Resolutions

Whenever a new year comes around we like to reflect on the past year and then make resolutions for the new year. If you are like me those resolutions last a week or so. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2^nd Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tells of a man that made a long list of resolutions for the new year:

One man who had made a long list of New Year’s resolutions felt pretty good about his progress. He thought to himself, “So far, I’ve stuck to my diet, I haven’t lost my temper, I’ve kept to my budget, and I haven’t once complained about the neighbor’s dog. But today is January 2 and the alarm just went off and it’s time I got out of bed. It’s going to take a miracle to keep my streak going.” (“The Best Time to Plant a Tree”, First Presidency Message, Ensign, January 2014)

I am lucky if my resolutions make it that long. President Uchtdorf continues:

There is something incredibly hopeful about a fresh start. I suppose at one time or another we have all wanted to start again with a clean slate.

I love getting a new computer with a clean hard drive. For a time it works perfectly. But as the days and weeks pass by and more and more programs get installed (some intentional, some not so intentional), eventually the computer begins to stall, and things it used to do quickly and efficiently become sluggish. Sometimes it doesn’t work at all. Even getting it to start can become a chore as the hard drive becomes cluttered with miscellaneous chaos and electronic debris. There are times when the only recourse is to reformat the computer and start over.

Human beings can likewise become cluttered with fears, doubts, and burdensome guilt. The mistakes we have made (both intentional and unintentional) can weigh upon us until it may seem hard to do what we know we should.

In the case of sin, there is a wonderful reformatting process called repentance that allows us to clear our internal hard drives of the clutter that burdens our hearts. The gospel, through the miraculous and compassionate Atonement of Jesus Christ, shows us the way to cleanse our souls of the stain of sin and once again become new, pure, and as innocent as a child. (“The Best Time to Plant a Tree”, First Presidency Message, Ensign, January 2014)

As I write this, my computer is acting like it needs to be wiped and have a clean start. I keep getting this message that the library needs to be repaired to run properly. It happens about every 20 seconds and is really annoying and I cannot do anything until I put in my password and hit continue. If I try to hit cancel, the message just comes back. Sometime our lives get that way. Satan is continually popping up telling us we need to fix something that does not need fixing, or the Holy Ghost tells us that we need to fix something that really does need fixing. Either way our lives seem stuck until we respond to the Holy Ghost and fix it and we let Satan know that his pop up messages are not going to work and we dismiss him permanently.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ can be a great blessing in our lives if we are willing to allow it to reformat our spiritual hard drives and change our lives. As we recognize the things that we need to change and make the changes we can have the fresh start that President Uchtdorf talks about. Sometimes it involves repenting of something we have done and should not have done. Other times it means promising to do something that we should be doing. Either way through the mercies of the atonement we can begin again and walk the gospel path that leads us to becoming a more perfect person through Jesus Christ.

I have decided that there are three things that I would like to work on in my life this year that would hopefully bring me closer the Holy Ghost and allow me to take advantage of the atonement of Jesus Christ:

1.              I want to find greater joy and happiness in the things I do.

2.              I want to be a greater service to others and help them find joy and happiness in their lives.

3.              Increase my sensitivity to the Holy Ghost to allow me to know when I am wandering off the Gospel Path.

Resolution #1 – finding greater joy and happiness in life. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously and do not enjoy what we are doing. I also think we need to slow down and enjoy life, laugh a little more. Sharon Samuelson, the wife of Cecil Samuelson the President of BYU, had this to say about the importance of humor in our lives:

“President Gordon B. Hinckley and his wife, Marjorie, were wonderful examples during their lives of optimism and humor. Sheri L. Dew’s description of them mentions that “Gordon and Marjorie were attracted to each other’s sense of humor, love for the gospel, innate optimism, and love of life” (Go Forward with Faith: The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996], 106). Sister Dew also described their marriage as one in which “Gordon’s dry wit delighted Marjorie, who loved the fact that although her beau was practical, self-disciplined, and serious about the things that mattered to him, he didn’t take himself very seriously and was often the first to poke fun at his own quirks” (Go Forward, 106).

“Listen to the words of Sister Hinckley as she gave advice on the way to get through life:

“Another thing that we tried to do is not take ourselves too seriously. You get into a lot of trouble when you do that. I tried to laugh instead of cry when you felt like crying. It was always better to laugh, [like] the day I took a beautiful casserole from the oven and my six-year-old boy said, “Mom, how come you baked the garbage?” Children are like that. There are days when it is hard to laugh. [Marjorie Pay Hinckley, BYU Women’s Conference, 2 May 1996; see also Marjorie Hinckley in Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley, ed. Virginia H. Pearce (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999), 61]

“This is insightful advice from a witty, cheerful, and gentle woman that we would be wise to follow.

“In another instance of speaking concerning laughter, Sister Hinckley added, “The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache” (Marjorie Pay Hinckley, Small and Simple Things [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], 126; also Glimpses, 107).

