Revelation

On a spring morning in 1820, Joseph Smith left to visit a grove of trees near his house.  Prior to this expedition, he had rocked to and fro, confused by the contradictory doctrine taught by the multitude of churches in the area.  He had come to the conclusion that he would either remain confused forever, or that he should ask God directly.  His story is no secret, nor is it a fairy tale or exaggeration.  Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ; a vision that opened the windows of heaven that pastors, preachers, and clergy had thought were closed.  He opened the door to revelation.

We live in a world where "seeing is believing."  However, when Christ prodded his apostles with the question, "Whom say ye that I am," Peter replies, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  To which Jesus replies, "Blessed art thou...for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."(Matt 16:15-17)  Alma, the son of Alma in the Book of Mormon, had seen an angel and was struck dumb and paralyzed for days because of his adamant rebellion.  When explaining his conversion and acceptance of Christ to the people in Zarahemla, he doesn't even mention this encounter:

"They are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God [Holy Ghost].  Behold I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself.  And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me." (Alma 5:46)

Regarding this "spirit of revelation," Christ continued his praise of Peter thus, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  From Christ's time, before and after, his church was meant to be established on the rock of revelation.  For a church to be his church, he is to be the head.  And how can Christ be the leader if revelation isn't guiding the "authorities" of the church?  How can one claim to be a church of Christ except they also seek for and acknowledge guidance from him?  

To Joseph Smith also came the priesthood authority held by the prophets of old, that men still hold today.  Through this Melchizedek Priesthood, worthy, baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which testifies of God and Jesus Christ to our hearts.  It teaches us through revelation, and the best way to retain that revelation is to write it down!  Study journals have facilitated personal revelation for me, and they have uplifted me on more than one occasion as I go back and read exerts I have written sometimes years before.

I know that Jesus Christ is my savior, that Joseph Smith was called by God to be a prophet and that the Book of Mormon and Bible are God's words to those people as well as to us and our children.  As did Alma, I know all these things through, "the spirit of revelation which is in me."

Our Savior's Love

I wish I could fully express my love for my savior, Jesus Christ.  I wish I could list all the things in my life that he has done for me, but I haven't even counted all the breaths I've taken in these past 22 years, so the list would be nowhere near exhaustive, and would probably exceed Google's bandwidth should I post it in a blog.  He directs my life in ways that I don't understand, but recognize after that he really did know what was best for me.  He is interested in my pursuits and He strengthens and supports me in my endeavors.

I cannot explain my love for Him because I cannot explain His love for us.  He condescended from divinity to infancy.  He withstood harsh criticism and brutal rejection.  He walked the path that each of us should, so we would know exactly what to do.  He atoned for us.  He died for us; and he was resurrected for us.  His love did not, and never will stop.  His arm will always be stretched out in welcome to those who will repent.  If you will have Him, He will have you.  And if you are His, everything is yours.

Because of him I have a purpose in life.
Because of him I can be forgiven.
Because of him I can learn pure truth.
Because of him I don't need to walk in darkness.
Because of him I can better serve others.
Because of him I have overcome "that which easily doth beset [me]".(Alma 7:11-13)
Because of him I have grown.
Because of him I have changed.
Because of him I have joy.
Because of him I have peace.

I am who I am because of him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXrOG02NMB0

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission When I Have Lost All of My Hair!

Yesterday, November 1st, was the one-year anniversary of the end of the greatest experience of my life.  I spent Halloween in the mission home in Tokyo, Japan.  I woke up on the 1st a little later than usual.  After working non-stop for 25 months, I think I deserved it.  I ironed my white shirt, read my scriptures...it was the same start to the day, but would end much differently.  All the missionaries returning home had a big breakfast together.  I didn't eat much.  Didn't have much of an appetite.  We enjoyed each other's company so much, but we all knew what lay ahead of us.  With all our things packed into just 3 suitcases, we loaded into the van and headed to the airport shuttle.  On the shuttle, we talked of the wards we served with and the amazing things that happened to us.  Once in the airport, we rushed to rearrange our luggage to meet the weight requirements.  We go through security and immigration...and then it's just the 4 of us going back to Portland.  My ticket's burning in my pocket.  Its weight on my mind is overbearing...the day I dreaded forever had finally come.  We board the big plane and as we prepare for take-off, I find the seat next to me vacant.  A good thing, too because there was nothing that could have stopped the tears from flowing as we depart and Japan slowly creeps out of my view.  I lean forward in the seat as far as I can so I could see it just a little bit longer.  The couple in front of me watch various movies, but I have no interest in simple entertainment.  I can only think of the people I'm leaving behind in Japan.  I can only think of the experiences I had.  I spent the long, 9 hour flight back to America in tears and setting goals for my future.  We land in Portland and go through customs.  

"Do you have any food on you," they ask.

"No, sir!"

That's a lie.  

We walk through the airport, and then we say goodbye to one comrade at a fork in the path.  The three of us continue until we pass the others' terminal.  We say our goodbyes and I walk alone to my terminal to wait 4 hours for my flight back to Vegas.  Now I'm really glad I didn't tell them I had food on me.  I still can't sleep.  I read my scriptures, Preach My Gospel, write in my journal...do anything really.  Then I'm boarded on the plane and headed back to Las Vegas.  Is this real?  I'm not as eager to watch Portland slip from my view, though 2 years earlier, those same sights were the ones that preceded my exodus to Japan.  

"10 minutes to Las Vegas."

This is real!  My "home" comes into view.  I wasn't sure what to call it, because that sure wasn't where my heart was.  Desert was a scenery I hadn't seen for 2 years, and the expanse of Vegas was overwhelming.  I mosey through the airport, and find the escalator that will take me down to where my family is presumably waiting for me.  I pause.  Am I ready for this?  Is there a plane somewhere taking off to Japan that I could stow away on?  My time has come, and I know that.  Still, with hesitation, I step onto the escalator, and for the first time in hours, a familiar face slips into view...

This explains only the events that took place.  Yes, I cried.  A lot.  But I cannot possibly express the pain I felt leaving Japan.  However, I can say that pain was perfectly anti-parallel to the joy I felt while serving.  Being a missionary and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ brought more happiness to my life than any experience as of yet.  As a missionary, I learned many lessons.  Most of them about myself.  I learned to see who I was in the eyes of others, but most importantly the kind of person I am in the eyes of the Lord.  I began to see much more clearly what he expected of me.  I fiercely studied humility and charity and sought tirelessly to acquire those attributes in myself.  I strove for quiet dignity, but respected authority.  Today, I am not the same man that stepped off the plane in Japan on December 21, 2011.  I changed as a missionary, and I wouldn't exchange that experience for anything.  I loved it so much, often I wonder how much longer I'll have to wait to serve as a senior missionary.  

The most important thing I learned as a missionary was things I already knew, but were strengthened.  I know that Jesus Christ is my savior, and that he loves every single person I spoke to, the ones that listened and didn't alike.  Through him, we can be perfect.  God and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith.  That kick-started the restoration of Jesus Christ's pure gospel.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is run by Jesus Christ.  He enlists men like me to execute its purposes.  He gives us his power and grants us the authority as we use it properly.  I learned that I want to be with my family forever, and that, pending our obedience, we can be through that same power.  I learned that the Book of Mormon and Bible are God's words and teachings to us.  I learned to love reading the scriptures.  I learned what type of man God wanted me to be.  I learned Japanese, which has led to several opportunities for God to perpetually bless be for my service as a missionary.  

They limited me to 3 suitcases, but the experiences I had could not be contained in the largest suitcase in the world.  They made me list the items I'd be bringing back to America with me, but there was no space for the memories.  Even if there were, that form would have to be as long as my experience suitcase is large.  They asked me to put a price on the things I had with me, but there is no monetary value even close to how I prize the love and friendships I carried with me across the Pacific Ocean.

What IS grace?

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:  for by the law is the knowledge of sin."  Romans 3:20

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death."  Romans 7:5

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

What do all of these quotes have in common?  Perhaps the overlooked is that they are taken out of context.  However, they also seem to point to grace as the only source of our salvation.  Many who fight against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for our belief in the power of righteous acts (because apparently encouraging our members to be charitable is satanic) use these scriptures as ammunition.  So, is grace what saves us?

YES!

I cannot save myself.  You cannot save yourselves.  I can't save you, nor can you save me or anyone else-spiritually speaking.  I refuse to disagree with the scripture in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  I sin on a regular basis, and don't do nearly enough service to justify my case that I am approaching perfection.  And, because of this, Jesus Christ atoned-suffered-for all our misdeeds.  He felt our pain.  He understood our struggles.  His good intentions slowly transformed into perfect empathy, and pure power.  And, with his power he gives grace to us.  And, through is grace, we are saved.  Without his grace, we are not.  It is only by accepting Jesus Christ as our redeemer and savior that we can be perfect.  I truly "stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me.  Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me."  It's amazing, but I'm happy it's there.

