smckays

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A few weeks ago I came to realize how easy it is to allow life to be ruled by cynicism. Negativity, assuming the worst, never offering others the benefit of the doubt, and failing to respect the freedom of opinion. Sure, there are plenty of reasons to feel cynical. There are plenty of reasons to assume the worst. But it can be a miserable way to live, and without ever being aware of it. I can sit around and complain about how my children will grow up to inherit a world full of tragedies and bad things, or I can teach them to choose hope. It's the same world either way, but I am fortunate enough to have the ability to choose how I see it, and more importantly what I can make of it. (at Vivian Park, Provo Canyon UT)

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Fall Pilot Pick: SPEECHLESS

Speechless intrigued me from the start. I was not only interested to see a show based on a premise such as this, but I also was really curious to see how Minnie Driver would do in this kind of role. 

If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, check it out below. 

Overall, I was pleased with both. It was clear right off the bat that the show never intended to use cerebral palsy as a scapegoat for a bad narrative. In fact, the opening scene has much more to do with Minnie Driver’s character than it does anyone else, including and especially JJ. 

The show takes the right approach in exploring the impact of a child/sibling with cerebral palsy without JJ (the son with cerebral palsy) being the absolute focal point. His presence creates this entire world’s worth of situations, and I really enjoyed watching Maya DiMeo (Driver) being who I assume is the voice of every frustrated parent of a disabled or special needs child. 

The show kicks off with what we learn is yet another move for the DiMeo family, as lead by the matriarch of the family, Maya DiMeo. So far, no previous location has been good enough to handle the range of JJ’s needs. But this place could be different.

The pilot finds the family in various situations with their new community, who clearly represents the general public and our inherent awkwardness with those who are different. There were real moments in the show for me where I saw how a certain character or characters were reacting and I realized that I likely wouldn’t know what to do in the same situation. The narrative made me feel like I was watching a training on “How To Not Be An Idiot Around People With Special Needs” but in a good way. 

From a writer’s perspective, I really enjoyed the father-son discussion scene in which the duo chooses to take a drive to their favorite hill and watch cars bottom out as they hit the end of the hill too fast. This setting puts a delightful filter on what would have been an otherwise over-dramatic scene. It also ends with one of my favorite lines from the pilot. 

“I get to be right and you get to be lazy. Our two favorite things!” 

There were minor things throughout the episode that were off-putting, but nothing too extreme, except for the scene where Ray (the other teen son in the family) says goodbye to his best friend at their old place. The scene exists to establish Ray’s love of astronomy (which has its payoff later), but it’s a notable “look how funny we are” scene, which bears no relevance to anything else. I think that teens joking about sex is about as unfunny as it gets. It’s a cheap laugh from shock value, not from genuine humor, and ultimately does a disservice to the rest of the episode. 

If you’ve liked half-hour family comedies before, this could be another one to add to your queue. Give it a shot. 

SPEECHLESS premieres Wednesday, September 21st at 7:30pm on ABC. 

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Sometimes baby face me and miniature Draco Malfoy hang out

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There will always be a hundred reasons not to follow something. Not to adhere to something. Not to commit to something. As I've thought back over the past seven years of my marriage and all of the seemingly impossible decisions we've had to make, I've been reminded that my spirituality has only come as I have actively pursued it. It's something that only comes with a significant effort over time. But I feel strongly about this: that God is a real, actual being. That He cares. That He expects us to fight through this life with faith. That knowing Him compensates for not knowing a lot of other things. There's only ever been one real reason why I (personally) have ever stayed with my commitment to my faith: it is because of the countless personal, spiritual experiences I have had as a result of choosing to search and to fight for them. And to do it over and over again. I have found God in so many significant moments throughout my life, and it's that ongoing relationship that guides me every day. (at Provo LDS Temple)

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Peace Through Unconditional Surrender

In this world of confusion and rushing, temporal progress, we need to return to the simplicity of Christ. … We need to study the simple fundamentals of the truths taught by the Master and eliminate the controversial. Our faith in God needs to be real and not speculative. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ can be a dynamic, moving influence, and true acceptance gives us a meaningful, religious experience. One of the great strengths of the Mormon religion is this translation of belief into daily thinking and conduct. This replaces turmoil and confusion with peace and tranquility.

