Love One Another

Satan has taken God’s word “Love” and tried to water that word down until it holds little to no value. Love in the scriptures looks like this:

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of you Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (Matthew 5:44-46)

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24)

For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have love you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:34-35)

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:13-14)

He Denieth None That Come Unto Him; All Are Alike unto God

Racism, prejudice, hatred. I recently read a book on all of this. One group is taken from their homeland, mistreated, and hated for generations. The groups are distinguished by the color of their skin and separate religiously, culturally, and socially. The groups are told not to intermarry or a curse will follow them, separating them even more. War ensues, jails are overburdened with inmates, sent to death row, brutally mistreated. Vicious attacks come from both sides. Murder, rape, and violence eventually lead to the oppressed group destroying their oppressors, completely wiping them out, finding themselves without oppressors, and yet still very oppressed.

Throughout the book there are examples of the two groups coming together, living as though they were one people and it is beautiful. Their economy thrives, happiness levels exceed that of every previous generation, but hatred, racism, and violence eventually enter back in as they forget and ignore what fostered their equality and love in the first place.

What was their solution? How did they overcome 600 years of brutality, hatred, and racism?

The book is called the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon offers a solution more penetrating and lasting than any government has ever been able to construe.

If you are interested in actionable solutions to the problems we face in America today, I think it would be worth the read.

If you are looking for something to do right now and do not need the back story, try Googling 3 Nephi 11 and read from there, but the whole book is really worth the read if you have the time.

Here is what I learned from reading it:

The most critical voice we need to hear is the voice of our Heavenly Father, especially after destruction and violence (3 Nephi 11:3-7)

Heavenly Father will always invite us to listen to Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 11:7)

If we seek to hear Jesus Christ, he will come to us and teach us all things that we can and should do (3 Nephi 11:8-)

A lot of my friends are concerned because they do not know how to solve the problems in America, but Jesus Christ does and as we seek him, we will know how to help and what to share.

Begin Serving and Let the Lord Strengthen You

How often do we feel like speaking to someone, sending out a message, or an invitation and then pause, think that this person probably has something better to do, and stop ourselves from reaching out? How often is it that the person we have thought of is longing for a simple smile or hello and would be overjoyed with anything more? The thoughts that seem to come and go without any action having been taken are likely the lost opportunities that the Holy Ghost had to communicate with us. Should we begin to act on a small portion of these promptings, we will find that our ability to be instruments in the hands of God will increase and our own lives will begin to fill with light.

If you feel overwhelmed by the thought that should you commit to an en-devour like this, God will begin to rely on you more and more remember,  He will, but He will take it slow.

“For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.”

Equality of Effort, Not of Circumstance

Equality is a hot button issue in society today and as a result many of us ponder whether or not we have been treated fairly. God put everyone is a different environment, not even twins will experience the same challenges and successes. At the judgement day will a just God be happier with the man who was born into a moral family who did no good for others or the man born into an immoral family who learned how to do some good. It is our effort in the circumstances we have been given not our circumstance for which we will be judged. Whatever our capacity, let us choose to be good.

“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
...
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

The classic argument against God usually goes something like this, "If there was a God how could he allow pain and suffering? How could a loving God take my child away? Why was I born in the circumstance that I was? Why does God allow war?" These and many others form together to show that many times our sadness pulls away from God. However in these times God is waiting for us to run to him. It is in opposition that we understand joy. One prophet of old explains why God allows opposition in our lives.

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.”

Live, Really Live, Through God's Word

In life there are a lot of people shouting our names, calling us to follow them in different directions, teaching us what they think would be wise. Perhaps we follow one, or the other, for a time. We try many ways and find that each bring us to an end. With Christ we find that there is one path, straight and narrow, and that in him we find only new beginnings. For by Christ we live and through his word our life is eternal

“For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.”

How to Get Up When You Are Feeling Down?

My father coined a phrase "sometimes yes, sometimes no". This phrase saved him from spending a lot of money over the years. Another phrase common for some if not all is "sometimes depressed, sometimes truly happy". You can fill in the slots with any opposites. Life is about opposition. Dealing with opposition is our goal because destroying it is unattainable.

“Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.”

The Reset Button of Repentance

Problems keep piling on, stress increases, until finally we break. Once broken we rest from our labors and eventually gather ourselves together and begin again. This tormenting cycle can be very frustrating all the way up until the point of reset. When life is brought back into perspective and we are able to continue onward, the feeling of rest and peace gives us the push we need.

Similarly, a person is capable of committing a certain amount of sin until they break. They become broken due to the weight of the sins that have piled on. The reset button that brings relief during these times is repentance. Repentance has been explained in many ways but my favorite is this explanation of Christ.

“ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

"Come unto me, all ye that sin and are heavy laden with sin, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you (repent), and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Does God Still Speak to Us?

Today I had a neat experience. I was walking out of an auditorium and had an unusual thought pass through my mind "What would you do if you found someone's wallet?" This thought passed and in no more than a couple of seconds I looked down to find the wallet and phone, in one carrier, of a girl who had left the auditorium prior to my finding her things. The professor has the email of each student and I figured he would have an easier time locating the girl to deliver to her, her things than I would, so I gave it to him. 

