kathyhmcbride – Page 5 – Scattering Inspiration

The Second Great Commandment

I had a conversation with my neighbor about a month ago that I have thought about a lot. She moved here from back east a few years ago. Before coming to Utah, she didn’t really know much about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And while she has had many positive interactions, she mentioned how surprised she has been at times by what seems to be a lack of tolerance for differences, even among family members of the same faith. Her comment to me was, “I know you have your ‘words of wisdom,’ but isn’t it better to drink a cup of coffee than to be unkind?” She is absolutely right! There is only one commandment the Savior taught us is more important than to love our neighbor and that is to love God. That is something every Christian religion teaches. Yet sadly we see too much anger and hatred in the world. Too often in society unkindness is normalized and intolerance is celebrated. Too often the second great commandment is not being lived very well at all.

To help us change this culture, Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave what he called a two-word sermon. He said, “When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it!” Then he reminded us, “There is enough heartache and sorrow in this life without our adding to it through our own stubbornness, bitterness, and resentment.”1

If we want to be disciples of Christ, we must stop all those things! You will notice there is no conditional clause in President Uchtdorf’s words or anywhere in the scriptures that says, “unless someone is doing something hurtful to you.” Our behavior should never be conditional on how we are being treated. No matter how someone treats us, as followers of Jesus Christ, we should be more loving and forgiving, more conscientious of our words and actions. As we follow the perfect example of the Savior, we will be able to look past others’ shortcomings, turn the other cheek, give a soft answer, be a peacemaker, and love as He loved.

Dallin H. Oaks taught, “Followers of Christ should be examples of civility. We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs. Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. Our stands and communications on controversial topics should not be contentious.”2

Russell M. Nelson once said, “Because of the long history of hostility upon the earth, many feel that peace is beyond hope. I disagree. Peace is possible. We can learn to love our fellow human beings throughout the world. … We can live together with mutual admiration and respect. … Things we have in common are greater than are our differences. Peace is a prime priority that pleads for our pursuit.”3

Imagine the good that can come if we begin in our homes to be more loving and forgiving, treating others as we want to be treated, overlooking faults and failings, speaking softly and with kindness. Then if our behavior can spill from our homes into our neighborhoods, from our neighborhoods into our communities, from our communities into our nations, our world will slowly become a more peaceful place to live.

Jeffrey R. Holland put it so eloquently, “Notwithstanding even the most terrible offenses that might come to us, we can rise above our pain only when we put our feet onto the path of true healing. That path is the forgiving one walked by Jesus of Nazareth, who calls out to each of us, ‘Come, follow me.’ In such an invitation to be His disciple and to try to do as He did, Jesus is asking us to be instruments of His grace—to be ‘ambassadors for Christ’ in ‘the ministry of reconciliation,’ as Paul described it to the Corinthians. The Healer of every wound, He who rights every wrong, asks us to labor with Him in the daunting task of peacemaking in a world that won’t find it any other way. … Be peacemakers—love peace, seek peace, create peace, cherish peace.”4

I hope we will try a little harder to love a little better. “Living that second great commandment,” President Nelson taught, “is the key to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.”5

References:

1. The Merciful Obtain Mercy – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

2. Loving Others and Living With Differences – Dallin H. Oaks

3. Blessed Are the Peacemakers – Russell M. Nelson

4. The Ministry of Reconciliation – Jeffrey R. Holland

5. The Second Great Commandment – Russell M. Nelson

Priesthood Power Makes All the Difference

Several months ago, President Nelson asked us to ponder this question, “How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?”1 What happened in the Sacred Grove in 1820 changed Joseph Smith’s life forever! On that day, it became abundantly clear that he was personally known and loved by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. That knowledge was fundamental and foundational for everything else he would need to know and do. The same is true for each of us. When we know our true identity as children of God, it changes everything! It deepens our understanding and appreciation of so many other doctrines. It will enhance our perspective of the important events that followed the First Vision. One of those events is the restoration of the priesthood.

