Gospel Essays.com

Collection of essays on gospel topics
May 15, 2012

God’s Love for Us

The great challenge of this life is to re-learn the truth about God and His great love for us.  Before this life, we lived in God’s presence and could feel his love like the warmth of the Sun as “God’s love fills the immensity of space” (John H. Groberg – 2004). “Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you.  … He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf – 2009).

We no longer remember our pre-mortal life – the time spent in God’s presence as his spirit children – because the veil of forgetfulness (Ecclesiastes 1:11) has been placed over our mind.  If we could recall our past experiences with Heavenly Father, nothing would be more natural for us than to return to God the great love that He already bestowed so generously upon us.  “One of the strongest connections we have with our premortal life is how much our Father and Jesus loved us and how much we loved Them.  Even though a veil was drawn over our memory, whenever we sense true love, it awakens a longing that cannot be denied” (Groberg – 2004).

This deep spiritual hunger for God’s love is at the root of many mortal problems.  Because of the challenge in feeling God’s love in this life, we constantly seek to find replacement sources of love, whether through relationships, families, career success, materialism, or even drugs or alcohol.  But even the best of earthy loves cannot replace or fulfill our need for God’s love.  As long as we continue to fill our hearts with any other source besides God, we experience frustration, emptiness, restlessness, or confusion.

Experiencing God’s Love

It is only after we grow weary of counterfeit substitutes (not to mention doing things “our way”) do our hearts become finally ready to seek out and experience God’s love.  We can experience God’s love in many ways including a feeling inspired by the Holy Ghost, answered prayers, tender mercies from God, or experiencing God’s love for another person.

The Holy Ghost is often referred to the “Comforter” for good reason.  One of its roles as the third member of the Godhead to is to provide divine comfort (Acts 9:31) and consolation during times of difficulty and trial.  In order to feel God’s love through the Holy Ghost, we have to keep God’s commandments, including being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).  We are promised that if we “hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 12:6).

If there is one thing our Heavenly Father has repeatedly commanded us to do, it is reach out to him through prayer.  God promises to answer our prayers that are made with “real intent” (Moroni 7:9) and that are in accordance with his divine will (1 John 5:14).  By praying to God and exercising faith, we can feel God’s love for us by the way He takes care of us and answers our prayers.

Sometimes God grants that the “desire[s] of the righteous shall be granted” (Proverbs 10:24).  Other times, the Lord blesses us with things that we didn’t pray for as we may not have known that they were even possible.  These “tender mercies” can include “personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ” (David A. Bednar – 2004).  “Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them” (Id.).

It is possible to experience God’s love by experiencing charity for another person.  If we seek the gift of charity earnestly through prayer “with all energy of heart” (Moroni 7:48) and demonstrate “real intent” with acts of service and kindness, the Lord will grant our sincere request.  If we are so lucky, we can feel true love for another son or daughter of God and in a vicarious fashion the intensity and purity of God’s love for each of us.

Blessings of God’s Love

Of all the blessings of mortality, feeling God’s love is the greatest.  “Being filled with God’s love is the most joyous of all things and is worth every cost.” (Groberg – 2004).   God’s love fills us with strength and power – “[f]illed with His love, we can endure pain, quell fear, forgive freely, avoid contention, renew strength, and bless and help others in ways surprising even to us.”

“I testify that when we are ready, His pure love instantly moves across time and space, reaches down, and pulls us up from the depths of any tumultuous sea of darkness, sin, sorrow, death, or despair we may find ourselves in and brings us into the light and life and love of eternity” (Groberg – 2004).

To learn more how the Gospel of Christ can help you feel God’s love, click here.

Author’s Note

In a very difficult experience last year, I experienced God’s love by gaining charity for another person.  Due to unusual circumstances, a partially reformed young man ended up staying at my house for a month and a half.  This young man was a wreck to an extent I never imagined (teaching me a never-to-be-forgotten lesson about the vital importance of parenting), and he messed up my life, home, and health in a real and detrimental way.

He wasn’t accomplishing anything positive while in my home, yet I could not ask him to leave because the Spirit of Lord strongly and repeatedly constrained me to wait a little while longer (he was a likely a victim of mild fetal alcohol use).  Under these difficult circumstances, I worked tirelessly to help him get on his feet (it took weeks to get enough documents to get a state ID and bank account, let alone to attempt to register him for high school).  At moments, I gained a love for this young man that I never imagined was possible and in so doing, experienced God’s incomprehensibly great love for even the “least” among his children.

In an equally unusual (though blessed) turn of events in 2011, I experienced what I believe was a tender mercy of the Lord.  To my utter shock and dismay, my old Honda Civic was stolen from my driveway.  Though I recovered it the same day, it was raided for parts and was basically destroyed.  In a strange turn of events, however, I found a replacement car (Silver Honda Fit 2008 sports edition) on Craigslist the same day my car was stolen, agreed to buy it the next day, and purchased it the following week (at a modest discount, almost enough to cover the loss of value of my old car).

Interestingly enough, my dream car has always been a Honda Fit that was three years old and had a roof rack (for my kayak), and that was exactly the car I found on Craigslist (including the roof rack).  That may not seem much of a blessing, but it is when you consider that I had absolutely no plans to buy a new car (I am very conservative financially and planned to pay off my mortgage and student loans before buying my next car in a few years).  In addition, the seller had waited for six months before putting the car for sale.  I am not sure why Heavenly Father saw fit to bless me with my dream car without me even asking for it; I just know that He did.  And if God did so much for me on something as trivial and unimportant as a car, I can only imagine how well He will do in assisting me in finding a truly incredible spouse (though I do not minimize the importance of my own efforts).


