Fam,
I love the second chapter of Mosiah. King Benjamin was very wise and shared many valuable lessons. The whole chapter is great. It is here that he discusses our eternal indebtedness to God. Mosiah 2 :22-24
The gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to facing life's challenges. Being an example of what is right may be the best strategy of all. Consider the following blessings that so abundantly manifest themselves when we choose the right:
• It helps those who see your example
• It blesses those you serve when you do what is right
• It strengthens your testimony
• Your love and appreciation for the Savior Jesus Christ grow and mature
• You're blessed for following the commandments Doctrine and Covenants 130:20
• It furthers the work of God
In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Savior states "Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal...
How can this be? Isn't the Word of Wisdom, for instance, a temporal commandment? Or the law of tithing? Not really... Let's analyze this Providing in the Lord's Way. Like two sides of a coin, the temporal and spiritual are inseparable.
We will study these principles in the weeks to come and derive benefits from the truths found therein.
Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations
I love you, dad
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Hardship and why it matters
Fam,
You all know something about Castle Valley and the experiences we had during the 30+ years we lived there. But I want to share further detail in this regard. More specifically, I want to tell you about some of the things I learned about facing life's challenges.
You know that early in our Castle Valley experience Robyn's husband Guy was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Levi was only a month old at that time, and she moved back in with the family for various reasons. She lived in a small room barely big enough to hold a twin bed and a crib for Levi. The majority of her belongings and all of Guy's things were left in her house up the valley. It seems like it was just the following summer that her house burned down, which I learned on my way home from work. Then that fall, I had a serious automobile accident while traveling to football practice. The succession of tragic events was mind-boggling.
Robyn told me afterward that when her house burned down and she lost essentially all her possessions, including Guy's things and all her keepsakes, she was devastated and felt overwhelmingly burdened at the loss. Then not long after, I had my accident and spent two-and-a-half months in St. Mary's hospital in Grand Junction, CO. Suddenly out of necessity, Robyn focused outward at my life-and-death situation. Though I have forgotten her words exactly during this particular experience, she told me in essence later something like "Mathew, I thought my life was too burdensome, and that I had more obstacles before me then I could handle. But when you had your accident, it helped me focus on your situation, and my own problems became manageable. I don't know how I would have handled this sequence of burdens, otherwise," or something like that.
I thought I had written about this in my journal, but I couldn't find it when I went to locate it. So I asked Robyn if I could share this experience with all of you. Here is her response:
"I’m happy for you to share this experience with your family. I don’t remember my exact words, but I do remember my sentiments at the time. It is true that I did feel a huge sense of loss when I lost all in the fire. I felt that it was hard enough to lose Guy, but to then lose everything that I had of his and all that we had accumulated together felt overwhelming at the time. However, following your accident my perspective changed immediately and dramatically. I didn’t care so much about what I had lost in the way of possessions. That really didn’t matter anymore. Working with you in your critical situation and assisting the family in dealing with this trial caused me to put my own burdens out of my mind. It did cause me to focus outward (and upward, again) and that made all the difference."
So what can we learn from this? Service and compassion helps the giver as much or more than the receiver--both are edified. We are blessed when we focus outward. It occurs to me that's one reason parent's have such love and devotion for their children and one another is because they have given all they have and sacrificed so much for their children and spouse. That's not a given--parents and children can hold back--but those who give their all reap blessings of devotion, appreciation, and commitment.
We know that happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of... Jesus Christ.” That's what I learned from Robyn through this experience.
Our leaders have counseled us in this regard as well. Several years ago (2008), Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke about the principle of compensation. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss.
President Kimball used the following analogy to help us understand the means of strengthening home and family:
"I like to compare the home evening, family prayer, and other associated activities of the Church for the saving of the family, when they are conscientiously carried out, with an umbrella. If the umbrella is not opened up, it is little more than a cane and can give little protection from the storms of nature. Likewise, God-given plans are of little value unless they are used.
The umbrella spread out makes the silken material taut. When the rain falls, it runs off; when the snow falls, it slides off; when the hail comes, it bounces off; when the wind blows, it is diverted around the umbrella. And in like manner, this spiritual umbrella wards off the foes of ignorance, superstition, skepticism, apostasy, immorality, and other forms of godlessness." It is my prayer that we will all spread (use) our spiritual umbrellas for the protection of our families.
Family is where our happiness lies. Will you work with me to apply these values to strengthen our home, family, and personal commitment to God?
I testify that adherence to the gospel of Jesus Christ will bring real happiness and renewed hope into our lives, especially amid hardship. Those who follow these principles and hold fast to the iron rod will receive the promised blessings now in this life and an eternal reward reunited with loved ones in the world to come.
