Not Ashamed

Finishing the Race …

“… for blessed is he that endureth to the end.” – Alma 18:2

Some may remember the final moments of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. The closing ceremonies had been completed. All were preparing to leave the stadium when the announcer asked them to remain in their seats. Police sirens could be heard and many could see motorcycles with their flashing blue lights encircling someone making their way toward the stadium. Whoever it was, they were moving slowly.

By the time the police escort arrived at stadium, the public address announcer said that a final marathoner would be making their way into the arena and around the track to the finish line. Confusion was evident among the crowd. The last marathoner had come in hours ago. The medals had already been awarded. What had taken this man so long? But the first sign of the runner making his way out of the tunnel and onto the track told the whole story.

John Stephen Akhwari from Tanzania, covered with blood, hobbled into the light. He had taken a horrible fall early in the race, hurt his head, damaged his knee, and endured a trampling before he could get back on his feet. And there he was, nearly 25 miles later, stumbling his way to the finish line.

The response of the crowd was so overwhelming, it was almost frightening. They encouraged Akhwari through the last few yards of his race with a thundering ovation that far exceeded the one given the man who, hours earlier, had come in first. When Akhwari crossed the finish line, he collapsed into the arms of the medical personnel who immediately whisked him off to the hospital.

The next day, Akhwari appeared before sports journalists to field their questions about his extraordinary feat. The first question was the one any of us would have asked, “Why, after sustaining the kinds of injuries you did, would you ever get up and proceed to the finish line, when there was no way you could possibly place in the race?” John Stephen Akhwari replied: “My country did not send me to start a race. They sent me to finish one.”

John Akhwari remained faithful to the task that he had been given and it required personal sacrifice and a determination to the very end. Paul encourages us to no less using our Savior as the example:

“… let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

We must come to a point in our commitment to the gospel and our conviction of its truth that our response to whatever challenges that commitment is predetermined. Our testimony of this work and His church isn’t a hypothesis in science, which may be supported by evidence one day and destroyed the next. It is a conviction based on the evidence of things not seen – it is a conviction based on the assurance of things hoped for. It is grounded in faith. The just live by faith.

At times we may have to endure suffering for the sake of the gospel. Paul tells us that there have been many that the world is not worthy of that have been stoned, sawn asunder, slain with the sword, destitute, afflicted, wandered in deserts and in dens and caves of the earth but through their sufferings they were made perfect and our faith is strengthened knowing that God provided better things for them through their suffering.

It is not enough to just know where the finish line is; we have to be prepared and willing to crash through the quitting points we encounter on our way to it. Paul personally understood what it meant to remain faithful (endure) to the end no matter the trial, suffering or difficulty. He also understood the reward as he wrote to Timothy:

“… I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:6-8

It is hard to say how John Stephen Akhwari must have felt when he crossed the finish line. Physically, he had nothing left. All his might and strength had been given in keeping his commitment to the task he had been given to represent his country in arguably the most demanding event of the Olympics. In his soul though, he must have rejoiced knowing he endured to the end.

Let us remain true and faithful to the task we have been given, personally and corporately, no matter the cost. The tokens already appear. The sirens are blaring around us. The finish line is in sight — but the last mile is the most difficult. May God be with us as we press forward, keeping our eye single to his glory, feasting upon his words and enduring to the end. Our prize will be great for:

“… thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” – 2 Nephi 13:30

The Great and Marvelous Work ….

It really warmed my heart recently to revisit the experiences of our caravan to church historical sites a couple of Summers ago. As I wrote a short remembrance for a “memories” book that Shannon was putting together I recalled with fondness the abundant and rich testimonies from that trip. To see the very places where Joseph knelt in the grove, where the Book of Mormon plates were delivered to him, and the home where the church was organized made this latter-day work come alive again for me. Worshiping at the Kirtland Temple and in David’s Chamber in Nauvoo are experiences that will not soon be forgotten. It must have been marvelous to see and experience first hand the very beginnings of this latter-day work.

To have fresh from the lips of a prophet the word of the Lord ushering in this great and marvelous work surely was an experience like no other. Even today, the word of the Lord as it fell from Joseph’s lips carries with it the witness of the Spirit.

