Where I live

     I just happen to be one of millions of people born in the United States of America. I can't take any credit for it because I didn't sacrifice anything to establish or maintain this country or even to get here. I can tell you some things I know about it: national boundaries are totally man-made and temporary, including this nation's boundaries. They can be moved or totally obliterated at any time. Secondly, although we are influenced by our ethnic make-up and cultural environment, all human beings are individually determined by their own choices. We may have an inclination for self-control or passion or religious zeal due to our birth circumstances, we can each still determine who we want to be. Third, throughout the history of the earth, our Creator has endeavored to make Himself known to us. He has wanted us to have the chance to make choices outside of His presence yet not left wholly to the influence of our more rebellious spiritual siblings led by Satan. To enable more opportunity for His children to learn about Him, He intervened by inspiring several people to play a part in establishing a country whose government would more freely allow the opportunity to spread His word. This country was established by God to permit the freedom of thought and choice sufficient to establish His church and extend His gospel teachings.
     Russ and I are watching a video college course on World History. The course is not focused on American history but obviously has to mention the USA as a part of the world. I want to quote some of the professor's words: Europeans frequently argue that as the United States became more important in world affairs the nation displayed a combination of inexperience and moralistic naivete that contrasted with the more sober, realistic approach that Europeans took..... Analysts have argued that the United States became more interested than Western Europe in promoting the destruction of colonialism and encouraging democracy. As a result, not only has this nation allowed its citizens the freedom to become acquainted with God, it has played an important role in influencing that same freedom everywhere.
     As has been common throughout the history of the world, as God blesses us and we prosper, we tend to turn away from Him. It is most often in moments of greatest despair or desperation that His children want anything to do with Him. I am amazed at His patience with us and disappointed that we become so easily prideful and chase our own selfish pleasures. I do not love this country because I think it's superior in its geography (although it has great beauty- so do other countries) nor because of its people (there are good people EVERYWHERE) nor any other feature outwardly recognizable. I am pretty ashamed of the decline in moral standards exhibited here but I love this country because God gave it to the world as a gift to enable us to come closer to Him. I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to know about the example of Jesus Christ, God's love for me, and the atonement which gives me the singular opportunity to be sanctified sufficiently to some day re-enter my Father's presence after my sincere repentance. I am only temporarily an "American" but I hope to remain eternally a Christian because I am a daughter of God and I know it.

Authority

     During the mortal ministry of Jesus Christ, he spent lots of time teaching people. In preparation for his departure (crucifixion) and to enable his message to reach more people, he enlisted twelve apostles. But before the first century ended, all of the original apostles as well as Paul and other early leaders had been killed and Christians suffered great persecution. From that time forth, there were people who had faith in God and followed various religious practices but there was no one who had the actual authority to act in the name and stead of Jesus Christ on the earth. This time is called the apostasy. In the mid-1800's, Jesus Christ re-established his church with that authority to act in His name once again on the earth. "And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh." (D&C 84:19-21)
     These days, there is a general recognition that more and more people consider themselves "spiritual" but not "religious". They believe in some kind of higher power/authority but not in any specific organized religion. What if they could know that God has organized a way for them to know Him and to perform with His authority? Well I believe that is just what has happened. Some people compare priesthood authority to getting a drivers license. You can know how to drive but not have a recognized authority to do so. That only happens when you pass a test and are given a license by the state. The biggest difference between priesthood and a drivers license is that the license is just a determination by an earthly government entity that a person knows enough to drive a vehicle. From then on, what they do with that vehicle is totally up to the driver as long as he doesn't break any laws. The driver acts on his own. With the priesthood, the holder has been authorized (through a line of authority traceable back to Jesus) to act in the place of Jesus Christ, not according to his own desires or decisions. The authority is limited to doing what Jesus would do if He were in whatever circumstance surround the priesthood holder. A driver can drive a car even if he doesn't do it exactly right. Police can't be everywhere so the driver can get away with choosing to drive however he wants if he can avoid getting caught doing something wrong. A priesthood holder has no power if he is not worthy. He can try to do physical motions of putting his hands on someone's head or saying certain words but nothing will happen if there has been no authority given or the holder is not worthy to act in the stead of Christ. A driver can show off and do whatever he decides to do. A priesthood holder is only authorized and able to perform whatever Jesus would have Him do. Physical actions are stopped physically. Spiritual actions can ONLY be performed when done in harmony with the Spirit. Otherwise, there is no power to do anything. The only "test" required is worthiness. But, just as no one can issue himself a drivers license, no one can decide for himself to have priesthood authority.

What if??????

