Post # 172 -- Are
You Sleeping through the Restoration?
Dear Family and Friends
I guess you could say that today's post is a sort of follow up on yesterday’s post😊 Do your Remember my last post? When
we learned about putting Christ First in our lives?
I wanted to share the following
talk with you – not because it specifically teaches us how to make Christ the
center of our lives or to Put Christ FIRST in our lives, but because it talks
about some of the ways that we can and do become distracted and in some cases
addicted to other things which of course distance us from God and our Savior☹
This talk also may help those of
you who may have some sort of addiction to one thing or another. And if my
middle son is reading this – Remember, Son, there is always hope. Your Savior,
Jesus Christ is there to help you change, you can make better choices for your
life. If you ask Him, He will be your strength when yours is weak😊 😊
I promise you that when you are
ready He will be there to help you to make the changes in your life necessary
for you to become what your Heavenly Father knows you have the potential to
become in this life to prepare your family for the life to come😊 I love
you Son. Please don’t wait too long to turn your life around. Remember what
living your type of lifestyle did to you uncles☹ ☹
This talk was given during the Priesthood
session of our last General Conference, but I believe there are a few things in
this talk that can equally apply to many of us here on the earth – myself
included. I used to be what was called a ‘chain smoker. I would finish one
cigarette only to light my next one from the bottom of the first one. It was a
very bad habit that quickly formed into an addiction – something I could not
live without! ☹☹
Something else I became addicted
to at a young age was alcohol – I went to bed with a bottle and I got up with
as bottle☹ I know it was a very sad time in my life. I always
had my bottle of alcohol with me wherever I went. As I got older I never lived
more than a couple of blocks from a local bar☹ I was in
pretty sad shape for quite a few years☹ It was during this time in my life that I really
wanted to know if God was real😊
Are You Sleeping
through the Restoration?
By
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second
Counselor in the First Presidency
There is too much at stake for us
as individuals, as families, and as Christ’s Church to give only a halfhearted
effort to this sacred work.
Nearly 200 years ago, the American
short story “Rip Van Winkle” became an instant classic. The main character,
Rip, is an unambitious man who is very good at avoiding two things: work and
his wife.
One day, while wandering in the
mountains with his dog, he discovers a group of strangely dressed men drinking
and playing games. After accepting some of their liquor, Rip becomes drowsy and
closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens his eyes again, he is surprised to
find that his dog is gone, his rifle has rusted, and he now has a long beard.
Rip makes his way back to his
village only to discover that everything has changed. His wife has died, his
friends are gone, and the portrait of King George III in the tavern has been
replaced by a portrait of someone he does not recognize—by General George Washington.
Rip Van Winkle had been sleeping for
20 years! And in the process, he had missed one of the most exciting periods in
the history of his country—he had slept
through the American Revolution.
In
May 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used this story as an illustration
for his speech “Don’t Sleep Through the Revolution.”1
Today, I would like to take the same
theme and propose a question to all of us who hold God’s priesthood: are you
sleeping through the Restoration?
We Are Living in the Time of the Restoration
Sometimes
we think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that is complete,
already behind us—Joseph Smith translated the
Book of Mormon, he received priesthood keys, the Church was organized. In
reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now.
It includes “all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the
“many great and important things” that “He will yet reveal.”2 Brethren,
the exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of
preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior,
Jesus Christ.
This is one of the most remarkable
periods of the world’s history! Ancient prophets yearned to see our day.
When our time in mortality is
complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution
to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s
work? Will we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves and labored with all
our heart, might, mind, and strength? Or will we have to admit that our role
was mostly that of an observer?
I suppose there are a variety of
reasons why it is easy to become a bit sleepy with regard to building the
kingdom of God. Let me mention three major ones. As I do, I invite you to
ponder if any might apply. If you see room for improvement, I ask you to
consider what could be done to change for the better.
Selfishness
First, selfishness.
Those who are selfish seek their own
interests and pleasure above all else. The central question for the selfish
person is “What’s in it for me?”
Brethren, I am sure you can see that
this attitude is clearly contrary to the spirit required to build God’s
kingdom.
When we seek self-service over
selfless-service, our priorities become centered on our own recognition and
pleasure.
