Free Agency and the Problem of Evil

I was thinking this morning about the elect of God and how some denominations believe that the elect are chosen. You can't blame them for that because the scriptures appear to teach it. But that would invalidate their free agency. A husband might say the he chose his wife, but we know it's more involved than that if only because the wife has a choice too. In the same way, God does not force some to be saved and prevent others from being saved. He would love for all of us to be saved. But we choose for ourselves whether salvation is something we want.

While pondering that, I realized that free agency solves the problem of evil. God didn't create good spirits and bad spirits. He created innocent spirits with the gift of agency. Using that agency, some made choices that corrupted them while others made choices that purified them.

Robes Washed White in the Blood of the Lamb

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. - Revelation 7:14

And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. - 3 Nephi 27:19

I want to repent of all my sins. I want to be clean. I have no egregious sins, but I have plenty of small ones.

How do I do this? The hardest part seems to be identifying the small sins.

My wife and I have been holding a daily contest for almost two weeks now to see who can say the least number of negative things. I have learned that it takes a lot of time and work to overcome small weaknesses.

Passion

On one of our first dates, my wife asked me, "What are you passionate about?" I responded by saying, "Nothing." She didn't like that answer. I've had to defend my stance ever since.

Passion used to have a negative connotation for me. I associated it with dogma, ignorance, and intolerance. Passion was the the only thing that the far right, the far left, and the Middle East had in common. Even the scriptures counseled us to "bridle all [our] passions."

I'm a little wiser now. I see that passion can also be good. I feel passionately about God, Jesus Christ, and my family. I have a passion for truth, excellence, justice, and mercy.

How I Met My Wife

At the Vatican Summit on Marriage, President Henry B Eyring shared the story of how he met his wife.

As the meeting ended, I saw in the crowd a young woman. I had never seen her before, but the feeling came over me that she was the best person I had ever seen. That evening she walked into our church meeting in Cambridge. Another thought came to my mind with great power: “If I could only be with her, I could become every good thing I ever wanted to be.” I said to the man sitting next to me, “Do you see that girl? I would give anything to marry her.” We were married a year after I first saw her. - President Henry B Eyring

That sounds a lot like the story of how I met my wife.

Shortly after returning to BYU from my mission in Chile, I looked out my kitchen window and saw a young lady across the way in her living. I did not know who she was. I could not see her face because her back was towards me while she talked to her roommates. But I felt a light radiating from her and something inside of me leaped for joy. I knew she was the type of woman that I wanted to be with for eternity. We too were married one year later.

Love Not the World

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. - 1 John 2:15

Does that seem repetitive? When I thought about why the qualifying statement was needed, I realized that sometimes we draw a circle around certain behaviors and lifestyles and say, "That's the world. As long as I'm not all that, I'm not the world." Then we cherry-pick one thing from the circle and justify it by saying to ourselves, "It's not the world. The world is all that." John lists three worldly favorites for being cherry-picked:

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. - 1 John 2:16

I like the phrase "pride of life." Other translations show that it means ostentation. I've lived in places where it seemed that everyone's primary concern was obtaining and spending more money. They were rich with large houses, fine clothes, and many cars. Yet somehow they never seemed to have enough; they were consumed by the pride of life.

I'm in a position where I could be wealthy if I wanted to be. It's very appealing and something I think about frequently. The dream of a large house with money leftover to splurge on my family is appealing in many ways. I'm grateful for learning that there is no value in riches for the sake of riches; it often causes more problems than it solves.

Someday, those that are consumed by the pride of life will lose everything they have dedicate their life to and stand before God with very little to show.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. - 1 John 2:17

The world knoweth us not, because it knew him not

The world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. - 1 John 3:1

That short phrase fascinates me. I've been thinking about it for two days. Lets flip it around to say something similar which ought to be true of Christ's disciples. 

Therefore the world knoweth him, because it knew us. 

Many people have had that type of influence on me, such as my wife.

Purify Yourself as He is Pure

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. - 1 John 3:2-3

Those that look forward to the coming of Christ, and hope to be like him, have motivation and seek to be pure as Christ is pure. Just last week I was talking to someone who is returning to church after a long absence. They talked about how they knew that Christ atoned for their sins and how terrible they would feel if they threw that gift away. This person has the desire to be pure as Christ is pure.

