April 10, 2023

From Ben - Personal Titles of Liberty

While cutting an onion this morning, I zinged my thumb with a kitchen knife. 

Only a couple drops of blood made it into the breakfast hash, so hopefully no-one contracts this one-in-a-million disease from ingesting the pan-fried liquid that flows through my veins. 

I put on some green salve and two Spiderman band-aids so the crisis is averted, however, the typing capacity of my thumb is hindered, so instead of the 'thumb + thumb' typing combo usually employed to write these emails, I am attempting the less well know, and less effective  'left pointer finger + right thumb' technique. 

For the first time in my life, I got to sing a musical solo in front of a congregation - I'd been invited to participate in the Easter Program. 

I usually sing in a choir, or with the cover of theatre lights, allowing me some cover and protection,  however, I've never yet stood in open light in the midst of a great crowd. 

The jitters arrived, the classic hand tingles welcomed themselves, and the heart beat started going 60.

 

"Elder Wack, I'm kinda nervous"

He looks at me with the German look and facial expression

"Don't" 

...

"Fair enough, thanks, Elder" 

And the performance went great. 

Those little nudges of encouragement are the real deal.

To quote the Prophet of God

“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication" 

Sometimes when I hear the phrases "by small and simple things great things are brought to pass" or "it's the little things that count" I nod my head in agreement and carry on my way. 

Those statements are true, but often, I don't acknowledge how true. 

Without the little things, we're completely and utterly hooped. 

If I forget my daily prayers, my daily studies; when I forget to make time for the Lord "ere [I'm] aware, I'm left unto [myself], to kick against the pricks" (D&C 121) and "am left unto [my] own strength, therefore [I do not prosper] (Helaman 4)

Or to quote Sam

"I've learned that by small and simple things both great things are brought to pass, but also terrible things. Satan works works the same way" 

I will apostasize from the truth, or, at least leave myself devoid of any spiritual power, if I neglect the little things that keep a testimony ablaze. 

Moroni became one of the greatest leaders in recorded history because of his hyper-concious attendance to the small things. 

The daily focus on Christ and faith for his people, the preparations for war, the little by little building of his cities (remember the 1% better Conference talk? The principle of the aggregation of marginal gains? Moroni would have loved that.)

Then, when a Title of Liberty needed to be raised, he could do it no problem. His character was strong enough, because of his attendance to the little (big) things, that when an act of great heroism was required, he could deliver. 

Such it is for us I believe. 

We will not be in a place to raise our own personal Titles of Liberty in the crisis moments, when we've neglected the little (big) things that make our souls champion enough for the task. 

Or as the Greatest of All said simply

"Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—  

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock"

If we were to pull a Screwtape Letters mindset for a second. 

If I were a devil, and I wanted to destroy a champion soul, or deceive the "very elect" I'd start with their prayers, I'd discourage them from giving praise, I'd encourage them to be excused from giving gratitude, I'd offer gentle thoughts of envy, I'd let them feel excused from sharing simple Gospel truths. 

Now, this isn't to discourage us because of the zillion-bagillion small ways we fall short, because repentance is the skeleton key from every prison door of discouragement, doubt and weakness. 

And of course, on the flip, every small (big) thing we do for the affirmative - daily prayer, scripture study, family prayer, time for the Lord - makes us champion souls and builds us on the rock. 

So that's a great blessing and makes life very exciting. 

Had interviews with President Stacey this week. 

I love this man. 

Before this last interview, I had only 45 minutes left of pure interview time with him (now I've only got 30) and I was thinking what some of the most important things I should talk about with him were. 

In the end, I concluded that asking for his testimony of Christ would probably be the most important thing. 

So that's what I did. 

It was worth it. 

"Elder Smith, irrespective of anything now, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, the Apostles, anything, I know Jesus Christ lives. Now, don't get me wrong, I love each of these things and need them still, however, my witness is so personal to me from the Lord Himself that I know He lives outside of the witness of those things" 

That's a paraphrase, but it was one of the portions he shared with me. 

I'm gonna miss President Rulon Stacey. He is a good man and has changed my life. 

Finally, Happy Easter, eh? 

I'm grateful Christ lives :) 

I seriously take for granted the gift that because of Him, we will all live again. 

The abyss and void of death no longer needs to hold its existential dread on the soul who knows Christ was resurrected. 

Now, radical hope and an explosion of relief can come to weary and weeping people who consider death an ultimate destination. 

The crazier part too is how firmly we can believe this fact. It's not a conjured belief intended to calm frantic souls. 

