Last night I read my scriptures and said my prayer before going to bed. I felt like I was simply going through the motions to be obedient. I felt that I needed to make a more conscious effort to get up early this morning and read from the Book of Mormon before starting the rest of my day. I am exceedingly thankful that I had the strength to wake up a little earlier and to read from Mosiah 20.
I have read this chapter on numerous occasions previously. However, this is the first time that verse 11 has struck me as interesting. The Lamanites had supposed that several of their daughters had been kidnapped by the people of King Limhi. The Lamanites attacked the people of King Llimhi. His people are fighting, defending themselves against a Lamanite army that is much more numerous than their own. Limhi's people began to drive the Lamanite army into retreat. The second half of verse 11, speaking of Limhi's people, explains, "they fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight."
Like dragons did they fight! I am not yet a husband nor a father. I can only imagine the ferocity with which they fought. As my mind wrapped around the concept of this fighting, I felt the whispering of the Spirit. It seemed to say, "We, too, need to 'fight like dragons' in the war against sin. We ARE literally fighting for our spiritual lives...and those of our wives and our children." I feel that the time for simply worshiping on Sunday is over, if it really even existed and I doubt it did. We need to be "anxiously engaged in a good cause." (Doctrine & Covenants 58:27) We need to "watch [ourselves], and [our] thoughts, and [our] words, and [our] deeds." (Mosiah 4:30)
Satan is trying to destroy the work and glory of our Heavenly Father. That's us! He's trying to destroy us. He is being clever about it, too. Why do you think that TV shows have had the tendency to start relatively mild? You watch the show in its more mild beginning, gain a love for the characters and then, over the life of most sitcoms, the show becomes more suggestive, more crude, and all around more perverse. As society embraces evil, we are seeing television shows that no longer waste time. They start out crude and perverse.
The New Norm, a show on NBC, is an example of the perversion in today's media. The name itself is a contradiction. Norm, as defined on Merriam-Webster.com, is:
1 - an authoritative standard2 - a principle of right action binding upon the members of a group and serving to guide, control, or regulate proper and acceptable behavior
Therefore, in order to have a "new norm" one must lay aside the current standard and set up a new one. God's laws are unchanging. He does not change His standards and neither should we. Satan is ever attacking the family. He tries to convince us that homosexuality is "the new norm" and that if we take a stand against it then we are heathens. He uses sarcasm and statistics to deceive the minds of those not prepared to fight against him and his minions.
I know this because, in the past, I have been deceived. I have heard people say, "half of marriages end in divorce anyways, gays have the same right to be unhappy as the rest of us." That's like saying, "more than half of all Americans are overweight or obese so it's okay." It's not okay! I wish not to come across as hypocritical nor judgmental. I simply wish to point out that standards are standards. They don't change! And they certainly don't change simply because we, as flawed individuals, change.
Satan is unleashing his worst attacks and we need to be prepared for it. I hope that we can all fight like dragons for our lives, for the lives of our wives and husbands, for our children, for our friends, and for all of our brothers and sisters. Read the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. Pray to our Father in Heaven. Trust in Jesus Christ. Have faith that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. Learn to trust that plan. Have faith that Christ will not abandon you ever, especially in your most difficult and trying times. They love us! I know that is true. I am so thankful for the redeeming power of the Atonement. "I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine." (Hymn 193 - I Stand All Amazed) If I was not beyond saving, then nobody is.
The past few months have been full of spiritual growth. I would be remiss if I did not give credit where credit is due. Heavenly Father, in all His wisdom and love, has allowed this spiritual growing and has blessed me as I "seek [His] face." It would be impossible for me to fully thank Heavenly Father for His goodness and mercy just as it would be impossible to fully thank Jesus Christ for His atoning sacrifice and deliverance from sin and death. The last few weeks have been great weeks of and for spiritual growth. I have learned a lot and I am so much happier today than I have been for years. I have begun diligently reading in the scriptures which has brought about much change and much understanding. I have been blessed to have a wealth of spiritual promptings, inspirations, and revelations. I have had the good fortune of having the best family on the planet. I have been so blessed to be surrounded by some of the most wonderful people in the world.