The more I see in disagreement of my Church and its teachings, the more I observe that it is never about Jesus Christ. The issues taken with it seem to stem from how we choose to worship Christ.

And as is common with the Internet community, everything is reduced to its most negative, 1-dimensional reasoning. I don't appreciate being told that I am a hateful bigot (on account of knowing that I am not), but virtual interaction rarely accounts for context, or varied reasons beyond the most popular. Popularity rarely equates to correctness. So it has been for ages.

I'm digressing.

The point is: "We need to study the simple fundamentals of the truths taught by the Master and eliminate the controversial. Our faith in God needs to be real and not speculative."

Is Jesus Christ the Savior of the World? Is there need of an Atoning sacrifice for all of mankind? This is where we must establish the foundation of our faith. Any other foundation (Including Joseph Smith, The Church, or anything other than the Son of God) will not be enough to fortify our faith against the challenges we face.

The vociferous minorities will not unsettle our peace of soul if we love our fellowmen and have faith in the atoning sacrifice of the Savior and the quiet assurance he gives of life everlasting. Where do we find such faith in a troubled world? The Lord said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Luke 11:9–10.)

The peace for which the world longs is a time of suspended hostilities; but men do not realize that peace is a state of existence that comes to man only upon the terms and conditions set by God, and in no other way.

God’s chief way of acting is by persuasion and patience and long-suffering, not by coercion and stark confrontation. He acts by gentle solicitation and by sweet enticement.

Peace can come to an individual only by an unconditional surrender--surrender to him who is the Prince of peace, who has the power to confer peace.

If you, yourself, resist … temptations and determine to pay the daily price, to live the Law of the Harvest by clean, moral thoughts and practices, by upright, honest dealings, by integrity and conscientiousness in your studies, by fasting, prayer, and worship, you will reap the harvest of freedom and inner peace and prosperity.

Indifference to the Savior or failure to keep the commandments of God brings about insecurity, inner turmoil, and contention.

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"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not something ethereal, floating loosely in the air. Faith does not fall upon us by chance or stay with us by birthright. It is, as the scriptures say, 'substance … , the evidence of things not seen.' Faith emits a spiritual light, and that light is discernible. Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it."

Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice

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Don’t let the moment take you from Christ

For whatever reason—probably a lot of reasons—we too often allow our circumstances to distance us from our relationship with Jesus Christ. Whether it happens through choices we make or conditions we are in as a result of misfortunes or tragedies, it’s all too easy to eliminate those things that are most vulnerable. 

Spirituality, religion, and faith are seen as weaknesses today. They are treated the same as superstitions in most situations I’ve seen in recent memory. At least that’s what the Internet and media populous would have us believe. 

I believe that there are far more faithful and positively religious people out there than not. These are people who are guided by principles of universal truths, not bandwagon trends of the hour. 

Stay close to Christ. When you feel that instance in your heart where you know you are becoming more distant from Him, seek Him out. Pray. Study. 

You’ll never find your way out of darkness by running from the light. 