     I recently had a conversation with a very nice woman, active in her community concerns and a loving wife and mother. She has several adult children still living at home and said she likes it that way. In fact, she doesn't want them to ever leave. They help a little around the house and are pleasant company. I have been pondering why that troubles me. I'm so glad she gets along well with her children. I have always had a desire to develop a good friendship with my adult children (and their spouses). But I have also looked forward to their continued development as independent contributors to the planet, in their chosen work place and their neighborhood or community. There are many options for young people now to easily enable them to avoid establishing full independence from the parents who bore them. I grew up thinking staying at home was a "less desirable" outcome, reserved for offspring with special needs or due to lack of a living wage or because of the need to care for aged, infirmed parents. How would it be if this choice became more and more frequent? Might it be a good thing, or a bad thing? Previously the motivations to move out included wanting to do things on a different schedule or in a different way, a desire to prove oneself capable of independent success, a desire to bear and raise children, or even a desire for regular, socially proper sex! Obviously, the sex part is no longer relevant. Birth control is available in many forms. (Not that I am against birth control. It's only the convenience of unlimited sex with whomever that bothers me.) One night stands are no longer unacceptable and even long-term relationships without the confinement of a legitimate commitment are more common than not. As people view troubles in the world, the desire to bring children into it becomes a reluctance. As the societal focus is more and more on individuals and fulfilling your own desires, children are simply an expensive burden. You can strive to succeed in a chosen career but the urgency to pay rent/mortgage and other expenses is gone when you can continue to live with parents. In fact, it's easier to expend greater time and energy in a job to ensure "success". Fewer and fewer families ever have meals together. Microwaves, convenience foods and the plethora of restaurants have made eating together totally unnecessary. Many families share a house but not their lives. They each have their own electronic devices for entertainment and communication. They each have their own schedules and even transportation. It's easier. So what's wrong with it?
     I was reading the words of a very wise man and recognized what may be wrong with living so independent of one another, including and especially in generations of family. He was talking about ancestors and pioneers. We have all heard or read the stories of sacrifice, suffering, and determination characteristic of what could be called "pioneers". Whether it's the desperation of traveling on the ocean in a makeshift raft to reach a free country or fleeing the fear of chaos and death of a war or the search for a better life, often the source of courage has been the thought of future generations and how they could benefit from the suffering, sacrifice and determination. Sure, there are those who simply want to selfishly profit by having a more luxurious lifestyle. But most will go a little further and try a little harder if they have children or plan to have children. Gordon B. Hinckley's words: "It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this world, but out of whose dreams and early plans, so well nurtured, has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for us all.......We have so much more, with an overwhelming challenge to go on..."
     Whether it's looking back to our ancestors or forward to the hopes of posterity, generations provide an essential link for progress. If our grandparents and great-grandparents went through all they went through with fewer advantages than we have, we can feel more motivation and courage. If we consider the desire to give advantages to our children, we are more careful in the legacy we give them of our good character and works. If we have only our own lusts for possessions, entertainment, power, fame, or whatever to live for, they will only follow us into the grave and be gone.

Being strong

     I have been involved in choir singing for many years. Choir singing is very different from solo singing. In fact, many who are good singing alone don't work well singing in a choir, unless they are willing to make an effort to blend. Often choir sections end up being out of balance because there may be more of a particular voice than of others. But it isn't just a matter of volume. For example, if you had a choir of about 4 or 5 of each section: sopranos, altos, basses- but only one tenor and that tenor was strong so he could hold his part well. The choir would still be unbalanced. The one voice would need to be louder, more forced, to be heard, and thereby sounding different from the other sections blended from numerous more natural volume voices. Plus, the one strong voice is likely to tire more quickly and not remain consistent throughout a performance. The ideal for the choir as a whole and for each member is to have a balanced number so everyone is supported.
     I would relate this to spiritual strength. I can be defiantly strong in choosing to obey the Lord's commandments. I can be determined to follow His example no matter what is happening around me. But it's hard to feel meek and gentle if I'm feeling like I need to be strong and defiant. We all do better when we feel support around us. I will feel much more peace and comfort if I don't feel alone in my efforts. I will not tire so often nor as quickly. I am grateful for the Lord's encouragement and the Spirit's guidance. But I'm also really grateful for those who support the feeble knees and hold up the hands that hang down. It's nice to feel like I can get a breath when I need one without feeling like I have to be defiant and determined without ceasing. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to work with missionaries in Nauvoo and for the opportunity I have had of knowing people who are not ashamed to call themselves followers of Christ nor hesitant about acknowledging there truly is an absolute right and wrong. The spiritual support we can give and gain helps us individually and makes the whole more powerfully satisfying.