There's one more thing the first listed scriptures have in common.  They're all misunderstood and misquoted.  In his epistle to the Romans, Paul tried to help them see the higher law.  He wanted them to see that we are not saved by killing and burning animals, but by grace.  Our works in the law that he was referring to were sacrifices and rituals contained in the Law of Moses.  And now, rather than scorch the flesh of livestock, we are asked to become humble and seek God's grace.  So, are we saved by our works?

NO!!!

As it says in Ephesians, if we were saved by our works, people would be keeping track of their proverbial gold stars and gloating about how elite they are.  This can't be in Christ's church, so the power of the individual was removed, and our path to salvation was provided and standardized between any given person.  Further, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (of Moses)." (Romans 3:28)  God requires faith.  No one can deny me that assertion.  To accept Christ, you inevitably have faith in his grace and in his saving power.  Now, is just saying you believe in Christ enough to justify having faith?

NO!

This is where the need for works comes in.  The savior, Jesus Christ, said in his famous Sermon on the Mount, "Ye are the light of the world...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt 5:14,16).  If we have faith in Jesus Christ, why wouldn't we be seeking everyday to become more like him?  Why wouldn't we be studying his life and striving to do our best to live as he does?  Why wouldn't we seek to harbor that same love and charity that he did during his earthly ministry, and the same long-suffering and patience that he has for us now?

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:  shew me they faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:17-18)

THIS is what the "Mormon" church teaches.  We do not believe in our power to save ourselves, because we have none.  We believe in our capacity to change and our divine inheritance to eventually become perfect as God is.  To summarize, and to show how The Book of Mormon complements The Bible, I again cite from 2 Nephi, "...it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

I believe in Jesus Christ.  I know that I will be saved through his grace.  His love comforts me in my struggles; and he never leaves me to fend for myself.  I have faith in his power to support me and to improve my life.  Because I have faith, I will try everyday to do good things because I know that's what he expects of me.  I will work harder everyday to be better because I want to be as much like Him as I can.  I will fully rely on grace, but will not settle for mediocrity-for that is not my purpose.

Nor is it yours.

Our Quest for Perfection

"Be ye, therefore, perfect."  Matthew 5:48

What a challenge.  No...what a commandment!  In English, we have sayings that include, but are not limited to, "I'm only human," or more potent and contradictory, "Nobody's perfect."  Contentment is the enemy to progression.

The topic of perfection employs the 3 major questions of the soul so many people ask themselves, Christian, Muslim, agnostic, or athiest:  where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going after we die?  To many, any one of these to all of them are a mystery, and some convince themselves that the answers aren't important.  Some get frustrated in their search for an answer that they give up and claim there was nothing, today has no purpose, and the "end" is just that.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we know where we came from.  Before our respective births, we resided with God and Jesus Christ in a spiritual state-lacking a body-and learned many things pertaining to living on earth.  Skipping our purpose on earth, I remind you that I have commented many times on our destination after our bodies fail.  This end potential gives us a purpose in life.  In order to reach, in simple terms, the best place, in order to live forever with God and our families, we have to be perfect today.  We need to be perfect tomorrow.  We were supposed to be perfect yesterday.  But how can we be perfect when we settle and justify the things we do because of our "human nature."  We are all sons and daughters of God, to be human is not our nature.

There is nothing wrong with seeking perfection.  Too often in school, I see classmates get discouraged and give up.  They say, "Well, all I need is a B," or they find it humorous when they fail a class or test.  Why would you do something without the intent to succeed or at least give it your best.  If mediocrity is your best, then so be it, but that doesn't mean content has to settle in.

Now, this can lead to two very negative attitudes.  We all know a perfectionist.  Anything less than 100% on a test sends them spiraling into depression.  We know that person that has to have the best toys.  At the other end of the spectrum, there are those that harbor the existential belief, "It doesn't really matter in the end."  I believe both of these to be not only wrong, but unhealthy.  The former because you will never find happiness; you will only find insufficiency in yourself.  The latter is inappropriate because you negate your potential to grow.  You deny the power of Christ's atonement through which you can be perfect.

If you're still breathing, there's something you could be working on.  There's something new to learn.  Seek for correction.  Seek for perfection.  Rejoice in the little victories, and learn from the worst defeats.  We are not alone on our journey to perfection.  Christ was perfect, and he can help you become so, also.  And, as is put so beautifully in 2 Nephi 25:23 "...And we know it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."  Christ's atonement will help us.  It will expunge our faults.  It will erase our stains.  But it will not make us a better person.  It gives us the power, but we will not pray and wake up the next morning as a changed person.

After our diligence, after laboring, after all we can do, together with the power of Christ's atonement, we will change, and someday be perfect.

Thank You, Oh God, For a Prophet

In a week, the semiannual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will be underway.  There will be multiple speakers.  They will address different issues and expound on varying topics.  These are the leaders of our church, and as I've discussed before, their word is God's word.  President Thomas S. Monson especially gives us doctrine from God that, if applied, are promised to make us happier, better people no matter your stage in life.  In preparation for this coming conference, I've read his talk:  Love-The Essence of the Gospel.  He encourages us to be charitable.  No one can deny the need for charity today.  Charity brings security and strength to our relationships with others.  As we forget ourselves and work, the Lord will pour blessings on us, and we'll be that much closer to mastering the essence of the Gospel.  

I'm keeping this short, so you can take some time to read through President Monson's words, because his words testify of his divine calling better than I ever could.  I encourage you to read his talk and many of the others.  General Conference is full of great talks, but it will only affect you if you're looking for something.  If not, you may be uplifted, or you may just watch tv for 8-10 hours.  It's really up to you.  

Hold to the Rod

In the 7th chapter of Moroni, he quotes his father's sermon on faith, hope and charity.  Before the popular scriptures that everyone knows, Mormon talks about judging.  To clarify, he tells us not to judge others, but gives us guidance in judging between right and wrong.  In verses 16 and 17, he tells us that anything that invites us to do good is encouragement from God.  Conversely, anything that doesn't invite us to do good and believe in Christ is...not from God.  

At the end of verse 17, it says, " for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him."  When I read that this time, I applied myself to this scripture; specifically the last part.  I need to encourage other people to do good.  I need to push them to follow the right paths.  And if I don't, perhaps that means I'm under the influence of the devil.  A little extreme, but that thought got the message across to me.  It gave me the push I need to encourage other people to do good things.

The Book of Mormon is the guidebook for our lives.  Our concerns and obstacles often coincide with different stories in the Book of Mormon.  These stories are real.  The story tellers knew that their experiences would help us.  When I read the Book of Mormon, I read the word of God.  His answers to my prayers are contained in its pages.  The directions to a happier life are between the lines and are waiting for YOU to uncover them.

Forgiveness: A Sign of Strength

"I the Lord will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (D&C 64:10)

We often are wronged in one way or another to various extremes.  Because we are imperfect scoundrels, we are not only the wronged, but we also do wrong.  We offend.  We harm.  We break.  When we occupy the guilty party, apologizing is our responsibility.  However, as we are taught in the scripture above, forgiving is the duty of the wronged.  Both are needed, but which is harder or more noble?

Well, I don't think either are more noble than the other, but they both have very different requirements.  Apologizing requires strength of sorts.  Really, it requires more humility than anything.  You have to recognize that what you've done is, indeed, wrong; something that is hardly easy for anyone.  And then you must find the humility to approach the person you've wronged and admit to them that you regret what you've done to them.

The strength, however, belongs to the wronged, I believe.  The wronged party needs to already have strength in their heart to listen to the apology and then on top of that you have to find strength to actually forgive them.  The savior told his apostles that there essentially is no limit to how many times we are expected to forgive.  Forgiving someone really is hard.  We harbor resentment and grudges because sometimes we WANT to be hurt.  We look for reasons to be offended.  The problem is, that's like taking a bite of a poison apple that just grows into a tree inside you.  That pent-up enmity grows and grows and something that may have happened a long time ago can still cause you to stay awake at night when you could realize what happened then has no consequence on who you are now.

Really, we should find a way to move on.  Some things aren't actually offensive enough to merit such a grudge.  But, if we find forgiveness a hard task, consider serving the guilty party.  Help them see that they were wrong.  If they've apologized, offer to help.  In your service, you will find the power and strength to forgive.

I'm not perfect.  I'm not politically correct.  I get in the way a lot.  I'd be in a very bad position with a lot of people if they couldn't forgive.  To those that I've had quarrels or disagreements with, I sincerely apologize, and thank you for your demonstration of superior strength.

Hit the weights; show off your strength.