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The Path to Simplicity

The scriptures often refer to our path to follow in our mortal experience as one “simple” and “of plainness,” but why does the practice of our faith often feel more complicated than this? President Uchtdorf describes two ways in which our life in the gospel may at times feel complicated: “Sometimes, the truth may just seem too straightforward, too plain, and too simple for us to fully appreciate its great value. So we set aside what we have experienced and know to be true in pursuit of more mysterious or complicated information. Hopefully we will learn that when we chase after shadows, we are pursuing matters that have little substance or value.” “...sometimes we take the beautiful lily of God’s truth and gild it with layer upon layer of manmade good ideas, programs, and expectations. Each one, by itself, might be helpful and appropriate for a certain time and circumstance, but when they are laid on top of each other, they can create a mountain of sediment that becomes so thick and heavy that we risk losing sight of that precious flower we once loved so dearly... all of us, as members of the Church [need] to make a conscientious effort to devote our energy and time to the things that truly matter, while uplifting our fellowmen and building the kingdom of God. Whether it be through the distraction of programs, organizations, and events or that of “looking beyond the mark,” it is seemingly easy to quietly stray from the fertile soil of the gospel in its most tender simplicity, which is to “talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, [and] preach of Christ...that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” In other words, the only sure way to overcome the distracting complexity we sometimes make of the gospel is to consciously choose for ourselves to center our lives on Christ. The way to do this is not new or obscure. It revolves around the steps we have all taken as members of the church to enter into his kingdom: faith, repentance, baptism and confirmation, and enduring to the end. This is the path to simplicity. Please consider with me the following: FAITH To me, faith is defined as the actions I choose to take because I have felt the damning pains of sin, weakness, illness, and death washed away through the atoning blood of Christ. Faith always begins as a choice that leads to consequences, made manifest by righteous habits, which habits in turn provide their own faith-promoting consequences. In other words, faith is not just a hope that comes as a result of study and prayer. Faith is most often the action that demonstrates the hope that we have received. The Book of Mormon explains this truth beautifully. In Alma 32, Alma teaches that the seed of the gospel can only be planted “if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart…” Then, “if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief… it will begin to swell within your breasts…” Choosing to “give place” and to “not cast it out by unbelief” — These are two choices that lead to the growth of a testimony in the simplicity of the gospel, because the source is Christ. Then the consequences are further outlined when “ye... begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed… for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yeah, it beginneth to be delicious to me.” This recognition of the power of belief in our hearts happens as a result of our “giving place” for the seed of the gospel, and then by not “casting it out” because of our unbelief. Two incredibly simple, incredibly essential acts of faith. The simplicity of faith is that it must always be a choice. Sometimes it is the faith to be at peace without a complete knowledge of everything. Sometimes it is the faith to (as President Uchtdorf puts it) “step back, look at your life from a higher plane, and simplify your approach to discipleship.” As we continue to exercise faith and grow spiritually, we naturally come to feel the desire to better ourselves. We seek to repent. REPENTANCE President Uchtdorf explains this with great simplicity in his talk, “It Works Wonderfully!” that he gave in April General Conference: “Hearing the word of God with earnest intent leads us to believe in God and to trust His promises. The more we trust God, the more our hearts are filled with love for Him and for each other. Because of our love for God, we desire to follow Him and bring our actions in alignment with His word.” Repentance is not a means for embarrassment or a sign of weakness. Repentance is a courageous act of faith in Christ, “whom thou hast never before heard nor seen…” If there is one ultimate sign that our faith is where it should be, it would be that we are constantly seeking to repent, or to “bring our actions in alignment with His word.” Again, from President Uchtdorf: “Sometimes we feel discouraged because we are not “more” of something—more spiritual, respected, intelligent, healthy, rich, friendly, or capable. