In a book titled It Was on Fire When I Lay on It by Robert Fulghum, he tells a story about when he asked Alexandros Papaderos the question, “what is the meaning of life?”
Robert Fulghum relates that Dr. Papaderos pulled a small round mirror out of his wallet. He said he had found the mirror and scratched it on a stone until it was round.
Dr. Papaderos said, “I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine-in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find… As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child’s game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of light. But light-truth, understanding, knowledge-is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.
“I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world-into the black places in the hearts of men-and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.”
Doctrine & Covenants 45:7
“For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world-a light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not.”
The mirror found by Dr. Papaderos was not rounded and clean when he found it. It took scratching it on a stone. This symbolizes the refining process Dr. Papaderos undoubtedly went through to become a source that could reflect light. We are born with the light of Christ. When you look upon a young child you easily see that light. As we grow the light we reflect dims, or it brightens. It is our effort that determines this.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are blessed to know by what source we can reflect light. We reflect the light of Jesus Christ. He is the light. We can all be the reflection. We are made in the design and shape of our Heavenly Father, made in His image. The source of all light.
I often get overwhelmed by how messed up the time we live in can be. Where do we start in fixing things? The environment, abuse, hunger, racism, hatred, war, and so on. Where to begin?
I once listened to a well-known podcast. The topic came up: How do we really make the world better? They were talking about a person in a run-down county, in a run-down town that is addicted to drugs and whose family has lived in squalor for generations. How do we pull that person out? He has a family history of substance abuse and physical abuse. He has grown up in a poisonous way. How do we help him? How do we help so many people out there who are stuck?
It hit me as I was listening to this, I know how we fix this. I know how we solve hunger, and hate, and war. I know how we drag that person out of his tough life. I know how we make the world a better place. It’s a plan that the world will never get behind but, unbeknownst to the world, the plan is already in motion.
Look at the truly amazing organization of Christ’s Church, in the most simplistic way.
Every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is asked to give 10% of their increase (income) to the Church for the purpose of building up the Church by constructing church buildings, building temples, maintaining these buildings, producing printed materials, running websites and all other ways the Church spreads its message.
How does that help the poor? Each month every member of the Church is asked to fast one day. We are asked to take the money we would have spent on food that day and donate it to the church. This donation is called a “fast offering” and is used by the local church to help those in the area in need. Examples include meals for a young single mother, rent for a young person tough on their luck, or money to purchase furniture for a family who lost everything in a fire. It’s up to the discretion of the bishop in that area how fast offerings are used. This is a simple program that would revolutionize the world if everyone followed it: fasting and helping the needy.
These are principles God has given us to live by and one is to help the poor and needy. Now, just imagine. Imagine a world where EVERY PERSON gave 10% of what they make. Now consider if every person fasted one time per month and donated that money to someone who could distribute it around the world to those who need a meal every day? First, with 10% of the world income going to one place, there would be a great increase. That money could be used to spread messages of peace and love. Then, the excess could be used to help communities and people in need. The fast offerings would go to help all those who need food, housing, and security.
Communities need to change. There needs to be a focus on giving, not taking.
What about addiction? The answer is The Word of Wisdom. This is the policy handed down to the people by Christ Himself. It is the seemingly unbelievable advice to (GASP) not poison yourself. This means no alcohol, which has destroyed so many families. This means no tobacco, which kills so many. This means no drugs, which cause crime and desperation. What if the world stopped drinking coffee? (Woah, too far!) But think about it for a moment… A world where people don’t need a beverage in the morning just to feel enough energy to get through the day. If people didn’t use any of these substances, wouldn’t the world be a better place? Surely, no one can argue that point.
This comes down to something many people are not willing to accept. People, in general, are too selfish to give up 10% of the money they worked hard to earn. Many people in prosperous countries are unwilling to sacrifice two meals in a day, once a month. People refuse to give up alcohol because it’s how they have fun! They refuse to give up coffee because it’s how they get through the day. The last and ultimate thing people seem unwilling to do: Truly embrace Jesus Christ.
