Waiting upon the Lord

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done, by Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


Last night, my wife and I did something that we don't usually do: we had a complain session.

While we weren't complaining about each other or our children (too much), we were comparing the things we loved about previous places we've lived to a few things that we find lacking where we are now. (Please note that there were genuine moments of pure gratitude among the venting.)

As I write this, I'm reminded of something attributed to Elder Neal A. Maxwell:

Letting off steam always produces more heat than light.

Sure, it may not have been the best thing to do, but we both seemed resolved at the end of our discussion to do more to make our current situation better.

And I'm hopeful that we can.

I'm thinking about these complaints (not quite murmurings) because of what I read in Elder Hales' talk about waiting upon the Lord in our trials. He taught that we won't always understand our challenges, but counseled us to "wait upon the Lord."

What, then, does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.

Wait means hope.

I don't know about you, but now when I hear HOPE, I'm reminded of the 2008 US presidential election. (Stay with me here) While the style of the tri-colored picture of Barack Obama is now often used in pejorative or comical ways, there was a time when it really did inspire hope.


That was then.

Now that hope is all but dead. That is, if you listen only to critics of President Obama.

However, if you listen to others, you'll hear of economic growth, lowering unemployment numbers, stock values, etc. These factors indicate that the original hope may have been well-founded after all. So long as you didn't hope for a unicorn-riding President Obama to slide down a rainbow and erase the effects of all of your personal bad decisions.


If you were looking for the POTUS-unicorn, consider the above image as fulfillment of your hope. (Or you can ride a unicorn yourself, here.)

Without making any direct comparison between President Obama and the Lord whom we're supposed to wait upon, I submit that it's important to listen to sources that you can trust.

Regarding trust, I trust Elder Hales. Here's a bit of his talk that I found comforting as I'm now trying to improve things that seem lacking in my life (the things discussed in last night's complain session):

Every one of us is more beloved to the Lord than we can possibly understand or imagine. Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves.

In this post I mentioned a political figure that I support. If you agree with me, hooray! If not, that's fine. Regardless, here's something I hope we can agree with Elder Hales on:

I bear my special witness that our Savior’s promise is true, for He says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

If I ever find myself getting impatient with waiting for certain things to change, I want to remember that the word wait can mean HOPE, and that I know someone worthy of all the hope there is.

(I was talking about Christ there at the end.)

A Witness

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

A Witness, by Henry B. Eyring
First Counselor in the First Presidency


In my last post, I wrote of being alone and standing alone (and there is a difference). This morning as I sat alone in my office, I received a call from my wife at home. With what seemed like sunshine pouring out of the phone, she happily told me of the great fun she and the children had had that morning reading from the Book of Mormon. I wished I had been there.

Around the breakfast table, my family reads from the Book of Mormon each school day. Taped to the wall is a chart which has one circle for each chapter in the Book of Mormon. My family is now pushing through the "Isaiah chapters" near the beginning of the book, and the children were ecstatic that they had read two whole chapters!


You may have guessed already what my wife said next: One of the chapters was only four verses long!

After the conversation was over, I sat for a moment with a smile on my face. I wondered if how excited I get after scripture reading.

When I come home from work, family members are sometimes worn out and tired after a full day; in the morning, everyone's fresh and excited—even about reading two chapters! Too often I focus on little difficulties of the afternoon and forget the joy of the morning. I think something President Eyring applies here:

The Book of Mormon is the best guide to learn how well we are doing and how to do better.

When I read scriptures now, I want to be excited like my children are. I want my life to reflect that I choose to be a witness of all that the Lord has given me. In the morning and in the sometimes-trying afternoons.

Dare to Stand Alone

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Dare to Stand Alone, by Thomas S. Monson
President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


I spend time each day alone.

I go to work early in the morning so I can get home early enough to spend time with my family; it really is a nice situation. Earlier this week, I arrived at work and noticed that the moon was very low in the sky. Although I know that its angular distance (size) of the moon is the same when it is at the horizon as when it is at its zenith, I still love looking at the moon when it appears so much larger! (Read more about the moon illusion here).


Here's the point: As I enjoyed looking at the moon, I wished I weren't alone. I wanted someone there to share the moment with (and not just to show off my science knowledge!).

Ever since that day earlier this week, I've noticed a lonely feeling as I walk through the dark parking lot into an empty building.

I stand alone.

And then I sit alone at my desk.

The title of President Monson's talk is "Dare to Stand Alone," and I know he's not talking about looking at the moon:

We live in a time when we are surrounded by much that is intended to entice us into paths which may lead to our destruction. To avoid such paths requires determination and courage.

. . . As we go about living from day to day, it is almost inevitable that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the minority or even standing alone concerning what is acceptable and what is not. Do we have the moral courage to stand firm for our beliefs, even if by so doing we must stand alone?

