Lessons from the Lord’s Prayers

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Lessons from the Lord’s Prayers, by Elder Russell M. Nelson
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


As a teenager, Brother Boone was my home teaching companion. I loved and looked up to him and his family, and always felt it an honor to be with him. I recall one lesson where we visited a family and discussed the language of prayer (e.g. using Thee, Thou, Thy, and Thine). At this point, I was not well versed in this way of speech. Imagine my concern when I was asked to give the closing prayer.

I really tried my best, but by the end of the prayer, my frustration and mixing of the "right words" were apparent to all. I felt fairly ashamed because I had never really considered the words I used in prayers, nor did I know that some could be used to show utmost respect.

Placing a hand on my knee, Brother Boone quietly said, "It takes some getting used to, but you'll get it soon enough."

This was a turning-point in my life. Prayers became more real; communion more personal. I had been taught, but more importantly, I was encouraged.

I was reminded of this milestone moment when Elder Nelson taught:

We can use “right words”—special pronouns—in reference to Deity. While worldly manners of daily dress and speech are becoming more casual, we have been asked to protect the formal, proper language of prayer. In our prayers we use the respectful pronouns Thee, Thou, Thy, and Thine instead of You, Your, and Yours.

There are many defining moments that make a person who they are. During a usual home teaching visit on a Sunday afternoon, I was taught life-changing lessons from the Lord's prayers, with considerable help of a man who showed me (in many instances) that he saw more in me than I then saw in myself.

I learned that my current home teaching companionship is to dissolve in two days, and that I will be teamed up with a young man who is the age I was when I was assigned to Brother Boone. Without drawing any further comparisons, I'll just say that I appreciate the importance of home teaching—not just in helping the families to whom we are assigned, but in the interaction between home teaching companions as well.

Temple Worship

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need, by Elder Richard G. Scott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


In a stake priesthood meeting three weeks ago, our beloved ward bishop spoke on Zion and the temple. In his remarks, he noted that in the four years that the San Antonio Texas Temple has been in operation, our ward has had 28 youth-, and new convert- temple trips. 28 in four years! With the temple being about 90 minutes away, the figure becomes even more impressive. I imagine that this frequency is higher than what many members who live in the "shadow of a temple" attain.

Elder Scott would agree:

I have seen that many times individuals have made great sacrifices to go to a distant temple. But when a temple is built close by, within a short time, many do not visit it regularly.

Hearing the report of my bishop caused me to wonder how many family temple trips we've taken in the three years we've lived in Texas. I was somewhat surprised to discover that we've had more than thirty (I think it's been 35) such trips! I think our success is because we've been doing what Elder Scott recommends:

Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan.

It's embarrassing to admit that we have more regular (and meaningful) temple worship now that we're removed geographically from a temple than we did when we lived a few minutes away. I like to think that temple worship is in our blood now, and that wherever we end up, we will continue the traditions we've set while living here.

Having temple worship as a central family focus yields some fun results:

• Rebecca asks me to sing I Love to See the Temple (link) to her each night as I tuck her in;
• Each time I ask the children, "Do you know what we're doing tomorrow?" they excitedly guess, "Going to the temple!" Even though they're right about a quarter of the time, they still equate exciting family outings to temple worship;
• In family home evening each week, at least one of the children will give an impromptu talk on temples (while they stand on a little chair behind a bench—our makeshift podium);
  
• When we asked the children what they wanted to do for a family vacation in the past, their answer was to stay at a hotel in San Antonio right by the temple. There was no Disneyland, SeaWorld, or even grandparents to get in their way of choosing the temple;
• Our children know that Mommy and Daddy love the temple and are better parents because we all go to the temple regularly.

This talk was the curriculum for elders quorum last Sunday. We were taught with power on the blessings and strength that come from temple worship. While I cannot relate the deeply personal accounts that were shared, I can state that I'm a different person than I was one week ago because of this lesson. The instructor guessed that many in the quorum would never forget the stories that Elder Scott shared in this talk because of the way they connected with us.