“Wherefore I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments, and also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets;” (Section 1:4a-b)

The manifestations of the Spirit were great and gave the saints of a former day much assurance. Their faith was strong. Their dedication to the task of promulgating the gospel and building up the kingdom unshakable.

But anyone who is a student of early church history understands that the early church had it struggles too. The Lord addressed their difficulties in the very first revelation to the Church. His purposes on earth could not be frustrated by the foolishness of men.

“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God, cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught, for God doth not walk in crooked paths; neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; therefore his paths are straight and his course is one eternal round.” (Section 2:1a-c)

While we are long removed from the beginnings of this latter day work, we, perhaps, will have the privilege of seeing its culmination. And while the struggles of the early church are well chronicled, we too have our difficulties. But rest assured, the Lord will culminate his work through the vehicle of His Church on earth because what was true for the early church remains true for us today, “the designs, and the purposes of God, cannot be frustrated.”

And like a former day, God will pour out his Spirit in great measure at the culmination of His work. An endowment of power from on high surely will come because our own strength is insufficient.

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, … And they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” (1 Nephi 3:230-231)

It was marvelous to “look back” on a former day but, dear Saints, it is with great anticipation that I “look forward” to what yet lies ahead of us. The “times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21) is before us. Let us be faithful and trust in God. His promises are sure.

Having a “Be” Attitude

“And he opened his mouth, and taught them … ” – Matthew 5:2

How precious is the word of God because we “shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4) The word is a wonderful seed that when planted in our soul and nourished by the spirit, transforms us into His very image and countenance.

Jesus taught us what manner of people we ought to be in word and in deed. Arguably, his greatest discourse regarding the character of mankind is found in the sermon he preached “on the mount” as well as to those on this continent as recorded in third Nephi.

In this short sermon we find eight principle marks of Christian character, two metaphors of salt and light that indicate the kind of influence we should have, what our attitude should be toward the moral law of God, how to be sincere in our religious devotion, how our ambitions toward material things should be expressed, how we should relate one to another, and where our commitment should be.

But the Sermon on the Mount is a description of character and not a code of ethics or of morals. It is not to be regarded as law or a kind of new ‘Ten Commandments’ or set of rules and regulations which are to be carried out by us – but rather as a description of what we Christians are meant to “be.” It relates to our living life in the presence of God, in active submission to Him, and in entire dependence upon him.

Before we can do anything we must “be”come something. Our actions are determined by our character and our character must be forged by the word of God and the transforming power of His spirit through our humble submission to both.

The gospel places all its primary emphasis upon “be”ing, rather than doing and it puts a greater weight upon our “attitude” then upon our actions. Its main stress in on what you and I essentially are rather than on what we do because what we are determines what we do.

Our Savior died to enable us to live the Sermon on the Mount. That he might “purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” and nothing shows the absolute need of a new birth, and of the Holy Spirit and His work within, so much as the Sermon on the Mount. The “be”atitudes ought to crush us to the ground. They show us our utter helplessness and help us understand that were it not for a new birth, we would be undone. There is nothing more fatal that for the natural man to think that he can take the beatitudes and try to put them into practice. Only a new man can live this new life.

Yes, Jesus taught. But he did not come to just teach a new ethic. He came to inaugurate God’s kingdom — an entirely new and different kingdom — and in His sermon he gave us a glimpse of the character and nature of the citizens of God’s kingdom.

May our “attitude be” to become the sons and daughters of God through submission to the transforming power of His spirit and grace.

Choose Ye This Day

“And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice will we obey.” – Joshua 24:24

It must have been a grand scene that day in Shechem when Joshua gathered together “all the tribes of Israel” including “the elders of Israel, … their heads, … their judges, and … their officers; …” He recounted in their hearing their long storied history and the rich blessings that had come to them as a chosen nation including being given a land that they did not labor for and cities that they did not build. It must have been sobering and humbling for them to understand fully the providential hand of God that had brought them to that day.

Joshua then challenged them with words that now adorn many beautiful plaques, wall hangings and Christian artwork; “choose you this day whom ye will serve … as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Much like the children of former day Israel, latter day Israel has journeyed long and hard and our generation has inherited a choice land, a promised land to which many have gathered, and yet we too like Israel in Joshua’s day need to be reminded of the providential hand of God that has brought us to this point in our history.

