions have taken place recently. In my home state of Colorado, according to this map, the division has been getting more polar and aggressive than ever in previous elections and it's worse now than it was then.
Is there any hope left for the United States? Yes! There is! It all depends on who we put our faith in as the clear voice in the face of all this chaos. Christ is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. As Isaiah prophesied, the "government shall be upon His shoulder". It is He who ultimately has all things in His care. Yes, I'm aware that He has revealed to modern prophets that we need to be appropriately engaged in politics, but our reasons for choosing a candidate to vote for should not be because of which type of person they appeal to or which political party they identify with. The reason should be because the candidate shows by their actions that they are most likely to promote and enforce as much as possible the doctrines and patterns of living exemplified by Christ. Changing laws won't decrease the number of criminals. Changing creating new penalties for crimes won't change the hearts of men. Putting more policies into the education system will not repair anyone's ignorance. All of these issues can only be solved by one thing: understanding, in our hearts and minds, the doctrine of Christ; for as President Boyd K. Packer said, "The study of the doctrines of the Gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior."
Every election gets more angry, more contentious, more divided and more destructive than the last and it's everything to do with not enough attention on the Savior's example. The socio-political tide is changing fast and the divide between true disciples of Christ and those who are not is only going to get more quickly, drastically and obviously wider.
If you don't want to be on the wrong of the side of the eminent chaos looming over the world right now, turn full force toward Jesus Christ and don't let distractions pull you attention away from Him. Satan is more clever in his manipulation of the media and their portrayal of public opinion than you realize. That cool new product that will never bring you as much happiness as the time you could spend strengthening relationship with your family. Knowing the relationship status of Angelina Jolie is nowhere near as important as your relationship status with your family and your Savior. A presidential candidate that is popular because he "says what everyone else is really thinking" is no match for the One after whom we should be shaping what we are thinking. In fact, one of the major causes for the turmoil around the world today is the evil and destructive thoughts, especially when they are executed, of mankind.
No matter how this upcoming election turns out, the only thing that will put the U.S. back on the right path is if the general public stops letting anger and selfishness dictate their priorities and allow the love and law of the Lord to permeate their hearts. No matter which candidate is elected, even if we have the most Christ-like leader possible, it won't make any difference if Americans don't turn their hearts to Christ as well.
The only way to pull America out of the hole it's in is for Americans to uproot the anger out of their hearts and fill it with the pure truth and love of Jesus Christ.
To the best of my memory, ever since Nixon, people's trust in the U.S. government has been doing a total nose dive with no apparent hope of any kind of recovery in that area. Every four years since then, the majority of the United States population have allowed themselves to be manipulated by fear mongering, controlled by hate and anger and given into the lie that mortal men can solve all the countries problems. The whole reason we are in this mess of a country we have is because of mortal men, so more of them sure as heck won't get us out. If we want to have any voice of clarity in all this chaos we need to be turning to Someone who is always clear no matter what else is going on anywhere in the universe, our Savior Jesus Christ. Elected politicians may never again give us anything more than unfulfilled promises and bravado. Yes, there are some who actually do want to do good for us by keeping traditional, biblical family values at the core of society, but there are so many of them who don't that they usually end up snuffing out the voice of the few politicians who have any kind of moral compass.
For a while I was actually considering writing in a name instead of checking off one of nominees for any party but at this point (pre election 2016) I have chosen my candidate. Part of this is because of the fulfillment of the Book of Mormon, written for our day, where "their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted." (Helaman 5:2) The other part is because, as I have quoted before, from Elder Maxwell, “If, in the end, you have not chosen Jesus Christ it will not matter what you have chosen.” Only one the candidates who even tried in the race for nomination have given me any indication that they are basing their campaign enough around principles of Christ and His Plan and Atonement but even with him, I'm nervous that he will, at some point, slip into the same pattern that every other politician does. Christ is the center my moral code and in order for me to vote for a person to fill the office of president, I need to be convinced that they have, as much as possible, the Savior at the center of their focus.
As Glen Beck said, "If you’ve ever been to Washington, D.C., you know the architecture of the buildings. These guys go to work every day in historic buildings and say, ‘Dig me. Look how important I am.’ And some people in the government actually believe, ‘This is never going away. We’ll never lose this. We’ve been through worse times than this.’ No, we haven’t. Nineteen trillion dollars in debt? No, we haven’t. The public as angry as they are now? No, we haven’t. The only other time it’s been like this was the Civil War. You couple the Civil War with $19 trillion in debt, and it doesn’t last." There are more divisions and bickering and hardened minds and hearts among all groups of people today than there ever was. Even among Latter-day Saints, the most religiously united group in the world, the intensity of radical divisions in our political opinions this time around proves what President Kimball said, that we are in a "battle royal with an enemy so powerful, entrenched, and organized that we are likely to be vanquished if we are not strong, well-trained, and watchful."
