Don't Sit on the Fence

This is my favorite sign from the amusement park not too far from where I live.  I'm sure it was meant to be a joke (who would even think about sitting on this fence?), but it really made me think.  Sometimes, even though we know that the consequences of our actions will be unpleasant, we can get caught up in the moment.  Maybe there's something on the other side of that fence that appeals to us, and if we sit on it just for a moment, we'll be closer to whatever that thing may be.  We look past the warning signs in order to satisfy our wants and desires.

I'm also starting to discover that many times there are consequences for inaction, too.  We are given warning signs and instructions, and even though we know that following these signs will make us happier, we, for various reasons, stop following them.  Take me for example.  I know that exercising makes me feel good.  I know that I'll be happier.  But I don't do it.  Some of it is laziness, some is lack of time or motivation.  Whatever it is, though, I've stopped - even though I know that I will be greatly rewarded if I just do it.  The same can be said for eating right and family prayer and Family Home Evening.  All those things that I've been instructed to do and know that I will be rewarded for, but don't consistently do. 

The scriptures are full of examples of this type of behavior - from Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit to Samson being with Delilah to Laman and Lemuel who saw angels and felt the power of God many, many times, yet still chose to be disobedient and wicked and lead their people away from the Lord.  Even the brother of Jared, whom I spoke of yesterday as being "highly favored of the Lord", fell into this trap.

And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been.  And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel. (Ether 2:5)

Jared, his brother, their families and friends where actually being led through the wilderness by the Lord himself.  They spoke with him.  They knew him.  And then they arrived at a resting place in their journey to their final destination of the Promised Land.  They stayed there for four years.

And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him.  And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord. (Ether 2:14)

The Lord had taken the brother of Jared and his people to safety, where they had forgotten him.  I'm sure that they didn't consciously decide that they didn't need Him anymore.  They just became comfortable.  They were happy.  It's not that they didn't need God anymore - they got complacent.  And He called them on it.

The brother of Jared and his colony of people were sitting on that fence and they didn't even know it.  If it's that easy for someone who has actually been in the presence of God to forget to call on Him, how much easier is it for me, just plain old me, to forget?  Very easy.  I think there are a few areas in my life in which I can definitely say that I'm on the fence.  It's not a pleasant place to be, but I've been there so long that I don't even feel the pokes in the behind anymore.  It's time to jump down and start following the signs to a happier me.

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 2

Pray for Me

I've always been intrigued by the story of the brother of Jared.  I think it's probably because there's just a little bit of mystery surrounding it since we don't learn the actual name of this very important scriptural figure.  The only other reference that I can recall in which the author of a book of scripture withholds someone's name in this manner is when Alma repeatedly refers to "the father of Lamoni" in chapters 18-20.  But even then, Lamoni's father did not play a central role in the record as the brother of Jared does.  I learned through a little bit of research today why this may be the case.  Hugh Nibley says, in his book Lehi in the Desert and the World of the Jaredites, that "it is, of course, because 'he that wrote this' is a direct descendant of Jared, and not of Jared's brother, and is giving the history of his line only".  It does make some sense.

As interesting as I've always found that part of the story, as I was reading this morning, I became very interested in another mystery.

And the brother of Jared being a large and mighty man, and a man highly favored of the Lord, Jared, his brother, said unto him:  Cry unto the Lord, that he will not confound us that we may not understand our words. (Ether 1:34)

Why did Jared ask his brother to pray?  Could he not have done it himself?  I have spent hours searching and praying for the answer to this question.  I have quite a few reference books, along with access to unlimited resources on the internet.  Surely someone, somewhere has had this same question.  But I found nothing.  This left me to come to some of my own conclusions.  Maybe the use of the words "large and mighty" in describing the brother of Jared had less to do with his physical stature and more to do with his spirituality.  Perhaps he was some sort of spiritual or religious leader.  It was not uncommon during ancient times for people to go to their Elders or Chief Judges with requests for the Lord.

