Living in Thanksgiving Daily

Live in Thanksgiving Daily

This past week was Thanksgiving here in the U.S. This is the first thanksgiving holiday we have been away from our family in the 43 years of our marriage. Though it was tough to not be able to celebrate our favorite holiday with our family, we did have the blessing of spending it with the Jensen family here in Fishers, Indiana and with the other office missionary couples in our mission.

Thanksgiving in Indiana

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the many blessings that we have received and to give thanks to the Lord for those blessings.

While teaching the Zoramites, Amulek taught that we should “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you” (Alma 34:38). What does it mean to live in thanksgiving daily? Elder Joseph B. Worthlin speaking about this scripture said:

“In the Book of Mormon we learn that we should “live in thanksgiving daily”. Isn’t that a wonderful thought? To live in thanksgiving daily? Can you imagine how your life would improve if you lived in thanksgiving daily? Can you imagine how your life would improve if others did the same? Do you think the world would be a happier place? Less stressful? Less angry? More spiritual? Those who live in thanksgiving daily, are usually among the world’s happiest people. And they make others happy as well.” (Live in Thanksgiving Daily)

I think that what Elder Worthlin is saying is if we follow the principle to live in thanksgiving daily, we will be happy. Happiness is not dependent on things always going the way we want or getting everything we want. Nephi said that they lived after the manner of happiness and this was just after they had to flee from their homes because the Lamanites were trying to destroy them. The people of Nephi found happiness even during their trials.

In his talk, Elder Worthlin gave three suggestions that can help us live in thanksgiving daily:

1.       Open our eyes – “I encourage you to look around you. Notice the people you care about. Notice the beauties of this campus. Notice the fragrance of the flowers and the song of the birds. Notice and give thanks for the blue of the sky, the red of the leaves, and the white of the clouds. Enjoy every sight, every smell, every taste, every sound. When we open our eyes and give thanks for the bountiful beauty of this life, we live in thanksgiving daily.”

2.       Open our hearts – “We must let go of the negative emotions that bind our hearts and instead fill our souls with love, faith, and thanksgiving. Anger, resentment, and bitterness stunt our spiritual growth. Would you bathe in impure water? Then why do we bathe our spirits with negative and bitter thoughts and feelings? You can cleanse your heart. You don’t have to harbor thoughts and feelings that drag you down and destroy your spirit.”

3.       Open our arms – “We can live in thanksgiving daily by opening our arms to those around us. When was the last time you told someone you love how much they mean to you? When was the last time you expressed your gratitude to someone who has always been there for you, someone who has sacrificed for you, someone whose heart has always been filled with hopes and dreams for you?” (Live in Thanksgiving Daily)

Some of the things that I am grateful for as we celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday include:

My wife who has been my rock, my love, and my best friend for 43 years

Our four children and ten grandchildren

The wonderful daughters-in-laws that my sons married

My parents, my five brothers, my sister, and their spouses

Those who took a chance and hired me and provided a living that provided for my family

My neighbors who put up with our crazy family

The raging storms that remind us of beauty of the earth when things are calm

Serving as missionaries in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission

The other office couples in our mission office

The 261 full-time missionaries serving in our mission

Our mission president and his wife

The restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Living prophets and apostles today

All who serve in their callings

The Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement

Repentance and forgiveness

The plan of salvation

A loving Heavenly Father that made all this possible

The list can go on and on, but you get the idea. If you have not tried to make a list of the things you are grateful for, I challenge you to take the time to do it today.

One of the best ways for us to live in thanksgiving daily is to express our gratitude to Heavenly Father when we pray. When was the last time you offered a prayer of gratitude and did not ask for anything? Try it sometime and I promise you that you will be filled with thanksgiving and gratitude and you will find happiness in all you do.

Your comments and questions are welcome. If you like this post, I would ask that you share it with your family and friends on your social media.

Surviving Spiritually

Today (Sunday October 18, 2018) in our sacrament meeting Silas Smith talked about a friend from his high school days. Todd was one the first friends he made when his family moved to a new community and went to a new high school. Todd became involved in the popular crowd and strayed from the Gospel and God’s commandments. Because of his popularity, Todd did not hang out with Silas and his other friends.