I LOVE to see the temple!

There are a total of 143 LDS temples in operation around the world.  There are 15 under construction (including one in Japan!).  There are 12 more that have been announced and will be under construction in the near future.  With so many temples, the question arises, "What's so special?  What do you do there?"  The temple is seen as a building of secrecy.  A place just for members.  Without paying your dues, you can't get in.  Here's the truth:  we want EVERYONE to come!  Yes, you need to be an outstanding member of the church, but there isn't anything in the temple we aren't willing to share with everyone.

Multiple times-in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and other scripture-we are told that we learn and progress "line upon line; and precept upon precept."  The idea behind the temple's restrictive attendance is based completely on this concept.  We need to believe, and then we will develop faith.  After we have faith, we see our wrongs and repent, then qualifying us for baptism.  As we progress and learn, our faith strengthens and we find ourselves in a state where we are ready to learn what is taught in the temple.  We learn about our potential and make more promises with God.  I've mentioned the sealing ordinance in previous posts which results in the eternal unity of the subjected family.  A promise is a two-party agreement, and God does not hold back.

When I go to the temple, I often learn new things about God's plan for our salvation and his expectations for me.  I spend time pondering about the gospel, and take my questions with me to the temple, and more than once I've received rather specific answers.  Last week I addressed the Holy Ghosts methods, and I've experienced each while in the temple.  I've had a thought come to my head, I've heard something, and I've been led to the answer.

In ancient time, the prophets would commute to the temple, but on several occasions, when they wanted to talk to God, they went up to a mountain.  Moses talked with God on the top of Mt. Sinai.  Christ went with Peter, James, and John to the Mount of Transfiguration.  Nephi received revelation on how to build his boat after a journey up a mountain to pray.  The Brother of Jared saw the yet unborn Savior after praying on a high mountain.  With this correlation in mind, Isaiah becomes a little easier to understand when he says, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths..." (Isaiah 2:3)  The temple is the mountain of the Lord.  First, it's usually built on top of hills or mountains.  The Las Vegas temple is built right at the East edge of the valley with the mountains in its backyard.  The Provo temple is built right next to mountains.  The Tokyo temple is built around mountainous buildings.  The mountain of the Lord is so important to me.  The things I've learned have changed my outlook on the world and myself.  The ordinances performed have benefited myself, and my family.  Should we all follow the commandments given to us, we can live together forever, and I want nothing more than to live forever with my parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, etc.

If you ever get curious, remember we aren't trying to keep you out.  We're trying harder to get you in.

Just Give me a Sign!

"I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.  When the light rested upon me, I saw two personages whose brightness and glory defy all description standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the other, 'This is my beloved son. Hear him.'"

Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ.  Cornelius was visited by an angel.  The Brother of Jared, in the Book of Mormon, saw the figure of Christ 2000 years before he was born.

Miraculous events occasionally come as answers to prayers.  The problem with these miracles, is those who haven't run into one, begin expecting one.  We feel like we're good enough and that we deserve some sort of divine revelation or celestial visitation.  However, those who call that revelation and expect an angelic encounter as an answer to prayer don't understand what revelation is.

Revelation is so simple!  It's so simple, many people struggle differing between their own thoughts.  That's because the Holy Ghost, the revealer of heavenly truths, speaks to our mind and our heart in a way that we'll understand, and whose voice do we understand better than our own?  For me, this is exactly how I get answers to many of my prayers.  Often, it's just a feeling.  As the 7th of 8 children, I am picked on more than almost any of my other siblings.  As a child, their ridicule got to me very easily.  I would get angry and vow never to talk to them again.  At one get-together, I got exceptionally irritated and escaped to my bedroom.  While there, I was urged to pray.  So, I knelt at my bed heated over the events leading up to my relocation.  With all the anger contained in my body, I opened my prayer by addressing my God in heaven and explaining my frustration at my siblings.  Because of my humility in kneeling and seeking his help, as I explained my situation, an overwhelming rush of comfort flooded my insides.  The hostile anger stored inside me immediately turned to friendly warmth, and tears flowed from my eyes like a dam bursting.  God had heard my prayer, and the Holy Ghost filled my room.  I learned that night that anger was not a desirable emotion, and that my Heavenly Father loved me, and he loved my siblings, despite their less than Christlike example.

I've experienced the Holy Ghost speak to me as I received inspiration while reading the scriptures.  Almost daily, as a missionary, I would have a thought come to my mind about a scripture I was reading.  I knew that these ideas were not my own.  So, when I would think of something, I'd write it down.  And, many times, I'd start writing about it in my journal.  But, while writing a simple thought down, I found myself writing more and more until I had a full, in-depth explanation of the impression I had.  My study journal is full of little inspirations I received during my study that came as simple thoughts that I heard as my own voice.

The Holy Ghost is also often a voice of warning or chastisement.  Similar to the voice that inspired me, I heard the Holy Ghost use sarcasm to push me to do what's right.  One morning, on my mission, I got out of the shower, looked in the mirror, and thought, "I don't really need to shave today..." even though missionaries are encouraged to shave daily.  Well, immediately after I thought that, a voice of warning came to my mind and said, "I don't really need to bless you today."  I picked up my razor and immediately shaved.  God knows how we will react and will instruct the Holy Ghost to communicate with us in the most effective way.

Visions will come to some.  Angels will visit others.  I have experienced neither, yet I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is his church that teaches his pure doctrine today.  My youth has limited the depth of my experience, but from what I have, I know that through Christ's gospel is the only way to receive lasting and powerful joy.  

The Power of the Humble

Smart people rule the world.  Leaders from every country are often some of the most intelligent.  They've had successful careers as lawyers or business men.  Their money gave them power and their well-planned words wooed those that agree and impress the ones that don't understand.  Nobody will trust a high-school dropout to run their company.  So, why then, do the Mormons stake the integrity of their religious beliefs on a young man that nothing more than a 3rd grade education?  People find it impossible that we can believe a man that says he translated an ancient record.  But really, it's less believable that a man of Joseph Smith's academic prowess could translate it by himself.  Those he dictated to said he couldn't pronounce most of the words he was reading, so he had to spell them.  His family was not known for their socioeconomic status.  They were poor farmers.  They made ends meet, but like many families of that day, lacked everything sufficient for what we might consider a comfortable lifestyle.  Joseph Smith did run for president of the United States, but he did not ever pursue such a career like those of our political and societal leaders today.  His satisfaction came from sharing his experiences and the restored gospel with others.  His life epitomized Christlike service.  He wasn't perfect, but he did everything he could to help.  Even to those who didn't frequent his sermons, he extended a gentle and serving hand.  By his fruits and his words, he was accepted and recognized as a prophet.  Joseph Smith, like Christ, was not born a king.  Similarly, their missions correlated.  Joseph Smith restored the gospel of Jesus Christ to the state it was when Christ himself taught.  We do not worship him, but we respect him.  His selfless service paved the way for many people to find the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A man from humble circumstances started what now, 200 years later, is a global church.  A collection of principles that have changed many lives...including my own.  Joseph Smith's example and work has helped shape me into the man I am today, and I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that Christ's pure gospel is again taught by his prophets today.  And, if you don't know what I'm talking about, check it out.  mormon.org  You won't be disappointed.

Hope Goes a Long Way

Christ was our perfect example.  He didn't have any flaws.  He did nothing wrong.  He was perfectly kind.  He was perfect.  So, it's no wonder in the LDS church we study his attributes so much.  For missionaries, there is an entire chapter in the preparation manual dedicated to the study and development of Christ's attributes.  In this, faith, hope, and charity are often lumped into a single entity, much like the Godhead is often understandably confused to be one entity.  I have shared my thoughts about charity and faith.  Now, my goal is to explain my understanding of hope.

Hope is tricky because it's one of those words that people use in any given conversation, yet don't fully understand what it means.  We say things like, "I hope I get ____", or "I hope I don't get caught", and so on.  While the use of hope isn't necessarily wrong in these and other examples, there's an important entity of the nature of hope I think is lost.  

Dictionary.com defines hope as: "the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best."  So, hope is the eagerness we feel for an outcome.  While you can be eager for a present or sincerely expect not to be caught, at church we discuss a different ideal for our hope.

In numerous posts I have mentioned or explained eternal life:  a gift given to us through Jesus Christ's atonement, enabling us to live forever with our families should we follow the path laid out for us.  As Christians, and specifically Latter-Day Saints, this is what we hope for.  We have hope that going to church every week will enlighten us.  We have hope that when we do good things, good things will happen.

I have hope.  I hope that I will get straight A's this semester.  I hope that I will someday meet a woman that can tolerate my companionship for eternity.  I have hope that my family can be there with us when we are sealed in the temple.  I have hope that I will see my beloved grandparents again.  I have hope that those people I met in Japan will remember the things I told them and thank me when we meet again.  I have hope that I will be forgiven and that I will be perfect.

