Jun

29

Defensive About Beliefs

Filed Under Gordon B. Hinckley, Gospel, Respect, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

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I am not someone who sets out to bash. I have had less than a handful of incidents where I felt that combative feeling come out when confronted with people who had views opposed to my LDS beliefs. And such feelings are always met with regret. One of the people was someone who I liked and had only recently starting teaching. He was not bashing but rather sharing another religion that he had considered and I think how they felt Saturday was the Lord’s Day. I made a snide remark about pork or something. I felt bad and apologized. Later, I would learn a lot more about a denomonation who considers Saturday to be the Lord’s Day and gain so much respect for them after watching their network.

I think bashing removes us from the humanity of the other person. While it may not have been bashing per say, I have an older friend who said that she told the missionaries knocking on her door that she was already saved. As an LDS missionary, I remember having conversations and feelings about this and sometimes they were not so kind. The missionary retorted in what she felt was a rude way that he was going to heaven too or something to that effect. This woman had been a friend of my family for years. My dad worked with her husband. We socialized as a family and they had a daughter my age. She is very religious. Family is so important to her. She has expressed such care for me though we don’t talk much. I was hurt for her.

Sometimes I think bashing comes from insecurity or thinking we have to prove things. God is able to do his own work. And in the end, faith is always required to have any religious belief as you cannot prove it. You can help people with concerns and often bring out facts or help with false information.

I recall seeing President Gordon B. Hinckley be interviewed by Larry King years ago. The interview went well. There was mention of something of the Church and blacks and the Priesthood. President Hinckley pretty much said that was the past and we needed to look at the Church’s current postion. I would have probably have given some long drawn out explanation.

There was a sister missionary who according to a mutual companion was the hardest working of all missionaries. She also had such a love for her pioneer ancestor who crawled during part of the stretch of her Pioneer journey. I think she had a strong testimony. When someone confronted her about a belief, I think that according to this mutual companion that she was calm and did tell them that was what we believed.

I also have a side of me that likes to argue and win at times. I have to keep it in check. Usually I am very noncombative. Sacred truths are not a sport. We need to share with love and concern with a person and love them. I have had a couple of well-meaning people get under my skin as they tried to discuss my beliefs. One man was clearly trying to show me the error of my ways. My heart was not as it should have been in those moments. If love goes out the door, the conversation needs to end. Period.

Jun

9

LDS = Politically Dormant or are we just not listening?

Filed Under Atonement, Debt, Ezra Taft Benson, Faith, Food Storage, Government, Joseph Smith Jr., Preparedness, Prophets, Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings, Topics | 7 Comments

Signing the ConstitutionI know the title is a little bit of a generalization, and it’s probably due to my own lack of finding out, but I still wanted to talk about it.

With the Presidential elections coming up, political climates, and after listening to a few older talks by General Authorities and past Church Presidents, the question arises.

You listen to talks given by Ezra Taft Benson, and realize rather quickly that he had some very poignant words about the proper role of government 1, the divinity of the constitution 2, and various other quotes 3, that there was a different climate in the church.

What happened?

I sometimes lament to my wife that our church has taken a less active role in being proactive in politics. My wife of course who is the smarter of us explained that maybe it has to do with a bigger problem in our church.

By this I mean a listening problem. What were we told 50 years ago about food storage, 30 years ago, 10 years ago? I don’t know either, I would hazard a guess that it started at something like storing as much as possible, then worked it way down to 1 year of food, fuel, essentials to the current level of basically just get something stored, a 72 kit and like 1 month of food storage.

Do you know in the 70’s, Spencer W. Kimball said:

Recognizing that the family is the basic unit of both the Church and society generally, we call upon Latter-day Saints everywhere to strengthen and beautify the home with renewed effort in these specific areas: food production, preservation, storage; the production and storage of nonfood items; fixup and cleanup of homes and surroundings. We wish to say another word about this in the next meeting.

We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard. Even those residing in apartments or condominiums can generally grow a little food in pots and planters. Study the best methods of providing your own foods. Make your garden as neat and attractive as well as productive. If there are children in your home, involve them in the process with assigned responsibilities.4

I was listening to a statement on NPR the other week that talked about how much can be saved by just growing tomatoes and other small vegetables over buying them from the store in the course of a year. It said that the average savings was ~$1500. That goes a long way in helping to reduce debt too. But don’t get thinking this was for home owners with large yards, if I remember correctly the woman they interviewed lived in a town home or apartment.