Naturally,
we all have a desire for recognition, and there is nothing wrong with relaxing
and enjoying ourselves. But when seeking the “gain and praise of
the world”4 is a
central part of our motivation, we will miss the redemptive and joyful
experiences that come when we give generously of ourselves to the work of the
Lord.
What is the remedy?
The answer, as always, lies in the
words of Christ:
“Whosoever will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever
shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”5
Those who wholeheartedly turn their
lives over to our Savior and serve God and fellowman discover a richness and
fulness to life that the selfish or egotistic will never experience. The
unselfish give of themselves. These may be small gifts of charity that have a grand
impact for good: a smile, a handshake, a hug, time spent in listening, a soft
word of encouragement, or a gesture of caring. All these acts of kindness can
change hearts and lives. When we take advantage of the unlimited opportunities
to love and serve our fellowmen, including our spouse and family, our capacity
to love God and to serve others will greatly increase.
Those who serve others will not
sleep through the Restoration.
I know
that most of us can fit into this first category of being selfish at least one
time in our lives! Am I right or what? Sad but true. At one time we have all
been a little bit selfish over one thing or another throughout our lives. I
know as well that we can overcome selfishness with service😊 Serving others is one way that we can become closer
to your Savior and your Heavenly Father😊
Addictions
Another thing that may cause us to
sleepwalk through this significant season of the world is addiction.
Addictions often begin subtly.
Addictions are thin threads of repeated action that weave themselves into thick
bonds of habit. Negative habits have the potential to become consuming
addictions.
These binding chains of addiction
can have many forms, like pornography, alcohol, sex, drugs, tobacco, gambling,
food, work, the Internet, or virtual reality. Satan, our common enemy, has many
favorite tools he uses to rob us of our divine potential to accomplish our
mission in the Lord’s kingdom.
It saddens our Heavenly Father to
see how willingly some of His noble sons extend their wrists to accept the
chains of devastating addictions.
Brethren, we bear the eternal
priesthood of Almighty God. We are truly sons of the Most High and are endowed
with unspeakable potential. We are designed to soar freely through the heavens.
We are not meant to be shackled to the earth, imprisoned in straitjackets of
our own making.
The first thing we must understand is that addictions
are so much easier to prevent than to cure. In the Savior’s words, “Suffer
none of these things to enter into your heart.”6
Several years ago, President
Thomas S. Monson and I were offered an opportunity to tour Air Force One—the magnificent aircraft that transports the president of the
United States. There were painstaking security checks by the Secret Service,
and I smiled a little as agents searched our dear prophet prior to boarding.
Then the pilot in command invited me
to take the captain’s seat. It was a remarkable experience to again sit at the
helm of a wonderful flying machine like the kind I had flown for so many years.
Memories of flights across oceans and continents filled my heart and mind. I
envisioned exciting takeoffs and landings at airports all over the world.
Almost unconsciously, I placed my
hands on the four throttles of the 747. Just then, a beloved and unmistakable
voice came from behind—the voice of Thomas S. Monson.
“Dieter,” he said, “don’t even think
about it.”
I’m not admitting to anything, but it
just may be that President Monson read my mind.
When we are tempted to do things we
should not do, let us listen to the loving warning of trusted family and
friends, our beloved prophet, and always the Savior.
But what of those who find
themselves in the grip of addiction?
Please know, first of all, that there is hope. Seek
help from loved ones, Church leaders, and trained counselors. The Church
provides addiction recovery help through local Church leaders, the Internet,7 and in
some areas, LDS Family Services.
Always remember, with the Savior’s
help, you can break free from addiction. It may be a long, difficult path,
but the Lord will not give up on you. He loves you. Jesus Christ
suffered the Atonement to help you change, to free you from the captivity of
sin.
The most important thing is to keep
trying—sometimes it takes several
attempts before people find success. So don’t give up. Don’t lose
faith. Keep your heart close to the Lord, and He will give you the power
of deliverance. He will make you free.
My dear brethren, always keep far
away from habits that could lead to addiction. Those who do so will be
able to devote their heart, might, mind, and strength to the service of God.
They will not sleep through the
Restoration.
