As my wife and I were working on setting up some of the decorations for our party, we noticed that we weren't really feeling the holiday spirit. So we started talking about what we feel is most important about the holidays. Each of us recalled fond memories of time spent with family when we were children. Reciting Luke chapter 2 while my sister stood on a chair, draped in a sheet, and my dad crawled around as a donkey. Watching Mickey's Christmas carol or baking treats. Caroling and other forms of musical expression.
Too often we find ourselves wrapped in a web of commitments and stress. We fall in to the trap of 'Keeping up with the Jones'' and then we suffer from time debt and emotional exhaustion. When the day arrives, we're too tuckered to listen to the still small voice as it bears testimony to one of the most pivotal moments in all of history.
Every story has a grain of truth in it. Those with more truth stick around because they resonate with us. When a man makes a moral decision in a story, we empathize with him. When a woman sacrifices herself for something more important than self, we cheer. We do this because every one of us has a sense of moral right and wrong. That which is true and right reaches past our defenses and softens our hearts. We live in a hard world, so it is good to be reminded, often, that our brother chose to come here and suffer for us, so that we might have joy.
All the trappings and the stories, all the music and frivolity, lead to one simple truth. There is still power in the sacrifice of one man. Our God came to earth, lived to teach us, then died to save us. "As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free." We are meant to be free men and women, standing in the strength of our faith.
If you do not feel the Spirit this holiday season, don't despair. Despair is a powerful tool of Satan. You are a precious child of God. Jesus died for your sins. You may still choose to reject the gospel, to turn your back on the Lord; but this holiday season, he seeks always to remind you that he will never turn his back on you. "His arm is stretched out still."
Our time is a most excellent time on earth. Many voices are clamoring to be heard, preaching despair. DON'T BELIEVE THEM! God put you here on the earth for a reason. Gather your family around you, pray with them, pray for them, then ask yourselves how your family can help the life of your brother next door, your friend down the street, the perfect stranger in the grocery store.
One of the aspects of my character that I take the most pride in is something my family taught me. See, we moved a lot growing up. As a quiet kid, I rarely made friends quickly. Often my best friends were books and computer games; friends that couldn't leave me, safe friends. But my family loved me, cherished me, fought with me and for me. Over the years, as we moved and shifted, I always knew that my siblings would be there for me on the other side. That anchor saved me.
Families are not accidental. Look beside you, the person standing there is there for a purpose. You are in their life for a purpose. Right now, look at them and express your love and gratitude. Cement those bonds of loyalty and friendship. The family is part of God's plan because we need family. If Satan gets us alone, then we will eventually fail. This is the lesson that my family taught me. Together, we could do anything.
What can your family, pulling together, do for your brothers and sisters, this holiday season?
I'd like to close this post by speaking to my brothers and sisters that take the time to read this. Thank you. Each of you is important to me in a unique way. I have memories of our times together that I would not trade for the world. In a significant way, I am who I am today because of you. Ben described himself as my "mentor and tormentor" at my wedding. That is a pretty true description of our relationship over the years. I look forward to returning the tormenting favor.
Please, reach out to your lovely children and your excellent spouses. Hold them tight, make memories, and live the gospel. I testify to you that if we do this, then we "may stand still, and behold the salvation of God." "For behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea or even than his tens of thousands.
I love all of you,
Nate
Friday, December 12, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sustaining and Defending: Loyalty in a Fallen World
We had a lesson in church today about loyalty to your spouse. The emphasis of the lesson was on holding your spouse's needs higher than any other. This is because the Lord's commandment upon marrying Adam and Eve (and by extension, us) was: "to be one flesh." (Genesis 2:24) The marriage relationship is often the strongest bond any of us form in this life. But after the lesson I got to pondering these principles. Do they really only apply to the husband-wife relationship?
We who are married are encouraged to sustain our spouses. The struggles of daily life often require the talents and strengths of both partners to overcome. Those who practice this united lifestyle for long will find that they are able to overcome situations that would have crushed them individually. What prevents us from extending the strengths of this united way of life beyond a marriage?
Are we not supposed to treat our brother as ourselves? The scriptures that God has given us are replete with the message of unity. Are we not "our brother's keeper"? Is it his doctrine to fight among ourselves? No. "Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away." He wants us to be unified. While in the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed for us:
"Neither pray I for these alone (the apostles), but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they may be one; as thou, Father, art in me..." (John 17:20,21)
It seems clear to me that this unity is essential to our Father's plan for us. "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness, and there was no poor among them." (Moses 7:18)
Now, you can read the scriptures all day, but if you don't listen then you won't ever learn anything. After all, it's pretty silly to pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to fix your life, but you're unwilling to change your ways. The Lord has innumerable blessings for us. He wants nothing more than to bless us. But he is Just, and so he must live by the law.
