Patience...Is a Virtue

Today I would just like to write about a talk I recently read entitled: Patience. It's by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, an apostle of the Church.

Patience is not indifference. He says, "Patience is a willingness, in a sense, to watch the unfolding purposes of God with a sense of wonder and awe - rather than pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance." when we have trials we need to be patient and look at them from God's perspective. In a previous blog of mine I wrote about running the race of life with patience (See Running the Race). It is important to have an eternal perspective as we are tested and tried in our everyday lives. Something that I really liked about Elder Maxwell's talk was his comparison of patience and photosynthesis. He compares the carbon dioxide to trials. We have to take raw materials and turn them into something we can use to grow. Thus the growth of the plant is likened to the joy and growth we have after using our agency and choosing to be patient in adversity.

I'll just end with a quick quote from Elder Maxwell. He says, "Too much opening and closing of the oven door and the cake falls instead of rising." I hope that we can all be a little bit more patient so we can eat the cake we are trying to bake.

Scriptures about patience:

Hebrews 10:36

Hebrews 12:1
Romans 5:3
1 Peter 2:20

Lost and Found

       So once upon a time when I was just a little boy I rode my bicycle down to the church to go to a Primary activity. I can't even remember what it was. Well, after the activity I ended up forgetting about my bike and walking home with my friends. As you can guess, a few days later I realized it was missing. What a tragedy!! I looked every place I could think of, including back at the church where I left it. No dice. It was no where to be found. We kept searching though. One day, my dad and I were driving in his car through the neighborhoods seeing if we could locate it. We said a prayer that we might be able to somehow find this bike. As we were driving I saw, in someones garage, a bike that looked similar to mine. We checked to see if it was. I could tell it was mine because I had mismatched gear-shifters. What a relief! We knocked on the door of the house to talk to them and get my bike back. We knocked and knocked but nobody answered. My dad told me to just ride it home. I was so afraid that they were going to come home right when I was riding the bike out of their driveway, but they didn't and I made it home safely.

       Some people may say that it was just a coincidence that I found my bike after saying a prayer but I believe our Heavenly Father had a lot to do with finding my bike that day. I am grateful for the power that prayer can be in our lives.

A Prophet's Voice

Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

There is something very significant about this scripture. Note that Lot chooses to pitch his tent toward the wicked city of Sodom. Alright, let's read another scripture:

Mosiah 2:6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

The people in these passages all have a choice to make. Which way to pitch their tent? We also have that decision to make as well. In a few weeks we have the opportunity to listen to a modern day prophet. We can choose to pitch our tents toward him and other Church leaders or to turn the opposite way and look toward worldly wickedness. The choice is ours. One thing to keep in mind is the different results of these two passages of scripture. Click on the pictures to find out.

I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

The words of this children's song help remind me of what we are all trying to do in our lives.

I’m trying to be like Jesus;

I’m following in his ways.

I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.

At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,

But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

“Love one another as Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do.

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,

For these are the things Jesus taught.”

I’m trying to love my neighbor;

I’m learning to serve my friends.

I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.

I try to remember the lessons he taught.

Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:

“Love one another as Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do.

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,

For these are the things Jesus taught.”

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938
© 1980 by Janice Kapp Perry. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.

Listen to "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus"

I'll just end with a scripture. It's 3 Nephi 14:20-21. Christ says," Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Life is about the doing, so let's all do a little bit better.

Running the Race

       The apostle Paul writing to the Hebrews gives them some counsel that, I think, we can all benefit from. In Hebrews chapter 12 he says, "...and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." As we run along the path of life it is important that we look to the finish line where our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ are waiting for us, cheering us on. When we can look to, and focus on, this goal of returning to live with them we gain a more eternal perspective. This eternal perspective helps me to have patience through my tests and trials in life. Another thing that helps me is that I don't have to run alone. Heavenly Father has given us some running buddies like our friends, families, and the Holy Ghost. With their help we can run this race of life and win.