Dependability

     I am so proud of my children because of who they have chosen to be in that they are the kind of people on whom others can depend. This is no small thing. I love a song called "Inscription of Hope" the words of which were found inscribed on the walls of a cellar in Cologne, Germany where Jews hid from Nazis during WWII.
     I believe in the sun even when it is not shining.
     I believe in love even when there's no one there.
     I believe in God even when he is silent.
     I believe through any trial there is always a way.
     I have been pondering why it is that some people are reliable and some aren't- meaning how you can identify those on whom you can rely. Employers are usually looking for such people. How are they different? I think it comes from a willingness to sacrifice.
     I was blessed with parents willing to sacrifice. They would do all they could to help others, even though it was a cost to them: of time, energy, money, etc. I have tried to be like that, too, because I personally believe in the principle of sacrifice. I believe in serving others before serving myself. I believe in getting the job done even if it takes longer and is harder than I expected it to be. I believe in following through on my word, no matter what. It's not pride in "reputation". It's a basic principle that I think people should just do what they said they were going to do. But sometimes people will break a commitment because it's not convenient or comfortable for them. I recently was sick with a fever and cold symptoms for a couple of days. It was very hard to back out of plans I had made because I don't want to be the kind of person others have to question a dependence on. My reluctance to expose others to germs that could make them ill superseded the plans that had been made. It wasn't that I was too tired or weak. At the dinner table, I always served everyone else before serving myself- not to impress anyone but because I truly had a greater desire for the comfort and needs of others than for my own. I don't say that to brag, only to define. My parents never had much in the way of worldly materials. They could have had more but chose instead to constantly give to others. Money that could have been spent on a finer house was spent assisting their children. Time that could have been spent on their own entertainment or property improvement was spent to assist others in their family, friends, or community.
     I think that when a person puts themselves first they cannot be relied on by others because there is no way of knowing when that person will have something come up they consider to be more important to them: unpleasant weather (not including drastic weather, of course), lack of sufficient sleep, minor health issues, an invitation or even just a hope for something more desirable, a reaction to an opinion in opposition to their promise to help (like- why should you help them? Let them do it themselves. What's in it for you, anyway?), or any other possibility. When an employer knows an employee will always make their very best effort to be on time, put in an honest work effort, and stay to the bitter end, then the employer will do all in their power to retain that employee because in the long run it will profit the business. Other people may not always recognize or appreciate a person who is willing to sacrifice, even ridiculing them as being "masochistic". And it isn't necessary to be willing to be walked over by everyone and anyone. The change of heart to being willing to sacrifice involves a humility- an awareness that your own needs are not more important than anyone else's true needs (not just whims). A young parent constantly sacrifices sleep and comfort to tend to an infant who cannot do things for himself. Many parents sacrifice sleep and comfort to stay up late talking to a teenager who suddenly opens their hearts at one AM and wants to share feelings and concerns.
     One of my adult children once expressed to me that there wasn't anyone she knew who was truly dependable among her friends. I felt sad about that. On the one hand, I'm glad she can cling to a higher moral standard and remain reliable despite opposing influences. On the other hand, I feel sad that she surrounds herself with only those who have not yet understood the greater goodness of being willing to self-sacrifice. "I'll always be there for you", is a phrase too often uttered these days without real intent. A friend who is "there" because it happens to fit in their schedule is not really there for you. In like manner, you can truly better identify the moral fiber of a person in the midst of tragedy or at least discomfort than you can when everything is going well.
     I love those words I quoted above because they're expressed by someone who remained true, was willing to sacrifice everything including their own will, in their choice to believe in a higher power- no matter what.