How he stirred in the hearts of the Reformers, Puritans and Pilgrims and brought them to this land which he redeemed by the shedding of blood … how he raised up wise men to establish the constitution and then in this crucible of freedom brought forth the gospel out of obscurity and darkness “clear as the moon and fair as the sun” (Sec. 3d) … its purpose to “open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf,” (Sec 83:11d) and “to be a light to the world.” (Sec. 45:2d) How he restored the priesthood long since lost, and commissioned them to declare this good news “unto the ends of the world.” (Sec. 1:4e) And by so doing prepare a place for the coming king.

And much like former day Israel, we too need to be humbled with the remembrance of God’s almighty hand and be challenged with the words “choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Perhaps for all of us “the time has come for a day of choosing” (Sec. 102:10c) Will we continue to serve the gods of our day or the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

During this upcoming month a special call will be made to the saints to enter into a 40 day period of fasting and prayer. Specific guidance has come to the church that we do so which will be shared with all soon. We each will need to choose if we want to participate. The more that are willing participate, the greater the blessings. Saints from all branches of the Restoration will be invited to join. If we are willing, the time has come for healing in the body of Christ.

We will be scheduling a few additional prayer services on Sunday evenings during this time and will take time in our adult church school class to consider this specific counsel of the Lord and our response to it. We have already begun the process of exploring repentance so if you have not been to church school in awhile, please consider coming.

First Fruits and the Stewardship of Time

“Wherefore I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.” – Section 59:2a

I attended a time management course many years ago and the instructor challenged us with a simple question: “If you had a 25^th hour each day, how would you spend it? I like most of those there answered with items like: study the scriptures, pray, write a letter to a friend, call someone special, etc. The instructor then asked “Why do we put off to the 25^th hour those activities that are the most meaningful and important to us?” That thought has never left me.

There is no question, our lives our busy. What we choose to fill our lives with though is important. The opening verse of the 59^th section says that when we pass from this life and rest from our labors, our works will follow us. A sobering thought for sure. How have we spent our time? What are our works? Are they for the benefit of the kingdom or some other purpose?

God wants our first fruits. He wants and needs our best. We too often offer Him only the small fragments and pieces of life that are left over after we take care of everything we want to do and justify as necessary. He wants us to take the activities that we would put into the 25^th hour and put them into every hour of every day. He wants ALL of our heart, might, mind and strength and surely He is worthy of every effort we can make in this life to honor Him and promote the kingdom.

It really is just a matter of our focus and priorities. If we can see the bigger picture and understand the true meaning and purpose of our sojourn on earth, then our choices will most certainly change. We labor and toil in worldly affairs because we want to be profitable. King Benjamin taught that all God requires is for us to keep his commandments and if we would do so we would prosper. Alma taught that our days on earth are days of probation and we are here to work out our salvation and live in thanksgiving daily. Much of what presently consumes our time has no lasting or eternal value. If the kingdom is to be a reality in our midst, our focus and priorities must change. We need to be better stewards of our time here on earth.

What a blessing it is to have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our indebtedness to Him is great and while we will never be able to repay the ransom that was paid for us we should labor diligently with all our heart, might, mind and strength for the cause of the kingdom and by so doing become lively stones that are fitly framed together into a spiritual house … the very kingdom of God.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

Sometime in the Fall of 1926 my great grandmother, Nettie Gault, wrote to Elbert A. Smith and asked him to provide a short article for a Religio periodical called “The Echo.” Brother Elbert’s reply was dated October 20, 1926 and is a precious heirloom. The article that he wrote for “The Echo” follows. It’s message I’m sure was timely and addressed needs that existed in the body of Christ at that time. As I read through it recently I found Brother Elbert’s message timeless and also relevant for the body of Christ today and worthy of our contemplation and consideration.

Building the Tower
by Elbert A. Smith

Two things Jesus emphasized: stability of character and continuity of purpose. At one time he said: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” – Luke 14:28

We have seen instances where men have begun to build without counting the cost, and then have tired of the project. A ruined foundation is left, to be known as “John Doe’s Folly.”

A ruined house that has held life and served the end of its creation is not nearly so pathetic as the ruin of an incomplete building that never sheltered life or in any way filled its intended mission. To an old and broken down man who has done his work well, lived his life, builded in his generation, we may give honor and reverence. A man who lost his purpose and abandoned his work before it was finished is a pitiful sight.

