Fast Offerings

            A few months ago we had a lesson on fast offerings. It wasn’t any different then the countless meetings I have had before on the subject but for some reason I really felt inspired by this particular lesson. I always paid fast offerings because I knew it helped those less fortunate with food or other things they stood in need of, but never before had paid it because of the blessings promised for doing it. In our lesson we talked about the faith to pay more than usual on fast Sunday and if so the Lord would thank you for it in countless ways. Some say they always get the money spent back in random ways, while others say the Lord will make it up to you in testimony or just a good feeling at the end of the day.

            Looking back over the years I never recalled getting anything in return for paying fast offerings, but then again I never really expected or looked for something. That Sunday though I felt very sure that someone needed extra this month and by exercising faith the Lord would make it up to us. I once heard the saying; “The Lord will never let you give yourself poor” if he is in charge of everything in the universe that seemed pretty true. Jesus Christ talked about the birds and animals in The Book of Mormon, they never work or pay for their food, but instead they do their part and hope that God will provide for them. He then asked aren’t we greater then they, and if so why wouldn’t God provide for us?

            I remember writing that fast offering check and making sure we paid close to triple the amount we usually did knowing that the Lord would not let us give ourselves poor. The next day I went to work like always and by the end of the day was surprised to hear the company was doing layoffs. I started to worry and think about that fast offering check we had wrote, and thinking if I didn’t have a job by the end of the day we would really be needing it. To my surprise however I ended up getting a promotion along with a 42% pay increase to go along with it! How could I get a raise during layoffs? I thought about it for a few days and came to the only logical conclusion that I could, the fast offerings were paid with a willing heart, and God received it. As such families were blessed because of it with food, shelter or whatever they needed, while our family too reaped the rewards!

            I know our Heavenly Father is waiting patiently to bless us, but is only able to if we do our part in exercising faith first to act. I know he smiles and loves when we do what is right, and because of obedience to the laws we are happier. I know that He is aware of everything we do, and always ready to help his children. I know that we are his children and as long as we come to him he will receive us with outstretched arms. The invitation is always there, it is up to us to accept it.

Importance of Fathers

                Many things in life can be attributed to coincidence, while others can’t. It could be coincidence that my parents met over 30 years ago. My Dad always told me how he spent years listening to missionaries and learning about the gospel. With most Christian churches the gospel they teach doesn’t vary from religion to religion. With the restored gospel of Jesus Christ there have been a few distinguishing characteristics that were restored along with the priesthood and fullness of the gospel. It was one of these distinguishing characteristics that the missionaries taught my Dad and opened his eyes to something he had been looking for. The concept of eternal families is something that is cherished by members of the church and helped bring my Dad and eventually my family together forever.

                I attribute the choice my Dad made that day to several things over the years. He raised 4 boys the best he could. He taught me how to be successful, spiritually and temporally, either through example or long talks. Successful people are successful for one reason; they are willing to do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to.  My Dad was willing to take the hard route of raising his family in the gospel and for that I and my family are eternally grateful. Because he chose to raise us in the gospel and help teach us all four of us boys what he knew to be true, we went on missions to several parts of the world. Because of the choice he made to take the hard road and raise us in the gospel, all four of us were able to teach thousands of people all over the world about the gospel and share with them the blessings we have been enjoying for several years.

                I have seen several families with the lack of a Father, and the difference is night and day. We all have a Heavenly Father that is always there for us. I know he wants what is best for us, and I know that my dad is what is best for me on this earth. I am spoiled to have been so lucky to have someone like him in my life. Now that I am a dad I can see myself taking the same route that I was raised. I want Duncan and the future kids of Brooke and me to be successful spiritually and temporally. Someday my wish is that of my dad’s; to have an eternal family. I know that there is a plan set by our heavenly father. He wants us to be happy, and I am most happy when I am with my family. 

The Pure Love of Christ

                We are constantly taught that if we ever want to find true happiness in life it can be done only through developing charity towards everyone. Charity is the pure love of Jesus Christ, and anyone that learns to be filled with it either through service, understanding the life of Jesus Christ, selflessness, humility, or meekness will be unable to fall into temptation or depression that the devil so eagerly tries to tie us down with.

                One of my favorite passages of scripture is in Moroni 7:41-48. It talks about having hope and faith, and how can we get such a thing in our lives. If you haven’t ever read the scriptures backwards here is your chance! Start reading from the end of the chapter backwards to verse 41, and you will see a nice formula on how to achieve true happiness in this life, which is that HOPE and FAITH that we are all working for a greater good. Looking back on my life to this point I can see plain as day the times when I am most happy and the times were I feel depressed and lazy. There are a few things at play each time. First and foremost is service to those around me. When I am forgetting about myself and the things that I need to do, and that time and thought is replaced with someone else through service there is an unmistakable feeling that overcomes me. While serving a mission I was at a constant high, and I felt this way because I was always helping my companion and the people in the area that I served. When I got home from my mission it stopped, I got caught up in getting my life started with school and work to a point that service became a nuisance to me. It wasn’t long before I was unhappy and didn’t know why.