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with wanting to improve. God created us to grow and progress. But remember, our weaknesses can help us to be humble and turn us to Christ, who will “make weak things become strong.” Satan, on the other hand, uses our weaknesses to the point that we are discouraged from even trying.” “My dear brothers and sisters, if we look at ourselves only through our mortal eyes, we may not see ourselves as good enough. But our Heavenly Father sees us as who we truly are and who we can become. He sees us as His sons and daughters, as beings of eternal light with everlasting potential and with a divine destiny.” Perhaps there is no simpler example from the scriptures than that of Alma the younger and his profound conversion to Christ. Alma the younger was deeply entrenched in opposing the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the midst of it all, an angel came to him and his friends. His account as retold to his son many years later is a powerful one: “I was struck with such great fear and amazement lest perhaps I should be destroyed, that I fell to the earth and I did hear no more.” “I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.” “...the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.” “I was racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.” In short, Alma is reckoning with who he is. He’s seeing himself with no distortion, his position in the grand eternal roadmap. But then, “While I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy...concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ…” “Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me…” “And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more.” This unique experience seems to have been so powerful that Alma might have even been forced to change. Make no mistake: young Alma was still in full possession of his agency. The experience he had gave him a window to see things as they really were, and his moral foundation came to life, bringing him to Christ. His mind was not drawn to his father’s strong-willed opinion about a particularly confusing or misunderstood practice or belief within their faith, it was right on the mark, on Jesus Christ. “Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance…” The simplicity of repentance is that each day we choose to adopt a mindset of overcoming who we have been with who we are becoming, in and through our redeeming constant: Jesus Christ. BAPTISM In its simplest terms, baptism is the way in which we indicated to God our intention to do our best to live Christlike lives, within the laws of his gospel. We have also been charged with the responsibility to stand as witnesses of Him always. This of course is not reduced to singular declarations of faith via social media, but in the way we live our lives each day. We show our gratitude for the atonement by living up to the multitude of second chances we receive during mortality. If the sacrament is the most important thing we can do with our week and our Sabbath day, then it might be said that our conscious choice to prepare our hearts and minds for the sacrament is the most important choice we can make each week and each Sabbath day. Preparation for the sacrament does not happen to us, it happens because of us. It seems the old adage, “You get out of it what you put into it,” only begins to describe the benefits from sticking with the most simple and core facets of the gospel. A seed of faith can blossom into a lifetime of seemingly unnoticeable acts of faith that prove to ourselves and to God that we are “willing to take upon [us] the name of [His Son], and always remember Him, and keep his commandments that he has given, that we may always have his spirit to be with us.” The simplicity of baptism is to earnestly seek to make the sacrament service the most holy moments of our week. No invocation or hymn will do that. We have to choose it, even and especially when we don’t feel like it. ENDURE TO THE END I like to think of enduring to the end as our reminder that everything up to this point hasn’t been a one-time deal. In fact, the best lay-term I can think of for this whole process is “WASH, RINSE, REPEAT,” but it’s not intended to be repetitive. With each turn on the cycle, we magnify our discipleship. However, discipleship itself cannot be manufactured. Discipleship cannot be genuine if it isn’t centered on Christ. Inversely, discipleship also cannot be or evidently is not centered on Christ if it is not genuine. And so, as a test of where we stand spiritually, we can ask ourselves the following: Is my discipleship genuine? Is my worship forced or void of thought? Do I do what I do because Christ has done what he has done, not just universally, but individually, for me? Have I felt to “sing the song of redeeming love?” If so, do I feel so now? The simplicity of enduring to the end is that even our inner and most personal spiritual growth has to occur as a result of agency. In every thing, big and small, we must be agents unto ourselves. We choose to enjoy the scriptures, and as we endure, we will enjoy them. We choose to believe God is hearing our prayers, and as we endure, we will hear more of His words. We choose to prepare ourselves for the sacrament, and as we endure, we will feel the power of the Atonement with greater force and frequency in our lives, such that it will make us stronger and stronger with each passing week. The popular attitude is to wait and see if we are affected by something, if a lesson is particularly important. if a talk was particularly meaningful. if a bishop was sufficiently in tune. A lot more of that is dependent on us than the world would have us believe. SEE ALSO: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/trying-the-word-of-god?lang=eng 1 Ne 17:41 Jacob 4:14 Helaman 6:36 Alma 33:19-23

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Changed Men Can Change The World

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature…

Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.”

-Ezra Taft Benson

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Read, Ponder, then Ask in Faith

FROM THE INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF MORMON:

“We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost.” 

“Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.” 

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“Be Ye Therefore Perfect...”

This verse (Matthew 5:48) has always been daunting to me. As if it’s supposed to be easy. 

I’ve typically thought of it as “Well, okay then. I know that I can’t be perfect, so I’ll just chalk this up to a nice sentiment.” However, the Book of Mormon has shed some light on this subject for me. 

MORONI 10:32-33

We know these verses well in the LDS Community. It’s the “Deny all ungodliness and come unto Christ” verses. But today, I found new meaning in them. It’s the scriptural guide on how to be perfect. 

My biggest problem with the thought of perfection is that I’ve always just subconsciously accepted this idea that it is solely up to me to achieve perfection (not to mention a skewed belief in what perfection is). But this belief is contrary to the doctrine of the Gospel. 

Moroni 10:32 says to “be perfected in him,” and by doing so opens up for the reality of achieving any sort of perfection because of a dependency on Christ, not because of one’s own righteousness. 

IF

“...If ye shall deny yourselves all ungodliness...” 

AND

“...love God with all your might, mind and strength...” 

THEN 

“...then is his grace sufficient for you...” 

SO THAT

“...by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ...” 

I’ll never be perfect. Not on my own. But with Christ and the incredible power of his grace, I can someday be perfect in Christ. That gives me hope. 

SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST

Verse 33 expounds on this teaching: 

“If ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ...” 

What makes this different? According to the verse, it’s the purging of sin through Christ’s Atonement. 

We become sanctified “through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.” 

How does this relate to mortality? How does it relate to baptism? How does it relate to our weekly participation in the sacrament? Interesting questions to consider. 

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Swallowed in the Depths of the Sea

To me, one of the greatest values of the story of the book of Ether is that it shows how God will grant us things according to our desires, even if they aren’t absolutely essential to our salvation. 

SIXTEEN SMALL STONES

In Ether, the Lord helps the Jaredites build eight small barges that will be sealed from top to bottom to protect them while the Lord directs them through the sea to their promised land. 

In this time, the brother of Jared becomes concerned that they are going to be in darkness for the entirety of the trip, so he goes to God for help. God’s reply: 

“...I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?”

The Lord asks the brother of Jared what HE wants to do. God is in command of the winds and the waves, and he knows that this people will be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. Having the ability to see during the voyage is obviously important, but it’s not essential for survival. So the Lord leaves it up to the brother of Jared. 

GRATEFUL BUT WANTING

Have you ever had those moments where you want to ask God for something, but you feel like in doing so, you are being ungrateful for what you do have? Or you’ve recognized all these wonderful things in your life, but you still want something a bit more? It’s hard to reconcile these feelings when we are warned against excess, greed, materialism, and superficiality. 

Just because it’s a desire we have doesn’t make it greedy, selfish, or anything like it. Certainly the Jaredites weren’t being selfish when they desired to have some light in their vessels while they traversed the ocean waves. 

This is why the beginning of Ether Chapter 3 is the brother of Jared’s humble prayer. He feels like he’s been given everything, but is asking for more. He probably also feels pretty ridiculous about the simplicity of his solution for his problem, but he goes to God and acknowledges it all anyway, pleading for help. 

ASKING FOR MORE = BUILDING FAITH IN GOD

I don’t always take my work before God and ask for Him to enlighten and improve what I have started. What I have may be silly stones I have worked on for hours using the skill set I have learned over the years, but only through God do those things really shine. 

Not only that, but sometimes we can see the hand of God in our lives, doing so much for us, but we are afraid to ask for more because we don’t want to be ungrateful servants. 

Here’s the real truth here though: this is exactly what we are supposed to do. Why? Because it’s us learning to trust God, to see that He is there and he is actively engaged in our lives, so we begin to see how we can progress with more and more help. 

God wants to help us. He wants to give us light in the darkness. He’s given us the essentials to make it through the depths of the sea. He’s even in command of the wind and the waves. Beyond that, we get to choose whether we will build everything on our own, or continue to seek after and trust in the Lord for the improvement in our lives. 

What will you do? 

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What was I, that I could withstand God?

[SCRIPTURE PASSAGES FROM ACTS 10 & 11]

Christ initiated the first major policy change for the Church when he replaced the Law of Moses for the Higher Law, the Law of Christ. After his death, resurrection, and ascension, he left the church in very capable hands. 

But there were more changes coming. How would Peter and the other apostles handle it? 