But why have we reached such a low level of storage? I’m sure some of it has to do with smaller living spaces, but I also think as a church, people just aren’t listening, and this is exactly what they [The Church] was running into in the 70’s. Quoting from the same talk by Spencer W. Kimball:

As I listened to their addresses, I kept thinking over and over of something the Savior said,“Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” It rolled over and over and over in my mind: “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” [Luke 6:46] 5

So why am I going in such a large circle to explain a point of political dormancy? Well it’s to put it into context. Why do our Prophets and General Authorities continually going over the same principles every conference?

Do we listen?

But back to politics.

I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose[D&C 101:80].

It would seem to me, that the Constitution is a rather important document to our church. I can’t find the article I read that explained the LDS church and the Constitution being intimately connected but suffice it to say - if it [The Constitution] fails the LDS church fails.

But knowing that the Lord brought about the Constitution, why aren’t we as members doing more to uphold it, to stand behind it, to defend it?

Are we caught up in the idea that a member will save it when it hangs by a thread therefore we don’t need to do anything? Are we content in just letting someone else do something to fix it (and how well is that working?)? Are we just too complacent?

I can’t answer the question wholly, and trust me I understand how hard it is to know what to do. But I think there are some basics we can do to start with.

Get to know the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. All three of these documents are the foundation of our country. Teach them to your children, right along with learning the Articles of Faith, help to them to understand our rights and freedoms. I feel the more you know, the more likely you are to take offense when they are violated.

Take some time to listen or read some of the older talks. Especially “The Proper Role of Government” by Ezra Taft Benson. He offers a lot of great talks that are politically charged. There are also some talks given by Cleon Skousen that are part of this subject too.

I’ll leave with one last thing…

Children should learn to work. Parents should not spend their nights and days trying to find something to interest their children. They should find something to occupy them and get them busy doing something that is worthwhile.6

  1. The Proper Role of Government - Ezra Taft Benson ↩
  2. Our Divine Constitution - Ezra Taft Benson ↩
  3. Various Quotes ↩
  4. Family Preparedness - Spencer W. Kimbal ↩
  5. Family Preparedness - Spencer W. Kimball ↩
  6. Family Preparedness - Spencer W. Kimball ↩

Jun

8

Respecting Nonmember Family

Filed Under Family, Respect | 4 Comments

I was serving in an area shortly after a young woman who was the girlfriend of a member joined the LDS Church. I believe it was our Ward Mission Leader who was very concerned that her “New Member Lessons” would be taught in her home. He wanted her family to know that we did not take people from families. While I am not sure why he felt so serious about the matter, I could speculate that it may have been based in a misconception.

There are times when people who are of age do have to make a decision to join the LDS Church against family wishes. I have known some who have made sacrifices in the short-term until family came around and even in the long run to join the Church or be active if they were raised in a part member family that was hostile to the Church. When possible we do try to respect family members and have appropriate relationships with them.

I was 19 when I was ready to join the Church. I think that I was of age by the rules then, but I was told to ask permission before taking the discussions possibly because I lived at home. Having worked with a lot of members, one of my parents was very open to the idea. The other parent was open but had a condition that I wish she had not said at the time. I had to break her condition down the road as I felt God wanted me to serve a Mission despite my promise not to do so at 19. Over all, my family has been so amazing and supportive to my activities. When they felt I was depressed at one time, they felt that I needed to go to Church as they felt I had been much happier when I was active. They have shown respect in many ways for my callings in my area. There may have been a few times when they wanted me to do more for them than for those in the Church. Yet, they have really taken an interest. One time when I had a couple callings at one time, my parent gave me a planner.

At my last knowledge, I believe that a woman needed her husband’s permission to join the LDS Church if he was not a member. The Church respects the sanctity of marriage. God knows the hearts and desires of a woman who is in this situation. I think he is so mindful of those who are not able to partake all the blessings of membership due to any circumstances that are not in their control. I had a friend whose husband said that he heard that members of our Church were excommunicated if they married a nonmember. She pointed out to him that if that were true that she would have been excommunicated for marrying him as he was a nonmember.

The Church encourages activities that bring families together whether members or nonmembers including Family Reunions. I have an extended family that was very close growing up and had many opportunities to get together. With the passing of grandparents, we don’t not get together as often. But we have so many memories from those times that I think they do give us a closeness even when we don’t see each other.

