Line Upon Line, Real Growth, Humility to See the Whole Elephant

Sorry, it probably appears I’m focusing on what appears to be an exception. I believe that sometimes what appears to be an exception is actually a true principle that God is revealing to us. I have been thinking about this for many years because I believe I may have missed the mark before even though my heart was right before the Lord. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15. Sometimes there is more than one commandment at play and we need the Holy Ghost. Nephi said it like this,

23 For we labor diligently to write, to ^apersuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by ^bgrace that we are saved, after all we can ^cdo.

 24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we ^akeep the law of Moses, and look forward with 

steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.

 25 For, for this end was the ^alaw given; wherefore the law hath become ^bdead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.

26 And we ^atalk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we ^bprophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our ^cchildren may know to what source they may look for a ^dremission of their sins.

27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.

As we come unto Christ, it is wonderful how He continues to tutor us and reveal “commandments not a few” (D&C 59:4), that open our perspectives and reveal more and more of His laws/principles/ways/thoughts/character/perfections/attributes. For me, I continue to be humbled by Him and grateful that He keeps giving “line upon line, precept upon precept” (Doct & Cov 98:12). Isaiah 55:8-9 is so enlightening. If we really believe His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways, then He can teach us more, only if we're humble enough to receive more. I’ve held onto the tail of the elephant before and still do at times, only to realize He is trying to show me the tusk so I can have a more complete view of the elephant (situation) and receive more light and knowledge. (Pres Dieter F Uchtdorf, "What Is Truth," January 2013, https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/print/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng)

I’m in the middle of “A Whole New Mind.” I believe he is onto a true principle that leads to more light. The ones w/ a right brain tendency tend to hold onto their strengths and hold up those truths as a true principle that overshadows the left brain strengths. Those w/ the left brain tendencies tend to hold onto and hold up their strengths and principles and put more precedence on those strengths and perspectives. The perfect blend of the two is probably closer to the mind of Christ than only a right or left brain perspective. Elder Maxwell once said that we tend to focus on those things we are good at and compare our strengths to other’s weaknesses.

Faith, God requires Complete/Absolute Faith in Him

I put my finger on what bothers me about Ayn Rand’s writings in Atlas Shrugged…not that it makes it bad to read, but it can blur one’s vision if not careful. 

It is the absence of faith that really bothers me.

God had Abraham sacrifice his son when it didn’t make sense to Abraham how he could be the father of many nations if he were to sacrifice Isaac.

Joseph was called to sacrifice what he thought was virtue by practicing plural marriage.

Nephi was called to sacrifice the commandment of not killing when he was called to kill Laban.

It is the principle of faith in God over our own knowledge or wisdom. We have to learn the language of the Spirit and follow God’s command that may be, in our own estimation/calculation, to completely contradict everything we’ve held onto firmly in the past.

When you take faith in God out of the picture, it completely pulls the ground out from underneath the principle to stand on. It distorts the truth. I felt like her foundational principle was that everything could be explained and I feel like that can be dangerous. It can destroy faith. God would lead us to eventually be able to say, “I know not, save the Lord commanded me,” Moses 5:6. Nephi saying, “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things,” 1 Nephi 11:17. I’ll build an ark even though it’s dry. And I’ll fill it with animals and open myself up to more criticism. I’m leaving Jerusalem because of a vision I’ve had that it will be destroyed. I’m going to build a boat and leave Bountiful. I’m going to build a barge and I’m going to light it with a stone through Christ touching that stone. I will look at a serpent on a stick and be healed.

All these things we do, and in the action of faith we see the salvation of God.

Pulling this into the workplace…if I put in 2 more quotes a day and stay 15 more minutes, then that will be 40 extra quotes per month. That will signify that I’m doing all in my power to place myself in a position to earn the income I desire.

Or is it better to say, “I will work my tail off while I’m here, work hard in my family, church, and civic responsibilities too and then trust that Heavenly Father will provide.” I’m not saying I shouldn’t get as many quotes out as possible, but I am saying there will always be more I can do at the office but I am choosing to spend my time differently, still with faith, but with my faith in God, not in the arm of the flesh.  

This can be the same with spiritual things too. Faith in a less worried way. “…be still, and know that I am God” Doct & Cov. 101:16.

Ponderings on Leadership, Employee/Employer

I have been pondering leadership. As I read 1 Nephi 1 it settled on my soul how Lehi was a great leader. He lead by example. If he expected his sons to follow him then he followed the Lord. We all are followers and leaders. As we work on ourselves and becoming more and more obedient to the Lord or to our priesthood leaders, then we are in a position to lead because we are showing humility and repentance, etc.

I remember my english teacher preaching to us to "show, don't tell." That is the way of a leader, he/she must "show", more than one "tells."

The Doctrine and Covenants teaches us to teach by "precept and example."

I have really been drawn to pondering leadership because I have felt very critical of the way my managers at work have chosen to lead. I feel like they aren't implementing true principles. They love to read about true principles but they don't seem to implement them. They choose to lead by instilling fear and force.

