Trial By Fire
As much as a loving parent would like to shield their child from all pains, sickness, disappointments, and failures... they cannot, they must not. We must realize that in our very limited understanding it is difficult for us to comprehend The Plan. It is a plan of free agency combined with loving persuasion from above - And it must be so with our families and parenthood.
A parent must let the child go out into the world and into the battle... yes, they may be on the front line, but if they have been properly armed with the shield of righteousness and the sword of truth they will not become a casualty - ever.
It is necessary that we fall and pick ourselves up again - It is essential that we learn by experience in some cases. This is part of our eternal development - And it is inevitable that we will shed tears, experience sickness, have disappointments, and experience failures. It is the coward who doesn't enter into the arena for fear of failure or mockery - As President Roosevelt so properly said : "It is not the critic who counts, ... (see entire quote)"
So arm your beloved child with truth and righteousness, and let him into that purifying fire - Just as God did with his beloved son Jesus Christ.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
[Book 3] Spirituality
The most important aspect of our existence -- If we do not recognize the need for spirituality, or the absolute need for it, we will NEVER achieve our full potential in this life nor the life to come.
Spirituality intrigues me because there is so little written about it, so much confusion, yet so many searchers. I have found the answer and road map to spirituality - and it is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ ~ which today is manifested in the doctrine, principles, and organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I offer my thanks up to my Heavenly Father daily for letting me come to know this pure truth.
To the reader of my thoughts: I hope that in some way you may take a little something from these pages and in turn apply it with an act of kindness.
Please know that these are my deepest, religious feelings and that I hold these things very sacred - and I would hope that you (as well as I) could follow the Saviors counsel, "trifle not with sacred things." Spirituality is true existence in the fullest sense of the word.
Spirituality intrigues me because there is so little written about it, so much confusion, yet so many searchers. I have found the answer and road map to spirituality - and it is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ ~ which today is manifested in the doctrine, principles, and organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I offer my thanks up to my Heavenly Father daily for letting me come to know this pure truth.
To the reader of my thoughts: I hope that in some way you may take a little something from these pages and in turn apply it with an act of kindness.
Please know that these are my deepest, religious feelings and that I hold these things very sacred - and I would hope that you (as well as I) could follow the Saviors counsel, "trifle not with sacred things." Spirituality is true existence in the fullest sense of the word.
[Book 3] Life
Those who are truly successful in life, and I would also submit in the eternities, are those who can see the end from the beginning and throughout their entire ordeal are able to rise above the everyday problems and complexities and keep their view fixed on the summit. Many say, "I would love to learn a new language," or "I would love to play the piano," but those who actually sit down and do the task find it takes much more than words to get it done. Those who are successful leave the petty excuses to one side and just keep going, knowing it will not be easy but that in the end it will all be worth it. Accomplishers are those who decide what their purpose and goals are in life, plan out how to accomplish them, and then just go to work. Those who move happily forward no matter what the circumstance, and free themselves from the chains of cynicism and negativism by remembering the end and finality of it all. For them, every thought is geared toward the grand prize and not one moment is wasted. These are the noble and great ones.
Many see the results and say, "How lucky, I wish I could do that someday" or "What good fortune, he must have been in the right place at the right time." What a happy lie this is!
Behind every great endeavor - every intellect, every successful businessman, every spiritual and influential person, there are years of painful and necessary experience and sacrifice. What is not seen at first glance is that profound determination to overcome no matter what the price - and that determination has been cultivated by years of pure thoughts and correct decisions. Those weak souls who never enter the arena and merely remain criticizing bystanders don't understand the value of tripping, hitting hard, and then immediately picking yourself back up again to continue the journey. They can't comprehend the faith necessary to succeed, nor the unseen hands that support us when we place our trust in He who has already overcome and condescended above and below all things.
Many see the results and say, "How lucky, I wish I could do that someday" or "What good fortune, he must have been in the right place at the right time." What a happy lie this is!
Behind every great endeavor - every intellect, every successful businessman, every spiritual and influential person, there are years of painful and necessary experience and sacrifice. What is not seen at first glance is that profound determination to overcome no matter what the price - and that determination has been cultivated by years of pure thoughts and correct decisions. Those weak souls who never enter the arena and merely remain criticizing bystanders don't understand the value of tripping, hitting hard, and then immediately picking yourself back up again to continue the journey. They can't comprehend the faith necessary to succeed, nor the unseen hands that support us when we place our trust in He who has already overcome and condescended above and below all things.
[Book 3] Life
The biggest, most noble and important acts in life have and do happen without anyone knowing but the individual and the heavens. The miracle of a changed soul or strengthened character happens in those quiet, lonely moments of study, meditation, and prayer, or in those unseen decisions that build virtue and integrity. And it is in those moments that the channel of communication opens between the Earth and Heavens and the purest contact is made. It was that way for the Savior in Gethsemane, for young Joseph in the Sacred Grove, for Enos on his hunting trip, for Nephi throughout his life, for Mormon and Moroni during their miraculous compiling and preserving of the plates, for Abraham in his greatest trial, and it has been for me throughout my mission.
