I enjoyed this talk -
The drawing he showed at the beginning reminded me that I want to create artwork around or home that is symbolic and reminds me and teaches my children eternal principles. Gave me some artistic inspiration. :)
I also really liked the idea near the end of how the Atonement doesn't just bring us back to God, but unites us once again with each other, with our spouse and family, like how it united President Hinckley and his wife Marjorie. The way Elder Hafen described it helped me understand it in a new way.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
God Makes No Apology
Another incredibly beautiful post today on "Mitchell's Journey" ~ my favorite part: "
It would seem that in all religious texts, no matter your religion, God
makes no apology for pain and suffering. In fact, I have come to
understand there is a sacred relationship between suffering and
spirituality, if we learn to listen and endure it well." Amen. I pray we can all learn what the Master Teacher is trying to teach us. He knows what He's doing, let us trust in Him and His goodness.
Entire post below ~
BOYS MADE OF CLAY
The night before Mitchell passed away we sensed that time was running out. As the sky quickly darkened the air grew eerily cold … and with each breath we felt a heavy, somber feeling grow within our hearts. That abyss that was inching to devour our son had its mouth stretched wide and was beginning to swallow up my son.
We were preparing to cuddle with Mitch in his room and read him stories and comfort him when we received a call from his best friend and next-door neighbor who wanted to see if he could play. Unaware that Mitchell was already slipping away and was coming in and out of consciousness (mostly out), we asked this young boy if we could speak to his mother … which we did … and described what was happening. We quickly learned that Luke wanted to come over and say goodbye to our baby, his best buddy.
What I then witnessed in the quite of Mitchell’s room was the most tender interaction between two young boys I have ever seen. It was a sacred exchange between two boys made of clay – each being shaped by experience, hardship, sacrifice and love.
Lying on the bed was our young boy much too young to die, standing next to him another young boy holding his hand, bearing his young soul … much too young to say goodbye. It was not my place to ask God why such heavy things were required by hands of these two innocent souls. Rather I began to ponder deeply and pray in my heart to understand what we were meant to learn from this hardship. These aren't the only two children to experience this, and they won’t be the last. But they were our kids … and we love them so. And it hurt so very much to see.
This young boy, who had loved Mitch like a brother and faithfully served him with all his heart told Mitchell how much he meant to him, that because of Mitch he learned what it meant to be a true friend and that he would never forget him. Luke struggled to hold back the tears, his voice was broken with emotion, as Mitchell lay unable to move or speak as he listened to tender words of affection and friendship. My wife and I wept as we witnessed love and friendship in its purest form.
I knew that Luke, Mitchell’s faithful little friend, was breaking inside. I hugged him and told him how much my wife and I loved and appreciated him. I told him that I was sure if Mitchell were awake he would tell Luke that he loved him like a brother and that he appreciated how he was always there to help him when his muscles were too weak, and to cheer him up when he was sad. I told Luke that he taught Mitchell and his parents what it meant to be your “brother’s keeper” and that we were so grateful to him.
Later that evening I couldn't help but think of that tender experience between these two young boys who were forced to grow up much too fast. I pondered the meaning of human suffering and the difficult experiences we are sometimes required to endure. I have learned to appreciate an old Jewish proverb that basically states "Don't pray for lighter burdens, pray for a stronger back". It would seem that in all religious texts, no matter your religion, God makes no apology for pain and suffering. In fact, I have come to understand there is a sacred relationship between suffering and spirituality, if we learn to listen and endure it well.
I admit the burden of losing my precious son has my knees trembling and hands shaking and my soul in tremendous pain. There exists no word in the human language to describe this pain. It is simply, utterly, bewilderingly heavy. But, like all suffering, the sting of that pain can make way to a deeper compassion toward others, a greater capacity to love, a stronger desire to reach toward God and understand His purposes.
The truth is we are [all of us] no different than these two little boys. We are all made of clay. And with each choice we make, each reaction to events in our life, we carve out something beautiful or something hideous – something that loves or hates. We need only look at our own life experience to know this is true … we have all seen some let the clay in their hearts harden and become brittle or unmovable. Others allow the tears of suffering to keep their clay soft and pliable.
Today my clay is soggy. But the tears will eventually dry and I will do all that I can to remain pliable.
