D is for Diligence

Diligence. To be diligent means to put forth a "steady, consistent, earnest, and energetic effort" (Preach My Gospel Chapter 6: "Diligence" pg 121). It means pushing through even when times are tough.

The principle of diligence has been engrained in who I am since before I can remember. Sports has always been a huge part of my family life, especially football. This may be due to the fact that my dad is a football coach, an offensive line coach to be specific. My dad has recently taken hold of the saying "Do it! Do it right! Do it now! Do it again!" and he uses this for his players as well as for us his children. He put it on the back of a shirt he designed for his players as a reminder of how diligence, and constantly working on small things, helps to accomplish the great and grand things in life (see Alma 37:6). My father, the wonderful man that he is, has sent me an email every week since I've been out on my mission. He wrote me the following in the heat of the football season:

"In this age of constant sports highlights on TV, it is easy to overlook the fact that the execution of the basics is what leads to success in the arena of sports. What is shown on TV, in form of highlights on SportsCenter, is barely the tip of the iceberg in regards to what really leads to being successful in sports. It is not the spectacular which leads to long-term success...it is the execution of the basics. Sure, the highlight reel play may provide momentary success, but execution of the basics leads to success for the long haul...
There is a life lesson to be learned here. The celebrities of the world are not what makes this world go around. It is the common efforts of the common people which lead humanity. In reality, what is the value of what the celebrities do? My answer: provide and "escape" moment for us commoners to get lost in while we rest from our common efforts...just so we can go out once again and perform our common duties.
DO IT! DO IT RIGHT!! DO IT NOW!!! DO IT AGAIN!!!!  These are no just word on the back of one very cool shirt...It is a motto I hope my offensive linemen carry into their lives which will serve them forever. In is one I hope you also can carry with you in realizing that the common efforts of us all can lead to uncommon happenings, thus making the common people the unsung heroes of the world."

So you see, you don't have to be high up in the world to make a difference in your efforts. You my dear readers, make a difference each and every day in someone's life, that is a fact. It is up to you however, to make the choice if it is positive or negative.

I'm reminded of another wonderful insight my father shared with me:

"While at the Pro Bull Riding competition, I couldn't help but notice that the rider had only one way of getting off that bucking bull and that was to get thrown off by that huge animal who was not in a very good mood. There was no such thing as a graceful dismount. The rider knew that once the gate opened, he would not get off that bull nicely. Whether he rode the required eight seconds or not, he was going to be thrown from the bull and land in the dirt. Yet, some riders kept coming back for more...despite knowing how their ride was going to end. LIFE LESSON: Sometimes in life, we know that we will be challenged and that the challenges may not be very comfortable. Yet, in order to grow, we can't back down. We must rise to the challenge. It is once we have risen that we will notice that we are on a higher plane than we were before."

Isn't my father just wonderful? He great insights and puts them so beautifully. Is it any wonder that I look forward to his emails each week?

Back to the point though, diligence is about rising to the challenge. It isn't about never falling, it's about getting up and continuing on when we do fall. Along the way, we will learn and grow and truly be on higher ground than when we started.

Diligence means using the atonement when we fall short or feel weak and learning to have charity for those you meet along the way.

Diligence is exercising our agency, or freedom to choose. If we choose to be diligent in that which is good, just, and true (Moroni 10:6), we will find true that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

However, diligence is also balance. "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order ; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27). In other words, don't push yourself beyond your limits and take time to enjoy life.

So the question arises, as always, why diligence?

Well if we go through this life and "if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes" (Doctrine and Covenants 121:8). 

Also "There is a law , irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21). Diligence is also being obedient and when when we do so, we are able to obtain all the blessings that God intended for us to receive. 

As one wise person put it "Quit making excuses, putting it off, complaining about it, dreaming about it, whining about it, crying about it, believing you can't, worrying if you can, waiting until you're older, skinnier, richer, braver, or all around better. Suck it up, hold on tight, say a prayer, make a plan and JUST DO IT!"

