To Infinity, And Beyond...

I woke up this morning with thoughts of eternity running through my mind.  I thought about eternity and infinity.  I thought about how infinity is simply an eternity of numbers and eternity is an infinity of days.  As I thought of these words and the concepts that surround them I had several thoughts that I consider profound.  I realize that for others these thoughts might not make sense or they might not really be important.  I know that these thoughts are not my own, rather they are thoughts over which I have been given stewardship.

What will I do with these thoughts?  Will I roll over and go back to sleep?  Will I record them for future understanding?  Will I think about them and allow them to change me for the better?  These are some of the questions that determine whether we will be open to further promptings or not.  I believe that as we record impressions and guidance from the spirit, we open ourselves to more guidance and increased direction.

Now, back to the thoughts that I woke up having.  I thought about infinity from a mathematical perspective.  I'm not a mathematician but I understand that infinity is not a number and can never actually be achieved.  Infinity is a concept.  Broken down it makes more sense to me.  In- (without), -fin- (end), and -ity (state of being).  So, literally, infinity is the state of being without end.  You cannot add to infinity nor can you take away from it.  You can merely approach infinity.  And how do you approach infinity?  One number at a time.

Eternity, much like infinity, is a concept.  Also, much like infinity, eternity does not exist to us as mortals.  You cannot add to nor take away from eternity.  You can merely approach it.  And how do you approach eternity?  One step at a time.

I think the symbol for infinity was chosen wisely, or somebody simply knocked an eight on its side.  "∞" INFINITY.  "∞"  ETERNITY.  As we stand in the middle of this symbol there is a never-ending loop of days behind us as well as days in front of us.  We have good and bad things that happen to us daily.  I think that too often we allow the infinite and eternal to scare us because we cannot truly understand it.

What I believe that we need to do is simply approach eternity one step at a time.  Don't let eternal marriage overwhelm you...it is to be achieved one day at a time.  Don't let the quest for perfection end if you're imperfect...the quest is eternal!  Allow yourself to make mistakes but do better each day.  Eternity will happen if you let it...don't force it!

I have to admit that this is where the original text to the post ended.  However, I just finished up at institute and I feel that I have to add a few words from that lesson.  The lesson focused on one verse and the question posed in it.  1 Nephi 11:16, "And he said unto me:  Knowest thou the condescension of God?"  This is a concept that I have not understood and believe that I have only begun to grasp after attending institute tonight.

I will do my best to explain what is beyond my grasp.  I hope that the illustration and the spirit will teach what I lack the ability to explain.  "The condescension of God" (the coming of Christ to the Earth) does more to explain the love that Christ had and has for us than a lot of other doctrines.  As I understood the lesson, Christ had received the fulness during the pre-mortal life.  However, he gave up Godhood to come dwell with us mortals so that he could show us the way.

When he was born a babe in Bethlehem, the veil was placed over him just like it was for all of us.  D&C 93:12-14 explains that He "received not of the fulness at first, but received grace for grace;"  Meaning that Christ went through life re-learning everything that he already knew and re-gaining that which he had already gained.  Then after His baptism, as explained in verses 16 and 17, He received a "fulness of the glory...[and] all power."

Then, to ensure that all of us could return to our Father in Heaven, He gave it all up, AGAIN!  As D&C 88:6 explains, "he descended below all things...that he comprehended all things".  Through the Atonement He descended below all and then after the Resurrection, He received a Fulness again!  He gave it all up twice for us.  He loves us so much.  He would not go through all of that and then give up on us.  "Give up" is not in His vocabulary.  Quite literally, He has already gone to hell and back for us.  May we all have a little more faith in the man that wants nothing more than to please Heavenly Father and to help us achieve happiness.

I will end this post with a glimpse of what Heavenly Father wants us to be.  I truly believe that it is within each and every one of us to become what Jesus became.  D&C 93:19-20 says, "I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come to the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.  For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace."

Give yourself a break.  Give yourself time.  Don't get frustrated.  Don't give up.  If you want to be more like Jesus, remove the phrase "give up" from your vocabulary.

What Goes In, Must Come Out

Zig Ziglar has long been one of my two favorite motivational speakers (the other being Matt Foley).  He has a wonderful combination of great thoughts along with an unforgettable voice.  However, I believe that he was my favorite because of the man that listened to him so frequently as I grew up, my dad.  As a person grows and learns, it is natural for them to emulate their heroes.  This has always been the case with me and my dad...I hope to be like him!

For those who do not know him, my dad is, by far, the best dad that anyone could ask for.  My dad was never deemed the most intellectual but he was always the smartest man in the room.  He has never been considered wealthy yet he has always been the richest man around.  He will never set any records as a strongman though he will ever be the strongest man I know.  In the eyes of the world, my dad has not achieved great success.

My dad is the smartest, richest, and strongest man because of the one thing that has truly defined him as a man.  "...if ye have not charity, ye are nothing...cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all...charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever..."  Having sacrificed so much for others, it would be expected that he have nothing left to give.  All the time that he has invested in other people, he rarely had time for himself.  In the shoes of a man that the world expects to be a failure stands one of the greatest men to ever live and definitely the greatest that I have ever known.

I cannot begin to count the number of times I have seen my dad cry with another person...the manliest thing I have ever witnessed.  He has always been open to the guidance of the spirit which has made him the smartest man in the room.  He has always treasured his relationships with family, friends, and, most of all, God, making him the richest man alive.  With a hug and his words he has lifted many people thus he is the strongest man I know.

Reigning in this three-paragraphs-tangent, I now address my original thought and the inspiration for this writing.  Zig Ziglar said, "You are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind.  You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind."  Incredible power is contained in the human mind.  With it, we have created the worlds that we live in.  With it, we survive heartbreak, loss, and inhumanity.  Unfortunately, that power can be used against us.

I have seen many precious daughters of Heavenly Father destroyed by men.  Men who have professed to love a woman have then ironically taught the same woman worthlessness, shame, and doubt.  These girls are mere shadows of the women they were born to be.  There is hope as these beautiful women look to Jesus Christ for an example of what a man should be.  There is hope as they put their trust back in men who honor their virtue and prize them for their mind, morals, and maturity.

I have seen the power of mind used against men afflicted by addictions to pornography, alcohol, and drugs.  These plague and destroy relationships, confidence, and faith.  Men become boys, afraid of progress and afraid of believing they can overcome.  Soon they begin to live minute to minute, satisfying their corporeal cravings.  There, too, is hope for men if they will rise up and face the hardships of life.  There is hope if they will put off the enticing temptation and look forward to the future.  No man is strong enough to confront the ills of today without a true belief in the Creator and faith in the power of prayer and revelation.

Doubt can yield to faith, despair will wain and hope abide, and lust will die and love remain.  We can and we will turn it around.  We can do hard things.  We can put off the carnal desire and disbelief.  We can rise up and wield the power we possess.  We have acclimated to the world as we now know it.  However, we have changed our world before and we can do it again.  It is not easy but it is simple.  The tapestry that is being woven is of our own choosing; whether that choosing is active selection or tacit authorization is up to us.  We need constant vigilance regarding what enters our mind and paints the landscape in which we exist.  Faith, hope, and charity!