Todd’s life changed when he was involved in an accident that paralyzed him from the neck down. His “friends” stayed with him for a while but eventually stopped coming to see him. Silas and his friends, however, did not abandon him and continued to be with him and encourage him. Eventually Todd began to read the scriptures and do the things he needed to get back on the gospel path. One day Todd told Silas that the accident was the best thing that happened to him. He was headed in the wrong direction and could have never come back, but because of the accident he would eventually be ok and have eternal life.

That is a pretty good outlook and I am not sure I would be that strong. When I face adversity my first reaction is why is this happening to me? When we feel this way, we must remember what Elder Neil L. Anderson taught in the past October General Conference:

“We each understand that difficulties are part of life, but when they come to us personally, they can take our breath away. Without being alarmed, we need to be ready. The Apostle Peter said, “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.” Along with the bright colors of happiness and joy, the darker-colored threads of trial and tragedy are woven deeply into the fabric of our Father’s plan. These struggles, although difficult, often become our greatest teachers.” (Wounded)

One of the other speakers in today’s sacrament meeting, Cathy Gorge, talked about what is happening in Paradise, California where the campfire wildfire has destroyed over 12,000 homes and there has been 76 confirmed deaths and almost 1,300 people unaccounted for. A bishop of one of the wards said that every member of the ward has lost their homes. He told the Church news that as he was leaving home on the morning before the fires started, he was prompted to go back and get his family out. He did, and he also sent messages to his ward to evacuate as well, all church members and missionaries are safe and accounted for. (Church News)

Photo by John Locher/AP Photo

Elder Anderson reminded us that we will all, even those who keep the commandments of God, experience trial in our lives:

“Although the details will differ, the tragedies, the unanticipated tests and trials, both physical and spiritual, come to each of us because this is mortality. Wounds of the soul are not unique to the rich or the poor, to one culture, one nation, or one generation. They come to all and are part of the learning we receive from this mortal experience.”

Elder Anderson give several suggestions that will help when we are faced with adversity.

1. Never Give up - no matter how long the problems persist we will get through them.

2. Pray with all your heart - strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ, he will not leave us comfortless.

3. Take your wounded hear and your family names to the temple as frequently as possible.

4. Look forward - your troubles and sorrows are real, but the will not last forever. 

Photo by Noah Berger/AP

Elder Anderson concludes by reminding us:

“No injustice, no persecution, no trial, no sadness, no heartache, no suffering, no wound—however deep, however wide, however painful—will be excluded from the comfort, peace, and lasting hope of Him whose open arms and whose wounded hands will welcome us back into His presence, and God shall wipe away all our tears.” (Wounded)

Speaking in an April 2018 general conference address President Russell M. Nelson said:

“In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” (Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives)

I have had trials, but nothing compared to the ones mentioned here. I can only pray that I will have the faith and testimony to survive spiritually when more difficulties come alone. I also hope that I have the compassion to help others when they face adversity and together, we will all help each other endure and overcome our afflictions.

Your comments and questions are welcome. If you like this post, I would ask that you share it with your family and friends on your social media.

A Mother’s Love

One of the themes throughout the Harry Potter books is the importance of the love that a mother has for her children. Dumbledore tells Harry that it is because of strength of the love his mother had for him, Voldemort was not able to kill him when he tried. He said:

 “Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mothers for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign…to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)

In addition to Lily we have several other mothers that J.K. Rowling includes in the series that provide great examples.

1.      Narcissa Malfoy

Narcissa risks her own life to protect her son, Draco, as the battle for Hogwarts concludes and Harry battles Voldemort. It is Narcissa that approaches Harry’s lifeless body to see if he is alive or dead. When she realizes that he is alive she asks if Malfoy is alive and Harry whispers that he is and is. She knows that the only way to save him is to get him to safety, so she tells everyone that Harry is dead and in the midst of their celebration she leaves to find him.

2.     Augusta Longbottom

Augusta Longbottom is Neville’s grandmother. After the death of his parents, Neville is raised by Augusta. Neville often talks about how his grandmother has always been an enemy to Voldemort and his followers and fights for what is good and right. She is one of the few that come to Hogwarts as the battle is raging. She is the last to come through the tunnel from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts and she seals the tunnel so no one else can get through it into the castle. When she asks where Neville is, they tell her that he is inside fighting and she leaves the others to join in the fight with her grandson.

