Overcoming the Selfishness inside
Good Afternoon to All -
I hope that your week has been enlightening. I know mine has been eye opening in many ways. I am grateful for each line of learning that is shared with me. This week, it has come in different fashions and completely random locations, but come they have.
Pondering - 2 Nephi 9:6-7. I have spent a great deal of time pondering the fact that death is part of the plan. It actually fulfills the merciful plan. It is a different way of thinking. Normally we think of death as something sad, remorseful, painful, and filled with longing. But the more I think about it, those thoughts are all selfish thoughts. They focus on our feelings and not the feelings of those who have died.
This morning in ward council we talked about a similar subject. We have been having an issue in our stake with baptisms. Some families are requesting that we hold individual baptisms for the children of age. Mind you, there are now 11 wards in our stake. This month alone, we have 4 baptisms in our ward. If all 11 wards had the same, there would be 44 individual baptisms. There is not enough days in the week. It takes several hours to fill the font, but I digress.
The question this morning is why? Is the reason for requesting individual baptisms focused on the ordinance, the child, or something else? I reflected back to the day I was baptized. I know there was another family there, I have pictures of the other candidate and myself outside the chapel, but really, I was more excited about being baptized. I wonder if you ask each child getting baptized, do they care about the pictures, the speakers, the songs, the gifts, the open house, or any of the many other things that happen or are they focused on the ordinance? Where should our focus be?
Death is part of the plan. Because of the fall of man, we all became mortal. Our bodies transcended from an immortal state to mortal state. They began to die from that very moment. For those of you like myself, you know that aging is not an easy process. There are times that it is painful, depressing, and filled with lessons of patience and long suffering. The mercy of this great plan allows us to be transformed from a decaying mortal body to a perfect immortal body. How? I still do not understand, but yet it is there. I have much yet to learn.
Ok, so there is one thought. The second is the idea of serving. Second verse is all about an infinite atonement. Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice in our behalf. Do you think he wanted to? Was it convenient, fun, or enjoyable? I think not.
I have had several of those moments this week. Because of different reasons, we have been all over the place this week. I felt like we were always going for one reason or another. At one point, I had finished a long day of work, had just showered, changed into comfortable clothing and then remembered that I had committed to make visits that evening. To be honest, I was not sure I was in the right frame of mind. I picked up my phone to call the Elders, secretly hoping they would have other plans, but they didn't.
I changed my clothes and walked out the door. I probably did it out of obligation. Yep, here is my confessional. What a wonderful evening it turned out to be. I came home lifted and filled with light. Isn't it amazing how the Lord blesses low life individuals like myself.
I had a similar situation just a couple days later. We had a large family event planned. Some had been up late the night before. We were all up early, scrambling to make things happen, when I received a call from a widow in the ward. She was desperate. We were literally getting ready to walk out the door. She had a simple flat tire. In my head, I was trying to think of all the other people she could have called. I might have even suggested that she call a couple of them. But they were all caught up in life like I was. I had to make a choice. I am so grateful that I did. We were a little bit late, but I came home lighter and brighter.
After these experiences and some council given today, I am ready to become addicted to LSD. Ask me about it. I need to be better at it each day.
Ok, on with the week....
The Queen spent most of the week in C-town. I don't know how she did it, but all of her flights were smooth. She did not have any challenges. As of late, I seem to have the worst luck. We had the opportunity on Friday to take a lovely drive up north. It was time well spent. We didn't enjoy the orange cones, but survived.
The Professor and I were on our own for those few days. Monday evening we did a fun FHE in Bountiful. We watched several wonderful performances of men in skirts beating drums and playing pipes. There were several frolicking lasses that bounced around until I was exhausted just watching them.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been under the weather. However, they have endured it well and we learned just recently that Ehl-Bo is starting a new job that looks to be a little more consistent and enjoyable.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins have spent the week gathering addresses and stuffing envelopes. I did get to take Puddin for a ride up north with Gram and Gramps G. Another trip well spent.
On Saturday, we had a wonderful family gathering as we did our best to lighten the burdens of others. It was hot, it was wet, and surprisingly dirty. I did not expect to come home as dirty as I did when I spent the day surrounded by soapy buckets and free flowing hoses. We all have sun burns in interesting places, but came away filled with joy and light. It was a great time. Thanks to all to did and sacrificed so much to make it happen.