March 15, 2012

This God Only Shall You Serve

The Great Commandment

When asked which commandment was greatest, Jesus replied “[t]hou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).  After all, eternal life consists of knowing God and His Son Jesus Christ (John 17:3).  Yet God does not need our love for “[h]is influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration. … But oh, how we need to love God!  For what we love determines what we seek” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf – 2009).

Because of our personal need to worship God, the first of the Ten Commandments is that “[t]hou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).”  Similarly, the second commandment reads “[t]hou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing” (Exodus 20:4-5).  These two commandments are designed to immunize our hearts from loving anything else more than God.

Idols of Our Making

Idolatry is the universal human tendency to value something or someone in a way that hinders our ability to love and trust God.  The problem with idols, our replacement “gods” that come in many forms, is that they are powerless to redeem us from sin and bring us back into the presence of God.  After all, Jesus taught that He was the only way back to God; “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Idolatry is hardly a new sin; it has been around from the beginning.  From Aaron’s golden calf to Baal, God’s covenant people, the house of Israel, have either adopted or created a pantheon-worth of new gods to worship.  Modern society is even more inventive with “every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god” (D&C 1:16).  Modern “idols” include “money, stocks, bonds, investment portfolios, property, credit cards, furnishings, automobiles, and the like” (Spencer W. Kimball – 1976), not to mention education, fashion, power, prestige, entertainment, alcohol, sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and even Steve Jobs’ iconic Apple® products.

Loving the Gifts of God more than God

Idolatry results when we love the gifts more than the God, the great gift giver (Matthew 7:11).  As creator of the world and mankind, God is the source of every good thing (James 1:17; Moroni 7:12).  Yet the natural man seeks to disconnect the gift from the giver, claiming instead that gifts of life are “the work of men’s hand” (Deuteronomy 4:28) or in the case of the universe, random chance.  Whether Einstein believed in God or merely a structured universe, he stated it best, admitting that “God does not play dice.”

Man, however, is ever willing to gamble away his spiritual life and the blessings of eternity for what is tantamount to a mess of porridge.  Preferring the gifts over God, the objects of man’s affection are his diverse idols that he seeks to selfishly use and possess for personal enjoyment.  Even beautiful things like love and relationships can become distorted when they take precedence over God and His commandments.  The promises of God can even become idols, unless we like Abraham are willing to give back our promised “Isaac” to the same God who gave him.

Good things become bad things   

The blessings of God turn to cursings when we try to use them to fill voids in our life.  In fact, addictions are nothing more than a futile attempt by the natural man to plug the very holes caused by sin using counterfeit gods.  As the spiritual children of God, we have innate desires that can only filled by God and the peace that comes from the Holy Ghost.  Yet as part of our earthly sojourn, we experience sin that grows into spiritual death unless we are reconciled to God through the atonement of His Son.

If we are not vigilant, idolatry will creep into our lives and hearts ever so subtly, often accompanied by her twin sister sin of covetousness.  In vain attempts to satiate our spiritual hunger, we consume worldly things, goods that are bigger, better, and faster, yet ultimately unfulfilling.  Still hungry yet full of fluff, we become discontented with the things we have and desire those belonging to others.  With worldly appetites left unchecked, covetousness, which is nothing more than simmering selfishness, boils over into an unappetizing froth of faithlessness and sin.

Putting God First

Fortunately, the havoc caused by idolatry is avoided as we strive to put God first in our life.  God promises that everything will fall into its proper place as we put Him first; “[b]ut seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).  We will know that our predisposition towards idolatry has been overcome when the gospel has become more important to us than even our favorite thing, whether a pastime, person, or even a sin.

We overcome idolatry a little bit at a time as we become more diligent and sincere in our efforts to worship God.  Prayer, scripture study, partaking of the Sacrament (the Lord’s Supper), Sabbath day observance, and service to others, all take on new meaning as we seek to walk with God.  As our love for God grows, He gets more time slots in our crowded day planners and more room in our hearts.  We may even find that we have jam-packed our iPhone with spiritual things to crowd out any remaining worldliness.

Covetousness, once an all-consuming force in our life, is subdued as “we lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better” (D&C 25:10).  As the “good news” of the gospel sinks deep into our heart, we stop grasping the things of the world so tightly and lose the desire to stuff our lives full of spiritually empty calories.  Instead, our lives abound with a growing gratitude towards God and generosity towards His children; for “he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious” (D&C 78:19).

Live the Commandments

Living the commandments of God will vaccinate our lives against the illness of idolatry.  God instituted the commandments that, if followed, will help us keep our hearts free from idols that have the potential to harm our lives by becoming damaging excesses.  If viewed with worldly lenses, it might be appear that casting away all our idols would leave us left with nothing at all.  But the truth is that these false gods, while always alluring are, in the end, disappointing counterfeits of the “real thing”.

Once the dross is removed from our lives, all that remains is the gold of the gospel.  As we trust God, we will find that has filled our lives with boundless peace and joy, both in this life and the world to come (D&C 59:23).  With trust in God, we can press forward each day with quiet confidence and conviction that better days are on their way.

Author’s Notes

Sometimes the desires of our hearts, even for good things, can grow unchecked.  When that happens, the Lord often has to break our hearts so that we will lose faith in our idols, reorder our priorities, and place God first.  The good news is that Lord has power to heal and to resurrect.  He can mend a broken-heart and make it more whole than ever before.  Once Abraham became willing to give up his son Isaac (who had become an idol to Abraham), God healed Abraham’s heart and made him better able to enjoy the blessings of his promised son and posterity all the more.  The more we are freed from our idols, the more we are able to enjoy all the blessings from God without them becoming negative influences over our lives.

The Gospel requires us to give up some things that we might grow up to become His sons and daughters, and eventually return to live with Him.

For those who idolize income, He calls us to pay our tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10).

For those who idolize power, He calls us instead to serve (Mark 10:44).

For those who idolize wealth, He calls us to sell all that we have and follow him (Mark 10:21-22).

