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)

Preserving the Heart’s Mighty Change

A great talk about holding on to my mighty change of heart.

A heart transplant can prolong life for years for people who would otherwise die from heart failure. But it is not “the ultimate operation,” as Time magazine called it in 1967. The ultimate operation is not a physical but a spiritual “mighty change” of heart.

Dale G. Renlund, “Preserving the Heart’s Mighty Change,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 97–99, Mp3

Ultimate Knowledge

My mother in law directed me to a talk Dallin Oaks gave at Harvard Law School

Thus, while Latter-day Saints rely on scriptural scholars and scholarship, that reliance is preliminary in method and secondary in authority. As a source of sacred teaching, the scriptures are not the ultimate but the penultimate. The ultimate knowledge comes by personal revelation through the Holy Ghost.

("Fundamental Premises of Our Faith", Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Harvard Law School, 26 February 2010 )

I had to look up penultimate. I liked this description of our sources of revelation.

It was very enjoyable. I would love to be able to see of hear him give this speech.

I Know That My Savior Loves Me

There is a new and touching song that Primary is singing this year, "I Know That My Savior Loves Me" (sheet music, mp3)

1. A long time ago in a beautiful place,

Children were gathered ’round Jesus.

He blessed and taught as they felt of His love.

Each saw the tears on His face.

The love that He felt for His little ones

I know He feels for me.

I did not touch Him or sit on His knee,

Yet, Jesus is real to me.

Chorus

I know He lives!

I will follow faithfully.

My heart I give to Him.

I know that my Savior loves me.

2. Now I am here in a beautiful place,

Learning the teachings of Jesus.

Parents and teachers will help guide the way,

Lighting my path ev’ry day.

Wrapped in the arms of my Savior’s love,

I feel His gentle touch.

Living each day, I will follow His way,

Home to my Father above.

Chorus

It has such a simple message. I have felt the Spirit each time I have heard it. As each child puts their heart with these words they will gain a testimony of Jesus, and strengthen their personal relationship with Him. I am so happy that the Primary chose this song!

Origin of God Agnostic

Last summer, I had an interesting discussion about the origin of God. Before that, I did not know of a faithful LDS perspective that was different than the infinite regress of Gods. It was one of those topics that I heard theories from people I trusted. It made sense to me and so I did not pursue it.

Clean Cut emailed me a couple of weeks ago asking me about my post. He asked if my thoughts or feeling on the topic had changed at all. I had mentioned to him that I was looking forward to reading Rough Stone Rolling. I was given it for Christmas. I am about halfway through it.

While laying down for a Sunday nap I picked up the book. Richard Bushman quotes D&C 93:29-34 and then adds,

In later years, Joseph would elaborate these hints into a doctrine of the free intelligence. Human beings in their essence were uncreated intelligences as eternal as God, and so radically free... The idea of free intelligence combined the moral being of the Bible with the reasoning individual of the Enlightenment. In Joseph's revelations, truth could not be discovered in rebellion and wickedness. "That wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience." [D&C 93:29] The test of one's humanity was not whether one would abide by the independent dictate's of one's own reason, in accord with the Enlightenment ideal, but whether one would accept the light coming from God.

As to the origin of God, I am satisfied putting it in the "we'll find out someday" category. I also put discussions on the topic in the "danger of looking past the mark" category. It is much more important to me to practice the truth I know. I am confident that the Lord will grant me more light and knowledge on His origin later on. It is much more important to becoming more Christ like. More diligent, more patient, more loving, more thoughtful.

On a final note, one of the best parts of LDS doctrine is the focus on learning truth from whatever source it may come. I look forward to more light and knowledge on many subjects. I will also do my best to give them their due attention. Focusing on "right practice" will never fail. Focusing on "right doctrine" brings a possibility of diverting my energy to that which will not have lasting satisfaction.

What Shall We Give?

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The Christmas Spirit

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Half of something

My wife bought me the Sunshine on Leith album by The Proclaimers for me recently. I love it! I remember around five years ago, I came home. Stephanie was gone for some reason. I put this cassette in and danced to it with the kids for at least an hour. It was one of those moments that you don't forget. How happy I was to be with my kids and the joy of dance and music.

On the way to work I was listening again. One line from the "Then I Met You" track is,

Thought that I was whole instead of being half of something

My dear wife is so strong, so persistent. She works hard and then keeps on giving. She is passionate. One recent example is the fortieth wedding anniversary she helped to organize for her parents. She gave it her all. I tell you what, I am so glad to have all of her back again. Her parents are worth it. It was only a limited time. I did miss her.

I think of this scripture when I think of my sweetheart,

...I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen. D&C 88:133

I am so grateful to have her. She is my better half. With her I am complete. As we continue to keep our covenants with God, we will become whole. We will fill the measure of our creation. Having her at my side gives me added confidence that I will continue in the path of God. She is a gift.

The Lord does not expect that we do what we cannot achieve. The command to become perfect, as He is, encourages us to achieve the best of ourselves, to discover and develop the talents and attributes with which we are blessed by a loving Eternal Father, who invites us to realize our potential as children of God. He knows us; He knows of our capacities and our limitations. The invitation and challenge to become perfect, to achieve eternal life is for all mankind.
Immediately after teaching that “it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength,” King Benjamin indicated that “it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize." God will not require more than the best we can give because that would not be just, but neither can He accept less than that because that would not be just either. Therefore, let us always give the best we can in the service of God and our fellowmen. Let us serve in our families and in our callings in the Church in the best manner possible. Let us do the best we can and each day be a little better. (Jorge F. Zeballos, “Attempting the Impossible,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 33–34, [Emphasis is mine])

I am grateful to have such a devoted, loving and kind wife as my partner in creating heaven on earth.

"Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers"

I read a great post at Scriptorium Blogorium about a Oct 1999 General Conference Talk by M. Russell Ballard called "Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers".

I used the Mini-Stream Ripper to convert the asx file to an mp3. I look forward to listening to it again.