These
habits can include almost anything that you can’t seem to get through a day
without☹ ☹ I suggest that if you must have a habit choose to
let the Lord be your habit. Get up in the morning with Him. Go throughout your
day with Him on your mind and by your side. Go to bed with thanks to Him for
the blessings received that day😊
If you
have an addiction ask the Lord for His help, Fully Rely On God and the
power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in your life!!! Let the power of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ give you the strength you need to overcome any and all
addictions that you may have. Read from the book of Mormon and find the power
of this sacred book of scripture😊
I believe
that there is a great power within the pages of this sacred volume of
scripture. It has the power to change your life – if you chose to allow it to
work in your lives😊 YOU will find the
peace that you didn’t even know that you were seeking – until you have found
it!!! Then you wont want to live without it😊You don’t need to believe me, just try it for
yourselves!!
Your
Heavenly Father sent His Only Begotten Son, to die on our behalf. To be
tortured, tormented, spit upon, beaten, battered and bruised, a spear thrown
into His side, nails hammered into his hands and His feet, all for the sake of
all who will believe in Him. Believe that He is the Christ that was spoken of
in the Old Testament who should come into the world to save all mankind.
Competing Priorities
A third obstacle that
prevents us from fully engaging in this work is the many competing
priorities we face. Some of us are so busy that we feel like a cart
pulled by a dozen work animals—each straining in a different direction. A lot of
energy is expended, but the cart doesn’t go anywhere.
Often we devote our best efforts in
pursuit of a hobby, a sport, vocational interests, and community or political
issues. All these things may be good and honorable, but are they leaving us
time and energy for what should be our highest priorities?
What is the remedy?
Once again, it comes from the words
of the Savior:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
“This is the first and great
commandment.
“And
the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Everything else in life should be
secondary to these two great priorities.
Even in Church service, it is easy
to spend a lot of time just going through the motions without the heart or the
substance of discipleship.
Brethren, we as priesthood bearers
have committed to be a people who love God and our neighbor and who are willing
to demonstrate that love through word and deed. That is the essence of who we
are as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Those who live up to these
principles will not sleep through the Restoration.
These
two principles or commandments may not seem easy to some of us, but they are
very well worth all of the time and effort that you can and should put into
doing them😊😊 the
First one is to Love God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind. We are indeed commanded to love God as well as loving our
neighbors as ourselves😊
I have
struggled with loving myself for so many years that is has not come easy for me
to love myself☹ I think for me it is so much easier to love others than myself, but
in not loving myself for all those years it also made it harder to love others
as Christ loves them☹
With
that said I know that it is very possible to see others as Christ sees them and
I am beginning to love others as He loves them. I know that it will take time,
I also know that it is worth the effort😊 I know that I am better at this and so you too can
be better at loving yourselves if that is something that you struggle with as
well😊
A Call to Awaken
The
Apostle Paul wrote, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ
shall give thee light.”
My dear friends, know that you are
sons of light.
Don’t allow selfishness! Don’t allow
habits that could lead to addiction! Don’t allow competing priorities to lull
you into indifference or detachment from blessed discipleship and ennobling
priesthood service!
There is too much at stake for us as
individuals, as families, and as Christ’s Church to give only a halfhearted
effort to this sacred work.
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is
not an effort of once a week or once a day. It is an effort of once and for
all.
The Lord’s promise to His true
priesthood holders is almost too grand to comprehend.
Those
who are faithful unto the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods and magnify their
callings “are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their
bodies.” Therefore, all that our Father has will be given unto them.10
I testify that the cleansing power of the Atonement of Jesus
Christ and the transformative power of the Holy Ghost can heal and rescue
mankind. It is our privilege, our sacred duty, and our joy to heed the
Savior’s call to follow Him with a willing mind and full purpose of heart. Let
us “shake off the chains with which [we] are bound, and come forth out of
obscurity, and arise from the dust.”11
Let
us be awake and not be weary of well-doing, for we “are
laying the foundation of a great work,”12 even
preparing for the return of the Savior. Brethren, when we add the light of our
example as a witness to the beauty and power of restored truth, we will not
sleep through the Restoration. Of this I testify and leave you my blessing in
the sacred name of our Master, even Jesus Christ, amen.
