Power in Prayer

During the almost nineteen years we lived overseas, visits to the airport to pick up a family member were a common occurrence. We did it dozens of times.

At the Dhahran International Airport, in Saudi Arabia, we waited outside the customs and immigration checkpoint for our family members to emerge from their flights. My practice was to stand on the left side of the portal, meaning that the path from the portal was on my right. Sometimes the wait was 45 minutes or more and there wasn’t anywhere to sit. That made for a painful wait. I get an acute pain in my lower back if I stand in one place for an extended time.

On June 7, 1993 I went to the airport to await a daughter's arrival. For the first and only time, I decided to wait on the opposite side of the portal. There were some tables and chairs there, so I could wait without having to suffer from a painful back.

As I waited for our daughter to come out of the arrival hall, I saw someone go past with a suitcase that looked very much like the green, clamshell American Tourister suitcase that she was using.  In fact it not only looked like it but it also clearly bore my wife's initials.  Our daughter was using one of the suitcases that had earlier been used by my wife.  Because of where I was sitting, I could clearly see the suitcase and those initials. If I had been on the other side, where I usually waited, I certainly wouldn’t have seen the initials and may not have even seen the suitcase.

This observation turned out to be a real blessing.  I caught up with the porter who was wheeling the bags from the airport and asked him whose bags he was carrying.  I then approached the man he singled out as the “owner.”  When I asked him if he was certain that the suitcase belonged to him he said, "yes."  However on pointing out to him that my wife's initials were on the bag, and that I was quite certain the bag was not his, he proceeded to open it.  When he did so, he agreed the bag was not his.  The contents clearly belonged to Heather.

Why didn’t he notice this when passing through the customs checkpoint? All bags are opened for inspection there. However in his case, there was an exception. He was a diplomat. So, as is the case for diplomats everywhere, his bags were not subject to inspection.

It may seem that finding our daughter's suitcase was simply an incredible coincidence. However, it was not. Prior to her arrival, she had offered a prayer that her luggage would arrive safely. That prayer led me to wait on the opposite side of the portal and to observe the bags as they came past. There is real power in prayer. I’m grateful to a generous Heavenly Father for His kindness in answering this prayer as He has answered countless others.

Honesty - A Vanishing Virtue

Honesty is a virtue that is vanishing from our society. Television commercials often portray dishonesty as cute and funny. People in public office regularly attempt to deceive the electorate to gain a political advantage. In fact, dishonesty in politics is so rampant that it isn’t uncommon to hear someone say of a public figure, “How can you tell when they are lying? When their lips move.” It is a tragedy. And it need not be so.

How do we define lying? I like the following definition: “A lie is any communication with the intent to deceive others” (James C. Hunter, The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership, 118). Hence, even if a statement is true but is given in a way to mislead others, for example, by leaving out essential contextual information, it is still a lie.

Lying has become so common that those who do so occasionally preface something they say with, “I’ll have to be honest…” Why should it be necessary for an honest person to use such a phrase? Honesty should be a given, and yet sadly it is not.

I must add that the preface, “To be honest…” has become so common that even inherently honest people occasionally use it. When they do so, I’m sure they actually mean, “To be completely open…”, or “To be blunt…” or something similar.

Why is honesty so important? Honesty is a prerequisite to trust. It is hard to trust someone who isn’t honest. When such a person makes a commitment, it is difficult if not impossible to be sure they really intend to live up to it. How can one have confidence in another if there is a lingering uncertainty about their integrity? If a person tells a lie in one circumstance, what circumstances will trigger another lie?

It has been said that, “It is better to be trusted than to be loved.” Why is this statement true? Trust is something that must be earned. On the other hand, we are each commanded to love all men (see Matthew 22:39).

In addition to the temporal consequences of lying, there are also eternal consequences. As Nephi taught: “Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell” (2 Nephi 9:34). This sounds pretty harsh! Why is lying such a serious offense in the eyes of God? Because someone who is dishonest has distanced themselves from the mercy of a loving Savior. Someone who refuses to be honest about a sin cannot repent and therefore cannot be forgiven.

