Feelin' Fat Fat Fat!

Whew!  We accidentally had two dinners tonight!  Yep, on accident.  Here's how it happened:

We got some cash from the family who was going to feed us and couldn't because they were sick, so we went out and got some really good burritos.  And then we went to our 6:30 appointment, who also wanted to feed us--how could we say no to authentic Chinese food?  So here I am, big as a beach ball, trying to figure out how to connect my bulging belly to a principle of Christ's gospel. ...And, as a nifty bonus, try to justify my overindulgence.

One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is 2 Nephi 9 because it covers a wide variety of topics.  Toward the end, the prophet Jacob teaches us an important lesson about what's really important:

Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy...and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

I really like his counsel there because there's so much stuff always in front of us.  Some of it is worthwhile and spiritually nutritious (spending time with family, education, exercise, wholesome recreation, etc.) and some is not.  Some of it will bring lasting happiness and some will not.  We only have so long in this life, and then it will be over.  When that day comes, will we have spent our time nibbling at the feast of life?  Will we have chosen the metaphorical Fruity Pebbles over the steaks and salads?  Will our souls be skin and bones or will they be bursting at the seams because we've nourished and fed them? 

I'd invite you to anti-diet your soul.  Get fat and sassy!  Throw away the spiritual Atkins diet and dig in! God has set the table and we are all invited to feast.  Let your soul delight in fatness!  At the end of the day, the "biggest losers" will be those who spent their time, money, and energy in trivial pursuits (not the board game...) instead of pigging out on the great, abundant smorgasbord of life.

What are you waiting for?  Chow down!




I'm on the 2 Nephi 9:51 diet!



 

Much Love,

Elder Spendlove

"Blind" Obedience

Picture this:  you're walking along a beach when you notice a sign that reads "Warning!  Whirlpools--NO SWIMMING!".  What are your options?

Well, you can keep walking on the beach, you can collect seashells, you can have a picnic or sunbathe, you can go home, you could read a book--you could do lots of things!  And, I suppose if you were brave or foolhardy (or both) enough, you could go swimming.  Just because the sign is there doesn't mean it prevents you from being able to go swimming, but it is warning you of a danger you might not be able to see. 

God's laws and commandments work the same way.  He can see every danger that lies in our path and has given us commandments for our safety.  Some people say, "All those commandments restrict and hold you back!  How can you possibly have any fun in life if you can't do all these things?!"  I would humbly submit that those are the same people who would go swimming in our metaphorical whirlpool zone.  Keeping God's commandments isn't about abiding by a restrictive list of dos and don'ts--it's about trusting God enough to know that when He says something is dangerous or ultimately harmful, no matter how "fun" it might seem at the time, He is only looking out for us and trying to protect us from disaster. 

Some people peg believers as "blind followers" or folks who "follow blindly".  I would definitely agree! We are all blind to the dangers that lie in the shadows of our path, and it is only by obedience to God's commandments that we can navigate those obstacles successfully.  I follow because I am blind; I need the all-knowing, all-loving help of my Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, to help me get where I'm going--back to Them!

So the next time someone ridicules you for "blind obedience" say, "You're right!  I obey because I can't see, so I trust Someone who can!"

Much Love, 

Elder Spendlove