I Have Learned

Here are a few things that I have learned recently, and am still learning. Saying I have learned it doesn't necessarily mean I live it, that's a lifelong process. But for whatever it's worth, I have learned:

• That all can change if they humble themselves and apply the transforming power of Grace.
• That the best people have a heightened awareness of what little of the worst is still in them.
• That the future is as bright as our faith.
• That optimism and faith are eternal helpmeets. Hope is equally their offspring and their forbear.
• That an helpmeet (the scriptural term Adam was given for a spouse), is one who helps you meet (meaning come to) God.
• That children are an investment. The more time you invest, the more return you get.
• That children do better when parents actually parent.
• That work is a blessing.
• That the reason we are obedient is just as important as our obedience. And that We are blessed more through obeying because of love and honor to God, than through blind obedience. More if we pay tithing with full purpose of heart, than grudgingly. More if we keep the word of Wisdom so we can be worthy of, and able to hear the spirit, than if we keep it solely for health reasons. 
• That God loves us, regardless of our weaknesses and sins.
• That to be temporally self-reliant means you depend on yourself, whereas being spiritually self-reliant means you depend on God.
• That if you truly love someone, you have to do the hard things that will help them grow and learn. Think of God's purposes of chastising his children. The method is love, the purpose is change.
• That ultimately, modesty is more about honoring God than safety. And that's true for the other commandments too.
• That a bishop's job isn't to hand out advice and be the all-knowing source of answers, but to turn them to the Savior for counsel, advice and direction.
• That when we're told we won't be given anything we can't handle, the "we" referred to is God and us. We're often given things we can't do alone. That's why we have Grace.
• That none of us will ever be truly worthy of the blessings Heavenly Father gives us, but He loves us anyway and gives them to show His love.

"Lived After the Manner of Happiness"

One of my all-time favorite verses of scripture comes from 2 Nephi 5:27 of the Book of Mormon: "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." I've pondered greatly about what that means, and how one can live after the manner of happiness. 
First of all I'm certain that they maintained a Positive Mental Attitude, and definitely had an Attitude of Gratitude, but what else contributed to their happiness? Perhaps some background would help. At this time in Nephite history, they had just landed on the American Continent, the Land of Promise, and started to settle in. Then the rebellious brothers, Laman and Lemuel, decided they wanted to take control by killing Nephi, so Nephi was warned in a dream to take his family and those faithful to the Lord, and flee into the wilderness. 
Soon they found a new place and settled in. So, they were happy because they had to rebuild their homes and lives after fleeing their murderous bothers? Perhaps in one way. But if you study the verses leading up to verse 27 you'll find a few triggers that helped them live in happiness despite their circumstances.

1. They followed the spirit (vs. 5)
2. They moved their families from wickedness (vs. 6-7)
3. They kept the commandments "in all things" (vs. 10; cross reference to Alma 41:10, "Wickedness never was happiness" ) 
4. They worked hard and were industrious in doing good things and providing for their families (vs. 11, 15-17)
5. They focused their lives on the temple (vs. 16)
6. They chose to follow their church leaders, who pointed them to Christ (vs. 26)

Think about this in your own life. Are you happy? Do you do the basic things that bring happiness? Perhaps you're doing all these things, but are somehow just 'going through the motions', and your efforts lack faith and hope? It's kind of like trying to fly an airplane without wings. It's time to add wings to your vessel by 'doing all that you do in the name of [Jesus](Moses 5:8).  By so doing, we consecrate our actions, and thus our very lives, to the source of all true happiness.

Where did all our faith and conviction go?

Whatever happened to the faith and conviction of saints of old. Tonight in our family scripture study, we were reading about Nephi's faithful courage to 'go and do.' We look back on the examples of the early saints of this dispensation and see much the same attitude. When the Lord called the saints to settle in the mountains in the west, did they back out of the call, claiming ailments and weakness. "Sorry Lord, my toe hurts so I better not go." or "Sorry Lord, it doesn't fit into my schedule."
No! They girded their loins, stood up tall and marched forth (or shuffled if they had to). Many said in their hearts: "I'd rather die on my way to zion, than turn away from the Lord's call."
Where did that conviction, that determination and faith go? Many literally walked themselves to death. Yet how many of us won't teach a primary class if we have a headache. I hear of people not staying through all 3 hours of church because the seats aren't comfortable enough for their backs. Really? Do you want to compare your seats with what the pioneers sat in? Have you sat in the old Tabernacle?
I may be just rambling about something I know nothing about. I'm not old. I'm healthy. But I pray that if I ever get old, or have similar ailments, that I will have the faith to stand and say, "I will go and do what the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he should prepare a way for them that they might accomplish the thing which he hath commanded."
He whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies. It may not be easy. It may be downright hard. But, the call came from the Lord, and the Lord blesses all who do His will.
For many are called, but few are chosen. Why are they not chosen? They haven't learned that in order to be chosen, you have to choose to follow Christ. When we choose to obey the call, we are chosen to receive blessings beyond measure.
I choose to have faith, and to obey.

