Things Both Great and Small

In the October 2001 general conference of the Church, Pres. James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, gave a talk titled "Some Great Thing" in which he shared the following:

"We are all familiar with the Old Testament story of Naaman, the captain of the Syrian hosts, who was a leper. A little Israelite servant told Naaman's wife that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal him. Naaman came with his chariot and horses to the house of Elisha, who sent a messenger to instruct Naaman, 'Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.'

"You younger boys know how it is when you show your hands to your mother: she'll tell you to go and wash! But Naaman was not a young boy. He was the captain of the Syrian hosts, and he was offended by Elisha's instruction to wash in the Jordan. So he 'went away in a rage.' One of Naaman's servants with a wise head remonstrated with him and said: 'If the prophet had bid thee [to] do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?' Naaman then repented and followed the counsel of the prophet. The leprosy disappeared, and 'his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.' 'Some great thing' in this instance was extraordinarily simple and easy to do."

Pres. Faust then went on to say:

"We do not prove our love for the Savior only by doing 'some great thing.' If the prophet personally asked you to go on a mission to some strange and exotic place, would you go? You would probably make every effort to go. But what about paying tithing? What about doing your home teaching? We show our love for the Savior by doing the many small acts of faith, devotion, and kindness to others that define our character."

That talk has stayed with me over the years. It has been on my mind these past few months while I've observed the prophet and other leaders of the Church ask its membership to do some things that ultimately are not that different from what Elisha asked of Naaman.

At the latest general conference in October, for example, Pres. Russell M. Nelson spoke of "The Correct Name of the Church," stressing the importance of using the full name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when possible and of avoiding the use of the term "Mormon Church."

Reacting to this, one Church member ranted on social media: "This is not the policy change you order up if you're conforming to the modern world. The modern world doesn't like long and gangly names that are confusing and ambiguous. Say 'the Mormons' and everyone knows who you're talking about. Say the now approved 'restored Church of Jesus Christ' and everyone says, 'What?'"

Well, in the first place, the Church has never at any point in its existence been about "conforming to the modern world," nor do I suspect it ever will. (And I thank my Heavenly Father for it!) In fact, I suspect the divide between the Church and the world will only continue to grow farther apart until the Savior comes again. Beyond that issue, however, it seems the point of this clarification (not a "policy change") sailed right over this person's head.

At the same general conference, Pres. Nelson also invited the sisters of the Church to take a 10-day fast from social media. I'm aware of several sisters who did so, including JB. (But I'll let her tell her own story of the things she learned by doing so.) Others, though, did not, and posted on (where else?) social media their reasons for being exempt from this challenge. It was October, once again, and was nearing election time when the prophet spoke on this, and I read the statuses of those who mentioned their need to raise their voices for democracy, smashing the patriarchy, and the like instead.

Speaking of November's election, as a third example of one of those small and simple things, the Utah Area presidency of the Church asked its members to oppose the passage of Proposition 2 in Utah, which was to legalize the use of medical marijuana in the state under certain conditions.

I read in The Salt Lake Tribune (where else?) this hot take at the time:

"The presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (sic) sent out a ... letter requesting that local Utah church leaders encourage THEIR congregations to oppose Prop 2, which would legalize medical marijuana in Utah. Not only does the church have no place inserting itself into political matters ... but they are also not listening to their membership and to the general public on the matter. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, 54% of people who identified as 'very active' in the church support the legalization of medical marijuana, and 74% of somewhat active Mormons said they supported it."

I got this letter (mentioned by the above writer) from the Utah Area presidency. If a Church leader asks me to do such a thing, it is good enough for me. I didn't vote to support the measure, but it passed anyway and was later amended by the state legislature. (That is also another story and not something I want to re-hash with this post, whatever your feelings on the matter may be.)

Some would call this "blind obedience," but I don't for a second. I obey because I have a testimony of the Church and that its head is the Savior, Jesus Christ. Following the counsel of my leaders has blessed me every time I have done so. And yes, one of those things was "go[ing] on a mission to some strange and exotic place," and I "ma[de] every effort to go."

We all have the choice, like Naaman, to obey or to "go away in a rage," even if it is a metaphorical one or one of indifference.

In the future, I expect the Church will continue to ask both small and "great things" of me, and I know that I will be blessed when I hearken to those things.

In concluding his aforementioned talk, I conclude this post with the words of Pres. Faust: "May we all be faithful in doing the day-to-day, ordinary things that prove our worthiness, for they will lead us to and qualify us for great things."