So, what did you think of this talk? I
hope you were able to apply some portions to you own lives and then there are
other portions that may help you to help a loved one, friend or neighbor at
some point😊and please remember
that it doesn’t take very long for a habit to become an addiction – even if it
is a good thing, like I loved to play games on my phone, which is okay in and
of itself😊
But then I had to play those games in
every spare minute of every day. In doing this I was not doing the things that
I needed to do. Then one day I got my phone out to play and the thought came to
me that I really had been playing these games an awful lot lately. I had to
delete them off my phone because I kept going back to them when I shouldn’t be
playing them at all☹
I think I
tried to justify myself playing them because they were word games and the like,
just of different forms. As I was playing them I kept telling myself that I
could beat my highest score then pretty soon it was three or four hours later☹ then
I would be mad at myself for wasting so much time on a dumb game, but then be
right back at the next time I could find a way to play it.
Addictions,
big or small, yet they are still addictions. Some you can overcome on your own,
others you will need the help of our family, good friends, your Bishop or other
Ecclesiastical Leader. Maybe a professional counselor or group therapy…
whatever and whomever you need to stop your addiction you need to do what you
can to overcome it!!!
I know that
you can overcome any addiction with the Lord’s help!!! You must put your trust
in Him and fully rely on Him to give you the strength and courage you need to
make it through the darkest hour😊 I know that I make it sound so easy. Truly
I do realize just how hard it is, but the Lord will help you make it through
anything.
He will be
your light at the end of the tunnel. He will be your strength when your own
fails. He will be your comfort when there doesn’t seem to be any. He will be
the arms that hold you when you’re all alone. He will be the courage you need
to take another step. He will be by your side as you continue on your journey
through those dark nights and dismal days of working through your addiction,
not knowing if you can make it another second!!!
Your Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ will be there with you. He has already paid the price of
your freedom from this awful addiction. Please let Him work in your life and
help you become the person He knows that you can become. You will only be able
to make the necessary changes in your life with His help😊
Let the Holy Ghost work in you to help you transform yourself!
You know I am
sure that I have mentioned this before, but my mother said that the good Lord will
never give you anything that He knows that you can handle --- with His help!!! It
is so important to remember that last little part -with His help!!!- He is
there waiting to help each one of us, all we need do is to ask😊
I know that I
have been focusing on the second reason that President Uchtdorf gave in this
talk for not participation in the Restoration let’s review what else he said
could be barriers for us to help in the building of the kingdom of God:
1. Selfishness –
When we seek self-service over
selfless-service, our priorities become centered on our own recognition and
pleasure.
2. Addictions –
These binding chains of addiction
can have many forms, like pornography, alcohol, sex, drugs, tobacco, gambling,
food, work, the Internet, or virtual reality. Satan, our common enemy, has many
favorite tools he uses to rob us of our divine potential to accomplish our
mission in the Lord’s kingdom.
3. Competing Priorities –
Often we devote our best efforts in
pursuit of a hobby, a sport, vocational interests, and community or political
issues. All these things may be good and honorable, but are they leaving us
time and energy for what should be our highest priorities?
4. A Call to Awaken –
There is too much at stake for us as
individuals, as families, and as Christ’s Church to give only a halfhearted
effort to this sacred work.
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is
not an effort of once a week or once a day. It is an effort of once and for
all.
He also said
that ‘the Restoration is an ongoing process’ and that ‘we are living in it right now.’ ‘It includes
“all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the “many great
and important things” that “He will yet reveal”
He said that ‘the
exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of
preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior,
Jesus Christ.’ He also said that
‘This is one of the most remarkable periods of the world’s history! Ancient
prophets yearned to see our day.
I think the next part here is so important ‘ When our time in mortality is complete, what
experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this
significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work? Will
we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves and labored with all our heart,
might, mind, and strength? Or will we have to admit that our role was mostly
that of an observer?
So President
Uchtdorf asked us in his talk to ponder what he has said and if any might
apply, if we see room in our lives for improvement, he asked us to consider
what can be done in our lives to change for the better😊 I too am extending this invitation to each one of
you [and me too].Are we being selfish,
do we have any addictions that we need to take care of, are we hearkening to
the call to awaken?
Okay, I will
stop rambling, but you should know that I believe we can do all things in the
strength of the Lord. Just think about all I have shared with you today. As always,
I hope, and I pray that I have shared something that has been helpful to you
for yourself or for a loved one😊a friend or coworker.
Please do continue
to say your prayers every day at least morning and night. Continue studying
your scriptures with your family and study the Book of Mormon with me😊
and of course all of our cyber study buddies our there in cyber space! Until my
next post, please do make it a spectacular week😊
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