A life of insecurity and unhappiness was never the
intent of Heavenly Father’s plan for His children, but the longing eyes of failed
hearts meet my own nearly everywhere I go. There is an essential truth that
separates the whole from the infirm, that is, the principles of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. It is sound wisdom and a formula that equates to unfettered joy
within the voice and words of the Savior when He proclaimed, “this is my
doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against them.” (3 Nephi 11: 39) The doctrine which
Christ mentioned was something that I recited frequently as a missionary with “my
Purpose” found in Preach My Gospel, however having been home for more than two years
now, I have found how the simple but profound principles and ordinances of the
Gospel empower and embed our lives in a foundation when applied to every aspect
of life. Principles and ordinances of faith, repentance, renewing the covenant
of baptism through the sacrament, and enduring to the end when not limited to
our gospel studies or church service, become the means by which the empowering
effect of Christ’s Atonement are applied. Through personal experience I have
found this to be true and will thus illustrate.
The world of the spiritual and that of the temporal
were once separate in my mind. When I attended church, the teachings I gathered
from Sunday school were less than perfectly appreciated as a teenager, but
nevertheless understood. However, when considering my academic studies,
relationships with friends, and hobbies, those teachings rarely were implemented
as tools for success in any degree unless a moral dilemma was reached. Moral
dilemmas such as how to react when brother was an annoyance or restitution to
be made after a lie had been fessed up to. This was an application of gospel
teachings, but not deeply harnessing their power—like roasting a marshmallow
over a bon fire, the mallow surely would be toasted, but so much heat and
energy dissipated with no real application for productivity. In time, I learned
that due to the loving nature of man’s relationship with Heavenly Father, His
concern for us extended much further into personal matters spiritual and secular.
A menial but true
example is from my juvenile years on my school’s swim team. Standing on a start
block in a crowded, noisy indoor pool, an official in drill-sergeant style
sequestered the PA system and instructed us to stand in place. As a rather
lurpish and awkward teenager, I already felt somewhat ridiculous bending over
in a very restricted competition-type swim suit, and this in combination with
the pressure for team approval caused my heart to accelerate to the point of
nearly bursting from its dwelling within my chest. As the long whistle drew out
to call us to starting position, I exhaled and uttered a silent prayer that, “everything
would be alright.” Within that moment a calm and confidence washed over me as
my heart settled into an acceptable pace. It was unmistakably the Comforter
sent from heaven above. But why? The magnificent and powerful Creator of the
skies and earth surely had more meaningful things to do than to comfort a
gangly teenager trying to finish his race. No, He certainly made time, even for something so common
as a swim meet. Faith was His only requirement, and that in itself was for my
own benefit. So it is the interaction with a man’s family, education, career,
social pursuits, and callings within the church. A man who builds his life upon
principles of faith, seeking forgiveness when imperfect, and holding fast to
the promises to live God’s laws is built upon a sure foundation, “a foundation
whereon if men build, they cannot fall.” (Helaman 5:12) We remain God’s most precious creation, His
offspring and ultimate joy. By the loving sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ, man
is made perfect. My family life and science career surely require His assistance
and by the testimony of the Holy Ghost within me, I know that his aid is
extended so long that we reach for it.
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