Adversity

JB and I spoke in our ward's sacrament meeting earlier today. This is what I spoke on:

Good morning, brothers and sisters. I am grateful for this opportunity Jana and I have been given to speak to you today. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and fellowship we’ve felt here since we moved in to the Stone Creek Ward five months ago.

Up until we joined this ward, I’d spent the vast majority of my adult post-mission life in singles wards. So, serving as a Webelos leader is something very new for me. I’m 42 years old, and she has been . . . let’s say 29 for a few birthdays now. We’re a bit older than most newlyweds.

Jana and I met a few years ago in our mid-singles ward, the Bountiful 8^th Ward, after it was organized in 2014. For those for whom the term mid-singles ward might sound made up: It’s a real thing for singles ages 31 through 45. Ours covered a large area, from North Salt Lake and Woods Cross up through Kaysville. Some call it the “Island of Misfit Toys,” though I like to think of it as the “remedial” singles ward. After we first met, Jana and I went on a handful of dates. It took a few years after that for me to get my head screwed on straight and to ask her out again, and after 16 months of dating and engagement, we were sealed in the Bountiful temple in April.

My topic today is adversity. When we think of adversity, we don’t have to look very far to see it all around us. We just have to step outside right now and see the smoke in the air to be reminded that firefighters in our state are currently battling some very devastating fires. We merely have to turn on the news to see images of widespread destruction caused by hurricanes, monsoons, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6), famine, shootings, domestic violence, and a number of other troubles. In addition to these troubles are the challenges of chronic physical and mental pain and illness, injury, disability, job loss, poverty, and the death of our loved ones.

For many of the people in the ward where Jana and I met, adversity comes in the form of loneliness for those remaining single into their 30s and 40s—and beyond. Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, for example, did not marry until much later in her life. There are some of ours who, sadly, may never marry in this lifetime. Still others who have married have endured the pain of the death of a spouse, infertility, wayward children, and other difficulties.’’

We live very much in a day and time when Paul prophesied: “In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Later in this chapter, Paul adds: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 12).

It has always been this way for us in this mortal sphere. President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “We knew before we were born that we were coming to the earth for bodies and experience and that we would have joys and sorrows, pain and comforts, ease and hardships, health and sickness, successes and disappointments; and we knew also that we would die. We accepted all these eventualities with a glad heart eager to accept both the favorable and unfavorable. … We were willing to come and take life as it came” (Improvement Era, Mar. 1996, 217).

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also taught: “The scriptures teach that ‘there is … opposition in all things’ (2 Ne. 2:11). Just as times of joy and happiness come to each of us, so also comes pain to every mortal. How can we understand those moments in our life when we experience physical or emotional pain? …

“I have come to understand how useless it is to dwell on the whys, what ifs, and if onlys for which there likely will be given no answers in mortality. To receive the Lord’s comfort, we must exercise faith. The questions Why me? Why our family? Why now? are usually unanswerable questions. These questions detract from our spirituality and can destroy our faith. We need to spend our time and energy building our faith by turning to the Lord and asking for strength to overcome the pains and trials of this world and to endure to the end for greater understanding” (“Healing Soul and Body,” October 1998 general conference).

In my preparation for this talk, and through studying the words and teaching of both ancient and modern prophets, I have come up with a list of four important concepts I have learned through adversity.

The first item on this list is the vital importance of keeping God’s commandments. I think it’s important to note that there is often a difference between trials and the consequences of our sins. Others’ misuse of agency may harm us. And when we sin, misusing our own agency, we must also face the consequences of those actions, becoming our own “worst enemy” or source of adversity.

In the most recent Face to Face broadcast, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles talked about adversity and said: “Some of that (comes) because there’s agency and some of that because there’s adversary.”

King Benjamin teaches: “The natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3:19).

Because Christ has already suffered for our sins, we do not have to suffer for them if we will turn from the natural man to Him and repent through His Atonement. Speaking of Christ, Paul tells us in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Though he were a Son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). We must learn to do the same.

President Henry B. Eyring spoke to our duty when it comes to obedience. He said: “The great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage” (“Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady,” October 2005 general conference).

It’s not possible to fully avoid adversity in this life, but we can still avoid a number of troubles by obeying gospel laws.

Second: Through adversity, we are given opportunities to grow spiritually. Trials help us to learn just what we are made of; they stretch and mold us into the kind of person Heavenly Father would like us to become.

