Through New Eyes

Recently, one of the leaders of our Church, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, gave a talk at the Christmas Devotional about seeing Christmas through new eyes.  I loved it for several reasons, not the least of which was his reference to the Grinch's transformation; mostly though, I appreciated his wisdom and counsel to all of us on how we can refocus on what is most important about this time of year. 

He gave three suggestions on how to see Christmas through new eyes:

1. Rejoice in the Birth of Our Savior
2. Ponder His Influence in Our Lives Today
3. Look Steadfastly for His Coming

I'll let you watch the talk to get his exact words about each of those.  I did, however, want to testify that if we will seek the Christ this season, as the wise men did of old, we will see Christmas, Christ, and ourselves through new eyes.  Says President Uchtdorf:

If we look for what is wrong with the Christmas season, we can surely find it. Like the Grinch, we can grumble and complain, becoming cold and cynical about what we see around us. Nevertheless, if we look for the good, we can see this time of year with new eyes—perhaps even with the eyes of a child.

The Grinch saw the good in Christmas when he learned to look past its worldly trappings. If we do the same, we can, with the Grinch, proclaim: “Maybe Christmas . . . doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!”

Our heart may not grow three sizes as the Grinch’s did, but our heart will change. Our eyes will open to the miracles all around us—at Christmastime and throughout the year.

I add my personal testimony that we can be changed through the One Whose birth we celebrate at this time of year.  May His love fill your life is my humble prayer.

Much Love,

Elder Spendlove

PS Seriously, watch that talk!  or read the text version here.

Image from: http://www.acartoonchristmas.com/2009/12/24/dec-24-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas/

The Sounds (/Noise) of the Season!

I have made an executive decision:  I will be mostly posting about insights from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! for all my Christmas-y blog entries.  There's so much to learn from Dr. Seuss' classic story (plus it's my favorite!).  Sound good?  Sweet.

Well, just a short one today about focusing on what's most important.  You'll recall with me that one of the Grinch's major beefs with the Whos' celebration of Christmas was "All the noise, noise, noise!"  He was so caught up in the hectic, helter-skelter of the season that he (and perhaps many of the Whos [Who's Whose Whos?]) lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas.

We too can fall into that trap.  I know I have!  In fact, even as a missionary I get wrapped up in all the running around and ins and outs and ups and downs and the noise, noise, noise!  But Christ Himself said, "Peace I leave with you"  and "I have overcome the world".  That, my friends, is the spirit of Christmas.  May we all focus on the things that matter most and invite the spirit of Christmas (which is the Spirit of Christ) into our lives this Christmas season.

Much Love,

Elder Spendlove

Image from: http://jmkaye.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/grinch-noise1.jpg

I Will Choose Free Will!

Sometimes as missionaries we get little "freebies"--we were at this burger joint in Ukiah on Monday with a local member of the Church (I had an ostrich burger.  Yeah.  That just happened), and there was all this classic rock playing (Aside: as missionaries we don't listen to the radio or music that draws us away from Christ.), and I loved classic rock back home.  I was trying not to listen to it!  I promise!  Anyway, this song by Rush comes on and as I "wasn't listening", my ear caught hold of some of the lyrics, which are as follows:

"I will choose a path that's clear--I will choose freewill!"

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill;
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill.

In between bites of ostrich, I really pondered the meaning behind those words.  We as humans value free will.  We (LDS people) believe it is one of the basic reasons we're her on Earth--to use our free will to choose God instead of Satan; we use our free will to"come unto Christ and be perfected in Him", like I posted last week. 

"The Words of Eternal Life"

I want to just talk briefly today about following Christ.  There is a big misconception out there that Mormons aren't Christians.  Well I want to make it publicly known that that is absolutely untrue.  As an authorized representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see, it's His church!) I am called to stand as a witness of Him and His church before all people.  And as such, I want to testify that I know that Jesus is the Christ, that He came and suffered for each one of us individually.  He knows your weaknesses, your pains, your insecurities, your doubts, your fears, your heartaches--all of it!  He suffered and died for each and every one of us so we can be happy and so that we can return to live with Heavenly Father eternally as families after we die.

I love something that Peter said of old to the Savior.  Jesus, after declaring some things about His divinity to His followers who promptly turned and "walked no more with him", asked his apostles, "Will ye also go away?  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." (John 6:66-69, emphasis added)  That's the key, my friends.  If I weren't a follower of Jesus Christ, I don't know where I would be or where to go.  But because He lives, because His truth and His gospel ("the good news") have been restored on the earth through Joseph Smith, a modern-day prophet, I know where I am going--to live eternally with my Father and my family.  I pray you will all find the truth of this message as you study it.  If you have any questions, please comment below or look me up on facebook.  I can get you in touch with some missionaries who, like me, know this message is true and want nothing more than your eternal life with Heavenly Father as well. 

MUCH LOVE,

Elder Spendlove

"Come and See"

So I've been studying the New Testament recently (since mid-September probably) because I want to gain a greater understanding of what is in there.  I started the book of John today, which is probably my favorite of the four gospels (I don't really know why--I just like it a lot!), and already, 3 chapters in, I've gained some really cool insights.  I wanted to share one thing today that really stuck out to me.  Before I begin though, I want to explain something about studying the scriptures.

We Mormons know that the best way to learn is to "learn by the Spirit"--you may have heard some of your Mormon friends talk about that before.  What that means is that the Holy Ghost (or "Holy Spirit" or "Spirit of God", etc.) teaches us the things Heavenly Father wants us to understand. Jesus said of this, "But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26, emphasis added).  We learn in the book of Galatians, chapter 5 verses 22&23, what feelings accompany us when the Holy Ghost is teaching us: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance..."  So basically, when you study the scriptures and feel those feelings, you can be sure that you are being taught by the Holy Ghost.  I know that Heavenly Father wants us to feel and seek after those feelings so we can know that what we are learning is true, even if it doesn't make sense to our brains all the way at first.  (*Side Note* If you meet with us missionaries, we will invite you to read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon, which we know to be the word of God along with the Bible.  When you follow that course and ask in faith, sincerely wanting to act upon the answer you receive, you will feel the feelings of the Holy Ghost telling you it is true.)  SO, that having been said, let me tell you about a few of the things the Holy Ghost taught me this morning.

I really liked John 1:46, "And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see."  Philip was a follower of the Savior from the beginning.  When telling his friend Nathanael about Jesus who came out of Nazareth, which was thought poorly of by the surrounding communities of the day, Nathanael questioned whether anything good could even come from Nazareth!  Philip's reply is the reply we missionaries (and members of the LDS Church) give to all--Come and see!  Come and see the gospel of Jesus Christ in action; come and see what light the teachings of God's prophets, ancient and modern, can bring into your life and the life of your family; come and learn more of Jesus and follow His example by exercising faith and being baptized (for more on Jesus' teachings about baptism, check out John 3:3-8.  This invitation to be born again, to be renewed is a wonderful, loving invitation to "come and see" the blessings of the path Jesus laid before us!).  This is the invitation I personally give to all of you.  I loved the peace the Spirit brought to me as I read that.  I am thankful for the chance I have to follow Him and to share His teachings with everybody I meet.

I hope this has been helpful.  The best thing you can do is to pray about the messages we share.  We may not be eloquent, but we know the message is true--we know by the power of the Holy Ghost.  Come and see.  You can know too.

MUCH LOVE,
Elder Spendlove