Musings of the Kevin

Tag: Spirituality

  • The Difficult Trail to Truth

    The Difficult Trail to Truth

    Corinthians 10:13, states that “… God … will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able …” – I hear this verse oft quoted by well meaning friends and family. They say that we will not be given burdens greater than we can carry. Too many forget the rest of this particular verse; “… with the temptation [will] also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

    Too many make the mistake of of assigning responsibility for ailments, burdens, or crises in life directly to a loving Father in heaven. A Father who, in being all-knowing, is mistakenly blamed for adversity simply because He knows it’s coming.

    I’m not implying that He doesn’t place difficult challenges in our path for the expressed purpose of our eternal growth, but I’m saying that many things that happen to us are wrongfully attributed to Him. Many things resulting from our choices, the choices of others, or simply mortality are assumed to be burdens divinely sent from above.

    We also assume that we’re expected to carry these burdens alone. Galatians 6:5 clearly says as much, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” Context however is important. The verses before and after in Galatians and in Proverbs 9:12 clearly indicate that we have a choice and that being Christ-like involves carrying each other’s burdens. Accepting the help of others, recognizing the hand of the Lord in preparing us for future events, and recognizing past life events that strengthened us for this day are all equivalent to reaching out to Him, for “… His hand is stretched out still.”

    By knowing what lies ahead of us; either due to a challenge of our own making, due to the agency of another, or due to His divine purpose; He provides help along the way. Many times this help is provided in advance of the crisis – friends to help support in the time of need, skills allowing us to resolve the issue, or strength simply to endure – all intended as mitigations to carry us through.

    His intent may not be that the burden is “easy” to bear in human terms – ease doesn’t lead to strength and growth – but His intent is likely to provide the opportunity for us to faithfully endure.

    Recognizing His hand in adversity is a challenge. Our hearts, minds, and bodies are too frequently so overwhelmed by our current crisis that we may not see His hand. In these times, we may even simply struggle to believe that He could help.

    My advice; from the depths of doubt, discouragement and despair, ask your questions and dare to believe. Share your hurt. Dare to believe that even you can receive an answer.

    This belief will lead to hope.

    This hope will lead to faith.

    Faith will lead to trust.

    Trust will lead to truth.

    That truth? That His hand is stretched out still. Always. Even for you.

  • Choosing to Be of Good Cheer

    Choosing to Be of Good Cheer

    We are, or at least should be, a people of vision and faith.

    President Eyring, in the October 2017 General Conference shared that “it takes faith to believe that the resurrected Lord is watching over the daily details of His kingdom. It takes faith to believe that He calls imperfect people into positions of trust. It takes faith to believe that He knows the people He calls perfectly, both their capacities and their potential, and so makes no mistakes in His calls.”

    Though referencing Church callings, this same guidance is more than appropriate for the less formal callings we receive in day-to-day life such as as mother, father, son, daughter, friend, and so on…possibly even asking ourselves whether or not we’ve been called into the world into the right time or the right place.

    I currently work in shipbuilding and maintenance. Nimitz Class aircraft carriers, one of the most complex pieces of machinery ever designed by man, were designed before I was born. With the technology of the day they certainly had an idea about what the ship would ultimately look like but not necessarily what it would look like at each interim stage of construction. In other words, they had final drawings but not a drawing for every conceivable intermediate stage of construction. During construction, I’m sure they uncovered issues for which they hadn’t explicitly planned. Regardless, they knew what the final product was supposed to look like and what it was supposed to do so they could, with that vision in mind, develop solutions to satisfy the end goal. The “goal” was not to solve the particular problem of the day but to build a warship.

    The point I’m attempting to make is that for tasks or trials so complex we must maintain a vision of the end goal while dealing with routine, or not so routine, challenges be they small or large, simple or serious. Dealing with or solving daily trials and challenges isn’t and shouldn’t be the actual goal. If we spend our lives reveling in problem solving then we may just miss the point.

    In this comparison there are parallels with the Plan of Salvation. When we live our lives with a Christ centered focus, we are looking forward to the end goal, to be like Him. When we lose ourselves in day-to-day trials, we may come to feel buried beyond the hope of rescue or possibly even numbed to the point of not feeling at all.

    Manufacturers building parts for a ship may not know all the details of the final ship design. Regardless they design their parts against standards that will ensure the final component will fit in the space provided and perform the function for which it’s intended. They know the functionality that they provide will support the ultimate mission of the ship. This is not really that much different than the guidance, or “specifications,” we get from the Scriptures telling us how to best live our lives and truly become more Christ-like.

    In our lives, today, we should be working to ensure we’re meeting the “specifications” to ensure that we will fit in the final design which the Lord has envisioned. We may not be able to see right now how or where we will fit but the Scriptures provide all we need to know about the functionality we should provide.

    As ships age, and for aircraft carriers this is a 50 year life-cycle, new technologies emerge, new threats emerge, and we are able to then take the original design and adapt it to perform functions that were not previously envisioned by its designers. Knowing and understanding the scriptural “specifications” can allow us to be molded by our Creator who, in difference to ship designers, actually does know what we each individually need to meet our ultimate design.

    As we move through our lives, we’ll face trials and challenges. Some divinely inspired, some a result of our own actions, and some a result of the actions and agency of others. Regardless of the source, we cannot allow ourselves to become so lost in the struggle that it’s all we see. We’re counseled to fast, pray, and read the Scriptures because those are the things that will help us to see, and hopefully have a vision of, the real goal. We’re counseled to serve one another because it allows us to see ourselves as He sees us.

    Each day we change. Each day we learn more about ourselves. The world around us also changes and the Lord gives us experience and help so that we have what we need to become what He knows we already are…children of an immortal and eternal Father in Heaven.

    Regardless of the challenges we face each day, our goal should be the same; to try and see what He sees in us and others – to support one another along the journey of life – to care for one another.

    Depression, anger, and frustration are all feelings that can result from seeing solutions to life’s problems as finish lines vice refining steps along the path. We shouldn’t ever feel that we are just one or two decisions away from an “easy” life. If we do, we will quickly find disappointment and despair. We are here to be tried and challenged and that really isn’t a bad thing.

    In the most recent General Conference, Elder Christofferson shared that “It is challenging but vital to remain firm and steadfast when we find ourselves being refined “in the furnace of affliction,” something that comes soon or late to all of us in mortality. Without God, these dark experiences tend to despondency, despair, and even bitterness. With God, comfort replaces pain, peace replaces turmoil, and hope replaces sorrow. Remaining firm in the faith of Christ will bring His sustaining grace and support. He will convert trial into blessing and, in Isaiah’s words, “give … beauty for ashes.””

    In this week’s “Come Follow Me” lesson, President Ezra Taft Benson teaches that “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson [2014], 42). Adapting a comment commonly attributed to Michelangelo; the Master Sculptor, in this case referring to our Father in Heaven, is regularly chipping away the unnecessary stone to reveal the work of art that is already present within the stone – within each of us. We need to have faith enough to be obedient and let Him do it.

    A few days ago, Elder Rasband in a devotional for Church Educational System (CES) leaders, stated that “The Lord lifts His servants, telling them to be of “good cheer.”  To be of good cheer is to trust Him when things don’t work as we planned,” he said. “It means to soldier on when difficult twists take us in unexpected directions, when tragedy and hardship shatter our dreams.”

    Make a choice to be of “good cheer” and trust the Lord in the face of adversity and trial. He may not solve the problem for you. He may not give you what you want. He will however give you what you need.

  • Jerry Is My Friend

    Jerry Is My Friend

    I will miss Jerry; in a world where so many give up and give in so quickly, his “I can do it” mentality was a refreshing contrast. Things didn’t always work out the way he wanted but he didn’t give up often or easily. He tried to do all he could and then some…and he wasn’t shy about bringing others along with him either. That was one of his incredible strengths.