Mother Theresa said: “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.”

Toward the end of the “War Chapters” in the Book of Mormon, Mormon tells us: “Because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility” (Alma 62:41).

These Saints had endured the same trial together; and while some had grown bitter, others had grown better.

Another scriptural example that comes to my mind is that of Abraham. At a very old age, he and Sarah were finally blessed with Isaac, a son born in the covenant. And yet, in what was most imaginably gut-wrenching to Abraham, he was commanded to offer up this son as a sacrifice in a test of his faith. Well, we all know what happened. Abraham and Isaac both obeyed; and at the last moment, an angel intervened to save Isaac’s life.

BYU Professor Truman G. Madsen wrote about a time when he was with President Hugh B. Brown of the First Presidency in Hebron, near Abraham’s tomb:

“I (asked President Brown), ‘Why ... was Abraham commanded to go to Mount Moriah and offer his only hope of posterity?’

“It was clear that this man, nearly ninety, had thought and prayed and wept over that question before. He finally said, ‘Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham’” (Five Classics by Truman G. Madsen [2001], 232).

Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, was imprisoned in Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Even under such wretched conditions, he later wrote that people could nevertheless still decide what their attitudes would be: “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

Thirdly, adversity gives us an opportunity to serve and minister to our fellow man.

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior taught: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Whenever and wherever a natural disaster occurs, members of the Church are always among the first ones there to help. A few years ago, following a hurricane in the Southern states, I remember reading about a cleanup effort the Church had headed. One very grateful woman was quoted as saying that she was especially grateful to two groups in particular for their help: the Latter-day Saints and the Mormons.

I very much feel for those who have been affected by Hurricane Florence recently, because I have been where they’ve been. When I was 13 years old, my family and I lived in Puerto Rico, where we weathered one of the worst storms ever to occur to that date. (Last year’s Hurricane Maria was much worse.)

Hurricane Hugo pummeled our island, and it went on to destroy other areas of the Caribbean and southeastern United States. Following the widespread destruction, we surveyed the damage, and it was extensive. It was at this time that I gained a testimony of the importance of heeding the prophets’ counsel to store a year-long supply of food, clean water, batteries, and other necessities, because we would desperately need them in the ensuing weeks.

What good can come of such a catastrophe? On the surface, it’s hard to say. The lives lost can’t be restored nor the extensive damage undone. But to give one example, I recall a cleanup service project I took part in with the youth in my ward. We went to a nearby park to clean up and carry away the fallen branches and leaves, to mow the grass, and other tasks. As we worked, residents of this neighborhood, most likely none of whom were of our faith, noticed what we were doing, and a few came out to help us. A few others brought us soda and snacks. They learned we were there representing our Church. It may have been the first contact with the Church they’d had in their lives, and we hoped it was a positive one. It certainly was a memorable one for me.

We have multiple opportunities to help bear each other’s burdens here, today, in Bountiful, Utah. There is much of pain and suffering that we can help alleviate when we look at those in need here in our neighborhoods and communities, at our workplaces, in our families, and in our very own homes. There are numerous chances to find those we can serve as we seek for and follow promptings through the Holy Ghost.

Fourth: Enduring adversity helps us to develop Christlike qualities of love, compassion, and empathy for others.

In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr. Stephen Covey tells the story of being on a train one day, where he found himself annoyed by two very noisy kids causing a disturbance to everyone around them. He noticed that the father was doing nothing about them. After a moment of restraint, he approached the father. Here’s Dr. Covey’s account of what happened next:

“Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn’t control them a little more?

“The man lifted his gaze as if to come to a consciousness of the situation for the first time and said softly, ‘Oh, you’re right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.’

“Can you imagine what I felt at that moment? My paradigm shifted. Suddenly I saw things differently, I felt differently, I behaved differently. My irritation vanished. I didn’t have to worry about controlling my attitude or my behavior; my heart was filled with the man’s pain. Feelings of sympathy and compassion flowed freely. Everything changed in an instant.”

Along these same lines, President Eyring shared what he said was some of the best advice he’d ever been given: “When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time” (“In the Strength of the Lord,” April 2004 general conference).

Or, in the words of one of my favorite hymns of the Church: “In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eyes can’t see” (Hymns, no. 220, “Lord, I Would Follow Thee”).