We have scriptural witnesses, Prophetic witnesses, and finally the ultimate, personal witness that comes from the Holy Ghost. 

I firmly believe Jesus Christ is alive right now. 

I've felt great hope and felt the unique peace that comes from the Spirit as I've prayed and sought for it. 

I know the truest joy comes through obedience to the laws (commandments) that bring the truest joy - God's Celestial laws. 

It's true 

Love you each!

- Elder Smith

[Zone adventures (I accidentally totally cloaked half the Zone in the jumping picture, my bad), weekly Planning revelation, scriptures to ponder, and the announcement of two Apostles coming to the CTM. Kinda cool]

From Mom - Water Works

Dear Ben,

You know I typically don’t cry easily. Sometimes I’ll be in a situation, like at a funeral, where everyone is crying and I wish I could leak out a tear or two so I don’t look heartless, haha. 

But there is one scenario where the tears gah easily like salty little fountain.

… and that is when Jesus is concerned. 

(It’s such a crazy phenomenon to me.)

Anyway, it seems perfectly providential that I would finish my Jesus study on Easter Monday. It’s taken me ONE YEAR (ten minutes a day on most days) to look up every scripture on Jesus in the Standard Works and this is my take away …

1) In some incomprehensible way, he loves us perfectly and wants to be involved in our lives. (Well, he IS already involved in our lives no matter what, but when we invite him in, it’s with perfect involvement. Just exactly what we need.)

2) When we turn to him, he eases our heart’s burden and magnifies every effort (again, incomprehensible).

A typical morning would find me with my scriptures open, flipping between the Topical Guide and whatever verse I would mark with my little purple pencil. Pretty mechanical, UNTIL I would read a scripture that would capture me. A phrase, a word, or an idea. And I would zone in on it and look up related scriptures, pause and think about it and in the cracks of my pondering would enter the Saviour.

His love. His cheerfulness. Sometimes a gentle chastisement. And thoughts and ideas would come, like a conversation. On a fantastic day, I would do Morning Pages afterwords and oh my, what clarity and communion! And it would impact my entire day, like a confidant, comforting soul-covering blanket. On the days I didn’t do it, I would definitely notice a lack. 

Today it was a phrase in Revelations 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day …” and it immediately cast my thoughts back on our Easter Sunday yesterday. Our family somehow was scheduled to sing in three different songs and I wasn’t feeling very positive about it. But once the program started, which was musical numbers in chronological order from the Crucifixion to the Resurrection with commentary in between, the Spirit entered and my testimony was strengthened as to the reality of his existence, the transcendent sacrifice he offered which, although not completely understood, I’ve at least felt the effects of and I’m learning more all the time. 

And the tears started to flow.

I couldn’t help it. 

When John wrote about “being in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” I think he was talking about that place we get to where our hearts and minds are centred on our relationship with the Saviour and revelation. Just. Flows.

Like a faucet. 

No wonder Christ referred to himself as living water. 

It’s the best kept secret in the universe. Not because it’s secret but because it takes faith, and intention. I think people (including myself) go for the easy answers, the immediate gratification, the societal flow and somehow forget our heavenly home while we’re figuring out life. 

All I can say is that Jesus is a real, tangible power in my life. I love him. And I love everything he has to offer, and when I takes minute to deeply think about it, prepare for the water works begin. 

***

Easter was truly lovely. The boys and Madison came home along with Damon and Rachel and the supper was coma-inducing. I hid $80 worth of chocolate eggs around the house and I love how everyone reverts to childhood in that moment of searching. (We’ll be finding chocolate eggs for weeks, probably). 

Our visit to Steph and Tyler’s was perfect, if not a little short. Loved the warm weather and beautiful little Bowie. Her personality is a crack-up. I might have cried a little when we had to leave again.

Conference was a dream. The trip back uneventful. Here are a few pics …

Randomly, my brother, David was also there with his entire family. Their first time, too! Lots of hugging. The girls weren’t too sure about running the anti-Mormon gauntlet to get to the Conference center but it certainly spurred a good conversation about what if they truly feel like they’re trying to save our souls? It helps to look through the lens of compassion instead of retaliation. 

Some of the truths taught struck me like Lightening, but we can talk about it in person later. 

And lastly, Happy Easter, my dear son.

I love you so much.

I’m proud of you. 

I adore the fact that God sent you to us (along with each of your brothers and sisters, of course) and appreciate the doctrine of forever. Any moment spent on developing your relationship with Jesus is time best spent. 

And I hope you had a great time at the zoo!

Love always,

Mom