                Just like the pride cycle we see in the Book of Mormon, I see a service/charity cycle in my life. I see a need for Charity and service, when I act upon that need and serve others I am happy. Over time that changes and I find myself wrapped up in myself. Unfortunately, just like the pride cycle it takes a too long for me to realize what went missing. Once I realize it and get back on the horse life starts getting better.

                I know we have a VERY patient Heavenly Father that sees these trends in my life and I am sure most everyone’s lives.  No matter the point on the time line he continues to bless us and knead us back to him. Please read 3 Nephi 9:13-14. The constant reminder that He is always welcoming us back with outstretched arms is a beacon of hope to me. If we are found without Charity, ask him for some of his so that we can start to feel his warmth, then that warmth will brighten our days bringing hope and faith that we can become better. Each time I get to that point I can’t help but want to share that with those around me, and before long I am engaged in full-fledged service to those around me and strangers alike. Let us not forget why we are here on this earth. It is to collectively head back to our Father in Heaven.

                There are countless ways for us to serve. We can do small acts of kindness to those around us that last just a small time, and we can do everlasting acts of kindness at the Temple for those who have not received the blessings the temple brings to us. I know this life is one of hard work that will never end; those not filled with Charity will see that as overwhelming and want to give up because the task seems too large. Just as a reminder, we are all in this together; there is strength in numbers and in the gospel. Serve constantly and be eternally happy. I know this is true as I have seen it time and time again. Onward Christian solders!

Prophets of Old in Our Day

Mid-way through my mission I was assigned as a Zone Leader to a zone that had the least amount of converts in the mission. The zone had been that way for some time. To make things even more difficult I was assigned to an area that hadn’t had a baptism in over a year and a half! How was I supposed to set an example to these Elders if my area was worse off than theirs? Why would any mission area be so dead? Well, the entire area consisted of about 6 square blocks. After just a few weeks I think I knew every resident in my area by name, at least it felt that way. I wasn’t about to spend the next six to eight months of my mission doing nothing productive. My companion and I started thinking of ways to change our attitudes, our area, the zone, and the conception of the Church to the residents who thought they already knew everything there was to know of the Church.

                I started to think of the missionaries in the scriptures as we read of their stories. They baptized thousands of people, huge gatherings of people would come to hear them preach of Jesus Christ, and here I was just talking to one person at a time. We would just knock on one door with the hope of finding one person to teach. If I continued to teach just a few people at a time I would continue to see the same results of just a few converts. If we amped up that number and started to teach lessons just as the prophets of old did to large groups of people, our odds of baptizing and converting more people would have to increase too! That is exactly what were started to do.

                Anytime we got on the bus to go to another city we would get up in front of everyone and bear our testimonies, sing hymns, or teach of the restoration of the gospel. We stopped waiting for the people to come to us; we found large groups and found ways for them to hear our voices. On one particular Sunday afternoon in the town square there was a swap meet and concert. Thousands of people were there from all over, many from different cities. It was there when we saw OUR multitude of people. We knew we had to get up there, so we did what anyone would do. We found the man in charge of the stage and bore our testimonies to him, and kindly asked if we could have 5 minutes on stage to address the audience. To our surprise the Holy Ghost touched his heart and he let us on as soon as the song was finished! The announcer saw my companion and I walk up on stage. He had the microphone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Once he realized who we were the jokes immediately started to fly out, but alas he handed me the microphone. As I stared out over the crowd I knew everyone was thinking, what is this White American kid going to say, and can he even speak Spanish? I opened my mouth just as the scriptures tell us to. What came out was definitely not along the lines of what I had planned. My first words were for everyone to repent!! It was Sunday, and they were not worshiping the Lord, their families were at home without them. Again, to my surprise the boos didn’t come. The crowd got eerily silent and started to listen. I bore my testimony and handed the microphone to my companion who then proceeded to reprimand the crowd again on the word of wisdom. Not a second after, the announcer threw his cigarette on the ground, people started putting their beer away, and one by one the crowd started to disperse. We closed and left the stage, the entire town square slowly vacated. Some people came up to us afterword and thanked us for out boldness, and some asked how they could learn more about what they just felt inside.
                 We couldn’t get time to meet with each person individually after the concert so we scheduled a large conference at the chapel the following week for everyone who was interested could come and hear about the gospel. People came, and baptisms in that area were no longer a problem. Like a snow ball we grew to the second largest zone in the mission! I know that there are people out there ready to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ just like they did in the scriptures. It takes willing hearts, and a mindset just like the prophets of old to reap the same rewards, but I know it is possible even in our day to see the miracles we read about.