Love Not the World

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. - 1 John 2:15-17

I have a lot of pride that causes me to get caught up in desiring glory, fame, and riches. Part of me wants to be well-known, well liked, and rich enough to live a luxurious life. I secretly desire for the projects at work to take off and make me rich and famous.

But as I grow older (I have some gray hair already) I recognize how worthless riches and fame are compared to the love and approval of God. In that day when we are called back home to account of our lives to God, of what worth will money and fame be? If those are our pursuits in life then we will have nothing to show our God. But if we do the will of God we will become like him and prove ourselves worthy of our heavenly inheritance and glory.

Isn't that ironic? By pursuing riches and glory on earth we will lose the riches and glory waiting for us in heaven. It is only by setting aside our own desires that we may earn our heavenly inheritance.

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. - 1 John 2:28

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings

The more I try to put my life in accordance with God's will, the more I realize how much he is asking of us. I used to think that we just needed to obey the commandments and ask God about important decisions. But I'm learning that it's not that simple.

It is good set and pursue righteous goals, yet James warns us that planning without leaving room for God's will is arrogant and sinful.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. - James 4:13-17 (ESV)

It's easy to see how this applies to big decisions such as pursuing a profession, choosing a spouse, and deciding where to live: make sure God approves of your decision. And in my opinion, that's easy. But Alma takes it a step further.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. - Alma 37:37

Alma teaches us that we need to ask God about everything we do. Obviously it can get carried away. A common example I hear in church is that God doesn't are about which socks we wear. But what if one day it did matter. Would we be willing and prepared to listen?

I am reminded of a trip  from Spanish Fork, UT to Rexburg, ID. After loading everything into our car, I returned to the house one last time. I was either retrieving an item I had forgotten or making sure that all doors and windows were locked. While in the basement I had a strong feeling that I needed to bring a rope and tarp that I saw on the floor. I deliberated for a short them then concluded, "I don't need it for shelter. We're not camping. If the car breaks down then we still have the car. I see no reason to bring it."

Somewhere near the Utah-Idaho border we saw dark storm clouds ahead. It was obvious that we were soon going to drive through significant downpours. I saw a pickup truck stopped on the side of the road. The passengers were out trying to secure the load. I immediately knew that the rope and tarp was for them, not me.

When I pray in the morning I try to review and counsel with the Lord. After preparing and studying and before working I often pray to make sure I'm still on track. Sometimes everything is okay. But sometimes He wants changes. A couple of weeks ago He asked me to write a letter to someone before working. This morning I knew that I needed to plan on speaking with someone today. I don't know why I need to speak with them, nor why it needs to be today, but I've learned not to question. Counseling with the Lord consistently leads to seemingly insignificant changes to my plans, and I'm always glad I listened.

I am learning that the Lord is willing to play a very active role in our life. If we counsel with Him in all our doings then he really will direct our paths.

Degrading Conversation

Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath - James 1:19

If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. - James 3:2

It is difficult to endure the company of someone who habitually complains and degrades. But when someone is respectful, uplifting, and disciplined, we look forward to everything they say.

Inspiring Change

I spent a lot of time this weekend thinking about and talking about change. Change has been a huge part of my life so it always surprises me when I meet people that have no desire to change anything about anything, especially themselves. They have no desire for progress and perhaps can't even envision it.

Lets use Revelation 3:15-16 as a metaphor for discussing change. Those who are hot are pursuing change towards a good goal, those who are cold are pursuing change towards a bad goal, and the lukewarm don't want to change at all.

In my experience, it is easier to take someone who is cold and make them hot than it is to help someone who is lukewarm to become hot. Do you agree? Why is that the case?

I can't think of a single situation where I successfully helped a lukewarm person pursue positive change, which perhaps means I've only helped people that had a desire for change in the first place. So how can you instill a desire for change into someone? I wonder if only God can. Some people seem to be born with it, or developed desire while being raised, while adults who obtained the desire point to an experience that opened their eyes, the type of experience that only God can give and we can only pray for.

What are your thoughts? Is my vocabulary proper? Does the metaphor make sense? What other scriptures or experience can we learn from?

This makes me wonder in physics if it's easier to create or redirect momentum.

To be seen, or not to be seen

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. - Matthew 5:16

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. - Matthew 6:1

How do you reconcile those two statements? They seem to say "Do good so that people can see that you are good and then glorify God, but don't do good for the purpose of being seen."