May we all resolve this day, if we haven’t done so already, to be honest—no matter the personal cost. May we do so quickly lest we become as Pilate, who said to Jesus Christ, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

Honesty starts at a personal level. We must first and foremost be honest with ourselves, admitting our faults and need for repentance. We must not let excuses get in the way. Excuses only make us weak. They keep us from making needed changes to strengthen our character. When we frankly face our faults, we will position ourselves to be honest with and trusted by others. As Shakespeare put it, "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man" (William Shakespeare, Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78–82).”

The rewards for honesty extend beyond the trust we gain with our fellow man. Such rewards are eternal, as expressed by the Psalmist:

 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:4-5)

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 trial 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

We Must Daily Strengthen Our Faith

We live in a world that calls "evil good, and good evil; that put[s] darkness for light, and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20).

Our surest defense against such an onslaught is to do things every day—simple things—that strengthen our faith and arm us with truth. We will thus be shielded against "the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil" (Helaman 3:29-30).

It occurs to me that a choice not to do something every day that strengthens our faith is a choice to weaken it.

I plead with each of us to take a few minutes each day to pray morning and night personally and in our families, to read from the scriptures and apply what we read, and to do our best to live lives of obedience. To do otherwise is to leave ourselves vulnerable to the winds of opposition.

Endure to the End: "Patient Continuance in Well Doing"

I just finished exercising. In fact, I am still trying to catch my breath. While riding my exercise cycle I was tempted to quit before my planned 30 minute workout was completed. The thought came to me that 15 minutes would be long enough. I could make it up later in the week. Then the thought came to me that I should continue exercising for the full 30 minutes. Thought number two won. I continued for 30 minutes and I'm glad I did. It was a good workout and I feel much better for having done it.

This experience is a microcosm of life. We were sent from the presence of our Heavenly Father to "obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize [our] divine destiny as [heirs] of eternal life" (First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

The scriptures teach us that, “If you keep [God's] commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). Enduring faithfully to the end requires "patient continuance in well doing" (Romans 2:7). One of my favorite Spanish words is "empeño," which means "persistent determination." Making a success of this life requires determination--persistent determination--day in and day out--to do God's bidding.

As President Spencer W. Kimball said, "It cannot be accomplished in little spurts and disconnected efforts. There must be constant and valiant . . . righteous living” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 1982, 29).

In gaining experience, we are subject to adversity. Like the resistance on the wheel of the exercise cycle, adversity provides needed opposition to permit spiritual growth. Sometimes our trials stretch us to the limit of our endurance. We are tempted to stop early, to slacken our faithfulness in keeping God's commandments. We must resist such temptations and press forward with persistent determination, so that we can reap the rewards awaiting us, which are the greatest gifts God can give us. As James has told us, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

It is my prayer that we will "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" (2 Nephi 31:20).

I testify that as we take upon ourselves the yoke of Christ, he will come to our aid--giving us critical assistance when we need it most. "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). The Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, has come to my aid in time of need. I know that he will come to your aid as well, as you feast upon His words and call on Him in faith.

Priorities - Getting Things Done

It is frustrating to have so many things to do and yet to accomplish so little in a day. This happens to me on a frequent basis. However, it occurred to me this morning that if we do in a day what Heavenly Father expects of us--that is a good day, no matter how many other things are left undone. It brings to mind a quote attributed to Elder Russell M. Nelson, "When priorities are in place, one can more patiently tolerate unfinished business" (www.azquotes.com/quote/917355).

Given this insight, the key obligation is for us to have our priorities in place. That was the case for Jacob, brother of Nephi. “I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord” (Jacob 1:17). We would avoid much frustration if on a daily basis we would obtain our errand from the Lord for the day. Then we needn’t be frustrated by the things we couldn’t do.

How do we obtain our errand from the Lord? I certainly don’t have all the answers. I have been struggling with this battle for a long time. However, here are a couple of thoughts to consider in determining how to do so.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “Some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families” (“Good, Better, Best,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 104–8, emphasis added).

How do we obtain our errand from the Lord? President Henry B. Eyring gave this suggestion: "A morning prayer and an early search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the course of a day" (Facebook post of January 13, 2015).

I have a long list of things I need and want to do. Each day it is a struggle to select from the to-do list the things that are most important. I’m going to apply the counsel of President Eyring and of Elder Oaks to see how much better I can do at focusing on the things the Lord would have me do--the best things--and spending less time feeling badly about the good things that I can’t get done.