 Taking the gospel to the Gentiles was monumental for the Church. Christ did not take the Gospel to the Gentiles. They were not to be preached to, and the common explanation was that they were an unclean people. They were not Jews. I wonder if there were groups of people sympathetic to the plight of the Gentiles during this time. Surely the impact of Christ in his own time was spread far and wide. Surely the Gentiles knew of Christ. Many were God-fearing men and women, ready to hear and receive the word, but did not have the opportunity. Perhaps many were in waiting, waiting for the day which did eventually come. 

THE POLICY CHANGE

That day began with an Caesarean Gentile by the name of Cornelius. One day, Cornelius has a vision in which the Lord tells him to send men to Joppa and find Peter, the chief apostle of the time. 

While these men are on their way to Joppa, Peter is going about his daily business when he went up “upon the housetop” to pray: 

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Peter has no idea what this vision means He’s pretty confused. At that time, Cornelius’ men call for him from the gates, and the Spirit tells Peter that he sent the men at the gates for him. Peter hears them out and decides to travel back with them to Caesarea the following day. 

When Peter arrives, he sees that a large crowd had gathered to wait for him, to hear the word of God: 

28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 

29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

Cornelius relates to him his full account. Then, seeing the hand of the Lord at work, Peter explains: 

34 ¶Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

He then goes on to explain that all people should receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and know His Atonement. 

Then, another amazing witness was received: 

44 ¶While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Can any of us prevent this from happening? This is a big deal, but it is the will of God, so let it be done. 

THE REACTION

When the church leaders and members heard about what happened, they were blown away. How could Peter go out on his own to Caesarea and not only sit with, but teach and baptize a multitude of Gentiles? This was completely unlawful at the time. Stunned, they ask Peter for an explanation of his actions. 

Peter recounts the events. He tells of Cornelius’ experience, his own vision, and his experience in Caesarea, explaining: 

17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

This is a key moment here. Peter, the chief apostle of the Church, informs his fellow brethren of a major change in Church policy. It’s huge. It was the opening of the preaching of the gospel to the rest of the world, not just those who had known Christ. 

So how do they react? How do we react? What is our understanding of the process of revelation, progress in the Church, and changes in policy? 

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Is that what we do? Do we trust God and his prophet, even if it doesn’t seem quite right? Even if it changes everything or alienates us from the rest of the world? 

Do we understand that we aren’t always going to understand or agree with everything that comes from Church headquarters right away? 

Do we know the process of gaining our own perspective and testimony of those things? 

Are we actively pursuing our own convictions and putting the words of the prophets to the test for ourselves? 

[smckays-blog]

We Cannot Earn Our Way to Heaven

“The Savior’s Atonement cannot become commonplace in our teaching, in our conversation, or in our hearts.”

Today I want to talk about the grace of God. 

Grace has been defined as “the divine assistance and endowment of strength by which we grow from the flawed and limited beings we are now into exalted beings of “truth and light, until [we are] glorified in truth and [know] all things.”

Grace is difficult to understand or define because it isn’t tangible. It’s difficult to explain. I’ve always thought of it as God’s mercy towards us because we are so flawed and naive. Perhaps that’s true. 

Grace is the part that allows us to find any sort of true joy in spite of ourselves. Grace is the actual power that saves us. 

We are imperfect souls. We are easily distracted by the pleasure and satisfaction of a myriad of sins. Sins are acts of selfishness that keep us from feeling the influence of God in our lives. 

And the truth is, sins are fun. They are nice. They are convenient. They are easy. That’s what makes them so attractive. 

So if you are one who believes in right and wrong, good and bad, and you are spiritual, then there is righteousness and wickedness. There is sin and obedience. 

How good we are doesn’t carry enough power on its own to claim any eternal status of value. We need Jesus Christ. 

“We cannot earn our way into heaven; the demands of justice stand as a barrier, which we are powerless to overcome on our own.”

“Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God.” 

The only reason we have a shot at finding eternal peace and happiness is because Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for the sins of the world. 

So if we can’t earn our way into heaven, what in the world are we doing? Why try to follow Christ’s teachings? 