I have felt that I need to be humble and obedient. Sometimes when I see the irony of a leader demanding me to do something they don't do, it becomes easy to kick back and not want to do it because of the hypocrisy. Sometimes I just see it differently. I want to have balance in my life. When I'm at work I'm going to work hard but I have family, church, and civic responsibilities too and I need that balance or I'll be a failure. So, it's hard to want to be obedient to every whim that they give to us.

If this was a priesthood setting I would have to humbly submit, so my question is, "should I just humbly submit or should I openly communicate with them about things I feel are not correct?" I have openly communicated with them in the past and been shut down. I've tried to do it very discreetly but I have felt completely ignored and then a harsh rebuttal comes from them as if to say, "we know best, you're just prideful." So, I'm caught a little. I used to just say, "ok, I'll do it your way," but I'm not so sure I shouldn't temper their ideas that aren't just or correct.

I'll keep seeking guidance. This chapter in 1 Nephi 1 shows Lehi, a leader, being humble to the commands of the Lord and therefore, being blessed. Nephi, the subordinate, is humble, seeks a witness that his father is lead by God, implements his father's will, and then becomes a leader too. Is this scenario different than at work. If we desire to be in the kingdom of God then we must follow God's leaders. If we desire to be a part of a company (kingdom), then we must be obedient to their leaders. I think that feels right. If their whims and laws become so out of line with my core values then I would have to make a decision if I want to be a part of this company. This seems logical and correct, no matter how much I disagree with what they implement, if I'm a part of this company, then I must submit.

I guess this is the same way that church members can be faithful members of the church but still live in a socialist or communist country. We believe in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law...even in our companies. Even if they aren't following perfect governing principles.

Key to God's Blessings

I have been discussing w/ Rachelle the principles of gratitude and charity in a different light then we have previously viewed these wonderful principles. It seems in life once we come to accept and learn to love our situation, we are then blessed with a better result or outcome. For example, once I was in La Coruna as a junior companion. I was really struggling to enjoy my companion. I felt like he was always cutting me off, not letting me speak even when I made the contact with someone in the street. Everything about him started to annoy me. Then I decided I would just be the best junior companion I could be. I sincerely tried to not resent him always talking, etc. It seemed like almost in the exact moment I came to learn from my situation and seek patience and to love my companion, that is when the Lord released me from the situation and transferred me. The people of Alma in the city of Helam prayed for their burdens to be light. They didn't seek to have them removed but lightened. Then the Lord strengthened them. When we're willing to pay tithing and spend our time w/ family and in our callings, etc, that is when the Lord can bless us w/ His choicest blessings. When Job was able to lose all the blessings he had, choose to love and worship and testify of God, then he was given all the blessings he didn't have before and still retain the faith he had already come to develop in God. Jacob 2:18-19. It really is Jacob 2:18-19 principle...just applied to other situations besides riches. Once we are grateful for our situation and learn what we can from the situation, sincerely not just superficially or just saying the right words, but really feeling it, then God can endow us w/ power. Once Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, that is when the blessing came. Once Rachelle and I were totally willing and wanting to serve as a chaplain family in the army, that is when the Lord saw fit to release us from this call. Once Zion's Camp marched all the way to Zion to fight, the Lord released them from the call to fight and they could go home peacefully and He fought their battles for them. If we are humble and obedient and grateful for the blessings God has given us, then He will bless us. If we are seeking charity through our experiences, then He can bless us. The choice is ours to be softer or harder in our hearts because of the exceedingly great length of the war (Alma 62:41).

Jacob 5, Allegory of the Olive Tree

So what does this allegory mean to me?

I feel like the main thing for me to take away is to thrust in my sickle w/ my might to save the souls of men. He will come again and there will be a cleansing. The time is now to invite all to come unto Christ to enjoy the safety and peace of righteous living, now and in the future. It is interesting that in these verses the Lord tries several different ways to bring this about. He tries different methods that perhaps He might find a way to bring each one unto Him. That is a good principle.

Funeral Talk, Plan of Happiness

Funeral Service—Plan of Salvation, plan of happiness, Talk

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak w/ you this afternoon. I have come to really enjoy funerals for we come and celebrate the life of our loved one and remember who they were, what they taught us, and who we want to become. And in reality we don’t speak in the past tense, we speak in the present tense. “Who they are and what they continue to teach us.”

I like the saying that funerals are for the living and not for the dead. In reality those that have passed from this mortal earth life simply have walked through a revolving door and they look down upon us hoping they left something of a legacy with us to cherish and emulate.

Funerals cause us to pause and leave our daily routines to think of the eternal and not the earthly, to look heavenward and ponder the wonders of God.

Without thinking of God and His purposes in our creation, life, and death, is like going to a feast and eating everything but the main course. We would leave here not being nourished and the emptiness would leave us feeling a void in our minds and hearts. My purpose today is to let the word of God fill the void that many feel this day.