3.     Molly Weasley

Besides Lily, I think the strongest example of the love of a mother is found in Molly Weasley. Molly is always there when her children need her. She adopts Harry as one of her own and is his protector. With only the love a mother has Molly, teaches, corrects, and disciplines Harry along with her own children. She is there when Fred is killed, she is in the middle of the fight for Hogwarts, and charges in when Jenny is in danger and is the one to kill Bellatrix.

The scriptures and modern revelation also testify of the importance of the mothers in our lives. In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” it states:

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another… Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.”

In Alma we read of the 2000 stripling warriors were protected because their mothers taught them to have faith in Jesus Christ and that he would preserve them. Heleman wrote to Captain Moroni that it was this faith that saved them saying they did not doubt they would be safe “because their mothers knew” (Alma 56:48)

The scriptures are full of examples of the power of righteous mothers. There is Eve, the first mother; Sarai, the mother of Isaac; Mary, the mother of Jesus; Sariah, the mother of Nephi; Lucy, the mother of Joseph Smith, and many others.

We must never forget how important our mothers are. Heavenly Father has given us our parents the responsibility of helping us return to his presence and it is our mothers that have the greatest influence in making sure that happens.

Your comments and question are welcome and would that if you agree with what I have written to please share this with your social friends and family.

No More Strangers and Foreigners

My wife and I recently (2 months ago) moved to Fishers, Indiana to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was raised in Northern Indiana so for me it is like coming home even though it has been 48 years since leaving for college. I grew up in a small farming community (Argos, Indiana) of about 1600 people which is far different than the area we are living in now. Fishers is part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area and has a population of just over two million people. It is also different than where we lived for the past 30 years in Cache Valley Utah which has a population of 124,000 and where about 83% are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Compare that with the .007% of Hoosiers, citizens of Indiana, that are members of The Church.

Another culture shock to us is the diversity of the people that live in our neighborhood. We live in an apartment complex and we have a lot of families from India, many that are Hispanic, and many African Americans. Also, unlike the naturally friendly nature of our neighbors in Cache Valley, it is difficult to get to know our neighbors here. We only know the names of two of our neighbors next to us. Hopefully that will change as time goes on. So far, I have learned the Indian (East Indian, not native Indian) greeting, namaste, which means “I bow to you”. Whenever we meet any East Indian and greet them this way they are more accepting and friendly.

The point of all this is that we are trying to fit in and learn to love our neighbors as we hope that they will love us. It is easy to learn to love your neighbors when they have the same values and beliefs that you do, but how do you respond when they don’t share those values and beliefs. Sister Lori Wadsworth speaking at a BYU Devotional quoted President Boyd K. Packer:

“You are a child of God. He is the father of your spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line. You are a child of God!” (Seeing the Divinity in Others)

President Packer is reminding us that every member of the human race are children of God, our Heavenly Father and we need to remember that when we interact with them. Even saying “them” seems like I am putting “them” in a different class. It should not be us and them, we are all in one class, that of Heavenly Father’s children. Sister Wadsworth continues:

“Look around you. You are surrounded by children of God. Every single person on the earth now and forever is a child of God. It doesn’t matter what their religious or political affiliation is, it doesn’t matter where they come from or the color of their skin, and it doesn’t matter if they are just like you or are vastly different from you—they are all children of our Heavenly Father.”

Sister Wadsworth then shared a statement published by The Church regarding respecting everyone and eliminating bullying:

“We remain committed to support community efforts throughout the world to prevent suicide, bullying, and homelessness. Every young person should feel loved and cared for in their families, their communities, and their congregations. We can come together, bringing our perspectives and beliefs, and make each community a safe place for all.”

She then shared a quote from the Church’s Instagram account where a member talked about how she felt she did not fit in and suggested that if we are having a hard time understanding someone that we should move in closer:

“Move in to see the mother hurting because her daughter is ostracized because she won’t be baptized like the rest of her peers. Move in to see the teenage boy terrified to tell his parents that he doesn’t want to serve a mission. Move in to see those who struggle with doubts or grief and still want to fit in. Move in to see [how] amazing [people are], regardless of where [they are] on [their] faith journey. Honestly, the worth of a soul is way, way too great to not move in when the chance presents itself. Plus, you may be surprised at what you find.”

