Author: saedgar

NOTE: Here is a simple approach for teaching young children (toddlers) to be reverent in church.  I developed and used it successfully for many years while raising our children.  It was especially helpful to me when I was a widowed, single, military parent (and, raising seven children ages 4 months to 13 years old).  The “procedure” probably fits nicely into the category of “Tools for Mr. Mom.”  To be sure, it is a man’s approach; but, it’s not limited to men.  That said, I expect there will be some “real Moms” out there who may frown a little at its application.  But for me, I’m a “concrete sequential” kind of guy; and, I desperately needed to figure this out, …and write it down.  So, here’s the plan:

Key Principles:

• • • We need to make being reverent in the chapel a happy and positive experience for children. They need to think/know that being quiet on the pew with Mom and Dad is better than being elsewhere.
    • Children naturally act like “kids:” full of goodness, fun, curiosity, and love. But, they need to be cultivated and learn an attitude of reverence.
    • Patterning and learning reverence begins in the home. So, in the home, we need to begin by developing an atmosphere of reverence.  We should teach it and practice it if only for brief periods each day. Reverence at church is a manifestation of how well we’re doing.
    • Children want to please you, and they respond well to positive reinforcement.

Basic Tools:

• • • Soft/quiet educational toys/books for reverent activities.
    • An available classroom for a “Quiet Room” (try to pick an empty room).
    • Two hard chairs in the quiet room, facing away from each other.

Reverent Chapel Behavior:

Come to church at least 5 or 10 minutes early and sit reverently with your children (and as a family). Don’t permit them to be noisy or run and play in the chapel.  Do allow the children to play quietly with their soft toys and books.

Smile and softly compliment your children when they are reverent in church (and at home).

If they become restless, speak softly to them, and encourage them to focus on quiet activities.

Advanced Reverence Training:

1. 1. 1. After the meeting/service begins, if a toddler becomes irreverent and distracting from the spirit of the meeting, escort him out of the chapel (leaving the soft quiet toys behind).
      2. It’s usually best to carry the child out.  And, if the father is available, this could well be considered “his responsibility.”
      3. As you carry your child out of the chapel, don’t stop in the foyer or hallways. Go directly to your pre-designated “Quiet Room.”
      4. Gently seat the child on one of the hard chairs, facing an empty wall. You sit on the other chair, with your back to the child and facing away, apparently ignoring him.
      5. If your child tries to get off the chair, look back at him and say: “No, sit on the chair!” (It may be necessary to actually put the child back on the chair.  Be gentle, but firm!)  You may need to repeat this step several times before your child knows you mean it.
      6. Eventually, the child will remain seated but will begin to cry. Wait at least 60 seconds after he starts crying.  It may get loud, but that’s okay.  You’re in a quiet room; and, crying won’t hurt him.
      7. Then, after a minute or so (and while he’s crying), turn to your child, put out your hands, and say: “Do you want me to hold you?” This usually stops the crying, and the child will melt into your arms.

Please note: This is a very treasured moment with your arms wrapped around your perfect angel.   Wait a few minutes and enjoy that moment.

Now, …in addition to enjoying the moment, be very careful.  Your child may think the ordeal is over and want to just get down and play.  If that’s the case, he needs to go back to the hard chair and you need to repeat steps 4 thru 7 again until he remains quiet (or asleep) in your arms.  Once he has accepted the inevitable, stand up and walk lovingly and humbly back into Sacrament Meeting (with your sweet child comfortably in your arms) and take your seat again with your reverent family.

Possible Reinforcement or Follow-up Training:

Of course, if later he repeats the unacceptable and distracting behavior in Sacrament Meeting, escort him out again and repeat the Advanced Reverence Training steps above.  Soon he will understand “it’s better to be in Sacrament Meeting and reverent.”

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With “old age” coming on, I’ve come to the profound realization that the service I’ve provided in the past, for my family, and for my church, is now becoming much less required of me.  I still want to be involved in family and church activities, but it’s becoming clear (or I’m beginning to think): I’m not so much an active player; and, much of life is moving on just fine without me.  Younger men are exercising their divine roles and performing many of the tasks and services I used to perform.  My children have their own busy lives and family challenges; and, as a senior citizen, I’ve become less involved in the daily dynamic of their individual lives.  At church, very well qualified young men are being called to fill many of the church callings I used to hold.  And, my new church service opportunities are beginning to take on a more “senior” perspective.

These things are not bad.  I suppose they’re just the natural flow of life; the order of life as we age.  I know I’m still loved by my family and friends.  I know I’m respected at church.  And, I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is still true.  But, the type and nature of my active service have changed.

