No Coincidences

Tag: love

  • How Do We Change The World?

    How do we change the world?

    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.”

    Ezra Taft Benson

  • Parents

    **Written in June of 2019**

    My dad hates baseball.  I hate baseball.  My dad played basketball in high school.  I played basketball in high school.  My dad is pretty ‘eh’ about football. He doesn’t hate it but he’s also not super passionate about it.  How do you think I feel about football?

    We generally follow our dad or parents’ lead in many ways.  I used sports because it’s a simple and easy example that is often true.  Another example is country music. Dad hates it and I hate it.  Why is this important? As I often do, I thought about this in a spiritual context.

    In the church, parents are implored to raise their children with the scriptures and to teach them of Jesus Christ.  To teach them of their Heavenly Father.  The scriptures are the gateway into this knowledge.  I’ve recently been thinking about the importance of raising kids to have knowledge of what’s truly important.  That, with love, will shape children into what they will become. 

    It’s hard to quantify how the way I was raised impacted who I am today.  I wouldn’t say my parents were the most vigilant scriptorians.  To be honest, I don’t remember reading the scriptures as a family, though I’m sure there were times.  Despite that, I always knew they were important.  Even if we didn’t always read them, I respected them.  That’s potentially the most important thing my parents gave me, a respect for scripture.  The same thing goes for church.  We may not have gone every week but growing up I knew it was important.

    Consider a scriptural example of young men raised right. They were raised to love their parents and love their freedom.  The account of the two thousand stripling warriors in the book of Alma shows us the profound influence good parents can have on children.  The parents of those 2,000 young men made a covenant not to raise weapons ever again against their brethren.  They were willing to die first.  Their children made no such covenant.  Since these children loved their parents, God, and their freedom, they willingly went to battle.

    The story is well known in the Church.  For those who aren’t familiar, go read chapter 56 in Alma of the Book of Mormon.  Of those 2,000 young men, not a single life was lost.  Many were hurt and injured, but not one killed.  They fought in a war and all were accounted for.  What explains this?  Their faith.  Alma 56:47-48 reads “Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.  And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”  These young men were raised to trust God.  The impact of their parents’ teachings made them powerful warriors. 

    Scripture becomes even more important because of the world we live in today.  We are surrounded by temptation.  The world has turned from God, turned from Christ.  We’ve started to depend on our own knowledge and understanding.  It’s interesting, at the time we have the most access to scripture and to the lessons of the past, we have most aggressively turned from God.  The time will come as it always does when God will remind man of their weak and feeble state.  We’ve become so used to buying food at the grocery store, we forget where that food ultimately comes from.  Drought and famine will happen, even in our modern, comfortable world.  Then people will turn to God.  It will be too late, as we see in scripture.

    Now is the time to raise children with a love of God.  Not a fear, a love.  That love comes from reading the scriptures.  Love for God comes from seeing all that He has given us.  We are nothing and have nothing without Him.

    Alma 57:21 reads, “Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.” And in verse 27, “Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.”

    It’s so important that youth today are raised with faith.  Our future depends on them.  Their faith will be the most important thing they have as the world becomes increasingly faithless.  Parents must be examples to their children first and lead them to the scriptures second.  I’m not a parent yet, but I hope one day to have kids that are filled with faith, love for others, and a humble appreciation for all that God has given them.  I often ponder what I can do to instill these values in my future children. 

    The answer is simple:  direct them to the scriptures. 

    We’ll Bring the World His Truth (Army of Helaman) – The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

    If you liked this post and also love the scriptures because of your parents, share this with them to thank them.

  • Wedding

    Wedding

    I don’t think many of my posts will be as similar to a journal entry as this one.  I have many topics I want to touch on that I’ve thought a long time about writing about.  This topic is very current and happening in my life.  Therefore, I want to write about it now, while it holds so much significance.

    I’m getting married in 19 days.  I don’t want to write about the stress of it and all that because really, who cares?  (Oh, by the way, if my fiancé asks, I CARE!)

    I want to talk about certain reactions I’ve gotten to getting married soon.  On multiple occasions this conversation has happened:

    “So, the wedding is coming up, how are you feeling?”

    Me – “Nervous, just want to get it over with.”

    “Yeah, having second thoughts?”

    Me – “Uhm..no.  Just nervous about the day and the event and the planning and making sure it all goes right for her. “

    I’ve had that reaction from multiple different people.  Why is their first thought always that I’m having second thoughts about it?  It’s scary and it’s a big commitment but I’m marrying my best friend.  The most kind, beautiful, loving, patient, understanding, smart person I’ve ever met.  When I go to work I wish she could come with me.  When I play basketball, I want her to be there, watching.  When she is doing something so mundane, it becomes bearable because I’m with her.  Yes, I’m scared and nervous.  That mostly comes from wanting to never disappoint her.  The truth is, I’m not that worried about her.  She’s going to be the most amazing wife there ever was.  I’m more worried about being the husband she deserves.

    Here’s the test. Can I write a short entry… looks like no.  I must now get into the bigger, societal implications of these responses from other married and single men. Why is this the reaction? The issue is that we think marriage is disposable and love is something you can fall out of. 

    I will begin to tread lightly at this point because I am far from a master of love.  In fact, if you don’t want to risk getting bad advice, you may want to just tune out now.  Or better yet, go back to where I almost concluded and just think, ‘huh, nice post,’ and move on to the next one. 

    If I’ve learned something from my parents, as I’ve gotten older, it’s that marriage isn’t easy.  As a child, I was blissfully unaware of any marital unrest.  Now, I see tension and issues more clearly.  That being said, my parents are the most amazing example of love I’ve ever seen.  I understand how blessed I am to have an example of love so close to me.  They are best friends.  My dad doesn’t want to do anything without my mom.  I’ve always seen that, and it’s had a profound impact on me.

    As I got older I realized more how hard it is.  It’s not easy for my parents; it’s not easy for anyone.  Feelings get hurt.  That person starts chewing REALLY loud.  They tell the same story over and over.  But love isn’t something that falls away.  It’s a choice.  You choose to put your feelings aside because you hope they didn’t mean to hurt you, you accept their loud chewing, you act like it’s the first time you’ve heard that same, stupid story.

    Our Bishop gave us one piece of advice I hope I never forget.  He said, “If you both try your hardest, always to make the other happy, you’ll have the happiest marriage in the world.”  Of course, that’s easier said than done.  My fiancé and I have already run into how tenuous a concept that can be (maybe a post for another day).  But we’re trying.  And I love her.  I wish I could exhibit as much love to her as she deserves. Right now I know I’m not.  Over time, I plan to become better and I plan to love her the way she deserves.  I know today I’m not close to the husband she deserves.  I hope to one day be.

    Marriage isn’t something to throw away when it gets stale.  It’s something to preserve and fight for.  Marriages until death do you part are great, but I am so excited to be married for time and all eternity.  I can’t imagine the work I’m about to put into this relationship to love it and let it grow and flourish into a connection welded in steel, for it to be over once this life is over.  “They twain (separate, apart) shall be one flesh” (Mark 10:8).

    I’ll conclude with a quote from a book I loved,

    “To me marriage must be eternal!  How could it be otherwise when two grow together and become as one?  Death can not separate them without destroying; they are no longer two perfect beings, but one in soul and spirit forever.”

    Rebecca Ruter Springer (My Dream of Heaven)