A few years ago, while I was looking for a new place to live, I had a few leads to move in with some friends; and yet I had the distinct impression I needed to move back in with my parents for a short while. It was not long after this that I learned one big reason, perhaps, I may have felt this impression: My father was diagnosed with dementia. It was astonishing to observe how quickly this illness took its toll on both his mind and on his body. Over the ensuing 18 months, I learned a great deal about patience, charity, and humility as I watched him suffer.

In the process, I was given a great gift: this small window of precious time, time I now look back upon as sacred, to give back to my father some of what he had given me all of my life before then. It was in simple things like driving him to get his hair cut or taking him out to lunch. It was mostly through just spending time sitting by him and talking to him as we watched sports on TV.

It’s been said that the only two guarantees in life are death and taxes. Well, after enduring his illness as well as anyone could have, Dad died on April 15 last year. On that final day of his mortal life, I was granted one additional blessing—a tender mercy to me—in the form of a spiritual prompting. By this point, Dad’s motor skills had deteriorated to the point he could not even walk around on his own, and we were forced to put him in a home where he could be cared for. He would be there for just nine days.

The next day was Easter, so my thought initially was to buy him some Easter candy that Saturday and then to bring it to him on Easter Sunday, when I could spend more time with him. Instead, the prompting was to go and see him that afternoon and not to delay. For one last moment, I got to visit with Dad, to embrace him and to tell him one last time that I love him. Jana and I had just begun dating at this time, and she felt the same prompting.

Just a few, short hours later, the phone call came that Dad had been rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest. By the time we arrived in the emergency room, he was gone. And yet, in the confusion and the chaos, I was at peace. I was comforted. Though I was deeply saddened to lose him, and I still miss him today, I became reacquainted with the Comforter that night and in the days and weeks that would follow.

When my siblings and my mother and I left the hospital, it was past midnight and it had become Easter Sunday. The timing of it all was, in my mind, no coincidence. It was a blessed reminder from a loving Heavenly Father that He is in control. Because of Easter and a loving Savior—“dearly, dearly has he loved!” (Hymns, no. 194, “There Is a Green Hill Far Away”), as we sang in the sacrament hymn—Dad lives on, and I will have the chance to embrace him again.

Perspective is an extraordinary blessing. Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God, ... and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire” (Improvement Era, Mar. 1966, 211).

How grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which encompasses so many griefs and woes and strengthens us to endure the crosses we are called to bear in this life, whichever crosses they may be.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Trying to comprehend the trials and meaning of this life without understanding Heavenly Father’s marvelously encompassing plan of salvation is like trying to understand a three-act play while seeing only the second act. Fortunately, our knowledge of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Atonement helps us to endure our trials and to see purpose in suffering and to trust God for what we cannot comprehend.

“Revealed truths reassure us that we are enclosed in divine empathy. As Enoch witnessed, we worship a God who wept over needless human misery and wickedness (see Moses 7:28-29, 33, 37). Jesus’ perfect empathy was ensured when, along with His Atonement for our sins, He took upon Himself our sicknesses, sorrows, griefs, and infirmities and came to know these ‘according to the flesh’ (Alma 7:11-12). He did this in order that He might be filled with perfect, personal mercy and empathy and thereby know how to succor us in our infirmities. He thus fully comprehends human suffering. Truly Christ ‘descended below all things, in that He comprehended all things’ (D&C 88:6). …

“Part of enduring well consists of being meek enough, amid our suffering, to learn from our relevant experiences. Rather than simply passing through these things, they must pass through us and do so in ways which sanctify these experiences for our good (see D&C 122:7). Thereby, our empathy, too, is enriched and everlasting” (“Enduring Well,” April 1997 general conference).

I add my testimony his. I testify that we have an all-wise, all-knowing, all-loving Savior who shows us how to love as He did. President Russell M. Nelson leads His Church on Earth today. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Special Delivery

In Sunday School, we've made it into the book of Mosiah in our collective study of the Book of Mormon. This past week's lesson focused on chapters 7 through 11, although my classroom (we have something like a dozen Sunday School lessons taking place concurrently on the Island of Misfit Toys) spent a great deal of time analyzing and discussing Mosiah 7:33:

"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage."

I've had a couple of days to ponder on this verse, and I think it encapsulates very well the overall theme of the Book of Mormon: (1) Those who humble themselves, repent, and strive to keep the commandments will prosper and be blessed. Conversely, (2) those who do not do so will, as a result, suffer the consequences and will "reap . . . the whirlwind" (verse 30).