Clearly, life doesn’t stand still.  If lived right, it’s dynamic …and, it progresses.  And, there is a purpose to it, a divine purpose.  As we progress along the covenant path, there are many different service opportunities, events, and experiences that occur, all of which can help to qualify us for Eternal Life (God’s Life) and prepare us for life and service in the hereafter.  As President George Albert Smith taught: “we are not here to while away the hours of this life and then pass to a sphere of exaltation, but we are here to qualify ourselves day by day for the positions that our Father expects us to fill hereafter” (see Conference Report, Apr. 1905, 62).  These qualifying “earthly experiences” are all part of God’s Great Plan.  They are teaching and refining steps in the Great Plan of Salvation …God’s Eternal Plan of Happiness.

For now, we may not want our lives or our relationships to change.  We’ve become comfortable in the way they have been.  But there is so much more to learn along this path of happiness, even as we age.  As we learn and grow, we invariably see there is so much more to life.  So, we change and move along the covenant path (we progress).  And, as we do, we receive new opportunities, new awareness, and new understandings.  How we adjust and deal with those changes will determine our growth.  If we make good choices and stay on the covenant path, we will find we are drawing closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  We will be changing and becoming more like Him (1 John 3:2 and Moroni 7:48); and becoming what He wants us to become …in this life, and for the eternities.  It’s a glorious journey well worth taking!

With those thoughts in mind, I’ve been thinking about the nature of growing older, and the opportunities I have at this stage in my life.  Many thoughts have come to mind, so I’ve tried to write them down.  The following is an initial, simplified list of “Personal Observations.”  In addition, I’ve included a simple personal list of “Introspective Questions” about how and what I can do as I grow older and strive to “Come unto Christ.”  The personal observations are good points to consider.  But more importantly, reading and pondering the introspective questions have helped me to focus on what is most important now.

Personal Observations:

• • • I have less physical energy and more stiff muscles and joints.
    • I have a greater sense of awareness.
    • I have more time to read the scriptures, ponder, and pray.
    • I enjoy my private time and quiet moments to think.
    • I have felt more introspective.
    • I am more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
    • I am more interested in Temple and Family History work.
    • I have a greater interest in frequently attending the Holy Temple.
    • I have the opportunity to serve Full-Time Senior Couple Missions for the Church with my wife.
    • I have learned to enjoy more the simple things in life.
    • I enjoy occasional family visits and love to be together with them.
    • I am more aware of the loving goodness of little children.  I’m drawn to them because of their goodness and Perfect Love.
    • I am kinder and more respectful of all people …and animals.
    • I am less inclined to transgress the commandments.
    • I have so many wonderful memories.

Introspective Questions:

• • • What are my responsibilities to myself and to my wife?
    • What must I do to maintain my good physical and mental health?
    • What is my current and future role in our extended family?
    • What can I still do to continue influencing my family towards the good?
    • How can I always demonstrate love for my family?
    • How can I continue to be involved in a meaningful way?
    • What more can I do to draw closer to Jesus Christ?
    • How do I “always retain” a remission of my sins (Mosiah 4:12)?
    • What can I do to magnify the Holy Priesthood in my life?
    • What contributions can I make at church?
    • What more can I do to assist in “the Great Gathering of Israel?”
    • What more can I do to help prepare for “the Glorious Second Coming of Jesus Christ?”
    • What more can I do to strengthen “my confidence in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45), and eventually be able to “stand spotless” before Him at the Last Day (3 Nephi 27:20)?
    • What more can I do to be worthy of so many blessings?

This has been a rewarding subject to consider.  Just thinking and pondering about this (and writing it down) has helped me get my arms around the irrational fear of growing old and becoming irrelevant.  I am more confident this will not happen to me …not in this life nor in the future.

Pondering upon this has also strengthens my faith and testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Great and Eternal Plan of Salvation.  I feel a greater love for Heavenly Father and our Savior.  My Faith in Jesus Christ, and my Hope in the Future, have been strengthened.  I have greater confidence in the future.  And, I pray at some great day, I may be able stand spotless and confident in the presence of God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus the Christ.

(Note: An edited version of this article was published in the Liahona Magazine, January 2021 edition, page 36.)

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When I think of my childhood in San Francisco, I often think of fishing.  I loved fishing, and some of my most vivid childhood memories are of the times I spent “sitting on the dock of the bay.”  I owe these memories to my dear mother.