I love this quote from Robert D. Hales, “Can you imagine how dark and empty mortality would be if there were no priesthood? If the power of the priesthood were not upon the earth, the adversary would have freedom to roam and reign without restraint. There would be no gift of the Holy Ghost to direct and enlighten us; no prophets to speak in the name of the Lord; no temples where we could make sacred, eternal covenants; no authority to bless or baptize, to heal or comfort. Without the power of the priesthood, ‘the whole earth would be utterly wasted’. There would be no light, no hope—only darkness.”2

I cannot imagine! I cannot imagine not having all of those blessings in my life every day! But do we fully understand and appreciate the power of the priesthood in our lives? Probably not. Last October President Nelson said, “I entreat you to study prayerfully all the truths you can find about priesthood power.”3 I was intrigued by the word entreat, which means to “ask earnestly; beseech; implore; beg.”4 This was a prophetic plea! What will that kind of study do for each of us? Surely the prophet knows our lives will be greatly blessed as we come to more fully understand and invite the power of the priesthood in our lives.

M. Russell Ballard reminds us, “Our Father in Heaven is generous with His power. All men and all women have access to this power for help in their lives. All who have made sacred covenants with the Lord and who honor those covenants are eligible to receive personal revelation, to be blessed by the ministering of angels, to commune with God, to receive the fulness of the gospel, and, ultimately, to become heirs alongside Jesus Christ of all our Father has.”5

We are privileged to live when the priesthood of God is upon the earth. I hope it is something we never take for granted! When we learn to recognize the power of the priesthood in our lives, it will become evident to us that it is one of God’s great expressions of love for us as His children.

References:

1. Closing Remarks – Russell M. Nelson

2. Blessings of the Priesthood – Robert D. Hales

3. Spiritual Treasures – Russell M. Nelson

4. Entreat – dictionary.com

5. Men and Women and Priesthood Power – M. Russell Ballard

Pray Always

I saw a quote the other day that has really made me think, “Prayer is not just for times of trouble.”1 Undoubtedly, we are living in some pretty troubled times. Invitations to join in specific days of prayer are happening with regularity. We are talking more about prayer and more people are praying. And that is a good thing! Turning to a loving Heavenly Father in times of crisis is normal. Trials almost always take us to our knees. But do we stay there when life gets better? Prayer was never intended to only be a crisis line. How would we feel if the only time someone reached out to us was if they needed something? That wouldn’t make for a very good relationship. The same is true with our Heavenly Father.

We need to make prayer a consistent and thoughtful part of each day. I believe that is the reason the scriptures teach us to “counsel with the Lord in all thy doings” and repeatedly to “pray always.” Bonnie H. Cordon recently taught, “As we consistently go to Heavenly Father in prayer, we develop a relationship with Him.”2 Bruce D. Porter said that prayer is “surely among the greatest of gifts given by our Father in Heaven to His children on earth. Prayer is the ordained means by which men and women, and even little children, come to know God. It is our channel of communication with heaven.”3

Communication is more than asking. Of course Heavenly Father wants us to ask Him for help. But an extremely important part of prayer is to express gratitude, especially in times of trial. Nothing helps us keep an eternal perspective more than recognizing the many blessings we receive from God. Let me share a personal experience. As part of my gospel study, I like to read and reread the most recent general conference talks. Not long after my daughter passed away, I read David A. Bednar’s talk, “Pray Always.” While he was serving as president of BYU-Idaho, his family learned a valuable lesson from an apostle about “the power of thankfulness in meaningful prayer.” Earlier in the day, Elder Bednar and his wife had learned that a dear friend had passed away. That evening, as he asked his wife to pray, the visiting apostle, unaware of their friend’s death, “graciously suggested that in the prayer Sister Bednar express only appreciation for blessings received and ask for nothing.” At such a time, Elder Bednar said, “requesting blessings for our friends initially seemed to us more urgent than expressing thanks.” As Sister Bednar faithfully responded to the apostle’s request, the family “learned from that experience a great lesson about the power of thankfulness in meaningful prayer.”4

That night I decided to do the same thing. It wasn’t that I hadn’t been expressing gratitude, I definitely had been—more than ever before. But I was understandably asking for His blessings on me and my family. I cannot even begin to tell you the sweet experience I had that night. The depth of my gratitude changed as I poured out my heart to my Heavenly Father in thanksgiving. Tears flowed as I expressed my deep gratitude for His tender, loving care, for the gift of His Beloved Son and for the continual comfort and peace from the Holy Ghost. I thanked Him for the blessings of the temple and the knowledge that families are forever. I thanked Him for family and friends, whose love and support were unending, and for parents who had taught me the truths of the gospel. As I thanked Him, I was better able to recognize just how truly blessed I was and am!