For those who idolize sex, He calls us to be chaste before marriage and faithful afterwards (D&C 42:22-24).

For those who idolize food, He calls us to fast and share our means with the needy (Isaiah 58:5-7).

For those who idolize mood-altering substances, He calls us to abstain (D&C 89).

For those who idolize work, He calls us to rest from our labors one day each week (Exodus 20:8-10).

For those who idolize recreation, He calls us to attend our meetings and duties on Sunday (D&C 59:12).

For those who idolize relationships, He calls us to be lonely for a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5).

For those who idolize the family, He calls us to live the gospel even if our family doesn’t (Luke 14:26).

For those who idolize their time, He calls us to waste and wear our lives sharing the gospel (D&C 123:13).

For those who idolize effort, He calls us to be diligent in all things (D&C 75:29).

For those who idolize knowledge, He calls us to cast away our knowledge and consider ourselves as fools before Christ.

For those who idolize pride, He calls us to humble like a little child.

For those who idolize our very life, He calls us to lose it for His sake.

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January 15, 2012

Make this Hour your Finest Hour

In life, it seems like the greatest blessings and victories are inevitably preceded by periods of unabated adversity and opposition.  For example, before the United State entered World War II in support of the Allied Forces, Winston Churchill was left alone to rally Britain against the invading Germans.  During these trying times, Britain survived alone, bolstered by words from the iron-willed Winston:  “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’”

If you are in the middle of the darkest night, press on.  “The darkest hour is just before the dawn.”  If you persist, the blessings of a new day will surely come.

Just remember that you are supposed to be here, exactly where you are now at this time.  Your days are known by God, and shall not be numbered less (D&C 122:9).  Your life here has a purpose for you have a great work here to do.

Things may be hard.  Very hard.  And the difficulties may continue for yet a little while.   But know that even as adversity abounds and tribulations multiply, blessings from the Lord are certain to follow.  “For after much tribulation come the blessings” (D&C 58:4).

Just remember, that miracles do not happen until your faith is stretched, almost to breaking, for “[y]e receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).  God has marvelous experiences in store for you, weighty blessings well worth the long and difficult wait.

So when things get hard, when the storm winds blow, just remember, that even as tribulation precedes blessings, great tribulation precedes great blessings.  So put on your coat and button up, but whatever you do, never, ever give up.  Recognize that your resolve is being tested.  Keep the faith.  And then make this hour your finest hour.

Click here to learn how the gospel can help you during difficult times.

Scripture References:

“Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly” (D&C 90:24)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; and ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.  The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours” (D&C 78:17–18)

Author’s Note:

This essay was revised and adapted from an essay written during law school.  Better days did indeed arrive, and are still arriving, almost daily, notwithstanding delays and difficulties experienced in route.

September 15, 2011

Developing the Mind of Christ

Importance of Our Thoughts

Of all of the challenges of mortality, perhaps there is nothing as difficult, nor as important as learning to control our thoughts.  Ralph Waldo Emerson captured the importance of our thoughts:  “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”  The Apostle Paul admonished us to become spiritually-minded by “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5; 2 Nephi 9:39).

The devil, our common adversary, lies to us about our thoughts – saying that our thoughts either do not matter or can not be controlled at all.  Yet a quick perusal of nearly any media choice shows that Satan seeks to dominate our thoughts by disseminating his vile and degrading content.  Through his near death grip on modern media, the devil has truly become the “god of this world, [who] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

One day each of us will stand before the bar of God “to be judged according to our works” (Alma 14:12), which includes our desires, thoughts, and words (Alma 14:14).  As President David O. McKay taught, “Tell me what you think about when you do not have to think, and I will tell you what you are.”  In the end, the lives we have lived will be nothing more than the performance of our most predominant thoughts.  So let us think good thoughts!

Christ-like Thinking

When Christ was asked which of all the commandments was the greatest, He responded that we should “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).  Loving God with all our heart and mind ensures that we keep all the other commandments.  When we truly love God, we willingly do all that He asks including loving his children, our brothers and sisters.

The greatest aspiration of every follower of Christ should be to obtain the heart and “mind of Christ” and thereby become more the Savior.  The prophet Moroni counsels us to “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:44).  While we must do everything we can to obtain the gift of charity, it, unfortunately, comes on the Lord’s timetable, and not our own.

Along with our change of heart, our minds must be renewed through our own diligent effort and by the Spirit of the Lord.  Over time, “natural man” thinking can be replaced by its spiritual opposites.  Virtue replaces uncleanliness; love stills anger; faith conquers fear; cheerfulness dispels depression; and thankfulness chases away ingratitude.  Changing our thinking invites the Spirit to be with us always, filling us with “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Improving Our Thinking

Changing our thoughts isn’t easy, but it can be done.  It involves us becoming more Christ-centered in our thinking, including by “look[ing] unto to [Christ] in every thought” (D&C 6:36), “forsak[ing] all evil and cleav[ing] unto all good” (D&C 98:11).

We must cultivate a personal “mind of Christ” as we would tend a garden.  Alma compares the “word unto a seed”, which we are to plant in our hearts and minds (Alma 32:28).  We cultivate our growing faith through prayer, obedience to God’s commandments, and “feasting upon the word of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20), veritable Miracle-Gro for our souls.  If we patiently “nourish” the word with faith and diligence, we are promised that it eventually will become “a tree springing up unto everlasting life” (Alma 32:41).

From time to time, however, weeds like evil thoughts will spring up in our mental gardens.  If we are careless, wild plants will propagate and grow, cumbering our minds and leaving us barren, fruitless, or even thorn-pricked.  We should be vigilant in pulling these weeds while they are small, lest they become deeply entrenched through neglect and delay.