Like too many other children, my parents were divorced.  I was 8 years old when I found out what divorce was.  The next two years were a difficult and turbulent time for my sisters and me.  We would find ourselves with Dad one weekend and with Mom the next.  Plus, our parents would have different boyfriends and girlfriends; and then, we had step-moms and step-dads, step-brother and step-sisters and eventually half-brothers.  Exchanges from one household to the other were usually very awkward and emotional.  Finally, in the summer of 1957, the decision was made that I (and three of my sisters) would stay with our mom.  I loved both my Mom and my Dad, but I remember how very happy I was to finally be settled with my mother.

Now, in her concern that I not be denied the rights of youth, my mother began encouraging me to learn to fish.  That first full summer with her, I spent many hours working to earn the money needed to purchase my own deep sea fishing gear.  Of course, mom subsidized my purchase, but I was able to earn some of the money and pick out my first deep sea rod.  Then one Saturday, there was the trip to Pacifica and the home of Mom’s friend Ruby.  Ruby’s husband (Jim) was a quiet gentleman who liked to work in his garage where he made his own fishing tackle.  I spent most of the day there with Jim in his garage watching him work.  He sent me home that night with some good tackle and good advice.

Soon, after a few preliminary trips to the beach for casting practice, I was ready for the big event.  I was 12 years old.  It was a Saturday and my mother planned that I would spend the day fishing under the Golden Gate Bridge.  She would drop me off early in the morning and pick me up around dinner time.  Much to my surprise, I was able to wake up that day at 4:00 am and still found my body reasonably functional.  I was very excited.  Of course, mom was up too and seemed to be as excited as I was.

It was still dark when we climbed into the car.  But, by the time we got to the Presidio of San Francisco, it was light enough to see the many wild rabbits looking for their early morning meals.  When we arrived at the access road leading down to the Golden Gate Bridge, there was enough light that the drive down the narrow road to old Fort Point beneath was not too difficult.  At the bottom of the very narrow access roadway, we came to the quayside roadway along the very edge of the bay.  Then, we continued driving along the old access road (right along the water’s edge) leading us to the old fort under the bridge.  As we neared it, we saw two or three older men already fishing.

Old Fort Point was built in 1850 as a defensive position to protect the San Francisco Bay and harbors.  The fort was strategically positioned adjacent to the entrance to San Francisco Bay.  The Golden Gate Bridge was built in about 1935, high above the fort.  When I visited the fort that day, still visible above the large old wooden doors were the words, “Fort Point,” with the year 1850 also visible.  Later in the day, I would be able to find a little diversion from fishing by looking through the gaps in the large bolted doors and by imagining the history that must have gone on behind them.  But my first and primary interest that morning while under the bridge was to get my line in the water.

I selected a spot between two of the men, took the gear out of my mother’s car, and kissed her good-bye for the day.  I soon found that I had chosen a bad spot.  A wave crashed against the quayside and rocks and rose some 15 feet over my head.  I immediately moved closer to one of the men.  He introduced himself as George.  George was an older black man who had lived in the city his entire life.  Apparently, he came often to fish under the bridge.  His car was backed up to the quayside and his little area was all set up for the day.  He spoke kindly of his wife whom he said allowed him to fish each Saturday.  George was a large man with many layers of clothing.  He wore warm gloves, but he had cut off all the fingertips exposing his fingers so he could work his fishing line and hooks.  George was very kind and clearly a seasoned fisherman.  He was also very kind and friendly to me.  He packed a lunch and snacks and was very willing to share his lunch with me, the kid who forgot to bring lunch.  He must have been humored by me, a skinny 10-year-old boy with inadequate clothing and little experience as a fisherman.  By the end of the morning, George proved to be a good friend and a willing teacher.

We spent most of the day together.  We didn’t talk much.  George was a quiet man.  Mostly he was just kind and friendly.  Plus, he taught me how to tie my leader, bate my hooks, cast out, and reel in my line.  He also knew exactly where to cast his line without getting it tangled in the rocks below.  As for me, I got tangled too often and had to cut my line many times losing my leaders and hooks.  And, it seemed that for every fish I caught, George would reel in four …plus a few crabs.

After that day and for some time into the fall, George and I met nearly every Saturday morning for more fishing.  My fishing skills didn’t improve all that much, but I gained a lot from being there with George.  We sat and fished and talked a little.  We also listened to the sounds of the waves, the cries of the seagulls, and the blaring of fog horns …sounds that comfort me (then and now).  I returned many times to fish with George …and, to think about important things.  I thought, and fished, and thought some more.  Looking back on it now, I sometimes wonder if my mother ever knew just how important those fishing days were to me.  At a very difficult time in my life, I met George, a quiet man who taught me to fish and gave me personal examples of goodness, kindness, and stability.  I wonder if George knew.