We know from the scriptures that the earth was created that man and woman might have a place to come and live, to learn to become like heavenly parents and enjoy the happiness they enjoy. It says in the book of Moses, “For behold this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

In the book of John we learn that “this is life eternal they [we] might know [Him] the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom [He] hath sent” (John 17:3).

So what does this really mean? I believe a simple analogy Elder Oaks, a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles, shares helps illustrate the plan of life very simply and beautifully.

Imagine a wealthy landowner who has fields of grain, pastures w/ cattle, rivers, streams, and beautiful mountains in the background. He has a wonderful mansion full of all the necessities and many extras. He has investments and business ventures that keep him and his loved ones comfortable. He has many employees that depend upon him for their sustenance as they help keep his estate moving forward and growing. This landowner has a son and he really wants to give him all that he has. Not only does he want to give him all that he has but most importantly he wants to give him all that he has become. For you see, he cannot give his son honor or prestige among men, that must be earned over time and experience. He cannot pass on his character and integrity. That must come w/ a life of correct choices and resolve in doing what is right and good even in the most difficult circumstances. He could try to give his son things, but the son would not know what to do with it all and squander it away w/o the proper training and for sure w/o the proper maturation of character and integrity. And so he sends his son away to earn money for school and then to use his training to make a living and start his own family. His son passes through a series of tests that temper him and mold him into a man of honor. Eventually through a life that mirrors that of his father, he becomes like his father and is ready to inherit all that his father has. A wise father was able to prepare a ready son to become like him in character and integrity and enjoy peace and happiness through who he has become. Wealth of character and integrity among men has proven to be the greatest honor that one could enjoy in this life.

So now as we ponder these scriptures maybe they now have more meaning. (reread Moses 1:39, John 17:3).

Eternal life is the life that God has and this mortal, earth life prepares us for that wonderful life of true peace and joy.

In this life of joy, sorrow, trials, and tribulations we all make mistakes. We falter and feel the loneliness of life. Perhaps the deepest pains we feel are from our own mistakes and sins. That is one of the great roles our Savior fills in our lives. He paid the price and filled the void of the many sins we commit as we go through life. This makes it possible for us to keep trying. As long as we never give up and keep repenting and changing, his sacrifice will cover us.

Prophets testified for thousands of years that the Savior of the world would come to heal us from all infirmities, redeem us from our sins, and bring forth the resurrection of us all.

President Henry B. Eyring, a special witness of Jesus Christ, explains the role of Jesus Christ in our lives:

Pg. 225 in my scriptures, the insert.

Jesus knows how to succor, or run to us, and bring peace to us. He redeems us from sin and he gives us the gift of the resurrection. We will all live again.

Paul said:

1 Cor. 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

1 Cor. 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Have you ever wondered what gave Paul the audacity to say such a thing? Here Paul was, formerly Saul the persecutor of the Christians, those that believed in Jesus Christ. One day on the road to Damascus he was visited by the resurrected Lord and his entire life changed. Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle, a witness of the living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

1 Cor. 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

1 Cor. 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

I add my witness to Paul’s that Jesus is a resurrected and glorified being. Because He lives, we know Sandy will live again. Because He lives all of us and all of our dead will live again. What a glorious doctrine!

There are events that happen in our lives that cause us to doubt God or grow in our love and trust in Him. There is an experience in the Book of Mormon. The people have been fighting for many years and this great statement is made

Alma 62:41

41 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their ^aafflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

1 Nephi 2:12 12 And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their ^afather. And they did ^bmurmur because they ^cknew not the dealings of that God who had ^dcreated them.

Contrasted to Nephi: 2 Nephi 2:16

16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the ^amysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did ^bvisit me, and did ^csoften my heart that I did ^dbelieve all the words which had been spoken by my ^efather; wherefore, I did not ^frebel against him like unto my brothers.

Nephi’s words: “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.”^{2 1 Nephi}

Several years ago a friend of mine had a young daughter die in a tragic accident. Hopes and dreams were shattered. My friend felt unbearable sorrow. He began to question what he had been taught and what he had taught as a missionary. The mother of my friend wrote me a letter and asked if I would give him a blessing. As I laid my hands upon his head, I felt to tell him something that I had not thought about in exactly the same way before. The impression that came to me was: Faith is not only a feeling; it is a decision. He would need to choose faith.

My friend did not know everything, but he knew enough. He chose the road of faith and obedience. He got on his knees. His spiritual balance returned.

It has been several years since that event. A short time ago I received a letter from his son who is now serving a mission. It was full of conviction and testimony. As I read his beautiful letter, I saw how a father’s choice of faith in a very difficult time had deeply blessed the next generation.

Challenges, difficulties, questions, doubts—these are part of our mortality. But we are not alone. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have enormous spiritual reservoirs of light and truth available to us. Fear and faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time. In our days of difficulty, we choose the road of faith. Jesus said, “Be not afraid, only believe.” 4