Entire post below ~
BOYS MADE OF CLAY
The night before Mitchell passed away we sensed that time was running out. As the sky quickly darkened the air grew eerily cold … and with each breath we felt a heavy, somber feeling grow within our hearts. That abyss that was inching to devour our son had its mouth stretched wide and was beginning to swallow up my son.
We were preparing to cuddle with Mitch in his room and read him stories and comfort him when we received a call from his best friend and next-door neighbor who wanted to see if he could play. Unaware that Mitchell was already slipping away and was coming in and out of consciousness (mostly out), we asked this young boy if we could speak to his mother … which we did … and described what was happening. We quickly learned that Luke wanted to come over and say goodbye to our baby, his best buddy.
What I then witnessed in the quite of Mitchell’s room was the most tender interaction between two young boys I have ever seen. It was a sacred exchange between two boys made of clay – each being shaped by experience, hardship, sacrifice and love.
Lying on the bed was our young boy much too young to die, standing next to him another young boy holding his hand, bearing his young soul … much too young to say goodbye. It was not my place to ask God why such heavy things were required by hands of these two innocent souls. Rather I began to ponder deeply and pray in my heart to understand what we were meant to learn from this hardship. These aren't the only two children to experience this, and they won’t be the last. But they were our kids … and we love them so. And it hurt so very much to see.
This young boy, who had loved Mitch like a brother and faithfully served him with all his heart told Mitchell how much he meant to him, that because of Mitch he learned what it meant to be a true friend and that he would never forget him. Luke struggled to hold back the tears, his voice was broken with emotion, as Mitchell lay unable to move or speak as he listened to tender words of affection and friendship. My wife and I wept as we witnessed love and friendship in its purest form.
I knew that Luke, Mitchell’s faithful little friend, was breaking inside. I hugged him and told him how much my wife and I loved and appreciated him. I told him that I was sure if Mitchell were awake he would tell Luke that he loved him like a brother and that he appreciated how he was always there to help him when his muscles were too weak, and to cheer him up when he was sad. I told Luke that he taught Mitchell and his parents what it meant to be your “brother’s keeper” and that we were so grateful to him.
Later that evening I couldn't help but think of that tender experience between these two young boys who were forced to grow up much too fast. I pondered the meaning of human suffering and the difficult experiences we are sometimes required to endure. I have learned to appreciate an old Jewish proverb that basically states "Don't pray for lighter burdens, pray for a stronger back". It would seem that in all religious texts, no matter your religion, God makes no apology for pain and suffering. In fact, I have come to understand there is a sacred relationship between suffering and spirituality, if we learn to listen and endure it well.
I admit the burden of losing my precious son has my knees trembling and hands shaking and my soul in tremendous pain. There exists no word in the human language to describe this pain. It is simply, utterly, bewilderingly heavy. But, like all suffering, the sting of that pain can make way to a deeper compassion toward others, a greater capacity to love, a stronger desire to reach toward God and understand His purposes.
The truth is we are [all of us] no different than these two little boys. We are all made of clay. And with each choice we make, each reaction to events in our life, we carve out something beautiful or something hideous – something that loves or hates. We need only look at our own life experience to know this is true … we have all seen some let the clay in their hearts harden and become brittle or unmovable. Others allow the tears of suffering to keep their clay soft and pliable.
Today my clay is soggy. But the tears will eventually dry and I will do all that I can to remain pliable.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Book of Mormon - At Face Value
I have really enjoyed reading Grant Hardy's book "Understanding the Book of Mormon." I am not finished yet, but one great thing about it is that he doesn't set out to prove or disprove the books authenticity, such as whether it was written by Joseph Smith himself or if it is an ancient text given to him by God ~ Hardy takes apart the book at face value for what it is by just looking at the text of the book itself. From page 11 and quoting Daniel Walker Howe:
"True or not, the Book of Mormon is a powerful epic written on a grand scale with a host of characters, a narrative of human struggle and conflict, of divine intervention, heroic good and atrocious evil, of prophecy, morality and law. It's narrative structure is complex. ... It tells a tragic story, of a people who, though possessed of the true faith, fail in the end. Yet it does not convey a message of despair; God's will cannot ultimately be frustrated. The Book of Mormon should rank among the great achievements of American literature, but it has never been accorded the status it deserves, since Mormons deny Joseph Smith's authorship, and non-Mormons, dismissing the book as a fraud, have been more likely to ridicule than to read it."