That's the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
I love you, dad
You all know something about Castle Valley and the experiences we had during the 30+ years we lived there. But I want to share further detail in this regard. More specifically, I want to tell you about some of the things I learned about facing life's challenges.
You know that early in our Castle Valley experience Robyn's husband Guy was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Levi was only a month old at that time, and she moved back in with the family for various reasons. She lived in a small room barely big enough to hold a twin bed and a crib for Levi. The majority of her belongings and all of Guy's things were left in her house up the valley. It seems like it was just the following summer that her house burned down, which I learned on my way home from work. Then that fall, I had a serious automobile accident while traveling to football practice. The succession of tragic events was mind-boggling.
Robyn told me afterward that when her house burned down and she lost essentially all her possessions, including Guy's things and all her keepsakes, she was devastated and felt overwhelmingly burdened at the loss. Then not long after, I had my accident and spent two-and-a-half months in St. Mary's hospital in Grand Junction, CO. Suddenly out of necessity, Robyn focused outward at my life-and-death situation. Though I have forgotten her words exactly during this particular experience, she told me in essence later something like "Mathew, I thought my life was too burdensome, and that I had more obstacles before me then I could handle. But when you had your accident, it helped me focus on your situation, and my own problems became manageable. I don't know how I would have handled this sequence of burdens, otherwise," or something like that.
I thought I had written about this in my journal, but I couldn't find it when I went to locate it. So I asked Robyn if I could share this experience with all of you. Here is her response:
"I’m happy for you to share this experience with your family. I don’t remember my exact words, but I do remember my sentiments at the time. It is true that I did feel a huge sense of loss when I lost all in the fire. I felt that it was hard enough to lose Guy, but to then lose everything that I had of his and all that we had accumulated together felt overwhelming at the time. However, following your accident my perspective changed immediately and dramatically. I didn’t care so much about what I had lost in the way of possessions. That really didn’t matter anymore. Working with you in your critical situation and assisting the family in dealing with this trial caused me to put my own burdens out of my mind. It did cause me to focus outward (and upward, again) and that made all the difference."
So what can we learn from this? Service and compassion helps the giver as much or more than the receiver--both are edified. We are blessed when we focus outward. It occurs to me that's one reason parent's have such love and devotion for their children and one another is because they have given all they have and sacrificed so much for their children and spouse. That's not a given--parents and children can hold back--but those who give their all reap blessings of devotion, appreciation, and commitment.
We know that happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of... Jesus Christ.” That's what I learned from Robyn through this experience.
Our leaders have counseled us in this regard as well. Several years ago (2008), Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke about the principle of compensation. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss.
President Kimball used the following analogy to help us understand the means of strengthening home and family:
"I like to compare the home evening, family prayer, and other associated activities of the Church for the saving of the family, when they are conscientiously carried out, with an umbrella. If the umbrella is not opened up, it is little more than a cane and can give little protection from the storms of nature. Likewise, God-given plans are of little value unless they are used.
The umbrella spread out makes the silken material taut. When the rain falls, it runs off; when the snow falls, it slides off; when the hail comes, it bounces off; when the wind blows, it is diverted around the umbrella. And in like manner, this spiritual umbrella wards off the foes of ignorance, superstition, skepticism, apostasy, immorality, and other forms of godlessness." It is my prayer that we will all spread (use) our spiritual umbrellas for the protection of our families.
Family is where our happiness lies. Will you work with me to apply these values to strengthen our home, family, and personal commitment to God?
I testify that adherence to the gospel of Jesus Christ will bring real happiness and renewed hope into our lives, especially amid hardship. Those who follow these principles and hold fast to the iron rod will receive the promised blessings now in this life and an eternal reward reunited with loved ones in the world to come.
That's the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
I love you, dad
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Protection from Harm
Fam,
I think it was Kimberly that recently reminded me of an experience I had while down on the farm in Castle Valley. I thought about it and realized I probably never told you about it. So today I am going to share it with you.
There was always a lot to do on the farm. Planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting were jobs that took a substantial portion of our time. But prior to those activities, we had to prepare the ground, and that meant tilling. Granny and Grandpa purchased a TroyBilt tiller to help us prepare the ground for planting. And this was the activity I was involved in the day our story began.