I have hope because of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy

So many activities combat for our attention on Sunday.  In Japan, most of the kids I knew had sport competitions on Sundays.  Around the world, many people find themselves working on Sunday.  Family activities may draw us to various locations.  No matter where we are, the best place to end up on Sunday is in church.

Everybody has different reasons for attending their respective worship services.  No matter the religion, you gather with others to strengthen each other, learn, and to come closer to the deity that you worship.  For Christians, and specifically Latter-Day Saints, we go to church weekly to take the sacrament.  When I talked about ordinances and baptism, I said that we take the sacrament to renew that baptismal promise so we can always be forgiven of the things we do.  On the first Sunday of each  month, Latter-Day Saints all fast and then share how our belief in Christ has supported us recently.  We attend various classes to study the Bible and Book of Mormon and then another set where the men and women learn more about their respective roles in God's great plan for all of us.  We talk with each other to help others through any hard trials they may be facing or seek guidance for any obstacles we're faced with.  Church is a religious think-tank that requires time, but when you properly participate, it loses the sense of sacrifice.  

A few too many times, I have been unable to attend church services.  This summer was the first time I had to work on Sunday.  I drove by multiple LDS churches with full parking lots.  The disturbed feeling I had was unforgettable.  Obviously, the people around me noticed I hadn't attended the previous week, and inquired as to my absence, but lacked judgment.  No matter how early it is or when the last time you attended church was, your next meeting should be next week.  There are friends that are waiting to meet you.  There are stories and opinions you have that need to be shared.  Your God is waiting for you to rest and come closer to him.  

Too many people focus on the negatives.  So, maybe the best question to ask yourself is not, "Why don't you go to church?" but, "Why do you go to church?"

I've Got the Power!

Last week I shared Zeezrom’s story.  I shared my thoughts about his conversion and healing.  What I didn’t do and intend to address now is specifically how his healing came about.

I mentioned the Priesthood.  If you break it up, you get 2 parts that most people recognize.  First, most everyone could identify a priest as a member of some Christian denominations’ clergy.  And –hood is the same suffix we find in the word “brotherhood”.  It implies a connected group.  Combining the two, it’s natural to assume that the Priesthood could refer to some sort of religious organization.  If that was your thought process when you first read/heard that word, it’s pretty awesome you would think that way, but you’re also very right.

The Priesthood, in Japanese, is written: 神権.  The character on the left means God.  The one on the right means authority.  Therefore, if you take these two parts you get exactly what the Priesthood is; it’s God’s authority given to men.  Yes, people hold the priesthood.  Adam, Noah, Moses, and other Old Testament prophets held the Priesthood.  Lehi, Nephi, Alma, and other Book of Mormon prophets also held the priesthood.  Jesus Christ held the priesthood and gave it to his disciples when he set up his church.  The Priesthood was the special power these prophets held.  Their actions qualified them to communicate with God and gave them the authority to share his teachings with the world.  However, prophets have never been known to say very nice things.  If he said something that opposed one of your habits, you would begin to second guess whether or not he had actually spoken with God.  There came times where, as a group, the people who once believed the prophet rejected him because he was telling them to stop whatever misdeeds they were guilty of.  They stopped listening to him, and God removed the prophet and his priesthood.  I mean, if you were talking to your friend and said the same thing over and over and over again, you’d assume he couldn’t hear you and hang up.  God knew they weren’t listening, so he stopped talking.  When he knew they were ready to listen again, he assigned a new prophet and gave him the Priesthood.  Jesus Christ was one of these new prophets.  Up to today, countless people have looked to him and his teachings for guidance and salvation.  However, 2000 years ago, he wasn’t respected quite as much.  He said some beautiful things, but they were hard to follow, and he was rejected.  He was killed, and his apostles who held the Priesthood and authority to communicate with God soon followed him along the martyr’s path.

The heavens seemed to have been silent.  It was thought that everything needed was known.  The Bible had become the source of many religions that all interpreted it in different ways.  And, without living prophets, no one could tell them they were wrong.  Joseph Smith found this confusing.  He saw that what these churches were spreading was their teaching, not necessarily God’s.  So, he looked diligently for God’s truth.  He found it in a small forest where God and Jesus Christ, two separate beings, appeared to him as an answer to his prayer and searching.  First John the Baptist, then Peter, James, and John came and gave Joseph Smith the priesthood and he received the authority to once again act as God’s mouthpiece for us.  Joseph Smith gave the priesthood to other men.  And, like many of the prophets before him, he was murdered.  However, unlike his predecessors, Joseph had given the priesthood to other men who then were appointed by God in his stead to be his prophet.  One followed another, and today we are lucky to have a prophet on the earth today, named Thomas Spencer Monson.  There are 12 apostles “under” him who also have the priesthood, and 70 other men that are area administrators…the same organization as Christ’s church.  And they give the Priesthood to Stake Presidents(they look over a smaller area of the church), who then give it to Bishops that use it to teach and guide a congregation.  The Bishop gives it to other men in his ward(congregation) until every worthy male over 12 years old holds the priesthood. 

It’s the power to do what God would if he were here.  According to God’s will and the faith of the recipient and priesthood holder, it is the power to work miracles, as was the case with Zeezrom.  It’s the power to talk with God.  Though anyone influenced by the Holy Ghost can receive personal messages, Priesthood holders can receive guidance for those they have been assigned by God to look after.  Fathers receive guidance for their families; bishops for their wards, stake presidents for their stakes, and prophets receive revelation for the world. 

I am grateful for the opportunity I have to hold the priesthood.  I have a duty to serve everyone around me and strive harder to live more like Christ.  I have no power to bless myself-only to help others.  I know that Joseph Smith received his power and authority to be a prophet directly from God.  What is taught in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon are true, and you cannot go wrong if you follow the teachings in both.  If you don’t know our current prophet, President Monson, listen to him speak.  Learn about him.  The more you know, the more impossible it is to deny his calling.  He is a prophet.

Healing With a Side of Healing

I've been continuing my study of the Book of Mormon.  I try to read a chapter a day, but I'm struggling to make it a habit with my somewhat unpredictable schedule.  But, I'm not about to discuss all the things I'm not doing right.  So I thought I talk about all the wrong things someone else has done.  His name is Zeezrom.  He is a character that first makes his appearance in the Book of Mormon in Alma chapter 11.

Alma had just met his new companion, Amulek, when they went to preach about Jesus Christ to the people of Amulek's city.  The people really didn't like all the mean things that were being said about their habits and their hobbies, so they sent lawyers to catch "The A-Team" in their words.  The lawyer they chose to represent them was named Zeezrom.

Zeezrom starts by offering them money to deny their testimony.  An very transparent trick that is easy for them to refuse.  But he asks very short questions, twisting Amulek's words, that sends him into a short sermon about Christ saving us from our sins, not in them.  In other words, Christ will help us be clean of our sins, but he will not save us if our movements and motives are to rebel against God's teachings.  After Amulek's speach, Zeezrom begins to shake a little.  Then Alma gets up and proceeds to talk about life after death and judgement and such which causes Zeezrom to tremble even more.  After they finish preaching, Zeezrom is left speechless, and The A-Team is arrested and then harassed while imprisoned.  They have had enough and then pray for strength to escape their captors and suddenly there is an earthquake that knocks out the prison walls and causes a fire that destroys the city.

Alma and Amulek then move to a city called Sidom where they meet an unexpected acquaintance:  Zeezrom.  He is bed-ridden with a fever and a deeply guilty conscience for having denied God's existence and surely sending Alma and Amulek to their graves.  His body was sick, and his mind was sick.  What happens next is what has caught my eye .  Alma is summoned by Zeezrom when he hears that they're alive and in the town.  He pleads with them to heal him.  Alma first confirms Zeezrom's faith in the Atonement, or healing power of Christ, and then erases his fever, and rests his troubled mind.  Zeezrom turns around, is baptized by Alma, and becomes an outstanding member of the church.  So much so, that Alma takes Zeezrom with him on a missionary trip that we can read about in Alma chapter 31.

Zeezrom's healing is complex.  It's miraculous, but it's also layered.  The disappearance of his fever demonstrates the healing power of the Priesthood, or the power males in our church hold that gives us the ability to perform tasks that God would if he were present himself.  The Priesthood is a power, and the holder's individual worthiness and attentiveness to it gives him the authority to perform ordinances, teach, lead the church, and give blessings which may or may not involve physical healing.