Some people begin building the tower of Christian character in a moment of religious fervor. They count the blessings and not the cost. They see the promise of great blessings in this life and eternal salvation in the next world. They fail to count the cost in sacrifice, suffering, toil, self-denial, and self-discipline. Not having counted the cost they soon tire of the enterprise and abandon it. A great tower is not built without toil and sweat and concentrated and sustained effort.

We should select the foundations of life with care. It has been truly said on that point: “Other foundation can no man lay that that is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” His philosophy, his beliefs and assurances concerning immortality, and our relations to God and our fellow men furnish quite the only adequate foundation on which to build the tower of Christian character – true manhood or womanhood. Having begun to build we should persist, perhaps slowly, but by all means certainly, until it is finished.

Christ’s words on the cross: “It is finished”, were significant. So few lives are really finished. Men dwindle out or become discouraged and turn aside. “You ran well for a season” was the epitaph of the Galatians.

Some men are born with a certain stability of character. In his wonderful poem on Lincoln, Markham said that he had “the rectitude and patience of the rocks”, that he “Held the long purpose like a growing tree – Held on through blame and faltered not at praise.”

We may develop stability and continuity. All have to learn to stand erect and walk alone. We can learn to stand erect morally and persist in our chosen course, being always careful to determine that it is a course to be persisted in, and wasting time on no other course.

Perhaps nothing will help us more that during times of peace to lay deep our resolutions against the time of stress. Then when in the Garden of Gethsemane remember the Mount of Transfiguration.

When your body is strong, your mind clear, the Spirit of the Lord illuminating you, choose the better course, plan your life, begin to build your tower. Then if later you find yourself with a body weary, mind confused, the Spirit darkened, remember the resolutions made when you were at your best and highest, and say, “This is no time to make new decisions. I will abide by the decisions made in the best hour I have ever known.”

For most of the Christian world the Book of Mormon is relegated to the same status as the Muslim Koran or Hindu Bhagavad Gita. It is a work of man masquerading as a work of God. While we feel and know differently, does our testimony betray us? How do our lives demonstrate the profound principles, prophecies and witness of Jesus Christ made clear in this marvelous work? Joseph the Palmyra seer said that it was the “most correct book on earth” and the “keystone of our religion.” Is it the keystone of your life?

Sadly, many who proclaim belief in the Book of Mormon, do not give it the prominent place in their lives that it should have. Some have not read it and those that have do not read it regularly nor follow its principles and teachings nor share its wonderful message with others. This treasure from heaven, delivered by the hand of an angel and translated by the power of God, collects dust on too many shelves.

The Book of Mormon came forth not just as an added witness of Jesus Christ. While it certainly is that it is much more. The preface which is a literal translation taken from the very last leaf of the plates is the best definition of it’s purpose; “to shew unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever; …”

It came forth to fulfill the promise that God made with the house of Israel; “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.” (Isa 54:7) And it came forth to be the standard around which latter-day Israel should gather, and the messenger that would prepare the way for the coming of our Savior.

The book cannot take itself to scattered Israel so the Lord call his church out of the wilderness, established the cause of Zion, restored the priesthood and commissioned them as ambassadors, hunters and fishers to seek out lost Israel to unstop their ears and open their eyes and make them clean by washing them in the waters of baptism and place within them the gift of the Holy Ghost that they might once again become his covenant people. For those that profess a belief in the Book of Mormon, this is the work whereunto they are called.

September is an important month in the history of the Book of Mormon because it is the month that plates were delivered to Joseph and as we recently learned in Sunday school the Book of Mormon is “The latter-day trumpet-call sent to invite repentance and warn the Gentiles …” and was “presented to the Palmyra Seer on the Feast of Trumpets, the very day set aside in the Mosaic Law to call Israel to repentance by sounding the trumpet. (see “The Latter-Culmination” by Bob Moore, page 22) The blowing of the trumpets was understood by former day Israel to be a call to repent and prepare oneself to stand trial before God who would execute his judgment ten days later on the day of atonement. The Feast of Trumpets begins on the new moon which this year is September 8.