The Peace and Hope of Christ

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. - John 14:27

Righteousness brings with it a promise of blessings such as joy, peace, and hope. These are mostly comfort blessings; they help life feel good and make us expect that life will continue to be good. But that train of thought is flawed. The peace which Christ offers us is not that everything will be okay in this life but that everything will perfect in the next life.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. - 1 Corinthians 15:19 

Our hope in Christ is for eternal life, for becoming a joint-heir with Christ, and for a glorious resurrection.

I love serving in the Elders Quorum

It is easy to look at the Elders Quorum as a bowl of leftovers.

Likely there are insufficient active members to cover home teaching assignments. Adult male converts often move away or can’t be located. Prospective elders often outnumber the active elders. Faithful elders often travel or move for employment or educational reasons. Some are called as high priests or receive major assignments outside the quorum. - Elder Dale E Miller

I love working in the Elders Quorum. Many of the men there have enormous potential that is waiting to be unlocked, men who "are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it" (D&C 123:12). They want to be good but think it's hard or don't understand what to do next. These men just need someone to love them and show them the way.

Visit them. Teach them. Talk to them. Love them. Many of them will respond.

I have seen it happen. The men are usually quiet in church, if they are there. They have testimonies but the flames are small. I have seen them go to the temple; I have seen them turn into bishopric counselors; I have seen them become faithful home teachers; I have seen them become better fathers.

And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also. - D&C 84:106

Dedication to God

I've attended two baptismal ceremonies recently. I didn't speak at either of them, but if I had been asked to speak I would've shared two scriptures I have read recently.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. - Colossians 3:1-2

You have decided to follow Christ and are showing your intentions through the covenant of baptism. Baptism is symbolic of the death of your old life and the birth of a new life; you are going to be raised by Christ. You ought to keep your sights on heaven. Remember the promises of salvation and being raised again with Christ in the last day. Don't let your sights be pulled down to the things of the earth.

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. - 1 Thessalonians 2:12

You will be given the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is an astounding privilege to have the Spirit of God as your constant companion. It will fill your life with light, hope, peace, and knowledge, and guide you back home to Heavenly Father. Be worthy of it's companionship -- always. You will do your self a terrible disservice if you ever put yourself in a situation that offends the Spirit. Walk worthy of God and He will bring you home.

Guidance In My Profession

Yesterday I needed to brainstorm and design some significant changes to a project I work on. It included some technical challenges which I had intentionally avoided in the past. I was having trouble focusing in my office at home so I went outside and sat in a field near a pond. Inspiration came, a design was found, and the technical challenges were overcome. I closed my eyes to pray and presented the plan which He helped me form. The response came, "That's good but I need you to set it aside for now. You need to work on this other thing first." It is gratifying to have His guidance even in my professional pursuits.

Spreading Lightness in the World

Do all things without murmurings and disputings - Phillipians 2:14

There are times in my life when my motto could have been "Do all things with murmurings and disputings." Complaining is easy and sometimes even enjoyable. And yet most of us don't like to be around people who constantly complain.

In Julian Treasure's 2013 Ted talk titled How to speak so that people want to listen, he shares seven deadly sins of speaking, one of which is negativity.

Complaining is viral misery. It's not spreading sunshine and lightness in the world.

He continues to explain "four really powerful cornerstones, foundations, that we can stand on if we want our speech to be powerful and to make change in the world:" honesty, authenticity, integrity, and love.

That reminds me of Paul's explanation about why we shouldn't complain.

That ye may be... in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world - Phillipians 2:15

Think about the people whose company and conversation you enjoy the most. Chances are they spread lightness with their positive and complimentary manner. I have a goal to be more like that some day.

The Fear of Death

In high school I had conversation with friends about death. I admitted that I feared death. Not only did I fear the pain that is often associated with death, but I also feared the unknown. Even though I was religious and knew well what we believed about heaven and the afterlife, there was still a lot we admitted to not knowing. Some were inconsequential, such as "What will I look like?" while others were more serious, such as "Could I tolerate living forever?"

10 years have gone by since then. I no longer fear death. I have learned a lot more about what life will be like after death, and my assurance in its reality has dramatically increased.

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. - Phillipians 1:23

I can relate to Paul. There is something inside of me that looks forward to being liberated from the burdens of mortality.

Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world. - Ether 12:4

There is a better world, and I look forward to living there.

It's Not About Me, It's About Them

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. - Ephesians 6:4

I am intensely intrigued by this instruction. Notice what it doesn't say. It doesn't tell fathers to control their anger and to honor God. Instead, this scripture focuses on the children. "Don't make them angry. Teach them to honor and obey God." It's not about me, it's about them.

We can see this contrast in different approaches to discipline. An easy rut to fall in is disciplining for the sake of discipline, justice, and sustaining the rules. "You broke the rule, now you must suffer." While disciplining, have you ever thought, "This might be unfair and unreasonable, but rules are rules?" It happened to me today.

Your behavior will be different if you approach discipline from the perspective of the child. "He just hit the kitten with a stick.... again. How can I teach him to be nice to animals?" "I want him to stop playing in his milk, but he doesn't seem to understand why it's a bad thing. Is it a bad thing?" I don't ask myself those questions often enough. I would be a better parent if I did.

June Was Too Late

We had been planning for some time to move and live near my wife's family in Missouri. All the pieces but one had fallen into place. There was a wedding of a close friend that would occur at the end of June in Provo. Do we move before the wedding and travel back for it or do we wait and move afterwards? It was a hard choice.

I wanted to move earlier and just come back. I disliked the prospect of sitting on my hands for a month just waiting until we could move. But buying plane tickets or committing to drive 20 hours there and 20 hours back was no small thing. My wife thought it was much more practical to wait until after the wedding, and I knew she was right.

But I couldn't get over this strong feeling that we needed to move earlier. We talked about it many times. Once in April I said to my wife, "I feel like something terrible is going to happen in your family. Almost like somebody is going to die, but not quite as bad." Another time I said, "I just feel like June is too late." But again, it was terribly impractical, so we kept our plans for moving at the end of June.

Then near the end of May one of my wife's uncles died. He lived in Utah and her parents decided to drive out for the funeral. They offered to bring their large 12 passenger van and pick up a load of our stuff to take back to Missouri for us. It would save us a ton of money and hassle. The plan was to live without most of our stuff for the duration of June until we moved then hopefully fit what was left into our mini-van.

Striking a balance between what we needed to live for one month and what we could fit in our van was impossible. On Saturday, May 24th we decided that we would move early. We weren't taking our furniture and we only lived in a small two-bedroom apartment. We were confident we could fit everything we needed into the 12-passenger van with some overflow into our mini-van. We left Utah on the 28th and arrived in Missouri late on the 29th.

In the morning of Saturday, May 31st, the last day of May, just 36 hours after arriving in Missouri, my 11-year-old brother-in-law was involved in a serious accident. He was partially crushed by a backhoe. He sustained 13 broken ribs and a punctured lung.

My wife and I quickly remembered the conversations we had while deciding when to move. "Something terrible is going to happen." "June is too late."

We wish that we had listened to the gentle prompting about moving in May, but we're grateful that God found a way to get us to Missouri on time anyways. We marvel at the simple yet profound nature of the knowledge he shared with us. June was too late.

---

My brother-in-law has recovered well. He doesn't have his full strength back yet, but for weeks he's been running, wrestling, working, swinging on ropes, and all sorts of other things that farm boys do. His rapid recovery was quite miraculous too.

How unsearchable are his judgments -- How flawed are mine

I'm quite judgmental of other drivers on the road. I label drivers based on their acceleration, their speed, their ability to stay in the lines, whether they're using a cell phone, their age, their gender, how they sit in the seat, and how they hold the steering wheel. I almost make a game out of it, trying to guess some of those variables while only knowing a few. Young females using cell-phones are the easiest to predict.

I was surprised when I saw someone I knew driving the speed limit on the highway in a wide-eyed, stiff-armed, 10-and-2 driving position. He was obviously unconfident and nervous. I hadn't seen him for almost a year, so I quickly ran through everything I knew about him. We used to ride the bus together from Spanish fork to Salt Lake. I often watched him closely because he was somewhat of an enigma. He was tall, a little more broad and bulky than I was, and had a shaved head. He looked like a marine. But I only ever saw him with a suite on. He worked in the editing for the LDS church. I tried talking to him once but couldn't get much of a conversation going. I suppose what intrigued me most is that his looks never matched his manners.