"And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:21)
What blessings are you missing in your life because you are not obeying the laws necessary to receive them?
What blessings could you receive by striving to live united with your spouse, your siblings, your co-workers, your neighbors, or even your enemies?
We who are married are encouraged to sustain our spouses. The struggles of daily life often require the talents and strengths of both partners to overcome. Those who practice this united lifestyle for long will find that they are able to overcome situations that would have crushed them individually. What prevents us from extending the strengths of this united way of life beyond a marriage?
Are we not supposed to treat our brother as ourselves? The scriptures that God has given us are replete with the message of unity. Are we not "our brother's keeper"? Is it his doctrine to fight among ourselves? No. "Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away." He wants us to be unified. While in the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed for us:
"Neither pray I for these alone (the apostles), but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they may be one; as thou, Father, art in me..." (John 17:20,21)
It seems clear to me that this unity is essential to our Father's plan for us. "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness, and there was no poor among them." (Moses 7:18)
Now, you can read the scriptures all day, but if you don't listen then you won't ever learn anything. After all, it's pretty silly to pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to fix your life, but you're unwilling to change your ways. The Lord has innumerable blessings for us. He wants nothing more than to bless us. But he is Just, and so he must live by the law.
"And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:21)
What blessings are you missing in your life because you are not obeying the laws necessary to receive them?
What blessings could you receive by striving to live united with your spouse, your siblings, your co-workers, your neighbors, or even your enemies?
Monday, November 17, 2008
Finding Your Voice
Our current leadership has decided to bribe the public with the public's money. They promise aid using other peoples money. If the government insists on spending more than it takes in (notice I didn't say earn), then it has only a handful of choices. Either it can borrow money from foreign sources, or it can print more money. A third way it can raise additional funds without raising the taxes on the majority of the population is to leverage the tax structure so that a productive minority pays the lion's share of the taxes.
Ever since the progressive income tax was introduced by FDR, we have had leaders push to increase the burden on the few. There is now an extraordinary burden placed on those that are the most productive. Why? Because they can afford it.
But all this is old news. Tonight I want to talk a bit about finding your voice. You see, I don't know what I'm supposed to say in these blogs. I'm not sure why I'm writing, but I do know that it is important to be writing. I spent a lot of time thinking over the weekend about my life and the purpose behind my endeavors. I'd like to share with you a few of the preliminary conclusions I came to.
I believe that my life has a purpose. I believe that God has a vested interest in my endeavors. I believe that while life may be confusing, painful, and sometimes dull, it is always worth it. As long as human beings breathe, they retain the power to act and be acted upon. While I do not always make the best choices, I believe in choosing strongly. By that, I mean that I believe that however we live, we should throw ourselves into it.
The last couple of years have been a tremendous time in my life. I've moved several times, graduated from college, gotten married, learned to love a wonderful woman, and learned to love a wonderful God. That's a lot of living in a short amount of time. Sometimes I feel wrung dry. One of my most recent lessons is that while the gospel tends to wear us out, it also provides the means to recharge the batteries. So many LDS people try and live all the obligations of the gospel while holding the joy at arm's length. Don't do this. "Men are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25)
Something that my wife said to me the other day has tickled under the surface of my brain for the past few days. All the best ideas do that. She mentioned that I had shown her to find joy in life. That made me feel good. It also made me think. You see, sometimes writing is hard. It is often frustrating. But it has some redeeming qualities. First, it helps me order my thoughts. It refines my thinking and helps me to reinforce the why of what I'm thinking. Second, when I succeed in writing something worthwhile, it endures. Nephi lamented that his writing was weak, and could not convey the same power as the spoken word of a man moved by the Holy Ghost. I think that perhaps he overlooked a strength of his writing. It has power to reach the hearts of men long after the speaker has moved beyond this life: "And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men." (2 Nephi 33:1)
I will do my best to find my voice. I will continue to write. I do not yet know the purpose of this, but believe that God can find a way to turn my meager efforts to the good. Will you seek your own voice? Will you join me in living both the joy and the obligations the gospel?
Ever since the progressive income tax was introduced by FDR, we have had leaders push to increase the burden on the few. There is now an extraordinary burden placed on those that are the most productive. Why? Because they can afford it.
But all this is old news. Tonight I want to talk a bit about finding your voice. You see, I don't know what I'm supposed to say in these blogs. I'm not sure why I'm writing, but I do know that it is important to be writing. I spent a lot of time thinking over the weekend about my life and the purpose behind my endeavors. I'd like to share with you a few of the preliminary conclusions I came to.
