Working together, starting anew, increasing in understanding and grace...a parable

 There once was a boy who enjoyed playing a cooperative map board game, sometimes with his father (who loved him a lot), sometimes with his older brother, and other times alone.

As he played the game, he learned, over time, which choices would get him (them) closer to where he, and the other person playing wanted to be.  And they would keep track of their progress, especially writing down what they learned about how to navigate this game...why? because it was a really interesting game and they loved spending time together.

Furthermore, this wasn't a "get there as fast as you can" game, it was much more like a "learn lots of stuff while you tackle a challenge" sort of game. 

It was a game that could stretch over days or weeks or more if you wished, and the players would keep track of their progress, -- especially remembering to write down what they learned about how to navigate the game.

There was one other thing: You can't play a game all day and all night non-stop, and every once in a while they were otherwise occupied, someone would come along and change the board!

After a long time the son came to his father and said, "Back when we started this game, I didn't know as much as I do now, and if I had known, we would be much farther along in the game."

"You're right", responded his father "You have learned a lot about how to see what the better paths are and how to avoid following into some of the traps.

"How about we start over.  With what you've learned so far it might be enjoyable to see what a difference all you have learned makes."

And his father was right.  In this game, starting over didn't include going all the way back to the starting line.  It meant starting anew where you were, but with a lot more experience than the last time.  And that felt pretty good.

Sometimes he would invite a friend to play the game.  Some of them enjoyed it. Others said things like "I hate this game! It's always changing and it's impossible to win!"

But this boy knew that it wasn't a winning game, it was a cooperative game--where learning and growing and understanding increase as you work together with a really wise older brother, who is full of grace (ready willingness to assist) and always spoke the truth, and an amazing father who loves you more than you can imagine and who knows all the answers to your questions as you navigate the board together.

Remembering to consider my priorities, words and actions "that all may be benefitted"

 I read this today in a talk given by Robert D. Hales (citation below). It caused some personal reviewing of my personal priorities in life.

"In section 46 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we are told to

"'beware lest ye are deceived; . . . seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;' (verse 8)

"'For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, . . . that all may be benefited '. . . . (verse 9)

"In June of 1965, a group of brethren in the Physical Facilities Department of the Church was doing some work outside the Hotel Utah apartment of President David O. McKay. As President McKay stopped to explain to them the importance of the work in which they were engaged, he paused and told them the following:

"'Let me assure you, Brethren, that some day you will have a personal priesthood interview with the Savior, Himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.

"'First, He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. Have you actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?

"'Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child.

"'Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.

"'Fourth, He will want a summary of your activity in your Church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had, for in his eyes the home teacher and a mission president are probably equals, but He will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellowmen in your Church assignments.

"'Fifth, He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings.

"'Sixth, He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, state, country and the world.'

[From Notes of Fred A. Baker, Managing Director, Department of Physical Facilities]

"May we be able to meet these tests with affirmative answers and receive a loving welcome home from the Lord, who we hope will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

"It is my fervent desire that each of us will use our God-given intelligence to gain the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in our hearts to meet life’s tests and trials and to endure to the end. May each of us use our gifts and talents to protect, love, and lift others in a caring way..."

Excerpt from

"Understandings of the Heart"

Robert D. Hales

BYU Devotional

15 March 1988

Considering stewardship and personal accumulation

 Luke 3:10-11 

"And the people asked him [John the Baptist], saying, What shall we do then?

"He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."

John tells them to be generous. He tells them to give away excess possessions; to start decluttering and giving, and to simplify, so that others will have what they need.

Notice that this is more than just one of ten shirts, it's one of two. There is some personal sacrifice involved in order to bless someone else.

Later, in 2nd Corinthians, chapter 8, 12-15, Paul writes about such generosity, and about the consideration that is part of the determination as to how much to give to others in need:

"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

"For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

"But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

"As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack."

It seems to be a choosing to provide instead of to simply accumulate.  It is providing resources and tools where they may be needed instead of accumulating them.

How to personally decide a wise way to do that?  In chapter 9: 7-8, he writes 

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

"And God is able to make all grace (His ready willingness to help) abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"

The decision is made personally and freely with your heart, implying personal counsel with the Lord as to the wise use, or the making available, of those extra things with which he has blessed us. It is about our personal stewardship

This isn't tithing. This is free-will, generosity; contributions of items or assets (to individuals or to organizations that provide access to things that others are in need of) that is inspired by personal revelation that we receive as we counsel with the Lord about the divine stewardship over the things (stuff) we have have acquired or that we have individually been given.