Is there a third option?

Has it ever, at any point in time, turned out well (in the long run, anyway) for those who openly rebel against the commandments? Is this not one of the major themes of all of the standard works as a whole?

One important lesson I picked up during my aforementioned months of struggle with an illness was that I needed to change the types of prayers I offered on a daily basis. I started out praying for healing from above and, instead, altered my prayers over time to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to find a solution or to direct me to someone or something who could help me. It took weeks and then months, but it was a prayer that was answered in the Lord's own way.

This relates directly to Mosiah 7:33 because, I think, many times the delivery from bondage spoken of by Mormon comes indirectly rather than directly and, in the process, we learn to seek out and find answers for ourselves, and thus we grow through the experience in ways we could not otherwise do so.

In a recent general conference message, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught:

"Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior's own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead."

The cup we each must drink from, whatever our struggles may be, feels rather bitter, indeed, at times. There's no way to sugar-coat it. My own spiritual and mental palate finds mine downright awful sometimes.

Yet how reassuring it is to see answers come and to find happiness even through those storms. And those blessings and comfort far, far outweigh the challenges.

Heart Murmurs

Our stake president came to visit the Island of Misfit Toys a couple of weeks ago, as we now have four (count 'em, four) elders quorums, and some reorganization had to be taken care of. After the business had been conducted, he was invited up to the pulpit to share a few thoughts with us.

Of all of the scriptures he could have selected, he chose 1 Nephi 2:12:

"And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them."

The stake president's purpose in doing so, I believe, was to counsel us against the perils of murmuring, as well as the importance of learning the Lord's will and then choosing to obey it.

It turned out to be a rather timely piece of advice. Later that same evening, Pres. Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve delivered a CES fireside that was broadcast worldwide, and some of his comments didn't sit too well with some of the social media crowd.

Some might have called it murmuring.

We are studying the Book of Mormon again this year in Sunday School. It's always a good time to taker a closer look at this additional testament of Christ, and I am grateful to spend an hour each Sunday re-reading and re-examining the story of Lehi, Nephi, and their family and the many other lessons contained in those wonderful pages in a class setting, in addition to my own study of the book.

A closer look at Lehi's dream this past Sunday reminded me that while holding to the Iron Rod remains as crucial as ever, the mists of darkness, the haze, the lost paths, and the Great and Spacious Building (G&SB) are as alive and well as they ever were, too. It's a good thing we get the opportunity to read and re-read this book time and again, because the same patterns and lessons are being repeated right before our eyes. The G&SB sure loves to murmur, in addition to all of its taunts, barbs, and vitriol.

Are there those striving earnestly to be faithful and to sustain our leaders who have legitimate doubts, concerns, and questions that they wish answered? Absolutely. Anyone can grapple with these issues and still cling to the rod, pressing forward while searching for the answers.

What separates them from the murmurers? The murmurers, by contrast, tend to be completely sure of the correct answer, and it ain't what they're being taught over the pulpit. Instead of praying to have their hearts changed to accept the will of the Lord as revealed by prophets, seers, and revelators, they instead pray to have the prophets' hearts (and/or policies) changed to fit their own set of beliefs.

Rather than holding to the concept that God "(made) man in (His) image" (Genesis 1:26), they make their own version of God in man's image.

"If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping and idealized version of yourself." -Tim Keller

This concept seems to be one of the biggest trials we'll see in our day. And still the Iron Rod is there for any who will humble him or herself and grab ahold.

The Sacrifice of All Things

Since last week's announcement about the handbook update and the new policy regarding same-sex couples and their children, social media is ablaze once again. Quite understandably, there are some very strong feelings about this matter on both sides of the issue. I don't really need to go into the details, because I'm sure you know them by now, but in case you were pearl diving in the South Pacific and somehow missed it, Elder Christofferson explains the change and the rationale behind it in this interview here.

I have pondered a great deal about what to write about on this subject. The more I have studied it, the more I see the wisdom in the change and the great deal of thought, prayer, and inspiration that are behind it.

Nevertheless, I fully realize that, for others, including many members of the Church, the reaction is the polar opposite. The announcement has really thrown them for a loop and has caused confusion, doubt, and anger.

The scriptures and events from Church history are replete with heart-wrenching, defining moments in which people were asked to do things that shook the very ground they walked on. Consider Abraham's commandment to sacrifice his only son, Isaac; Daniel facing the lion's den; Alma and Amulek being forced to watch their converts being burned alive; the commandment for some latter-day leaders to obey the law of polygamy (which caused Brigham Young to look at a funeral casket and wish he were in it); and many others.