The United States has now become the Divided States, and not just by a factor of which state is more "blue" or "red" than another. It is also divided within each state to different extents per state. Even in states like Texas or New York, where the majority of the population is one political "color", there are sizable areas where large and bitter divisions have taken place recently. In my home state of Colorado, according to this map, the division has been getting more polar and aggressive than ever in previous elections and it's worse now than it was then.
Is there any hope left for the United States? Yes! There is! It all depends on who we put our faith in as the clear voice in the face of all this chaos. Christ is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. As Isaiah prophesied, the "government shall be upon His shoulder". It is He who ultimately has all things in His care. Yes, I'm aware that He has revealed to modern prophets that we need to be appropriately engaged in politics, but our reasons for choosing a candidate to vote for should not be because of which type of person they appeal to or which political party they identify with. The reason should be because the candidate shows by their actions that they are most likely to promote and enforce as much as possible the doctrines and patterns of living exemplified by Christ. Changing laws won't decrease the number of criminals. Changing creating new penalties for crimes won't change the hearts of men. Putting more policies into the education system will not repair anyone's ignorance. All of these issues can only be solved by one thing: understanding, in our hearts and minds, the doctrine of Christ; for as President Boyd K. Packer said, "The study of the doctrines of the Gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior."
Every election gets more angry, more contentious, more divided and more destructive than the last and it's everything to do with not enough attention on the Savior's example. The socio-political tide is changing fast and the divide between true disciples of Christ and those who are not is only going to get more quickly, drastically and obviously wider.
If you don't want to be on the wrong of the side of the eminent chaos looming over the world right now, turn full force toward Jesus Christ and don't let distractions pull you attention away from Him. Satan is more clever in his manipulation of the media and their portrayal of public opinion than you realize. That cool new product that will never bring you as much happiness as the time you could spend strengthening relationship with your family. Knowing the relationship status of Angelina Jolie is nowhere near as important as your relationship status with your family and your Savior. A presidential candidate that is popular because he "says what everyone else is really thinking" is no match for the One after whom we should be shaping what we are thinking. In fact, one of the major causes for the turmoil around the world today is the evil and destructive thoughts, especially when they are executed, of mankind.
No matter how this upcoming election turns out, the only thing that will put the U.S. back on the right path is if the general public stops letting anger and selfishness dictate their priorities and allow the love and law of the Lord to permeate their hearts. No matter which candidate is elected, even if we have the most Christ-like leader possible, it won't make any difference if Americans don't turn their hearts to Christ as well.
The only way to pull America out of the hole it's in is for Americans to uproot the anger out of their hearts and fill it with the pure truth and love of Jesus Christ.
Friday, June 26, 2015
A Call To Arms
"And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole."
This is what Captain Moroni did when people from his home land became traitors to their country, to their God and the liberty whereby they had been made free.
Unfortunately, the same things that were happening then are happening today. We have people in more than just the U.S. becoming traitors to their country, traitors to their God and the plan for which they fought before they were born, traitors to the very gifts of the Atonement and Agency they defended prior to this life and, as modern prophets have been warning for a long time now, it's time we step it up and stop being afraid to defend truth. Political correctness needs to go out the window. Sensitivity to people's feelings and beliefs does not have to and should never mean that we should be apologizing for our own. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "Even as we seek to be meek and to avoid contention, we must not compromise or dilute our commitment to the truths we understand. We must not surrender our positions or our values. The gospel of Jesus Christ and the covenants we have made inevitably cast us as combatants in the eternal contest between truth and error. There is no middle ground in that contest."
This entry is a call to action, to it's readers and to the world.
Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, our Advocate with the Father, our Atoning Mediator and loving Friend, is coming VERY soon. I can't pretend to know how soon, but consider this. Why do you think our prophet lowered the missionary age limit, allowing more missionaries to be called to hasten the work? Why do you think Elder Bednar issued a challenge to all members of the Lord's church as follows? "My beloved brothers and sisters, what has been accomplished thus far in this dispensation communicating gospel messages through social media channels is a good beginning—but only a small trickle. I now extend to you the invitation to help transform the trickle into a flood. Beginning at this place on this day, I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood." Why do you think leaders of the Lord's church have, a few years ago, sent out the clarion call to hasten the work of salvation? Why do you think we don't hear about getting out of debt, emergency preparation, food storage, etc. in General Conference anymore? Why do you think General Authorities have repeatedly declared the churches position on marriage every time the judicial government makes a decision that violates the Lord's standards for marriage? Why do you think there is more emphasis from our leaders, pleading with the world, to defend the Lord's standard for families, marriage, and a change of heart, and clinging to truth over all other things as frequently as they are?
