"Greater Love Hath No Man..."

I have been reflecting on yesterday’s (January 25, 2016) incredible outpouring of love and support for slain police officer Doug Barney and his family. It occurs to me that the well-deserved and overwhelming show of appreciation wasn’t exclusively for them. In fact, it was a show of gratitude for all who put their lives at risk to keep us safe--be they policemen, firemen, or others who respond first to an emergency of whatever kind. They all serve, in a way, following the pattern of the Savior of whom it was said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). This is the spirit of service that Doug Barney embraced. This is the spirit of service embraced by all good men and women who accept the dangers of protecting our safety, peace and liberty. From this day forward I will pray for them and their families with greater fervor and will support them with with greater conviction. To them--all of them--I give my deepest appreciation and greatest respect. Henceforth, I will strive to serve my fellow men with greater love, courage and dedication.

We Can Change, Because "We Are the Clay"

"O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand" (Isaiah 64:8).

These words of the Prophet Isaiah teach an important truth. If we will put our lives in the hands of the Lord and trust Him, humbly submitting our will to His will, He will make far more out of our lives than we can.

It is often tempting to think of ourselves as a lost cause, that we can't change, that we are who we are and there is no hope of becoming the person our Heavenly Father wants us to become.

This simply is not true. We can change. We can become better and better, over time--as the scriptures say, "line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10). However, that change requires our desire to do so, our willingness to repent of our sins and to obey His commandments.

He has paid the price for our sins. As we humbly repent, He is not only willing but anxious to forgive us, so that we can have the "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).

"If ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage" (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 7:33).

I pray that we will humbly yield our will to God. As we do so, the Divine Potter will mold us each into a glorious being, worthy to return to His presence. We will have happiness in this life and eternal joy in the life to come.



You can read the Book of Mormon online at: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng

To receive a free copy, go to: https://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon

Integrity--A Priceless Possession

Job, in the face of more adversity than we can comprehend, said: "Tell I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go" (Job 27:5-6).

Job had every reason to abandon the exemplary standards by which he had lived his life. Formerly owner of thousands of camels, sheep, oxen, and donkeys, having a large family, revered by his countrymen, all was taken from him. Gone were his wealth, his children and his health. Even his friends failed to provide comfort but instead found fault with him, saying that he had brought this adversity upon himself. Yet Job bore it all, refusing to turn against God and refusing to abandon his integrity.

It is important to remember that, having passed this supreme test, "the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42:12).

His example extends a powerful invitation to all of us to be true to the best that lies within us. As we are obedient to the Lord and maintain our integrity through the trials that life gives us, our end will also be greater than our beginning. We may not see those rewards in this life. However, it is certain that in the life to come God will shower upon us blessings that we can hardly imagine.

God's promises are sure. As Solomon said, "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise" (1 Kings 8:56). The Prophet Mormon is a second witness. "The eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled" (Book of Mormon: Mormon 8:22). Indeed His word will never fail--time without end. I know this is true.

What hangs in the balance is our willingness to hold fast to our integrity, to our righteousness. We too may then reap the rewards of the faithful. I testify, beyond any shadow of doubt, that the Savior stands ready to help us in this quest, if we call on Him in faith and exert our very best efforts. "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).

You can read the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ online at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng 

To receive a free physical copy go to: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon app on iOS and Android: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/book-of-mormon-app?lang=eng

On Being Positive - "Having a Perfect Brightness of Hope"

"Perfect Brightness of Hope"

In His powerful Sermon on the Mount, the Savior gave not only those present but all of us the following invitation:

 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

The word "strait" as used above means a narrow passageway. The Savior is teaching us that the way back to our heavenly home is narrow. There are specific things that we must do to qualify. We must have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, be baptized, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and endure faithfully to the end of our lives.

Nephi taught these principles in the Book of Mormon, in 1 Nephi chapter 31. In that chapter, Nephi says, "Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 31:20).

Among the most important things to qualify for eternal life is the requirement to have "a perfect brightness of hope"--in other words, to have a positive attitude.

In response, many will respond by asking how we can have a positive attitude in a world where so many bad things happen to good people. For example, Jesus Christ, who is the only person who lived a perfect life, suffered more than anyone else who has ever or will ever live on earth.

In having a "perfect brightness of hope" we aren't expected to hope that all will go right in our lives. The invitation is to have a brightness of hope in the ultimate result of living a good life--in God's plan of salvation for mankind. Jesus Christ, though despised, rejected, spit upon, beaten, and crucified, is now exalted at the right hand of His Father. His love for His Father, His determination to be obedient to the end, and his brightness of hope in the ultimate outcome, saw Him through to victory.

We have many examples in life of the result of a positive attitude. Yesterday (January 2, 2015) Texas Christian University (TCU) played the University of Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. TCU's star quarterback, Trevone Boykin, wasn't there to play, because of having violated team rules. The TCU offense depended greatly on Boykin for success. Without him, TCU fell behind by a score of 31 - 0 in the first half. I'm sure that many watching stopped doing so at that point. However, in the second half, TCU came back to tie the game at 31-31 at the end of the fourth quarter. TCU ultimately prevailed by a score of 47-41 in the third overtime.

What is the lesson? In life as in eternity, it is vital that we have a positive attitude. We should keep doing our best, even when things aren't going well. We may make mistakes, but with the grace of the Savior, they need not be permanent. "A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief" (Proverbs 24:16). The key to victory is, armed with a brightness of hope, to keep rising again when life hands us a temporary defeat.

Through "feasting upon the word of Christ" and laying hold of His Grace, ultimate victory is assured. I know this is true. Jesus is the Christ, His is the way, with His help victory is assured!

As you seek peace in your daily life, I commend to you reading daily in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully reading this divine book will draw you nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. As a companion scripture to the Bible, it will bring you peace and a nearness to the Savior that will bless your daily life with strength through trials and peace in troubled times.

You can read the Book of Mormon online at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng 

To receive a free physical copy go to: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon app on iOS and Android: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/book-of-mormon-app?lang=eng