The greatest, most important example, of course, was our Savior, who plead in agony: "Remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

Each was tested to core but, at the same time, each obeyed because they clung to a vital truth that was taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation."

The sacrifices we make and will have to make are likely not going to be on such a grand scale as the aforementioned examples, though there are those among us who live under very difficult circumstances, be they mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical. Certainly, no one can know the extent of the Savior's infinite sacrifice for us all nor will have to endure that kind of suffering.

However, my point is that, sometimes, what it all boils down to is that the most important thing we are asked to sacrifice is the only thing that is really ours to give: our will. We are asked to sacrifice our pride, our natural man instincts, or our inclination to disbelieve, criticize, or murmur. We are asked to believe, or to plant to seed to believe even if we can't believe right now. We are asked to support and sustain even when we don't fully understand the reasons why as we see through our natural eyes. Our father Adam sacrificed because he didn't know the reasons but he knew that he had been commanded by the Lord.

In a 1978 speech, Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught: "In the months and years ahead, events will require of each member that he or she decide whether or not he or she will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions."

I believe that this is one of those moments of decision for some among us.

Having said all that, I am also troubled by comments from a few Church members about the policy change. To those who are struggling with this news, they have said: "If you don't like it, leave."

This sentiment should not exist among those who profess to follow Christ. Our Savior invited all who were burdened all to come unto Him and to find rest to their souls.

To any reading this who may be considering leaving the Church, whatever the reasons, I plead with you: Stay. The Church needs you. I need you. And you need the Church. If you have concerns or worries, it is okay to have them, and there is a way to resolve them. Pray. Read the scriptures. Meditate. Re-read a conference talk. Counsel with your bishop. If not him, talk to someone else you trust. Talk to me, and I will listen. Ponderize. Or tenderize. Do whatever you need to do to figure things out, and take the time you need to do so.

After all, the reason we have this church is because a young man had doubts, agonized over them, and prayed about them.

Remember this counsel of President Hinckley: "Be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged. Things will work out."

If we seek out the Lord's will and have the courage to act upon the answers, I believe that things will, indeed, work out.

The Rock of Revelation

What a fantastic general conference of the Church that just concluded today. There were many, many talks that edified and inspired, new words introduced into the LDS lexicon ("ponderize" and "idiotsyncracies" among them), and prayers answered through the messages that were given.

A word about the three new Apostles (Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Renlund) who were called to fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve: I do not know much about these three brethren just yet, though I understand some of you do. I did listen to Elder Rasband's recent CES fireside, and I enjoyed many of the sentiments expressed. I am looking forward to being instructed by these men in the months and years that come and, in the process, learning more about them.

I was, however, disappointed to read a few comments by people I know who expressed disdain at "three white guys from Utah" being added into the Twelve, complaining about a perceived lack of "diversity."

Whether or not that is true, I do not believe that is the issue that matters here. To these friends and acquaintances, I urge you to focus on one vitally important concept: Do you believe that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God?

If the answer is yes, then arguably you also hold to the idea that he is, therefore, the Lord's mouthpiece for the Church here on Earth, and these callings are the result of divine revelation. Even if you were expecting possibly someone else to fill those empty chairs in the Conference Center (and, admittedly, I may have been among that number until the names were read), I invite you to think about the fact that he has spent many hours in meditation and prayer in making these assignments and has not done so to fulfill a perceived quota.

The Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. He looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance. Even if we often do.

If the answer to the above question is no, well, odds are you just might have found something else to be upset about had the "diversity" you desired been achieved. I've been on social media enough to know that the Great and Spacious Building tunes in to conference, too. Because, hey, pointing fingers is more fun.

My own testimony of Pres. Monson was solidified again last night while listening to him speak in priesthood session and hearing what the word of the Lord was at this moment in time. He summed up the gist of his message by saying:

"My message to you tonight is straightforward," he said. "It is this: Keep the commandments."

I've said this before, but it seems that all I really need to know, I learned in Primary.

Want to know some of Paco's other thoughts on some of the specific talks? I'll be blogging on a few in the weeks that come. You might also follow me on Facebook and Twitter if you've got a lot of free time on your hands, because he was active on both fronts trying to #sharegoodness. Like you do.