“There is a power that comes as we are generous with our gratitude,” said Sister Cordon. I testify that is true! She continued, “As we sincerely thank God in and through our trials, we invite Him to help us see our trials and ourselves in a different way. Thanking Him rather than asking for something to be taken away helps us accept His unceasing effort to mold us into who we are meant to become. … How would our relationship with our Father change if the passion and sincerity of our prayers did not wane after the crisis has passed? Can you imagine the truths we will discover and the wonders we will achieve as we choose to ‘pray always’ with the same fervor we plead with when we are in need?”2

That is our challenge! Heavenly Father blesses our lives every day! May we be wise enough to recognize those blessings and thank Him for them. For even on our darkest days, our blessings can and should shine bright enough to help us through our trials.

References:

1. We Never Walk Alone – Thomas S. Monson

2. Ask of God: Our Solace, Guide, and Stay – Bonnie H. Cordon

3. Did You Think to Pray? – Bruce D. Porter

4. Pray Always – David A. Bednar

What I Have Learned From the Women in My Life

With Mother’s Day approaching, I’ve been thinking a lot about the incredible women who have had a powerful impact on my life. I love this quote from Sheri Dew. It is so true in my life! “Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of both the mother who bore us and the mothers who bear with us.”1

I have been blessed with the most amazing mother, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and friends! From them I have learned the true meaning of service, unconditional love, resilience, compassion, commitment, devotion, dedication and discipleship. Gratefully my circle of sisterhood continues to grow with each passing year. Although a few are no longer here with me, their influence is still very real and I know they are not very far away at all! The influence of a righteous, faithful woman lasts through eternity.

Russell M. Nelson said, “To help another human being reach one’s celestial potential is part of the divine mission of woman. As mother, teacher, or nurturing saint, she molds living clay to the shape of her hopes. In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation. It is ennobling, edifying, and exalting.”2 How very grateful I am for the wonderful women who have helped my spirit live and who continue to lift my soul! Thank you for bearing with me on our journey together. My life is better because of you!

References:

1. Are We Not All Mothers? – Sheri Dew

2. Woman-Of Infinite Worth – Russell M. Nelson

The Invitation to Hear Him

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the invitation to hear Him. How do I hear Him? Where do I hear Him? When do I hear Him?

How do I hear Him? – President Nelson teaches that we “more clearly hear Him as we refine our ability to recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now. In the Godhead, the Holy Ghost is the messenger. He will bring thoughts to your mind which the Father and Son want you to receive. He is the Comforter. He will bring a feeling of peace to your heart. He testifies of truth and will confirm what is true as you hear and read the word of the Lord.”1

I love Boyd K. Packer’s explanation, “The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. It is described as a ‘still small voice.’ And while we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …’”2

Understanding how the Spirit speaks to us personally is so important. I reluctantly share a not-so-good personal experience. My dad’s mom was one of the sweetest women ever! I don’t ever remember hearing her complain. She was gentle and loving and giving. I learned so many valuable lessons from my grandma! Sadly, she spent her last few years battling cancer. One morning I needed to run a quick errand. At the time I had small children, so when my husband offered to go to work a minute late, I gladly accepted and told him I would hurry. On my way home, I got the impression that I should go see Grandma. I brushed the thought aside, telling myself I would go later since I really needed to let my husband get to work. Several hours later, I got a call from my sister who had gone to visit Grandma. When she arrived, Grandma was laying on the kitchen floor, unable to move. She had gone in to fix herself some breakfast and had fallen. She laid, shivering on the cold, hard floor for hours, in and out of consciousness, with a broken hip. The prompting I had received was within minutes of her fall. Because I ignored it, my sweet grandma endured needless hours of pain and suffering. I felt sick! I had not recognized that impression as a prompting from the Holy Ghost. That day I asked Heavenly Father to forgive me for ignoring the Spirit and promised to never do that again. Every day I try to keep that commitment to my Heavenly Father. It takes conscious effort to hear spiritual promptings in an increasingly noisy and casual world.

Where do I hear Him? – In 3 Nephi 17:3, the Savior Himself tells us, “ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds.”3 Surely we can and will hear Him as we read, ponder and study the scriptures, and when we are on our knees in humble prayer. One of my favorite places to hear Him is in the temple. I love to be in His holy house! Remember, spiritual impressions come when we are quiet enough to hear them. They continue to come as we listen to and act upon them.

When do I hear Him? – If we prepare ourselves spiritually, we can hear Him anytime and anywhere. No matter what is going on around us, if everything is right within us, we will hear Him. President Nelson has warned us that “it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”4 He has encouraged us, even pleaded with us, to “hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.”4 Earlier this month, he said, “I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.”1 I think that is so significant! This isn’t just a suggestion for us, it’s a plea.