page 27:
"Rarely is the divide between communities as great as the one that separates insiders and outsiders when they pick up the Book of Mormon. To non-Mormons, the book is obviously a fiction or a hoax. The idea of reading it as an actual history of a lost Christian civilization in the ancient Americas is so preposterous that it is hard to imagine how otherwise educated and rational people can take it seriously in this way (tales of angels, gold plate, and seer stones do not help). for Latter-day Saints, accustomed to a community that unquestionably accepts the text as history, the complexity and beauty of the book--in addition to what they see as profound religious truths--would seem to make it impossible for thoughtful, open-minded people to doubt (especially those willing to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit). My goal is not to move readers from one side to the other but rather to provide a way in which they can speak across religious boundaries and discuss a remarkable text with some degree of rigor and insight."
Hardy examines the Book of Mormon through seeking to discover the thoughts and intents through it's three main narrators: Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni. It's been a fascinating read and has brought many ideas and insights to my attention. Such as noting things that are omitted. Did Nephi receive a blessing from his father, Lehi, before Lehi passed away? I believe so, and if so, why is that not in the record? Lehi's greatest desire was for the family to be united, and perhaps he left that charge to Nephi in his blessing. To Nephi, who had already seen the separation of the family and his own posterity's eventual destruction in a prophetic vision, might have found this charge too painful to record, given his failure in achieving it. So details and thoughts like that - it's been so fun to read, I highly recommend it! I'll try to write up other of my favorite parts in future posts.
"True or not, the Book of Mormon is a powerful epic written on a grand scale with a host of characters, a narrative of human struggle and conflict, of divine intervention, heroic good and atrocious evil, of prophecy, morality and law. It's narrative structure is complex. ... It tells a tragic story, of a people who, though possessed of the true faith, fail in the end. Yet it does not convey a message of despair; God's will cannot ultimately be frustrated. The Book of Mormon should rank among the great achievements of American literature, but it has never been accorded the status it deserves, since Mormons deny Joseph Smith's authorship, and non-Mormons, dismissing the book as a fraud, have been more likely to ridicule than to read it."
page 27:
"Rarely is the divide between communities as great as the one that separates insiders and outsiders when they pick up the Book of Mormon. To non-Mormons, the book is obviously a fiction or a hoax. The idea of reading it as an actual history of a lost Christian civilization in the ancient Americas is so preposterous that it is hard to imagine how otherwise educated and rational people can take it seriously in this way (tales of angels, gold plate, and seer stones do not help). for Latter-day Saints, accustomed to a community that unquestionably accepts the text as history, the complexity and beauty of the book--in addition to what they see as profound religious truths--would seem to make it impossible for thoughtful, open-minded people to doubt (especially those willing to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit). My goal is not to move readers from one side to the other but rather to provide a way in which they can speak across religious boundaries and discuss a remarkable text with some degree of rigor and insight."
Hardy examines the Book of Mormon through seeking to discover the thoughts and intents through it's three main narrators: Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni. It's been a fascinating read and has brought many ideas and insights to my attention. Such as noting things that are omitted. Did Nephi receive a blessing from his father, Lehi, before Lehi passed away? I believe so, and if so, why is that not in the record? Lehi's greatest desire was for the family to be united, and perhaps he left that charge to Nephi in his blessing. To Nephi, who had already seen the separation of the family and his own posterity's eventual destruction in a prophetic vision, might have found this charge too painful to record, given his failure in achieving it. So details and thoughts like that - it's been so fun to read, I highly recommend it! I'll try to write up other of my favorite parts in future posts.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The Book of Mormon Shows Us The Way
This subject is on my mind after reading from some books which I'll reference below and from reading this post quoting a Stake President's talk where he shares his thoughts of the troubles of Babylon in our world today and that a goal we can make to protect us from these troubles and bring us closer to the Savior in our own lives is to "spend time each day reading and studying the Book of Mormon.. So, exactly how can reading the Book of Mormon help us? From "Triumph of Zion" by John Pontius, page 170 -
As a matter of record, we are to this day laboring under a divinely imposed condemnation for taking lightly the things which we have received.
54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—(D&C 84:54-57)
Even though this condemnation will remain until we remember the Book of Mormon, the solution isn't in reading the divine word within, but as verse 57 notes, in doing "according to that which I have written." The Book of Mormon's opening pages records Lehi having a personal visitation with God and receiving his commission to call the people of Jerusalem to repentance. The next big account is of his son Nephi having a similar experience. The Book of Mormon is a graphic witness to the vastness of our privileges in the priesthood, of seeking the face of God, and obtaining these grand blessings, from page one onward. So, if we do as "I have written" in the Book of Mormon, we should be seeking the face of God.
For more on this subject of seeking the face of God, read "Following the Light of Christ into His Presence" by John Pontius and "The Second Comforter" by Denver Snuffer. Specifically for more on this condemnation we are under because of our treating lightly of the Book of Mormon, see pages 328-343 of the Second Comforter, a chapter titled "Fleeing Babylon" - he shares great insights there about how Babylon of old is still with us culturally and how it is to be ground to dust per King Nebuchadnezzer's dream, by the latter day church through the Book of Mormon, which does not have any Babylon influence since Lehi and his family left Jerusalem before Israel was destroyed and the Jews taken captive.
So, continuing from this subject of the Book of Mormon and seeing the Lord's face and how it relates to building Zion in our day, Pontius continues in "Triumph of Zion" on page 171:
Why could our inability to become a Zion people be a part of this condemnation? It is because Zion was to be our greatest accomplishment as a people--and thus has the potential to become our greatest failure. As the language aptly defines, we haven't built Zion because our predecessors ("in times past") for whatever reason, failed to do so, and we in this generation are continuing to take lightly our privilege of building it. We have received the priesthood and the promises, and yet we continue in the wilderness, even while myopically proclaiming our exile habitation to be the very Zion which we were expelled from for not building.
Once again, only the living prophet can command the construction of the city and society of Zion. I completely believe that when we are ready as individuals, and when the timetable of the Lord has matured, then the Lord will speak, and only then will we build the New Jerusalem. Until then, we are only speaking of the personal quest of building Zion within our own hearts. Becoming a Zion people can only open the doors and hasten the time when the actual city will be built.
I just ordered another book by Denver Snuffer "Removing the Condemnation" and look forward to reading more of his thoughts on this subject. I'll try to post more of Snuffer's insights regarding Babylon and the Book of Mormon in another post soon.
As a matter of record, we are to this day laboring under a divinely imposed condemnation for taking lightly the things which we have received.
54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—(D&C 84:54-57)
Even though this condemnation will remain until we remember the Book of Mormon, the solution isn't in reading the divine word within, but as verse 57 notes, in doing "according to that which I have written." The Book of Mormon's opening pages records Lehi having a personal visitation with God and receiving his commission to call the people of Jerusalem to repentance. The next big account is of his son Nephi having a similar experience. The Book of Mormon is a graphic witness to the vastness of our privileges in the priesthood, of seeking the face of God, and obtaining these grand blessings, from page one onward. So, if we do as "I have written" in the Book of Mormon, we should be seeking the face of God.
For more on this subject of seeking the face of God, read "Following the Light of Christ into His Presence" by John Pontius and "The Second Comforter" by Denver Snuffer. Specifically for more on this condemnation we are under because of our treating lightly of the Book of Mormon, see pages 328-343 of the Second Comforter, a chapter titled "Fleeing Babylon" - he shares great insights there about how Babylon of old is still with us culturally and how it is to be ground to dust per King Nebuchadnezzer's dream, by the latter day church through the Book of Mormon, which does not have any Babylon influence since Lehi and his family left Jerusalem before Israel was destroyed and the Jews taken captive.
So, continuing from this subject of the Book of Mormon and seeing the Lord's face and how it relates to building Zion in our day, Pontius continues in "Triumph of Zion" on page 171:
Why could our inability to become a Zion people be a part of this condemnation? It is because Zion was to be our greatest accomplishment as a people--and thus has the potential to become our greatest failure. As the language aptly defines, we haven't built Zion because our predecessors ("in times past") for whatever reason, failed to do so, and we in this generation are continuing to take lightly our privilege of building it. We have received the priesthood and the promises, and yet we continue in the wilderness, even while myopically proclaiming our exile habitation to be the very Zion which we were expelled from for not building.