I believe that my life has a purpose. I believe that God has a vested interest in my endeavors. I believe that while life may be confusing, painful, and sometimes dull, it is always worth it. As long as human beings breathe, they retain the power to act and be acted upon. While I do not always make the best choices, I believe in choosing strongly. By that, I mean that I believe that however we live, we should throw ourselves into it.
The last couple of years have been a tremendous time in my life. I've moved several times, graduated from college, gotten married, learned to love a wonderful woman, and learned to love a wonderful God. That's a lot of living in a short amount of time. Sometimes I feel wrung dry. One of my most recent lessons is that while the gospel tends to wear us out, it also provides the means to recharge the batteries. So many LDS people try and live all the obligations of the gospel while holding the joy at arm's length. Don't do this. "Men are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25)
Something that my wife said to me the other day has tickled under the surface of my brain for the past few days. All the best ideas do that. She mentioned that I had shown her to find joy in life. That made me feel good. It also made me think. You see, sometimes writing is hard. It is often frustrating. But it has some redeeming qualities. First, it helps me order my thoughts. It refines my thinking and helps me to reinforce the why of what I'm thinking. Second, when I succeed in writing something worthwhile, it endures. Nephi lamented that his writing was weak, and could not convey the same power as the spoken word of a man moved by the Holy Ghost. I think that perhaps he overlooked a strength of his writing. It has power to reach the hearts of men long after the speaker has moved beyond this life: "And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men." (2 Nephi 33:1)
I will do my best to find my voice. I will continue to write. I do not yet know the purpose of this, but believe that God can find a way to turn my meager efforts to the good. Will you seek your own voice? Will you join me in living both the joy and the obligations the gospel?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Deep Thought
You know, it's easy to crave the spectacular things. It's more interesting to try and think deep thoughts and come up with something profound. Something I've been learning lately is that sometimes the simple things are the best.
1. Say "I love you" more.
2. Express gratitude for what you have.
3. Take the time to play silly games with children.
4. Listen to the elderly, sometimes all they have left is words.
5. Treat your work like it is its own reward.
And last, a piece of advice from my grandfather: "Always make your word good, no matter what it costs."
1. Say "I love you" more.
2. Express gratitude for what you have.
3. Take the time to play silly games with children.
4. Listen to the elderly, sometimes all they have left is words.
5. Treat your work like it is its own reward.
And last, a piece of advice from my grandfather: "Always make your word good, no matter what it costs."
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Principled Leadership
The other day I spoke on Partisanship and how it relates to principled leadership. My wife told me that I neglected to discuss principled leadership in sufficient depth. So tonight we return to the topic.
Principled Leadership is a rare and precious thing. It requires three elements. A principled leader is one who knows what they believe, lives what they believe, and invites others to live as they do.
Some people go all their lives and never take the time to figure out what they believe. It is easy to accept that whatever your parents raised you to believe is right. It is also easy to seek out friends that think the same and leaders that tell you that you are right. I heard a comedian the other day say that "the rest of the world thinks that our president is the devil...and most of us would agree". (Gabriel Iglesias) It takes no real moral fortitude to stand up in front of an angry mob and yell "Yup. You're totally right. Let's get 'em!". Going along to get along is the easiest thing in the world, except that you often have to sacrifice principle to do so.
Moral equivocation is the cost of appeasement. If you wonder whether you truly believe something, ask yourself if you are living that principle now. You don't truly believe in being debt free if you are living an in-debt lifestyle. If you are living that principle, then ask yourself how you would react if that belief was challenged by a love one. You might think that you truly believe in fidelity in marriage. You might preach or teach that principle. But if you allow lust into your mind and heart, then you have already contradicted yourself. You have to live by principle in order to lead by principle.
If you wish to lead by principle, and you are currently living those principles, then your job becomes much easier. You set your personal course by the compass you've chosen and invite those you speak with to join you. Moral certitude is fountain from which all righteous authority flows, both secular and spiritual. "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and they scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever." (D&C 121:46)
The Savior was the greatest example of a principled leader the world has ever seen. In every way he exemplified correct principles and invited us to live as he did. Now, for myself, I know I am not perfect. My wife and I have made foolish decisions in the past. But we have discovered some of our true priorities (the hard way). One of those priorities, as I have mentioned, is to live debt free. In these uncertain times, we feel it very important to get our family on solid ground. We are working to get our lives in line with the principles we have chosen. We hope to eventually be a positive example to those around us.
May God bless us all in these perilous times.
Principled Leadership is a rare and precious thing. It requires three elements. A principled leader is one who knows what they believe, lives what they believe, and invites others to live as they do.