Then the following thoughts rushed through my mind:

• "How sad that he has to drive every day between Spanish Fork and Salt Lake on this crazy highway."
• "I bet it's nerve racking for him."
• "He must do it because the train is unreliable and takes too long."
• "I pity him for not being able to get a job closer to home."
• "Boy, some people sure have it rough in life."
• "I wish there was more I could do to help people beyond my immediate sphere of influence."

Suddenly I felt an unusually extreme amount of compassion for this man I knew, and for many other people in the world that I didn't know. And then the Spirit spoke to me:

I am the Good Shepherd, and I know my sheep.

The thought brought comfort laced in chastisement. My pity almost brought me to question the usefulness and requirement of mortality. "Show many experience show much suffering. I wish it wasn't necessary."

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? - Romans 11:33-34

Who was I to doubt the justice, mercy, and power of God?

I know that God has a plan and that mortality is a key part of it. I can't explain why some seem to be more prone to suffering than others, but I do know that the Atonement of Christ has the power to make right all that may be wrong with this life.

Burdens and Friendship on Old Rag

Every year my scout troop would camp and hike on Old Rag Mountain, the "most popular and most dangerous hike" in the Shenandoah National Park. The views on top of Old Rag mountain are spectacular, especially in the fall. The typical hike is a 9 mile circuit, hiking and bouldering up the front and then descending down the back and around the side.

We started our trips by hiking 3.8 miles up the backside on Friday night to camp near the Old Rag shelter. Saturday morning we would hike the 3.8 miles back down to the cars to drop off our camping gear, then turn back around to begin the 9 mile hike. It was a tremendous and exhilarating accomplishment for young boys.

First-timers always made the same mistake: their camping pack would be too heavy for the Friday night hike. 3.8 miles isn't too far; it's a steady uphill incline that makes it feel like forever if you're not prepared. Chris made the same mistake his first time. We weren't even 2 miles into it when he started getting lethargic and grumbly. It was the worst I had seen.

I got behind Chris and begin to push on his pack. There were two thoughts going through my head: first, he needs all the help he can get; second, he needs to know he's not alone. It seemed to work. Chris began to move faster and complain less. Slowly I backed off how hard I was pushing until I wasn't pushing at all but just kept my hand on his pack. He kept pace for the rest of the hike up to the shelter.

That experience taught me a profound lesson about sharing the burdens of our friends.

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

Gabriel's Baptismal Prophecy

While serving in an area around Villa Alemana, Chile, I met a 15-year-old boy name Gabriel. He had been attending church for eight to ten months alone. Well, he had friends at church but no family; his parents didn't want anything to do with the Mormons. Gabriel wanted to be baptized into the church but his parents wouldn't let him (anyone below the age of 18 needs parental permission).

Gabriel was intelligent, outgoing, and spiritually inclined. You couldn't tell that he wasn't baptized, nor that he had only been attending church for under a year. Everybody wanted nothing more than for his parents to grant him permission.

One day we saw Gabriel walking home with his parents. I told my companion that I wanted to meet them, but my companion didn't recommend it. I felt courageous, if not a little brazen. By then I had been in Chile for at least 18 months so there wasn't much that would phase me. As we caught up to them and yelled hello, his parents quickly picked up their pace and left Gabriel behind with us. Perhaps my companion was right. They really didn't want anything to do with us.

Some time later (days or weeks), we ran into Gabriel while visiting another member's home. We took advantage of the opportunity to share a scripture with him. I felt impressed to share D&C 31:1-3, replacing the name Thomas with Gabriel (and of course we were actually reading this in Spanish).

Gabriel, my son, blessed are you because of your faith in my work.

Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church.

Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation.

I told him this was prophetic of events in his life: he would soon be baptized and eventually see some of his family members join him in the church. It was difficult to see how it could happen, but the Spirit manifested strongly to all of us that it was true.

Gabriel mentioned that he was prepared to leave or be shunned by his family if that's what it took to be baptized. I asked him when he made that decision. Gabriel responded, "The day that my parents were willing to leave me behind with two good friends from the church."

Gabriel's 16th birthday was coming soon. He only asked his parents for one thing: permission to be baptized into the Mormon church. The ward held a special fast for him. To our surprise his parents allowed us to join a portion of the celebration in their home. It would be the first time that missionaries were in his home.