We follow Christ because we love him. Because he atoned for our sins. Because he and the Father want us to be happy and find eternal rest for our souls. Because, despite our never-ending ignorance, failings, and unkindness, they want to save us. They want us to be our best selves. They have a perfect plan that allows anyone and everyone to experience it. 

We follow Christ because that is all we can do. We show unto him that we have sought after the healing powers of the atonement, that we have become clean, and that we are everlastingly grateful for it. 

Literally the only thing we can do is have faith in Christ and repent of our sins. Become clean through the Atonement. Afterwards, our obedience earns blessings because our God is that merciful and forgiving. Because he wants us to be better, to get better, and to bring as many people with us. 

I have found Christ through his sacrifice. I have found Christ while on my knees in desperate prayer. Many questions, complaints, and doubts arise as we seek after a pure faith, but they too often distract us from the ultimate, unchangeable truth: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That he has already saved the world. You and Me. That his love, mercy, and justice is eternal, and we’ve been given time to decide for ourselves what makes us happiest, then follow that route. 

When you find yourself in a moment of question, confusion, or hesitation, center your process of discovery on the fact that Jesus Christ is your Redeemer. As long as you do that, you can’t get lost. 

This post was inspired by THIS TALK. It’s outstanding. 

[smckays-blog]

You Have Enough

I recently listened to this talk about Returning to Faith. In it, a story about Mother Teresa is told. 

The talk addresses the crisis of faith a young mother experiences, yet finds comfort in many things, particularly a moment of trial for Mother Teresa herself. 

In a 1953 letter, Mother Teresa wrote: “Please pray specially for me that I may not spoil His work and that Our Lord may show Himself—for there is such terrible darkness within me, as if everything was dead. It has been like this more or less from the time I started ‘the work.’ Ask Our Lord to give me courage.”

Archbishop Périer responded: “God guides you, dear Mother; you are not so much in the dark as you think. The path to be followed may not always be clear at once. Pray for light; do not decide too quickly, listen to what others have to say, consider their reasons. You will always find something to help you. … Guided by faith, by prayer, and by reason with a right intention, you have enough.”

[This woman] thought if Mother Teresa could live her religion without all the answers and without a feeling of clarity in all things, maybe she could too. She could take one simple step forward in faith—and then another. She could focus on the truths she did believe and let those truths fill her mind and heart.

Crises of faith happen. To everyone. They happen at different times and in different ways. Today’s heavy addition comes in the form of an impatient, needy generation. We want what we want when we want it and if it doesn’t measure up to what we wanted, it’s gone. There are so many of us who are entitled. 

We can’t think that a crisis of faith can be completely resolved in two weeks of internet browsing. It’s a little funny but mostly sad that we try to solve our problems of faith with knowledge, when they are two separate entities. That would be like using flour instead of powdered sugar. At first glance, they can appear similar, but they are quite different. 

Faith can only be found by continuing to take steps of faith. You will absolutely NEVER be intellectually converted to have faith in Jesus Christ. That always has been and always will be a choice, not a consequence. Increased faith is a consequence of a desire of faith, but faith itself does not spawn as a result from weighing matters of logic, history, or anything else. 

In the story mentioned above, the woman mentions how everything about her faith had burned to ashes, and the only thing left standing was her faith in Christ. That’s a powerful thing, to realize how strong your faith in Jesus Christ really is. 

If you haven’t found him, know that there is no time table on the Lord giving you a witness of his existence. He will answer you, but he will prove your faith first. Can you step forward in faith enough, without knowing, to have the Savior speak to you? 

If you are full of doubt and questions, that is no reason to leave your faith behind. Stay true to Christ and the teachings you know to be true, then build on that. Too many of my friends have traveled down this path and have been left with no other option but to question their belief in deity at all. It’s a terrible circumstance that leaves them hollow. 

Over all other things, I choose to have faith in Jesus Christ. 

[smckays-blog]

The Vulnerability of Faith

I read an article this morning about the importance of Jesus Christ in our lives, and it reminded me of something I have thought about many times in recent months: 

Believing in Christ makes us vulnerable. 