PMA -- Positive Mental Attitude

I love the lessons we can learn from the sons of Lehi with regards to the difference our attitude makes. Think about it, Nephi and Laman and Lemeul all experienced the same things. They had left all their belongings and home, even lost their riches in trade for the brass plates, were traveling in the desert to a place their father had seen in vision. How did they react?

Laman and Lemuel: (1 Nephi 17:20-21)

20  And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions.
21  Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy.

Pretty sad overview of their circumstances, right? That last part really hits me, "and we might have been happy." Meaning that they might have been happy if their life were easy and they had all their junk back.

What about Nephi? How did he view things? (1 Nephi 17:1-3)

1  AND it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth.  And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness.

2  And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

3  And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

What a difference! Nephi saw the same tribulations, but chose to focus on how the Lord blessed them to meet each challenge. Who do you think was more happy? Even though they experienced the exact same things, Nephi CHOSE to focus on their blessings, and to be happy. 

Are you choosing to be happy today?

Do I have the Faith to Believe God's Word?

            A few years ago I was hiking with my father to the top of a 14,000 foot peak in Colorado and happened to be in the right place at the right time to help in the rescue of a man who had slid down an ice field too fast and tumbled head over heels into a rock field. The circumstances where such that we had to remain later than we planned on the side of the mountain, and by the time the helicopter had taken the man away, it was well into the afternoon. Many of you know that late afternoon is when storms come almost daily when you reach that elevation. We hurried down from the peak as massive black clouds rolled into view. The rain started, then turned to hail. When the lightning started, we still needed to cross a valley to reach the safety of shelter, but in order to do so, we would be the tallest things in the valley, thus perfect lightning rods.

            We said a prayer and felt a peaceful assurance that God would protect us as we crossed the valley, and immediately we set out walking across, with lightning striking on either side of us.

            That day I learned that I had the faith to walk through the midst of a lightning storm. But more than that, I learned that I had faith to believe God’s word.

            The scriptures tell us that God cannot lie, that He is a being of truth and light. Do we have the faith to really believe that?

Every week in church we have the opportunity to hear from some great speakers and teachers (in the LDS church, the talks--or sermons, are given by the members) who accepted a call to teach even though they probably didn’t feel comfortable doing so. They might have worried that they’d forget what to say, or say something dumb. But:

·         Do I believe that if I am given an opportunity to speak or teach a lesson, that God will give me words to speak?

o   God has promised us that if we treasure up in our minds the words of life, it will be given to us what we should say in the very moment that we need it. Do we believe it?

§  Do I exercise my faith by treasuring up in my mind Christ’s words? Do I study the scriptures daily?

§  Do I exercise my faith by accepting and seeking out opportunities to teach God’s word and share my testimony?

In the LDS Church, all positions of leadership are given by inspiration from God. No previous experience or schooling qualifies one for service. We call these positions a calling, meaning we are called of God to serve. I recently received a new calling that has stretched me in ways I didn’t know I could be stretched. When accepting this calling, I had to ask myself:

·         Do I believe God can make me equal to any task?

o   Nephi testified that the Lord giveth no commandments to the children of men, save he prepare a way for them to accomplish that which he commanded them.

§  Do I take on assignments with zeal and enthusiasm, knowing that the Lord will open the way for me to accomplish the task?

§  Do I exercise my faith by asking the Lord’s help, or do I pridefully think I can do it on my own.

·         This one is big for me. My pride says I can do it by myself. But my heart knows I can’t.

I’m probably alone in this next example. I’m sure no one else has had a hectic and stressful day, right? Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and like my day is out of control.

