Climb Ev'ry Mountain!

We have a bunch of people with whom we are working who are getting ready to be baptized.  That's basically the most exciting thing in the whole world for a missionary--our job is to help people feel ready for baptism, and to make that agreement with God.  But seldom is there a person who gets baptized who doesn't overcome some pretty big obstacles.  For example, two of the people we're teaching are making the very big decision to get married so they can live one of God's greatest laws, the law of chastity.  That's HUGE!  By doing that they're basically telling God that no matter what comes in their way, they know that building their foundation as a family on Jesus Christ is the best way to ensure their happiness and success.  It's so cool.

Other people have different struggles: they have to overcome addictions of various kinds, or tell skeptical family members or friends just how much this decision means to them.  Some deal with doubts, others with feelings of inadequacy or guilt from past transgressions.  There are so many things that try to thwart somebody's baptism, it isn't even funny.  I've talked a lot about building our foundations on Christ so we can't be blown off course or knocked off--that's not really what I want to focus on today.  The fact of the matter is following God's path is never easy.  We face mountains that stand in the way or gulches we can't see that we can fall into and lose our way.  But baptism, following the example of Jesus Christ and being "born again" is worth so much that we should not fear the obstacles.  Jesus said this:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We don't have to fear or think we aren't good enough.  We don't have to worry about what the outside world thinks.  I love what the Book of Mormon prophet Alma said about baptism:

Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism. 

And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth... he shall have eternal life...

Come and fear not.  That's the invitation.  Eternal life is the promise.  What on Earth could ever matter more?

Climb Ev'ry Mountain!

Much Love,

Elder Spendlove

A Stone Cut Out of the Mountain Pt. II

Well, I have to tell you, my determination really paid off.  Tell me how this sounds: I was abandoned, neglected, and rarely talked about for 25 years while the big wigs tried to figure out what to do with me.  And not only that, I was abandoned and neglected outside!  In the elements!  Sounds great, right?  You're right.  It wasn't great.  I remember thinking to myself, "Well, you really showed them up, didn't you?  All this rain and wind and snow and blazing sun are really doing wonders for my texture and durability!  What was I thinking?!"  And so for 25 long years I sat there, worthless, dejected and beaten by the storms. 

The turn of the sixteenth century (that's 1500 for all you math whizzes out there) found me less-than enthused; in fact, I had just about given up hope on ever becoming anything more than a poorly-formed, misshapen hunk of rock.  Then one day, the patrons of the cathedral where I was stationed came rushing in, shouting the name of some new artist they had found--"a real prodigy! a Master!" they had said.  Well you can bet how excited I was after being treated by the last "master" they'd sent my way, but I figured anything at this point would be better than what I'd been doing for the last two-and-a-half decades.  They acclaimed him as the most promising sculptor of the new age ("Renaissance", they called it), for he had completed a most beautiful statue the year prior, which they called La Pieta.  I was intrigued by their accolades, but held my peace until I could see firsthand who this man really was. 

They called him "Michelangelo".

I will never forget that September morning when that graceful young man approached me on the sculpting platform.  He was so different than the last man who had come to chisel on me that for a while I was simply stunned by his demeanor.  He didn't even touch the chisel that first day.  I will never forget this as long as I stand: he came up and greeted me, calling me his friend.  He then laid his hands on my sides, not in a probing, caustic way, but with the touch of a Master--I don't know how to explain it other than that.  He examined what had been done on my corner so long ago by the other sculptor, shaking his head and saying he had done me wrong.  Then he sat down, with his back against mine, pondering and sketching on paper how he would work his plan; every stroke of his charcoal, every look and every movement seemed to be calculated with divine precision.  He considered my every angle and niche; where my marbling was most durable and where it was weaker; and even some qualities I had not recognized in myself.  He spoke his thoughts, not to himself, but to me, as if he felt my considerations were important.  I tell you, I was so enraptured by this young man's care, that when he left that day, I longed for him to return.  It was an experience that caught me quite off-guard.




As the extra stone came down, so did the walls
 I had built around my heart

 

As the weeks passed, I began to see that it was not just his preparation that was calculated and caring, but his execution as well.  He worked his plan with great skill and precision, knocking off every bit of excess that I could not help but be grateful that the superfluous stone was gone.  As the chunks of extra stone came down, so did the walls I had built around my heart toward this Master.  Sure, the chiseling was still uncomfortable, but he made sure I was becoming something more, something worthy of the highest accolades and honors.  Oftentimes I would get frustrated, not knowing where his chisel would fall, and when it did, why he would strike there, but in time I learned to trust his skill and rely on his masterful plan; indeed, I began to see myself shaping into the form of someone graceful and mighty, as I never had before supposed.

Truly this was what I was meant to become.

To be continued...

Image from http://www.carraramarble.it/images_en/products/blocks/marbles_bianco_venato_standard.jpg

"He Hath Filled Me with His Love..."

You know, sometimes life is just hard.  As a missionary, there are a lot of things that worry me and that can get in the way of my happiness.  Whether it's my personal weaknesses, the choices of others, or if it's just the way the cookie crumbles, I am (as I know all of you are) faced daily with things that are just not very fun to deal with.  Nephi, a Book of Mormon Prophet, felt similarly.  Even though he was a man of great faith and spirituality, a man whose relationship with his Father in Heaven could not be considered shallow, he exclaimed, "O wretched man that I am!...my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.  I am encompassed about by the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.  And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins" (2 Nephi 4:17-19).  Do you ever feel like that?  Do you ever feel "encompassed about" by bad choices, whether yours or others', temptations, trials, or just the everyday beatings of life?  Yeah.  Me too.  But check out what Nephi says at the end of verse 19: "nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted" (emphasis added).  Wow.  Isn't that great?  He knows in Whom he has trusted--his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the Savior.  Then he goes on to talk about all the great things the Lord has done for him (this is where I got the title of my blog--verse 21!),  giving one of the most beautiful testimonies/prayers of the heart in all of scripture.  I invite you to read the rest of this chapter; it's so powerful.  I know that your Father in Heaven will answer your prayers and your yearnings too.  Even though life is really hard sometimes and you just want to throw in the towel, remember that there is One Who suffered for not just your sins, but your pains, weaknesses, sadnesses, heartaches, and insecurities (see also Alma 7:11-13 in the Book of Mormon and Isaiah 53:3-5 in the Old Testament).  Jesus Christ knows how you feel.  He has felt the sorrows of your heart.  And guess what--He wants you to run to Him. 

"Awake my soul!  No longer droop in sin.  Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my peace." (v. 28)  I hope that this post has helped any of you who are feeling down.  I know that whenever I feel depressed, I can turn to my Savior, Who picks me up and helps me get going again.  And the best part about it is we have all of the answers to the deep, yearning questions of our souls in the scriptures.  The Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the words of modern-day prophets are all there so we can know of the promises the Lord has given us if we follow Him.  You can follow Him too. 

Have you had any "questions of the soul" you can't seem to get answered?  Comment below and I'll do my best to answer them from the scriptures.  And keep in mind that sometimes personal questions take time, faith, and lots of prayer and study of the scriptures to answer--I will do my best to point you in the right direction.  I can testify in the name of the Author of all peace, Jesus Christ, that there is peace to be found, there are answers to be had.  Have faith and seek diligently, "for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Matthew 7:8).

MUCH LOVE,

Elder Spendlove