Relationships

Relationships are strengthened by forgiveness, not freedom from offense.
Simplicity will replace duplicity as I stop looking for fig leaves, preferring an honest image of who I am.
I will admit my faults, frankly repent of every one, and trust forgiveness to preserve treasured relationships.

Eye single

As a teenager, I self-righteously checked whether any girl I saw was dressed modestly. Of course they weren’t. Ironically, watching the lines meant that I saw every immodesty. Look for faults and the whole world is miserably dark.

Open up your eyes and see God’s goodness everywhere. See the depth of His condescension to dwell with mankind. Ponder the fullness of His mercy toward you, your friends, your enemies, and unmet generations. Let everyone you see display God’s goodness: then, if your eye is single, your whole body will be filled with light.

Visions

What can I do to receive the visions that the Lord has promised?

• “every soul [shall see my face and know that I am] who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments”
• “all the pure in heart [shall see God] that shall come into it… my glory shall rest upon it; Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, … inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it”
• “All the faithful may see the vision of the degrees of glory … by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him; To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves”.

Is it not because the Lord rations visions (He gives generously), nor that He reserves them for periods of restoration (visions are intended for all times). The angel didn’t warn Nephi that most people don’t see visions like Lehi. Nor did the angel discourage him when he asked “to behold the things which my father saw.”

How would seeing a vision affect me? How would I see my position after having received it? If I would think myself superior to those around me or an obligate leader (I have trouble with that now), then my reaction is damning: it stops further light. I need to be content to be taught as a humble follower of Christ and not necessarily a leader.

Harvest

The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few… despite frequent representations of laborers filling chapels and classrooms, scarce among their neighbors as seekers of truth. God is not a corrupt tree that brings forth a scarcity of truth-seeking children. A dearth of work cannot console my idleness: instead, white fields magnify the tragedy of my slothfulness.

Help me perceive the plenteous field-ripened grain in the humanity surrounding me!

Who?

Whosoever perishes, perishes unto himself: whosoever lives, lives to others.

Holiness is

Holiness is not being redeemed while casting others down to hell: holiness is loving, redeeming, and extending to those who don’t seem chosen.

Inadequate

I went home teaching. I felt inadequate; they said that I’ve been great.

Don’t let guilt about not being the best curtail efforts to be better.

People

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Being with people who have had much forgiven is a powerful spiritual boost.

Initiative

Nephi has amazing initiative. He didn’t say: “Lord, I don’t even have tools: how should I make a ship?” I might say that. And Nephi might be right in accusing me, as he did his brothers, that I was desirous that I might not labor. How often do I say to the Lord: “Home teaching? I don’t even have an appointment!” or companion, or lesson. Where might I go that I may find an appointment?

Hurry is Waste

I stole extra minutes in the library.

I got scared the bus would leave me.

People were obstacles: I out-navigated them.

The grounds held me back: I went faster than they stretched.

I beat the bus to the stop.

More wasted time!

When I hold my time all-valuable, everyone else is an inefficiency, an opponent: meant to be squashed.