John,
I have thought a lot about your comments. While I haven't been on the
list as long as others, I do sense that your heart is in the right
place. I don't know if you have ever read 'First Things First' by Covey,
but the book has given me new insights into the impact I allowed other
people to have in my emotional wellbeing. I don't have it in front of me
but he told the story of the Jewish doctor during the Holocaust that had
more 'freedom' than his captors. Good story because it gave me a glimpse
of what it means to act rather than be acted upon. I continue to make
progress in blocking other's actions from impacting my happiness. Just a
thought.
What I think you seek is the same thing that King Benjamin was able to
give the people described in Mosiah. As you may recall from Mosiah 5:2,
they had 'no more disposition to do evil.' That was a result of
receiving a remission of their sins (Mosial 4:3). Their joy was
immeasurable and they experience a mighty change in their hearts. Ronn
mentioned it in his response and it is the same thing that Enos sought.
In 2 Nephi 31:17 we see that a remission of our sins comes by fire and
by the Holy Ghost. It took Enos a day and well into the night to receive
his. It takes a struggle on our parts to do the same. It is sad that
this is not stressed not perhaps even understood in the church today. I
have faith that if we prepare ourselves and come unto the Lord, he will
baptize us with fire and with the Holy Ghost (see 3 Nephi 12:1). I can
attest to the fact that this is real and achievable. This baptism
described raises your spirit out of the temporal world and fill your
heart with peace and joy beyond description. I don't know if you have
experienced it but it is also, as King Benjamin taught, required of us
to 'retain a remission of our sins' (Mosiah 4:11-14). Joseph Smith had
to follow this path (see DC 20:5-6)in order to regain is spiritual
sight. We are offered the same opportunity. Where ever we are on the
path (2 Nephi 31:18) the offer is there for the taking.
Noel
-Original Message-
From: John W. Redelfs [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 5:24 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [ZION] The Stupidity of Other People
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and
all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (1 Cor. 13:2)
In 1968 when I made my final, irrevocable decision to keep
the commandments
with all my might for the rest of my mortal days, I set for myself a
goal. I determined to become a sweet person, kind, gentle,
considerate,
thoughtful, empathetic, and charitable. And over the last
35 years I have
made negligible progress if any. What am I doing wrong?
Oh, I have made great progress with my checklist. I don't smoke any
more. I don't use tea, coffee, or alcohol. I pay my
tithing. I attend my
meetings, do a lot of my home teaching, do missionary work,
work on my
family history, attend the temple, have family home evening,
study the
scriptures most days, have family prayer, and so forth. I'm
doing great
with the checklist. But am I actually a kinder, more charitable
person? Most of the time, it doesn't seem that way to me.
I am appalled by the stupidity of Other People. I have
almost no sympathy
for inactive members who break their promises to the Lord and
then cry when
their lives end up in the sewer. I am angry with the
dissidents and other
Signaturi who enjoy the benefits of Church membership while
biting the hand
that feeds them. Mormon bashers in and of the Church disgust me,
especially those who wallow in Digging for Dirt Church
history. I think
that people who reject the message of the gospel from our
missionaries are
brain dead losers. I find laughable the predicament of
faithful sisters
who have faithlessly married nonmembers. I know that in most
cases their
loser husbands are going to just break their hearts, and what
is worse,
they asked for it when they violated prophetic counsel by
marrying outside
the Church.
What is the matter with me? How do I get a better attitude?
When will I
become a charitable person? If 35 years isn't enough, how
long is it going
to take? The Apostle Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 13 that the
checklist isn't going to win me the prize. Exaltation is not
down the road
for me if I don't have charity. But how do I get some?
John W. Redelfs [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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EASY