Diligence starts now. Nothing will ever happen in your life if you choose not to act. Go out and do it, whatever it may be, praying all the way, and you will make it!

C is for Charity

Charity. It is defined as "the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ" (Bible Dictionary "Charity"). So charity is to love as Christ loves. It is pure, it is unconditional, it is eternal.
If we want to look at how Christ loved and list all the ways he displayed charity throughout His mortal life and how He continues to exercise charity, we would fill up books without number (see John 21:25). So instead, I'll just quote one of my favorite songs that has several examples:

"His Hands" -by Kenneth Cope

His hands, tools of creation, stronger than nations, power without end, and yet through them we find our truest friend. His hands, sermons of kindness, healing men's blindness, halting years of pain, children waiting to be held again...
 His hands, lifting a leper, warming a beggar, calling back the dead, breaking bread, five thousand fed. His hands, hushing contention, pointing to heaven, ever free of sin, then bidding man to follow him.

His hands would serve his whole life through, showing man what hands might do, giving, ever giving, endlessly. Each day was filled with selflessness, and I'll not rest until i make of my hands what they could be, 'til these hands become like those from Galilee.
His hands, clasped in agony, as he he lay pleading, bleeding in the garden, while just moments away, other hands betray him, out of greed, shameful greed.

And then his hands, are trembling, straining to carry the beam that they've been nailed to, as he stumbles through the streets, heading for the hill on which he'd die, he would die.
They take his hands, his mighty hands, those gentle hands, and then they pierce them, they pierce them, he lets them, because of love.
From birth to death was selflessness, and clearly now i see him with his hands, calling to me. And though I'm not yet as i would be, He has shown me how I could be. I'll make my hands like those from Galilee.

 To love as Christ did, we must love our neighbor as ourselves (see Leviticus 19:18). Now this isn't a conditional thing that we must practice only when our neighbors, or fellow human beings, are nice and kind to us. It means that we must always recognize and respect each and every person for who they truly are, children of God. Three specific examples come to my mind.

1.) Jesus Christ

 Kind of obvious isn't it? Our Savior was the perfect example of charity and has always displayed it both before He came to earth, His life on earth, and he continues to show charity towards all mankind (see section above and/or A is for Atonement). The particular instance I'm thinking of though is when our Lord and Savior hung in agony on the cross, dying a most cruel death. In this moment of time, Christ begs with the Father to "forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). He exercises great charity to those who tortured him so, he loved them despite their cruelty.

2.) The People of Zarahemla
The scriptures are full of many wonderful examples of charity, both of individuals and groups. One of my favorites though is found in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a book I have referenced to often, regarding a group of people who lived in a city called Zarahemla on the American continent in about the year 120 B.C. These wonderful people had just been told the history of the mercies that God had shown to a group of people led by a man named Alma and their escape from bondage from their enemies, a group of people called the Lamanites.
"And now, when Mosiah had made an end of reading the records, his people who tarried in the land were struck with wonder and amazement. For they knew not what to think; for when they beheld those that had been delivered out of bondage they were filled with exceedingly great joy. And again, when they thought of their brethren who had been slain by the Lamanites they were filled with sorrow, and even shed many tears of sorrow. And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage , they did raise their voices and give thanks to God. And again, when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful and polluted state, they were filled with pain and anguish for the welfare of their souls" (Mosiah 25:7-11)
Wow! Can you see now why I love the people of Zarahemla? They had such great charity that the cried tears of joy for their brethren, whom they had just met, and the protection and guidance that God gave to them. They also shed tears of sorrow for the wickedness of their enemies. They truly took to heart the words of the Savior to "love your enemies , bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44), and as such were filled with that love, or charity.

3.) Pacha
I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the movie The Emperor's New Groove, but it's another movie that I love. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, let me give a little background. For those of you who are familiar with the movie, bear with me , there is a point that I'm making by bringing it up. Pacha shows great charity throughout this whole movie. He is summoned to the palace to see Emperor Cuzco. The Emperor, in a not so cordial way, told Pacha that he was going to destroy his village to build a summer house for himself. Pacha departs, disheartened and made the long trek home. In an interesting series of events, Pacha finds at his disposal the very man who vowed to make him homeless (in the form of a llama).

