Devotional: "The spirit of the gospel is optimistic"

"The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things. The opposite or pessimistic spirit drags men down and away from God, looks on the dark side, murmurs, complains, and is slow to yield obedience.” 

Elder Orson F. Whitney, April 1917 General Conference


"None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions. 


There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. 


I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient. 

I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.


There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.


Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited. 


Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others." 


President Thomas S. Monson, September 2010 General Relief Society Meeting 


We live in a hyper critical society. A society where the Internet is filled with tweets, blogs and message boards dedicated to nothing else then tearing someone else down, seething with anger. Where people "tweet" or leave messages on comment sections and message boards to tell the world how horrible something or someone is or whatever facet of it they might be commenting on. If the digital collective were to be given a physical embodiment it would be a black hole, that exchanges light for darkness. That same attitude is seeping into our culture. Everyone has an opinion and feels that they are entitled to have it heard. While this is true in a sense, it is important that the opinion shared needs to be thoughtful and civil, adding to and enriching the conversation not just housed in anger and ignorance. The greatest gift we have to offer the world as Latter Day Saints is our optimism and charity. As we are filled with the pure love of Christ, we seek to share that same love with those around us. Do we strive to center ourselves on Christ, that we may feel of his love for us or are we critical, looking for flaws and imperfections, weighing down an already burdened soul? Or do we seek to bring out the best in another through our words and actions. Building friendships and making connections; Beckoning others to come unto Christ and by are actions drawing them near unto the Savior? Or do we push them away, denying them the love Christ has to offer if we would but humble ourselves, letting go of our own pride, unto final judgment, that we may be and instrument in his hands to convey his love? As we are “connected “on ever increasing levels we should use the tools and opportunities tat our disposal o build up and not tear down. To foster and add to the conversation, not to serve to spread the cancer of the polarized and combative culture we find ourselves living in.

"Of Good Report" - General Conference Address: The Power of Scripture - Elder Richard G. Scott - October 2011 General Conference

The Power of Scripture - general-conference

Devotional: "But if not"

Elder Maxwell, in October 2002 General Conference shared the following:


"Regarding trials, including of our faith and patience, there are no exemptions—only variations (see Mosiah 23:21).These calisthenics are designed to increase our capacity for happiness and service. Yet the faithful will not be totally immune from the events on this planet. Thus the courageous attitudes of imperiled Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are worthy of emulation. They knew that God could rescue them. “But if not,” they vowed, they would still serve God anyway (see Dan. 3:16–18)."


We are here to be stretched, not to glide safely along, avoiding any challenge or responsibility we desire, as to not risk failure or to be removed from our comfort zone. Fearful of the unknown, we shy away from what an increased capacity may bring and what we may be called to do as a result. Elder Maxwell comments on this in an address given in April 1985 General Conference:


"Sometimes, our holding back occurs because we lack faith or we are too entangled with the cares of the world. Other times, there is in us an understandable tremulousness which slows our yielding, because we sense what further yielding might bring."


To seek comfort and safety in this context is to forfit Eternal Progression. Instead we choose to follow the erroneous plan Satan proposed in the Council in Heaven: To think that our Salvation is secured by merely showing up but not participating.  Alas, we are called to choose, as we have been given agency. In not choosing to submit ourselves to the Lord, by our inaction, we instead choose to follow the false sense of safety and security of the adversary in idleness. We are here to be tried and tested as is shared in Mosiah 3:21:


"Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith."


Returning to the quote we began with, "But if not" are powerful words of devotion and commitment from Daniel and his friends. The Lord does not promise us that we will never feel pain, risk death or always be free from suffering. As we surrender ourselves to the Lord, we gradually come to be willing to give all, even our lives because of our love of the Savior, his Gospel.Our obedience becomes a symbol and token of that love. That being said, one cannot be motivated simply out of a desire to please others, whether friends or family, or in the idea that one will recieve something out of it as a result. Instead, the motivation comes from an unconditional and abiding Love personally developed for and a relationship established with the Savior.


Elder Maxwell continues in the original talk referenced and speaks to this relationship  and the blessing of it:


"Therefore, we can be troubled on every side, but nothing can really separate us from the love of Christ (see 2 Cor. 4:8; Rom. 8:35–39); worldly anxieties are not part of being 'anxiously engaged'(D&C 58:27). Even so, as Peter urged, we can and should cast our cares upon the Lord, because He surely cares for us! (see 1 Pet. 5:7). Oh, brothers and sisters, the awaiting emancipation of such trusting surrender!"


One final thought from Elder Maxwell:


"Besides, unless we are filled with resolve, what will we say to the heroes and heroins of Martin’s Cove and the Sweetwater? That 'we admire you, but we are reluctant to wade through our own rivers of chilling adversity'?"


I am inspired by the legacy of the pioneers, their faith and devotion. But what have we done with that Legacy and all that I is provided to us and we are given access to and inspired by as a result? To live life without resolve is to live one that is empty and lacks meaning. It is like being a ghost. One cannot stand on the sideline of life as a spectator but must instead live in such a way as to be able to say, "But if not." In so doing we will recieve all that the Father has.

Devotional: "Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power"

I came across this verse a couple of days ago and like the message that it shares. It is found in D&C 123:17 and goes as follows:


"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."


As I ponder the phrase, "let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power", a couple of thoughts occur to me. First of all, that living the gospel should not feel like a burden to us. We should approach things cheerfully, with a heart full of gratitude. Also, to appreciate all that we have been blessed to have and know. And finally, to recognize what a blessing service is in our lives. How blessed we are when we live obedient to the will of God and have an intimate and interactive relationship with the Lord through prayer as a result. Second, that we must do all things in our power to do. We have limitations to what we can do but we can give all we have in regards to the things we can do. This is much more effective that instead feeling guilty about our shortcomings and weaknesses. We should instead allow the Lord to magnify our offering. This manifestations comes in all shapes and forms but most often by the service others render unto to us. To not allow the Lord to help us and think we can do everything ourselves, never seeking help, is pride. Everything we are able to do, in the first place, is because the Lord blessed us to be able to do so. When we do not trust in his arm and embrace his out reached hands whether literally or figuratively, is showing disrespect toward the Lord. Stated more directly, we do not recognize the role the Savior's Atonement plays in our everyday lives.