The answer is simple. Our Lord is coming much sooner than most people, even many Latter-Day Saints, seem to be even willing to believe. The glorious day of His power will be here in the near future, the "disintegration of the family [is bringing] upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets"* and only those who are ready, willing to follow Christ's gospel and aware of what they should be looking for will not be deceived when He comes.
So here is my plea to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints reading this article as well as to myself:
1. Please show a greater commitment to sharing our Savior's gospel, the power of His Atonement and the reality of His restored church by being a greater example to those around you. Please show greater reverence and dedicated, sacred observance of the Sabbath day and make repentance and a change of heart and mind (I mean the hard changes) a daily practice. The blessings of doing so will be immeasurably wonderful to you, it will be noticed by others and they will want what you have.
2. Please show a greater commitment to sustaining the Lord's servants, the leaders of His church. Please do not seek to interpret their words in a way that simply fits your lifestyle, but rather in a way that brings you closer to exact, unapologetic, faith filled obedience to Christ's restored gospel.
3. Please learn to recognize the Holy Ghost more effectively and become more willing to follow His promptings. Recognize that He will never give you an impression that contradicts or even isn't in exact alignment with what God's prophets have declared.
Here is my plea to all others.
1. Please seek for understanding of the role of Jesus Christ in your life, to understand why He is so vital for your eternal happiness.
2. Please remember that as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are not out to convert you**, only the Holy Ghost can do that. We are simply and desperately trying to share with you the unmatched love and joy that comes with faith in and obedience to Jesus Christ, His Atonement and His resultant restored gospel. You are, of course, free to reject that invitation, but many of us will keep trying when we feel the time is right because we just care so darn much about you!
3. Please remember that taking offense is a one way choice. We live the way we believe and outwardly defend our beliefs when they are challenged, insulted or under attack the same way you would defend yours in the same situations. We respect your right to believe, choose and live as you will so long as you are not taking away other's right to do the same, so we ask in kindness that you give us same respect.
And last but not least, a challenge to all from any walk of life.
Whether you take me seriously with what I am about to say or not, I say it because I don't like seeing anyone suffer. A great change is coming to the world. For some it will be a time of great rejoicing, a signal of the proximity of the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. For others it will be a time of great sorrow because they are not prepared - spiritually, temporally, or both - and therefore cannot be guaranteed the same protection and safety as those to whom the blessings of faith and obedience have been granted by God, on which promise He has remained so invariably constant and will forever. Please prepare yourselves, spiritually and temporally, so your suffering is as minimal as possible. Follow the Lord's prophets so you can be as spared as possible from the grief that is to come and find joy in the protection of your Savior.
I say this with all the concern and love I can muster, echoing an ancient american prophet "...come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ;..." This call to arms is a request to accept his invitation, before it's too late.
*[The Family: A Proclamation To The World]
**[We are not trying to convert you]
This is what Captain Moroni did when people from his home land became traitors to their country, to their God and the liberty whereby they had been made free.
Unfortunately, the same things that were happening then are happening today. We have people in more than just the U.S. becoming traitors to their country, traitors to their God and the plan for which they fought before they were born, traitors to the very gifts of the Atonement and Agency they defended prior to this life and, as modern prophets have been warning for a long time now, it's time we step it up and stop being afraid to defend truth. Political correctness needs to go out the window. Sensitivity to people's feelings and beliefs does not have to and should never mean that we should be apologizing for our own. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "Even as we seek to be meek and to avoid contention, we must not compromise or dilute our commitment to the truths we understand. We must not surrender our positions or our values. The gospel of Jesus Christ and the covenants we have made inevitably cast us as combatants in the eternal contest between truth and error. There is no middle ground in that contest."
This entry is a call to action, to it's readers and to the world.
Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, our Advocate with the Father, our Atoning Mediator and loving Friend, is coming VERY soon. I can't pretend to know how soon, but consider this. Why do you think our prophet lowered the missionary age limit, allowing more missionaries to be called to hasten the work? Why do you think Elder Bednar issued a challenge to all members of the Lord's church as follows? "My beloved brothers and sisters, what has been accomplished thus far in this dispensation communicating gospel messages through social media channels is a good beginning—but only a small trickle. I now extend to you the invitation to help transform the trickle into a flood. Beginning at this place on this day, I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood." Why do you think leaders of the Lord's church have, a few years ago, sent out the clarion call to hasten the work of salvation? Why do you think we don't hear about getting out of debt, emergency preparation, food storage, etc. in General Conference anymore? Why do you think General Authorities have repeatedly declared the churches position on marriage every time the judicial government makes a decision that violates the Lord's standards for marriage? Why do you think there is more emphasis from our leaders, pleading with the world, to defend the Lord's standard for families, marriage, and a change of heart, and clinging to truth over all other things as frequently as they are?
