Let's Move Beyond Tolerance

Todays is a short post penned on my lunch break. 12 hour shifts don't lend themselves to freetime.

Today we honor Martin Luther King Jr. It bothers me that even if our country is outwardly more pleasant to those of other races, cultures, religions, and ideals we are largely unchanged inwardly. A quick review of news sites, social media, and the internet in general can reveal this unfortunate reality.

My hope is that America will someday move beyond mere tolerance, and begin to appreciate one another.

May you all have a blessed day, and remember to do as Christ did, and serve one another, regardless of station.

My Post-Food Coma Obligatory Christmas Blog Post

Its Christmas Day. I'm sitting on my couch with my favorite wife and dog next to me watching Elf! (which has since become the Doctor Who Christmas Special). They're my favorite because they're mine. I'm sure many of you have a favorite wife and dog as well. We just returned from a friend's house where we chit chatted all day while our host cooked up an extreme Christmas Dinner, which filled our bellies much like one fills a size 6 shoe with a size 10 foot.

This Christmas season really gave us a chance to look at the season of Christmas, and refocus our Christmas spirit. We had spent most of our money on things we didn't need, like rent, electricity, food, and student loans, so didn't have much money for the things we need, like iPads, HD TVs, and sideline Denver Bronco's season tickets. Now, Christmas isn't about money. We all know that. Its all over the Ensign every year, and I'm sure somebody in your ward (church congregation) took up a good 5 minutes of your Sunday School nap to rant about the evils of Christmas consumerism.

However, Christmas really isn't the same when you're broke, and let me tell you why. When it comes down to it, Christmas is about giving, and serving. We give to those we love because of the happiness it brings them. We give because Jesus gave, and he is our examplar. And who doesn't love seeing the smile on their favorite wife's face when she opens a small box of designer rocks, or the look on their child's face at the sight of a brand new digital distraction? When you're broke, you miss out on the anticipation and excitement of brand new toys. Being broke on Christmas is like missing an opportunity to serve. You miss out on an opportunity to do as Christ would have done (though I'm sure he wouldn't buy your child the new iSomething.)

So, we had a choice to make. We could mope around for Christmas, or we could get into the Christmas spirit. So we forced it on ourselves. We took late night (9pm for old married couples) car rides to look at Christmas lights while listening to the local jazz station's Christmas program. We put up Christmas lights on the back patio, and got out our little tiny Christmas tree. We bought a few new shirts, and wrapped them up in last years wrapping paper. We watched some Christmas movies, drank some hot cocoa, and snuggled under the big red fleece blanket with our favorite dog between us. To top it off, we went caroling with the sister missionaries to the bishop, some random ward (church) families, and, by accident, a non-member family we'd never met.

In all, its been a good Christmas, partially because my in-laws mailed me a very nice Bronco's scarf, but mostly because I spent the Christmas season with my favorite wife, doing what we could to bring each other happiness, and bringing happiness to our ward family.

Home Teaching: Take the Initiative

When the Ward Executive Secretary sent an email to the ward to report their home teaching for November, I asked if I had a home teaching assignment yet, and I did. I was to teach with Brother Burk. I immediately sent off an email to Brother Burk to ask if he was available to make visits. We agreed that I would make the appointments and he would teach the lesson. So, I called our families and got our appointments made. No big deal.

I don’t know about you, but I do what I do. It’s not out of the ordinary or in any way special. It’s just what I do.

Well, what I had done was, unbeknownst to me, quite noteworthy. Brother Burk was quite impressed with my initiative in contacting him when I could have just let him do all the work, since he’s the senior companion and all. He spent several minutes talking about it.

Then I thought about it. Why did I take the initiative?

Brother Burk is moving next month. I don’t know anybody in the ward very well. I’m busy with work and school. It’s the Christmas Season and people are busy. Taking initiative scares me. Etc. Etc. There are a million reasons I could make up, none of them good of course.

In order for me to take the initiative and call Brother Burk I had to supplant the natural man. I had to jump through all my personal hang-ups and excuses, and just do what I had to do. Would my lack of home teaching have gone unnoticed by my Priesthood leaders? Likely not, as Home Teaching percentages are low in most wards. Would I be in trouble with anyone? No. Would I notice I hadn’t done my Home Teaching? Yes. Would my families have known? Yes. Would Brother Burk have known? Yes.

