This is a response to the discussion initiated by Tim Stakland at timstakland.com. My dad made a point of frequently reminding me during my time as a Mormon missionary that life as a missionary is simpler and more focused than any other time. This isn’t to say it’s easy; but without bills, emails, classes, or many externally-made scheduling items, you are free to pursue your duties with a singleness of mind.
The Gaboon Viper1 is an ambush predator. It dwells in the rain forests of West Africa and has the highest venom yield of any snake, meaning that a bite is always a medical emergency. Because of its camouflaged scales most human bites occur when the snake is stepped on by unwitting walkers who had no idea there was a viper nearby. This is an example of the necessity of being aware of hidden danger.
Culture-at-large has made “porn” into a synonym with “good” and “desirable,” and in this way it enters the public vocabulary. Is it any wonder early Catholic leaders referred to the common tongue as “vulgar,” and the first translations out of their sacred Latin as the “Vulgate?” Every General Conference a major theme is that of our attempts to lead spiritual existence in the midst of “The World.” As we hear the warnings of our leaders we are readily reminded of the growing disparity between our standards of living and those of so many people in culture around us.
God, the Knower of Names, is unique in His knowledge of our stories, and likewise of His knowledge of the stories that will effect us and meet our needs. A crucial question is, how can I improve my awareness of stories, and of the stories that need to be shared and heard? It seems clear that rhetorically, one of the most powerful things isn’t the direct telling of the story but the use of language that will prompt them to create the story in their own mind.
In my scripture reading recently I came to Isaiah 40:31. In the KJV this reads: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. There are many beautiful things about this verse that could have caught my attention, but this time it was that starting phrase: “they that wait upon the LORD”.
I have enjoyed reading the BYU institute manual that corresponds to the Doctrine and Covenants. I was particularly struck by a passage elaborating upon DC 68:30, which reads: DC 68:30 And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord. This scripture, and the section from the manual that I will conclude with, are very meaningful to me.
Each day I drive about thirty minutes over the interstate to school. Parking spots are in such short order that I make this drive before most students are up, which means winter drives illuminated by street lamps and roadside snow. These past few weeks have had an odd addition, though. While Utah is known for its snow, my lifetime in the state has never made it known for fog. But the drive this morning was the culmination of a week or two of foggy conditions.
As a teenager I experienced the period of rebelliousness that many teenagers go through, and it sank deep into my mind. Most troubling to me was the question of liberty; the gospel of Jesus Christ places high priority on the principles of freedom and liberty, and agency itself is perhaps the most sacred thing God has given us. And yet, at the same time, everywhere present are laws and the divine commandments to obey.
As an organized and busy school student I made good use of my cell-phone. Since my phone was not under contract I was on T-Mobile’s $50 monthly “unlimited everything” plan. My phone wasn’t built for T-Mobile data and so I used very little of my Edge-speeds; however, I used well over a thousand minutes per month in talk and comfortably over 2000 texts per month. By no means am I using teenage-girl levels, but I felt good about maximizing my service for the price I was paying.
This article was shared with us at the end of an excellent class tonight when we had been discussing Abraham and Isaac. The tone and balance of this essay is very good, but I particularly enjoyed his annunciation of the principle of faith vs. religion. How many people allow their religion to displace God? Please take the time to give this short essay a thoughtful read. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/are-mormons-any-weirder-t_b_1116390.html