As I remember, Granny had asked me to till the field where another portion of the garden was to be planted. I don't remember exactly what time of year it was, but I remember running out of gas while tilling the soil in the middle of the day, I suppose, because it was hot. I returned down the road and parked the tiller beside the North West corner of the house. I went to retrieve the five-gallon, metal gas can and returned with it to refill the tiller gas tank. The gas can had been in the sunand was bulging, but I impatiently removed the top without allowing the pressure to escape. The gas streamed out of the can like a geiser and directly into my eyes, hair, and face. I was shocked, partly because of the impact and partly because I didn't know what would happen with gas in my eyes. The gas sprayed all over my body, hair, and clothes and because I was just beside the corner of the house and the force was so great, gasoline also sprayed on the logs of the farm house and clear up onto the shingles on the roof.
At that corner of the house, there was a hose bib, which I tried to use to wash the gasoline out of my eyes and mouth.
Jeff was still very young at the time probably 9 or 10-years-old. He came to my aide and encouraged me to go to the back of the house where there was another hose bib that had a hose attached to it. Of course, it would be much easier to wash the gasoline out of my hair and clothes with the hose, so I left that spot where the incident had just occurred and walked to the back of the house. I remember seeing Gregg and Grandpa driving the old truck down the road toward the tiller as I walked to the back. No sooner did I get behind the house when there was an enormous explosion that rattled the home and our nerves. The gasoline at the front corner of the house exploded, igniting the shingles, logs, and the tiller at the front corner of the house. The gas fumes from the open five-gallon-can were burning as well. Grandpa and Gregg jumped from the truck and put out the fires with a hose before any permanent damage was done. The whole situation was incredible--especially when I realized that if I had resisted Jeff's promptings and remained standing in the front near the hose bib I initially had been using, the gas all over my body and clothes would have burst into flames as well and badly burned my body or possibly killed me. But because the Lord was guiding and protecting me just as he has done numerous times in both subtle and obvious ways, my life was spared.
I have been protected many times during times when I needed help. The power of God has blessed me throughout my life. Trust in the Lord in all thy doings. Feelings of the Holy Spirit can be likened to hope, joy, and peace in your heart and mind. It can change your life.
2 Nephi 4:34
I love you, dad
I think it was Kimberly that recently reminded me of an experience I had while down on the farm in Castle Valley. I thought about it and realized I probably never told you about it. So today I am going to share it with you.
There was always a lot to do on the farm. Planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting were jobs that took a substantial portion of our time. But prior to those activities, we had to prepare the ground, and that meant tilling. Granny and Grandpa purchased a TroyBilt tiller to help us prepare the ground for planting. And this was the activity I was involved in the day our story began.
As I remember, Granny had asked me to till the field where another portion of the garden was to be planted. I don't remember exactly what time of year it was, but I remember running out of gas while tilling the soil in the middle of the day, I suppose, because it was hot. I returned down the road and parked the tiller beside the North West corner of the house. I went to retrieve the five-gallon, metal gas can and returned with it to refill the tiller gas tank. The gas can had been in the sunand was bulging, but I impatiently removed the top without allowing the pressure to escape. The gas streamed out of the can like a geiser and directly into my eyes, hair, and face. I was shocked, partly because of the impact and partly because I didn't know what would happen with gas in my eyes. The gas sprayed all over my body, hair, and clothes and because I was just beside the corner of the house and the force was so great, gasoline also sprayed on the logs of the farm house and clear up onto the shingles on the roof.
At that corner of the house, there was a hose bib, which I tried to use to wash the gasoline out of my eyes and mouth.
Jeff was still very young at the time probably 9 or 10-years-old. He came to my aide and encouraged me to go to the back of the house where there was another hose bib that had a hose attached to it. Of course, it would be much easier to wash the gasoline out of my hair and clothes with the hose, so I left that spot where the incident had just occurred and walked to the back of the house. I remember seeing Gregg and Grandpa driving the old truck down the road toward the tiller as I walked to the back. No sooner did I get behind the house when there was an enormous explosion that rattled the home and our nerves. The gasoline at the front corner of the house exploded, igniting the shingles, logs, and the tiller at the front corner of the house. The gas fumes from the open five-gallon-can were burning as well. Grandpa and Gregg jumped from the truck and put out the fires with a hose before any permanent damage was done. The whole situation was incredible--especially when I realized that if I had resisted Jeff's promptings and remained standing in the front near the hose bib I initially had been using, the gas all over my body and clothes would have burst into flames as well and badly burned my body or possibly killed me. But because the Lord was guiding and protecting me just as he has done numerous times in both subtle and obvious ways, my life was spared.
I have been protected many times during times when I needed help. The power of God has blessed me throughout my life. Trust in the Lord in all thy doings. Feelings of the Holy Spirit can be likened to hope, joy, and peace in your heart and mind. It can change your life.