Likewise, I hope to never forget the experiences that were shared last Sunday and the associated resolve that I felt to ensure that I live my life to reflect that the covenants are everything: that I can remember that "when we live righteously and have received the ordinances of the temple, everything else is in the hands of the Lord."

Faith in Adversity

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Faith in Adversity, by Elder Rafael E. Pino
Of the Seventy


Early in our marriage, my wife and I reached a firm agreement. Seeing the loneliness and hardship that our grandparents faced in the long years following the death of their companions, we agreed that we would not die at different times—we want to be together in life and death, and we don't want the latter to happen any time soon! While we know that we have no authority or power to enforce this agreement, it does come up from time to time as we discuss matters.

Elder Pino shared two life-examples that effectively portrayed adversity through the death of loved ones. These are the kind of stories that make me simultaneously wonder how I would respond in a similar situation and hope that I never have to find out.

One of the stories shared a sentiment which may be unique to our faith. After outlining the events surrounding the death of his daughter, the speaker noted:

We now feel that we are much more committed to be faithful to the Lord and endure to the end because we want to be worthy of the blessings that the temple provides in order to see our daughter again. At times we mourn, but we do not mourn as those without hope.

Reacting to the tragedy shared in the other example, the speaker wisely stated:

This was the time to show loyalty to God and to acknowledge that we depend on Him, that His will must be obeyed, and that we are subject to Him.

I think that this attitude is important when we face adversity—any kind of adversity. The key, then, is to recognize and live according to God's will while being true to Him (and ourselves).

I loved the quote of President Hunter that Elder Pino shared:

If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right.

This is reminiscent of President McKay's famous, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home," but it takes it a step further by guaranteeing ultimate success if we have Christ-centered lives.

However, we still need to know that ultimate success is no guarantee of an adversity-free life. After sharing the Savior's example of the wise man who built his house upon a rock, Elder Pino astutely observed:

It is interesting to notice that the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew against both houses! Living the gospel does not mean that we will everlastingly escape adversity. Rather, it means that we will be prepared to face and endure adversity more confidently.

I want to have the preparation, confidence, and trust that whatever adversity may come, I can successfully make it through, emerging on the other side as the kind of person the Lord wants me to be.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by Elder Kevin W. Pearson
Of the Seventy


David and Rebecca awoke fifteen minutes earlier than usual. As I was trying to keep them quiet, I took them to the front of our house to see the darkness of early morning. We lay on our backs looking at the stars and discussing constellations until the topic shifted to faith. Briefly, we had a fun Maxwellian discussion (Maxwellian: of or related to Elder Neal A. Maxwell); Recall:

How many planets are there in the universe with people on them? We don’t know, but we are not alone in the universe! God is not the God of only one planet! (Special Witnesses of Christ, text)

When we were done talking of celestial things (pun intended), we arose and chased each other around playing shadow games—David enjoyed "stapling" my shadow to the ground, rendering me stuck. In this time of free fun, I thought of Elder Pearson's words:

As parents, we have been commanded to teach our children “to understand the doctrine of ... faith in Christ the Son of the living God” (D&C 68:25). This requires more than merely recognizing faith as a gospel principle. ... True faith must be centered in Jesus Christ. ... It requires us to do, not merely to believe.

The scripture referenced states that if parents don't teach their children to understand—not just know—then the "sin be upon the heads of the parents." I take this charge seriously, but I often wonder how I'm doing.

In discussing gifts of the Spirit last Sunday, someone noted that there quite the difference between teaching knowledge and teaching wisdom. To me, this is akin to the difference between teaching children to know, and teaching children to understand.

Wondering if our children are understanding, I asked, "David, do you think that Mommy and I really believe in Jesus?" I was reassured when he answered that, yes, he did, and that the reason why is because we're all trying to be like Jesus (which happens to be one of his favorite songs, link).

As happy as his observation made me, I know that I'm not done. As with Elder Pearson:

I acknowledge my own need and desire for greater faith as a disciple and witness of Christ. There has never been a greater need for faith in my own life than now.

