What's a missionary?

It may be surprising to some but this is a picture of a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I am not technologically astute enough to put anything but my own pictures from my computer in here but this is another picture of what an LDS missionary might look like.

This is yet another picture- this time what you might more commonly expect of a senior missionary. There are nearly as many choices for serving a mission in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as there are choices of occupations. When Russ sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, he was set apart as a special musical missionary to the world. While living in Cache Valley, Utah, I served for 7 years as a service missionary for what was then called Beehive Clothing, now Church Distribution. I was kind of a store clerk. The man on the mower is serving here in Nauvoo and is part of a huge team that works on the grounds. (There are something like 450 acres of mowed lawn in all the areas around the historic sites, missionary homes, temple, and visitors center. That's a lot of time on mowers!) Also here in Nauvoo, we have a doctor who serves a mission by being available to all of us senior missionaries who may need a prescription renewed, blood work done, or just a consultation or referral. The dentist I had in AZ had served in a couple of different places in the world doing free dental work for people who couldn't afford it or didn't normally have access to dental care at all. Anyone who has a desire to volunteer their time, talents, expertise, and energy can apply to the offices in Salt Lake City to be assigned for whatever length of time they have available. Some serve while living at home and some serve far away in a foreign land.
     In the scriptures, the Lord calls those who claim to serve Him for pay as providing "priestcrafts" and He is not pleased. Jesus never accepted payment for all those He taught, healed, and counseled with while on the earth and He doesn't want anyone else to be paid in His name. Even those who work for the LDS Church full-time, because there are some positions that simply require a full-time employee, will usually donate many hours of time and energy in other ways, in other areas. But ALL missionaries who wear a name tag proclaiming themselves as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints work voluntarily with no pay. The benefits are heavenly.

Mongolia!

     Every day in the temple I am amazed to witness how things work out no matter how unexpected circumstances may be. A scheduled worker calls in sick at the last minute and a totally unrelated ordinance worker shows up to work a shift and it turns out they weren't included in the schedule but will now be essential. Workers move to unscheduled spots, even briefly, and find they were needed right there, right then (it has happened to me more than once). I have sometimes joked about needing a loudspeaker like WalMart has so we can communicate all over the temple when someone needs to get a message to someone else and doesn't know where they are. They always show up even if they weren't expected in that spot at that time!
     August 2, 2015 I posted a blogspot about the Lord hastening His work (meaning preparing the Earth for His return). I later mentioned (can't remember exactly which post) that I have come to realize that the TON of refugees in various places in the world are simply a way for the gospel to be taught to people who had been living in places and under circumstances not open to the gospel. Now they can be taught and, often, due to the trauma of their homeless situation, they have a greater desire to seek the comfort of knowing more about God and his plans. Today I recorded some more unusual ordinance work. Last summer I witnessed several groups of people from China coming to do temple work but I had thought earlier that there is such a large number of people from that part of the world that is still mostly not accessed by missionaries. The names I recorded today were from Mongolia. One of the temple workers has a granddaughter on a mission there who is helping Mongolians search out their ancestors so they can be "baptized" by proxy in the temple. The nearest temple to them is Hong Kong and they are really backed up there so some of the names are being sent home to other temples by the missionaries serving in Mongolia. It's so amazing to see how the Lord manages even the seemingly impossible. I am so humbled to realize that I get to be a part of His work.

My dilemma..........