Well, I may be a novelty to my family at times. But I am loved and suported and that makes a world of difference.

May

21

What does honesty get you?

Filed Under David O. McKay, Gordon B. Hinckley, Gospel, Honesty, Prophets, Talks | 2 Comments

I was browsing through a list of devotionals at byu.edu and came across one given in 1989, entitled “He Loveth That Which Is Right“, and it got me thinking about honesty and truthfulness.

Lately I’ve been through a number of interviews, not because I’m actively looking for work, but because I’m open to what’s out there. In all these interviews I always maintain a high level of honesty, especially when asked why I am leaving the current company I work for. I explain to them, that I have no objections to my current employer, nor am I unhappy with my job. I am merely seeing what is available.

I also, probably too a fault, am honest about my abilities in my field. I know intimately what I’m qualified for and the comfortable amount of leeway I feel for what’s possible. I’m probably too conservative, but I can modify as the need arises.

Recently I’ve had the opportunity to actually get some feedback on the last interview, and accordingly they were impressed with my honesty. While I don’t know if I’ll get the job or not, I feel good that the impression I left is one of honesty.

For Family Home Evening we read a story out of the latest Friend magazine. I admit I picked it because it had an image of a video game on the TV and a boy in a Cub Scout uniform and I figured that covers a few of the things my boys are into.

One phrase caught my eye…

“I was just wondering what other games you have,” Andy said to B.J.

“Why? Don’t you like this one?”

“It’s just—it’s just that …” Andy stammered, trying to make his voice work. “It’s just that my parents won’t let me play that game.”

B.J. laughed. “Oh. Well, that’s OK. We won’t tell them.” 1

So after we had finished reading the story we talked to our boys about the incident and how they would handle it, knowing they have friends in their lives that play video games that are beyond what we allow them. I know the kind of pressure one can feel in these situations because as a kid I can remember those exact ones. Video games, movies, any number of different media - but the same problem exists. Standing up.

I admit, I failed a number of times. I didn’t have the strength needed to follow the admonition of David O. McKay in saying that “it is better to be trusted then to be loved”. 2 I also know of the sheer force that pressure can be on young children, even young adults. Especially for those children who do not get the necessary love and attention from their own parents and turn and seek it elsewhere.

The effects are seen today, and in my mind are only getting worse. Gordon B. Hinckley expressed his views by relating the following.

“How cheaply some men and women sell their good names! I recall the widely publicized case of a prominent public figure who was arrested for taking an item costing less than five dollars. I do not know whether he was ever convicted in the courts, but his petty misdeed convicted him before the people. In a measure, his foolish act nullified much of the good he had done and was capable of yet doing.”3

Today it seems that there is no regard for being caught. Politicians, Actors, and other role models seem to perpetuate the idea that it’s alright, you say sorry to the public, but never really admitting you’ve done anything wrong and you’re free to carry on and do it again.

He goes on to say.

“Some may regard the quality of character known as honesty to be a most ordinary subject. But I believe it to be the very essence of the gospel. Without honesty, our lives and the fabric of our society will disintegrate into ugliness and chaos.”4

While taking that statement by itself paints a pretty bleak outlook, it rings truth. What are the after effects of dishonesty? Look at the rise in the number of divorces, corruptions, and even deaths that could be attributed to the needless act of lying.

What to do? Well I think we need to start with ourselves. We need to look at our lives and see where we can make those changes. I believe our countenance changes when we become more honest, people take notice - especially our children. This also passes on to those around us, I think it rubs off. Teaching our children is another way to advance the idea that being truthful is better then not.

Let’s try to remember the 13th Article of Faith,

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”[AoF 13]

and strive for a more honest lifestyle to those around us and to the Lord.

  1. “Andy’s Choice,” Friend, May 2008, 28–31 ↩
  2. He Loveth That Which Is Right - Marvin J. Ashton (1989) ↩
  3. We Believe in Being Honest - Ensign October 1990 ↩
  4. We Believe in Being Honest - Ensign October 1990 ↩

May

13

Debt, it’s crushing force

Filed Under Debt, Faith, Gordon B. Hinckley, Prophets, Spencer W. Kimball, Talks | 1 Comment

In an effort to heed the Prophet’s counsel, we’ve [my house] have been trying to pay off our debts as fast as possible. It’s tough, we allowed ourselves to get a bit over our heads. But we are making progress, and it is tough.