It’s amazing how the secular world espouses Christian values while devaluing where those values come from: Jesus Christ.
Christ is love (1 John 4:8). Christ is light (John 8:12). Christ is truth (John 14:6). Charity is the pure love of Christ (Moroni 7:47).
With a focus on Christ, comes a focus on others. He is the light of the world and without Him there is darkness. Why are we surprised by the darkness in the world when we have collectively turned from His light? The structure of Christ’s Church is meant to help us to help others. It’s meant to provide ways to get people out of their negative circumstances. It’s meant to help us collectively elevate to a higher plane.
If we tithe, fast, meditate, pray, and serve more, we could be better. This is all Christ asks of us.
“The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest cause in the world”
Douglas D. Holmes
“Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self destruction. Only the gospel will unite men and women of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family.”
Sometimes members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are weird. If you’re a member of the Church and haven’t fully embraced this, it’s time to get on board. Peter stated,
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9
Peculiar, weird. Same thing. So, take comfort in this if you haven’t already.
I have many nonmember friends that thought I was weird long before I started going back to church. That’s mostly because I am weird. We won’t go into more detail on that. Since coming back to church though, my nonmember friends have found tons of other reasons to find me weird.
I will quickly list through some of them:
I don’t do anything on Sunday anymore (not even basketball)! This comes up all the time.
I stopped listening to a lot of music I used to listen to.
My language changed; the words I use drastically changed.
I started inviting friends to church and dinner with the missionaries almost constantly.
I stopped partaking of some beverages. Luckily, I never drank coffee. But when I tell people I don’t drink coffee they almost fall over in shock every time.
I stopped wanting to go to certain places – like bars.
I slowly stopped gambling.
Finally, and what I’ll talk about here, I recently stopped watching rated-R movies.
Yeah, this is one I didn’t think we actually followed. For nonmembers out there, yes, we’re advised to avoid rated-R movies. I’m going to elaborate on how I came to respect and appreciate this counsel. It wasn’t until very recently that I started this and I’ve been going strong for a few months.
My decision to stop watching rated-R movies starts with a particular movie. It is called Hateful Eight. I’m not going to go into detail about this movie because that defeats my purpose. The gist was this. I started the movie and then there was a particular scene that unfolded about midway through. The end of the scene left me feeling… icky. I don’t know how else to describe it. I had to leave my house at that moment and decided I was going to finish the movie later. It took me some time to get back to the movie. I started to realize I didn’t know if I wanted to finish the movie.
For the record, I’m the kind of person who tries to finish something once I start it. Miserable book? Gotta get through it. Boring movie? Maybe the ending is good. But I started asking myself, do I REALLY want to finish that movie? I talked to my roommate Chris about it. He seemed to actually understand where I was coming from, which surprised me. “Hateful Eight…” he said trailing off, “yeah… there’s a lot in that one.” I went on to talk about it and learned the part I came to wasn’t even the part he thought I was talking about. Apparently it got worse after that!
So, I decided I didn’t want to finish that movie. Since I was cutting movies off midway through for the first time, I started to think more about that icky feeling I had experienced. What was it? I started to realize that particular movie made me feel dark and dirty. There was an image stuck in my mind I couldn’t get out. It was unpleasant. It wasn’t something I wanted in my mind.
My favorite book, Visions of Glory has a whole section about the entertainment we choose to take in. What we view and listen to alters us. It either brings light or darkness to us. That’s what I felt after that scene. Darkness.
I know to many people this may be strange. I know to some people, cutting some of these things out of our lives seems impossible. The point I want to make is that it can be done. I didn’t get rid of all of those 8 things listed above overnight. In some cases it took years actively going to church to change habits. The biggest point I want to make is that I’m much happier since making those changes.
I’m not saying everyone has to cut out rated-R movies. But I am saying that if you did, you might be surprised that first, you’re capable of doing it, and second, how you feel about doing it. The same goes for Netflix and the endless streams of content we take in. There are good things and there are bad things. Sometimes the bad is hard to see. You don’t realize it’s “bad”. That’s why I appreciate this guidance with rated-R movies. Why chance it?