Christians already know the unpopularity of believing in a God or a Savior. It’s considered kind of backwards, as if faith in Deity is an indication that you are somehow less evolved or advanced than your athiest/agnostic counterparts. 

But the vulnerability of faith is much more than cultural influence. 

The essence of faith means that we are placing our lives and everything about them into a belief system that has no scientific evidence. It’s contrary to our progressive society to get behind any theory or idea that hasn’t been scientifically proven or accepted by the general populous, and there sits faith in Jesus Christ. 

Independence and non-conformity have become societal norms, and anything that falls outside those lines is perceived as weakness or backwards thinking. Faith in Jesus Christ requires dependence on his love, guidance, mercy, and comfort. Dependence on his atoning sacrifice to purify us from sin. Conformity is one of the basic requirements of Christianity, as we are commanded to be “even as I am.” 

Faith in Jesus Christ means that we acknowledge right and wrong in the world. Good and evil. Righteousness and sin. Recognizing sin in the world and in our lives compels us to further rely on someone aside from ourselves. Someone who lived on earth two thousand years ago and has had some slightly confusing records written about him. These all contribute to the “vulnerability” of faith.

Faith in Christ is not fully received by a study of the scriptures alone, but includes intense personal experiences that cause us to seek truth that is beyond our capacity and experiences. It means we are willing to accept the fact that we can never know the how or why of everything, and that’s okay, because there’s someone who does. Christ. 

Faith in Christ is not attained easily, and is most definitely not a one-time experience. 

“Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?” (Jeffrey R. Holland)

“Sadly enough, my young friends, it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds.” (Jeffrey R. Holland)

True faith in Jesus Christ is consistently difficult. It’s unpopular, and it goes against accepted social trends and practices of today.

But it has never been so needed. 

[smckays-blog]

The Sustaining Vote

IN THE LDS CHURCH, we practice something referred to in the scriptures as Common Consent, or the sustaining of those who serve in Church responsibilities. 

In other words, when an individual is called to serve in a particular position (calling), their name is presented before the congregation, and the individual who conducts the meeting asks for a vote in favor and a vote in opposition. Almost always, the votes are given in the affirmative, with little thought to the process or its meaning. 

The principle whereby Church members sustain those called to serve in the Church, as well as other Church decisions requiring their support, usually shown by raising the right hand.

Jesus Christ stands at the head of his Church. Through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, he directs Church leaders in important actions and decisions. However, all Church members have the right and privilege of sustaining or not sustaining the actions and decisions of their leaders. (The Guide to the Scriptures, lds.org)

The Law of Common Consent is most often recognized as our sustaining action of those who have been called to serve in the church. It signifies that we support or accept the service of those within our ward, stake, or otherwise to the particular capacity to which they have been called.

What is of particular interest is the second paragraph:

“Through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, he (Jesus Christ) directs Church leaders in important actions and decisions. However, all Church members have the right and privilege of sustaining or not sustaining the actions and decisions of their leaders.”

What remains of great significance to the Church and its leadership is to continue to allow members to exercise their agency, even if it can mean they are in any sort of disagreement with what could (and likely should) be recognized as God’s will. Our freedom to choose is more important than whether or not we choose the right, and that’s an extraordinarily compelling thought.

Is it strange to say that it is more important for us to have the choice to believe in Christ than it is for us to have his Atonement applied to us? Perhaps, for without the former, we cannot have the latter. We cannot be compelled to apply Christ’s Atonement. We must choose it, but only after we have been given the choice.

Likewise, we cannot be compelled to genuinely support or affirm the calling of an individual to a position of service within the Church. We can choose to blindly, superficially, or apathetically raise our hands in sustainment of such an action, but that is the nature of our agency, and those who have been called to serve can claim no fault on our poor use of agency.

If any of us at any time raised our hands in a sustaining vote of any of our brothers and sisters, we forfeited our ability to criticize or judge them without ourselves becoming hypocrites, or apathetic members at best. 

Hopefully we can bring more meaning to this experience.