Some people go all their lives and never take the time to figure out what they believe. It is easy to accept that whatever your parents raised you to believe is right. It is also easy to seek out friends that think the same and leaders that tell you that you are right. I heard a comedian the other day say that "the rest of the world thinks that our president is the devil...and most of us would agree". (Gabriel Iglesias) It takes no real moral fortitude to stand up in front of an angry mob and yell "Yup. You're totally right. Let's get 'em!". Going along to get along is the easiest thing in the world, except that you often have to sacrifice principle to do so.
Moral equivocation is the cost of appeasement. If you wonder whether you truly believe something, ask yourself if you are living that principle now. You don't truly believe in being debt free if you are living an in-debt lifestyle. If you are living that principle, then ask yourself how you would react if that belief was challenged by a love one. You might think that you truly believe in fidelity in marriage. You might preach or teach that principle. But if you allow lust into your mind and heart, then you have already contradicted yourself. You have to live by principle in order to lead by principle.
If you wish to lead by principle, and you are currently living those principles, then your job becomes much easier. You set your personal course by the compass you've chosen and invite those you speak with to join you. Moral certitude is fountain from which all righteous authority flows, both secular and spiritual. "The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and they scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever." (D&C 121:46)
The Savior was the greatest example of a principled leader the world has ever seen. In every way he exemplified correct principles and invited us to live as he did. Now, for myself, I know I am not perfect. My wife and I have made foolish decisions in the past. But we have discovered some of our true priorities (the hard way). One of those priorities, as I have mentioned, is to live debt free. In these uncertain times, we feel it very important to get our family on solid ground. We are working to get our lives in line with the principles we have chosen. We hope to eventually be a positive example to those around us.
May God bless us all in these perilous times.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Peace on Earth
I know, I know...it's not December yet. We're not yet officially allowed to obsess over things like peace and happiness and goodwill. That comes after turkey gluttony. I don't care if it is not December. Tonight, I want to speak about the peace of a righteous life. Peace is one of the greatest gifts of God. I believe in God, and I believe in his Son, the Prince of Peace. He is my Savior. So when I feel peace in my life, then I know that comes from Him. How do I know what brought the peace? The Lord has told us: "And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:21)
All good gifts come from God. He is incapable of giving a bad gift. All evil comes from the devil. He is incapable of giving a good gift. (Moroni 7). Peace is a good gift, therefore it comes from God. Contrary to secular wisdom, peace is neither accidental nor man-made. Indeed: "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." (D&C 59:21) So, if we seek peace in our lives and in the world, what must we do? Confess his hand in the workings of the world and obey his commandments.
Now, when it comes to Christmas, things can get a bit tricky. Tying in to what I spoke about yesterday, frugality can help you seek the Christmas Spirit. Secular interests try very hard to make a lot of money around Christmas. Marketing is used to stir up our discontent and focus our hearts and our minds on stuff instead of people. If you listen to something designed to make you discontent, you will have a hard time feeling peace.
There are many things important at this time of year: family, service, selflessness and love. Try and take the time to tune out the clamoring crowd and seek that inward voice of peace. Once you find that voice inside yourself, then you can share it with others: "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead to people to do that which was just...[they] thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God." (Alma 31:5)
Sometimes the most powerful preaching we'll ever do is through our actions. Often the most powerful teaching we'll have do is inside the walls of our home. Remember that this holiday season. God bless us all.
All good gifts come from God. He is incapable of giving a bad gift. All evil comes from the devil. He is incapable of giving a good gift. (Moroni 7). Peace is a good gift, therefore it comes from God. Contrary to secular wisdom, peace is neither accidental nor man-made. Indeed: "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." (D&C 59:21) So, if we seek peace in our lives and in the world, what must we do? Confess his hand in the workings of the world and obey his commandments.
Now, when it comes to Christmas, things can get a bit tricky. Tying in to what I spoke about yesterday, frugality can help you seek the Christmas Spirit. Secular interests try very hard to make a lot of money around Christmas. Marketing is used to stir up our discontent and focus our hearts and our minds on stuff instead of people. If you listen to something designed to make you discontent, you will have a hard time feeling peace.
There are many things important at this time of year: family, service, selflessness and love. Try and take the time to tune out the clamoring crowd and seek that inward voice of peace. Once you find that voice inside yourself, then you can share it with others: "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead to people to do that which was just...[they] thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God." (Alma 31:5)
Sometimes the most powerful preaching we'll ever do is through our actions. Often the most powerful teaching we'll have do is inside the walls of our home. Remember that this holiday season. God bless us all.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Joy of Frugality
We are marketed to our entire lives. From the moment we can listen, we are taught to want things. Turn on your television to any channel and you will hear about all the things that you "need". This is not news. The amazing thing about marketing is that it has achieved a certain ubiquity in the American conscious. In fact, I've met people that are uncomfortable when they are taken away from that steady stream of influence.