There’s a quote from Visions of Glory about spiritual gifts. It reads,
“I observed that there are many people who are governed by the voice of Jesus Christ, who are like lanterns being carried through darkness. They push darkness away by their approach, and the dark angels must depart. Evil beings are powerless to penetrate it and are compelled to depart.”
At some point I decided I wanted to be a lantern. The idea of being given a chance to provide light to someone’s life and missing that opportunity because my light was dimmed, hurts me. I don’t want that to happen. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying. I’m not judging what anyone else chooses to watch or listen to. However, I am telling you what you watch and listen to is important.
We in the Church are peculiar. We must be. The world needs more lanterns.
I was reading Jacob chapter 4 in the Book of Mormon recently and something struck me. One small statement in one verse:
“Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over anxiety for you.”
Let me repeat that…
“…if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over anxiety for you.”
How could Jacob, the great prophet and brother of Nephi, be shaken from his firmness in the Spirit? He says right there at the end – anxiety for you.
I’d like to expound upon an emotion that can really and truly harm us – fear.
Jacob is clear with this statement. Fear can shake us from the Spirit, from revelation, from God.
Fear is a tool of Satan. I feel a need to write this right now. The world is increasingly fearful. At this moment, amid this virus, fear is rampant. Satan reigns. The Earth is his kingdom. He has put fear into the hearts of almost all men and women.
We see it everywhere. Just look at the empty shelves in the grocery store.
What other examples of fear do we have in scripture?
There was Moses with the Israelites at the Red Sea with Pharaoh bearing down on them. The Israelites feared and Moses told them, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, The Lord shall fight for you.” The Lord then spoke to Moses, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.”
There was Alma the Younger as told in the Book of Mormon. He was gripped by fear and despair. He thought of that one name, that one being that could save him. Jesus Christ. Immediately, he was released from his despair.
Satan immediately attacked Moses after his great vision of eternity. Moses 1:20 reads,
“And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear he saw the bitterness of hell. NEVERTHELESS, calling upon God, he received strength.”
Finally, there was Joseph Smith in a quiet, peaceful grove. Satan came for him and he feared. But Joseph fought and called upon God. As the light of God and Jesus Christ descended upon Joseph the darkness retreated.
Notice the pattern here. Satan has a tendency to attack before great things are to happen. So, when you feel that fear and it feels like the jaws of hell are opening to overtake you, and you just can’t take anymore because it has become too much to bear, remember the light that will follow. Once Satan starts his all-out attack we will know the earth-shattering miracles are coming. Satan is attacking. Light is coming.
I feel it’s important for us to keep our hope. Recently, amidst all this craziness, I had a moment of fear. My heart was beating and I was worrying about the future. Then I stopped. I reminded myself that I have known these sorts of events were coming. I’ve been blessed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ to know that these events have been foretold for thousands of years. I’m not saying this is the end. But if it were, what does that mean? It means Christ is coming back.
DO NOT let fear overtake you. Whatever point in history we’re at, whatever is next, we know we’ll be okay. We know it will work out the way God intends. What a comfort that is.
Fear is of Satan, not of God. If we let fear overtake us, we are letting Satan overtake us.
Even if a gun is to your head, take comfort. Because of Christ’s eternal atonement and sacrifice you can always take comfort. The worst case is you return to your Maker and see your Savior. In these times, don’t forget the most important thing. Don’t forget Him. Don’t deny Him. Christ never denied you. The WORST thing that could happen is going home to Him. Is that really the worst thing? Take comfort, and fight fear. Don’t let Satan win your heart. Now, more than ever, we must be strong, faithful, and keep hope. Keep Christ in your heart. When that fear intrudes, kneel and pray.
You will feel Him and fear will leave. I promise.
Fear not, the Lord fights for you. Move forward with faith. Look to Christ as your salvation. Call upon God and you will receive strength.
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No Coincidences 