Zeezrom did experience a 2nd tier to his recovery: spiritual.  He had so much guilt.  He was certain he had essentially killed Alma and Amulek.  He had denied God's presence even though he knew it was true and sought to take down the two people that had come to tell his hometown about the only thing that could save them.  Looking at it now, this was probably all brought on by depression.  His depression most likely weakened his immune system and then he developed a fever.  But his depression finally subsided when he openly accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and healer.  He understood the possible consequences of his previous lifestyle.  He desired the change that has been promised by the prophets since the beginning of time.  Zeezrom obtained faith and then saw Alma and Amulek alive.  Zeezrom's mind was finally at peace, and then he was finally totally healed.

Zeezrom's story beautifully illustrates the different levels of healing we frequently have to deal with.  Everyone gets a cut or a bruise or breaks something to various extremes.  Most things can be fixed naturally, some need to be operated on, and in some stories, God intervenes.  Our mental health is much different.  We have a situation that we need to get out of.  There may be a problem that needs to be resolved, or we just need to throw it away and decide it isn't actually important.  Either way, we will get cut, bruise our pride, and will definitely need spiritual surgery.  Jesus Christ's Atonement can heal.  He brings us the reassurance we need that we're in the right place now.  And then, as Zeezrom so beautifully demonstrated, if we turn around and do what we now know to be true, we can do so much good.

The messages of Jesus Christ ring ever true in this story.  This man who was bitterly against the teachings of the church.  He then became a missionary and shared what he once rejected.  This isn't the first and is not the last story in the Book of Mormon where a rebellious person turns around and does so much good.  I learn so many lessons from stories like Zeezrom's.  I realize that it doesn't totally matter what I've done, but Christ will still help me.  It's never too late.  I am not unsavable.

And neither are you.

Is Seeing Believing?

I believe that if I put a stamp on an envelope and leave it outside, the mailman will deliver the letter inside to the address specified.

I believe that the dishwasher cleans the dishes and there aren't little gnomes flying around inside eating the residue.

I believe that Jesus Christ can help us progress to perfection with our faith and cooperation.

I cannot physically see these processes.  I trust my letter with the mailman.  I rely on the dishwasher to get my dishes washed and cleansed.  I "blindly" follow Jesus Christ with confidence his path is the one to happiness.  

Alma clearly states that faith is "not a perfect knowledge" (32:26), but that it is a "hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (32:21).  Faith, in Japanese, implies belief and a direction for that belief-specifically, the character used means to look up.  Belief is not written in stone.  It is not admissible evidence in a court of law.  It is not taught in schools.  To some, it's not to be trusted.  But, to those of us who call ourselves Christians, our belief in Jesus Christ has brought us to a different state.

Throughout Christ's ministry and The Book of Mormon, we are taught that our belief should eventually lead to action:  to follow Christ (see previous post "Come, Follow Me).  When our belief is executed and tested, it becomes faith.  We face new scenario and our belief is tested anew.  With each victory, our faith grows and strengthens.  As we continue to pray to God, read the scriptures, attend church, and follow all other guidance received from our Father in Heaven, our faith strengthens in small doses.  What used to seem like a difficult decision or laboring trial may now seem inconsequential as you look at it with new, enlightened eyes.  What may have seemed like coincidence may now look like guidance and divine intervention.  

As we stay true to our beliefs and develop our faith, we are promised that we can "do whatsoever thing that is expedient in [God]" (Moroni 7:33).  We will never be asked to do something we shouldn't do, and we will never face something we can't do.  There is a solution to any problem and an answer to every question.  With every solution and answer, our faith grows.  As our faith grows, our problems may intensify and our questions may deepen, but as long as we press on in the same habitual path of reading and praying, our faith will stand strong and we will soon find our solution or answer.  Things you may have thought impossible are now realistic.

Faith fuels fantasy.

I believe in the power of Jesus Christ.  He can wash our sins and make us clean.  Through him, our prayers make it to our Heavenly Father and they are heard.  Through our faith, we find answers.  He is the way to eternal life.  

I believe in the story told by Joseph Smith.  He saw God and Jesus Christ, and then translated the Book of Mormon solidifying the keystone to my religion and life.

My faith has made me who I am.  My faith has fallen.  My faith has been strong.  But with whatever faith I have at any point in time, I am always able to do more than my capabilities allow.  I believe that is God's influence, and I now have faith that he will and can do it again.

The Secret Life of the Mormon Missionary

Today is the first Sunday of July.  The weather in Las Vegas is getting hotter, and it's time to set goals for the coming month.  Part of my fast and goals this month relate to missionary work.  I want to do more to be a missionary.  I want to seize opportunities to introduce and explain the Gospel.  I want to relive some of the joy I experienced as a missionary...

Sundays were always the busiest.  Even if we didn't have meetings or lessons scheduled up the wazoo, we were outside on the streets or climbing seemingly endless stairs to talk to people.  Even on Fast Sundays in the middle of the summer when I was wearing just as much sweat as clothing, we were diligently outside looking for someone, anyone to accept an invitation to church.  

Our day always starts in the morning with some exercise.  Some missionaries utilize it well.  Some do too little.  Some do too much.  Either way, we prepare and begin our private study of the scriptures and words of the prophets.  During this time, throughout my mission, I came to realize how the spirit speaks to me.  I learned new concepts from verses of scripture I have read countless times.  I have received specific guidance for a friend we were teaching.  I have been taught the answers to questions I have stewed over for weeks or months.  I learned my role as a missionary...a servant.  

After an hour, we get with our respective companion and share our insights, prepare lessons for the day, and teach each other.  This time is either incredibly effective, or a colossal waste of time.  I always loved to use this time to try and understand my companion more.  It was prime time to bear testimony to each other and to become more unified.  We were unified in that we both knew what was going on, but we also sought unity in having the same purpose, goal, and plan.  I learned so much from my companions and am who I am today largely because of my relationships with them.

For me, I continued on studying Japanese.  It is a difficult language that required all my effort to learn.  I still stumble and confuse words, but I used my time in study preparing myself to be guided by the spirit in a manner that language wouldn't get in the way.  I tried to soften the communication barrier that many Japanese people saw between them and me.  I tried to make myself a more useful and helpful tool in terms of language and communication.

After that varied.  Some days we had lessons where we tried to help our new friends understand the church's doctrine and how accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior could improve their life and give them eternal life.  We would visit with members of the church to share our love for them and help them understand their responsibility to share the gospel with their friends.  We would visit those who have not been to church for a varied period of time.  We tried to help them remember the testimony they once had, but since forgot.  We tried to help them see that the church has not necessarily moved on and forgotten about them, but still stands waiting with open arms for them to come back.  In any free time, we would talk to people on the street with the firm belief that God has put them in our path for a reason, or we were put in theirs.  Some didn't see it quite like we did.  Others saw exactly the same.  My friend and, as of almost a year ago, my brother in the church, firmly believes that we were sent to each other.  The events in his life do not suggest coincidence, and our determination to talk to him eliminates the element of chance.  

I have been ignored, insulted, and yelled at.  Japan was very hospitable compared to other places in the world, but I still had doors slammed in my face, people run away from me, and had my testimony rejected.  I don't care what manner of rejection you receive as missionary, to bear sincere testimony only to have it thrown down and stepped on hurts more than any cut or bruise.  On the other hand, I have felt no greater joy than to see a light come on in someone's eyes as they find hope in the words of my testimony.  There can be no joy greater than helping a friend overcome challenge after challenge until and beyond their acceptance of Christ and the baptismal covenant.  

I fondly cherish the time I spent as a missionary, but these activities all can still be practiced without the designation of full-time missionary in some way or another.  We should still study the scriptures.  We should still share our insights with our friends.  I don't know, write a blog or something.  For those of us who apply, we should continue to study our language, and I wholeheartedly agree that teaching it to our children would be beneficial.  We needn't walk up and down the street in our downtime commanding everyone to repentance, but why not strike up conversation with those sitting around us at work or school or public transportation?  Why do we need a nametag to visit those of our friends who haven't been to church in a while?  Why do we need a nametag to feel the joy of missionary service?  

We don't!  Serve.  Nothing can bring you closer to Christ than serving.  And the best, most rewarding form of service is sharing the gospel.  Tell your friends that don't know.  Invite them to an activity!  And, for those who may not have joined us for church services before, feel free.  Our church does not claim a monopoly on happiness, but we do profess the possession of truth.  Come, and join with us.  No matter who you are, you are welcome, and you will feel something you may not recognize, but will never forget.

Come, Follow Me

In the meridian of time, Jesus the Christ was born to Mary and Joseph.  He grew up and prepared for his ministry.  In preparation, he needed disciples, people to support him.  To the fishermen, the lawyer, the lowly tax man and others he said, "Come, follow me."  He was inviting them to walk with him, learn from him, and serve with him.  He promised that he would make them "fishers of men"; meaning with them he would 'catch' more people that would learn from him and follow his example.  He left a legacy in their lives that lead to Peter's outstanding missions.  His invitation led Saul to become Paul and serve impressing, successful missions.  Their lives changed because they accepted the invitation.

