You’re Never Alone

I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine who was commenting on how she felt alone in living the gospel standards.  For her, the only member in her high school, it is a challenge because the things that she holds dear and believes in are mocked on every hand.  She stands out at school amongst her peers because of her modesty.  She finds it a struggle because she knows that none of the boys in her school can take her to the temple.   She is conflicted between holding to her standards and making her life easier by compromising a little.  My good friend is in a situation that is surprisingly common among Latter-day Saints all over the world.

I grew up in Utah and so I didn’t encounter the same challenges in my youth.  However, I know what it is like to feel alone or even mocked for the values I hold to.  It is a hard thing to look around you and consciously realize that you hold yourself to a higher standard.  One such experience was when I was deployed to Saudi Arabia.  When I arrived and went through all the in-processing, I was happy to see that there was some time reserved at the chapel for Latter-day Saint services.  When I showed up at the designated time, I discovered that I was the only one there.  My best guess is that there had been a unit from Utah that had spent some time at that same location and had set the groundwork for Latter-day Saint services: there was a time reserved and a closet full of LDS supplies.  Fortunately for me I was able to reach out to the Stake President over the Arabian peninsula (can you imagine that kind of responsibility) who authorized me to organize Sacrament meetings there on my base.  I discovered that there was one other lady who was on base who was less-active and she would attend Sacrament meeting on occasion, but for the most part it was just me.  No one would have known any differently if I just didn’t have my Sacrament meeting–but as I persisted, I came to really appreciate and look forward to these moments.

I believe that one of Satan’s tools is to make us feel like we are the only ones who are doing what is right.  It makes it easier to make little compromises on our values when we either feel lonely or that we are unable to hold to a higher standard because of past transgressions.  In this way, our adversary gets us to make poor choices and leads us carefully down the path of least resistance to inactivity.

I love this picture of a solitary candle.  What difference would it make if it were snuffed out?  Such a small thing, does it even make that much of a difference?  Yet it burns brightly, just as we can when we are, or feel, all alone.  Heavenly Father invites us to, “let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (3 Ne 12:16).  That is precisely what we need to do when we are feeling like we are the only ones who hold to a standard–let it shine even more brightly and hold to the truth even more tightly.

The Book of Mormon has a good example of one who really was all alone in his beliefs yet managed to hold to the truth.  Shortly after Christ visited the New World the people were very righteous, but soon began to “dwindle in unbelief.”  It got to the point where they had to make a division, “Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true worshipers of Christ…were called Nephites…And it came to pass that they who rejected the gospel were called Lamanites” (4 Ne 1:37-38).  Eventually, the Lamanites outnumbered the Nephites and then the Nephites began to get more and more wicked until “there were none that were righteous” (see 4 Ne 1:40-46).  These were the times that Mormon grew up in.

Mormon probably was a bit bewildered by the vast population (see Mormon 1:7) and I can imagine that he probably felt pretty small and insignificant, especially since he was the only one adhering to the standards.  These were Mormon’s teenage years, when most people are confused about who they are and what they stand for.  Mormon didn’t have any support and all around him was wickedness.  How would you have felt if you were in his shoes?  Where do you think Mormon turned for support?  You probably got it right, he turned to the Lord (see Mormon 1:15).

I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  I know that He visits us through the Comforter and allows us to be strengthened through our trials.  I have personally felt the sustaining power of the Atonement and know that we can receive the help that we need.  Heavenly Father loves us and will stand by us as long as we are doing what is right.  I know what it feels like to be alone but I also know of the power and influence of the Holy Ghost.  You are never alone!  When we feel lonely or mocked, we can turn to the Lord in prayer and find encouragement in the scriptures.  Let your light shine and continue in doing what is right, Heavenly Father is close by and you have a full world of Saints who support you in your values.  Will you do that?

Materialism

Last week I spoke a little about choosing joy and this week I wanted to speak a little about what definitely does not bring us joy…materialism.  For some reason, our society believes that “he who dies with the most toys, wins” and many people believe that joy can be found in the “stuff” they own.  The time-tested values of industry, frugality, moderation, and temperance seem to be old-fashioned and have given way to buying on credit, living for the moment, and keeping up with the Jonses.  These “modern” values are, by their very nature, hedonistic–living just for what seemingly brings temporal pleasure.  However, we just need to look at the resultant lasciviousness, suicide, and general destruction that follows to see that indeed “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10).

In The Book of Mormon we see multiple times how materialism, or the search for worldly treasures, leads to destruction in what has been termed “the pride cycle.”  One particularly salient example of this is just after our Savior visits the Nephites in the American continent.  For over 150 years the people live in the utmost joy (see 4 Ne 1:2-16).  They make good decisions and support each other in righteousness.  Because they are doing what is right, everyone is blessed and prospered in abundance, until they all had become “exceedingly rich” (4 Ne 1:23).  However, this utopian society did not last–and the initial problem that began the downward spiral was materialism (see 4 Ne 1:24-25).  As soon as the people made the acquisition of wealth their primary objective, the society crumbled and they were eventually all destroyed.

Why is it that we, as a society, put so much stock in the acquisition of things?  The truth is, if we make that our aim we end up with empty lives.  However, if we put God first in our lives and seek to do His will, we not only find true happiness but can be blessed with the things that we stand in need of (see 3 Ne 13:32-33).   I know that materialism isn’t the key to happiness for I have witnessed its destruction as I am sure you have.  However, I can say with a certainty, based upon my own experiences, that true joy comes as we choose to follow our Savior and do His will!

Adam fell….

What is joy?  The dictionary defines it as a feeling of great happiness or to make glad.  What brings you joy?

In The Book of Mormon we read, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Ne 2:25).  In other words, the primary result of Adam’s fall is so that we can find joy–which is our purpose in this life.

Earlier in the same chapter we learn about the importance of opposition and of choice (see 2 Ne 2:11-13).  I believe that having these two principles juxtaposed in this manner leads us to the conclusion that happiness is a choice (and, consequently, so is misery).  Adam’s fall gave us agency and we can choose.  Do you believe that you can choose happiness?  Or does happiness just happen to you?

Every morning I wake up and I have a choice–I choose to make that day my best day and to bring myself happiness.  I choose to greet everyone with a smile and sincerely inquire about their day.  I choose to encounter each obstacle or each challenge with my best and “come what may and love it.”  So choose today to find joy!