Once again, only the living prophet can command the construction of the city and society of Zion. I completely believe that when we are ready as individuals, and when the timetable of the Lord has matured, then the Lord will speak, and only then will we build the New Jerusalem. Until then, we are only speaking of the personal quest of building Zion within our own hearts. Becoming a Zion people can only open the doors and hasten the time when the actual city will be built.
I just ordered another book by Denver Snuffer "Removing the Condemnation" and look forward to reading more of his thoughts on this subject. I'll try to post more of Snuffer's insights regarding Babylon and the Book of Mormon in another post soon.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Recreation and Things That Matter Most
I read this article in the Marriott Alumni Magazine -
This talk is excellent ~ I first read it in the BYU Alumni magazine, then found the original talk online and listened to it here. It's so good -
I loved this cause I've been on a quest these past few weeks to get on top of our life, to manage cleaning (all of our "stuff" blah!), to manage schedules - to want to make sure we are making time, or as Patti Freeman says, "create the space" for interaction and memories - true memories, true recreation that rejuvinates and edifies and gives us true happiness. Again, a great talk with great counsel, advice, and ideas of things that I want to implement in our family vision.
This talk is excellent ~ I first read it in the BYU Alumni magazine, then found the original talk online and listened to it here. It's so good -
I loved this cause I've been on a quest these past few weeks to get on top of our life, to manage cleaning (all of our "stuff" blah!), to manage schedules - to want to make sure we are making time, or as Patti Freeman says, "create the space" for interaction and memories - true memories, true recreation that rejuvinates and edifies and gives us true happiness. Again, a great talk with great counsel, advice, and ideas of things that I want to implement in our family vision.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
To Accuse or Forgive
I read this to Corey on Sunday, and then last night we shared it with the kids for family home evening (we gotta get some sibling love around here and stop the blaming and tale bearing) so we read this part and I love it! From "The Second Comforter" by Denver Snuffer - starting on page 275:
Joseph Smith taught in DHC 4:445: "If you do not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my back load. If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours - for charity covereth a multitude of sins." This notion of accusing one another is an important principle. Joseph is explaining something directly relation to obtaining salvation.
Accusing someone is Satanic. One of the titles for Satan is "the accuser of the brethren" (Rev 12:10). Satan's accusations are not said to be unwarranted or unsupported. He is not necessarily accusing his victims unjustly. It is probable some if not all of the accusations were, or are, just. If any of us were measured by an absolute standard of obedience, faithfulness, or virtue, we would all necessarily fail. Satan does not need to use an unfair standard to accuse and condemn us. We are assured that "all ahve sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). So if you want to condemn any of us, you need only look at our actual deeds and you will find sufficient reason to accuse us. Yet the negative and condemned roll of accusing belongs to Satan. Those who take it upon themselves to do the condemning are acting the part of Satan. What Christ has asked us to do is forgive each other. Or, as Joseph put it, we are asked not to accuse each other.
The Lord is serious about our forgiving each other. Christ meant it when He taught "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (3 Nephi 14:1-2). This teaching is an integral part of the salvation of yourself and mankind. If you are not accused by your fellow man, Satan's accusations alone will not be sufficient to condemn you.
The incident in John 8:10-11 illustrates the Lord's approach to judgement and mercy: "When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Here the woman had violated the law prohibiting adultery. She was brought to Christ to find out His reaction to this breach of the law. In spite of clear guilt, Christ found a way to avoid accusing her. This incident shows the lengths to which the Lord will go to avoid becoming the accuser. His title: "Our Advocate with the Father" is the antithesis of the role of the "accuser." The Advocate helps defend us against accusations. Even accusations properly brought, as was the one against the woman taken in adultery. he will seek whatever reason or even excuse as may exist to warrant forgiveness for our mistakes and failings. This role of Advocate He has adopted for Himself, is the role of Mercy itself.
The Lord also revealed, "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10). Here we are admonished to forgive all. Without regard to the justice of your claims against others, you are to forgive. Certainly there are others who have offended you. Certainly you have just complaints about others. You are justified in finding fault with your fellow man, because your fellow man is weak, sinful, error prone, and ignorant. Christ is saying to forgive them anyway. No matter how right your complaint is against them, forgive them anyway. No matter how little they deserve your forgiveness, forgive them anyway. It is required of you to forgive all men.