I know in my heart that Jared didn't ask his brother to pray because he himself was lacking in faith.  He had to have had faith that the Lord would answer his brother's prayer.  I also don't believe that just because Jared asked someone else to pray, he wasn't also praying.  I just don't think that he handed the full responsibility for the deliverance of his family and friends to his brother and then went on his way.

As I was pondering this subject, a friend updated her status on one of the popular social networking sites.  She asked for all of our prayers as her husband went into surgery for his back.  This made me start thinking about the reasons that we ask people to pray for us.  I know that my friend will be praying for her husband, so why did she feel it necessary to ask for additional prayers?  I had a few ideas of my own, but I did an informal survey of some of my family members to see if they had any thoughts.  I wanted to know what makes them personally ask others to pray in their behalf.  My sister told me that she finds it comforting to know that there are other people out there thinking of her and praying for her.  My brother talked about strength in numbers.  They both had the thought that we're sometimes too busy to be in constant, fervent prayer, and so knowing that there are people praying for us during those times that we can't is also a comfort.

All of those things could have been the reason that Jared asked his brother to pray.  There's really no way of knowing what was in his heart.  I had another thought, though.  Humility.  I think it shows humility to ask someone to pray for us - to ask for help.  Our prayers, just like Jared's, are very often answered through the efforts of those around us.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

Asking someone to pray for us is not a sign of faithlessness or inadequacy.  Contrarily, it is a demonstration of our humble willingness to be the recipient of the greatest form of service imaginable - the unselfish petition to God on behalf of another of his children.  I believe that both the person asking for the prayers and those who perform the act of praying will be greatly blessed.

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 1

Don't Worry, Be Happy

I was blessed, thanks to a gift from my brother, to be able to spend the majority of the past week on vacation with my family near Yellowstone National Park.  This was actually the first real family vacation that we've had with all of our kids.  All of the other vacations that we've taken have been timed to coincide with family visits in order to avoid expensive hotel stays.  This one, though, was just five days of schedule-free, pressure-free fun.

I had some high expectations as I was packing and planning for this trip.  I bought board games and barred the kids from bringing their video gaming system, with the purpose of spending a lot of quality time together.  I planned meals that the kids would like.  We would spend every second together, bonding and laughing and just reveling in our family time.  It didn't take long for my good-intentioned bubble to burst.  The first morning that we were there, we decided to head down to the pool.  Everyone except for my oldest daughter who had developed a "headache".  We left her in the room and went down for an hour or so to swim.  When I came back up to the room, I found her texting her friends - sans headache.  I snatched my phone away from her and angrily told her how disappointed I was that she couldn't even spend a couple of days without choosing her friends over her family.  She stormed to the bedroom and shut the door, where she stayed for most of the day.  As the kids showered and changed after swimming, they kind of separated, and each ended up in front of whichever of the two televisions had a more appealing program on.  So much for unity. 

The weather was cold and windy and snowy, but we barely even noticed.  The kids were content to spend most of the week in the pool.  Even though all of them are pretty good swimmers, I was reluctant at first to just let them go by themselves.  After a couple times sitting by the pool and watching them, I finally realized that by letting them have some time away from me, I would also have some precious quiet time.  I could see the pool house from the balcony off my room, so the kids and I agreed that every hour, on the hour, they would go to the window and wave and I would wave back.  There were a few times that they let the time get away from them and weren't at the window at the appointed hour, so I would just walk down and check to make sure that they were all ok.  And, of course they were.  So much for family time.

It wasn't until the third day that we finally got out the board games and sat around the table and played.  It was so much fun!  Even the grouchy teenagers were smiling and laughing.  At first, I thought that we had finally attained my "family time" goal because the kids were tired or the pool was closed or there was nothing on TV.  Looking back, however, there was a much more simple explanation.  I had finally relaxed my unrealistic expectations and the kids could bear to be around me. 

I'm not sure why I do that - set the bar so impossibly high.  I do it a lot, though.  I want everything to be just right.  "I'll be happy only if the kids are perfectly content to do the things that I want them to."  "I'll be happy when the house is clean." "I'll be happy when I lose weight." "I'll finally be able to be happy when the bills are paid off."  And on and on and on.  There's always a new standard for my happiness which happens to be just beyond my reach.  It seems that I can't be just be happy with whatever my current circumstances may be.