2 Nephi 4:34
I love you, dad
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Battling Vices in Our Day
I previously sent an email to the family outlining the deceptions we are sure to face in this life. We have been warned about these evils in the last days in which we live. Matthew recounts Jesus' explaining that the fallacies are many and deceptions so great that "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24
So what are we to do?
At times like this, I take a step back and try to look at the problem from a different perspective. The Lord has warned and forewarned us. He has given us parents, teachers, leaders, and the priesthood power to strengthen us. Apostles and prophets generally and local leaders nearby guide and direct us.
These scriptures warn us of the strenuous times to come, but the Lord will not forsake us. He has provided many resources to give us strength and hope. Some coping skills I use follow:
As a child, I was always amazed with the story of the Israelite people that were bitten by fiery serpents during the time Moses was leading them from Egypt. All they had to do was look at the brass serpent on the pole, and they would be healed; yet many would not look and perished. The Lord has provided reources for us to overcome challenges, but we must be willing to accept them.
Elder Russell M. Ballard taught "Great things are wrought through small and simple things." He said "Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another."
And so this shall be our motto "Look to God and live."
So what are we to do?
At times like this, I take a step back and try to look at the problem from a different perspective. The Lord has warned and forewarned us. He has given us parents, teachers, leaders, and the priesthood power to strengthen us. Apostles and prophets generally and local leaders nearby guide and direct us.
These scriptures warn us of the strenuous times to come, but the Lord will not forsake us. He has provided many resources to give us strength and hope. Some coping skills I use follow:
- Sing a song
- Count to ten
- Call a friend
- Read a scripture
- Say a prayer
- Attend the temple
- Prepare now before the time of need. Doctrine and Covenants 19:23
- Make a plan, backup plan, and even a fall back plan (multiple strategies). This is important in all aspects of your life. Stuff happens. That has been the success of the BYU football pass attack in recent years. Every play has alternative receivers and strategies when needed.
- Reinforce weak places; make them our strengths Alma 48:9
That's what our Heavenly Father intended for us Ether 12:27 - Love and serve your neighbor 3 Nephi 12:44
As a child, I was always amazed with the story of the Israelite people that were bitten by fiery serpents during the time Moses was leading them from Egypt. All they had to do was look at the brass serpent on the pole, and they would be healed; yet many would not look and perished. The Lord has provided reources for us to overcome challenges, but we must be willing to accept them.
Elder Russell M. Ballard taught "Great things are wrought through small and simple things." He said "Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another."
And so this shall be our motto "Look to God and live."
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Life's Deceptions
Isn't life great? When someone asks "How are you doing?", we often respond with something like fine or well. But it occurs to me we should respond with fantastic, extraordinary, exceptional, or absolutely incredible. "Why would I possibly reply like that?" you ask. Consider the following:
Of all dispensations of time when we could be alive, we were selected to live in the greatest dispensation of all time. Every dispensation since the beginning of the world has ended in apostasy and loss of the gospel, but this dispensation will not--this dispensation will end with victory and usher in a 1,000-year peaceful reign of Jesus Christ, which has been prophesied in all dispensations since the world began. Of the 7 billion people on earth, we happen to be living as members of God's kingdom in the most free, country on earth. And because we have a great family who were reared in the restored gospel, we are daily recipients of its blessings. Today, the Church fills the earth and blesses the lives of all mankind.
Perhaps that's one reason we are encouraged to learn of our ancestors, so we realize the wealth of blessings we have been given, then participate in sharing our good fortune in this life with others.
Yeah, realizing this, I am doing great. But like everything, life has it's challenges. Nick has been teaching me fly fishing--that has been one of my life dreams. Recently, I went with him one morning early when it was still getting light outside, but my eyes are getting so bad, it was hard to thread the flies and tie knots. At first I thought "Finally, I have achieved one of my life's dreams, but now I am too old to be able to participate in and enjoy it"...but it's fun anyway. Even though I am not as agile and capable as I once was. Life isn't always what you expect. You have to learn to just do the best with what you have. There is a lesson in that anecdote. So much of life is our vision of how things are. When we fail to see the good, our ability to be happy and effective is lost. But when we do our best and try to be positive, that's enough...because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the best we can do is enough. That's the wonderful message of the great plan of happiness.