“Laughing instead of crying helps you to move forward and face your challenges as you fill your lives with the virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy things of life. Good effects can come from communicating with humor and laughing with friends and family.” (“Shall I Laugh, or Shall I Cry”, BYU Devotional Address, September 10, 2013)

Another part of not taking ourselves to seriously is that we should not be offended too easily. If something happens or someone says something that is rude or hurtful, we need to step back and realize there is something going on in that person’s life that is causing him or her to say what he or she did or act that way. I have been a referee for youth, high school and college sports for over 20 years. If I got offended and quite every time someone yelled insulting comments to me, I would have had a short career as a referee. They usually are not expressing those comments to me personally, but as a referee. Usually they don’t understand what is really happening in the game or why the rules are being applied the way they are at the time. So we need to lighten up and not get offended, laugh and go on.

Resolution #2 – Be more service oriented. Helping others find joy in their lives will help me fulfill my first resolution. If we open our hearts and our eyes we will see that there are individuals all around that need our help and love. As you are walking down the street watch for those whose eyes are sad, or hurting. Most of the time all they need simple hello or other kind word. Open the door for them, help them with their groceries, comfort a crying child. Doing something simple goes a long way. Do you know a young couple that cannot afford a babysitter? Offer to watch their children one evening while they get away for a few hours.

President Thomas S. Monson, President of the LDS Church, made this comment about serving others:

“To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Service to others is akin to duty—the fulfillment of which brings true joy.” (“Guideposts for Life’s Journey,” BYU devotional address, 13 November 2007)

If we pray to have the Holy Ghost guide us each day, we will come to know who is lonely or in need of our help and when we feel those prompting, we need to be willing to do something or say something to brighten their day. If they need more help than you can give at the time let them know you will follow up and then do it. It is my goal to strive to live worthy of the Lord’s spirit to direct me to those that need uplifting and when that happens, that I will be willing to help in anyway I can.

The third resolution is a bit more involved and I have a lot of work to do here. I want to live my life so that the Holy Ghost can be my constant companion and that I will know when I am wandering from the Gospel Path that leads back to our Heavenly Father and our Savior. I listened to a talk recently by Gary Barton where he described the lesson he learned when he was learning to be a welder. He was working in a local bronze foundry. He had never welded anything. He was given the proper instructions and equipment to protect him, but when he put on the welding helmet everything went dark. He said:

“The lens on a welding helmet is very darkly tinted in order to protect the eyes of the person welding from the extremely bright light produced by the welder. How could I weld if I couldn’t see? I lifted the helmet, turned to my supervisor, and shared my dilemma. He patiently explained that in order to see through the lens, I must rely on the light produced by the welder. I must learn to use the light. What a revelation!

“I again checked to make sure everything was prepared, lowered the helmet, and, as perspiration trickled down my face, started the welder. With a flash I could see. My vision wasn’t clear, but I was able to see well enough to learn.

“As we are confronted with difficult choices and decisions, especially those related to our eternal progress, we must prepare ourselves, act in faith, and learn to use and rely on the light. As we do so, the personal lens through which each of us sees can become clearer, and we will be better able to make decisions that will bless our lives and lead us to Christ.” (“The Light Trough the Dark Glass”, Gary C. Barton, BYU Devotional Address, July 23, 2013)

I know many time I do not trust the light to show me the way. Sometimes my life has not been in harmony with the commandants enough that I am worthy to have the light of Christ with me. It is my hope that I can have an increase of faith and desire to keep the commandments so I can be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost enough so I will be able to see clearly the gospel path even though I am surrounded by the darkness of the world.

I know that if I can work on these three goals that my life will be full of joy and happiness and that the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will shine through me to all of our Heavenly Father’s children and bring them greater joy and happiness as well.

Your comments are welcome.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

 ’Twas the night after Christmas when all through the house
Everyone was posting, and clicking their mouse
The Instagram filters were chosen with care,
In hopes that each image would soon get a share.

The children were all on the couch iPads and tablets in their hands

While images of zombies and angry birds ate up the WiFi bands.

And mamma with her Mini and I with my Android

Updated our status and sent messages into the void.

I could go on, but I’m sure you can guess the rest of the poem. In many ways Christmas has become a time of getting lost in our gadgets, instead of spending time with family, friends and giving service. What did you get for Christmas is the question the children ask their friends as we spend time updating our status on Facebook and sharing images on Pintrest and Instagram. How much time was spent talking about the person whose birth we celebrate during this Christmas season? President Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints once said:

“The gifts so acquired are fleeting. Dolls break, dresses wear out, and fun games become boring. Pocketknives are lost, trains do nothing but go in circles, and trucks are abandoned when the batteries that power them dim and die.

“If we change but one word in our Christmas question, the outcome is vastly different. “What did you give for Christmas?” prompts stimulating thought and causes tender feelings to well up and memory’s fires to glow ever brighter.

“Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than things.” (“Christmas Gifts, Christmas Blessings”, Ensign, December 1995).

As the Christmas season ends and we look to the new year, many of us will make resolutions of the things we hope to be able to accomplish during the new year. Along with the diets, exercise, projects that we want to do I challenge each of us to include service as one of our resolutions. What can we do to help our neighbors, someone that is suffering, lost his or her job or a loved one, or the young mother that is overwhelmed?

President Monson in that same article tells of a family that lived in Star Valley, Wyoming long ago where the father was away from home working trying to support his family. One evening one of the boys overheard his mother praying:

‘Heavenly Father, there is no food in our house. Please, Father, touch the heart of somebody so that my children will not be hungry in the morning.’

“When she finished her prayer, she looked around and saw her son had heard; and she said to me, somewhat embarrassed, ‘Now, you run along, son. Everything will be all right.’

The story continues:

“(the boy) went to bed, assured by Mother’s faith. The next morning, (the boy) was awakened by the sounds of pots and pans in the kitchen and the aroma of cooking food. I went down to the kitchen, and he said, ‘Mother, I thought you said there was no food.’

“All she said to me was, ‘Well, my boy, didn’t you think the Lord would answer my prayer?’ I received no further explanation than that.

Years later after the boy grew up, went to college and had a family he came home and Bishop Gardner told him the rest of the story. He said:

I had finished my chores, and we had had supper. I was sitting by the fireplace reading the newspaper. Suddenly, I heard a voice that said, “Sister Ballantyne doesn’t have any food in her house.” I thought it was my wife speaking and said, “What did you say, Mother?” She came in wiping her hands on her apron and said, “Did you call me, Father?”

“‘“No, I didn’t say anything to you, but I heard a voice which spoke to me.”

“‘“What did it say?” she asked.

“‘“It said that Sister Ballantyne didn’t have any food in her house.”

“‘“Well, then,” said Mother, “you had better put on your shoes and your coat and take some food to Sister Ballantyne.” In the dark of that winter’s night, I harnessed the team and placed in the wagon bed a sack of flour, a quarter section of beef, some bottled fruit, and loaves of newly baked bread. The weather was cold, but a warm glow filled my soul as your mother welcomed me and I presented her with the food. God had heard a mother’s prayer.’” (“Christmas Gifts, Christmas Blessings”, Ensign, December 1995).

The scriptures tell the story of the wise men that came to see the Christ child and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  In Matthew 25 we read:

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet,

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 ¶And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

I hope that as the memories of this Christmas season fades that we will remember how the wise men followed the star that lead them to the Christ Child and when they had found him they presented him with their gifts. What gifts will we present to him? I do not discount the gifts that the wise men gave, but I don’t believe that Christ would have us give him material things, instead I think he would like us to give gifts of love to others, charitable service to those in need and gifts of comfort to those that need our help.

As we give of ourselves in this way we well receive the greatest gift of all from him when he says to us at the last day:

Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . enter thou into the joy of thy lord…Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these, ye did it unto to me. (Matthew 25: 21, 40)

I invite your to watch this 3 minute video titled “Wise Men Still Seek Him”. Are we wise enough to continue to seek him?

Your comments and questions are welcome.

On the Morrow, Come I Into the World

Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. I love spending time with family watching our favorite Christmas movies, singing Christmas carols and doing things that lift others. Sometimes though with all the stress of getting ready for Christmas we lose sight of what it is all about. I would like to share some of my favorite scriptures that deal with Christmas and some of the music that brings the spirit of Christmas to me. I hope that you will enjoy it as well.

700 years before the Savior was to be born the Prophet Isaiah testified:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

100 years later the Prophet Lehi and his family fled from Jerusalem and came here to this content. His son Nephi wrote of his vision of the birth of Jesus Christ:

“13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.

18 And (the angel) said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” (1 Nephi 11:13-20)

600 years later a Prophet on this continent spoke to the people of the birth of the Savior and gave them a sign of his birth:

“1 And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written.

2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.” (Helaman 14:1-4)

Five years later the unbelievers had set a day apart that those who believed in the prophecy of the Savior's birth would be put to death if the sign did not appear. The prophet Nephi went to the Lord in prayer:

“11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.

12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.

19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

20 And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.” (3 Nephi 1:11-15)

And finally the testimony of Luke on the birth of Jesus Christ:

“1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” (Luke 2:1-17)

I testify that Jesus Christ was born as the scriptures say. I know that he lived and died for each one of us personally and as Heavenly Father’s children collectively. I know that because he lived, died and rose again that we too will live again after we die. This was our Saviors free gift to all of Heavenly Father’s children. I also know that because of his atonement if we will repent of all our sins, accept his gospel and keep his commandments we can live with Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father as exalted beings with our families forever. The Gospel of Jesus Christ surely good news for us all.

Merry Christmas to all.