And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still. (Mormon 9:14)

That was a little bit of a wake up call.  If I don't shape up and be happy with who I am and what I have, I'll never get to be happy.  There was no magic "family-time" zone that we passed through on our way to Yellowstone, and there will be no magic "happy" veil that I'll pass through after I die.  If I'm not satisfied with anything here on earth, chances are that nothing will meet my expectations in the after-life either.

I read a quote from President Monson today that I thought would be very fitting for this topic.  He said, "The past is behind - learn from it.  The future is ahead - prepare for it.  The present is here - live it."  If I learned anything from our vacation last week, it's that I'm so busy looking into the future and holding onto the past that I don't live in the now.  And I'm not only robbing my kids of the mom they deserve, I'm robbing myself of the happiness that really is within my reach.  Time for a fresh start!

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 8

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 9

True Integrity

©Darrell Wyatt

This morning as I was reading, I learned of the absolute integrity that Mormon possessed.  The kind of integrity that is, unfortunately, so rare.  Mormon knew that his people were going to be destroyed because of their wickedness.  He tried with all his might to preach repentance to them, but to no avail.  They continued to boast in their own strength when they won sporadic battles against the Lamanites.  They delighted in their riches, and went to war for unrighteous reasons.  He knew that they would have to be swept off the face of the earth, as had been foretold, and he sorrowed greatly because of this knowledge.  Yet, when he was again appointed to lead these armies, he did so with honor.  Instead of putting himself halfheartedly into his duties, he led the armies with  every ounce of courage and strength that he could muster.

Knowing that the coming battle would be the last, Mormon hid the plates away from the Lamanites.  He knew that if the records fell into the wrong hands, they would be destroyed.  But he did not bury all of the plates.  He understood that there would need to be a continued record of the events to follow, so he left a few plates to his son Mormon.  Even in this, he showed extreme integrity.  He was called on by the Lord to keep a record of the happenings of his time.  Facing certain death, he continued this record.  Could I have done the same?  I'm not sure.

If my math is right, over 230,000 Nephites died in this, the last battle.  According to Mormon's count, there were twenty-four left alive, including himself and his son, Moroni.

And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried:

O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord!  O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!

Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.

O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!

But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return. (Mormon 6:16:20)

I cannot even comprehend the sorrow that Mormon felt, seeing an entire nation wiped out because they wouldn't turn to the Lord in repentance and humility.  He had tried to warn them. He had tried to help them.  But they would not listen.  And now they were gone.

But Mormon did not see their annihilation as the end of his earthly calling.  He continued to call on people to turn to the Lord - to preach to them of Jesus Christ and the blessings that come from belief on Him.  The people that he was preaching to, however, were not even aware yet that he was speaking to them.

And now, behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers; (Mormon 7:1)

He was speaking to the descendants of the few surviving Nephites, and also to anyone who would thereafter read the records that he had written and abridged.  He was, again, speaking to me.

Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and hold upon the gospel of Christ which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you. (Mormon 7:7)

Mormon wanted us to know that not only did his record testify of Christ, but so did the Bible.  

For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.(Mormon 7:8)

He testified of the truthfulness and importance of the Bible.  The whole intent of Mormon's abridgment of the plates into what would become the Book of Mormon was to be another witness that the things in the Bible were true.  That if we would read the Book of Mormon, we would believe the Bible, and if we would believe the Bible, we would believe the Book of Mormon.  That we would have a complete record of the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God.

Mormon spent his final days magnifying the calling given him by God.  To testify of Christ.  To complete the records of his people.  He could have spent these days in peaceful rest, waiting to be taken to his promised place in the presence of the Lord.  But he did not.  His integrity would not allow it.  

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 6

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 7

Where Everybody Knows My Name

As wonderful and magical as the week of Christmas is, it can also be very stressful.  There are gifts to wrap, cards to deliver, dinners to plan and cook and serve.  There's really a lot to do.  As much as I wanted to focus on the Savior and the real meaning of Christmas, with young children and extended family visiting, that unfortunately got pushed to the back burner for a short time.  I've had some tension headaches and a tweaked neck for the past couple of days, and I'm sure that it's because of the stress of getting everything done.