    Jerry had hope in a better future; that the things he did or didn’t do in this life had an impact on whatever came next. He didn’t come to this understanding right away but a lifetime of experience gave him a testimony that it was so. Learning from his example, we should have faith and also believe in the hope of a better future. Our futures lead ultimately to a glorious resurrection, our spirits restored to our bodies never again to be separated.

    As we study and ponder that which the Lord would have us do, it’s vitally important that we consider the context of divine guidance we’re given; the simple fact that He sees us as we truly are. He doesn’t see us with mortal earthly eyes as we see ourselves. He doesn’t see the flaws and the physical limitations. He doesn’t see our bad attitudes and scowls. He knows, without doubt, what we are truly capable of becoming because he can see it now, today, in each of us.

    Our life, our purpose; it’s all about learning to see what He sees and not limiting our vision to mere earthly perspective. We need to change and grow to the potential the Lord sees in us. We have to overcome the limitations we see in ourselves as well as limitations others may choose to see or impose on us. We need to strive to see what Christ sees. In ourselves and each other.

    The Gospel leads us to this concept of change, a concept we too often misinterpret as learning to “act” differently, but the real message is simply genuine and sincere change. The daily “acts” we perform should inspire us to transform ourselves and turn our wills to the Lord. We all have the capability to change but the process isn’t really the same for any of us. It will be easier for some and that’s okay. None of us walk the same path.

    I have no doubt that, in advance of his coming to earth, Jerry had a vision of what he wanted to achieve. He knew in that prior life that his earthly life was going to have challenges. He had a vote and he chose to come here and live the life he was given. Knowing the cost, the pain, and the suffering, he still came.

    He knew there was to be great joy as well.

    He came with a vision of a new day, a new glorious day. A day when his eternal spirit would reunite with his body and he would be raised to eternal life with his family. He knew it would take perseverance, endurance, and faith to achieve. He knew it would be a marathon and not a sprint.

    Day-to-day we can get so wrapped up in worrying about what we think the Lord intends for us, trying to find some “perfect” path, so much so that we might not realize just how much our simple decisions matter. We really need to worry less about choosing the “perfect” path and simply choose what we think is right in each moment we’re given. The Lord doesn’t orchestrate one single perfect path for us. He holds agency very dear and he’s not going to override our agency in order to make only one decision, or one path, right for us and our future.

    In some ways Jerry walked a very rough path. He questioned sometimes where he was on his path but kept moving forward. He just kept making the best decisions he could, right or wrong, given the circumstances and, when not right, he’d reset and move forward again. The Lord certainly knows the path we’ll each take but He forces us down no specific path.

    With prayer and faith, we can be successful and we can overcome hardships. As with Jerry, the hardships we face may not always be overcome in this life but we can ultimately overcome them through the Atonement. Even so, we are all blessed with the capability to be happy in our given circumstances; here, today. We can do it. I think Jerry did it.

    As mortal beings we are fixed in single moments, the Lord is not. He sees us in the limitless frame of eternity. The miracle of forgiveness leads us to an infinite Atonement that allows a lifetime of imperfect steps to lead us to a perfected eternal life with our Father in Heaven. If we commit ourselves to do so, we each have the capability to walk a path that leads us home. We do not and will never travel the path alone.

    On Jerry’s path, as with all of us, many things didn’t work out perfectly; but many did. He tried to be happy with what he was given and with what he accomplished. We each are celestial beings with divine heritage and, as far as I’m concerned, Jerry embodied that; not because he was any more or less perfect than the rest of us, but because he kept trying despite things that didn’t go the way he wanted them to. Even though his physical condition continued to deteriorate, he kept doing everything he could until he couldn’t.

    Too often, many of us give in at early signs of resistance and that just wasn’t Jerry’s way. Jerry is and has been a good friend and he’s set an example that I would like to emulate. I have no doubt that he’s already hard at work preparing for that wonderful day when we will all see one another again.