The best defense against negative thoughts is to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause” (D&C 58:27).  Keeping our minds busy serving the Lord and helping others elevates our thinking and is an antidote against depression and other types of negative thinking.

“A healthy mind is always working. We need to keep our minds busy planning and thinking. We should try to focus on positive ideas. When we are motivated by good thoughts, there is no limit to the success we may achieve in this life and the world hereafter.”  (The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part B)

Besides helping others, we should “seek … diligently … out of the best books words of wisdom … even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:119).  We are promised that if we constantly seek learning through the Spirit and out of good books that we shall “be prepared in all things” to magnify our callings and fulfill our divinely-appointed missions (D&C 88:80).

Additional References

The Lord counsels us to obtain both spiritual and temporal knowledge:

“Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men” (D&C 11:21).

“… [o]f things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms” (D&C 88:79).

“[Y]ou should obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion [o]btain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion.” (D&C 93:53)

“As we increasingly think and act like Him, the attributes of the natural man will slip away to be replaced by the heart and the mind of Christ.” (Gene R. Cook – 2002)

“I believe reading the scriptures is the best washing machine for unclean or uncontrolled thoughts. For those who are eligible and worthy, the sanctity of the holy temple can lift our thoughts above the earthy.”  (James E. Faust – The Power of Self-Mastery)

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has suggested “memorizing a favorite hymn as an ‘emergency channel,’ a place for thoughts to go when inappropriate subjects come to mind.  Keeping handy a list of possible replacement activities may also be useful.  If you can fill your mind with clean and constructive thoughts, then there will be no room for these persistent [negative thoughts], and they will leave.”

“And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5)

“Let a man radically alter his thoughts, and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the … conditions of his life.” (James Allen)

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

“… let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord…” (Alma 37:36).

August 1, 2011

Spiritual Laws of Money

There is a hardly a topic as fraught with controversy as “money.”  Yet every day, the vast majority of God’s children (or their spouses) labor all day long for the money necessary to support themselves and their families.  In truth, most bread winners will spend more of their life at work than with family or attending to spiritual matters.  As working “by the sweat of our brow” to obtain a living is part of the common experience of man, it is one of the purposes for our life here on earth.

In modern day revelation, we learn that God’s “commandments are spiritual … not natural, nor temporal” (D&C 29:35), and that “all things … are spiritual” (D&C 29:34).  Thus, while money may seem to be exclusively a “temporal” concern, issues such as money, work, spending, investing, and giving to the poor are all governed by spiritual laws.

Put God First in Our Life

An oft-quoted biblical verse teaches that the “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).  Christ himself taught “how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24).  The problem with trusting in riches is that wealth displaces faith in Jesus Christ, which is essential to salvation as there is no other name “whereby man can be saved” “save it be this Jesus Christ” (2 Nephi 25:20).  As a result, to the extent our trust in riches replaces our faith in Christ, our spiritual lives may hang in the balance.

The surest way to vaccinate our hearts against wealth-induced “canker” (D&C 56:16) is to “seek … first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).  We seek the kingdom of God when we study the scriptures, keep the commandments, and serve each other and the Lord’s church.  We can be sure that God is first in our lives and hearts when seeking “wisdom” (D&C 11:17), the “riches of eternity” (D&C 68:31), and eternal life (D&C 14:7) is our highest priority.

Keep the Commandments

We can reduce worldly tendencies by keeping the Sabbath day holy and paying generous tithes and offerings.  As the fourth of the Ten Commandments, God commanded the children of Israel to “[r]emember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).  We honor the Sabbath by partaking of the Lord’s Supper (sacrament), attending church services, and by refraining from recreational and commercial activities on the Sabbath.  Other worthy Sabbath day activities include spending time with our families, serving in the church, and visiting the sick and the needy.

God, knowing of the deeply engrained, selfish tendencies of the “natural man”, instituted the law of tithing in order to teach us trust Him and share our resources with the Lord’s church and those in need.  The Lord promises that if we pay our tithing (one-tenth of our annual “increase”), He will “open up the windows of heaven, and pour you’re a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).  Those who keep this law testify that God is truly a generous God.

Work Diligently

After Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, God cursed the ground for man’s sake (Genesis 3:17) and “sent him forth … to till the ground” (Genesis 3:23).  Eve was given the equally (if not more) laborious task of “bring[ing] forth children” (Genesis 3:16).  As if the commandment to work was unclear, God reiterated it when giving the Ten Commandments:  “[s]ix days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work” (Exodus 20:9).

Not only must we labor, but we should labor diligently “in all things” (D&C 75:29).  We should not wait until we are commanded or compelled, but instead “should be anxiously engaged in a good cause … and bring to pass much righteousness.”  (D&C 58:27).  The Lord specifically disapproves of those “who will not labor with your own hands” (D&C 56:17) or that “idle away thy time (D&C 60:13).

Develop Patience and Integrity

If we work diligently and exercise self-control when spending, our finances will steadily improve over time.  All the while, we should constantly examine our personal and business practices to make sure we have not “gain[ed] the whole world, and los[t] [our] own soul[s]” (Matthew 16:26).  This includes dealing honestly with customers, paying employees fairly, being a diligent employee, and devoting substantial portions of our time and money in efforts that benefit others.

Being impatient to acquire wealth is both a spiritual and temporal danger.  Very often, persons who would have had successful careers jeopardized both their career and their integrity with unethical actions because they were in a hurry to “strike it big.”  Likewise, impatience with investing can lead to large financial losses as the result of speculation or other unwise or imprudent transactions.

Avoid Extravagant Living

It pleases the Lord when we diligently take care of our property; for “[t]hou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward” (D&C 136:27; Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 27:23).  We could benefit by living by the motto of thrift that served our pioneer ancestors so well:  “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”  The Lord honors his faithful stewards, whether in time or eternity, with even greater blessings for “thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things” (Matthew 25:23).