It was such a nice break to go to church today, after all of that hustle and bustle of trying to get everything done and make everything perfect.  It was great to see neighbors and to again speak of the Savior.  Our ward has a tradition in which, on the last Sunday of the year, the families of missionaries out in the field get to speak and give an update on their missionary.  Today we were blessed to hear from the families of eight elders who are out in the mission field.  The newest missionary has been out for only eleven days, and the longest serving will be coming home next week.  Each had written a letter to the ward.  Some of them talked of specific experiences that they have had thus far in their missions, and others just talked of their love for the Savior and their gratitude for the ability to serve Him.  Every one of them, though, spoke specifically of their love for the ward family that they felt had contributed in their successful missions.  They talked of leaders who had helped them to mature into the men they now are.  One even thanked his piano teacher, a ward member, and said that her instruction had proved to be very useful in the mission field.

As these ward members were speaking, I glanced around the chapel and realized that someday, those words may be coming from my sons.  There were people in that chapel who are definitely playing a large role in the growth of my kids.  Everyone, from their primary teachers to the Bishopric to the youth leaders, will touch my kids lives in a positive way.  And my kids will have a, hopefully, positive influence on other kids around them.  They have many friends in the ward who will grow alongside them and provide a shoulder to lean on when times get tough, as they inevitably do during those growing years.  It's just so comforting to belong to a ward family.

©Darrell Wyatt

I'm still reading in Mormon, and I have to say, I absolute love his writing style.  He's so descriptive.  There was one phrase that really stood out to me during today's reading.  He's talking about the wickedness of the people and how we, the readers of the Book of Mormon will feel upon learning of this wickedness.

...they will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus. (Mormon 5:11)

Clasped in the arms of Jesus.  That perfectly describes how I felt at church today.  I felt like all of the stresses of this busy week just melted away, and that I was clasped in His arms.  Being in a place where everyone knows me and we can all come together with one purpose, to worship Him, is such a blessing.  It's a blessing that I hope that everyone at one point in their lives can partake of - to feel that wonderful sense of belonging.  To feel the warmth of being clasped in the arms of Jesus.

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 4

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 5

Listen Up

©Darrell Wyatt

Once a week, almost all of my kids bring home a communication report from school.  Each child's is a bit different, but the general idea is the same.  These reports are to let me know how they're doing in school in various areas - homework, participation in class, relationships with other students, and their overall behavior.  Most of the time, it's just a form letter that comes home and I just sign it and send it back.  Every once in awhile, however, there's a note from the teacher addressed specifically to me about my child.  At first, I didn't really pay attention, because I was so used to the form letter and I didn't notice the extra note.  I'd just sign it, as is my habit, without really paying attention.  When I finally did see that the teacher was trying to get my attention, I was a little embarrassed that I hadn't noticed before.  Now, I pay extra attention each week so that I won't miss anything important again.

I kind of feel like that's what happened as I was reading this morning.  I'm in such a habit of reading (yay!),  and this blog has helped me pay a lot more attention to what I'm reading, but I still sometimes take it for granted.  Sometimes it sort of feels like this:  Keep the commandments, love one another, say your prayers, avoid pride, blah, blah, blah.  Yes, I know it's probably irreverent to use "blah, blah, blah" when describing the word of God, and of course I don't mean it disrespectfully.  But, sometimes as I'm reading, my mind wanders.  It feels like I'm reading the same thing over and over - sort of like my kids' form letter communication reports.  And then, all of a sudden, when I may or may not have been paying good attention, Mormon adds a personal note.

And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all.  And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil;

And also that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, which ye shall have among you...

And I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. (Mormon 3:20-22)

Mormon was talking to me.  He had a special message just for me, the reader of the Book of Mormon.  "Hey!  Listen!  I'm writing these things for you.  Pay attention!"  