  • Belief Should Lead To Action

    Belief Should Lead To Action

    As mortal beings, we frequently define “living” in terms of death or infirmity. We too often measure our progress, position or condition based on what we don’t have or what we’ve lost. I have little doubt at this point in my life that part of my journey here on earth is to come to grips with death, infirmity, and loss. I suppose I’m not the only one but, still, it’s taken me a while to realize this. Like you, I’ve lost people I love; great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and friends far too early in their lives. With little doubt, for me, the loss of my mother was the worst. Anger kept me from church for quite a while; frankly, just because “it wasn’t fair.”

    In dealing with grief, I and most others go through a series of stages; shock, denial, pain, guilt, anger, depression, acceptance and hope. We grieve, we mourn, we anger and then eventually hope to go on. Not everyone follows the same path of course, we’re all different in some ways, but generally we grieve a loss, possibly anger that it came to pass, and are ultimately challenged to understand some sort of purpose in it. In a much, much lesser way we go through the same sequence when we’ve worked real hard for something and it just doesn’t work out the way we wanted it to work out.

    When discussing life itself, humans understand it in terms of blood, heartbeat, and breath. We also throw around phrases like “quality of life” as we move down the path as some sort of ambiguous measurement of how we’re doing. This narrow view of life overrides what should be a personal sense of divine heritage. We frequently forget that we were alive before we came to earth and will yet be alive after we leave. We are immortal beings. And yet, even with this revealed truth, many times, we struggle to find some sort of purpose in events that happen around us and we continue to struggle with death and loss.

    Despite what some in society believe, our mortal lives and subsequent mortal death lead us to immortal life. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, taught us this and has shown us through His own example. How or when we die in this life is far less significant than who we become before we die. Will we seek out all truth available to us? Will we abide by truth we’ve already been given? Are we prepared or at least actively preparing to live in celestial glory?

    Jesus taught that “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil…” He continued with, “why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:45-46) Two takeaways; 1) what are the fruits of our labors and 2) if we say we have faith and are numbered with the believers then do our actions reflect such?

    During this life we learn about, and hopefully accept, covenants ultimately leading not just to immortal life but to eternal life with our Heavenly Father. These covenants lead to the binding together of eternal families, ensuring family ties established here on earth remain in effect throughout eternity. In accepting these covenants we learn of our eternal heritage, the nature of man, the plan of happiness, the miracle of forgiveness, and the true purpose of life. Based on the truths we learn, we should be continually preparing ourselves to live in celestial glory, preparation demonstrated regularly through good and faithful works. Far too frequently, however, we’re less committed to the truth than we should be and we settle for far less. We are very quick to excuse our own behavior rather than correct it. We “set aside” our Divine potential for things of the world worth far less.

    For thousands of years Prophets foretold of Christ. We read many examples of this in the standard works and, though many did believe, many also did not and rejected the truth. In this “enlightened” age it’s fairly obvious that many still don’t believe. Where do you stand? Simply being present in church doesn’t testify of belief. How we live our lives day-to-day is what really testifies of our belief. Each day as we kneel to thank the Lord for another day, we must choose to believe the living Christ and abide His teachings. Note the distinction, I said believe Him, I didn’t say believe “in” Him. In consciously making the choice to believe what He tells us, will we next follow through and act on His counsel? Do we seek to understand His teachings with our hearts and believe them and act on them or do we maintain that merely an academic study will suffice? Hopefully, it’s understood that an academic study of scripture will not lead any of us to the living Christ. It may point us in His general direction but much more is required to make it safely along the “straight and narrow path” leading to the Tree of Life.

    Consider again the term “living.” In human terms, a living document is something that changes and is not in a final state. I’ve already mentioned human understanding regarding “biological life” related to physical processes of the body. The celestial version of living is not fleeting nor is it tied to human understanding of the word. Life is everlasting. When we refer to the “living” Christ we must deliberately acknowledge a deeper meaning of the word.

    Both inside and outside the Church, many go through mortal life barely acknowledging His presence. When the time comes, we will all ultimately discover that He frequently carried us through painful and difficult times all throughout our lives. While it’s true that the faithful are promised that they may indeed see Him face-to-face in this life, generally, that will not be the case, especially considering that we don’t frequently enough acknowledge His involvement in our everyday lives. However, if we look and remain watchful, we may see His countenance in the face of others through the day. Though we may not feel the touch of His hand on our shoulders as we struggle through the day, we will feel His comforting influence through family and friends who help us. Jesus Christ is the source of all goodness and all truth.