Jesus Christ taught people numerous lessons.  At the time, some didn't understand the intended moral because he taught in parables, or metaphors.  He fed thousands with small portions of food.  His teachings did and continue to feed countless people's souls.  During his three year ministry, he taught.  He performed miracles.  He lead.  He loved.  He sacrificed.  His example is unparalleled and unforgettable.  To each that heard his voice, saw his power, or felt his love, his message was the same as to the apostles:  "Come, follow me." 

As a missionary, I had 12 total companions in the 2 years.  I worked with a specific Japanese missionary for 3 months.  In a meeting with a member, he said something that impressed me.  He talked about all the things I have mentioned above.  He spoke of the glorious miracles and message of Christ.  He reiterated Christ message to follow him.  Then he asked, "If you heard Christ teachings, saw his miracles, and were in his presence, would you follow him?"  I thought this was a very intriguing question.  Would I?  Would you?  We all think to ourselves, "Well, the miracles were simply unquestionable!  Of course I would follow!"  And yet, somehow we forget about all those who did not.  The Pharisees and Sadducees and whole cities that rejected him?  We cannot for sure say who we would have been 2000 years ago.  It's always said that one of the most damaging questions to our future and present is "What if?".  I used to wonder what my life would have been like if I would have practiced violin more.  What if I had studied more in high school?  What if I had taken an intercollegiate water polo offer?  What if I didn't wear this shirt today?  I used to entertain this exchange when I wasn't satisfied with myself or my life.  I blamed it on myself and the choices I or others had made.  But, I know without each of these events panning out the way they did, I may not have met all of the wonderful, influential friends that I have.  I may not have gone to Japan.  I may not have experienced all that I have.  I wouldn't be the same person I am.  This is kind of a round about way to say we don't know who we would be now if history were different, and we don't really know how we would react were Christ to look us in the eye and say, "Come, follow me."

The beautiful thing is, we don't have to wonder!  One of my favorite hymns that we sing is "Come Unto Jesus."  In it, we sing of Jesus' love, his unwavering patience, and the comfort, relief, and forgiveness that we find when we find him.  But, of all, the last verse is my favorite:  "Come unto Jesus from every nation, from every isle and land of the sea [JAPAN!!!!].  Unto the high and lowly in station, ever he calls, 'Come to me.'"  He doesn't care where you come from.  He doesn't care what your skin color is.  He doesn't care what your likes and dislikes are.  He doesn't care how much money you make or how much you don't.  He doesn't care if you're living now, in the future, or if you were living 2000 years ago.  To me, to you, to everyone he beckons.  To all of us he extends the call.  We don't have to wonder, "What if?" because we can do it now.  He stands at the door knocking, waiting for us to open.  And when we open the door of our hearts to him, his call will resonate throughout:

Come, follow me.

The High Road

Before the New Testament, the story of Christ's life and mortal ministry, took place, we have set of scriptures called the Old Testament.  Some think it's outdated and irrelevant to us because Christ fulfilled so many of the laws and practices they followed during that time.  One reason we do still have it is at least for their stories.  We can read of their faith and courage and find ways to model them in our own lives like we would an ancestor's journal.  Their laws and rituals were all symbolic of Christ, so as we study them, we can more deeply understand the atonement, his sacrifice for us.  But we are not expected to live like them.

According to Mosaic law, were someone to wrong you, the exchange, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" was appropriate.  With an unjust act, they followed the laws of physics and found a consequence that was equal and opposite.  This was considered fair, so there are quite a few stories of people being killed in the Old Testament because that was the culture; that was the law.  It is not much like our civil governments today, except instead of cutting our fingers off or beheading our chickens, they charge us money and jail time is often included.  

When Christ taught and served over 2000 years ago, he introduced to everyone a new commandment.  We know it as the "higher law".  "A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another..." (John 13:34)  This rattled a few cages.  The Jews were probably afraid that he was trying to take everyone's focus off of God and direct it more to men, but really he was specifying the law, and consequently intensifying it.  Before, they felt justified in perhaps not being completely honest or kind to others because it wasn't included in Moses' 10 commandments or their new oral law the leaders created.  But now Christ had taken away their loopholes and was condemning their false doctrine, infuriating the leaders at the time.

It's said that the Jews loved Moses so much because he was dead.  He couldn't tell them they were doing it wrong.  Very few accept a prophet during his ministry.  It's after he's died and his prophecies are fulfilled that the next generation realizes that he was right.  Christ had come to prophecy, to atone, and to teach.  He taught of this high road and of charity.  He stressed the importance of loving and serving God, but at the same time expressed and illustrated the deep need to love and serve those around us just as much.  In Moroni chapter 7, he copies down some of the words his father Mormon gave in an address about faith, hope and charity.  Faith is our relationship with God, hope involves anticipating our personal reward, but charity is serving others' needs.  Throughout the chapter, we are instructed that if we are found without either of these in the last days, it will not be well with us.  These three form a tripod that keeps us sturdy.

Charity is so hard.  At first, you have to fake your love because the best way to achieve a goal is "fake it till you make it."  But, over time, you don't have to force yourself anymore, and love becomes your driving motivation.  The people you're serving become more important to you than the award or recognition that may or may not be awaiting.

As a missionary, I began my service because I had a testimony of the gospel and wanted to serve God, because I loved him and wanted to give back in some small way for all he had done to help me in my life.  After time, that wasn't enough.  Japanese was so hard to learn.  The people were not interested in Christianity.  I was big, white, and intimidating there.  I would get so frustrated.  Then I really found a love for the people in Japan.  Their somewhat childish outlook on life, pure and innocent humor, and general hospitality touched my heart.  My conversations began to change with them.  Instead of rehearsed and calculated questions, I was getting to know them and trying to help them see how the gospel could guide their lives.  I knew without a doubt that what I was telling them could help, so it hurt so much more when they rejected me.  But because I began coming so much closer to all these people, it meant so much more to me when they would join us at church or finally start reading the Book of Mormon or someday be baptized.  Love became my driving force, and then it wasn't work.  I was making friends.

Revenge can be complicated, but it is always the easy way out.  Seek for charity and humility.  What goes around does not necessarily have to be sent back around by us.  Higher roads are harder to take, but for your personal benefit and the benefit of your relationships, charity and humility is the better way.  Everyone will enjoy you, and vengeful poison will not fester in your bowels.

Look to serve.  Love everyone.  Let it go.

The End?

Recently, my thoughts have been turned to family.  Many of my friends have and are preparing to get married.  My sister and cousin recently had a baby, another cousin’s wife is expecting a child, another cousin got married, and one more is preparing for his ensuing marital agreement.  These are all momentous occasions that have caused my family to come closer together.  Naturally, I enjoy family get-togethers more now because there’s less time for everyone to mock me when they’re admiring a newborn baby boy.  I also enjoy the opportunity to see relatives that live far away and that I don’t get to visit with very often.  Hanging out with friends is fun and enjoyable, but nothing can ever really compare to spending time with your family.  But this is exactly what these happenings have drawn my thoughts to:  spending time with my family.  However, I’m not talking about just getting together and having dinner or watching a movie. 

Putting a question mark after “The end” is a terrible way to end a movie and a rather obvious, classless way to tell the audience you’re planning on shooting a sequel granted the current one makes enough money.  However, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we put a question mark after “The End.”  I’m not talking about Mormon cinematography, either.  If you have ever attended an LDS funeral service, you will understand what I mean, but for those  who haven’t, I will try to paint the picture of what we believe, how it makes us feel, and maybe that will explain why there’s always a big, happy luncheon afterwards with more types of Jell-O and casserole than there is barbeque sauce in my house(Just kidding, there is NO explanation for a mormon’s fascination with Jell-O and casserole).

First, I’d like to reiterate our 3^rd article of faith which states, “We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.”  I believe I’ve addressed the atonement and the gospel in previous posts.  Ordinances include Baptism by the proper authority, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by that same authority, and the sacrament.  One of the ordinances we perform necessary for salvation is marriage.  When we marry in the temple, we are sealed to our spouse past death and on to eternity.  Any children  born prior to the union  can be sealed to their parents and any children born after are automatically linked.  My parents were married in the temple, and therefore, I know that if they, my siblings, and I continue to keep the promises we’ve made with God, we can live together forever as a family.

My parents’ parents have also been sealed, and so have their parents, and so on.  Joseph Smith was given the authority by Elijah so that, as Jesus Christ put it, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-19)  With this ability, we can help our loved ones that have died earlier by performing on their behalf, the ordinances listed above required for salvation. 

