with real intent

LoJ vs. LoM

2006-10-30T01:50:00Z

Recently, my Bishop expanded upon Elder Bednar's recent talk, "And Nothing Shall Offend Them". I thought he did a great job teaching us principles relating to offence, retaliation, revenge, forgiveness, and healing. As he was talking I reflected upon the Laws of Justice and Mercy.
When I was younger I can remember thinking that these two laws competed against each other. However, while studying Alma 42 one time it became clear to me that these laws compliment one another.
Anyways, while the Bishop was speaking the thought came to me that we often call upon the Law of Justice. What do we have to do with the Law of Justice? Virtually nothing. The only scriptures that come to mind are from the end of the ministries of both Nephi and Moroni. We will be brought before the bar of God to testify and be judged. Thus we see that our involvement with the Law of Justice occurs in the post mortal realm.
However, the Law of Mercy, what have we to do with it? Everything!
We should be much less concerned with the Law of Justice and much more concerned with the Law of Mercy.
The principles of mercy and loving kindness are the context out of which we should act regarding our brothers and sisters.
Another will exercise I guess, to apply mercy rather than to appeal to justice.

Psalm One

2006-10-14T23:00:00Z

Why hast thou not cast me off O Lord? Why hast thou not forsaken me?
Why have the bowels of thy mercy been poured out upon me?
From morn to eve and through the night should my soul be drawn out in thanksgiving to thee.
But yet, I spend my days giving little thought to thy kingdom.
O Lord, how can such an unthankful servant be the receiver of so many of thy blessings?
How is it that thou sendest thy Spirit to one such as I, to comfort me and to teach me?
I will always recognize my unworthiness before thee.
I will always confess my sins to thee, for I know that thou knowest the thoughts of my heart, and there can be nothing hid from thy sight.
The desires thou knowest also. Wouldest that they may be right in thine eyes.
Wouldest that my ways, may be thy ways and my thoughts, thy thoughts.
That I may be a tool in thine hand, a polished shaft in thy quiver is my supplication.

John Wright
June 24, 1990

Abundance vs. Materialism

2006-10-07T12:18:00Z

What is the difference between these two? There are several scriptural references which help us understand the difference, one being found in section 104 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
13 For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man ^aaccountable, as a ^bsteward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.

14 I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and ^abuilt the earth, my very ^bhandiwork; and all things therein are mine.

15 And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.

16 But it must needs be done in mine own ^away; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the ^bpoor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.

17 For the ^aearth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be ^bagents unto themselves.

18 Therefore, if any man shall take of the ^aabundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the ^blaw of my gospel, unto the ^cpoor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in ^dhell, being in torment.

And who wants to go to hell? But too often we have "boastings in [our] own strength" (Helaman 4:12-13).
So what are the concepts or principles behind these two methods of dealing with material things, what words come to mind?

Abundance - increase, equality, fairness, stewardship, simplicity, give/help/assist/impart as you are able, mercy, generousity, compassion, His glory, pure intent, awareness

Materialism - covet, oppression, My glory, oblivious, usury, rationalize, self-determination, fine-twined linen, pride, hypocrite, praise of the world

It can be a fine line. It may not seem so from the lists above. Abundance can easily turn into materialism and materialism can become abundance, although usually not as easily.

Those of us that have, need to help others. And we should assist according to the abundance that we have been blessed with.
I end with a verse from the 18th chapter of the Book of Mosiah;
27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, ^aevery one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.

Of course Mosiah 4:16-26 is a classic as well.

"With Pure Intent"

2006-09-24T12:10:00Z

It is my desire to go to heaven. However, in quiet moments when I look inward I realize that His grace will not be sufficient if I do not do what is needed to become clean. Having determined that the ordinance of the sacrament would be critical in cleansing myself I spent several months working on how I could better prepare myself during the week and what I could do to make partaking of the emblems more than habitual. More than something I just do on Sunday mornings without a lot of thought. The following verse is a result of that work.

With Pure Intent
The body that I may be resurrected
The blood that I may be redeemed
The bread that I may remember
The water that I may become clean
Gethsemane's Garden, so much suffering
But the empty tomb, filled with hope
Come, let us remember, let us partake

I know it is just a verse but it has made a real difference in how I approach the ordinance of the sacrament. I share it in the hope that it may help others as well.

Integration and Mentoring

2006-09-23T16:48:00Z

Almost six months ago I travelled to Salt Lake with my wife and oldest son. He had just turned 12 and our plan was to take those that turn 12 to the next General Conference. I received tickets from my Stake President for 2 general sessions and the priesthood session. I was delighted to attend general conference with my wife and eldest son. And to take him to his first general priesthood session in Salt Lake was quite a blessing. We arrived early and after taking our seats we noticed that our Stake President was motioning to us to come see him. He had saved seats for us, one of his counselors, and two of his counselors sons-in law. My son was sitting between a counselor in our stake presidency and I. He enganged my son for a good half hour. Ask him all sorts of questions and then shared with us art (very good pen drawings) that he had done over the past couple of decades. He said that this is one of the things he would do when he arrived early to meetings. He went to the point of even tutoring my son, who is artistically inclined, in his own first pen art drawing. Then conference started but brotherhood had occurred. In our own ward I see my son interacting with not only his peers but other older priesthood brethren as we meet together each sunday. I look forward to these experiences with and for all my sons.

But what of my daughter? Earlier in the month as I was reviewing the calendar I noticed the General Women's Broadcast scheduled for the 23rd. The question came, why do the young women and the woman have separate general sessions? It seems we have a general problem integrating 18 year old girls into Relief Society and why wouldn't we. When do they ever interact as sisters? We have priesthood meetings and home teaching for integration and mentoring but what do the women have?

A simple thing, a general womens session for those women 12 and older held twice a year. Well, maybe not simple but a start.

Intention or Coincidence

2006-09-22T13:27:00Z

I had an experience the other day which reaffirmed my belief in the "power of intention".
A few weeks ago one of our employees handed in their 2 week notice. We needed to find a replacement. We posted the job on one of the jobsites. It was not one of the bigger jobsites but had a section specifically related to our industry. We received our first response to the job posting afeter one full week. I was thinking we had made a mistake posting on that site, although I did not want 100's of resumes either. Towards the middle of the 2nd week feeling more of the pain of being shorthanded I thought I should take some time and focus on filling the position. I sat in my office and reviewed what I had learned of "intention" over the past few years. I did not spend a long time but really attempted to use intention as I understood it. Then proceeded to execute other tasks. That afternoon a resume was emailed in, that evening another, and early the next morning a third. So, coincidence or intention?

Awake!

2006-09-21T12:54:00Z

Living versus existing. The differences between living and existing relate to the principles of intention, awareness, and courage to name a few. Many of us exist rather than choosing to live. We let life happen. It passes us by while we sleep. The prophets Lehi and Alma both talk of the dangers of remaining asleep. The prophets Nephi and Jacob talk of the necessity of awaking and living mindfully and with intention. Even once one is exposed to these principles it is difficult to remain awake and aware. Prayer and meditation, both formal and informal, help us remain awake and become more aware.

God bless us that we can so live.