     I usually post things I have learned or experienced on this blog. I have been pondering an issue for several days without getting it settled so I'm going to try to explain what I'm looking for and hope maybe somebody somewhere will read this and have some ideas to offer.
     During most of my life I have remained busy- sometimes busier than I really wanted to be. I remember feeling stressed during my senior year in high school because I wanted to remain an honor student (I managed to get a full scholarship which, unfortunately, I only used one year.), I was involved in many extracurricular activities in school, had a part-time job, and wanted to pursue a performance career. I often ended up having more than one commitment at a time and needed to decide priorities. Anyone who has raised children knows how busy those years can be. Following that I was remodeling a house or taking care of aged parents, all the while having the normal activities of taking care of the house, trying to spend time with family who were rarely really close by, and was always very involved in church responsibilities and activities. I remember often wishing I had more time to read which is something I have always enjoyed. The downside of reading books is that it's somewhat isolating. It's not exactly a group activity although I have participated in book clubs where you can discuss a book after you have read it. I have enjoyed movies. Now that's more easily shared with others. I am seeing a trend in books and movies these days toward more objectionable (to me, anyway) material- sex, violence, foul language, abuse, cheating, lying, anger, hatred, prejudice, etc. I sincerely make a diligent effort to avoid any of this in MY life. I realize it's all a part of "real" life, just not mine. I work hard and occasionally am tired and just want to read or watch something. More and more frequently, I am disappointed or upset by what I see or read. I posted a blog on Feb. 9, 2015 after doing some reading and movie watching that disturbed me. Now these are often not just gory novels or elicit fiction. My preference is history or at least historical fiction. I realize that people normally, naturally have sexual relations- but I don't want to read the details of their thoughts and actions. I recognize there is much evil in the hearts of men but I don't enjoy the gory details of hatred, anger, prejudice, misuse and abuse, killing, and maiming living things or people. I make a concerted effort to rise above all that. It's not that I consider myself a superior being. It's that I hope to BE a being superior to all that and reminding myself of the greed, laziness, and other evil characteristics of the natural man is not pleasant to me. It's not that it's a temptation. I am not tempted to force people off the road because I don't like the way they drive. I am not tempted to have a handsome man rape me. I am not tempted to yell swear words at someone because I feel justified to lose my temper in that way. When I do give in to anger, I feel awful. It wears me out and depresses me.
     So, my dilemma is this: what do I do with my time? I exercise as much as I intend to. I enjoy being a tourist once in awhile but I wouldn't want to travel unceasingly. I work hard but then need to relax once in awhile. I want to be able to see movies with my family members or friends. I recognize that even Snow White or Bambi includes villains. I don't expect or want really shallow stories where everything is unrealistically rosy. However, it's getting harder and harder to find books or movies that make me feel good because they remind me that there is good in the world. I don't need reminders of the evil in the world so much because all I have to do is watch the news or go to WalMart (I have actually witnessed two girls feeling each other up and kissing in a WalMart- no thanks.) to be reminded of that. I recognize that we are living in the last days of the Earth. I look forward to the return of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to rule and reign. I look forward to Satan being bound by the lack of interest in his influence by those who remain as members of the Lord's kingdom. But that isn't happening just yet. So, what do I do with my rest and relaxation time? Do I only read scriptures? Do I only see religious movies or documentaries? I have had the unpleasant experience of reading a book and seeing a movie recommended by someone I considered a trusted friend, then found plenty to object to in it. When questioned, the friends usually just shrug their shoulders and say, "I just ignore those parts." How do I ignore 5 minutes worth of panting and disrobing on the screen? How do I ignore angry faces and the blatant, bloody maiming of another human being? How do I strive to be gentle, loving, kind, and Christlike while watching or reading things that turn my stomach and cause me anguish?
     I guess I'll just have to rely on books and movies from a time when there were socially expected limits as to what to portray. I really enjoyed The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings as books but didn't enjoy the movies as much because they emphasized the anger, evil, and violence more than the books did in order to make it more "exciting" I guess. It's not that I want no exposure to evil. I know it's a necessary part of life (there must needs be opposition in all things). I just don't enjoy books or movies that seem to be over-balanced with the unpleasant, unnecessary evil parts. I really pity the kids growing up now. They are exposed to things on the screen and in books that I wasn't even aware of until being a young adult. Kids used to be shocked at and cry at the treatment of Dumbo when they were 8-10. Now kids that age would think of that as a movie for babies. I know we have lost innocence in the world. I know that. I just don't know how to live with it.

Is consecration socialism?