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I used to enjoy the convenience of having a mobile phone.  It was great to have instant access to my family …and, the world.  With it, I could always be in contact with family, friends, and clients.  I had instant access to my e-mail messages, all my contacts, current weather reports, the news, and maps.  I even received health and fitness tips via my smartphone.  And amazingly, I also had instant access to all my personal data files in “the Cloud.”  I was digitally in control of what I thought were the most important elements of my life.

Not long ago, I decided to upgrade to a newer “smart” phone.  I selected what I thought would be the best phone for my needs.  Unfortunately, within just a few months, I began having annoying troubles.  The phone would regularly freeze up when I was in the middle of messaging.  I had to restart the device before I could continue.  It also began overheating; so much so I couldn’t keep it in my pocket.  I’ve taken the phone in several times for service, but with no success.  The service techs have tried to identify and resolve the problems, but thus far they’ve been unsuccessful.  At some point, each would say something like “we no longer support this phone,” and/or “we’ve had no training on this phone.”

Finally, I got to where I couldn’t deal with the problems anymore.  So, I deliberately left the phone in my truck (plugged into the charger).  It was just too unreliable, and it was usually too hot to touch.

Having untethered myself from the phone, I soon realized I could get much more work done.  I am no longer interrupted or distracted by annoying text message beeps, instant messaging apps, unsolicited sales calls, and social media pings.  They continued to stream into my phone and get added to the long, never-ending list of incoming messages, but I am no longer constantly being interrupted by them.  I’m more relaxed and in control of my personal life.  Yes, the phone continues to accumulate all the messages and data, but I just wait until I actually have time to review the traffic.  Also, by waiting for a “convenient” moment, I found I’m more focused and can quickly scan the seemingly endless lists and rapidly delete the meaningless and/or irrelevant items in bulk.  I am much more productive in all aspects of life.  I control the phone; it doesn’t control me.  Now I just need to figure out a way my wife can contact me when my phone is in the truck.

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I have found that I’m able to do many complex tasks if I have a clear and accurate checklist to follow. A checklist is a written, systematic, step by step process for completing a task.  It contains detailed instructions and is usually organized in a logical sequence.  Now in some ways, checklists can stifle creativity and/or free expression.  But when it comes to a complex task, checklists are useful and can help us to successfully complete a task and avoid omitting critical procedural steps.

As a military officer, I usually planned my work around a mission statement.  It was a general or big picture statement describing our organizational mission.  To support our mission statement, we identified objectives and set tasks that needed to be accomplished to meet those objectives.  Then, we wrote detailed procedural checklists to accomplish each task.  With complex tasks, it was important to not only see the big picture but to follow the checklists.  Complex tasks require each step to be followed precisely in order to reach a specific outcome and not overlook important details.  I learned to like and rely upon procedural checklists.  In the military, these checklists where tested, double checked and triple checked, just to make sure they were understandable, accurate, and effective.

Now, while I learned the benefits of checklists in my military duties, it wasn’t until I became a single parent with seven (7) children that I also learned how important they could be in the home. My world turned upside down when an unexpected illness took the life of my dear wife.  My children and I were thrown into a very sad and difficult situation.  The oldest child was just barely 13 years old, and the youngest was not yet 6 months.  During the first few months, I struggled daily with many seemingly ordinary tasks: e.g., laundry chores, grocery shopping, household cleaning, dinner menus, meal preparation, bathing, clothes shopping, etc.  It wasn’t long before I was completely overwhelmed.  I needed to somehow get my arms around these pressing responsibilities. Then a light came on in my head, and I said, “I can do this!  I just needed to identify and simplify these duties (tasks).”  And, I knew just how to do that.  I turned to my military experience in preparing and following checklists.  First, I wrote a family mission statement.  Then, I made a list of all common household and family tasks.  I identified my objectives for each individual task.  I familiarized myself with each task and wrote “operating procedures” for completing them.  And finally, I wrote individual checklists for each specific task and described what constituted a completed task.  It made a lot of sense to me, and even though some people thought it was odd (crazy may have been what they were thinking), these procedures helped me (and my children) through a challenging period in our lives.