The answer is simple. Our Lord is coming much sooner than most people, even many Latter-Day Saints, seem to be even willing to believe. The glorious day of His power will be here in the near future, the "disintegration of the family [is bringing] upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets"* and only those who are ready, willing to follow Christ's gospel and aware of what they should be looking for will not be deceived when He comes.
So here is my plea to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints reading this article as well as to myself:
1. Please show a greater commitment to sharing our Savior's gospel, the power of His Atonement and the reality of His restored church by being a greater example to those around you. Please show greater reverence and dedicated, sacred observance of the Sabbath day and make repentance and a change of heart and mind (I mean the hard changes) a daily practice. The blessings of doing so will be immeasurably wonderful to you, it will be noticed by others and they will want what you have.
2. Please show a greater commitment to sustaining the Lord's servants, the leaders of His church. Please do not seek to interpret their words in a way that simply fits your lifestyle, but rather in a way that brings you closer to exact, unapologetic, faith filled obedience to Christ's restored gospel.
3. Please learn to recognize the Holy Ghost more effectively and become more willing to follow His promptings. Recognize that He will never give you an impression that contradicts or even isn't in exact alignment with what God's prophets have declared.
Here is my plea to all others.
1. Please seek for understanding of the role of Jesus Christ in your life, to understand why He is so vital for your eternal happiness.
2. Please remember that as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are not out to convert you**, only the Holy Ghost can do that. We are simply and desperately trying to share with you the unmatched love and joy that comes with faith in and obedience to Jesus Christ, His Atonement and His resultant restored gospel. You are, of course, free to reject that invitation, but many of us will keep trying when we feel the time is right because we just care so darn much about you!
3. Please remember that taking offense is a one way choice. We live the way we believe and outwardly defend our beliefs when they are challenged, insulted or under attack the same way you would defend yours in the same situations. We respect your right to believe, choose and live as you will so long as you are not taking away other's right to do the same, so we ask in kindness that you give us same respect.
And last but not least, a challenge to all from any walk of life.
Whether you take me seriously with what I am about to say or not, I say it because I don't like seeing anyone suffer. A great change is coming to the world. For some it will be a time of great rejoicing, a signal of the proximity of the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. For others it will be a time of great sorrow because they are not prepared - spiritually, temporally, or both - and therefore cannot be guaranteed the same protection and safety as those to whom the blessings of faith and obedience have been granted by God, on which promise He has remained so invariably constant and will forever. Please prepare yourselves, spiritually and temporally, so your suffering is as minimal as possible. Follow the Lord's prophets so you can be as spared as possible from the grief that is to come and find joy in the protection of your Savior.
I say this with all the concern and love I can muster, echoing an ancient american prophet "...come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ;..." This call to arms is a request to accept his invitation, before it's too late.
*[The Family: A Proclamation To The World]
**[We are not trying to convert you]
Friday, April 10, 2015
Who's on the Lord's side?
The Lord's church is becoming harder to ignore and the demand for information about the church is continuously becoming greater. This talks about how mankind is becoming less and less ignorant of the church's existence and wants to know more about it. In it, Michael Otterson, managing director of the church's public affairs department, said "We tend to get calls asking us just to comment on things all the time now."
It looks like the general public seems to be craving, more often now, the position of the Lord's church on current issues facing society. It makes sense, though. When people see a certain group or people generally thriving more and happier than everyone else, they want to know why. According to Linda Davidson, "The church has become more visible, more familiar, more accepted – especially among those who help shape public opinion." As an example of this, a huge number of law makers and other voices on both sides of the LGBT community in many states throughout the U.S. have celebrated Utah's recent legislation, encouraged and sanctioned by the church, for fairness regarding LBGT rights in harmony with religious freedom. In fact, according to the article I mentioned at the beginning, "the nations major newspapers described the “Utah Compromise” as a "landmark bill" (The Washington Post), a "golden mean" between religious freedom and gay rights (The New York Times) and as Utah showing "the way on gay rights" (The Wall Street Journal)."
There are a huge number of other things the have drawn attention, both positive and not, to the church and will continue to do so. Meet the Mormons, Mitt Romney, and The Book of Mormon musical are just a few.