     In the New Testament book of Acts chapter 4 is described an ideal community, "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." It has been noted by many that this is similar to Karl Marx's idea of an ideal system which we now call socialism. There are some major differences between the Lord's system of consecration-and-stewardship, and the world's concept of socialism.
     First of all, the one in charge of each is VERY different! Mortals are definitely less than perfect. In the words of the Lord (through Joseph Smith), "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." (D&C 121:39) So even if the plan is for everybody to share equally, the one(s) in charge inevitably ends up getting a larger share. Anyone who has lived under socialism will witness that all things are NOT equal for everybody. On the other hand, God and Jesus Christ don't need our riches. They can just make more if they want anything. That's only a lame joke because they don't care at all about gold, silver, mansions, limousines, gourmet food, or designer clothes. They care about us- you and me. They care about truth and peace and justice and mercy. So they are going to be infallible in giving direction for the dispersal of anything.
     Second of all, socialism is not a choice by all the people encompassed by it. Citizens of socialist countries are required to obey whatever laws there are, or suffer consequences. I guess in a way you could say that of consecration to the Lord. His "punishment" is to say, "Okay, if you don't want to live this way you can go somewhere else and live according to what you decide you want." But those who covenant to live the law of consecration give all they "own" to be re-distributed, by their own choice. Acts 5 relates what happens when mortals try to claim they want to live together in peaceful sharing but harbor lust in their heart for worldly treasures, "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles's feet." Peter, having the advantage of what you might call "inside information" through the Holy Ghost, knew what they were doing. He chastised them ".....Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou has not lied unto men but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things." Later his wife, unaware of what happened, came before Peter and ended up with the same result. Before you feel too sorry for this man and his wife, remember, death is NOT the worst thing that can happen. When you depart from mortality, you simply go on without your physical body until the resurrection when you will be reunited then judged according to the thoughts and intents of your heart. This life is only a small part of our existence. Most of the things in the scriptures are there for OUR benefit. Miracles are teaching moments. God wanted those who professed to follow the Savior to know that He knows even the hidden thoughts and intents of your heart. It's really important to know that because we will each be held accountable for it some day. It won't do any good to go around impressing others with our generosity, honesty, willingness, or hard work if we are trying to hide what we really feel inside. Some day we will realize we have only been fooling ourselves. So, in socialism, the citizens are all normal, greedy mortals. Under the law of consecration, the ideal is for us to have risen above our worldly lusts and share anything we happen to have and be grateful for the use of any "thing" to bring about some good purpose- NOT to make us wealthier than someone else.
     Just as the Lord had to send Moses back with a reduced list of laws for the children of Israel because they couldn't handle the more advanced requirements to be His people, the law of consecration was introduced by Joseph Smith around 1830. D&C 49:20, "But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin." God created the Earth and everything on it. We dig up the silver and make jewelry out of it then claim it as our own. We build houses out of wood or stone from the Earth and claim it belongs to us. Then we compete as we try to have a finer house/car/wardrobe or whatever than the next guy. God did not send us down with the intent that we would fight each other for the biggest share. That is our own lustful goal. Because the early Saints were not yet perfected, they could not bear the law of consecration and stewardship so we no live the lesser law of tithing, which means we give one-tenth of our increase back to the Lord to be used as He sees fit. With that relatively small part of what we claim to be our own, the Lord dots the Earth with chapels, temples, and other buildings. It pays for books, programs, and supplies so we can learn more about Him and how to be like Him.
     Some day, when we have tired of all our "toys", we will be able to recognize how unimportant they are. A mansion will not bring you love. A Ferrarri will not make you a better person. A diamond ring will not make you wiser. All these things are treasures where "moth and rust doth corrupt" and mean nothing eternally. Some day, our Heavenly Father will teach us how to make the raw materials for all those things but we won't be cheering because we can have lots of treasures of our own, we'll be cheering because we are entrusted with authority and opportunity because we have the wisdom, self-control, and integrity that our Father has. It's pointless to argue over what form of earthly government is superior because none of them will work. They will all fail because as mortals WE fail. When we get closer to being like our Father in Heaven, we won't even worry about government or laws. We'll know what is right and true and good and CHOOSE those things because that's what we want.

To see if it works

I wanted to try posting a scanned photograph to see if it would work. In addition to temple work, I am spending considerable time researching my ancestors.

This is a picture of Alexander McKinney, Jr. who was born in Ireland in 1833. He is my father's mother's father's father or my great-great grandfather. I have spent quite a bit of time researching dates and places and names. Now I'm trying to spend more time and attention learning what I can about exactly who these people are. I am who I am because of the  combination of lots and lots of people who came before me. Some day I will meet them.

War- what is it good for?