So, my decision came down to four considerations: 1. Personal accountability, 2. Accountability to/Respect for those I serve with, 3. My basic obligations to those whom I’ve been given Priesthood Authority over, 4. My love for my Savior and his Children.

To the Elders of the church: If you are lacking in your Home Teaching, then I ask you to begin now. Stop making excuses. Be of good courage, and push past the fears, the apathy, and the excuses. Get out there, and serve your families. Whether or not you are a good Teacher, you are providing service to people whom you will come to love, and call friends. This is the work that will outlast this mortal life. It is a good work, and you should make yourself a part of it.

Like Rain For The Ocean

If Christ were here on Earth, what would he do? Surely he would lift his hand to feed and clothe the world. How would he do it though? Would he raise his magic wand like a magician and make the world a better place? (Thank you Pope Francis) Maybe he would create a multibillion dollar business to seek out and care for people? Maybe he would go out on his own, and cure the world one person at a time, similar to his mortal life on Earth? Really though, what would he do?

As I pondered these questions the answer came to me, almost as clear as if it were the spoken word. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did start a multibillion dollar business, and he called it The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Maybe it’s not a business as most of think of a business, but it is a business nonetheless.) Then, since he couldn't be here to perform the work one-by-one himself, he called his “employees”, and “business associates” to do it for him, to lift the world one person at a time.

At first glance, it’s a wonder that lifting the world one person at a time would be very effective. There are over 7 billion people after all. It’s a tall order, even for the Lord’s church, and still remains tall after including the billions of churches and civic organizations involved in the work. However, it is the most effective way. Why is that? Because “He recognizes the great worth of each of Heavenly Father’s children.” (Elder Hugo E. Martinez, “Our Personal Ministries”) The Lord wants each person to feel cared for as an individual, not as an impersonal group. He understands the human psyche, and our need for closeness. He knows us, and wants us to know each other.

So, we then have a duty, each of us, to lift others in our little part of the world, whether they be strangers, friends, or enemies. The little acts of service we perform, no matter how small, will contribute to a larger ocean of Christlike acts throughout the world, and as we all work to lift each other up, the world will be lifted as well.

7 Most Excellent Lessons

One of my favorite fun films hit the silver screen in 1989, and in this film are several life lessons that we learn every Sunday, and are core values in the lives of Latter-Day Saints. That film is "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure."

In case you haven't seen it, Bill & Ted are two high school kids barely skating through school. Their dream is to rock with Eddie Van Halen in their band, "Wyld Stallyns." As their senior year comes to a close they must pass their history report to graduate high school. If they don't graduate, Ted will go off to military school, and Bill and Ted will never see each other again.

They're sitting in front of a Circle-K, trying to study historical dudes for their report when a phone booth falls out of the sky and Rufus (George Carlin) steps out to tell them they must pass their test in order to become the leaders of a Utopian future.

Bill and Ted get in the phone booth (a time machine) and kidnap several historical dudes (and one historical babe) who later present for their most excellent history report, thereby securing our most bodacious future.

So, here are some memorable quotes from the movie, and their accompanying lesson. If you haven't seen the movie, you're gonna have to catch up. ;)

“Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K.” –Ted

We are a peculiar people, and strange things are happening all around us, some good, and some bad. Rufus (Moroni) brought us the phone booth (Book of Mormon), but its up to us to do the leg work, and learn from the historical dudes (Prophets).

“Whoa. Those must be the princesses you told yourself about at the Circle-K. We gotta go. It’s a history report, not a babe report.” Bill

Remember why you came to Earth. Stay on task. Don’t give in to the natural man.

“Bogus” –Bill and Ted

Listen to the Holy Ghost, and fine tune “the spirit of discernment” so you know when things just don’t add up.

“That conversation made more sense this time.” –Bill 

Whether its reading the scriptures, or attending the Temple, you’ll understand more each time you do it.

“Trash can… Remember a trash can.” –Ted (Gotta see the movie for this one)

Keep your commitments, especially those you make to yourself.

“Be Excellent to Each Other.” –Bill

Remember to keep the second greatest commandment, to love one another.

“PARTY ON DUDES!” –Abraham Lincoln

Remember to have fun, but keep the commandments when you do!