The three fold mission of the church is to 1) Perfect the saints 2) Proclaim the gospel and 3) Redeem the dead. When we really get down to brass tacks, our responsibilities in each of these has been repeated and reaffirmed adamantly by God's prophets since the beginnings of the church, but with all the increased public attention on those of Heavenly Father's children who know His plan of happiness for us, our ability to hide from the public is growing exponentially more difficult. I would venture to claim that within the next 5-8 years, there will be a very small relative percentage of people on this planet, who have not at least heard reference to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
So what does this mean in regards to us as members of the church?
To me, the thing that sticks out the most is the message we are sending as more attention is drawn to us, or in other words, the example we set. Remember what our Savior, Jesus Christ said to His followers, "I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men." We have been given a responsibility to be as a pleasant savor to the earth, especially in the last days.
For members of the LDS Church, if you haven't already been asked by a friend, a brief acquaintance, or even a complete stranger what we believe or something similar by now, it won't be much longer. If you have, were you ready to respond? Was your testimony and faith in the truth of Jesus' gospel and the church that espouses it firm and sure enough to give a heart felt, personal, authentic, kind, assertive answer? If you have not been approached in this manner yet, consider Bishop Causse's words, "Is [the gospel] Still Wonderful to You"? He has provided an amazing, wonderful suggestion to keep us from getting apathetic or too used to the gospel. He said "We should be never tire of discovering or rediscovering the truths of the gospel". The writer Marcel Proust said, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”"
Keeping the gospel in our view as a precious, wonderful, joyful, beautiful thing consistently is something that has been key in my continuous desire to set a better example every day and be able and anxious to invite others to "come unto Christ and be perfected in Him." I also love how Robin Williams put it, something close to "When expectation turns into appreciation, the world changes instantly." Trust me, I know from experience that the way you view something changes it's effects in your life. The more you love the Lord and others, the easier life becomes, not because of how things do or don't change around you, but because of your ability to perceive things and people as they really are.
Because the world's awareness of the church is changing it's members must - MUST - be sending the right messages about it's head, our Elder Brother Jesus Christ, and what He has asked of us. Being reluctant, timid, doubtful or unsure about sharing the doctrine, teachings and example of the Savior will send the wrong messages about Him and His church to the world. The time has come when confident, first hand testimonies, born of the Holy Ghost and proved by our choices, will be the only thing that will successfully show the world the true joys and blessings of following our Father's plan completely.
Things are going to get bad, really bad, and really good too and REALLY soon. As the chasm between Christ's true followers and everyone else widens, mediocrity will become less and less of an option until you are either completely on His side or you are completely not. Jesus has promised that His true followers will be sufficiently protected, provided for and experience the deepest peace and joys of eternity, but He can only guarantee that for us, regardless of our external circumstances, if our hearts are tuned to Him constantly. Those who are truly on His side will be heavily persecuted, but as President Russell M. Nelson said, "If you're not being persecuted, you need to repent."
I know that He is our Redeemer and Friend, the Savior of the world. I know from experience that God, our Father in Heaven, loves us. I'm sticking to His plan at all costs because He has shown me how much better I can be and given me a small idea of the joyous wonders He has in store for me if I do. I don't understand everything about it all, but I know He does. *Edit [June 22, 2015]* I invite all who read this to always be looking for ways to go way out of your comfort zone spiritually. Do something the bring yourself closer to the Lord Jesus Christ and complete obedience to His gospel frequently, something really hard, something that builds your faith in ways you never imagined possible.
Christ is coming soon, very soon. If you are not ready for it now, you don't have very long to prepare. Please, come to know Him - better.*End edit*
I mess up and sin a lot, but He's committed to me all the way, so I'm committed to Him all the way.
Who's side are you on?
It looks like the general public seems to be craving, more often now, the position of the Lord's church on current issues facing society. It makes sense, though. When people see a certain group or people generally thriving more and happier than everyone else, they want to know why. According to Linda Davidson, "The church has become more visible, more familiar, more accepted – especially among those who help shape public opinion." As an example of this, a huge number of law makers and other voices on both sides of the LGBT community in many states throughout the U.S. have celebrated Utah's recent legislation, encouraged and sanctioned by the church, for fairness regarding LBGT rights in harmony with religious freedom. In fact, according to the article I mentioned at the beginning, "the nations major newspapers described the “Utah Compromise” as a "landmark bill" (The Washington Post), a "golden mean" between religious freedom and gay rights (The New York Times) and as Utah showing "the way on gay rights" (The Wall Street Journal)."
There are a huge number of other things the have drawn attention, both positive and not, to the church and will continue to do so. Meet the Mormons, Mitt Romney, and The Book of Mormon musical are just a few.