The challenge, in this modern age, is to avoid using our stewardship to acquire and keep extra things, and, also, when we find that we have done so, (it's part of our consumer culture) to actually take the time to seek revelation as to what are the ways to provide those things to others in need, in order to bless.

A sobering study.

 The effect of cell phones on memory and cognition

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/691462

The abstract from the report on this study:

Abstract

Our smartphones enable—and encourage—constant connection to information, entertainment, and each other. They put the world at our fingertips, and rarely leave our sides. Although these devices have immense potential to improve welfare, their persistent presence may come at a cognitive cost. In this research, we test the “brain drain” hypothesis that the mere presence of one’s own smartphone may occupy limited-capacity cognitive resources, thereby leaving fewer resources available for other tasks and undercutting cognitive performance. Results from two experiments indicate that even when people are successful at maintaining sustained attention—as when avoiding the temptation to check their phones—the mere presence of these devices reduces available cognitive capacity. Moreover, these cognitive costs are highest for those highest in smartphone dependence. We conclude by discussing the practical implications of this smartphone-induced brain drain for consumer decision-making and consumer welfare.

The whole report is definitely worth reading.

And those who keep their second estate…. (Abraham 3:26)

 Websters 1820 dictionary has multiple pertinent examples of the meaning of the word "keep", of course.

This use of the word in the book of Genesis struck me:

"And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it." Genesis 2:15.

Here, in this verse, keeping the garden meant taking care of it, helping it to flourish.

Keeping can also mean diligence in the tasks one is given: "There were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night".

It can also mean protecting, as a goal keeper helps his teammates to prevail as he prevents the opposition from kicking the soccer ball into the goal he guards.

So today, with those meanings in my mind, I am thinking about what "keeping" this second estate means. Not just asking myself if I am personally "obeying, or 'keeping' the commandments", but instead...

Am I responding and/or caring for others; to help them to flourish and to bloom?

Am I diligent and committed to God's work and the watchcare over others and their needs that He has given me to do?

Am I acting on the responsibility given to me to assist other disciples who depend upon me in our mutual work of faith and hope towards God and charity towards others, and doing so both by

a) seeking to prevent damage by those who, with hate or fear or insecurity in their hearts, actively fight against that work

and also by

b) assisting my fellow disciples in our mutual efforts to be engaged, together, in the work He has given us to do?

Good for me to consider today.

Worry is fear spread thin

“Worry is fear spread thin.”  ~Bruce Chalmers
“God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  ~Timothy
“Love casts out fear” ~ John

A friend asked me what enables me, personally, to maintain supportive, peaceful, mutual, relationships with people who are dear and/or important to me, regardless of changes that result from personal differences in our opinions, purpose, or worldviews, or life choices.  It made me stop and reflect for a for a bit.

I think that one of the reasons that dear relationships falter when the individuals involved chose different points of view on issues that are important to them is the introduction of fear into the equation: fear of what may happen as a result of the other person's decisions, fear for their salvation, fear in the face of our inability to be able to help or guide them, fear that they will suffer negative consequences, etc. That fear is most commonly manifested as worry or anxious concern. 

Bruce Chalmers wrote that “worry is fear spread thin”.

David O. Mckay said that worry (fear spread thin) is one of four things that makes receiving personal revelation difficult.

(The others were jealousy, avarice, and self-indulgence).

My job is to love and receive divine revelation as to how to bless. Worry makes that much harder to do. 

It is possible, I have found, to hand those feelings of worry/concern to God in prayer, and that He will take them if I am willing to give up the adrenaline rush and consuming sense of  urgency that feels so important to me at the time.

And yes, when I do that, the revelation comes along, accompanied by increased trust in Him and peace within.

Constitution prayer in times of persecution...

It is interesting to me to read some of the words of a prayer written by Joseph Smith during a time of violent persecution of newcomers that was ignored by the federal government and even encouraged by some state and local politicians:

"Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever."

Though always appreciative, I have never been a gung-ho worshipper of the Constitution. But certainly these days my gratitude for it has exponentially increased. 

And how does praying for mercy upon government officials who are ignoring or justifying persecution fit into all of this?