Fallacies we seem to learn in life:
Of all dispensations of time when we could be alive, we were selected to live in the greatest dispensation of all time. Every dispensation since the beginning of the world has ended in apostasy and loss of the gospel, but this dispensation will not--this dispensation will end with victory and usher in a 1,000-year peaceful reign of Jesus Christ, which has been prophesied in all dispensations since the world began. Of the 7 billion people on earth, we happen to be living as members of God's kingdom in the most free, country on earth. And because we have a great family who were reared in the restored gospel, we are daily recipients of its blessings. Today, the Church fills the earth and blesses the lives of all mankind.
Perhaps that's one reason we are encouraged to learn of our ancestors, so we realize the wealth of blessings we have been given, then participate in sharing our good fortune in this life with others.
Yeah, realizing this, I am doing great. But like everything, life has it's challenges. Nick has been teaching me fly fishing--that has been one of my life dreams. Recently, I went with him one morning early when it was still getting light outside, but my eyes are getting so bad, it was hard to thread the flies and tie knots. At first I thought "Finally, I have achieved one of my life's dreams, but now I am too old to be able to participate in and enjoy it"...but it's fun anyway. Even though I am not as agile and capable as I once was. Life isn't always what you expect. You have to learn to just do the best with what you have. There is a lesson in that anecdote. So much of life is our vision of how things are. When we fail to see the good, our ability to be happy and effective is lost. But when we do our best and try to be positive, that's enough...because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the best we can do is enough. That's the wonderful message of the great plan of happiness.
Fallacies we seem to learn in life:
- We can't all be winners
- Nothing lasts forever
- I can't be happy in this life; joy will come later on if I do what's right now
- I am not responsible for my own happiness; it's my circumstances
But my testimony to each of you is those claims are deceptions. We can all be winners. Good works, happiness, and family can bless you now and last forever. And perhaps most importantly, it's up to you. An essential component of free agency is that you can decide to be on the Lords side and reap the blessings He promises you now and in the future--if you but choose to follow Him.
That's the plan—the great plan of happiness!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Persistent Hope
Mom shared with me part of a recent Mormon Times program, and I'm so glad she did. The program this morning included an interview of the author of the book Love Life and See Good Days Emily Freeman. Her thoughts and stories were inspiring. Today, I would like to share a few of them with you:
I plan to buy the book and will share inspiring thoughts as I come across them. You are also welcome to borrow it and read it yourself.
Listen to this interview and watch Segment 1 of the program referred to above. It could change you life.
One more thought:
I love this time of year. Each January is a new beginning and an opportunity to set new goals and accomplish even greater things in our lives. The Lord has worked it out so that we get that opportunity every week, however. Each Sunday we get to renew our covenants with our Heavenly Father and re-commit to living lives in accordance with His will.
He then blesses us again and again. Mosiah 2:24
•In the scriptures, we are commanded to "see good days," not to "have good days." To me that means that we will face obstacles and challenges in life, but as we see the good, we will overcome the obstacles and find joy in the journey. She illustrated this point by sharing a story which happened in her family. They had recently been trying to eliminate the weeds from the front yard grass of their home. But like we have all experienced, the dandelions seeds soon matured and the seeds spread and started more problems all over the grass.
Well, they were driving in the country one day, and mom looked to see acres of dandelions in the fields surrounding them. She thought something like "That poor farmer. How will he ever get control again with all those weeds in his fields." From the back of the car, one of the younger children piped up "Look at all those wishes!" referring to the tradition of making a wish and blowing the dandelion seeds out into the world to achieve it--instead of a thousand weeds, the child saw a thousand wishes.
How we see the challenges of life and difficulty is all in a person's attitude.
•Of course you all know about my recent job change. It would be easy to see it as upsetting our plans and a real nuissance altering the conveniences and normal flow of life. I was devastated but didn't lose hope. I was fearful but didn't lose faith. I was concerned but didn't quit relying on our Source of peace, happiness, and security. Gratefully, the Lord helped me to see this as a chance for growth and the opportunity to become stronger, more influential, and better able to bless the lives of my family.
•We have hope in Jesus Christ. All things will turn for our good if we love and serve Him in faith. That is something I know beyond a shadow of any doubt. Of this principle, you can be certain.
Doctrine and Covenants 130:20
I plan to buy the book and will share inspiring thoughts as I come across them. You are also welcome to borrow it and read it yourself.
Listen to this interview and watch Segment 1 of the program referred to above. It could change you life.
One more thought:
I love this time of year. Each January is a new beginning and an opportunity to set new goals and accomplish even greater things in our lives. The Lord has worked it out so that we get that opportunity every week, however. Each Sunday we get to renew our covenants with our Heavenly Father and re-commit to living lives in accordance with His will.
He then blesses us again and again. Mosiah 2:24
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