Act Well Thy Part

Check out this photo. 

Do you get it?

The first time I saw this I didn't really get it either.  But thanks to my wise and wonderful dad, I learned that each row, column, and diagonal's symbols add up to 18.  Example: Check out the top row.  The hand in the pentagon is 5, the X is a Roman numeral 10, and the triangle, of course, is 3 (and that's a magic number).  Add 'em up, and you get 18!  Now go down that left column--5 + 4 + 9 (don't worry about adding up the sides, it's 9, I promise) = 18!  Cool, huh?  So what does that mean, though?  You probably had to do little math squares like this in 4th grade, so what's so special about it?

Well, just think for a second if that little "5" hand got tired and decided it wanted to slack off and be a 4 instead.  It would screw the whole thing up!  Then the row, column, and diagonal wouldn't add up to what they needed to add up to, thus throwing off the balance of the entire 3x3 grid!  Or what if that little 2 (bottom row in the middle) got sick of being the low man on the totem pole and puffed itself up to be a 6?  Once again, numeric chaos.  Can you see how important it is for each number in the grid to be itself, and itself only?  Thus the admonition at the top:  "Whate'er thou art, act well thy part" (translation: whatever you are, act your part and do it well!). 

Hopefully you see where I'm going with this by now.  It's not just about numbers and cutesy little metaphors.  You are you for a specific reason!  Nobody else in the whole world could do what you do, say what you say, and be what you be!  ... I mean, are...(sorry, Vallejo days came back for a second)  God doesn't care if you're rich or poor, a dentist or a ditch-digger, living in California or Timbuktu!  You just make the most out of your circumstance, and God will fill in the gaps.  I've learned this firsthand as a missionary.  I've had many different assignments and chances to work with a bunch of people in many capacities.  And the lesson that rings true through and through is this little rhyme:  "Whate'er thou art, act well thy part."  I've come to the realization and testimony that I've been placed exactly where God needed me with exactly the right people at just the right time to experience, see, and participate in miracles.  It's just come down to me doing my part, and doing it well.

One last connection then I'll let you go.  You probably remember me talking about my experience playing Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat two years ago.  What if I had decided that I wanted to play a different part?  Or if one of the other actors decided they wanted my part?  Can you imagine how ridiculous it would be for two Pharaohs to come onstage impersonating Elvis?!  Or two narrators singing all those stinkin' colors over and over again?!!  Again--chaos.  You have a specific role to play in your family, community, church, school, etc.  So act well your part.  People are depending on you!  And never forget how much God loves you and has invested in you!  You. Are. Loved.  Trust in Him.  He's your biggest fan. 

Much Love,

Elder Spendlove

PS-- this talk is all about how much God loves you and how important you being you is to Him.  Check it out! 

Go, Go, Joe! (Part II)

Joseph's story is the ultimate tale of rags-to-riches.  In a nutshell, here's what happened:

He's loving life, enjoying his dad's praise and love.  He gets this totally awesome coat for no reason other than his dad thinks he's great. His brothers get ticked because he's favored and literally sell him to the gypsies (boy, if I had a dollar for every time I was threatened with that as a kid!).  He tries to be a nice guy, gets a sweet gig cleaning house for the captain of Pharaoh's guard, but his boss's wife tries to put the moves on him and he gets framed and thrown in prison.  While in jail, Joseph relies on God to interpret the dreams of some of the other prisoners, which gets Pharaoh's attention.  Joseph gets an even sweeter gig as "Pharaoh's Number Two" and eventually saves a bunch of people from famine, including all Egypt and his brothers who'd tried to kill him, returning their spite with kindness, and everyone lives happily ever after!

Pretty great, right?

You know, each of us has a story.  We, like Joseph, go through ups and downs along the journey--we've all got "prison cells" in our lives as well as times when we're on top of the world!  It's up to us to make those "rags" moments into "riches" moments.  Jesus can help with that.  He's restored information about who we are, why we're here, and how we can overcome through a prophet--a man who speaks with God and can help us find God's will in our lives (like Joseph!  he was a prophet, did you know that?).

From rags...

...to riches!

Click around the links on my blog (especially the links to my facebook page and mormon.org)--it's my privilege as a missionary to help people find God's strength and love in their lives.  There are resources to help you out.

Much Love, 

Elder Spendlove

Go, Go, Joe! (Part I)

Now, before you get all excited, this is not another of my yarns I'm spinning you.  This is a series of posts about my main man, Joseph who was sold into Egypt (think Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Donny Osmond, etc.  Got it? good.  Here's his story in the Bible if you want to check it out).  For a long time (since my mid-teens) Joseph has been my hero, one of my greatest examples of bravery, trust in the Lord--especially in times of trial, and especially when those trials are seemingly undeserved, and virtuous living.  Joseph's life was a difficult one, but he persevered and overcame through his unwavering trust in God's will for his life.

Before I became a missionary, back in October 2009, I had the great privilege to actually play Joseph in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat we did with some of the members of the Church in San Antonio, where I live.  Let me tell you--it was literally a dream come true.  Since I had first seen the play, I had dreamed of playing the role of Joseph and exemplifying through acting and singing the man to whom I looked as an example of faith, dedication, and courage.  As I "grew into" the part I tried to think like Joseph, to act like Joseph, to face difficulties as Joseph would have faced them, and to put my trust in God as he did.  I was also preparing myself to dedicate two years of my life to serving God full-time by being a missionary and bringing His truth to other people; this emulation of Joseph really helped me prepare to be a servant of God who had really given it all he had. 

It was frustrating for me because, as I underwent the various medical examinations required to submit my application to be a missionary, the physicians discovered various problems I didn't know I had, not the least of which was a slight heart murmur in my left shoulder.  How ironic is that--I was trying to prepare my heart for God's work, and the thing holding me back was a murmuring heart!  I was, needless to say, a little confused.  As I prayed that the condition would be overcome, I felt the reassuring peace of the Lord comforting me and inviting me to be patient with my problems.  Despite the peace I felt when I prayed, it wasn't any easier to deal with the delays. 

One day at play practice, I got the message loud and clear.  I was singing the play's aria, "Close Every Door", when Joseph, thrown wrongfully into prison for standing up for his beliefs, prays to his Heavenly Father and says, in effect, "I trust in your will and your timing, although I may not understand the reasons."  As the words and the melodies drifted from my lips, I began to see my situation more clearly: God had not forgotten me.  I was going to be alright.  He wouldn't ask me to do something and then pull the rug out from under me.  I wept, overcome with emotion and gratitude.  I sang the last line with as much conviction as I'm sure Joseph had in that prison so long ago:

Children of Israel [God's people] are never alone. I know I shall find my own peace of mind, for we have been promised a land of our own!

God had promised me great things, and I knew that I was going to find the reasons and the peace along the way.

Much Love,

Elder Spendlove