    Speaking from personal experience, some seem to go through life allowing themselves to “feel” less and less, as if feeling or really connecting to the world makes them less capable or too soft. They miss opportunities to recognize the Savior through the day because of whatever “important work” they’re involved in, seemingly failing to recognize that acknowledgment of the hand of the Lord in day-to-day life does nothing but add value to their efforts regardless of whether or not it’s related to church activities. Contrary to popular opinion, even in our regular day-to-day lives, faith and hope in the Savior of the world is not a sign of weakness.

    Others still, seemingly allowing themselves to “feel” and “connect” more with those around them, remain so busy that they fly right by opportunities to witness the living Christ. Some essentially go into spiritual and emotional seclusion working on little projects, completely missing opportunities for face-to-face companionship and exposure to miracles happening around them each and every day.

    Nephi, in speaking with his brothers said that (1 Nephi 17:45-46) “Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; … why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?”

    Whether male or female, introvert or extrovert, we cannot allow ourselves to be or become past feeling. We cannot allow ourselves to become so distracted that we miss out on making connections with our fellow travelers along the path of life. We should always allow ourselves “to mourn with those that mourn; … comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death, that [we] may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that [we] may have eternal life” (Mosiah 18:9). Jesus Christ showed us how to care and how to connect. Our hearts and their openness and receptiveness to promptings from the living Christ are essential to our success in this life and the next.

    Taking into account the various perspectives of life and death already mentioned, we should consider Easter a time of renewal. As we study the New Testament, we should take time to pause, open our hearts and really feel the impressions the writers intended to share. I know that their effort to preserve records of the life of Christ was not merely an academic exercise. Through their writings we can read of His acts of service. We can gain our own vision of this man from Galilee who changed the world forever. His actions serve as a guide for our actions, each and every day. As we reflect during this special season we should feel hope and not despair, excitement and not dread, for we are here in this time, in this age, exactly when and where we’re supposed to be.

    We should certainly acknowledge that Christ suffered at Gethsemane for our sins. We should also recognize that, when Christ experienced mortal death, he was fully prepared for His role as the Savior of the world. He had done all things necessary for His preparation. There was no randomness in the event, it was foretold and He knew. We need to spend little, if any, time wondering how it was done and spend much more time rejoicing that it was done. We should do more, even all we can, to become like Him. Easter should be a joyous occasion during which we focus on Christ’s victory with full acknowledgment of the price.

    We also need to acknowledge the opportunities His death and resurrection provide to us. Christ’s victory enables our victory, He put choice within our grasp. Easter is a time of hope and, though He suffered in ways we cannot imagine, through His experience He knows how to succor us. He can and will carry us through to the dawn of a brighter day if we allow Him to do so. That said, make a commitment to rise above any adversity in your life. Make the choice to be faithful. Make the choice to be believing. Make the choice to look beyond simple academic study of scripture and truly feel His presence. True belief should lead us to action.

    Christ doesn’t change. Today, He is that same person that we read about in the scriptures. Sure, we may have a variety of doubts from time to time, after all, it’s the forgetfulness, the veil, that really tests our faith. That said, as we continue down the path of mortal life each day, we need to realize that mortal death is just the doorway to eternal life. Jesus Christ experienced this for Himself and walked the path ahead of us. We should not be fearful of days ahead. Fear of the future will do nothing but interfere with receiving divine inspiration. We must believe and trust Jesus Christ.

    Our commitment to the truth will lead to understanding allowing us to live good lives here on earth and preparing us for celestial glory awaiting just around the corner. Have faith. If you must, today, begin with simply desiring it to be true. Allow your desire to lead you to genuine hope and faith. Allow that hope and faith to lead you to confidence in all things that are true. Christ showed us the way. He showed us that, through His sacrifice and by following His example, we too can be happy both here on earth and in the celestial kingdom with our Heavenly Father.