When I think of pleading, I think of those times when I have needed Heavenly Father’s help more than anything else—when I needed something only He could give me. Our pleadings are often in our most trying times. President Nelson reminds us, “Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son. Because when we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.”1 When we hear Him, He can heal us. When we hear Him, He can comfort us. When we hear Him, He can teach us. When we hear Him, He can guide us.

Oh how wise we will be to follow the prophet’s counsel to increase our spiritual capacity. He said, “In those two words—’Hear Him’—God gives us the pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life. We are to hear the words of the Lord, hearken to them, and heed what He has told us! As we seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional.”1

It is difficult to comprehend the peace and protection we will feel in our lives when we truly know how, where and when to hear Him.

References:

1. Hear Him – Russell M. Nelson

2. Personal Revelation: The Gift, The Test and the Promise – Boyd K. Packer

3. 3 Nephi 17:3

4. Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives – Russell M. Nelson

What Am I Spreading?

My morning routine generally involves catching up on the news while on my treadmill. Lately much of the news revolves around the pandemic. A few weeks ago, during the surge of cases in New York, their governor warned about how rapidly the virus was spreading and begged people to follow the guidelines set forth by the medical experts. Then he said something that made a deep impression on me, so much so that I quickly got off the treadmill and wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget it. “The life you risk may not be your own.” I couldn’t stop thinking about this statement. Of course he was referring to this in a physical way, but I thought about it in a spiritual way. In the same way we can spread a deadly virus because we are asymptomatic, spiritual casualness or apathy can unknowingly affect those around us. Let’s all ask ourselves, “What am I spreading?”

President David O. McKay once said, “There is one responsibility which no man can evade and that responsibility is personal influence.”1

Perhaps one of the most straightforward, soul-searching talks given about personal influence was given by Jeffery R. Holland entitled “A Prayer for the Children.”2 It is definitely one we should read often! In his tender but direct way he said, “I speak carefully and lovingly to any of the adults of the Church, parents or otherwise, who may be given to cynicism or skepticism, who in matters of whole-souled devotion always seem to hang back a little, who at the Church’s doctrinal campsite always like to pitch their tents out on the periphery of religious faith. To all such—whom we do love and wish were more comfortable camping nearer to us—I say, please be aware that the full price to be paid for such a stance does not always come due in your lifetime. No, sadly, some elements of this can be a kind of profligate national debt, with payments coming out of your children’s and grandchildren’s pockets in far more expensive ways than you ever intended it to be. …

“Parents simply cannot flirt with skepticism or cynicism, then be surprised when their children expand that flirtation into full-blown romance. If in matters of faith and belief children are at risk of being swept downstream by this intellectual current or that cultural rapid, we as their parents must be more certain than ever to hold to anchored, unmistakable moorings clearly recognizable to those of our own household. It won’t help anyone if we go over the edge with them, explaining through the roar of the falls all the way down that we really did know the Church was true and that the keys of the priesthood really were lodged there but we just didn’t want to stifle anyone’s freedom to think otherwise. No, we can hardly expect the children to get to shore safely if the parents don’t seem to know where to anchor their own boat.”

I am so grateful for parents who knew to securely anchor their boats in the gospel of Jesus Christ! They were deliberate and intentional in living the gospel. Their faithful example has made all the difference in my life.

To guard against the current deadly pandemic, we have been given a checklist of some pretty simple things that, if we will be diligent in doing daily, will help to keep us safe. Similarly, we have been given a spiritual checklist of things that if done consistently and regularly will keep us spiritually safe.

Elder Holland reminds us, “Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can. Keep the covenants your children know you have made. Give priesthood blessings. And bear your testimony! Don’t just assume your children will somehow get the drift of your beliefs on their own.”

He then gives us the following “checklist”:

“Might we ask ourselves what our children know? From us? Personally? Do our children know that we love the scriptures? Do they see us reading them and marking them and clinging to them in daily life? Have our children ever unexpectedly opened a closed door and found us on our knees in prayer? Have they heard us not only pray with them but also pray for them out of nothing more than sheer parental love? Do our children know we believe in fasting as something more than an obligatory first-Sunday-of-the-month hardship? Do they know that we have fasted for them and for their future on days about which they knew nothing? Do they know we love being in the temple, not least because it provides a bond to them that neither death nor the legions of hell can break? Do they know we love and sustain local and general leaders, imperfect as they are, for their willingness to accept callings they did not seek in order to preserve a standard of righteousness they did not create? Do those children know that we love God with all our heart and that we long to see the face—and fall at the feet—of His Only Begotten Son?”