The three fold mission of the church is to 1) Perfect the saints 2) Proclaim the gospel and 3) Redeem the dead. When we really get down to brass tacks, our responsibilities in each of these has been repeated and reaffirmed adamantly by God's prophets since the beginnings of the church, but with all the increased public attention on those of Heavenly Father's children who know His plan of happiness for us, our ability to hide from the public is growing exponentially more difficult. I would venture to claim that within the next 5-8 years, there will be a very small relative percentage of people on this planet, who have not at least heard reference to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
So what does this mean in regards to us as members of the church?
To me, the thing that sticks out the most is the message we are sending as more attention is drawn to us, or in other words, the example we set. Remember what our Savior, Jesus Christ said to His followers, "I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men." We have been given a responsibility to be as a pleasant savor to the earth, especially in the last days.
For members of the LDS Church, if you haven't already been asked by a friend, a brief acquaintance, or even a complete stranger what we believe or something similar by now, it won't be much longer. If you have, were you ready to respond? Was your testimony and faith in the truth of Jesus' gospel and the church that espouses it firm and sure enough to give a heart felt, personal, authentic, kind, assertive answer? If you have not been approached in this manner yet, consider Bishop Causse's words, "Is [the gospel] Still Wonderful to You"? He has provided an amazing, wonderful suggestion to keep us from getting apathetic or too used to the gospel. He said "We should be never tire of discovering or rediscovering the truths of the gospel". The writer Marcel Proust said, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”"
Keeping the gospel in our view as a precious, wonderful, joyful, beautiful thing consistently is something that has been key in my continuous desire to set a better example every day and be able and anxious to invite others to "come unto Christ and be perfected in Him." I also love how Robin Williams put it, something close to "When expectation turns into appreciation, the world changes instantly." Trust me, I know from experience that the way you view something changes it's effects in your life. The more you love the Lord and others, the easier life becomes, not because of how things do or don't change around you, but because of your ability to perceive things and people as they really are.
Because the world's awareness of the church is changing it's members must - MUST - be sending the right messages about it's head, our Elder Brother Jesus Christ, and what He has asked of us. Being reluctant, timid, doubtful or unsure about sharing the doctrine, teachings and example of the Savior will send the wrong messages about Him and His church to the world. The time has come when confident, first hand testimonies, born of the Holy Ghost and proved by our choices, will be the only thing that will successfully show the world the true joys and blessings of following our Father's plan completely.
Things are going to get bad, really bad, and really good too and REALLY soon. As the chasm between Christ's true followers and everyone else widens, mediocrity will become less and less of an option until you are either completely on His side or you are completely not. Jesus has promised that His true followers will be sufficiently protected, provided for and experience the deepest peace and joys of eternity, but He can only guarantee that for us, regardless of our external circumstances, if our hearts are tuned to Him constantly. Those who are truly on His side will be heavily persecuted, but as President Russell M. Nelson said, "If you're not being persecuted, you need to repent."
I know that He is our Redeemer and Friend, the Savior of the world. I know from experience that God, our Father in Heaven, loves us. I'm sticking to His plan at all costs because He has shown me how much better I can be and given me a small idea of the joyous wonders He has in store for me if I do. I don't understand everything about it all, but I know He does. *Edit [June 22, 2015]* I invite all who read this to always be looking for ways to go way out of your comfort zone spiritually. Do something the bring yourself closer to the Lord Jesus Christ and complete obedience to His gospel frequently, something really hard, something that builds your faith in ways you never imagined possible.
Christ is coming soon, very soon. If you are not ready for it now, you don't have very long to prepare. Please, come to know Him - better.*End edit*
I mess up and sin a lot, but He's committed to me all the way, so I'm committed to Him all the way.
Who's side are you on?
Monday, June 9, 2014
Choices, not excuses.
Politics, religion, parenting, FDA, NSA, human rights, health care and a plethora of other controversial issues today are so often sources contention, fear, anger, war, neglect, jealousy... the list goes on forever. My aim with this post is to NAIL one thing that I believe needs to be admitted by all people everywhere in order for there to ever be a chance at peace in the human heart. I refrain from saying peace on earth because whether or not there is peace on earth, the thing that matters so much more than world peace is peace in the human heart, regardless of our circumstances. Now I understand that there are a number of important factors that make it much more difficult for some people to manage the choices they make than it is for others, disorders and diagnoses of conditions that limit, not eliminate, but significantly limit the amount of control someone has over their feelings. But this article is to touch on those who are not significantly limited in their level of agency, their ability to choose right from wrong, who do not have chemical disorders that limit that kind of thing.