It is clear perhaps to each of us that the latter-day judgments have already begun. Latter-day revelation makes it clear that judgment would be like a whirlwind and begin on his house (the church) and then go forth from there. Today we find the church fragmented and broken into many pieces and despite our best efforts we continue to fragment and break apart; a clear indication that the whirlwind judgments of God are upon us. In many ways we are also seeing the beginnings of the judgments coming upon the world. Terrorism, economic failure, disease, and natural disasters are all part of the headline news each day and seem to be growing in frequency and scale.

What should our response be to the judgments that are upon us? Is your Book of Mormon dusty?

I’d like to suggest that together we use the month of September to rekindle our passion for the Book of Mormon and ultimately discover in ourselves how we can engage in the great work that it calls us to. It’s message clearly calls (trumpets) us to repentance but it also calls us to thrust in our sickle with our mights and reap while the day lasts.

There are a couple of specific activities that we can participate in:

We can attend the Book of Mormon festival that will be held September 10-11. (Details have been provided as inserts into our bulletin.)

Additionally, we can spend time just reading and studying. I plan to dedicate a minimum of 30 minutes each day in September to reading and studying the Book of Mormon. I want to read it completely through at least once this month. Will you join me? Make reading it a family activity. Gather together around the kitchen table or on the floor in your family room and spend 30 minutes together each day reading this wonderful work. Discuss how its principles can be applied to your lives and how you can build and share a witness of this book with another. You might have to give up 30 minutes of television or some other activity but in the grander scheme it is a small sacrifice for the blessings that will surely come.

“… let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.” (Moroni 9:6)

Corporations spend a great deal of time and effort to develop strategic frameworks and at the heart of any strategic framework are vision and mission statements. Visions define what an organization wants to become and give shape and direction to the organizations future. Westin hotels vision is; “Year after year, Westin and its people will be regarded as the best and most sought after hotel and resort management group in North America.”

Underneath vision statements are mission statements that are precise descriptions of what an organization does. They are definitions of why organizations exist. Westin’s mission is; “In order to realize our vision, our mission must be to exceed the expectations of our customers, whom we define as guests, partners, and fellow employees.”

Strategic frameworks are further defined by values that shape actions, strategies that support the mission and goals and action plans that guide daily and weekly activities. Studies have shown that corporations that have well defined strategic frameworks that are communicated and understood by all are significantly more successful than corporations that do not.

The admonition in Proverbs is true; “Where there is no vision, the people perish; …” We see it with corporations, and there are countless case studies in scripture and the historical record that also prove this to be true. Perhaps this is why the Lord has been so clear to articulate in his word and through the ministry of his son what our vision should be.

Many scriptures could be cited but an oft quoted one comes from latter day revelation:

“… make known his wonderful works among the people, call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth; that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth; wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, may be glorified in heaven, so on earth, that thy enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power, and glory, forever and ever. Amen.”   — Section 65:1d-f

The kingdom of God on earth is our vision and to support this vision the Church has been given very specific missions. The savior himself stated our primary mission when he said; “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:14) In our day this mission has been rearticulated:

“Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations; firstly, upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews. And, behold, and lo, this shall be their cry, and the voice of the Lord unto all people: Go ye forth unto the land of Zion, that the borders of my people may be enlarged, and that her stakes may be strengthened, and that Zion may go forth unto the regions round about; yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom. Behold, and lo, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.” – Section 108:3a-d

The actions that we take in fulfilling our mission are shaped by values that qualify us to participate in the work of the Church and they too are given in scripture as faith, hope, charity, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, humility, and diligence.

Even specific strategies to support our mission and vision of the kingdom of God on earth are given in latter day revelation. We are told to buy up lands, organize stakes, establish storehouses, and send elders two by two. These are not ends in themselves but are enablers that support the overall mission of the Church.

Districts and branches often set short term goals and activities that further support the overall vision and mission. Planning a preaching series or witnessing weekend are good examples.

While the vision, mission, values and strategies of the Church are clear to most we get lost sometimes in what specifically we can do personally or as a branch. Should we also have a personal vision or a branch vision and mission? I think the clear answer is yes. And they should be aligned with the overall vision and mission of the Church.

I plan to make it a matter of prayer and work with the priesthood and membership of our branch to better define what our specific branch mission should be. We can then define strategies, goals and action plans to work towards our mission. Your thoughts and comments are wanted, needed and welcome.

May the Lord bless us as we endeavor to do his will.