Matters

I just took the opportunity to view a small video clip. It talked about things that matter. I was asked to watch, ponder, and share. That is what I am doing tonight. I will fill you in on the comments of others and then share mine.

OK, here we go...

It is more than just family. We show what matters most when we do our best in all things. This applies to work, school, sharing the road, and more. Our love radiates from everything we do.

We seek ways to lighten others burdens.

Christ asked Peter, "Do you love me....then feed my sheep." There is so much that can come from the forms of feeding.

Before coming to this earth, we each accepting the mission call, whether it was to be part of a family, have a disability, struggle with a specific challenge, or what. We live the consequences of not only our actions and deeds, but the actions and deeds of others. We may have accepted the call to a family, not know what challenges would face us, but living as a result of our parents choices. These problems are not what matters most, but the fact that we remain committed to the covenants we made with our Father in Heaven after accepting the call.

OK, there are some of the things our family got out of it. Here are my extended thoughts along those lines. I know that many of you heard this on Sunday, read on to see what other thoughts may enter your minds and hearts.

What does matter and how do we do it? I wondered about this as I was preparing for a talk this Sunday. D&C 117:11. This verse is directed to Bishop Newel K. Whitney. He was not doing what the Lord wanted him to do. I would like to focus on the last little part of it. I will take some liberties if you don't mind....



"...be a (___) unto my people, saith the Lord, not in name but in deed, saith the Lord."



I would like to fill in the blank, but before I do lets talk about it. Each of us has been given us a name. A name whose purpose is to distinguish us above all other people. My father and mother made sure that I understood this by reminding be before I ever left the house. "Remember who you are."



It is our name that matters. When others hear our names, what do they think? Do they think of how much we love our spouses, children, parents, friends, neighbors? Does your name remind others of what matters to you?



"...be a Leo unto my people, saith the Lord, not in name but in deed..." When I am called by Leo, my thoughts are taken to my grandfather, who he was, what he taught me through example, and what he expected me to be.



"...be a Gifford unto my people, saith the Lord, not in name but in deed..." Do you represent the legacy of all who carry this name? When I am called by this name, I am reminded of all the Gifford's, past, present, and future. I strive to make sure others know how much that means to me.



This thought goes much further. Some names are titles, some names have meaning hidden from others to see, some names represent who we are, what we are, and what we have committed to become. I am reminded in the temple that there are many given to remind us of covenants made. We must live them in deed, not name only.



Continue filling in the blanks, think of all the names you have been given, of all the special names you have taken upon yourself.



"...be a Son...", "...be a daughter...", "...be a father/mother...", "...be a sibling...", "...be a home/visiting teacher...", "...be a teacher/leader/president...", as you can see, there are so many names, titles, and words you can substitute here. When you are to the fullest extent of these titles, callings, and covenants in deed and not name only...that is what matters most.