·         Do I believe I can feel peace on a hectic and stressfull day?

o   “Peace I give unto you.” The Lord said. “Not as the world giveth.”

o   I love the stories of the Lord calming the storm and helping Peter to walk on water. For me, I’ve learned that sometimes the Lord calms the storm, sometimes the sailor.

§  Do I exercise my faith by asking God to fill my heart with peace, or do I pridefully try to do it on my own.

·         Honestly, there have been a few times where I’ve prayed for and been filled with peace on a stressful day. But there have been many more days where I’ve tried to deal with it on my own.

What about when I make mistakes. When I choose the way of the world instead of God’s way:

·         Do I believe that Jesus Christ can wash away all my sins?

o   Jesus has said that though our sins be as scarlet, they may be as wool.

§  Do I exercise faith by praying for forgiveness, speaking to my bishop if need be, and giving my burden to the Lord?

·         Or do I try to do it by myself, perhaps thinking, “I made this mess, I’ll fix it.”

o   Can I just kindly say, “you can’t.” You, nor I, nor anyone else can truly repent and receive forgiveness for our sins without  Jesus Christ. It can’t be done. He is the only way.

o   But though I know that myself, I still don’t turn to the Savior as often as I should.

·         Do I believe I have the strength to overcome temptation?

o   “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be ^btempted above that ye are able; but will with the ^ctemptation also make a way to ^descape, that ye may be able to ^ebear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

§  Do I exercise my faith by not putting myself in a position where I know I’ll be tempted?

§  Do I exercise my faith when faced with a temptation by looking for the way out that God has promised us?

All of those things are great, of course they can only be done through the atonement of Jesus Christ. But what about when we are facing difficult decisions in our life?

·         Do I believe that the Spirit can guide me with important decisions in my life?

o   The scriptures say to “Trust in the LORD with all thine ^bheart; and lean not unto thine ^cown ^dunderstanding. In all thy ways ^aacknowledge him, and he shall ^bdirect thy ^cpaths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

§  Do I exercise my faith by obeying the spirit with exactness? Do I exercise my faith by turning to him often in prayer? Do I acknowledge him in all things?

And what about all the problems with the economic issues we’re facing.

·         Do I believe that God will bless me and my family so that we may provide for our needs?

o   How many times in the Book of Mormon did the Lord say: This is a land of promise, if you keep my commandments you shall prosper in the land.

§  Do I exercise my faith by living worthy of the promise?

§  Do I exercise my faith by seeking earnestly for employment and doing my best at my job?

§  Do I exercise my faith by living thrifty and staying out of debt?

I’d like to finish with one that I believe many of us are facing. We try to live by faith, but still, somehow fear worms its way into our lives.

·         Do I live without fear?

o   Take no thought, the morrow will take care of itself.

o   Perfect love casteth out all fear.

o   Doubt not, but be believing

o   Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD

§  Do I exercise my faith by trusting God and putting the future in His hands?

§  Do I exercise faith in the plan of salvation, knowing that all things shall be for our good and that this life isn’t the end.

§  Do I cast my burden of fear on the Lord?

Brothers and sisters, what is your burden? What pulls you down, and causes hardship in your life? What keeps you from the Savior. I testify that if you turn to him, and cast your burden at his feet, that He will take your burden that you may be light.

We've got the promises of the Lord. If we live worthily, we have the power to call down the powers of heaven in our behalf, to fulfill the promises of the Lord. I truly believe He wants to bless us more than we want to be blessed.

Now:

·         Just because we have faith, does that mean that we’ll never suffer?

o   Joseph Smith himself was told that his sufferings would give him experience and be for his good. And if he endured it well, he would be exalted.

o   The purpose of faith isn’t to relieve all discomfort. We can’t expect our faith to rid our lives of all trials and troubles.

§  We can expect our faith to give us insight and hope. To keep us focused on our mission in life. And to turn us to the Savior.

§  Our faith can help us to learn from our experiences, to even thank our Heavenly Father for our trials, knowing that they’ll make us better people.

I love faith. Faith enables hope and brings peace in a troubled world. It gives me direction. Christ truly said: ^aIf ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.” And Paul, in Phillipians said: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” It is my hope that we all might turn to Him more often each day.

I believe Jesus Christ. I believe that all things are possible through Him.