Sure enough, Gabriel excitedly called us a few days later to say that his parents gave him permission to be baptized. The first part of the prophecy was fulfilled. He served a mission when he was 19 and baptized his little brother. The second part of the prophecy is being fulfilled.

Your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth

One day, when I was about 16, I was particularly troubled about something. I retreated to my bedroom to petition the Lord for relief. I said a prayer then opened my scriptures and began reading where I had previously left off at D&C 97. Afterwards, I knelt down and prayed again then left my room to continue on with my day. I was only a few steps out of my room when an impression from the Spirit told me to go back and continue reading the scriptures. I cannot describe how overwhelmingly strong the feeling was. I do not remember questioning it; I don't remember wondering where it came from nor whether I should listen to it. The instant I felt it, I turned around and returned to my bed to continue reading. I opened up to D&C 98 and read the first three verses:

1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

I was astounded. "Your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth." I could not deny that my prayers had been heard after that powerful answer. It was a pivotal experience in the development of my faith. Since then, I have not doubted that God hears all of our prayers.

The Miracle of our Little Red Car

While expecting our first child, we knew we needed to get a car. My wife's mobility was rapidly decreasing, soon the doctor visits would become more frequent, and we could only continue borrowing other people's cars for so long. Not to mention we would eventually need to go to the hospital without much notice...

One day while browsing the classifieds on KSL, I received a very clear impression to call my bishop. I was the assistant financial clerk at the time, and I did have a small item of business to talk about, but it wasn't urgent. I called, he answered, and after quickly discussing the one item of business, I mentioned that we were looking for a car. He didn't know of anyone at the time that was trying to sell a car but he would keep an eye out for us.

The bishop called us back about a week later. Somebody in our ward was going to move soon and wanted to sell one of their cars. It was a 1991 Toyota Corolla, red, automatic transmission, with 150,000 miles on it. They were only asking $500. It was worth at least twice that, but they would have none of it. What a relief! I was preparing to pay a few thousand dollars for a car which was a difficult prospect because we were so poor at the time.

Shortly after we bought it, my wife revealed that she prayed for a car just like that. A sister of her's had a red Corolla when she was first married. So my wife asked God for a similar car and even said in the prayer that it would be nice if it only cost about $500.

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matthew 21:22

Preparing for The Second Coming

It is a glorious time to be alive. We live in the latter days: the priesthood and its ordinances have been restored, the gospel is being preached to all the earth, and the kingdom of God is being established in preparation for the return of it’s king, Jesus Christ. What a blessing to be one of the servants that is preparing the kingdom for his return.

But not all of us will be ready when he comes. There is a dire warning about this in the parable of the ten virgins. When the bridegroom came, only five of the ten virgins were prepared. As Elder Oaks once pointed out, "the arithmetic of this parable is chilling" because the virgins represent the members of the church. All ten of them knew he was coming but only five were prepared.

What will cause some of us to be unprepared for Christ's return? The Lord reveals one prominent way in a prophecy to the early leaders of the church:

"And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people. For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes. … And … the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people." - D&C 88:88-91

The terrible destruction and commotion will cause faith to be overcome by fear, even among many of the faithful saints. We cannot allow this to happen. We must be sanctified; we must be strong..

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man” - Mosiah 3:19

The Spirit is trying to warn us and prepare us. It is trying to show us how to shed the natural man. Do we listen? Can we hear it?

Every week when we take the sacrament we are promised “that we may always have his Spirit to be with us”. Always. I don't know about you, but that promise is not always fulfilled in my life. Our responsibility in the covenant is simple: take upon us the name of Christ, keep his commandments, and always remember him. I struggle with the third part to "always remember him."

There are too many distractions in this life, too many ways for us to forget about Christ. The adversary has made it very easy for us to vegetate, be entertained, and waste time.

The parable of the talents warns us about this. It tells of a master who would be gone traveling for a long time so he divided up his goods among three of his servants. When the master finally returned, he asked his servants what they had done with his goods (talents) while he was gone. Two of them made good use of the talents they had been given and were blessed.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

But the third servant was cursed for doing nothing with his talent while the master was gone.

cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness

What a terrifying prospect. We cannot afford to waste time and become an unprofitable servant.

There is hope in what the master says to the faithful servants. If we yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit then we will be found ready when He returns, be welcomed into his kingdom, and be crowned with eternal life and joy.

_{Adapted from a talk I gave in church on February 9, 2014.}