Mormon was not writing and abridging the plates for the benefit of the people during his time.  He really was doing it for us - for our time.  We need to know of Christ and have a witness of Him even more than Mormon's people.  They had many witnesses and signs and miracles and they did not believe them.  As much as Mormon loved them, he understood that they had become so wicked that they wouldn't appreciate his writings.  He really was writing to me.

The scriptures are very repetitive, but the authors were not just trying to fill up space.  If something is repeated, it's because it's very important for the reader to understand - something that God would have us learn.  We are blessed to have written commandments and prophesies to return to again and again.  Just like my kids communication reports, I'm grateful that I don't have to hear from God only when I've done something wrong.  I can hear his voice daily through the writings of inspired prophets.  That's pretty incredible.  And an amazing blessing.

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 3

Open Windows

 
My son was three when he was diagnosed with autism.  The evaluation process seemed like a long one.  It took months of testing everything from his hearing to testing his blood for lead poisoning and everything in between.  There were what seemed like hours of watching him through a one way mirror, just hoping that he would interact even a little bit with the specialist.  He didn't.  We suspected that autism would be the diagnosis, but when it was actually given, we were still shell-shocked.  We had no idea where to begin, but we knew that we had to start right then.  The therapist told us that as far as autism diagnoses go, we were a little behind schedule.  And with children, every moment matters.  There are certain windows of opportunity that, once closed, are very very hard to reopen.

So we started.  With help from my parents and other family members, we were able to enroll him in a wonderful program about an hour and a half away from home at the University of Utah.  We began by taking him a few times a week, and then once a week and then finally the therapist came to our home to transition us from her care.  That was a scary day.  Knowing that I'd be solely responsible for his growth was very daunting.  With much prayer and many opportunities that have been placed in our paths, though, he has really excelled.  He's still not what most people would consider "normal", but he has come so far from that silent, circle-spinning boy he was twelve years ago.  He struggles with many things that other kids his age don't have to, but he is happy.  And I can't imagine him any other way.  I truly believe that he has come this far because we were able to take advantage of those windows of opportunity that the therapist impressed upon us.

In thinking about it, I know that all children - not just special needs kids - have those windows.  There are windows of time where potty training is  most effective.  There are windows where they learn certain things like reading and math.  Each child's windows may open at a different age, but they all have them.

I was thinking about this as I read about Mormon this morning.  He was just ten years old when he was given the charge to abridge the records of the Nephites into the Book of Mormon.  Ammaron had hidden the plates due to the increasing wickedness of the people.  He told Mormon that he perceived him to be "a sober child" and "quick to observe"(Mormon 1:2).  He instructed him that he needed to observe the happenings of the people and that when he was twenty-four years old, he should go to the place where the plates were hidden and engrave everything he had seen onto the plates of Nephi.

When Mormon was eleven, his father moved him south into the land of Zarahemla.  It was very populated, and war had broken out among the Lamanites and the Nephites.  Mormon described the wickedness of both groups of people:

But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people.

And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief. (Mormon 1:13-14)

Everyone around Mormon was incredibly wicked, yet he, as a fifteen year old boy, was able to withstand this wicked influence.  He was so righteous in fact, that he received a visit from the Lord.  He "knew the goodness of Jesus" (Mormon 1:15).

I thought about this a lot.  At Mormon's young age, he probably had an increased susceptibility to be influenced by those around him.  How was he able to shield himself from that influence?  Mormon doesn't talk a lot about his father (also named Mormon), but he must have been a good man.  He taught his son in the ways of his ancestors to be be true to the teachings of Christ and his disciples (Mormon 1:5).  He surely used those windows of opportunity to impress upon his young son the importance of living righteously.  Ammaron also, even if unknowingly, played an important role in Mormon's development into a stalwart young man and adult.  By letting a young boy know of his divine nature and responsibility, Ammaron helped mold Mormon's future.

It was in this same way that my son's therapists and we as parents were able to shape him into the person that he is today.  It is the reason that we have Primary at church, instead of just a glorified day care.  It is most important to teach children while they are young.  While their divine roles and responsibilities can be impressed upon their eager minds.  While their windows are open.

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 1

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 2