Although Elder Holland was speaking about parental influence, our influence spreads far beyond the walls of our own homes. We never really know how far it travels and who we affect. What are we spreading? Are we putting others at risk or do we want them to catch what we have? Let’s be a little more deliberate in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ through our words and our actions.

References:

1. The Mission of Brigham Young University – David O. McKay (April 27, 1948)

2. A Prayer for the Children – Jeffrey R. Holland

Things That Really Matter

Life has changed dramatically for all of us lately and most of us are anxious to get back to normal routines. Like you, there are so many things I miss being able to do and people I miss being able to be with! Yet during this time, I have more time to think about the things that really matter to me – things I often take for granted. Sometimes experiencing a lot of cloudy days is the only way we realize how much we appreciate the sunshine.

In February, we had someone new move into our neighborhood. As soon as we were warned about how contagious the coronavirus is and asked to stay home as much as possible, she went around the entire neighborhood putting a flyer in each mailbox, offering to help in any way she could. I am grateful for people who look beyond themselves and make life better for all of us! Kindness is a glimmer of sunshine on a cloudy day. Kindness matters! And kindness is contagious!

Our attitudes are also contagious. Attitude makes all the difference in how we see life. I’ve often told my children to look for the positive because the negative has a way of finding you on its own. A positive attitude and sincere gratitude can bring sunshine to otherwise cloudy days – sunshine that can’t help but be shared with others. Robert D. Hales once said, “Gratitude on a daily basis means we express appreciation for what we have now without qualification for what we had in the past or desire in the future.”1 I love that! Being grateful today matters! No matter what our circumstances are, there is something to be grateful for – today!

The disruption in our lives has made most of us reevaluate what really is important. Soon life will go back to normal. I hope we don’t forget the valuable lessons we have learned. I hope we come through this better, kinder and more grateful. Consider this question Dieter F. Uchtdorf once asked, “How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?”2 Without rain, there would be no rainbow! Often in our trials we come to more fully understand and appreciate our blessings.

References:

How to Show Gratitude – Robert D. Hales

Grateful in Any Circumstances – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Sunday Will Come

I always look forward to general conference, but this time I felt a greater anticipation. In October, President Nelson said that this general conference would be different. He also promised that if we would prepare ourselves, it would be memorable and unforgettable. Sometimes when we are so excited for something to happen, when it is over, we feel a little let down. Not so with this general conference! It was indeed memorable and unforgettable for me!

Palm Sunday is the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On this special day, He was greeted by the people waving palm branches and shouting hosanna, “bearing testimony of our Lord’s divine Sonship. In plain language they [were] hailing Jesus as the Son of David, the Deliverer of Israel, their Savior and Redeemer, the promised Messiah, the Son of God. And they [were] doing it wittingly, deliberately using the sacred expression, Hosanna, … [which] means literally, save now, or save we pray, or save we beseech thee.”1

One particularly sacred moment during conference was the opportunity to stand in my home with my family and acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Savior and my Redeemer, the promised Messiah. I was overwhelmed as I tried to imagine joining with millions of members of the Church across the world in a united plea to God to save.

The prophet has again invited us to unitedly petition our Heavenly Father on Friday for relief from the devastating affects of the coronavirus pandemic. I am humbled at being a part of such a great cause. This Friday – Good Friday – we are being asked to make an incredibly small sacrifice to fast and pray that the Lord will bless the world on the very day the world commemorates the Savior’s ultimate sacrifice.

Easter season is a glorious time – a time to reflect on the eternal truth that, because of Jesus Christ, there are always better days ahead.

One of my favorite Easter talks was given by Joseph B. Wirthlin many years ago. He taught, “I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest. But the doom of that day did not endure. The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death.

“He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind. And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.

“Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

“But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. … No matter how dark our Friday, Sunday will come.”2

Because of the Savior, Jesus Christ, we have hope even when things around us may seem hopeless!

There is so much for us to consider during this week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Jeffrey R. Holland reminds us, “As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ ‘at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,’ for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone.”3

I am so very grateful for my Savior! I love Him! I boldly declare my devotion to Him!