Though we should work hard, we should not “labor for that which cannot satisfy”, nor “spend money for that which is of no worth” (2 Nephi 9:51).  We should spend our money carefully on things that are important to us and our families.  The sin of the prodigal son, among many, included “wast[ing] his substance with riotous living” (Luke 15:13).

A similar sin is covetousness, envying that which others possess, as part of the fruitless endeavor of keeping up with the Jones.  After all, Christ taught that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).  Perhaps it is only by sacrificing our materialism – fancy cars, designer clothes, exotic vacations, and McMansions – can we truly obtain “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20).

Use Resources Wisely and Pay off Debts

We should be conservative in our spending and save for a rainy day because “[t]he responsibility for each person’s social, emotional, spiritual, physical, or economic well-being rests first upon himself, second upon his family, and third upon the Church if he is a faithful member thereof” (President Spencer W. Kimball – 1977).  Paying off mortgages and other debt and saving for emergencies increases our financial security and allows us devote more of our time and life to serving God and His children that we otherwise could.

Even as we strive to avoid extravagant and frivolous living, we must also avoid “hoarding” our money.  Christ himself teaches the parable of the man who, having no room to store his vast wealth, tears down his small barn in order to build a much larger one.  Little does he know that he is going to die that night and be called into account by God for “lay[ing] up treasure for himself” and his failure to be “rich toward God” (Luke 20:16-21).

Give Generously to Poor and Needy

Contrary to worldly philosophies (including economic and social Darwinism), God does not approve of the great economic inequality among His children for “it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another” (D&C 49:20).  Rather than a coerced or governmental re-distribution of wealth, however, the Lord’s plan has always been to “consecrate of the riches of those who embrace my gospel among the Gentiles unto the poor of my people who are of the house of Israel” (D&C 42:39).

Caring for the poor is best accomplished when everyone works toward becoming economically self-reliant including by “improv[ing] upon his talent” and “gain[ing] other talents” (D&C 82:18).  Through careful preparation and diligence, a surplus of goods and money is produced which is then willingly “cast into the Lord’s storehouse” (D&C 82:18) to be distributed to the poor and needy.  The commandment to give liberally is a serious one as the Lord has warned:

“Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!” (D&C 56:16).

While this pronouncement is worrisome, the promises of the Lord are even greater.  If we will set our hearts on God and devote ourselves to His work and glory, the Lord promises us material blessings, not for ourselves, but to be used for others:

“But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.  And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent   to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted (Jacob 2:18-19).”

The LDS church (Mormon) has applied this counsel literally, and spent millions upon millions caring for the poor and needy throughout the world (ProvidentLiving.org).

If you want to give, but don’t have much to spare, consider using Kiva or Microplace.  These websites allow you to provide micro-finance loans to lend to the poor throughout the world with your money being returned to you after a period of time.

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17)

Click here to learn how the gospel can bless every area in your life.

Additional References:

Seek God First

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D&C 14:7)

“Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.” (D&C 11:7)

“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches … choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19)

Be Diligent

“And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind. … And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands.” (2 Nephi 5:11, 17)

“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” (Proverbs 14:23)

“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.” (Proverbs 21:5)

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” (Proverbs 27:23)

“Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the church, except he repent and mend his ways.” (D&C 75:29)

“Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward…” (D&C 136:27)

“The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” (Proverbs 30:25)

Avoid Materialism and Debt

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15)

“If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” (Psalm 62:10)

“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)

“Pay the debt thou hast contracted …. Release thyself from bondage.” (D&C 19:35)

“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man…” (Proverbs 21:17)

Honesty and Patience

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

“Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.”  (Proverbs 20:23)

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” (Proverbs 28:20)

“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” (Proverbs 13:11)

“Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.” (Proverbs 16:8)

Give to the poor, sick, and needy

“And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.” (Mosiah 4:26)

“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.”  (Proverbs 22:9)

“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.  The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”  (Proverbs 11:24-25)

“And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.” (Mosiah 4:26)

“… [D]o good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” (Luke 6:35)

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July 1, 2011

True Greatness

“Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.”  Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

In the world, greatness is usually defined in terms of preeminence, achievement, fame, and fortune.  In contrast, the Lord defines greatness in terms of servanthood; for “[h]e that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).  Service is less about a position or status and more about possessing a willing “heart and … mind” (D&C 64:34).

But even great acts of service, if they remain alone, will not make a man (or woman) great.  Greatness can only be achieved to the extent one answers the Savior’s call to become like Him (3 Nephi 27:27).  Thus, in order to move up in God’s eyes, we must first fall to our knees for whosever “humble[s] himself as [a] little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).

Jockeying for position and seeking to “be accounted the greatest” (Luke 22:24), while commonplace in the world, have no place in God’s kingdom.  God calls upon the “weak and the simple” (D&C 1:23) to do His work because they are humble and put their trust in Him.  The weak, thus strengthened by their God, are “made strong” (D&C 50:16) to “accomplish[] the thing[s] which the Lord hath commanded” (1 Nephi 3:15).

Daily Commitment and Perseverance

It is but human nature to seek to do “some great thing” (2 Kings 5:13) at the expense of taking up the “cross daily” (Luke 9: 23).  Perhaps some of the foolish virgins were even out circulating and signing petitions instead of “buying” oil for their lamps drop by drop (Matthew 25:9).  Greatness comes slowly precisely because it is found in the daily doing of “small and simple things”; for “[o]ut of small things proceedeth that which is great” (Alma 37:6; D&C 64:33).

True greatness comes only by choosing good over evil in every situation, even when no one is looking or people will never know.  “True greatness is never a result of a chance occurrence or a one-time effort or achievement.  It requires the development of character.  It requires a multitude of correct decisions for the everyday choices between good and evil” (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr.).