I hope that your week has been enlightening. I know mine has been eye opening in many ways. I am grateful for each line of learning that is shared with me. This week, it has come in different fashions and completely random locations, but come they have.
Pondering - 2 Nephi 9:6-7. I have spent a great deal of time pondering the fact that death is part of the plan. It actually fulfills the merciful plan. It is a different way of thinking. Normally we think of death as something sad, remorseful, painful, and filled with longing. But the more I think about it, those thoughts are all selfish thoughts. They focus on our feelings and not the feelings of those who have died.
This morning in ward council we talked about a similar subject. We have been having an issue in our stake with baptisms. Some families are requesting that we hold individual baptisms for the children of age. Mind you, there are now 11 wards in our stake. This month alone, we have 4 baptisms in our ward. If all 11 wards had the same, there would be 44 individual baptisms. There is not enough days in the week. It takes several hours to fill the font, but I digress.
The question this morning is why? Is the reason for requesting individual baptisms focused on the ordinance, the child, or something else? I reflected back to the day I was baptized. I know there was another family there, I have pictures of the other candidate and myself outside the chapel, but really, I was more excited about being baptized. I wonder if you ask each child getting baptized, do they care about the pictures, the speakers, the songs, the gifts, the open house, or any of the many other things that happen or are they focused on the ordinance? Where should our focus be?
Death is part of the plan. Because of the fall of man, we all became mortal. Our bodies transcended from an immortal state to mortal state. They began to die from that very moment. For those of you like myself, you know that aging is not an easy process. There are times that it is painful, depressing, and filled with lessons of patience and long suffering. The mercy of this great plan allows us to be transformed from a decaying mortal body to a perfect immortal body. How? I still do not understand, but yet it is there. I have much yet to learn.
Ok, so there is one thought. The second is the idea of serving. Second verse is all about an infinite atonement. Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice in our behalf. Do you think he wanted to? Was it convenient, fun, or enjoyable? I think not.
I have had several of those moments this week. Because of different reasons, we have been all over the place this week. I felt like we were always going for one reason or another. At one point, I had finished a long day of work, had just showered, changed into comfortable clothing and then remembered that I had committed to make visits that evening. To be honest, I was not sure I was in the right frame of mind. I picked up my phone to call the Elders, secretly hoping they would have other plans, but they didn't.
I changed my clothes and walked out the door. I probably did it out of obligation. Yep, here is my confessional. What a wonderful evening it turned out to be. I came home lifted and filled with light. Isn't it amazing how the Lord blesses low life individuals like myself.
I had a similar situation just a couple days later. We had a large family event planned. Some had been up late the night before. We were all up early, scrambling to make things happen, when I received a call from a widow in the ward. She was desperate. We were literally getting ready to walk out the door. She had a simple flat tire. In my head, I was trying to think of all the other people she could have called. I might have even suggested that she call a couple of them. But they were all caught up in life like I was. I had to make a choice. I am so grateful that I did. We were a little bit late, but I came home lighter and brighter.
After these experiences and some council given today, I am ready to become addicted to LSD. Ask me about it. I need to be better at it each day.
Ok, on with the week....
The Queen spent most of the week in C-town. I don't know how she did it, but all of her flights were smooth. She did not have any challenges. As of late, I seem to have the worst luck. We had the opportunity on Friday to take a lovely drive up north. It was time well spent. We didn't enjoy the orange cones, but survived.
The Professor and I were on our own for those few days. Monday evening we did a fun FHE in Bountiful. We watched several wonderful performances of men in skirts beating drums and playing pipes. There were several frolicking lasses that bounced around until I was exhausted just watching them.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been under the weather. However, they have endured it well and we learned just recently that Ehl-Bo is starting a new job that looks to be a little more consistent and enjoyable.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins have spent the week gathering addresses and stuffing envelopes. I did get to take Puddin for a ride up north with Gram and Gramps G. Another trip well spent.
On Saturday, we had a wonderful family gathering as we did our best to lighten the burdens of others. It was hot, it was wet, and surprisingly dirty. I did not expect to come home as dirty as I did when I spent the day surrounded by soapy buckets and free flowing hoses. We all have sun burns in interesting places, but came away filled with joy and light. It was a great time. Thanks to all to did and sacrificed so much to make it happen.
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