In October 1998 conference, Gordon B. Hinckley suggested “that the time has come to get our houses in order”. Prophetic to say the least, look at the country now (and the world). Financial woes abound, uncertainy prevelant.

I was looking at a graph, and it shows a pretty good increase since 1980 in the number of bankruptcies. I know you could say there’s an increase in numbers of people, and what about the drop at the end (they changed the laws), but look at the bigger picture there, the yellow mark - that indicates the percent paid towards debt. Bankrupt or not, more money is being paid to debt each year.

The article that I am quoting from [Climbing Out of Debt] gives some very good steps, that my family is now trying to implement. So let’s go over them!

1 Paying an honest tithing. Each month we always pay our tithing first. If we are to get out of debt, we really do need the Lord to “open … the windows of heaven, and pour [us] out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10).

Often our financial efforts are hampered by misfortune that devours our resources, such as unexpected car and household repairs, illness, and so forth. The Lord promises that He “will rebuke the devourer for [our] sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of [our] ground” (Mal. 3:11). When we pay our tithes, the Lord can bless us so that our unexpected challenges are minimized and so that we are better able to manage the resources we have.

I’m not sure how LDS members miss this one, I can testify that my family would have been in dire straights numerous times if we weren’t paying our tithing. I have a great testimony in this because of those miracles. There have been veryt spectacular times where we needed money in an emergency and all the sudden the money is there to use!

2 Paying a generous fast offering. When I was in college, President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) taught that the Lord would bless Church members if they were able to double their fast offerings. We thus made it a point, even while students, to pay more than the cost of our meals as a fast offering. As our means have increased, we have increased our offerings, and the Lord has abundantly blessed us.

We try to add extra into Fast Offerings each month, though I think we can spare more to add to this for us, but again - what I have isn’t mine. My earning potential, the pay I do earn, these things all came from the Lord!

3 Giving time, talent, and energy toward building the kingdom of God. We have learned that when we are busy in the Lord’s work, losing ourselves in serving others, we have less time to worry about the things we don’t have. Material possessions are seen in the proper perspective.

For example, service greatly minimizes the time we spend watching television, thus limiting the advertisements or shows we view that would make us feel bad about the material things we don’t have. Decreasing our wants makes it easier to avoid debt.

I’ll admit, I can get a bit gruff about helping others. But in my house, we’re always either doing a project around our house or with one our extended families houses. By the end of the day though, I’ll always admit at how good I feel about what I accomplished for our family or someone else’s.

4 Following principles of self-reliance. Producing food in our garden and striving to purchase on-sale items for food storage have allowed us to save greatly on food expenses. This has not only helped us to be more self-reliant, but also allowed us to apply the money we saved toward debt elimination.

PROPHETIC, say it with me. Look around, look at what’s happening. I know, you can’t always grow everything you need in a garden, but we have a small yard and have managed to get a nice little garden box in. We grow beans, peas, spinach, tomatoes, etc to help off set some costs. We also try to use the coupons and base our meals in accordance to what’s on sale.

But I also think there is more here then just food and coupons, self reliance is also good around the home, home repairs, etc. What can you fix on your own that can save you money? We’re putting in a small concrete pad next to our single width driveway (winter parking nightmare) but we’re doing everything but mixing the concrete ourselves, there by saving hundreds of dollars. I’m learning what I can from my father in law on home repairs and DYI things around the house too.

5 Cultivating gratitude. Reflecting on the multitude of blessings we enjoy and thanking Heavenly Father for them allows us to focus on that which we have rather than on that which we have not. Recognizing all the blessings we have reduces the desire to acquire material possessions.—Robert and Mary Merrill, East Wenatchee First Ward, Wenatchee Washington Stake.

We try to stick to a template for our family prayers - 10 things we’re grateful for. Like I said before, what I have isn’t mine, the Lord provided and the gratitude belongs to him! We’re still working on the material wants, but we make progress. I’m trying to help my oldest understand that the things he wants, he won’t want in a few years (or months). Currently he is into bionicles, but I’m trying to help him understand that his money might be better spent on a tool [leatherman] instead which would last longer and be more useful in the long run.

This isn’t a burden too great for anyone to overcome. In our house we’ve incorporated fasting to help us to know how to live within our means and guidance on methods to do so. We’ve made progress, and we have the Lord to thank for it.