     I have no idea who or how many may read this. I'm composing this particular blog because I want to organize the things I have been learning as I read the scriptures in the temple. (It's an extension to thoughts I recorded in the March 20, 2014 blog.) Jesus promised His disciples a "Second Comforter" when He left mortality. That is also known as the Holy Ghost or the Spirit as well as other names. This special messenger from God can truly educate us if we want it. The temple is a house of worship and the more time I spend there, especially combined with searching God's words, the more I get from the Spirit.
     During the late 60's there was a song that started, "War- what is it good for? Absolutely NOTHIN!" That is so true. I have come to understand yet another reason why. James 4: "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (Lusts are not always about sex. That can refer to anything we mortals desire strongly. And members refers to our various parts, physical, emotional, and mental.) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses (meaning those who are not faithful to Christ), know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." It goes on but basically the point is, the only reason people fight is they want something they don't have. God and Jesus Christ do not want us to fight. They fight evil only to destroy it before it destroys all of us. They want us to prosper and live forever. We can't do that if we "suffer ourselves through the power of the devil to be overcome." I so wish I could tell everyone in the world that there is a valid alternative to being self-centered and destroying each other. The world (which the Lord calls Babylon) tells us to seek whatever we enjoy, get whatever makes us supposedly happy. The problem is, it doesn't! Countless humans get money, fame, sex, and all that comes along with it and are miserable. Artificial "happiness" in the form of drugs or alcohol don't work either. Drug overdoses, suicide, ending up in jail, bitter divorces, gang feuds, everything up to wars are the result of humans trying to get what they want without concern for anyone beyond themselves. This is all good news to Satan. His primary goal is to get power, however he can. He wants to beat God. He wants to prove that we are not capable of being like God thereby showing that he is the supreme being with all of his minions who have chosen to follow his ways.
     Often otherwise "good" people justify not following God's commandments claiming that : He is merciful and loves us anyway or we will be forgiven because Jesus died for us or if there is a God I will find out when I die and can "change my tune" then willingly follow His directions. Ummmmm- that's not a good plan. Alma 32-43: "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world." In other words, you're not going to change when you die. If you challenge and rebel, you will continue to find reasons to do so. If you choose to be humble and teachable, you will continue to be so. This does NOT mean being weak or weak-minded. In fact, the Lord has said He doesn't want "slothful servants". He wants us to be of good courage, strong, and singly minded. On the other hand, He will not spend eternity fighting with those who question greater wisdom. He is happy to teach those who will learn. If we want our own rules, He is happy to let us go where we can live by our own rules which means NOT with Him or others who want to live in peace living a higher law.
    So, my additional insight into the uselessness of war- You cannot get rid of your enemies if you are your own enemy. Death is not the end. Thinking you will find peace by killing those who don't agree with you will not work. Suicide will not work. You will continue to have enemies even after you are resurrected. Overcoming the natural man, who is the enemy of God, is the only way to "win". If you can control your own lusts: greed, laziness, gluttony, sexual lust, pride, anger, hatred, prejudice, etc.- then you can achieve eternal peace. It really does simply come down to the Savior's admonition to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

So, what is the solution?

     All my life I have heard people talk about separating themselves from others who don't agree with their beliefs/philosophies/political opinions. Growing up in New York, people upstate often resented the power that New York City wielded simply because there were so many people concentrated in a small area who wanted government to supply things whereas the rest of the state preferred to be more independent. Many expressed hope that the City would separate themselves so those living upstate wouldn't have to support them with high taxes and be impacted by their opinions on legislation. Then there have been the voices for Texas to separate themselves from the United States to avoid federal legislation that is too interfering in personal lives. (Remember the Civil War??) The United States was formed when people left countries they felt were unjustly ruled so they could form a country of their own. From my perspective, the biggest difference is that those who formed the United States of America did not want to just be free from someone else's ideas. They wanted to form a country based on superior principles, principles as given by a Superior Being.
     For thousands of years, God has promised us, His children, that we could prosper wherever we are if only we can manage to keep His commandments. That doesn't just mean that He would wipe us out if we are naughty. It is a natural consequence of our behavior. If we can't love one another and follow rules like not cheating, lying, killing, robbing, etc., then there is no way that we can prosper. No entity, country, city, nation, can last if the citizens of it destroy each other. We are all different. Even if we have the same ethnicity, gender, or choose the same philosophical belief, there will be differences between us. That is simply an unavoidable circumstance. No rose is like another rose. No robin is exactly like another robin. And no human being is exactly like another human being. We don't look alike or think alike. In order to endure/survive, we need a solution to avoid destroying each other. Avoiding each other simply is not a solution. We will always interact with others at some point. God knows all this. He has been telling His children for millennia how to prosper. Every time a group of His children understands His counsel and follows it, they do pretty well for awhile. The United States has done pretty well for a couple hundred years. That is because our laws and basic beliefs were primarily based on God's commandments. We are starting to move away from that. Just as every nation throughout the history of the world, we will decline if our morals decline. If we choose to try to allow or accept every idea of what's right and wrong, every different moral belief, or principle, we cannot endure long. If our youth have no strong foundation or standard, they will wander aimlessly without success that comes from ethics of hard work, honesty, compassion, sacrifice, and willingness to discuss. If we don't purposely teach those ethics, the earth will have to endure generation after generation continually trying to re-invent the wheel. God's principles or commandments as explained in Judeo-Christian scripture are the only solution. That does not necessarily include added interpretations of men. Later writings of rabbis, priests, and other leaders that do not align with the original laws are not going to provide a solution, only create a new group of followers who then separate themselves from others. God does indeed exist. He will reveal Himself to those who seek Him and who have sincere intentions to live as He would have us live- with Peace on Earth and Good Will toward all men.