As I strive to have more faith, and a more faith-centered life, I hope to keep in mind his instruction:

If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient. When we teach our children by example or precept to be casual or situational in obeying God’s commandments, we prevent them from receiving this vital spiritual gift. Faith requires an attitude of exact obedience, even in the small, simple things.

I seem to be returning frequently to the concept of exact obedience; I'll take that as a not-too-subtle message. I'm reminded, also, of Elder Christofferson's comment that faith can bring about important things as we "defend the truth of Jesus Christ against moral relativism and militant atheism." I hope that I'm not being relativistic in my obedience—that I'm not being "casual or situational."

If it's true that "we get what we focus on consistently," then I need to ensure that I have a Christ-focused life. Only then will I ultimately realize my objective, like in the song I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus.

Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children, by Elder Quentin L. Cook
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I came upon an interesting online discussion related to a video hosted by a Christian video service (similar to YouTube). The contributors were discussing the beliefs and motivation of atheists and agnostics, but I think they were fairly off base. For example, many of the posters expressed the attitude that not believing in God frees a person of any (and all) goodness, morals, and sense of right and wrong. In fact, some even went so far as to say that if they weren't believers, then they would live lives of the worst kinds of sins. A few seemed to even wish they could "be bad" without any guilt stemming from their knowledge.

Obviously, the caricature of humanity portrays by these supposed-Christians is generally false: People are inherently good, but we react to our upbringing, experiences, and teachings.

Reading the video comments helped me to consider seriously my own motivation for the things I do. Am I motivated by guilt? Do I seek after rewards (e.g. recognition, fame, money)? Or, am I moved by something higher?

While the true answer may be, at times, a combination, I hope that my main motivation is the quest for a more excellent way (see 1 Cor. 12:31).

Just as the vloggers had an incorrect view of non-believers, non-believers may have similarly unfounded views of us:

Nonbelievers find it hard to accept the miracles of the Old and New Testaments and the Savior’s virgin birth and Resurrection. They view these events with the same skepticism as the appearance of God the Father and Jesus Christ to the Prophet Joseph Smith. They are not open to the possibility of a heavenly plan presided over by a supreme being.

Elder Cook discusses salvation through the lens of damnation. In particular, he contrasts our beliefs of a "more liberal salvation for the family of man" with "incorrect doctrine that most of mankind [will] be doomed to hell," the latter being regularly taught, apparently, by many other faiths. Perhaps as a reaction to ages of being regularly condemned to hell by Christians, an atheist group launched a bus ad campaign in London, which Elder Cook mentioned. (I, myself, may have reacted similarly with "militant atheism," as Elder Christofferson termed, if I felt spiritually oppressed by others.) A counter-movement ensued. Images of both follow:

Elder Cook rightly stated that his "principal concern is for the honorable people on the earth who are open to religious faith but have been discouraged or confused by incorrect doctrine." How can we avoid clashes with those of differing faiths? I think the answer is encapsulated in his earlier words:

Because of the uplifting doctrine of the Restoration, members rejoice in the gospel and find joy and satisfaction in the Church. We are viewed favorably when we live the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. When members don’t live the teachings, it can be a stumbling block to those who do not belong to the Church.

This answer is amazing in its simple obviousness, but it might easily be overlooked as we all try to live our lives. I'm reminded of two examples of this: Matt. 5:14-16, where the things we do can positively influence others; and Alma 39:11, where the actions of a missionary frustrated the progression of a whole people.

Elder Cook quoted President Hinckley:

Live with respect and appreciation for those not of our faith. There is so great a need for civility and mutual respect among those of differing beliefs and philosophies.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are frequently criticized for believing that their exaltation is influenced by the things they choose to do. Perhaps what I need to more fully realize is that my actions also influence the salvation of others.

Elder Cook sums up his message, including a quote of Orson F. Whitney:

A loving Father has provided a comprehensive and compassionate plan for His children “that saves the living, redeems the dead, rescues the damned, and glorifies all who repent.” Even though our journey may be fraught with tribulation, the destination is truly glorious.