The truth that is masked by the flood of advertising is this: human beings actually need very little. If you asked the average American teenager how many pairs of shoes they own, you'd get a wide variety of answers, from three to twenty. What neither the questioner or the answerer in that scenario realize is that owning a single pair of shoes is a luxury in most of the world. Anyone who says that owning a car or a truck is a necessity simply needs to visit Thailand, where people carry dining room tables on their bicycle.
If you've ever been camping, then I think you can relate to what I'm saying. And by camping I don't mean parking an RV somewhere. I mean the type of camping where you take your watch off for a week while you fish in a mountain lake. At first you're uncomfortable because you feel like you are missing something. But if you stay away from civilization long enough, usually 2-3 days, then you start to realize something. You don't need to know the exact time. You don't need to check your email. You don't need to purchase something to achieve fulfillment. You don't need to listen to your Ipod or play your Playstation. In fact, you really don't need much of anything.
You find yourself waking with the dawn, or even before dawn. You spend your day concerned with taking care of food, water, and staying warm or cool. You watch the sunset, maybe for the first time in years. After a little while, you find something amazing: joy. You see, camping like this is an example of a frugal lifestyle. For a short time, you are forced to prune from your life all the unnecessary appendages that consume your normal day. Then you return to normal life and forget what you learned away from all of your stuff.
I contend that each of us would be happier with less. I know I'm a lonely voice in saying this, but just imagine the impact this would have on your life if this was true. Moving into a smaller house means a smaller mortgage payment. Reducing the number of cars you own reduces your maintenance costs. Clearing out some of the clutter in your closets frees up space. Eating out less often saves money.
Try an experiment: Go one whole week without making a luxury purchase. Go 7 days without buying an Ipod, a CD, a Blu-ray player, a new scarf, a book, a pair of shoes. In fact, go 7 days without even going into a store, except to purchase gas or groceries. If you really want to go crazy, plan 7 days of meals, purchase all the groceries you need for them, fill up your gas tanks, and go 7 days without going into any store.
Try this experiment, then post a comment and let me know what you found. My wife and I are doing this starting tonight. We're going the grocery store tonight, then we're done for a week. It should be interesting.
The truth that is masked by the flood of advertising is this: human beings actually need very little. If you asked the average American teenager how many pairs of shoes they own, you'd get a wide variety of answers, from three to twenty. What neither the questioner or the answerer in that scenario realize is that owning a single pair of shoes is a luxury in most of the world. Anyone who says that owning a car or a truck is a necessity simply needs to visit Thailand, where people carry dining room tables on their bicycle.
If you've ever been camping, then I think you can relate to what I'm saying. And by camping I don't mean parking an RV somewhere. I mean the type of camping where you take your watch off for a week while you fish in a mountain lake. At first you're uncomfortable because you feel like you are missing something. But if you stay away from civilization long enough, usually 2-3 days, then you start to realize something. You don't need to know the exact time. You don't need to check your email. You don't need to purchase something to achieve fulfillment. You don't need to listen to your Ipod or play your Playstation. In fact, you really don't need much of anything.
You find yourself waking with the dawn, or even before dawn. You spend your day concerned with taking care of food, water, and staying warm or cool. You watch the sunset, maybe for the first time in years. After a little while, you find something amazing: joy. You see, camping like this is an example of a frugal lifestyle. For a short time, you are forced to prune from your life all the unnecessary appendages that consume your normal day. Then you return to normal life and forget what you learned away from all of your stuff.
I contend that each of us would be happier with less. I know I'm a lonely voice in saying this, but just imagine the impact this would have on your life if this was true. Moving into a smaller house means a smaller mortgage payment. Reducing the number of cars you own reduces your maintenance costs. Clearing out some of the clutter in your closets frees up space. Eating out less often saves money.
Try an experiment: Go one whole week without making a luxury purchase. Go 7 days without buying an Ipod, a CD, a Blu-ray player, a new scarf, a book, a pair of shoes. In fact, go 7 days without even going into a store, except to purchase gas or groceries. If you really want to go crazy, plan 7 days of meals, purchase all the groceries you need for them, fill up your gas tanks, and go 7 days without going into any store.
Try this experiment, then post a comment and let me know what you found. My wife and I are doing this starting tonight. We're going the grocery store tonight, then we're done for a week. It should be interesting.
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