True greatness involves treating everyone with kindness, even when that kindness is not reciprocated.  “Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. … Kindness is the essence of a celestial life.  Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others.   Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes” (Joseph Wirthlin – 2005).

True greatness, like spirituality, comes slowly “in process of time” (Moses 7:21).  “[T]here is no such thing as instant greatness.  … [T]he achievement of true greatness is a long-term process.  It may involve occasional setbacks.  The end result may not always be clearly visible, but it seems that it always requires regular, consistent, small, and sometimes ordinary and mundane steps over a long period of time” (Howard W. Hunter – 1987).

Truth and Moral Courage

True greatness means that we do the right thing, even when it is hard.  By doing right regardless of the personal cost, we develop “moral discipline” which “is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard.  It rejects the self-absorbed life in favor of developing character worthy of respect and true greatness through Christlike service” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson – 2009).

True greatness requires an unshakeable commitment to truth and morality.  “There are those who believe that a new modernity demands a new morality.  What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality.  There is only one morality.  All else is immorality.  If we are to fulfill our great destiny as a people, then we must return to the old morality, the sole morality” (Theodore Roosevelt).

Love, Sacrifice, and Service

Contrary to worldly wisdom, greatness is not found in doing the “greatest” things, but instead the things that matter most.  “After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness.  To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman” (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. – 1905).

In the arithmetic of the gospel, greatness is not found in taking but in giving.  Indeed, it is not the size of the gift but the cost to the giver that really matters.  Thus, the poor widow gave more than they all, for she did “of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 8:44).  But none, however, gave more than Christ, who “hath descended below them all” (D&C 122:8) that He might “lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  Christ himself taught that the road to “greatness” is to become a “minister” and “servant” (Matthew 20:26-27).

King Benjamin, the Book of Mormon’s great philosopher-king, exemplified the teaching that “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).  Having had served his people with all his “might, mind and strength” (Mosiah 2:11), including by teaching them the commandments of God (Mosiah 2:13-14), King Benjamin ended his reign with “a clear conscience before God this day” (Mosiah 2:15).

Click here to learn how the teachings of the gospel can make you a better person.

June 1, 2011

Promises of the Lord

Obtaining Promises from the Lord

A promise is a specific commitment from God that he will grant a particular sought-after blessing.  The scriptures abound with accounts of individuals who obtained promises from God, which were all fulfilled “in the due time of the Lord”.

Even so, the actual process by which promises are obtained and eventually realized is a mystery to the “natural man.”  Promises, as spiritual things, are “spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).  As God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts and his ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), there is much about promises that won’t be understood until “all things [are] revealed” (2 Nephi 27:11).

The Apostle Paul taught that a numerous individuals such as Gideon, Barak, Samson, David, Samuel, and others “through faith … obtained promises” (Hebrews 11:32-33).  The three disciples of Nephi obtained the promise that they should not see death; and “they obtained not the promise until after their faith” (Ether 12:17).  Clearly, promises are obtained by exercising faith, for “by faith all things are fulfilled” (Ether 12:3).

In order for our desires to blossom into a promise obtainable from God, these desires must be “right” and serve God’s purposes (3 Nephi 18:20).  Generally speaking, we are more likely to obtain a particular promise if we “will seek [it] for the intent to do good” than if the promise is solely for personal benefit (Jacob 2:19).

But a righteous desire alone is not enough to obtain a promise.  It must be something that God, in his infinite wisdom, is willing to grant (Moroni 7:33; D&C 46:30).  One great trial for the righteous is that God, for whatever reason, does not promise nor permit all our good desires to be fulfilled in this life.  God could not be a kind, loving Father as he is, however, unless his very act of withholding desired blessings for a time would result in even greater blessings for his children – in the now or hereafter.  An eternal perspective is definitely required.

Realizing Promises from the Lord

A promise is eventually realized by obedience, faith, and patience.  The life of nearly every significant Old Testament prophet confirms that many, many “wilderness years” of testing and adversity were required before their respective ministries and blessings were realized.  Once a promise is made, oftentimes years and years and years will pass by all the while the recipient is left wondering, “Did I hear Him right?”

To realize a promised blessing from God, it goes without saying that you must do God’s will; “for when ye do not what [God says], ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10).  Even after obtaining a promise of a future blessing, subsequent disobedience will cause God to “revoke” the promise before the blessing is received (D&C 58:32; D&C 54:4).

More than merely abstaining from evil, God requires us to serve Him faithfully and diligently.  We must do all that lies in our power to serve God and work towards bringing the promise to pass.  For the prophet Nephi, this meant two unsuccessful attempts at obtaining the brass plates before he was lead forth by the Spirit to success (1 Nephi 4:6).  We should remember that “all victory and glory are brought to pass [through] diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith” (D&C 103:36).

The world’s wisdom is that “seeing is believing.” Yet we are commanded to “dispute not, because ye see not” for we are to “walk by faith, not by sight” (Ether 12:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7).  By its very definition, faith is a “hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21).  The end result of faith is to behold with ones natural eyes that which was already seen with an “eye of faith” (see Ether 12:19).  Thus, with the things of God, truly “believing is seeing!”

The passage of time wears heavy when waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.  During these days, scoffers, sometimes even close family and friends, will scorn the foolishness of “waiting on the Lord”.  At these times, we, like Abraham, must not stagger “at the promise of God through unbelief” but remain strong in patience and faith (Romans 4:20).

Not only will we be tested by the passage of time, but circumstances themselves will combine to hedge up the way, and for a time, it may appear as the promised blessing has been taken.  Yet, we should not be so easily shaken, for we are reminded that “ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” and that “after much tribulation come the blessing” (Ether 12:6; D&C 58:4).

