Flat Tire?

 While I was fixing a flat tire a week ago, I flipped the tire inside out so I could check it for whatever glass or metal that had punctured my inner tube. I just about stabbed myself on this nail! Somehow it got flipped at just the right angle to stab my tire.

Then, a few minutes later, I found a little bit of plastic, not too big, not too sharp, but wedged right into my tire. It stuck out just enough that, over time, it may have worked itself into my inner tube.

If the bit of plastic had been left there long enough, it would have punched just as good a hole as the nail. It didn't matter that it wasn't as long or sharp. A hole is a hole.

Some sins don't seem serious. They may not be as obvious to other people. They might not be taught about as much as other, bigger sins. But they can do the job just fine. A sin is a sin, and it distances us from God. It doesn't have to be "big", or "serious", to put a  hole in our lives.

So be careful! And when things go bad, use the Spiritual Patch Kit!

Still More On Indiana Jones

When Indiana Jones takes a flying leap and smacks into the camouflaged bridge in "The Last Crusade", what do you label it? Blind faith? No! But why?

Well, remember that before he had even reached the "invisible bridge" test, he had succeeded in several other tests already! The hidden blades, trap floors, and whatever else was there (I can't remember) were all forewarned in the journal, which had given specific counsel for what to do when he encountered these challenges.

By the time he had gotten to the bridge, he had learned that it was safe to trust that journal. When he made his leap, he was expecting to make it - somehow. He just wasn't sure how, yet.

So, when the jeerings of the world mock our "blind faith", we can confidently tune them out! By the time we come to our individual leaps of faith, we have already learned whether or not we can trust Him. The question that remains is whether we will trust Him, and jump.

We might call this “faith obedience.” With faith, Abraham was obedient in preparing Isaac for sacrifice; with faith, Nephi was obedient in obtaining the brass plates; with faith, a little child obediently jumps from a height into the strong arms of his father. “Faith obedience” is a matter of trust. The question is simple: Do we trust our Heavenly Father? Do we trust our prophets?                   -R. Conrad Schultz

I share my individual testimony that Jesus Christ lives, that He loves me (and you!). Faith obedience is real. Every time I have had to trust Him and jump, He has caught me. And he always will.

Indiana Jones and Faith (2/2)

The more I thought about this analogy, the more closely it began to fit!

Okay, first off, I don't remember "The Last Crusade" perfectly, so if I mis-quote it, bear with me.

Indy is just walking down yet another ancient tunnel when he comes to an enormous chasm. He can see that the tunnel continues on the other side, but has no idea how he'll ever be able to get there. Similarly, we sometimes come to a decision, and we know which choice God expects us to make to proceed, but we have no idea how to go through with that choice, or what will happen once we commit to it.

But, remember, Indy wasn't walking this tunnel armed with just his own reasoning. He remembered some instructions that he had read, written by someone who had already traveled the path. We also have written instructions: the scriptures. Our instructions were written by the Lord, or servants of the Lord. Jesus already traveled this path, so he knows the way.

Indy had already learned to rely on his instructions. By heeding its warnings closely, he had survived other booby-traps and had gotten this far. We learn to trust in and rely on the scriptures by remembering how well they have served us in the past.

Well, Indy finally decided. He couldn't see how he would make it, but he took a running start, committed to his choice, and jumped. When we make a decision, it is so important to commit to our choice!

After landing on the hidden bridge with his face, Indy could stand up, shake it off, and look back and finally see the bridge. Only after we make, and go through with, some decisions, can we look back and see why it worked.

There's going to be a third half to this post thread, because I really like this analogy.

Indiana Jones and Faith ( 1/2 )

First off, I love serving the Lord as a missionary.

That said, I have been trying to persuade a particular disciple of Jesus Christ who has been investigating this church to continue in his/her progression and joining the church! (Nothing new there.)

Now, this has been the obstacle: this disciple wants to understand every point of doctrine of the Church first. That's a long, long list. In fact, the task is probably not possible in just one lifetime.

So this has been my job: persuade this disciple that the fundamental doctrines I teach are true, and would you please take a leap of faith and trust the Lord and seek baptism into His Church?

There is a bridge of truth that connects learning that a doctrine exists and understanding that doctrine entirely. It cannot always be seen from the starting point, but after you trust the Lord and step out, you can turn around and see the way that it all fits together.

I was trying to think of how to explain that, when I remembered that Indiana Jones already taught it! Next time I'll explain how that scene in "The Last Crusade" can teach a true principle. Who would have thought that Hollywood could be useful?

Fundamental to Faith

Some stuff in Christ's gospel is nice to know, and some is fundamental. It is the fundamental stuff that we bear testimony of first. For example, it's nice to have the Word of Wisdom, but before there's any reason to live it, a person must accept the fundamentals that it is built on, like the fact that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the Lord.

Some fundamentals include the fact that God lives, and that Jesus does too. They love us and want us to return to heaven. Joseph Smith is one of their prophets, and the Book of Mormon's truthfulness is the evidence of that. Most important in a testimony is the idea that Jesus Christ completed the Atonement, which enables us to repent of any sins and to change our nature for the better.

That is my testimony. In the coming weeks I'll explain what having that testimony does for me. Till then, be safe!

Healing and Haiti

This web page contains a short video describing the efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Haiti, and the healing that has happened there. The Lord's Healing: A Year Later.

In addition to physical and emotional healing, I testify that Christ can provide us with spiritual healing. I have felt that healing in my heart and mind, and have seen it in the lives of others.

Visit that webpage!

Brake Pads and Almost-Crashes

Yesterday I got myself a brand new set of brake pads for both my front and back tires of my bike. It has been a year since I bought the thing, so a tune-up had been way overdue. My old pads weren't working anymore, so I was used to squeezing the brakes hard just to coast to a stop.

It was only a matter of time before I forgot about the pad replacement. I went to squeeze the brakes like I was used to, and suddenly found my bike didn't want to go any farther with me. It stopped, but I kept going. Fortunately, with a loud yell to scare the gravity away and a little fancy footwork, I scrabbled to a stop without any injury.

I had grown used to having those worn out brakes, and the nice grippy ones took me by surprise. How often do we let gradual changes escape us, so subtle that we don't notice? When we reflect on the way things were before (or are forced to remember, like me with my pads) are we surprised?

I have been changing gradually for about a year now. The changes in myself are surprising! I can't pick out a particular time that my testimony of Jesus Christ grew, but it has. By the constant scripture study, prayer, and partaking of the Sacrament, I have placed my soul in spiritual sunlight, and it has grown. It worked for me. Let it work for you.