Later, I brought these skills with checklists into my spiritual life as well.  One evening, I met with several other Latter-day Saint single parents.  We met together regularly, but this time we had a late night dinner together at Denny’s.  This was a good group of people.  But, we all shared similar challenges at home.  In addition to being single adults with children, we also had jobs; and, we were active Latter-day Saints.  It was a very challenging time in our lives.  We were struggling to balance the demands of our single parent homes with our employment; and at the same time, we were striving to live the Gospel Plan of happiness (for ourselves and our children).   We agreed, we all wanted to live as the Lord would have us live.  We wanted to obey the commandments and honor our covenants.  So, in our desperate situations, and in our efforts to become more Christ-Like, we decided to create a list of all the commandments we’ve heard mentioned over the pulpit.

Building our list of “commandments” was an interesting and ennobling exercise for our small little band of about six single parents.  When finished and typed, it was a five-page, single-spaced document (list) of commandments.  While it was educational and fun to “brainstorm” and create this list, we all knew it would be a bit overwhelming to try implementing all of it in our very busy and complicated lives.  Regardless, it was an interesting list, and we all benefited from the exercise.

Overtime and after facing some practical realities of family life, the original checklist was modified significantly.  I still have the original five-page list.  It’s fun to look at and ask “what was I thinking?”  The latest version is not really a checklist anymore.  It is a list of spiritual and temporal behaviors that, if followed, would lead a person closer to God.  After all, that should be our most important “task” in this life.  And as a bonus, this current list fits neatly on half a sheet of paper. So, here’s how the list of “To-Do’s” looks now:

The Ultimate Latter-day Saint “To-Do List”

• • • Love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ
    • Learn of the Father and the Son
    • Have Faith in Jesus Christ
    • Repent and retain a remission of your sins
    • Enter through the Gate (Baptism)
    • Rely on the Holy Spirit to Guide you
    • Be thankful and happy
    • Rise from your bed early
    • Exercise for a few minutes each day
    • Wash your body and make yourself clean
    • Dress for the day in clean clothes
    • Have virtuous thoughts unceasingly
    • Offer daily Personal and Family Prayers
    • Study/read the Scripture
    • Read the Book of Mormon daily
    • Obey the Commandments
    • Honor your Covenants with the Lord
    • Magnify your callings and Priesthood Power
    • Attend Sacrament Meeting (take the Sacrament)
    • Elevate your Sabbath Day activities
    • Pay a generous Fast Offering
    • Pay an Honest Tithe (attend Tithing Settlement)
    • Attend the Temple Regularly
    • Love and care for your family
    • Maintain a clean living environment
    • Have Family Dinnertime
    • Hold weekly Family Home Evenings
    • Love and Serve others
    • Be kind to all mankind (and animals)
    • Share the Gospel and bear your testimony
    • Do your Home/Visiting Teaching
    • Endure in Righteousness to the end

It probably takes a rather peculiar mind to really enjoy checklists (perhaps a “concrete sequential” mind). Regardless, I just know this: checklists have been useful in blessing my life.  I should also note, the Holy Scripture and the Prophets apparently use checklists.  You can find many examples of checklists in the Holy Scriptures.  My favorite is found in the 5th chapter of the Book of Alma.  Alma’s checklist items are written as questions.  He asks, “have ye …?”, do ye …?”, “do you …?”, “can you …?”, “if ye …?”, “is there …?”, etc.  His objective was to call his people to repentance, to come unto Jesus Christ, and to “inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Alma 5:51)  In my military life, in my home and family life, and in my personal/spiritual life, I have benefited greatly from the use of checklists.

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In the early 1980s, my family and I lived in West Germany.  We were members of the Kaiserslautern Germany Servicemen Stake.  At the time, our local leaders were emphasizing missionary work.  We were told that “within our circle of friends, the Lord had placed some of his choice spirit children who were seeking the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  My wife Jenny and I believed that to be true.  Our leaders encouraged each of us in the stake to identify non-member friends of ours that we thought would be interested in hearing the gospel message.  We were to make an initial list of about ten people.  Then we were to fast and pray about our list of friends and decide who we were to approach first.

We decide on contacting two men who were coworkers in my office.  I spoke first to Chris, a young single man in the office, but he showed little interest at the time.  Next, we planned to approach Bruce Hamby, a good and kind man with a young family.  However, several days went by and I found myself nervous about speaking to Bruce about the gospel.  Finally one day, Jenny called me at the office and said, “Have you spoken to Bruce yet?”  I said, “no, but I intend to soon.”  Then Jenny asked if Bruce was in the office that day, and I said that he was.  At that point, she said “Scott, put down the phone.  I will wait while you talk to him!”  Well, nervously I went over to Bruce and said, “Bruce, did you know that I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?”  He said yes, and I responded: “Would you be interested in learning more about the church?”  His simple answer was, “Yes, I would.”