The Lord tries the hearts of his children, even if they require breaking.  Surely Abraham’s trek up mount moriah to sacrifice his son was no Sunday stroll (Genesis 22:2).  But we need not fret nor frown.  As “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), Christ can bind our broken hearts and give new life to our shattered dreams.  We may find that not only does the Lord renew our dreams, but He often enlarges them (Job 42:10-17; D&C 78:19; Matthew 19:29).

Click here to learn how the gospel can bless you peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come.

Additional References

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  (Psalm 37:4-5)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.  (D&C 123:17)

Author’s Note:

Waiting on the Lord for the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise is not an easy or light thing.  At times, it can seem a bit disheartening.  But at these moments, it is important not to give up, “[f]or after much tribulation … cometh the blessing” (D&C 103:12).  The author’s experience has been that little blessings follow little trials and great blessings follow great trials.  So if you are having a great, great, great, great big trial, take hope.

May 1, 2011

Walk with Faith

Life is difficult.  At times, it can seem overwhelming, insurmountable, and even hopeless.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  You have a choice.  You can choose to be optimistic and hopeful even when it feels like you are walking alone in darkness.  You are never truly alone.  There are unseen forces leading you forward, lifting you, and inspiring your heart and mind.  God and life itself are conspiring together for your happiness and success.  Have faith in Heavenly Father.  Never underestimate his ability and willingness to shower blessings upon you, if you but ask.  He has never failed you in the past, and never will.  He has promised you blessings beyond the limits of your own imagination.  He will not fail you.

Life is a wonderful—it has it high moments, its lows, with surprises lurking around every corner.  Though the way be dark before you, never despair.  Trust that God will light the way before you.  Though you know not where the path leads, be assured that He will lead you home.  He will bless you with every needful blessing, each in their own time and season.  Live in the moment for that is the only way to live.

One day you will have the opportunity to look back upon your life.  At that day, you will understand how much Heavenly Father has given you.  You will experience amazing things.  You will see marvelous sights.  You will accomplish your good desires each in their own time.  Be patient.  Be hopeful.  Always remember that Heavenly Father is closer than you think.

Click here to learn how to increase your faith in God and learn about His plan for your life.

Author’s Note

If this essay seems different than the others, it is becaue it is one my first one ever.  I wrote this during the depths of a very frightening time, my first semester in Law School.  Things turned out amazingly well over the past eight years, though I have had to pass through some incredibly difficult situations to get there.  All is well that ends well.

April 15, 2011

Humility before God

Understanding our Need for Humility

Of all the Christian virtues, humility is most essential as it makes all other virtues possible.  In order to develop humility, a man must believe whole-heartedly that he personally needs God.  Until then (and absent a shattering change in circumstances), the delusion of self-sufficiency is not easily overcome.  Ever quick to declare “[b]y the strength of my hand … I have done these things” (2 Nephi 20:13), man rarely thanks God for such well-formed hands or a life laden with talents and blessings.

Life’s challenges – obtaining our daily bread, problems with health, family, or finances – will remind us, if we are spiritually perceptive, of our constant need for divine assistance.  In fact, God intends that this life to be a time for testing (Abraham 3:25), allowing “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11).  This “opposition” includes enticement from our common adversary, the devil, who tempts us to commit sin by violating God’s laws and commandments.

All need to be spiritually cleansed because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “[n]o unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God” (Moses 6:57).  While we must make every effort to repent and obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel (LDS Article of Faith #3), it is only through the atonement of Christ that we are cleansed from sin and purified that “we have no more disposition to do evil” (Mosiah 5:2).

When God’s power is contrasted with man, the only logically conclusion is that “man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.” (Moses 1:10).  While mankind has achieved great things like putting a man on the moon, it was God who put the moon in its orbit.  While man has harnessed the power of the atom with nuclear power, it was God who created the sun and stars.  Humbly acknowledging God’s great power opens the door to Him to work in our lives.

Developing Humility before God

The antithesis of humility is pride – enmity towards God – where we reject “the authority of God giving direction to [our] lives” (LDS President Benson – “Beware of Pride” 1989).  We humble ourselves by striving to know and accept God’s will for our lives.  We are blessed when we “truly humble [ourselves] because of the word” (Alma 32:14), possibly by alleviating the unpleasantness of being “compelled to be humble” (Alma 32:13).

Keeping the commandments can be hard at times, but they help us develop lasting trust in God and His ways.  As we willingly submit to God, we learn that his commandments are designed, not to restrict our freedom, but to increase our freedom and joy.  As we look back over our lives, we can see that we were happiest when we obeyed God.  When we refused to obey, we indulged in sin that resulted in self-inflicted injuries and unnecessary pain.

Even when we are not intentionally disobedient, we must be careful not to “depend upon [our] own judgment” (D&C 3:13) and inadvertently substitute our judgment for the “counsel of God” (2 Nephi 9:28).  This can be difficult as even our good desires and plans can still run contrary to God’s will for our lives.  Instead, we must sincerely trust in the goodness of God and his “plans to prosper [us] and … give [us] hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 – NIV).

God promises to meet us half way during this lifetime; for if we “[d]raw nigh to God … he will draw nigh to [us]” (James 4:8).  As we experience the power of God in our lives, our hearts yearn to reach out to Him through frequent, earnest prayer (Hebrews 4:16).  As we walk humbly before God and rely on Him for grace, we are enabled to keep the commandments and “do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Humility is ever intertwined with its twin virtue of gratitude.  When we are humble we can see the fingerprints of God in our lives and willingly confess “his hand in all things” (D&C 59:21).  Obtaining humility is not something that can be “checked off” on one’s gospel to-do list as it requires an inner change.  Humility comes only with a lifetime of careful cultivation of a heart and mind that is willing, even eager, to know and obey God’s will and to obtain blessings by His hand.

But God want us to do more than give thanks, He wants us to serve his children.  By serving God’s children with love and humility, we help check our self-centered, worldly tendencies.  Instead of using our time and talents to seek our self-interest, we can use our resources to bless others and build the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).

