Back on the Path

When you have done something for a long time it is rather easy to keep doing it. However, when we you get out of doing that particular habit it is just as easy to discontinue it altogether.
For instance, I ran cross country and track for three years in high school but once I graduated and got out of the running routine it became much more difficult to motivate myself. As a result I am currently out of shape and don't really desire to go on runs in the morning.
This same principle applies to church attendance. Just as I love to run, I love going to church. It keeps me in shape spiritually. On my mission I have seen many who have left the path of church attendance. I have also seen many choose to come back. At first it is often hard to return but as they have worked through that initial discomfort they've been able to reap the benefits of going to church.
Even though it might be hard at first the blessings of going to church are well worth it in the end.

J.O.Y.

This Christmas season I hope that we can all have JOY. Maybe the word joy could actually serve as an acronym for our priorities this time of year.

J for Jesus
O for Others
Y for Yourself

Our focus should be on Christ, His life, what He did for us. One way that we can show our love for Him is by serving the people He died for. I have found some of the greatest joy in my life by serving others. If we will focus less on ourselves and more on our Savior I know that this Christmas can, and will, have greater significance.

Running Between the Lanes

At our track in high school we had eight lanes that looked a lot like this. I actually never ran in a race which required me to stay in one lane for the entire run. I was more of a long distance guy. We just run wherever. Anyway, I wanted to expound on this principle of staying in our lane.

Our Heavenly Father has outlined a plan for us. We call it the Plan of Salvation. In order to win the prize we must play by the rules. This includes diligently following the commandments, which I would compare to staying in your lane. However, unlike a track meet, if you somehow do get out of your lane you are allowed to make a lane change back to where you need to be. We call this repentance.

No Trial is Too Difficult

       In the Book of Mormon a prophet named Lehi had a vision (See 1 Nephi 8). In this vision he saw a tree representing the love of God. The fruit of this tree was so delicious he wanted others to partake of it also. Numberless concourses of people pressed their way forward all trying to make it to this tree of life. The people found the path that led to the tree but when a mist of darkness descended upon them many wandered and were lost.

       Our Heavenly Father does allow trials and temptations to enter into our lives. We must learn to make righteous decisions. However, we are promised that we will never have more than we can handle. We will never be tempted above that which we are able (See 1 Corinthians 10:13).

Crossover

       In the sport of basketball a crossover is simply switching which hand you are dribbling with. So if you were bouncing the ball with your right hand and then switched to your left that would be considered a crossover. It is an important thing to learn because if you can only dribble with one hand you are in a lot of trouble when someone is guarding you. Many times a good cross over is said to brake someone's ankles (meaning you faked them out so bad their ankles broke).

       This same concept is true with the scriptures. Paul taught that, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." Often scriptures in the Bible can be interpreted many different ways. This confusion is inspired by the devil. We know that not all of these interpretations can be correct seeing as they contradict one another. So just like a crossover in basketball we can crossover, or cross reference, from the Bible to the Book of Mormon. This eliminates confusion, thus, breaking the devil's ankles.

       Check out Tad R. Callister's recent conference talk for further enlightenment on the subject.

Inspiration

In the Book of Mormon we read of different military leaders who inspired their men to fight. The two fundemental driving forces were either hatred or love. The righteous Nephite leaders strengthened their men in love of their God, their family, and their freedom.1 On the other hand, wicked men inspired their warriors with hatred towards their enemies or for power and money.2

I have experience first hand the difference both types of leaders can make. Maybe not to the same extremes, but to some degree. During my high school years spent on the track I had great coaches. They showed confidence in me and my abilities. They cared about me. They inspired me to want to become a better athlete. However, when I had coaches who yelled at me and told me only what I was doing wrong I was not prone to work as hard.

In both cases (in the Book of Mormon and in my life), those who were inspired by love were more effective than those inspired by hatred. I hope we can be like my track coaches and help those around us to recognize their potential and help them to reach it. It's easy, just love them.

Practice Prepares us for Success

Deuternomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Before the regular football season starts, in high school anyway, the team will go through extensive practicing and a lot of hard work. You might even call it a refiner's fire. Perhaps, one of the most significant reasons the coach will put his players through this is to weed out the ones who are too weak, or who simply do not want to work hard.

The Lord is our coach, so to speak. He wants us to enjoy the blessing of playing in the homecoming game and enjoy a successful season in the promised land. But He must test and try us before we can come up out of the wildnerness. If we will prove to Him that we will keep His commandments then we will reap the reward.

The Easy Way Out

Over the years, I have played on quite a few different sports teams. And through it all I have learned many different things. One thing that stands out to me is the difference hard work makes in an athlete. In order to improve you must put in the work.

Hard work often causes pain in the world of sports. Whether it's lifting weights, running laps, or biking for miles you must push yourself if you want to get stronger and faster.

The same is true with life. If we take the easy way out then we will never become any better tomorrow than we are today. That is the Lord's law. That which ye sow, shall ye reap.

See 2 Cor. 9:6, Alma 9:28, or Galatians 6:7

Marriage

Since I been here in Montana I have had the opportunity to enter into many homes of people from all walks of life. It has been very interesting to observe the different atmospheres. I have learned much about what makes a happy home. Of course I am no expert but I just wanted to share some of my insights on the subject of marriage.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:18, 24). Man and woman are meant to be together and they are meant to be unified. Parents who work together in love to rear their children in righteousness are able to enjoy the blessing of having the Holy Ghost to help guide them.

Parents who live the gospel and teach their children about God in turn come closer to God. I've seen it illustrated this way:

As husband and wife get closer to God they also get closer together.

True happiness is to be found in eternal marriage not just 'til death do you part. This doctrine is found in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. President Hugh B. Brown gave a great talk entitled: The Latter-day Saint Concept of Marriage. I would suggest it.

No matter who you are whether you are married or single, the gospel of Jesus Christ can and will help you. I have seen it change individuals and families and I know it can help you too. There is truth in the adage: Families who pray together stay together.

For more information on eternal marriages and families please visit lds.org.

5k for Life

Ready. Set. (Snap) The starting gun is fired and the race begins. Running a 5 kilometer race begins with everyone fighting for position, testing the strength of their competitors, and getting into a rhythm for the rest of the race. I would compare Mile 1 of the race to the first 15 years of life for us. We are just starting out; just getting to know ourselves and take in our surroundings.

Mile 2 of the race is to me the most important. This is where many runners kind of 'fall asleep' so to speak. After all, the finish line seems so far away and they start to rationalize slowing down, maybe working a little less than they could. Some even quit and give up entirely. In life, this period of time is often referred to as the decade of decisions. We have many choices to make that will greatly impact the rest of our lives. So we'd be best to 'stay awake' during all of it.

The last mile is a different length of time for each of us. Unlike a race we don't know exactly where the finish line will be. We could stumble upon it at any time. Let us endure to the end of our lives with perseverance, dedication, and hard work. If we do so I know that we will find peace in this life and happiness in the life to come.