Well, the next several weeks were magical.  Bruce and Ella (and their daughter Tanya) came to our home for dinner and met with the missionaries.  We also went to their home and had dinner with them and the missionaries.  The missionaries taught their lessons.  The Hamby’s attended church meetings with us, met with the saints, and embraced the gospel message.  Then, in just a few short weeks, they were baptized.  It was a gloriously wonderful and happy day.  Even the young single man in our office (Chris) attended the baptism and was impressed.  Later on, Bruce and Ella approached Chris about the gospel; and with their fellowshipping, Chris was taught by the missionaries and was also baptized into the church.

Now, this was a wonderful experience for our families.  But afterward, Bruce came to me with an amazing addition to this story.  He said, “Scott I have something I’d like to tell you.  You should know that I grew up in a small town in Utah near Hill Air Force Base.  My father was a civilian employee at the base and we were not members of the church.  All through my school years, I heard about things like Primary, youth activities and Seminary, and I was interested.  But no one ever invited me to attend.  I even had members of my immediate family who became members of the church, but I never felt invited.  Thank you for introducing my family to the gospel.”

Today, Bruce and Ella are still very active in the Gospel.  Bruce has served faithfully on the Stake High Council and has served as a Temple Ordinance Worker.  Ella has served faithfully as a Young Women’s leader.  Their children have served missions and have made Temple Covenants.

(Note: An edited version of this article was published in the Ensign Magazine, July 2016 edition, page 76.)

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In a previous post, I mentioned that the mysteries of Godliness become clearer “as (we) draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”  I’d like to write a little more about that.  What does it really mean to draw closer to God?  How do mysteries become clearer as we do?  Or in other words, how do we receive inspiration/revelation. There are certain patterns and behaviors that we can learn that can answer these questions, as well as all other urgent matters.  Think of these steps as “homework” for qualifying to receive personal revelation.

A desire to Know:
Before we begin the process, we must have a personal desire to know of God the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ.  “Desire motivates us to action.”  In this case, we act because we want to know more about the Father and the Son.  As our knowledge grows, and we seek and pray for spiritual confirmation of the truth of what we’ve learned, we will begin to know them and naturally draw closer to them. (This is written about in more detail in a previous post, “Faith and Charity.”)

Rely on the Holy Spirit:
But as a practical matter, there are several “steps” you can follow to receive personal revelation, whether it be concerning knowledge of Christ or knowledge of any other important issue. If we are seeking divine revelation, we need to understand that revelation comes from the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit).  The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, and He is called by many titles: the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, and the Comforter (to mention just a few).  But, he’s also called “the Revelator.”  In his role as “the Revelator,” his primary mission is to bare (reveal) and confirm testimony of the truthfulness of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  As the Book of Mormon Prophet Nephi taught, “he that diligently seeketh shalt find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (1 Nephi 10:19).  And also consider the words of the Prophet Moroni in his final testimony recorded in the Book of Mormon, “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5).

Be Worthy of Spiritual Influence:
That said, we must also be living a life worthy of the influence of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit can guide anyone to know of Christ, but of necessity, He must withdraw if that person becomes unholy or unworthy of His presence.  If you’ve been baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost (by one who is authorized), you are promised that you may have the constant influence of the Holy Spirit in your life; but here too, only if you remain worthy.  In all cases, if you are not worthy of His influence (e.g., because of transgressions or sin), He will necessarily withdraw His influence from you until the problem has been resolved through repentance.  This is because He is a Holy Being and cannot dwell in unrighteousness.  So, strive to be clean and worthy that you may qualify for and have the influence of the Holy Ghost in your life

Follow Examples in the Scriptures:
So now, having a desire to know more of God and Christ through revelation, and being worthy to receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost, one is ready to seek and receive inspiration from God.  In the Holy Scriptures, there are many examples of this revelatory pattern or process.  I will now highlight three wonderful and specific examples of how revelation was received: first, Nephi sees the Spirit of the Lord and is shown in vision the tree of life (1 Nephi 11:1-5); next, the First Vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith (JSH 1:7-18); and lastly, a vision given to President Joseph F. Smith concerning the redemption of the dead (D&C 138:1-11).

In these instances, these men had been pondering on matters of great importance and reflecting on the issues again and again.  In the case of the Prophet Nephi, he wanted to know the interpretation of his father’s dream. For young Joseph Smith, he was searching to know which of all the churches he should join.  President Joseph F. Smith had been searching for answers about the hereafter and about associations with loved ones who had passed away.   These matters weighed heavily upon their minds.