I remember when someone delivered my wallet in the mail that I left in another state. How grateful I was for him. The value of a phone and wallet is great, but relative to the value of a child of God a wallet is of no value. God loved his daughter enough to inspire me to look for her lost wallet not because her wallet was important to him but because she was important to him and her wallet and phone are important to her. How grateful I am for God's trust to reveal unto me the times that he needs me to help one of his children even in small ways.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.”

How Do We Deal With All the Changes In Society?

Each one of us has a unique perspective about the direction that we perceive society is heading. We see advances in science and technology and expanded opportunities for learning. There is also war and political turmoil. In the next fifty years, society as we know could change a lot. It is uncertain what the future holds and how these changes might effect each one of us. Uncertainty at times can cause fear. What we know for sure is that God will desire that each one of us heed his word as we move forward in our lives. It will be his word that we can count on because it will not pass away. Our whole world could go to dust and yet all of God's words shall be fulfilled. We can find comfort in any situation as long as we are following what God asks of us in his word.

As we hearken to his servants of old and his servants in this day, we can know where we need to be and how we ought to be living.

“...though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

Is There Any Problem to Be Solved More Important Than a Person to Be Loved?

“Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”
— Thomas S. Monson

Are we too rushed to get to work, to stop and help someone who has fallen? Do we study the equations of our textbook more than the sad emotions of our spouse? Are we more aware of global poverty than a lonely friend?

Getting to work on time is important, as are the equations and the poverty experienced by many. Some problems to be solved help us love a person more. There can exist a lot of overlap in problem solving and people loving. I think the invitation here is that anytime we see a person in need of our love, we would be wise to give it to them, without regard to the problems we neglected to solve. When we help God's children first, God has a way of helping us solve our problems. God always deals in win-wins with his children as long as his children put him first.

Why Did God Give Us the Sabbath Day?

Much has been said about the importance of the Sabbath day. It was given to the children of Israel to have one day of their busy week to rest and come unto God. On this day it is our opportunity to cease our activities and participate more in activities that would bless others and show our love for God. Perhaps there is no greater commandment that reflects success in all aspects of our lives than this: 

 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

How Does Man Offend God?

God is loving and caring and wants the best for his children. His anger is manifested from time to time. It is during these times that we must be humble and recognize where our success comes from and obey all of God's commandments. Love God and you will feel his love in greater abundance.

“And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.”

How Will We Spend Our Time?

How do we distribute our time? How do we prioritize and value the time that we have? Some are blessed to live on this earth for a long time, others may only live seconds. Give God your time and he will return to you that which you need. There is a time for everything we need to do, but there is no time to waste.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Happy Which Endure

Perhaps the most important commitment we make in this life is the commitment to be committed. Committed to all of life's endeavors, whatever we face. It becomes an attitude that whatever we start, we finish, this of course excluding the unrighteous things we begin to do. Let us endure the hardships and be grateful for the blessings of life. The Lord will be merciful and have compassion on us whenever we waver and fall short, but let us strive to endure all that God might have in store for us.

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

Can Happiness Come From Criticism?

Anytime we open ourselves up to criticism we take a risk on our emotional safety. Correction from our employer, criticism on the internet or in person, for the things we say and do, a yelling parent or spouse can often leave us feeling misunderstood, mistreated and often simply just unhappy. Sometimes we might have a right to feel the way we do, but the greatest among us have always found a way to take criticism, and use it to improve ourselves and the way we behave.

The perfect coach, teacher, boss, parent and God knows how to chasten and correct in a way that, in the end, will make us whole. We only need choose to accept such loving correction.

“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.”

Happy Are Ye if Ye Do Them

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Looking for happiness is the number one priority for many who can afford it. I say afford it because many people do not have time to worry about whether they are happy or not, they are continually working and moving just to survive. Thinking about whether we are happy or sad is a luxury only those with an excess of time possess. Those who feel happy are likely those who spend the least amount of time thinking about the importance of themselves but rather, spend most of their time thinking about the importance of others and how they can serve them.

As we take on roles of supervisor or leader, where other people work for us, or as we work underneath someone with greater authority than our own, we would increase our happiness as we learn to serve one another without reflection on rank.

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

"My Soul is Exceeding Sorrowful"

“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt”

In our hardest times where do we turn? What is the first name we call out? When we were young it might have been mommy or daddy; maybe we even cried out for our blanket.  We sought comfort from our greatest sources of comfort in the past and we were inconsolable if it was anyone else. When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane, suffering the pains, sicknesses and afflictions of everyone who had lived before and all who would come after, he knew the source of comfort to which he chose to call out. "Abba" or daddy, he knew that only his father could save him from this pain.

Yet what might surprise any good father reading this story is that both the son and the father continued suffering. Neither was relieved. It was the will of God that Christ should suffer and so he did. All of us, each person born to this earth is a recipient of the blessings of Christ's sacrifice. Because of him really truly, all things are possible and miracles can and do happen. 

If God does not help us immediately out of hard or dark times, trust in his will and trust that his understanding of our life is greater than our own. Whatever life we can create for ourselves will pale in comparison to the life God can help us make.

“And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

While the Spirit still strives with man, man must Strive to Share