This knowledge has comforted me in times of grief when a grandparent, other relative, or other loved one dies.  But I don’t need to be humbled to feel that joy.  I find peace in knowing I have lasting relationships when I spend time with my siblings, parents, and those to whom I’m sealed to on Earth and in heaven. 

This is all possible through Christ’s atonement, giving us the power to look past death.  It is no longer a barrier, but an obstacle that we need only take the right steps to overcome. 

Some things should end.  Families shouldn’t.

Fasting vs. Starving

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we fast on the first Sunday of every month as a group; sometimes collectively for the same purpose, usually with our own thoughts in mind.  Fasting has been defined as abstaining from 2 consecutive meals.  However, some people get caught up too much in the duration of our fast over the principle behind it.  I'd like to address both aspects.

Because of extenuating circumstances, I was not able to attend church last week consequently depriving me of the opportunity to fast with my ward family and share mine and others' testimonies.  So, I decided to fast today, and here are some fast facts about fasts.  According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a group of volunteers followed a diet and fasted every other day, Ramadan style (no food from sunrise till after sunset).  Their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels were down, and their ratio from HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol was much better.  They also lost weight and weren't bingeing on their days off their fast to "compensate" for the food they didn't eat the day earlier.  This is much more frequent than we fast.  However, small benefits are to be had.  Fasting teaches self control.  It teaches us to resist food when we don't actually need it for a better cause.  As a student, I often resisted food while finishing homework.  (I say resist, but forgot to eat would probably be more accurate)  This self control can transition to other areas of our lifestyle, and when we eat, we can ask, "Do I need that?"  Fasting resets your body and is good for your heart.

Here are some other facts.  When executed in our church, I feel like an unsettlingly large percentage of Latter-Day Saints don't do it "right".  We are told to fast with a purpose.

What does that even mean?

Well, above, I said that fasting helps us strengthen our mind and will.  When we don't eat, we usually think about eating.  We get hungry and crave food.  The way I see it, our purpose in fasting is something we should be thinking about instead of being hungry.  It's something we need more focus toward.  Sometimes, it's a miracle we need, and we use fasting to show our commitment to God so he'll answer with his commitment to us hopefully in a way pleasing to us.  When we feel hunger on fast Sunday, we are thinking of ourselves.

So, what does God gain from encouraging this voluntary starvation?  Well, I think it all continues to go back to our strengthened mind.  With our mental exercise, we can more accurately focus on our relationship with God and keep an eye single to his glory.  Unlike Chameleons, we cannot consistently look in two different directions at once.  When our eyes receive images, the brain converts them to one.  So, if our eyes are turned toward darkness, we will be dark.  But, if our sights are set toward God, we will be filled with light.  To pursue this metaphor, if our thoughts are turned to hunger, we will be grouchy, short, and disinterested.  If we maintain our purpose in fasting, we will be bright, motivated, and, ironically, energized.

I had approximately 24 fast Sundays as a missionary.  For most of us, fasting includes going to church and then going home and doing nothing because church meetings are always scheduled to avoid fast sunday.  But, though Sunday is the BUSIEST day of the week, missionaries get no such relaxation on fast Sunday.  I was hitting the streets in the summers, running to and from appointments, teaching lessons, and other missionary tasks like normal on fast Sundays.  I always had a purpose.  I always had a person we were talking with in mind.  I would think of my family.  I would contemplate new ways to help the ward or find new people to talk to.  And I ALWAYS had enough energy to get through the day.  I would be exhausted by the time we came home, but I was exhausted everyday.

There is power in fasting.  There is strength in fasting.  Alma, the son of Alma, who saw an angel, credited the reception of his witness to prayer and fasting.  He had seen an angel and was motionless for 3 whole days, yet when he discusses his path to conversion, he accredits his testimony to the time he spent fasting and praying.  So, for anyone who is at any stage in learning about this church, I encourage you to converse with God.  Prayer is where you learn his will, and fasting is where you calibrate your mind to receive his instruction.  For everyone on different positions on the path to forever, pick a purpose for your fast.  The things you will think of will be truly inspired.  The things you will learn will be beneficial.  The strength you will gain is irreplaceable.

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

Often, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we use the word “trial”.  Too often, this is associated with some sort of test that exhibits our spiritual prowess.  We remember Abinadi refusing to deny Christ on the stake as he burned.  We remember the trials Christ went up to up to and including the atonement and his crucifixion.  We think of our less-distant forefathers, the pioneers, who trekked miles and miles across the great plains of America seeking escape from intense harassment while living in a country that boasted religious freedom.  These are certainly impressive, and some may face daunting tasks comparable to these and other known and respected stories.  But, those of us who live normal lives without that much pressure and much fewer life-and-death decisions, we may feel inadequate when these stories are told.  I, personally, feel like there’s no opportunity for such situations to arise in my life.  I wonder how I can be an example if I don’t do anything “cool”.

When we look at trials like I’ve described above, we’re looking at the circumstance.  And, to compare our circumstances with others is, for lack of a better metaphor, comparing apples and oranges.  Nobody else has the same life as you, so nobody will have the same situation you do.  However, you may have lost a family member or gotten in a car crash.  Now, nobody had the same relationship with your relative that you did, nor can they exactly understand the trauma your accident may have brought.  However, from their experience, they bring empathy into their consolation as they confidently tell you that they may not know exactly how you feel, but everything will be alright. 

What I’m getting at with this is that we can’t and shouldn't compare circumstances.  We shouldn't necessarily look up to someone because of all the hard things they may or may not have in their life.  We shouldn't feel insecure about ourselves because of a lack of excitement or excess of resistance.  The important thing about trials is the lessons learned.  There is a trial to be learned from every “trial” we face, no matter how ‘big’ or ‘small’.  When hit with a staggering blow, my first inclination is toward gratitude.  I have to find it in my to accept the problem before me as an opportunity to learn and grow before I can seek for a way out.  Otherwise, I would continue onward under the impression that I’m doing nothing wrong.  Find a way to laugh at a mistake or see the good in a situation. 

I’m going to clarify with a Chinese proverb that I learned in Japanese.  人間万事塞翁が馬(ningen banji saiou ga uma).  A man had several horses and a son.  One day, his son was riding the horse when he hit a branch or something, lost his balance, and fell off the horse.  His foot got caught in the stirrup, and was dragged by the horse for some distance, consequently breaking his leg.  Obviously, his father grieved over this accident, and I’m sure they both thought, “Why is this happening to me?!”  Well, shortly after, a war started and a recruiter came to their town looking for able-bodied men to fight in the war.  Had is son been healthy, he would have been taken, forced to fight, and probably died.  You may pull different morals from this story, but the one I learn is that there is always a “silver lining”(if I may describe a Japanese Chinese proverb using an English idiom…)

When you find the inner-workings of your task, break it down into manageable pieces, decide what needs to be done NOW, and then do it.  Focus.  Realize what is and isn’t worth worrying about.  Sometimes we get worked up over something of no significant consequence.  Take a deep breath, and move forward one step at a time. 

Christ has promised that if you but simply come unto him, he will “give you rest.”  We all have burdens.  We all are laden, or loaded, with heavy tasks.  To us specifically, Christ has promised to give us rest from what we have, and instead, take hold of a different burden; a lighter load that is much easier to bear.  We are not, and do not have to be pulling alone.  Everyone has their favorite metaphor, but for the sake of unity, I remind you all that when it seems we are walking alone, the footprints we see are not our own, but from our savior who has picked us up to carry us safely to smoother paths.  I have felt God’s loving embrace as a missionary when I knelt before him in humble prayer pleading for forgiveness and for direction.  I have seen his interference in the lives of my friends as they shouldered some of the hardest obstacles, yet came out on top.  I have learned so much in my short 21 years.  Without resistance, exercise loses its effectiveness.  Without trials, we cannot reach our full potential.

Follow the Order

I recently had the opportunity to re-read Elder L. Tom Perry's talk "Obedience Through our Faithfulness" in preparation for a lesson I was asked to teach.  The concept of obedience and the doctrine taught in this talk are by no means new or deep.  It's essentially just lessons children learn at church:  listen to the Holy Ghost and do what's right.  But the things he said were what made it such a moving address.

The bulk of his talk was based on a specific conversation he had with his grandfather.  He asked his grandpa something a lot of people struggle with.  He wanted to know how he could be sure he was always doing the right thing.  And, as old people often tend to do, he didn't really tell him the answer, but danced around it in a way he felt would be easier to understand.

"He taught me about breaking in a team of horses so that they would work together. He explained that a team of horses must always know who is in charge. One of the keys to asserting control and directing a horse is a harness and bit. If a member of the team ever believes that it does not need to obey the will of the driver, the team will never pull and work together to maximize their ability."