Blessings of Humility

God pours out His blessings on the humble, answering their prayers (D&C 112:10), giving them strength (Ether 12:27), knowledge (D&C 1:28), and eternal life (1 Peter 5:6).  Humility before God is the key that unlocks the power of God in our lives.  God gives us weaknesses that we might be humble.  But then if we exercise faith and humility before God, He promises to make those weaknesses into strengths.

Additional References

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.  (Ether 12:27)”

“[T]he enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity.”  Elder David Bednar (In the Strength of the Lord – 2004)

Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers (D&C 112:10).

Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:6).

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (James 4:10).

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility (Proverbs 18:12).

And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time (D&C 1:28).

And inasmuch as ye are humble and faithful and call upon my name, behold, I will give you the victory (D&C 104:82).

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.      (1 Peter 5:6).

March 1, 2011

Our True Identity and Self-worth

To recognize our value, we must understand our true relationship with God.  God is our Heavenly Father, the “Father of [our] spirits” (Hebrews 12:9).  We are his literal spirit children, who lived with him during our pre-mortal life.  Of all of God’s creations, only man and woman bear a resemblance to God (Moses 1:16) both in terms of physical characteristics (Genesis 1:26-27) and divine potential (1 John 3:2; Matthew 5:48).

While we were still in our pre-mortal state, God ordained a plan whereby we would come to earth to be tested and gain a physical body (Abraham 3:25).  The great purpose of this life is to become more like our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ, who set the example that we must follow (2 Nephi 31:16).

During mortal life, we are subject to both good and evil influences (Moro. 7:12).  Christ, as the source of all that is good, seeks to influence us to keep his commandments and do good so that we may return to live with God.  Even after his death, Christ has continued to influence God’s children through the inspired teachings of ancient and modern prophets and “through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:5).

As part of God’s plan that allows his children to exercise free will, Satan is permitted to actively influence God’s children to disobey God’s commandments (D&C 29:39) and do evil.  As the “father of lies” (2 Nephi 9:9), the devil seeks to divert us from accomplishing our great objective, preparing to return to live with God.

The Devil’s dirtiest lies pertain to who we truly are and what our purpose is here on earth.  God teaches us the truth that we are his heaven-born children, this life is full of purpose, and that we are of immeasurable worth.  In contrast, the devil’s propaganda is that we are earthly, the purpose of this life is “to eat, drink, and be merry” (2 Nephi 28:7), and we are worthless.

False Sources of Self-Worth

To further his evil purposes, the Adversary has confused and distorted the concept of self-worth by inextricably linking it to physical attractiveness, personal charisma, intelligence, education, accomplishments, and wealth.  By so doing, Satan has committed the most widespread case of identity theft in human history, hijacking the true identities of millions of sons and daughters of God.

Not limited to scamming societies, Satan seeks to individually rob us of our eternal identities.  He whispers into our ears that “whatsoever a man doeth [is] no [sin]” (Alma 30:17).  If we give into temptation, however, he is the first to accuse of us of wrong-doing and then lies again, saying that there is no hope and we cannot be forgiven of our misdeeds.

To add insult to injury, Satan confuses us about our purpose for being here on earth.  He encourages us to pursue evil desires or all-consuming causes, either of which can lead us away from God into spiritual captivity (1 Nephi 14:7) or complacency (2 Nephi 28:21).  Once our true character has been degraded or disorientated, the evil one seeks to inflate our egos with one of many counterfeit identifies.

The first two false identities of comparison and accumulation create an insatiable appetite for the things of the world with a corresponding neglect for the things of God (D&C 25:10).  The comparison identity teaches us that we have worth only to the extent that we are “better” than another in some way – looks, intelligence, education, or physical ability.  The accumulation identity teaches that self-worth increases only by obtaining more in the way of accomplishments, education, money, power, status symbols, or even service to worthy causes.

The second two false identities of approval-seeking and self-worship seek to harm our relationships and chain us to the things of the flesh.  The approval-seeking identity takes a good thing – the love and affection of our parents, families, and loved ones – and turns it into something that is somewhat negative.  The problem with approval-seeking is that it makes one dependent on others for approval (D&C 3:7).  The self-worship identity makes pleasing self the ultimate aim through pleasures in all forms – drugs, alcohol, food, or sex.  Ultimately, these forms of self-medication end up causing more pain than enjoyment and lead to relationships destroyed by selfishness, addictions, and dissipation.

These false identities make life difficult and ever unstable.  Bad grades in school or job loss can end up crushing one’s sense of worth.  A self-worth tied to financial portfolio can plummet as fast as the stock market.  If our value is tied to the approval of others it will always be forever out-of-reach, subject to the whims or manipulation of others.  Pleasing self starts with parties and pleasure, but ends with pain and loneliness.

True Sources of Self-Worth

There is only one way to gain true self-worth – understanding God’s love for us and then acting in accordance with that love.  God loves us unconditionally and values us perfectly.  Regardless of how we act, He loves us the same “for God is love” (1 John 4:8).  However, our Father is always looking for us to return home, for today may be the day we come to our senses (Luke 15:11-32)!

Even though God still loves us the same, when we sin we cut ourselves off from the presence of the Holy Ghost, the great communicator of God’s love.  When we act contrary to God’s will, we feel like the silver-spooned children of wealthy parents, loved, but not respected, supported, but not trusted.  We will feel better about ourselves by listening to Abraham Lincoln, who taught that “[w]hen I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.”

The only way to increase our self-worth in any meaningful or lasting way is repent of our sins and increasingly conform ourselves to God’s ways.  When our true identity sinks deep into our heart, we start acting like a child of God.  It is only then that we understand “what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:2).

For a great essay entitled “11 Principles for Developing Better Self-Worth”, click here.

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