This counsel is good for us as we try to get to know our neighbors, especially those of different nationalities and cultures that we don’t understand. The Savior’s teaching to love others as we would have them love us applies to us as we interact with everyone that we come in contact with. The more we see and treat everyone as our brothers and sisters, as children of Heavenly Father’s family, we will move beyond our preconceived ideas and learn to understand their ideals and culture and eventually we will all be “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)

Your comments and questions are welcome. If you like this post, I would ask that you share it with your family and friends on your social media.

What’s In a Name?

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the announcement that was made encouraging members and the media to use the proper name of The Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, instead of the common nickname Mormon Church or LDS Church. (It’s Not Mormon’s Church) Since that time, I have tried to use the proper name of the church when talking to people I meet, but I have to admit that I am still guilty of using the “Mormon Church” because it is easier to say it and people know the name. After general conference last weekend, I now understand the importance of using the full name and not shortening it. President Nelson explained why it is important:

“What’s in a name or, in this case, a nickname? When it comes to nicknames of the Church, such as the “LDS Church,” the “Mormon Church,” or the “Church of the Latter-day Saints,” the most important thing in those names is the absence of the Savior’s name. To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan. When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement.

“After all He had endured—and after all He had done for humankind—I realize with profound regret that we have unwittingly acquiesced in the Lord’s restored Church being called by other names, each of which expunges the sacred name of Jesus Christ!

“When we omit His name from His Church, we are inadvertently removing Him as the central focus of our lives. names, each of which expunges the sacred name of Jesus Christ (emphasis added)” (The Correct Name of the Church).

I had never thought of it this way that we are removing the name of the Savior from His Church when we shorten the name or use a nickname. This was a wake-up call for me, I am serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I represent the Lord and His Church. If I really am his representative, how can I eliminate his name when I speak of His Church?

This past week while standing in a checkout line at a grocery store a woman behind me looked at my name tag and said: “I love Jesus, I wish I had a badge like that”. When I asked if she knew much about our church she took another look at the badge and admitted she did not know anything. When I said: “you might know us as the Mormon Church” and she said is that the same church? When I said yes, she was surprised. This is what President Nelson is talking about; the world know the Mormon Church and they know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but they don’t know it is the same church.

I had another experience while on a bike ride with a group here in Fishers, Indiana. One of the riders is a minister for a local Christian Church and we were talking about how the church has changed the name of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Ron, the minister, asked why. I told him that we are trying to get away from the name Mormon Church and use the real name as directed by the Lord. I told him that we are trying to help people understand that we are Christians and that Christ is central to our worship and is the head of our church. Ron did not respond but at least he knows how I feel and that we want the world to know we believe in Jesus Christ.

President Nelson concluded his talk with these words:

“My dear brothers and sisters, I promise you that if we will do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints,¹⁷ the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.

“So, what’s in a name? When it comes to the name of the Lord’s Church, the answer is “Everything!” Jesus Christ directed us to call the Church by His name because it is His Church, filled with His power.” (The Correct Name of the Church)

I am interested in the blessings that President Nelson promised so I will do all I can to use His name and the full name of His Church when speaking to those I come in contact with. I am proud to be His representative and bear witness that he lives and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His Church here on the earth.

Your comments and questions are welcome. If you like this post, I would ask that you share it with your family and friends on your social media.

Why the Badge?

Elder & Sister Potter
in Indiana

We are often asked why we decided to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My wife and I both served missions when we were young, and we have always wanted to serve a mission together. We are now serving in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission. Sister Potter is the mission

nurse and I am the office secretary. We are excited to have the opportunity to support the Lord's Youth Battalion here in Indiana. President Russell M. Nelson has suggested that there is nothing more important for the youth today than to be able to participate in what he called the Lord’s Youth Battalion (Hope of Israel).