Elder Perry likened all these back to the gospel.  We are the horses.  We have different personalities.  Some of us are very keen to following direction.  Others fight direction and correction when given.  And as our personalities differ from others', we may not work so well together.  The leader of a team of horses, or rider of a single horse, is of course Jesus Christ.  He trains us and guides us in the best direction for our righteous goal, which is really his goal for us.  But why wouldn't eternal life be our adopted goal as well?

There are some horses that go against the bit.  They reject when the rider pulls one direction or the other.  Maybe they're just slow at responding.  I'm certain they understand which way the rider wants them to go, but their attitude tells them their way is much better.  We know what isn't good.  We know how far is too far.  We know when tasks need to be done.  Negligence, ignorance, and procrastination are sins that simply put us farther and farther behind pace in our journey to our eternal promise.

The harness and bit were related to the Holy Ghost and promptings from him.  When the rider wants the horse(s) to go in another direction, he'll pull on the reins, pushing the bit into a side of the horses mouth.  Trained horses understand that is the way they are intended to go.  Our task on earth is to come more sensitive to the tugs of the leader-or promptings of the Spirit.  And, to answer young Elder Perry's question, I'm sure his grandpa meant to drive home the concept of, "Just do what you're told."  A rider won't pull the reins if he wants the horse to keep doing what he's doing.  When a change of course is due, a gentle tug is issued.  Even in emergencies, no extreme reactions ensue, but always painless prodding in the right direction and out of danger.

In Japanese, the characters used for obedience include the character for "follow" and then the character for "order".  God's house is a house of order.  There is order in the church.  There should be order in our lives.  Commandments are given us to outline the order.  The spirit-bit is in our hypothetical mouths to clarify order when needed.  The order is before us, and our purpose is to, if I may be so redundant, obediently follow that order.

As I said, our task is to learn how we receive guidance from the Holy Ghost.  What does his voice sound like to you?

I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior and he is the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He is the leader of my current family and will be the leader of my future family.  He is the leader of my life.  I pray that we may all bite the bits in our mouths and have the courage to fall into his hands and be guided.

Backsliding

I found myself today reading the Teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith during sacrament meeting.  Convenient to the ordinance, I was studying the Plan of Salvation and specifically, the atonement of Jesus Christ.  President Smith bore such beautiful, powerful testimony of the truthfulness and power of Christ's atonement for us.  He tells us that "The driving of the nails into his hands and into the Savior's feet was the least part of his suffering...His great suffering occurred before he ever went to the cross.  It was in the Garden of Gethsemane, so the scriptures tell us, that blood oozed from every pore of his body; and in the extreme agony of his soul, he cried to his Father." (63)  As a missionary, I was able to see a glimmer of hope come to the light of a single mother of three as these two unknown white men told her that she was not alone...she was loved.  I've seen a man covered in tattoos beg for a way to be clean from the things he regrets.  I've seen myself change into the man I am now.  And, because of Christ's atonement and example, I see the man I can yet become.

There is a common saying in America:  "Freedom isn't free!"  This points to the courageous men and women that have fought so valiantly for our freedoms here.  The only price I've had to pay for my freedom is taxes, but comparatively, I have paid nothing.  Not unlike our freedom fighters, Christ rallied for our freedom.  We were trapped by the communistic grasp of Adam's fall:  no matter what we did, we would still be unclean and lack a perfect body.  Christ took the challenge, accepted the weight, and stood in our place as the punishment for everything you and I have and will do came raining down on him in the form of blood seeping from his pores.  He eliminated that deficiency remaining only the separation of body and spirit to be solved.  After his famous prayer in the garden, he was tortured and taken to Golgotha and hung on a cross.  He died.  In Japan, some told me that I couldn't very well worship someone who couldn't even beat death!  But oh, what joy there is in knowing that there is more to this story!  Three days later, his spirit was again united with his body and he eliminated death's final hold on us.  We are free, but should always remember the cost behind it.  And, as President Smith tells us, "No man could do what he did for us.  He did not have to die, he could have refused."

He could have backed out?!  He could have said, "Forget the moochers, they can try and find their own way back!"  He voluntarily took our pains and sins.  He begged with God to provide another way so that he wouldn't have to endure such pain.  He didn't want to do it.  As I said, it was voluntary, so it isn't like it was even an obligatory compulsion.  Naturally, he had told everyone in Jerusalem and Capernaum and the surrounding areas that he was to be the savior, so to bail out would have been rather awkward.  But, he could have used the excuse, "You try it!" because if the only perfect man who ever walked the earth couldn't do it, nobody else could.  And that's exactly it.  Nobody else could.

How often do we find ourselves not willing to do things asked of us?  Often these are tasks that we might feel are our obligation, but really we still have the choice whether or not to comply.  In an attempt to guide us to true and lasting happiness, our loving Heavenly Father has given us commandments, or rules, to follow.  But how often are we faced with a scenario that challenges our resolve to follow these fundamentally simple guidelines?  We try to fight the man, but we forget that the man is the man that created the world and all things.  I, myself am guilty of backsliding, or sticking my heels in the dirt to try and inhibit my progression forward.  These are things to me that are legitimately hard.  To others, they are rookie mistakes.  Backsliding is bad, but repentance clears out all our wrongs.  However, if we fail to repent, or change from what we're doing, we have a promise:  "But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of the pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-".

Christ provided the way.  It's there.  Allow yourself to be changed.  It is so scary to fall into the hands of God, but it is more rewarding than anything you could ever do alone.  In this world of dark, how nice it would be to be guided by a light.  Let your light be Jesus Christ.  And when that is your light, "Let your light so shine."

"All things denote that there is a God"

When I finished my service in Japan as a missionary, I came across an organization of tour guides that target Japanese clientele.  I took this opportunity and have completed several tours when I'm not at school.  As the guide, I pick up my passengers at their hotels in Las Vegas and then drive them to national parks, tourist attractions, gift shops, and other places of interest explaining what I know about these areas in Japanese.  One of the places we go to is Sedona, Arizona.  Sedona once was known for its apple and peach orchards, but has since developed a new reputation:  one of supernatural influence.  Per capita, there are probably more Psychics in Sedona than there are lawyers in Las Vegas.  Many of the gift shops sell special crystals and help you obtain power from four places in the area that have been deemed power spots where you can feel the energy of the universe and be healed.  On any given day, you can find someone meditating at the top of these vortexes.  The view from these locations is truly beautiful, but when I heard about power spots, I thought, "Oh no, this place is just full of hippies!"  I've been to Sedona for work multiple times, and I've had passengers that feel the power of the vortex and those who don't feel anything but muscle pain from the hike.  However, this week was different.  I had a group of 4, and at the first location, none of them felt anything.  We went to the last location before our stop in uptown for shopping, and pieces started coming together.  They asked me if I had ever felt anything at these places, but I told them that I didn't feel anything special because I always feel good when I'm in the outdoors or get to see an impressive landscape.  Then, on our way down, they all came to the agreement that they did feel something.  They felt like old, bad feelings were all gone and that they felt renewed.  Perhaps a single word to summarize it would be, 'reborn'.  Then I realized this whole thing was a little more serious than I was giving it credit.

Hiking and outdoor activities are physically strenuous.  However, upon return from such an outing, I personally also feel renewed as my passengers did.  Perhaps it's taking my lungs that are used to polluted air and escaping to the clean mountainous environment that gives the feeling of renewal.  I look at landscapes and stand in wonder at the beauty.

So...what?

Having studied and taught the creation of the earth as much as I have, I can say with unwavering confidence that God created this Earth and that he created it for us.  The things that exist are for our use, and certainly the mountains, valleys, rivers, oceans, and other terrain are meant for our enjoyment.  As I came down from the vortex yesterday, not only did I feel renewed, but I realized that these views were arranged for our pleasure and edification.  All these things work in such harmony together.  Such incredible coincidences!

To clarify, by 'coincidence', I meant "not a coincidence."  Many people defy Christians to prove that God exists, that Christ was resurrected, and that there is life after death.  They present their argument in a manner that suggests they alone have struggled with this dilemma or that they represent a new perspective on this controversy.  Excerpts from ancient prophets' records shows us that these concerns did not originate with this new, scientific mindset that sprouted in the recent decades.  One of these prophets, Alma, is quoted in the Book of Mormon when he addressed a man named Korihor who presented this exact same argument, expecting to discourage everyone that couldn't provide solid evidence to the existence of God.  To this, Alma said, "Thou hast had signs enough...yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." (Alma 30:44)  To those that feel like their situation is different, just try to climb a mountain, look across at all the things you see and remember that the trees you see are screaming their testimony of God's existence.  The flow of the river, formation of the rocks, and sway of the reeds in the wind orchestrate a powerful testimony of a Supreme Creator's existence and presence.