According to Nephi, he “desired to know the things (his) father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto (him).”  He reported that he “sat pondering in (his) heart.”  Here, we must assume that in addition to pondering and believing, Nephi reflected greatly upon his father’s dream and prayed mightily to God. As to his reading from the scriptures, we know he was studying the Holy Scriptures (the Plates of Brass) and making his own scriptural record (1 Nephi 9).  In this process, Nephi “was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord” and saw many marvelous visions of the world including the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus we see that he had an urgent matter, he pondered on it, he searched the Holy Scriptures, he reflected on it, and he prayed to the Father.

Reading Joseph Smiths account leading up to the First Visions, he recorded that in 1820 he was “called up to serious reflection” concerning which church he should join and his “mind at times was greatly excited.”  He then reported that he read from the scriptures (James 1:5); and, he “reflected again and again.”  At length, he “determined to “ask of God.”  And, he adds that he “knelt down and began to offer up the desires of (his) heart to God” to know which church he should join.  And then, this great vision opened up to him.  As was the case with Nephi, he had an urgent matter, he pondered on it, he searched the Holy Scriptures, he reflected on it, and he prayed to the Father.

In the case of President Joseph F. Smith, in 1918 he was suffering greatly from the loss of loved ones, and he was concerned about their condition.  He reported that one evening he was sitting in his room “pondering over the scriptures; and reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world.”  He reported that his mind reverted to the writings of the Apostle Peter (1 Peter).  Then, he opened the Holy Scriptures and read from 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 4:6.  He added that he was impressed and continued to ponder (prayerfully) over these things when “the eyes of (his) understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon (him), and (he) saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.”  So, similar to the visions of both the Prophet Nephi and the Prophet Joseph Smith, this great vision opened up to President Joseph F. Smith. And, we see a similar pattern.  We see that he had an urgent matter, he pondered on it, he searched the Holy Scriptures, he continued to ponder and reflected on it, and then this great vision opened up to him.

Summary:
Divine Revelation came to these brethren as they each followed several common steps:

1. 1. 1. They each had an urgent desire to know the truth;
      2. They were worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost;
      3. They pondered upon the matter;
      4. They read and search the Holy Scriptures for answers;
      5. They continued to ponder and reflect on the matter;
      6. They knelt in humble prayer and spoke with the Father; and,
      7. They quietly waited and listened for answers.

For additional insights into the Patterns of Light and Revelation, please watch the following short inspirational videos from Elder David A. Bednar, an ordained Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Part I:  The Light of Christ

Part II:  Discerning Light

Part III:  Spirit of Revelation

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This life and our existence here can be a mystery.  Who are we?  Where did we come from before this life?  Why are we here?  Where are we going after this life?  Is there an afterlife?  For me, the mystery clears as I draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  I believe we are all spirit children of a living God (our Heavenly Father) and we lived with Him before our birth.  He is the Father of our Spirits; we are of divine heritage.  I believe God is perfect in all things, including Perfect in Love, Perfect in Justice and Perfect in Mercy.  I believe Jesus Christ is His Literal Son, the only begotten of the Father in the flesh, and He is like His Father in every way.  In our pre-existence, we loved God, and He loved us (and still does).  As His children, we desired to be like Him.  Because of His great love for us, He has a long term plan for each of His children (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:39) to eventually be resurrected and become like Him and His Beloved Son (Matthew 5:48 and John 17:2-3). His plan includes our being born into this life to gain a physical body, to gain earthly experience, to learn of Him, to turn unto Him and obey His voice, and to prepare in all things to come unto Him again as resurrected beings.

In our pre-mortal spiritual existence, we enjoyed the presence of God the Father and His Son.  We knew them both, and loved them; …and, our spirits were pure and innocent before them.  By our birth to earthly parents, our spirits united with our earthly (mortal) bodies and we became “Souls” (D&C 88:15).  However, in this life, because of the Fall of Adam (which brought temporal and spiritual death upon all mankind), because of our individual transgressions, and because God is a God of Justice, we became separated from His presence (Alma 42:14 and Moses 6:57).  But also, because God the Father is merciful, He has provided a way for us to eventually overcome our condition in this life and return to His presence.  According to the Father’s “Plan of Salvation,” His beloved Son (Jesus Christ) was sent to the earth to atone for our sins and for Adam’s transgression.  Through the atonement, He paid the demands of justice and made it possible for mankind to be redeemed from the Fall (Alma 42:23 and 2 Nephi 2:8).  Jesus Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world; He suffered and atoned for our sins; after which, He was crucified and died on the cross. I also believe that on the third day, He overcame physical death through His resurrection and ascension into the presence of the Father (1 Corinthians 15:55).