As a young missionary I served in the Alaska British Columbia Mission and my wife served in the Bolivia Mission. She served as a nurse during her time in Bolivia. Her time was spent teaching the people of Bolivia good health and sanitation practices and even taught first aid to the Bolivian army. I was a regular missionary and spent my time teaching everyone that wanted to listen about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we have prophets on the earth today.

Salt Lake Temple

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest blessings we have in our lives. Because of our Savior we have the opportunity to overcome our natural selfish tendencies and become born again. Through the temple ordinances we have the blessing of being sealed for time AND all eternity, not just in this life.

We love knowing we have living prophets to guide us today and are excited to have the blessing of listening to the prophet and Apostles speak to us next weekend in general conference.

If you want to know what the Lord would like you to do, come and listen to General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 6-7 by going here: (General Conference)

Your comments and questions are welcome and if you like this I would ask that you share it on your social media with your family and friends.

Developing Christlike Characteristics

I recently read a talk by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titled “The Character of Christ”. In the talk he said: “I have also pondered the relationship between Christ’s character and the Atonement-and the implications of that relationship for each of us as disciples of Jesus Christ.” This question has been pressing on my mind for some time. I have a firm testimony that Jesus Christ is literally the only begotten son of our Heavenly Father and that he is our Savior. I also know that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can overcome our worldly nature and become cleansed from our sins and become his son.

With that knowledge I have to question am I willing to go through the life changing, born again process that Alma and the sons of Mosiah experienced in the Book of Mormon. Alma and the sons of Mosiah were enemies to the Church of Christ and they went about trying to destroy the church until an Angel of the Lord appeared to them and told them to stop seeking to destroy the church or they themselves would be destroyed. For the rest of their lives they spent their days in the service of the Lord’s church. They experienced the process of putting off the natural man and submitting to the spirit and were born again. (Mosiah 27:11-32) Later Alma speaking to the people of Zarahemla asked: “have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this might change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:14)

I would hope that I have experienced this change in my life. I want to follow Jesus Christ and do my best to keep God’s commandments. But am I really striving to develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ? Elder Bednar quoted Brigham Young when he said:

“I will take the liberty of saying to every man and woman who wishes to obtain salvation through him (the Savior) that looking to him, only, is not enough: they must have faith in his name, character and atonement; and they must have faith in is father and in the plan of salvation devised and wrought our by the Father and the Son.” (“The Character of Christ”)

Elder Bednar continues:

Perhaps the greatest indicator of character is the capacity to recognize and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us. Character is revealed, for example, in the power to discern the suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the power to reach out and extend compassion for the spiritual agony of others when we are in the midst of our own spiritual distress. Thus, character is demonstrated by looking and reaching outward when the natural and instinctive response is to be self-absorbed and turn inward. If such a capacity is indeed the ultimate criterion of moral character, then the Savior of the world is the perfect example of such a consistent and charitable character.” (“The Character of Christ”)

 Elder Bednar then sites several examples from the New Testament where Christ demonstrates his complete love for others in the midst of his own suffering. He suggested the experience that Christ had when he was tempted of the devil after fasting for 40 days, at the last supper when he spoke of the Holy Ghost that would come and comfort the Apostles after he was gone, healing the soldiers ear in the Garden when Peter cut it off, and while he hung on the cross he was more concerned about his mother as well as the soldiers and the thief on the cross than he was about his own suffering.

Elder Bednar challenges us to develop that Christlike character when he said:

“We can in mortality seek to be blessed with and develop essential elements of a Christlike character. Indeed, it is possible for us as mortals to strive in righteousness to receive the spiritual gifts associated with the capacity to reach outward and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us. We cannot obtain such a capacity through sheer willpower or personal determination. Rather, we are dependent upon and in need of "the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Nephi 2:8). But "line upon line, precept upon precept" (2 Nephi 28:30) and "in [the] process of time" (Moses 7:21), we are enabled to reach outward when the natural tendency is for us to turn inward.” (“The Character of Christ”)

As my wife and I serve as full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Indiana Indianapolis mission, I want more than anything to develop the character of Christ that Elder Bednar spoke of and I would hope that I can one day say that I have experienced the total change of heart from the natural man to one that has been born of the spirit and has become his disciple.

I welcome your comments and question and hope that you will share this with your family and friends on your social media sites.