We didn't mince words as we read this to the kids - The accuser is Satan's title, and when they accuse each other, that is following him. We don't want to follow him, we follow Christ, so we will forgive and find excuses for each other. We will be patient, kind, and show mercy, cause the Lord knows that I want as much mercy as I can get at the last day. We will have that mercy shown to us as we show it now to each other. It was a great lesson and we'll see how much of it stuck with the kids during this initial presentation. "Forgive" and "don't blame" are on our newly printed family rules, hoping we can all learn to be kind and love each other, Christ is our perfect example.
Joseph Smith taught in DHC 4:445: "If you do not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my back load. If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours - for charity covereth a multitude of sins." This notion of accusing one another is an important principle. Joseph is explaining something directly relation to obtaining salvation.
The Lord is serious about our forgiving each other. Christ meant it when He taught "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (3 Nephi 14:1-2). This teaching is an integral part of the salvation of yourself and mankind. If you are not accused by your fellow man, Satan's accusations alone will not be sufficient to condemn you.
The Lord also revealed, "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10). Here we are admonished to forgive all. Without regard to the justice of your claims against others, you are to forgive. Certainly there are others who have offended you. Certainly you have just complaints about others. You are justified in finding fault with your fellow man, because your fellow man is weak, sinful, error prone, and ignorant. Christ is saying to forgive them anyway. No matter how right your complaint is against them, forgive them anyway. No matter how little they deserve your forgiveness, forgive them anyway. It is required of you to forgive all men.
We didn't mince words as we read this to the kids - The accuser is Satan's title, and when they accuse each other, that is following him. We don't want to follow him, we follow Christ, so we will forgive and find excuses for each other. We will be patient, kind, and show mercy, cause the Lord knows that I want as much mercy as I can get at the last day. We will have that mercy shown to us as we show it now to each other. It was a great lesson and we'll see how much of it stuck with the kids during this initial presentation. "Forgive" and "don't blame" are on our newly printed family rules, hoping we can all learn to be kind and love each other, Christ is our perfect example.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Today
Prayers are with Mitchell. There was a beautiful comment on his facebook page that I shared here. Enjoy today. If you have trials and struggles, face them today. Don't worry about the future, live today. Today is all we have.
From one of the videos about Mitchell's journey - "Live life for the moment because everything else is uncertain - Louis Tomlinson" "We may not control the events in our life, but we can choose how to respond to them. What meaning they have for us. And that's a powerful thing. The choice is ours."
And some words of counsel along these lines from an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Work through Large Problems in Small, Daily Bites
Asking God for our daily bread, rather than our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread, is also a way to focus us on the smaller, more manageable bits of a problem. To deal with something very big, we may need to work at it in small, daily bites. Sometimes all we can handle is one day (or even just part of one day) at a time. Let me give you a nonscriptural example.
A book I read recently, titled Lone Survivor, recounts the tragic story of a four-man team of U.S. Navy SEALs on a covert mission in a remote sector of Afghanistan five and one-half years ago. When they were inadvertently discovered by shepherds—two men and a boy—these specially trained Navy servicemen had a choice either to kill the two or let them go, knowing that if they let them live they would disclose the team’s location and they would be attacked immediately by al Qaeda and Taliban forces. Nevertheless, they let the innocent shepherds go, and in the firefight that followed, only the author, Marcus Luttrell, survived against well over 100 attackers.
In his book, Luttrell recounts the extreme training and endurance required for one to qualify as a SEAL in the U.S. Navy. In Luttrell’s training group, for example, of the 164 men who began, only 32 managed to complete the course. They endured weeks of near-constant physical exertion, in and out of cold ocean water, swimming, paddling and carrying inflatable boats, running in sand, doing hundreds of push-ups a day, carrying logs through obstacle courses, and so forth. They were in a near-perpetual state of exhaustion.
I was impressed by something a senior officer said to the group as they began the final and most demanding phase of their training.
“First of all,” he said, “I do not want you to give in to the pressure of the moment. Whenever you’re hurting bad, just hang in there. Finish the day. Then, if you’re still feeling bad, think about it long and hard before you decide to quit. Second, take it one day at a time. One [phase] at a time.
