Great Anxiety
I seem to be seeing or hearing the word anxiety a great deal lately.
In the scriptures I hear the words of the prophets talk about preaching the gospel because of great anxiety. They are concerned about the lack of commitment they are seeing in their people. They are worried about their spiritual welfare. Therefore, they go up chastise them for their sins, tell them what they are doing wrong, and encourage them to do better.
I was in a church meeting the other day and the word anxiety was mentioned again. Leaders are worried about many families in the area that are unemployed or under employed. They are not being able to make payments, some are on the brink of losing their houses, and this great anxiety is prohibiting them from focusing on their spiritual growth. All are overly concerned about where the next pay check will come from or how they are going to put food on the table.
Then someone and work commented that I was a little anxious or seemed to be anxious about something. I was not being able to focus on what was going on. My mind was pre-occupied by the things going on in my life. There is a great deal of stress and work. Lots of activity and non-activity going on at home. This anxious feeling was distracting me.
So what do we do?
Last night I went to the temple. It was nice. I love being there, even though I am always hopping. But last night was different. When I arrived in initiatory, there were not very many patrons, so the coordinator asked me to change and be a patron so I could help a brother or two who were struggling with the words of the ordinances. I was able to do work for several brethren.
When I went up to the veil, we had a new brother working his first night. I was asked to just shadow him to make sure he was doing things right. I was that voice letting him know he was doing right. I was also able to give him some guidance on making his temple service more enjoyable.
I then went back down to initiatory, I was just about ready to jump in when the lead coordinator came down and informed us that the 8 o'clock session was low on brethren. He ask a few of us to grab our packets and do a session. It was a nice peaceful evening of serving, but in a way that I did not expect.
I noticed when I walked out of the temple, I was not feeling anxious. I was at peace.
As I woke up this morning, the anxiety started creeping back in. I am concerned for the welfare of my children. I see these families struggling with employment because they are not well educated. I don't want to see my children struggle in the same way. My heart hurts for those that suffer physically and emotionally. I seek ways to lighten their burdens. I find myself like the prophets of old, pointing out wrongs and suggesting correct paths because of such anxiety. All the while, I continue to look forward to my next temple visit, renewal of covenants or time to find that peace of heaven in my life again.
In the scriptures I hear the words of the prophets talk about preaching the gospel because of great anxiety. They are concerned about the lack of commitment they are seeing in their people. They are worried about their spiritual welfare. Therefore, they go up chastise them for their sins, tell them what they are doing wrong, and encourage them to do better.
I was in a church meeting the other day and the word anxiety was mentioned again. Leaders are worried about many families in the area that are unemployed or under employed. They are not being able to make payments, some are on the brink of losing their houses, and this great anxiety is prohibiting them from focusing on their spiritual growth. All are overly concerned about where the next pay check will come from or how they are going to put food on the table.
Then someone and work commented that I was a little anxious or seemed to be anxious about something. I was not being able to focus on what was going on. My mind was pre-occupied by the things going on in my life. There is a great deal of stress and work. Lots of activity and non-activity going on at home. This anxious feeling was distracting me.
So what do we do?
Last night I went to the temple. It was nice. I love being there, even though I am always hopping. But last night was different. When I arrived in initiatory, there were not very many patrons, so the coordinator asked me to change and be a patron so I could help a brother or two who were struggling with the words of the ordinances. I was able to do work for several brethren.
When I went up to the veil, we had a new brother working his first night. I was asked to just shadow him to make sure he was doing things right. I was that voice letting him know he was doing right. I was also able to give him some guidance on making his temple service more enjoyable.
I then went back down to initiatory, I was just about ready to jump in when the lead coordinator came down and informed us that the 8 o'clock session was low on brethren. He ask a few of us to grab our packets and do a session. It was a nice peaceful evening of serving, but in a way that I did not expect.
I noticed when I walked out of the temple, I was not feeling anxious. I was at peace.
As I woke up this morning, the anxiety started creeping back in. I am concerned for the welfare of my children. I see these families struggling with employment because they are not well educated. I don't want to see my children struggle in the same way. My heart hurts for those that suffer physically and emotionally. I seek ways to lighten their burdens. I find myself like the prophets of old, pointing out wrongs and suggesting correct paths because of such anxiety. All the while, I continue to look forward to my next temple visit, renewal of covenants or time to find that peace of heaven in my life again.
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