References:

1. The Triumphal Entry – New Testament Manual

2. Sunday Will Come – Joseph B. Wirthlin

3. None Were With Him – Jeffrey R. Holland

Living After the Manner of Happiness

Each time I read 2 Nephi 5:271 I am intrigued by Nephi’s words we lived after the manner of happiness. These words are especially insightful when you consider the circumstances Nephi and his family found themselves in. After reading this scripture again last month as part of my individual study, I decided to do some additional study on the topic of happiness and especially living after the manner of happiness. In light of the current global pandemic, the timing could not have been better!

Is it possible today to live after the manner of happiness? Absolutely! Is there confusion and chaos all around us? Yes! But does that really have anything to do with our happiness?

In a BYU-Idaho devotional a few years ago, Jeffrey R. Holland reminded us that the first thirty years of the Book of Mormon were quite the opposite of what would normally be described as happy. He said, “The first 30 years of Book of Mormon history do not present a pleasant story. After the abrupt necessity of abandoning their entire earthly fortune, leaving Jerusalem hastily on the eve of international conflict, crossing the Arabian peninsula in the most adverse of circumstances, building a boat without any prior experience in doing so, crossing an ocean with would-be fatal conflicts breaking out repeatedly and landing in a primitive, unknown new land with all the hardship such a settlement would entail, the hostility within the family of Lehi and Sariah became so intense that the two halves of their family split asunder, with one group fleeing yet farther into the wilderness, fearing for their lives lest they fall victim to the bloodthirsty quest of the other. As they plunged into unsettled terrain to seek safety and fashion a life for themselves as best they could, the prophet-leader of this Nephite half of the family says they now tried to live ‘after the manner of happiness.’ In light of what they had just been through for thirty years and with what we know yet lay in store for them in the trials almost constantly ahead, such a comment seems almost painful. How could any of this be described as anything remotely like ‘happiness’?”2

Although our own list of trials most likely won’t come anywhere close to Nephi’s, we all have experienced heartache, loss, betrayal and unexpected changes in our lives. No one is exempt from times that would be difficult, if not impossible, to describe as happy. But Elder Holland emphasized, “Nephi does not say they were happy, though it is evident they actually were. What he says is, they ‘lived after the manner of happiness.’ … There is a wonderful key in that phrase that can unlock precious blessings for you. … Your best chance for being happy is to do the things that happy people do. Live the way happy people live. Walk the path that happy people walk. And your chances to find joy in unexpected moments, to find peace in unexpected places, to find the help of angels when you didn’t even know they knew you existed, improves exponentially. … Above all else, ultimate happiness, true peace, and anything even remotely close to scriptural joy are found first, foremost, and forever in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.”2

President Spencer W. Kimball similarly taught, “The treasure house of happiness is unlocked to those who live the gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity and simplicity. … The assurance of supreme happiness, the certainty of a successful life here and of exaltation and eternal life hereafter, come to those who plan to live their lives in complete harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ—and then consistently follow the course they have set.”3

Richard G. Scott said, “Recognize that enduring happiness comes from what you are, not from what you have.”4

This surely was the case with Nephi and his people. Earlier in Chapter 5, Nephi indicated that they “did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things.”5 And even as they were trying to build their new life, they “did build a temple.”6 They knew that to live after the manner of happiness it was necessary put the Savior at the center of their lives!

Living that way filled their lives with hope.

“Hope,” taught Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “has the power to fill our lives with happiness. … Hope is … the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. In the language of the gospel, this hope is sure, unwavering, and active. … With hope comes joy and happiness. With hope, we can ‘have patience, and bear … [our] afflictions.’”7

I love the reminder that hope is active. We have to do something! With an active hope in Jesus Christ, no matter what is going on in our lives, we can live after the manner of happiness.

Neal A. Maxwell taught about active hope when he said, “Those … who ‘plow in hope’ not only understand the law of the harvest but they also understand what growing seasons are all about.”8 This active hope propels us not only to act and sustains us if we are patience in our “growing seasons.” We must plant hope in the Savior if we want to reap peace and happiness. True happiness only comes because of Him.

