No More Fear

Last week, a family friend was in a terrible motorcycle accident. Miraculously, though the bike was completely mangled, he escaped with only external injuries and is blessed to be alive. It was a particularly hard blow to my teenage daughter who is very closely acquainted with him. She was unable to sleep at nights, and had anxiety and nausea to the point that it began affecting her own health. At the height of this, she received a priesthood blessing that reminded us all that the Lord’s plans for us are not necessarily ones we would pick. Equally important, that pressing forward with spiritual optimism and hope are the functional components of the very faith that we talk so much of in our gospel conversations. Putting these components peacefully into action during adversity not only increases our faith, it allows the Lord to bless us and demonstrates our willingness to submit our will to His. The Book of Mormon demonstrates instances of prophets teaching this to the people.

 Mosiah 23:25 For behold, it came to pass that while they were in the land of Helam, yea, in the city of Helam, while tilling the land round about, behold an army of the Lamanites was in the borders of the land.
 26 Now it came to pass that the brethren of Alma fled from their fields, and gathered themselves together in the city of Helam; and they were much frightened because of the appearance of the Lamanites.
 27 But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them.

LESSON LEARNED: Fear and panic are antagonists of faith, and prevent the Lord from unfolding the miracles that may come from adversity. Trust and faith in His plans allow for His blessings to flow.

FEEDBACK: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR REACTION IN THE PAST TO SEVERE PHYSICAL ADVERSITY?

The Gratitude Cycle

At this moment of writing, I am sitting in a hospital room eating my first meal in ten days. I had been restricted to only clear liquids due to a prolonged illness, and I have never been more grateful for a scrambled egg and piece of toast in my life. It is so easy to take the blessings of life for granted -- food, clothing, shelter, protection and possessions. We never seem to fully appreciate these things until they are taken away. And while the Lord seeks to bless us in these ways, when He does, the natural man in us feels we no longer need God. Thus, our lack of gratitude during the good times often requires that the Lord chastens us to wake us up. The Book of Mormon teaches about this gratitude cycle which allows us to continually be worthy of His blessings.

 Helaman 12:2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
 3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

LESSON LEARNED: It is easy to be humble and penitent during difficult times. Conversely, it is also easy to regard God and religion as unimportant during times of plenty. The Lord puts us through humbling cycles so He can continue to bless us and to see if we will choose to remember Him always.

FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU FELT THE LORD CHASTEN YOU IN ORDER TO TEACH YOU HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE?

Children Will Remember

In Proverbs it states: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." It is a challenge at times to see children grow and make choices that may not be the best ones for them. This is particularly the case when we have put forth our best efforts to teach them principles of true happiness when they are young, only to see them drift away later in life. But The Book of Mormon reminds us of the hope that these memories may affect them positively at a future date. An example of this is the case of Alma the senior for his son Alma, who came back to the fold during a desperate experience and following intense prayer and fasting on his behalf. As with Alma, the possibility of the Holy Ghost reigniting early childhood lessons in the hearts of wayward youth is a common occurance.

 Alma 36:17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

LESSON LEARNED: We should never underestimate the importance of diligent gospel instruction and example for our children. The rewards may not be immediate, and may even be a source of salvation later in life.

FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THIS IN SOMEONE YOUR KNOW?

The Scientific Approach

In science, reproducibility is the ability of an entire experiment or study to be duplicated, either by the same researcher or by someone else working independently. Being able to reproduce an experiment is also called replicating it. Reproducibility and replicability together are among the main principles of the scientific method.  These are important principles both in medicine and in science in general, for if they are not adhered to then conjecture, antecdotal influences and hearsay can distort the laws in science. The same can be said for spiritual laws. If a spiritual experience is true, such as feeling the presence of the Holy Ghost or gaining a testimony of The Book of Mormon, it will be a reproducible experience that can be duplicated over and over by the same person, and can also be replicated by others by following the same steps. Alma, in The Book of Mormon, discusses these steps in gaining a testimony.

 Alma 32:28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good…
 29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
 30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
 31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
 32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
 33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

LESSON LEARNED: Reproducibility is important both in science and religion. It is the means to recognize and know all truth.

FEEDBACK: WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH RECOGNIZING REPRODUCED TRUTH IN YOUR LIFE?

Satan's Anger Ploy

After Joseph Smith experienced the First Vision, he was surprised at the first response he received when he shared it with a minister. He states in his history: “Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before mentioned religious excitement; and, conversing with him on the subject of religion, I took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was greatly surprised at his behavior; he treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be any more of them.” A similar angry reaction towards a prophet after a heavenly visitation is seen early in The Book of Mormon, and exposes the ploy of first-response anger that Satan uses to shut down proselyting.

 1 Nephi 1:20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

LESSON LEARNED: A quick shutdown response with anger is Satan’s pitiful ploy to quelch the message of the restoration. We may, on occasion, be surprised by a similar reaction of enmity when sharing the gospel message with others.

FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED AN ANGRY RESPONSE TO THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL THAT WAS OUT OF PROPORTION WITH YOUR DISCUSSION?

I'm Too Busy

During the end of my medical training, our family moved to St. Louis to finish the last two years. My life was pretty much planned out during that busy time. In fact, it wasn’t my own -- it seemed I hardly had time to breathe. I was trying to do two one-year fellowships there, one in surgical pathology followed by another year in skin pathology. After the first year, when I thought things couldn’t get any more hectic, our bishop (who was also a doctor), called me to be the Ward Mission Leader. I couldn’t believe it. He, of all people, should have known that this would be impossible, and though I had never before said no to a calling, I did this time. He called me into his office and counseled with me, telling me he understood the limitations of time I had. But he assured me that the Lord was aware of my circumstances and wanted me in this calling. He promised me that through faith and careful planning on my part, the Lord would not only help me to successfully fulfill the calling, but it would also become a source of joy that I would always look back on. All this came to pass. A similar assurance is provided in The Book of Mormon.

 1 Nephi 3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

LESSON LEARNED: The greatest blessings come through service, and the greatest services are performed at the height of inconvenience.

FEEDBACK: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE LORD PROVIDING A WAY FOR YOU TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE HAS ASKED?

Children are Saved

I love my little grandbabies. There is no greater joy than to cuddle with one of these soft little ones. It is just a joy to contemplate how innocent they are, having just left their Heavenly Father’s presence to come to earth. And how terrible it must be as a parent or grandparent to lose one. A number of years ago, I received one of those phone calls that no one ever wants to get. It was my dad at the other end, telling me emotionally that little Melissa, my 8 month-old niece, had passed away in her sleep and gone back to heaven. I was inconsolable with grief. At the moment, I was on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, and I sought comfort in the Visitor's Center by the Christus statue. As I was visibly shaken, a missionary came to ask me if I was okay. We discussed the plan of salvation, and I was reminded of God’s love for all His children, in particular His little ones who die in innocence. They are guaranteed salvation purely through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and have no need of baptism or other saving ordinances. The Book of Mormon reassures us on this principle.

 Moroni 8:11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
 12 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!
 19 Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.

LESSON LEARNED: Despite the grief associated with losing a little child, there is eternal comfort in knowing that salvation is assured for these little ones through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

FEEDBACK: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS?