How Do I Measure Success?

"We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit."

Julie B. Beck, Apr 2010.

More Fierce Desire

From Kenneth Cope's song "More" from All About You. This inspired me on the drive to work this morning. Here are the lyrics.

More steady

More sure

More trusted

More Pure

Some say it doesn't matter

More trained and more aware

More aim to get me there

I climbed this far

You raise the bar

You want my heart

(Chorus)

More fierce desire

To stand against the wind

More blazing fire

When dark is closing in

More love-inspired change within

So there's more and more of me to give

More words to learn and know

More etched upon my soul

Some say it doesn't matter

More tried

More true

Less me and much more You

I've stretched this tall

You sound the call

You want my all

(Chorus)

You keep reaching out Calling out to me for

More strength in shoulders

To face the war with sin

More wise and bolder

To save the souls of men

A more faithful soldier to the end

You want more and more of me to give

More and more of me to give

More

More and more of me to give

More love

More light

More purpose

More serve with all my might

I need more hope

more faith

more patience

Each day I pray for more

More and more of me to give

More fire

More zeal

More spirit

To know what's real

More courage

More joy

More and more of me to give

More grateful

More true

More humble

To trust in You

You cal

I hear

I'll walk the path that's set in stone

My heart is fixed on getting home

And what on earth could matter more

More and more of me to give

Acceptable Service

This article from the Ensign touched my heart this morning.

He walked into a little classroom in the Philippines to be interviewed in preparation for receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood. I didn’t know how old he was, but even the older members of the branch called him Tatay (father).

When I asked whether he would be able to understand my English, he smiled warmly and replied with careful diction, “Yes, I will.”

After our interview I asked him if there was any reason he should not be ordained to the priesthood. After a moment he said, “Perhaps I should not receive the priesthood.”

Puzzled, I asked, “What do you mean?”

“I have only one tooth,” he replied. “I know I don’t look very good to receive the priesthood. It is all right if you tell me I cannot have the priesthood.”

We sat for a moment while I pondered his comment, tears welling up in my eyes. Then I put my hand on his hand and told him that I had seen many wonderful priesthood holders who had lost their hair, but he had beautiful, thick black hair. I also told him of priesthood holders who had only one ear or one eye, but he had both of his eyes and ears.

I then told him of a friend of mine who had lost his arm to cancer. When that brother had prayed in our home and had asked Heavenly Father to bless my wife and children, I knew he was a great servant of the Lord. I told Tatay how this friend had placed his only hand on the head of a little girl to bless her because she was dying and that I had felt the power of the priesthood that day.

This elderly Filipino smiled and said, “I hope my service to God will also be acceptable.”

We are all flawed in some significant way, and we all know the feelings of inadequacy that come with a new calling. But God accepts the humblest offering of the humblest Saint, and each of us can make a difference. We need not be embarrassed or ashamed; we need only give our best effort to the Lord. In turn He will bless us and magnify us and, in a marvelous way, make us whole.

(David E. LeSueur, “Acceptable Service,” Ensign, Mar 2010, 26, PDF)

I think of how blessed I am to be living in the USA. Of all the opportunities I have. I have never had to go hungry. I have all my teeth. I have air conditioning. I have a temple within a hour from me. The list goes on and on. I hope to be more humble so that I need not to be compelled to be humble (Alma 32:6-25)