Go Ye Therefore

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Go Ye Therefore, by Silvia H. Allred
First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency


I loved how Sister Allred tells of how she and her sister loved reading the Book of Mormon after being introduced to it: "Every day after school, we would race home to get to the book first. ... Such was the excitement we felt."

What makes me that excited?

I know that I love coming home from work to see my cute little family, but do I love the scriptures that much? I think I might.

Maryann and I recently started reading the Doctrine and Covenants for our couple scripture study (we just finished the New Testament). I get so antsy to study with her because I love the insight that comes when we read aloud and discuss scriptures. Even now, after studying the scriptures for years and years (but not nearly as long as some have!), I still get new and meaningful inspiration from the same words as before, often verses I never even noticed.

Of her conversion, Sister Allred said: "My life changed forever, and the gospel of Jesus Christ became the compelling force in my life." This month's First Presidency Message from President Eyring (link) reminds of D&C 88:81: "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." The responsibility we have to share the compelling force in our lives (the gospel) is a common theme in the restored church, as it should be. I echo her summary of her full-time missionary labors:

My mission had a great impact on my life. I learned to rely more on the Lord, to seek the guidance of the Spirit, and to feel an overwhelming love for God’s children. My knowledge of the scriptures and my understanding of the doctrines increased. So did my desire to be obedient and to keep the commandments with exactness. My testimony of the Savior and His infinite Atonement was strengthened. My missionary experiences became part of who and what I am. Missionary work became my passion. It has impacted my life and that of my family more than anything else.

I love the gospel and I loved my mission, but it's hard for me to imagine the impacts of my service on the lives of others. I know that my life was forever changed by my service—like President Hinckley, I can trace every good thing in my life to the decision I made to serve a mission—but, like Sister Allred observed, "I don't know if missionaries realize the far-reaching impact of their work." It's easy to see impacts in my life, and I hope my efforts blessed others, too.

But what now? What am I doing to share the gospel now? I'm trying to "be a good neighbor and a good friend. Set an example of righteousness and kindness. Let [my] smile radiate love, peace, and happiness. Live a gospel-centered life" but, as a recently-returned missionary noted in his talk in our ward today, these things are planting seeds; the scriptures note that the field is white already to harvest, not brown already to be planted!

Sister Allred continues with the charge to be more specific in our missionary efforts, and includes a nice list to pick and choose ideas from. Luckily I have wonderful children who teach me how to be a good missionary when they tell me that they want to invite their neighborhood friends to come to church with them. My children don't stop at setting an example of a gospel-centered life—they want to give the all-crucial extra push at inviting, challenging, lifting, and loving.

"Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 18:3).

Dark / Light Dream

I awoke this morning thrilled that I would be taking the sacrament in a few hours—I was really excited. I rolled off of the bed to my knees to pray, and slipped into a dream:

I was in a large, dark room that felt like it had recently been emptied of many large items. It was dark, dusty, and felt like it needed a cleaning.




I suddenly realized that the room represented my life. It was supposed to be clean, and I had done my best to get rid of many large items (sins, etc.), but I couldn't do any more alone.

I stayed there looking around in the dim/dark room, when I suddenly remembered my excitement for the sacrament. All at once, the room lightened, the dust, dirt, and debris flew away, and the walls, ceiling, and floor glowed with an intense white brightness. I also realized that my clothes were brilliant white, and my skin, too, was glowing.




I remembered the message of D&C 5:19, where unclean things are destroyed by the brightness of the coming of Christ.

The message was that through Christ, and through Christ alone, can my life be made clean, white, and brilliant.

I liked this meaningful dream and its message of personal preparation for the Sabbath and the sacrament. I'm grateful for Christ and that through Him, I can be made clean. After my efforts alone, I am still left dirty; only Christ can make me clean.

Let Him Do It with Simplicity

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Let Him Do It with Simplicity, by Elder L. Tom Perry
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


"Walden Pond was our special place to pause, reflect, and heal."