[Book 3] Life
LOVE
Do we not understand that it is a great privilege to be able to love someone?! What greater gift could there be than to have a human soul grow or experience joy because of a small word or act that you gave. And the best part is, we don't have to wait! We can give love and happiness to the next person we meet. There is such a basic, fundamental need - the need to be loved. It doesn't matter how hard the exterior, how cutting the retorts, how difficult it is to penetrate that stony defense - when you get inside, it is all the same. There we find a beautiful heart who just needs a compliment, to be listened to, a huge, or perhaps just a smile. Why is it that a baby cries when not being cradled in his mother's arms? Because the mother is that source of love, life, and virtue... she is the one who day in and day out is fulfilling those basic necessities, the one who listens to her children when they need an understanding ear, the one who gives them that warm embrace and loving kiss. Do not pass up the opportunity to give out your love, for as you give this gift, the return is one-hundred fold. It does not run out. In fact, it is the very opposite, it grows, matures, and refines as it is given.
Do we not understand that it is a great privilege to be able to love someone?! What greater gift could there be than to have a human soul grow or experience joy because of a small word or act that you gave. And the best part is, we don't have to wait! We can give love and happiness to the next person we meet. There is such a basic, fundamental need - the need to be loved. It doesn't matter how hard the exterior, how cutting the retorts, how difficult it is to penetrate that stony defense - when you get inside, it is all the same. There we find a beautiful heart who just needs a compliment, to be listened to, a huge, or perhaps just a smile. Why is it that a baby cries when not being cradled in his mother's arms? Because the mother is that source of love, life, and virtue... she is the one who day in and day out is fulfilling those basic necessities, the one who listens to her children when they need an understanding ear, the one who gives them that warm embrace and loving kiss. Do not pass up the opportunity to give out your love, for as you give this gift, the return is one-hundred fold. It does not run out. In fact, it is the very opposite, it grows, matures, and refines as it is given.
[Book 3] Life
Integrity
There is something about Integrity... the more you exercise it the easier it becomes, or put better, the stronger it becomes. Every small choice can add or take away from your well of integrity. We only need to understand the big picture - comprehend that giving that 50 cents extra change back that was accidentally given to us will click something inside of us, will add a strength not seen by mortal eyes. Giving that 50 cents back will give us an investment of a hundred fold - it will not come by way of money, because "moth and dust corrupt,...and thieves break through and steal..." That investment is a "treasure in heaven..." that has it's dividends in the eternities. Every act of integrity tunes that spiritual machine so that it can 'hit on all cylinders' and so that every time a temptation arises, the decision is already made and our honesty and uprightness are reinforced with a correct choice. Integrity is the sum total of a lifetime of honest decisions. Integrity is not born overnight, but the choice to be a person of integrity can be. When the determination of a true person of integrity is set, not the might seas or terrible storms can ever break it. When the heat is on and that group of buddies that you thought were best friends is encouraging you to break - it will not happen. Integrity is the might fortress and refuge from the storm.
There is something about Integrity... the more you exercise it the easier it becomes, or put better, the stronger it becomes. Every small choice can add or take away from your well of integrity. We only need to understand the big picture - comprehend that giving that 50 cents extra change back that was accidentally given to us will click something inside of us, will add a strength not seen by mortal eyes. Giving that 50 cents back will give us an investment of a hundred fold - it will not come by way of money, because "moth and dust corrupt,...and thieves break through and steal..." That investment is a "treasure in heaven..." that has it's dividends in the eternities. Every act of integrity tunes that spiritual machine so that it can 'hit on all cylinders' and so that every time a temptation arises, the decision is already made and our honesty and uprightness are reinforced with a correct choice. Integrity is the sum total of a lifetime of honest decisions. Integrity is not born overnight, but the choice to be a person of integrity can be. When the determination of a true person of integrity is set, not the might seas or terrible storms can ever break it. When the heat is on and that group of buddies that you thought were best friends is encouraging you to break - it will not happen. Integrity is the might fortress and refuge from the storm.
[Book 2] Impressions
The Parable of the Dirty Castle
On the way out of San Felix going towards Upata, there is a castle called El Castillito. It is actually a motel. I had always passed by on trips admiring it's large outer walls and towers, it's flags waving in front of the entrance. I was very impressed by this structure.
One Thursday on the trip towards Fto. Ordaz I passed by and the large door of the front right wall was open, revealing the contents of the castle.
It was a dump ~ there was an old car and trash spread over the ground. A complete difference when compared with it's outside image.
At times we too build outer walls of image and appearance to satisfy our selfish desires of praise and recognition. Things are done to please and impress others, to look good and build this "image."
One day someone will open that outer wall, someone will get inside the castle and truly know you. It is my prayer that they find a beautifully organized, well-built, and effectively designed structure - one that evolves with experience and depends on an unseen power of prayer - one that has beautiful gardens of memories and open rooms of listening - one that has an outer defense from 'the world' yet inner furnishings of charity, service,and pure love.
Let us ever build the castle that the grand designer and constructor has in mind for us.
On the way out of San Felix going towards Upata, there is a castle called El Castillito. It is actually a motel. I had always passed by on trips admiring it's large outer walls and towers, it's flags waving in front of the entrance. I was very impressed by this structure.
One Thursday on the trip towards Fto. Ordaz I passed by and the large door of the front right wall was open, revealing the contents of the castle.
It was a dump ~ there was an old car and trash spread over the ground. A complete difference when compared with it's outside image.
At times we too build outer walls of image and appearance to satisfy our selfish desires of praise and recognition. Things are done to please and impress others, to look good and build this "image."
One day someone will open that outer wall, someone will get inside the castle and truly know you. It is my prayer that they find a beautifully organized, well-built, and effectively designed structure - one that evolves with experience and depends on an unseen power of prayer - one that has beautiful gardens of memories and open rooms of listening - one that has an outer defense from 'the world' yet inner furnishings of charity, service,and pure love.
Let us ever build the castle that the grand designer and constructor has in mind for us.
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