I could never do this alone. Although it may feel like it at times, I am extremely happy that I am not asked to "go it alone." I have a bishop, Bishop Farnsworth, who is a spiritual giant and truly a man of God. His two counselors, Brothers Dodson and Thomas, are great examples of family men. All three are fine examples for all of us men in the Mt. Mahogany Young Single Adult (YSA) Ward.
We recently had our Alpine YSA Summer Summit which had been explained to us as an "EFY-type" event organized for the single adults aged 18-31 in the north Utah County area. It took place Friday through Sunday evening. The events began Friday evening with a carnival, ward tug-o-wars, "speed-dating", and the night concluded with BYU's Divine Comedy. Saturday was comprised of a 5k run, an opening keynote speech by Robert Millet, two hours of workshops (6 different 1 hour classes of which you could select 2), lunch and a service project, and a concluding keynote speech by Mike Schlappi...all of this before 3 p.m. We adjourned until later that evening when there was a Peter Breinholt concert (guest appearance by Ryan Shupe). Following the concert, there was a dance held outside of the school where the concert was held. The Summer Summit concluded with a devotional on Sunday evening. Scott Anderson, institute teacher extraordinaire, spoke on the wondrous blessings of the Gospel, especially the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was a great meeting and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to attend. However, I most likely would have avoided it had it not been for the wonderful people surrounding me in life.
Several weeks ago, Brother Thomas shared a message in ward council regarding the upcoming Alpine YSA Summer Summit. He related the story of the Brother of Jared when the Lord confounded the languages at the Tower of Babel. It was asked of the Lord that He not confound the language of Jared and his friends and family. They also inquired where they should go. The Lord replied, "go to...and there will I meet thee." (Ether 1:41-42) Brother Thomas and Bishop shared that this was the feeling they got in regards to the Summer Summit. Bishop stated, and then reiterated it to the whole ward in Sacrament Meeting and Sunday School, that the Summer Summit had been organized under inspiration. He said that the Spirit was going to be at the Summer Summit and it was up to us to meet Him there. Bishop also said, "don't be too concerned with what you're going to get out of this...be concerned with what you might be able to contribute. This helped me focus on what I could do to better the experience for others in attendance.
A strange thing happened, however, which made me think of the words of Christ, "but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35) Several times during the weekend, I wanted to leave and go home to what was comfortable, "remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:32) I might not have lost my mortal life if I had returned home on any one of those occasions but I would have surely missed out on several spiritual experiences and would have lost the life that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ wanted for me. I am very happy to say that I stayed all weekend. Several times I had the opportunity to reach out to someone in need. However, I know that many, many more times I felt the hands stretched out to me, bearing me up in my times of need. Several people helped me and, though it may sound cheesy, I will forever be grateful. I was filled with so much happiness and felt the Spirit so strongly this weekend that I was often brought to tears.
I was hesitant before Brother Thomas and Bishop Farnsworth bore testimony of the importance of being at this activity. I could not deny the power with which they spoke. I knew that it was true. This was a great opportunity for me to grow and to learn. I signed up to go within minutes after our ward council meeting without knowing if I could even have the time off of work. I knew that I belonged at the Summer Summit and that it was my duty to be there. I actually thought to myself, "If you can't get work off for this, then you shouldn't be working there anyway." I don't know if I would have had the faith to quit my job if it had come down to that. I'd like to think, knowing what I now know, that I would have gladly walked away. Luckily for me, it did not come down to that. I believe that most decisions in life will not be very dramatic. However, when it does come time for the dramatic decision, it is my hope that we can each rise to the occasion and choose to be on the Lord's side.
Gratitude fills my body, my soul, as I think of the Savior rising to the occasion for each and every one of us. It is my personal belief that He took upon Him every pain (read sorrow, illness, disease, addiction, etc.) as it is experienced by each individual person. He didn't suffer for us in general and He doesn't bear us up "in general." There is no doubt in my mind that He loves us all. I am so thankful for Him and for His perfect love for me.