Good question. I just noticed that the image that is directly opposite the above quote shows a man standing still while others around him are moving. Here it is, so you can see:


NOTE: This picture shows a man standing outside of the Conference Center among many other like-minded people who share his beliefs and faith, but there are definitely times when he (and we) stand alone.

It is obviously necessary to stand alone when occasion demands. But is it fair to mention that when we dare to stand alone, we are assured that we don't really have to be alone?

As I've approached my lonely-looking work building in the dark mornings this week, I've noticed a recurring song jumping to mind. It's from Steven Kapp Perry's From Cumorah's Hill, and is titled, "I Never Stand Alone." It's essentially a musical representation of President Monson's message in this talk, with the concluding message being similar to President Monson's conclusion:

If we must stand alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven.

It sounds like when I was standing alone looking at the moon, I may not have been alone after all. More importantly, when faced with important moral decisions and my decisions are unpopular, I may feel alone, but I don't have to be.


As long as I dare to stand alone.

Preparation in the Priesthood

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Preparation in the Priesthood: “I Need Your Help”, by Henry B. Eyring
First Counselor in the First Presidency


As I reviewed President Eyring's talk, all I could think about was my eight-yr-old son.

Two days ago, with three of my children at my side, I helped my eldest cut his pinewood derby block into the shape he had designed. I then showed him how to sand and smooth it. He dutifully watched and then took the sandpaper and did as I had showed him.


Just another normal day at our house.

However, the next day—yesterday—he helped remind me of the role I play in his life.

We opened our house... er, our garage to the cub scouts in my son's den so they could likewise get help cutting and shaping their pinewood derby blocks. Since my son's car was already shaped, I asked him if he wanted to help the other boys understand what we would be doing. With a smile on his face and a spring in his step, he explained it all: how to use design plans to draw what they wanted their cars to look like, that I would cut their design out of the block, and how they would use sandpaper to smooth out any rough spots or hard edges.

In just twenty-four short hours, I saw the turn-around of my instruction to him being translated through preparation into action!

President Eyring shared many experiences of being trained by others. Toward the end of his talk he said:

I promise you that those whom you train and set an example for will praise you name as I have this day to the great trainers I have known.

I'm not claiming to be a great trainer, but I do feel a renewed responsibility to be a good example as I help train my children for future service.

Because they might turn around and help someone tomorrow!

Providing in the Lord’s Way

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Providing in the Lord’s Way, by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency


While I was a student at BYU, the university newspaper ran some letters to the editor that contested what they called "welfare." The main vocal arguments, I recall, were that so much help shouldn't be given to people, especially people that weren't working to meet their own needs.

In discussions on the topic with friends, I found that some shared this viewpoint, even though they received government-backed Pell Grants, had applied for (and received) Medicaid assistance for pregnancies, and were students at a Church university that has a bit of a socialistic tuition policy. When asked about this apparent hypocrisy, the answer seemed to be, "It's fine for me to get government help because I'm actually trying to make the world a better place."

That response still tastes bad.

I publicly declare that I received much help as I went to school for many, many years. Pell grants, scholarships, Section 8 housing assistance, Medicaid, you name it.

Because of my history with varied sources of assistance and help, I have a lingering question whenever self-reliance is discussed at church. Was I in the wrong to accept help from others?

I take comfort in knowing that President Uchtdorf spoke fondly of being the recipient of similar assistance as a child. Granted, the source of his help was from the Church.

Every election cycle I hear debates over the appropriate expenditure of taxes, and how many there should be! I asked myself similar questions while reading this talk. Here is something that I found comforting:

There are many good people and organizations in the world that are trying to meet the pressing needs of the poor and needy everywhere. We are grateful for this, but the Lord’s way of caring for the needy is different from the world’s way.

I'm reminds me of Elder Oaks' talk on Good, Better, and Best (link). Government programs helping those in need may be good, but there are better (and best) ways to help.

President Uchtdorf's comforting explanation continues:

The Lord has said, “It must needs be done in mine own way.” He is not only interested in our immediate needs; He is also concerned about our eternal progression. For this reason, the Lord’s way has always included self-reliance and service to our neighbor in addition to caring for the poor.

For some reason, when I think of self-reliance and helping others, I often think of gardening.


What is "the Lord's way," you ask? Here's an illustrative answer from President Uchtdorf (which tickles my civil engineering training, btw):

The Lord’s way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross. It is to come together, roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges.

I spoke of the great assistance I've received. Please know that during all of this I wasn't a passive recipient; I worked hard to help others while being helped. I know that I'm a better person because of the combined help and helping.

And I'm still trying to build bridges.