    Christ Lives. I don’t doubt this. That said, I certainly don’t feel I exercise nearly enough faith on a consistent basis where I allow it to actually change my life. However, I still try to do a little bit better each day than I did the day before. Jesus Christ lives today just as much as yesterday or even 2000 years ago. He lives and will not leave us to stand alone as long as we keep trying to do our best and stay near to Him.

  • An Open Challenge for 2016

    An Open Challenge for 2016

    For this new year, I’m posting an open challenge to family and friends. It will likely take you out of your comfort zone but I’m going to throw it out there anyway. My feelings will not be hurt, I will not be forever scarred, nor will our friendship suffer in any way if you disregard the challenge.

    I’m sure that most of you know I’m a Latter-day Saint, commonly known as a “Mormon” in the general media. Yes, I only have one wife and no, I don’t drink alcohol, coffee or tea. You all should already know me so you should also be aware that I generally speak my mind and rarely go along with the crowd on just about anything. That said, my faith is, in fact, very important to me and I would like to offer you an opportunity to learn more about it.

    In 2016, I ask you to reach out to the Latter-day Saint missionaries and invite them over to your house. There’s a series of lessons, in total no more than 6-8 hours or so, spread out as long as you would like be it days, weeks or months. The lessons are presented by young men and young women who spend 18-24 months away from home spreading the Gospel message on their own dime. Really listen to the lessons and take time to consider the messages. There’s no obligation to attend church and no obligation to have them back once the lessons are done. At the end, if you never want to see them again then tell them so and they will not come back.

    For those family and friends who are already Latter-day Saints, at a minimum, hold regular Family Home Evenings and have regular family prayer throughout 2016. During your Family Home Evenings, mix in some spiritual lessons covering the material taught in the New Member Lessons. Take time to remember those truths taught in Primary that will lead us as eternal families back to our Father in Heaven and focus less on the distractions that we allow to be thrown in our path.

    We are sent here to Earth to be happy, not only in the life to come but also today. The media would certainly try and convince you otherwise. Face it; drama, disaster, violence, and despair draw people in so that’s what you’ll see on the news. Regardless of all the rotten things that happen in the world each and every day, unmeasurable goodness happens as well. We are eternal beings and this life is a but a very small, though very significant, part of our existence.

    It may sound funny to some but I know why I’m here on Earth. I know what’s expected of me and I know where I should be going. I also know that I’m far from perfect and require regular repentance and forgiveness in order to get where I need to go. I would hope that accepting this challenge will help you and your family to know the same things.

    To invite the missionaries to your home and learn more, visit https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist

  • The Eternal Plan

    The Eternal Plan

    Long ago, before the world was, we met with our Father in Heaven to discuss a plan. The plan would send us to earth, allow us to live mortal lives, and prepare us to live for the eternities with our Heavenly Father once this mortal life was complete.

    We all agreed to this plan despite the knowledge that this life would be difficult. There would be trials, pain, sadness and grief but there would also be joy, happiness, and love.  We knew the plan as a plan of happiness and knew that our time on earth would be limited.

    Our Father saw that this plan was right and we fought for the opportunity to come to this earth regardless of the risk.  We knew the conditions in which we would live but we made the conscious choice to come here knowing more importantly what awaited us afterwards.

    Though times can be tough, pain severe, and sadness, loss and grief extreme, the joy we will know in the life to come, and can taste even in this life, makes the journey worth any cost.

    We come here to learn to live a perfect life, a celestial life.  While it’s not possible to actually succeed in living the celestial standard at all times while in this life we should continually work as though it is.  We need to be prepared such that, when our time is up here, we’re ready to continue our journey beyond the bounds of mortal life.

    We come to this earth in families.  Family bonds can and do continue throughout the eternities and this too is part of the Lord’s plan.  Mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters go on and the relationships continue.  The Lord’s plan is for us to build family connections that will extend throughout the eternities.

    Though sadness and challenges, small and great, confront us regularly, the ultimate victory goes to happiness and joy.  The endgame has already been written.