“Don’t let your thoughts run away with you, don’t start planning to bail out because you’re worried about the future and how much you can take. Don’t look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day, and there’s a wonderful career ahead of you.”1
Generally it is good to try to anticipate what is coming and prepare to deal with it. At times, however, this captain’s counsel is wise: “Take it one day at a time. … Don’t look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day.” To worry about what is or may be coming can be debilitating. It can paralyze us and make us quit.
In the 1950s my mother survived radical cancer surgery, but difficult as that was, the surgery was followed with dozens of painful radiation treatments in what would now be considered rather primitive medical conditions. She recalls that her mother taught her something during that time that has helped her ever since: “I was so sick and weak, and I said to her one day, ‘Oh, Mother, I can’t stand having 16 more of those treatments.’ She said, ‘Can you go today?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well, honey, that’s all you have to do today.’ It has helped me many times when I remember to take one day or one thing at a time.”
The Spirit can guide us when to look ahead and when we should just deal with this one day, with this one moment. If we ask, the Lord will let us know through the Holy Ghost when it may be appropriate for us to apply in our lives the commandment He gave His ancient Apostles: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof” (3 Nephi 13:34; see also Matthew 6:34).
From one of the videos about Mitchell's journey - "Live life for the moment because everything else is uncertain - Louis Tomlinson" "We may not control the events in our life, but we can choose how to respond to them. What meaning they have for us. And that's a powerful thing. The choice is ours."
And some words of counsel along these lines from an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Work through Large Problems in Small, Daily Bites
Asking God for our daily bread, rather than our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread, is also a way to focus us on the smaller, more manageable bits of a problem. To deal with something very big, we may need to work at it in small, daily bites. Sometimes all we can handle is one day (or even just part of one day) at a time. Let me give you a nonscriptural example.
A book I read recently, titled Lone Survivor, recounts the tragic story of a four-man team of U.S. Navy SEALs on a covert mission in a remote sector of Afghanistan five and one-half years ago. When they were inadvertently discovered by shepherds—two men and a boy—these specially trained Navy servicemen had a choice either to kill the two or let them go, knowing that if they let them live they would disclose the team’s location and they would be attacked immediately by al Qaeda and Taliban forces. Nevertheless, they let the innocent shepherds go, and in the firefight that followed, only the author, Marcus Luttrell, survived against well over 100 attackers.
In his book, Luttrell recounts the extreme training and endurance required for one to qualify as a SEAL in the U.S. Navy. In Luttrell’s training group, for example, of the 164 men who began, only 32 managed to complete the course. They endured weeks of near-constant physical exertion, in and out of cold ocean water, swimming, paddling and carrying inflatable boats, running in sand, doing hundreds of push-ups a day, carrying logs through obstacle courses, and so forth. They were in a near-perpetual state of exhaustion.
I was impressed by something a senior officer said to the group as they began the final and most demanding phase of their training.
“First of all,” he said, “I do not want you to give in to the pressure of the moment. Whenever you’re hurting bad, just hang in there. Finish the day. Then, if you’re still feeling bad, think about it long and hard before you decide to quit. Second, take it one day at a time. One [phase] at a time.
“Don’t let your thoughts run away with you, don’t start planning to bail out because you’re worried about the future and how much you can take. Don’t look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day, and there’s a wonderful career ahead of you.”1
Generally it is good to try to anticipate what is coming and prepare to deal with it. At times, however, this captain’s counsel is wise: “Take it one day at a time. … Don’t look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day.” To worry about what is or may be coming can be debilitating. It can paralyze us and make us quit.
In the 1950s my mother survived radical cancer surgery, but difficult as that was, the surgery was followed with dozens of painful radiation treatments in what would now be considered rather primitive medical conditions. She recalls that her mother taught her something during that time that has helped her ever since: “I was so sick and weak, and I said to her one day, ‘Oh, Mother, I can’t stand having 16 more of those treatments.’ She said, ‘Can you go today?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well, honey, that’s all you have to do today.’ It has helped me many times when I remember to take one day or one thing at a time.”
The Spirit can guide us when to look ahead and when we should just deal with this one day, with this one moment. If we ask, the Lord will let us know through the Holy Ghost when it may be appropriate for us to apply in our lives the commandment He gave His ancient Apostles: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof” (3 Nephi 13:34; see also Matthew 6:34).
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