As Elder Perry walked us around his—and Thoreau's—special place: Walden Pond, I felt the call to live a simpler life, "to experience the spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle."

One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic.

This quote reminds me of the life-changing (hopefully) observation that Elder Robbins made in 1998: "Becoming angry is a conscious choice, a decision; therefore, we can make the choice not to become angry. We choose!" (link to talk)

The problem with Elder Robbins' quote is that after reading it, we can no longer honestly say "He made me mad!"; instead we have to admit, "I chose to become angry." Hopefully Elder Perry's call to a simpler life will help us to remain positive, optimistic, and anger-free.

After expounding on the simplified lifestyle aspects found in Thoreau's four necessities of food, clothing, shelter, and fuel, I had the powerful realization that I already have an incredible help in having a simplified life. It struck me as a poetic (and true) couplet:

Simplified life — Wonderful wife

I'm grateful for my wonderful wife who helps our little family "experience the spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle." Regarding the four necessities, she:

-encourages us to "eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep," particularly the last item. (Food)
-teaches our children the blessings of modesty (in word and deed), including that through modesty, we "invite the Spirit of the Lord to be a shield and a protection to us." (Clothing)
-helps us "not to live beyond our means." She lovingly helps us to "practice and increase our habits of thrift, industry, economy, and frugality." (Shelter)
-follows the principle that "if we choose the right way, we are sustained in our actions by the principles of righteousness, in the which there is power from the heavens." (Fuel)

In other words, because of who she is, and all she does, my sweet wife helps our little family live the gospel and find lasting happiness through simplicity.

Welcome to Conference

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Welcome to Conference, by President Thomas S. Monson


After mentioning a few cultural events produced in conjunction with new temple dedications around the world, President Monson remarked, "I am an advocate for such events. They enable our youth to participate in something they truly find unforgettable. The friendships they form and the memories they make will be theirs forever."

I recall a few roadshows from my youth. With the swiss-cheese-like memory I have from my youth, I'm surprised I can recall so much from the small contributions I made as a young child. It turns out President Monson was right!

In addition to cultural events for youth, I participated in a play on the Prophet Joseph Smith about a year ago that I was reflecting on recently. As part of our recent family vacation to Houston, we visited the George Ranch Historical Park (link here). Here we enjoyed touring a bit of history where actors were in character from times that corresponded, remarkably, with events from early church history. I had fun meeting a Mr. Jones in 1830 on his stock ranch where he lit a fire with flint and steel and told us about how hard it is/was to make coffee from raw beans. While Texas (then Mexico) is quite far from Fayette, New York, where the church was organized in 1830, it was still fun to see how life on the frontier may have been for many early saints.

You can see Mr. Jones' tool and tanning sheds in the background of this picture.

This is where I admit to a huge failure. President Monson also charged for us to pray for the spreading of the joy of the gospel in many parts of the world. While I was at George Ranch talking to Mr. Jones (in 1830, remember), I wanted to talk to him about the organization of my church that happened that very year. However, I was afraid that because he was "in character," and at work, that my comments and discussion wouldn't be appropriate. (Note the key "I was afraid.") So, while I did openly discuss the time of the church's organization with my children minutes later in Mr. Jones' back yard, I didn't talk about it with Mr. Jones himself (I had an "in" with the coffee and the 1830 connection!). I don't think that my prayers to help spread the joy of the gospel will be very effective if I ignore opportunities that are placed right in my way.

President Monson's talk reminds me of the joy of church cultural arts, and the need to both live and share the gospel in concert with our prayers for the work to move forward.

Watch out, Mr. Jones, next time we visit the George Ranch, I've got an amazing story to tell you!

General Conference Application

While watching the most recent general conference for our church (back in October), I decided that I wanted to do something to help me remember and apply the ideas and feelings from the various talks. I decided that in addition to reading (and re-reading) talks, and listening to talks on my commute, I would briefly record some thought, memory, or application spurred in my mind by the talk.

Many of the subsequent entries will be in my general conference application series.

Photo by Tim Whiteaker