Boundaries

     Recently a television show we have watched for quite awhile stepped over a line I felt uncomfortable crossing. Whether watching television, a movie, reading a book, or even listening to a song or radio station, we have no control over what is coming next and can be taken by surprise. The same could even be said about topics of conversation. We used to be able to rely on movie ratings to let us know if there might be something "objectionable" to an age group. We used to be able to trust that anything on television during the early evening would be acceptable for family members. We no longer expect women to wear skirts down to the ankle (except in certain cultures) which allows a more relaxed dress standard. However, there is definitely a "slippery slope" when it comes to social morality. I was a child of the 60's, "peace, love, dope" and "if it feels good, do it". There was a concerted effort to do away with social boundaries and work toward accepting anyone and anything. That was an important step for allowing women to receive the same wages as men for the same work. It was an important message to anyone who felt that a person's skin color determined their character or intelligence. It was a good thing to try to do away with causing people to feel like social outcasts if they didn't fit a certain mold. HOWEVER, once the pendulum started swinging in the direction of avoiding moral standards, it continues to gain distance from having any awareness of what might be right and healthy for humans. Addiction is being labeled as a disease rather than a choice. True, once you have an addiction, in order to escape it must be treated as a disease but initially, IT IS A CHOICE that can be avoided. It shouldn't be a "bad" thing to discourage alcohol consumption, smoking of any kind, the use of drugs to "feel good", or sex outside of marriage (including porn which is a kind of mental sexual activity). This should not be considered a restriction to someone's freedom to be what they want to be. We can see the standards slipping farther and farther down the slope. But how do we know where and when to put on our own personal brakes and decide we're not going to go to certain movies rather than risk offensive images or language or themes? How do we decide what books might be worth reading and what might just put garbage into our heads?
We have made it a habit to avoid watching network tv. We don't bother paying to receive any kind of satellite or cable availability. That is partly because there is so little in programming that we want to see and partly because the commercials are as objectionable as the objectionable programs! However, even through the internet and other methods, commercials are unavoidable. We are really weary of hearing about erectile dysfunction. So, I have no idea how to remain living in the world, aware enough to be a participating citizen yet remain distant from undesirable influences. I don't want to resort to only reading or watching things my church puts out. That will certainly put major limits on my education and awareness of the world more than I would want. I want to remain hopeful, positive, pleasant, and try to be Christlike. It's just about impossible to do that if you expose yourself to the world very much. I have had all I want (and then some!) of cynicism, hate, violence, greed, pride, and selfishness. I rely on the Holy Ghost to guide me. That's about the only real help there is. But the only way I can maintain a connection to the Holy Ghost is to be a worthy vessel. That means staying away from the cynicism, hatred, violence, etc. It's a constant battle.

Judging and being judged

     Along with a fascination about how the human brain works, I have had an interest in near death experiences. I have read a few books, including recently "Glimpses Beyond Death's Doors". I have been pondering, for the umpteenth time, judging. I looked back through my old posts and found one from October 2013 entitled "Who's the judge?" so I know I have thought about this before. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 4 and 5, talks quite a bit about judging. He mentions that we will ultimately be judged of the Lord but also that we are not to fellowship sinners. Obviously, in order to determine who we should be fellowshipping or following, we must make some kind of judgment. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor 3:17)
     During most near-death experiences, people report having a "life review" which is like the saying about seeing your life flash before your eyes when in a life-threatening situation. I have not actually read the book myself but within the book I just read, the authors frequently quote from an eighteenth century Swedish scientist named Emmanuel Swedenborg:
     There were people who denied crimes and disgraceful things they had committed in the world. So lest people believe them innocent, all things were uncovered and reviewed out of their memory, in sequence, from their earliest age to the end. Foremost were matters of adultery and whoredom.
     There were some people who had taken others in by evil devices and who had stolen. Their wiles and thefts were recounted one after another- many of them things hardly anyone in the world had known other than the thieves themselves. They admitted them, too (since they were made clear as daylight), together with every thought, intent, pleasure, and fear which had then combined to agitate their spirits......
     There was one person who thought nothing of disparaging others. I heard his disparaging remarks repeated in their sequence, his defamations as well, in the actual words- whom they were about, whom they were addressed to. All these elements were set forth and presented together in wholly life-like fashion; yet the details had been studiously covered up by him while he had lived in the world...
     Let no one then believe that there is anything a person has thought within himself or done in secret that remains hidden after death. Let him rather believe that each and everything will then be visible as in broad daylight. (Heaven and Hell)
     Another book, Reflections on Life After Life by Raymond Moody, is often quoted:
     However, in the moments around the time of death all such masks are necessarily dropped. Suddenly the person finds his every thought and dded portrayed in a three-dimensional, full-color panorama. If he meets other beings he reports that they know his every thought and vice-versa.
     This situation can be regarded as being most unpleasant indeed, and it is no wonder that quite frequently people may come back from this feeling that they need to make a change in their lives.
     There is SOOO much more about this subject but I'm always concerned about making blogs so long that people don't want to read them. Let it suffice that, although we will truly undergo a final judgment only by God, there will be a recognition/judgement of all we have thought and done prior to that. We cannot seek to hide, justify, excuse, or avoid any sin- which could be defined as anything that widens the distance between us and the perfection of God, which is certainly a LOT! On the other hand, included in these near-death experiences is a feeling of total love and acceptance. God is not judging us at the time we leave mortality. God, as a good, loving parent, knew before we came to earth that we would mess up a lot. He gave us the freedom to choose, even knowing we would make mistakes. THAT IS WHY WE NEED the atonement of Jesus Christ. But it will only work for us if we accept it. We must repent of our sins, admit our need to be redeemed, and gratefully accept the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ as ordained by our Heavenly Father on our behalf. So we need to start judging ourselves and what we think and do right now. This life is the time to prepare to meet God. We can avoid some of the heartache if we do prepare so we don't have to fear.