Elder Maxwell continues, “The more we know of Jesus, the more we will love Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will trust Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will want to be like Him and to be with Him by becoming the manner of men and women that He wishes us to be, while living now ‘after the manner of happiness.’ Therefore, with the help of the Holy Ghost, we can glorify Christ by repenting and thereby accessing the blessings of the astonishing Atonement which He provided for us at such a stunning cost! So, brothers and sisters, given what Jesus died for, are we willing to live with the challenges allotted to us?”8

Trials are a necessary part of this earthly life. We knew that before we came here. And we have a loving Heavenly Father who has never expected us to bear those trials alone. We will never live after the manner of happiness if our lives are filled with despair. Despair is the opposite of hope. President Uchtdorf warned, “Doubt, despair and failure … can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings. The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.”7

Many are feeling such despair right now. Oh, how we should follow President Uchtdorf’s advice to harness the infinite power of hope! He reassures us that hope “is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.”7

From the moment President Nelson addressed us as our new prophet, he has asked us to make our homes sanctuaries of faith, increase our ability to receive personal revelation, increase our temple worship, learn and live the gospel of Jesus Christ, and come to know the Savior better. When we strive to do each of these, we truly are living after the manner of happiness! This is active hope!

President Uchtdorf said, “The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow. Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light. We hope in Jesus the Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us.”7

Although there is despair all around us, we have great reason to hope. Nearly twenty years ago, Neal A. Maxwell said, “The world is ‘in commotion,’ but the kingdom is in forward motion as never before!”8 That perfectly describes what is happening now. The world is in commotion! For many the future is very uncertain. But we can feel peace as we live after the manner of happiness by following the prophet of God. He has told us, “Life is filled with detours and dead ends, trials and challenges of every kind. Each of us has likely had times when distress, anguish, and despair almost consumed us. Yet we are here to have joy[.] … The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. … For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy!”9

How blessed we are to be led by a living prophet! The kingdom of God is indeed moving forward at an unprecedented pace.

A few days ago, President Nelson sent out a video to help us live after the manner of happiness during this strange and trying time. He told us, “My dear friends, our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ know us, love us, and are watching over us. Of that we can be certain. These unique challenges will pass in due time. I remain optimistic for the future. I know the great and marvelous blessings that God has in store for those who love Him and serve Him. I see evidence of His hand in this holy work in so many ways. So, during these uncertain times, be comforted by this promise from the Savior. He said, ‘I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say.’ I promise you that joy is always within the reach of everyone who will hear Him and obey His laws. I love you. I pray for you. And I promise that you will receive comfort and peace as you continue to hear Him.”10

At a time when we are being constantly reminded to take care of ourselves physically and distance ourselves from unseen dangers, let’s not forget to take care of ourselves spiritually, always guarding against anything that can be spiritually harmful.

May we “live the way happy people live” and “walk the path that happy people walk” so that we can “find joy in unexpected moments, … peace in unexpected places, and … the help of angels.”2 I know that true happiness is found in living the gospel of Jesus Christ and walking the covenant path back to our heavenly home.

References:

1. 2 Nephi 5:27

2. Living After the Manner of Happiness – Jeffrey R. Holland

3. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball – Chapter 1

4. Making the Right Decisions – Richard G. Scott

5. 2 Nephi 5:10

6. 2 Nephi 5:16

7. The Infinite Power of Hope – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

8. Plow in Hope – Neal A. Maxwell

9. Joy and Spiritual Survival – Russell M. Nelson

10. My Message of Hope and Love for You – Russell M. Nelson

The Power of the Book of Mormon

This year the curriculum for our individual and family study is the Book of Mormon. During his closing remarks in last October’s general conference and again at the beginning of January, President Russell M. Nelson invited us to contemplate the importance of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon in our lives. He asked us to ponder these two questions: “How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?” or “How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?” He also said, “Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration.”1

Do we truly understand the value of the Book of Mormon? President Ezra Taft Benson once said the Book of Mormon is “one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. [It] is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel.”2

When I was in seminary, we were given the challenge to read the scriptures every day. I did that for a few years. However, once I got married, I let that habit slip. Life changed a lot. Kids came along and my life was really busy. (Not a valid excuse, I admit!) Whenever the prophet or the stake president or a teacher issued a challenge to read the Book of Mormon, I would gladly accept it. But reading every day, on a regular and consistent basis, was not happening. It wasn’t until I was called into the stake young women’s presidency and the president challenged us to not only read but to feast from the Book of Mormon every day. I happily accepted her challenge. That was a little more than eleven years ago. It would be impossible for me to tell you how incredibly blessed my life has been because of that. I had been seriously studying for only about three months when our oldest daughter was killed in a car accident. I know without a doubt that because of my daily studying the Book of Mormon my faith was sufficiently strong, enabling me to bear my burdens and have the strength to endure. That was just the beginning of some incredibly difficult challenges our family has faced. Today I have an unshakable testimony of Jesus Christ because every day I cherish the gift of the Book of Mormon.