My wife always gets a little annoyed when I use movies to illustrate moral principles, but come on. Spiderman, Harry Potter, The Fantastic 4 (1 and 2), Thor, Green Lantern, Rainman, Jon Q, Click, the list goes on, and they all have really good messages behind the plots. All these movies have so many fantastic parallels to real life moral absolutes and I'm much better at explaining anything to anyone using analogies than any other way. I'm going to start this off by using a parallel from the Green Lantern movie. For those who aren't familiar with the comics, the movie, or both I'll give a brief synopsis.
The movie is based around a Green Lantern corps made of beings from many different races all over the galaxy (or the universe, can't remember which, exactly) who wield the green light of will power using rings with the Green Lantern symbol on it. The rings allow the bearers to form hard green light constructs of anything their heart desires, depending on the strength of their will power. In DC Comic lore, it is considered to be the most powerful weapon in the universe. There is also, however, another corps, the Yellow Lantern corps. They wield the yellow light (with yellow rings) of fear and are able to form any hard yellow light construct they want depending on how much they can feed off of other people's fears.
Based on a Latter-Day Saint perspective on agency, the Green Lantern corps powers could be compared to Heavenly Father's plan, which is based on agency, and the Yellow Lantern corps power could be compared to Satan's plan, which is based on compulsion and fear. The stronger the will power of the Green Lantern, the more powerful they are. The more afraid they are, the weaker they get and the stronger the Yellow Lanterns get. Comparatively, the less you are afraid and the more you exercise and strengthen your will power, the more control you have over yourself and the the less the adversary/devil has power over you.
I'm going to use one of my wife's favorite scriptures to illustrate this further. It comes from 2 Nephi 2:14, "And because [we] are redeemed from the fall [we] have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day..." In the movie, the yellow lanterns power grows when people succumb to fear and allow themselves to be acted upon. In the same way, all people who fit the description I made at the beginning of this have the ability to overcome their fears, gain control over their beliefs, emotions, thoughts, words and actions and always act instead of being acted upon, or controlled by, well, anything. People, circumstances, events, memories, habits the list goes on.
I am convinced that the single reason why there is not total world peace on earth today and, according to LDS doctrine, why there never will be until the earth is cleansed by the Savior and all the wicked are destroyed, is because the very fact that we are mortal means that every last one of us will always have moments of weakness where we allow ourselves to be acted upon instead of acting for ourselves. Just think about that for a bit. When we allow ourselves to feel angry at someone for insulting, us, who has control of our mind, us or them? When we fail at something and we feel worthless because of our perception of what failure means, what has control or our mind, us or the circumstance? When a possession breaks or malfunctions, when the weather is bad, when that driver cuts us off in traffic or almost hits us, when we are lied to, what or who is in control, us or the situation or person? I think the answer to these questions is obvious. When we allow ourselves to have a bad attitude about anything or anyone, however trivial or monumental, we are giving up control of ourselves.
100%.
Totally.
Completely.
Willingly.
In those moments, we completely give up control. When we give up control, we choose to give up our ability to choose for that moment; And with addictions that choice ripples even further and robs us of our ability to choose down the road as well and allows the addiction to dictate what we think, believe and do rather than ourselves.
Okay, I wasn't even considering doing this in the beginning but I am going to now, because of how much it so DESPERATELY needs to be put out there. I'm going to touch on two controversial issues on the front lines today; And before anyone jumps to conclusions and says I'm being unrealistic with what follows, please read all the way to the disclaimer following the examples I use. Please keep in mind I discuss these issues from an LDS perspective.
Situation number one. Person 1 says they were born gay/lesbian, that they can't do anything about it, so they act on it and make all efforts mentally to try and snuff out any guilt they feel way deep down for doing the wrong thing. Now, I'm as much of an expert of this type of thing as fire is cold, but as far as I know - and I have done a lot of reading about this subject matter - the scientific community has yet to come up with any determinate evidence that that being born that way is a real thing. No one has found a homosexual gene, not one. But I'm not saying it isn't possible for other reasons because, like I said, we have no determinate evidence. But hear me out. Based on the premise that this person is not born that way, I see only one reason why they would stuff out the reality that what they are doing is wrong. Fear. Fear of being wrong, fear of intense guilt, fear being rejected by others who base friendships on that particular sin, fear of the pain of change, even it is for the better, fear of confusion, fear of being uncomfortable in their own mind for heaven's sake. All of these are completely legitimate fears. Heck I'm afraid of change some times, afraid of confusion and more. But the principle is the same. If this individual could understand that they have more will power than they think they do, they could have so much more peace of mind, knowing that any weakness they have can be eliminated if the choose to act rather than be acted upon and oppressed by their own fear. But, again, keep reading at least until the disclaimer.
