The Brass Serpent and the Iron Rod

In a semi-recent elders quorum lesson in my EQ (one of four on the Island of Misfit Toys!), the instructor posed this question: "When we approach God in prayer to ask Him for forgiveness, how long does it take Him to grant our request?"

I was one of those to answer and posed the thought that, if we are sincere and are penitent, He grants it right away. He wants to give us this blessing. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught us in the mission field that preaching repentance is not condemning others; instead, it is offering them one of the greatest blessings God can give!

How beautiful it is to know we worship a God who's forgiveness is there for the asking! The Brass Serpent that Moses held up to the children of Israel in the wilderness is there for us all if we will not harden our hearts and refuse look up at it. It was a simple thing to do, and yet many perished because they were too stubborn or unbelieving merely "to look to God and live" (Alma 37:47).

It's a simple act of faith to get down on our knees, to offer a heartfelt prayer, to ask for forgiveness. And the granting of it is simple, in its essence, too.

Alma the Younger taught: "Now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you" (Alma 34:31; emphasis added).

Having said that, of course, and because "faith without works is dead," our sincerity in asking for forgiveness must almost be accompanied by action. I've learned that while we individually don't have to sacrifice or suffer to repent (because Christ suffered for us), we do have to sacrifice and suffer to change. We must not only cease bad behavior(s), we must also replace it/them with a good one(s). We have to daily choose to take hold of the Iron Rod as we strive to put off the natural man, to become someone different than we were before. It's not easy, and the pathway of discipleship was always meant to be. The same goes for breaking free from things that are not necessarily sins but bad habits.

In the October 2016 general conference, Elder Lynn G. Robbins taught: "An unwillingness to sacrifice as part of our penitence, mocks or belittles His greater sacrifice for the same sin."

It's one part simple, one part tough. But we have help. We have so much help to guide us along the journey. It is there in the simple, Sunday school answers of prayer, scripture study, attending meetings, and so forth. It is also there in those along the same journey who buoy us up in our efforts to change, like the ugly duckling who turned over time into a beautiful swan (metaphorically speaking).

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine bravely and opened expressed on social media that he has been struggling with a pornography addiction. In admitting to this, he also asked for the help of his friends by beginning a daily habit of posting as to whether or not that day was a "win," or a day in which he had succeeded in avoiding temptation.

I've been following this friend's posts since, and I've been amazed by both his progress as well as the incredible amount of support he's received from others as one or two days of "wins" have, at last counting, become now two weeks' worth. It's been inspiring to see his will to change. It also inspires me in my efforts to confront my own challenges.

When our "favorite sins," and we each have them, enter our thoughts or come around wanting to hang out again, like Peter in the New Testament, we each must answer the Lord in our own way if we love Him "more than these" (John 21:15; emphasis added). I use "these" in this sense being those things that would get in our way on the path of the Iron Rod.

Blank Space

Even though we keep track of time second by second, minute by minute, and so on, science tells us it's all relative.

Nevertheless, I love the concept of beginning a new year. I love the day when I start to fill out an empty calendar with events, birthdays, social gatherings, and so forth. I love the very concept of new beginnings.

The bishop said as much yesterday on the Island of Misfit Toys in his sermon to lead off the new year. For me, one of the key concepts in the gospel of Jesus Christ is that of new beginnings. We get that chance each week with the sacrament of the Lord's supper. We get new chances during the week as we earnestly pray for new strength and opportunities to become better through the Atonement. We get those moments throughout the day if we will look around and see them in the people we interact with, the places we go, and the choices we make. The tender mercies are abundant.

Through social media, you couldn't help observe over the last few weeks that many people have come to the conclusion that 2016 was a a no-good, horrible, very bad year. If you look for them, you'll find the reasons why the glass was half-empty. I am grateful for the many who have also shared, conversely, the reasons why the past year was one of great blessings, as well.

As for myself, I have tried to put my focus on the latter. I've mentioned some of the difficult circumstances I faced in 2016 here on Paco Nation, and I don't think I really need to bring them up again at this point. Let them stay in the past.

Some solid truths I know about where I was 366 days ago versus where I am now: I began 2016 breathing in and breathing out, with a roof over my head, food to eat, a warm bed to sleep in, work to fill my days, enjoyable hobbies to fill my nights and weekends, people who care for me, people to serve, and things to accomplish. Those very basic things, the bare necessities, are everything.

As I look out on the still-very-blank space that is the year 2017, I wonder: What will happen this year? Will it be better than 2016 was? Worse? Will I accomplish bigger and better things? Will I get stuck in a rut? Will trials come my way? Will I have to undergo another unexpected surgery, or will I get healthier this year? Will my unexpected change in employment open new doors for me? Will death strike others who are close to me or close to my friends? Will new lives, including new children (nieces and nephews), enter on the stage? Will the person I've prayed and hoped for make herself known? An even better question: Will I become the kind of person who attracts such a person? Will President Trump get us all sucked down to the tenth level of hell? Or we will he (or at least the people in his cabinet) surprise us all and be better than everyone fears? Is whatever happens on Temple Square or in my house far more important than what takes place in the White House? Can I focus on what I can control rather than the many things out of my control that, in the past, have caused me grief?

My answer to all of the above is yes. It will be what we make of it. I'm grateful to have each of you along for the journey.

Kira's Baptism

My niece Kira, who celebrated her 8th birthday last week, was baptized into the LDS Church Saturday by her father, my brother Dave, at their stake center in Woods Cross.

Nearly all of our immediately family members and their kids attended, though sadly none of our Utah County cousins were able to make it. Attendees included most notably Mom, who we're grateful was able to leave the hospital Friday night, fewer than 24 hours before the scheduled baptism ordinance. We certainly view this as a tender mercy, something which I wrote about a great deal in my last post. All week while she was being treated, her goal was to be able to make it home to be able to attend, and sometimes you are allotted those things you want in addition to those things you need. She has to be on oxygen for the time being, so we're taking things a little bit at a time and helping her as best we can as she makes her recovery.

Here's all of the Woods Cross family members, looking sharp:

It was a beautiful day and hopefully a memorable one for a great kid.