In his final conference talk President Thomas S. Monson said, “I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.”3

I know that has happened and continues to happen in my life and I promise it can happen in yours.
President Benson declared, “The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity. Unlike the Bible, which passed through generations of copyists, translators, and corrupt religionists who tampered with the text, the Book of Mormon came from writer to reader in just one inspired step of translation. Therefore, its testimony of the Master is clear, undiluted, and full of power. But it does even more. Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior. They question His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection. The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and unmistakable terms about the truth of all of those. It also provides the most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement. Truly, this divinely inspired book is a keystone in bearing witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ (see title page of the Book of Mormon).”2

Tad R. Callister said, “The Book of Mormon is not only the keystone of our religion, but it can also become the keystone of our testimonies so that when trials or unanswered questions confront us, it can hold our testimonies securely in place.”4

Oh, how we need our testimonies securely in place!

A few months ago while I was reading Alma 30, the story of Korihor sounded all too familiar. We all know someone who has lost their testimony and left the Church, often trying to take others with them. Remember Korihor was going about “leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them that there is no God.” Alma bore his testimony of God and Jesus Christ saying, “I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? … I know thou believest, but … ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you.” Korihor tells Alma that if he will show him a sign, then he will believe. Alma tells him that the sign he will give is that he will be stuck dumb.

In Alma Chapter 30, beginning in verse 51, we read:

“And now when the chief judge saw this, he put forth his hand and wrote unto Korihor, saying: Art thou convinced of the power of God? … Behold, he has showed unto you a sign; and now will ye dispute more?

“And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.

“But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that the were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.”5

As I read this I realized that especially now one of the greatest blessings that comes from the Book of Mormon is safety from apostacy.

In last October’s general conference, Rubén V. Alliaud of the Seventy taught, “Nephi explained the central purpose of the Book of Mormon in this way: ‘For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God. … And [so] we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ, … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.’ The entire Book of Mormon is imbued with that same sacred purpose. For this reason, any reader who commits to a sincere study of it, with the spirit of prayer, will not only learn about Christ but will learn from Christ—especially if they make the decision to ‘try the virtue of the word’ and not reject it prematurely due to prejudiced unbelief by what others have said. … My invitation … to each of us, regardless of how long we’ve been a member of the Church, is to allow the power of the truths of the Book of Mormon to find us and embrace us once again and day after day as we diligently seek for personal revelation. It will do so if we allow it.”6 I love that! Allow the power of the truths of the Book of Mormon to find us and embrace us. There is great power in the Book of Mormon!

A couple of years ago, President Nelson asked us to consider these three questions: “First, what would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?”7

For each of us, the answers to these questions may be different. I cannot begin to imagine what my life would be without the Book of Mormon. Gratefully I don’t have to! So I would like to share what I do have and what I do know. Because of the Book of Mormon I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer, the Author and Finisher of my faith. I know about His infinite and eternal Atonement, that He has the power to heal my sicknesses, pains and sorrows. I know our Heavenly Father’s beautiful plan of salvation. These truths have brought a peace which passes all understanding. Because of the Book of Mormon I also know that Satan is real and that there will always be those who will try to turn the righteous from the truth. I know that the world will mock us for our sacred beliefs. But I know how to guard against such evil. And I also know that truth will always prevail. I know that reading the Book of Mormon every day brings safety to my soul. I know, as President Nelson taught, “the truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.”7

Last week my dear father-in-law passed away. A couple of weeks before he died, we had asked him what the most important thing to him was. His reply, “The gospel and my family.” We then asked what he wanted his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know. His response, “Read the Book of Mormon.” Because of the Book of Mormon, he knew and understood the plan of salvation and found great peace in it. He wanted the same for his posterity.

I love the Book of Mormon. I am eternally grateful for its truths. It is a precious gift in my life. It has strengthened my testimony of the Savior, who is the ultimate gift from our Father in Heaven. May we all strive to more fully embrace both of these precious gifts.

References:

Closing Remarks– Russell M. Nelson
The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion– Ezra Taft Benson
The Power of the Book of Mormon– Thomas S. Monson
God’s Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon– Tad R. Callister
Alma 30:51-53
Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon– Rubén V. Alliaud
The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like Without It? – Russell M. Nelson