Next subject. Person 2 was born into a family with a long history of alcoholism and anger management problems. They were raised by a father who had a huge anger problem and was always drinking and the mother is never there, always finding a way to get out of the home for fear of the father going on one of his anger fits and hurting her. Growing up, person 2 was always afraid of their father and learns from the his example to be angry all the time. They are too fearful to direct this anger back at the father in an effort to get him to change so they direct the hurt, frustration and anger at the mother. Take this situation or the reverse of it, having the mother being the one with the anger problem. Either way, what I'm getting at with this one is this. Even people who are programmed to act and think in a certain way by the way they were (or weren't) brought up, provided they still fit into the category I mentioned at the start, still have that ability to take control. No, let me correct that. They have all power to seize control of themselves, to say to their circumstances, in a manner of speaking, "This is my body, my actions and my thoughts. They are MINE. I own my mind and I and I alone will determine what I do with it. No one and nothing can take control of me. One of the thing few things that no one can take from me is my right to choose who I am and who I become."
And they'd be absolutely, unequivocally correct. In General Conference of October 1995 Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, in his talk "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father", "One’s individual will thus remains uniquely his. God will not override it nor overwhelm it." God has given us everything, EVERYTHING, in this world. But the one thing that is truly and uniquely ours is our will. No one, not even God Himself can take that from us or He would cease to be God. We are totally responsible for how we choose to react, how we feel, what thoughts we entertain and act on, what and who we choose to believe and believe in and we have an obligation to take ownership of those things.
Many times we mistakenly assume that, in any number of situations, "I had no choice", "I had to do it", "There was no other option", "There's wasn't anything else I could do". Okay, okay, if a biker gang had cornered me and said they were going to kill me right then and there and I had a weapon that would stop them, I most likely would use it. I understand that there are some situations where there is only one option if you want to stay alive or something like that. But notice those six words I just used, "if I want to stay alive". If this biker gang had cornered me and it was truly my last moment, but I knew that I could die then and there with a clear conscience regarding my life as a whole, I would choose to die, because of the why, because of the end goal I had in making my choice. If I want to indulge and be bad, then I had better choose to live a horrible life. But if I want to be happy and be a good person and not be imprisoned by my own choices, I have better make good ones.
For those who are aching for the disclaimer, here it is. Every choice we make is for a purpose, whether our motive/reason is to satisfy the natural mortal man, succumbing to our circumstances or other around us, or to choose the higher ground and choose to do what is right and keep control of ourselves, rather than to just take what seems like the easy way out. But I will go as far as to admit that, many times, yes, it just looks dang near IMPOSSIBLE to make a different choice than the one we want to make. So often seems impossible to overstate how difficult it is to choose to say something else or to choose a different thought, attitude, believe, desire, action, etc. Wow does it ever seem impossible many times to make a different choice because our circumstances seem so intensely difficult and we feel enormous pressure from all sides and angles.
But, as has been said by prophets ancient and modern as well as many other religious and non-religious people through the ages, you'll never get anything in life that you can't handle. Let me amend that statement though. You'll never get anything that you won't be able to handle the right way. God (or life, if you're not religious) will never throw you something where you are not able to take command, seize control of yourself, and have one of the best natural moral highs of your life when it's all said and done, knowing that nothing in that situation took control of you, that you and you alone showed that you were charge and you just proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
A few quote's about will power that I to go into my last point:
William Penn said "'No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself."
Vince Lombardi said "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."
Only in those moments, where we grit out teeth, squeeze out every last ounce of will power we have, block the entire world out if only for a split second, and make a choice to be a better person, even if it means suffering some pain, but come out on top, knowing that we didn't have anything left to give and that because of it, we are a better person and our conscience in 100% clear - only in those moments do we truly reach our potential for that moment.
To use a phrase from another movie, X-men: First Class, only when we have harnessed that level of focus that "lies somewhere between rage and serenity" and truly been the best we can, even with all the evil there is surrounding us, will we ever feel total and complete peace about ourselves and the world around us. I think it's a small price to pay for that kind of peace. I really don't think most people truly comprehend the power of self-control. More people need to.
I hope with everything in me that I can be like that one day, and I trust that with God it will happen eventually, but until then I'm just like the rest of you reading this. I'm prone to making mistakes every day, screwing up, doing the same dumb things over and over again, being so far off of reaching this ideal state of being I have been going on about here. I succumb to fear all the time. But I still know I CAN do better and it's entirely up to me to do that. I will get there one day if I keep trying, if I never give up, and so can you!
To end, I'll use all that I've said to this point to go back to the original goal of this post, to NAIL one thing that I believe needs to be admitted by all people everywhere. Everyone in this world who fits into the category I mentioned at the beginning needs to admit, boldly, assertively, and without shame, as the silver surfer said at the end of the Fantastic 4 movie,
"There is ALWAYS a choice".
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