Because Christ overcame physical death (through the resurrection), all mankind will be resurrected and will stand before Him to be judged.  Also, because of the atonement and His Grace, and by our living a life of Faith in Him, we can also be saved from spiritual death (spiritual separation from God the Father).  Like His Father, Jesus Christ is merciful and loving, but He is also a God of justice.  So, while His atonement has paid the demands of justice, there is much required of us to qualify for His mercy.  For our part, the Lord exhorts us to live our lives so that we can “stand spotless before [Him] at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:20).  By nature, we are all unworthy (to some degree) of His forgiveness and mercy.  But, we can draw near to Him and receive of His mercy if we exercise Faith in Him, repent honestly of our sins, are baptized by an authorized servant of the Lord (3 Nephi 11:21-22), receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, and continue in a life of righteousness (see Moses 6:51-62 and 2 Nephi 31:17-21).

Essentially, we will be judged according to the desires of our hearts, our faithfulness, and obedience in keeping His commandments and honoring our covenants, and our continuing or “enduring” in good works.  This is “the Gospel Plan of Salvation” …or, in other words, “The Plan of Happiness.”  By following this plan, we can receive forgiveness and qualify for “Eternal Life” with God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ (Doctrine & Covenants 14:7). “Eternal Life” is the life enjoyed by God the Eternal Father, our Father in Heaven.  My sincere daily prayer is that I and all my family will stand spotless before the Lord at the last day.  For in the Lord’s Eternal Plan, families are meant to be together forever.

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Over the past several years, I find I’m getting up earlier in the morning …and, I actually like it.  This all started about the time I changed my eating habits and began to lose a little weight.  It’s funny, I now find it easier to go to bed early at night, I’m sleeping much better, and I have more energy for the new day.  In addition, I believe this has increased my productivity during the day.  I look forward to getting up early each day, saying my prayers, reading good books, pondering, and meditating.

The routine boils down to the following: Go to bed early each night.  Get up early each morning.  Exercise for a few minutes.  Get cleaned up (shave, shower, and dress in clean clothes).  Go to a quiet place in your home.  Kneel and subdue your spirit before Heavenly Father.  Talk with Him in reverent prayer.  Wait for His Holy inspiration.  When you’re ready, begin to read and ponder the holy scriptures.  As you read, anticipate inspiration from the Holy Spirit.  After you’ve read sufficiently, continue to sit quietly in your spot and meditate for a short while on the thoughts and feelings you’ve received; and, consider some of your blessings and challenges ahead.  (Note: When you find the “right” place in your home, I find it wise to return there each time you study and pray.  So, make it a routine to return to your “special place” for private prayer and study.)

I have discovered the truth of what we read in the scriptures, “…retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.” (D&C 88:124)

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In April 2016, I served as the Stake Clerk in the Ephraim Utah YSA 2nd Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  That month, we held our regularly scheduled Stake Conference.  We were blessed to have a visit from Elder Dale G. Renlund, an ordained Apostle and Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Elder Evan A. Schmutz, a General Authority Seventy of the Church.  Our Stake Presidency was being reorganized and it was a busy two-day process.  As the Stake Clerk, I worked closely with Elder Renlund throughout the process.  It was a spiritual feast to watch the hand of the Lord in this great work and to be a witness to revelation.

After the conference and after the new Stake Presidency was installed, Elder Renlund conducted a two-hour training session for the newly called brethren and their wives.  I was invited to attend the meeting, and Elder Renlund asked me specifically to sit beside him on his right. As I sat down, he reached out and gave me a reassuring pat on my knee.

Later, after a very meaningful, spiritual, and timely training session, the meeting was concluded and Elder Renlund offered to give a closing prayer. During his prayer, among many wonderful things, he mentioned my name specifically. He thanked the Lord for my service and asked the Lord’s blessings to be upon me and my family.

I was overcome by emotion.  Over the previous several months, I had been praying earnestly to the Father for answers to many important issues in my personal life and in the lives of my children and family. During this wonderful prayer from a living Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I was overwhelmed with a sense of the Lord’s love for me and my family.  I know that He (the Lord) knows me; and He knows my wonderful family.  The sweet message and the confirmation by the Holy Spirit was truly a “tender mercy” of the Lord.  I sincerely felt my offering has been accepted by Him.

Since that day, I have been confident that my family and children will be fine.  Of course, I will always be concerned about their welfare, and I know there will yet be the usual challenges, but I will not be worried.  My focus then shifted to my future and the needs of my immediate family: Kathy and me.

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