Pacha could have wrung his neck or let him perish in the jungle, he does battle with the idea for a bit, but  he decided to exercise charity and compassion and helps the Cuzco get home to the palace and get turned human again. Along the way, Cuzco learns to have charity for Pacha as well and they become life long friends. 
This example shows us that charity, isn't something that always comes naturally to all of us, but it is something that we must gain.
So how does one acquire charity?
In order to obtain this gift from God, we must "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love" (Moroni 7:48). It goes with the concept, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11:9-10). Our Heavenly Father will give us that which we ask of Him because we are His children and He loves us dearly. 
That doesn't mean however that we can just pray for charity and be mean to everyone. Charity leads to action, so we must be willing to do something. Be willing to give it our best effort and let God make up the difference. Effort is required but the rewards are endless.

Nice information, but why do we need it? 
Well first off, "...if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail— But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him" (Moroni 7:46-47). Furthermore, "And though [we] have the gift of prophecy , and understand all mysteries , and all knowledge; and though [we] have all faith, so that [we] could remove mountains, and have not charity, [we are] nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:2). Without it, we are nothing and we cannot progress. Charity is not always easy, but it helps us to closer follow our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In fact we are promised, "[we] may become the sons [and daughters] of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure" (Moroni 7:48). Who doesn't want to become purified and receive God's image in our countenances? (see Alma 5:14).

Follow that perfect example of that being who endlessly shows charity to his children and learn to more personally "love thy neighbour as thyself" (Leviticus 19:18).

B is for Baptism

Baptism. It's a word that probably most of us are familiar with. It is derived "from a Greek word meaning to 'dip' or 'immerse'" (Bible Dictionary Baptism). This means we must be fully immersed or covered in water and then come back up. It is one of the first covenants, or promises, that we make with our Heavenly Father. (see Articles of Faith 1:4)

The covenant that we make with God is that we will first, take upon us the name of Christ, second always to remember Him, and third to keep His commandments (Moroni 4:3 and Moroni 5:2). For better understanding, let's break it down into those three different parts.



1.) Taking Upon us the Name of Christ

Taking Christ's name upon us means that we heed the counsel He gave us: "what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Nephi 27:27). 
It means we must "to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9).
It means stopping to think "what would Jesus do?" as cheesy as that sounds.
Think about your last name, how people associate you with it. It's a name that ties you to the people you love most, your family. You want to do your best to uphold the family name so that only great things are associated with your last name and your family's name. Taking upon us the name of Christ is like having the same last name as Jesus. You don't want to do anything that would disrespect or dishonor His name.

2.) Always Remember Him

This one just seems like a no-brainer to me. How do you repay someone who has saved you in every sense of the word? Remember Him, always remember Him. Now when I think about that phrase, my thoughts turn to one of my favorite movies, "The Lion King". Simba has lost himself and he runs into the wise, old, and slightly crazy monkey Rafiki who shows him that his father lives in him. There is then some "peculiar weather" occurs and we see and hear Mufasa say:

"Simba, you have forgotten me...you have forgotten yourself and so have forgotten me...Remember who you are, you are my son...remember"

Part of remembering our Savior is remembering who we are, children of God. We should act as children of God would. Remembering that helps us to remember the Only Begotten of the Father.

3.) Keep His Commandments

Kind of self-explanatory right?. We promise to obey that which our Heavenly Father asks of us. Some things may be harder to obey than others and those struggling points are different for each of us. We're not expected to be perfect but we are expected to do our best.


Now, that may seem like a lot that is expected of us, but our loving Heavenly Father also gives us three grand promises in return for the three promises we make to Him (that's the way covenants work, a two-way promise with God):

1.) He promises for His Spirit to always be with us. 
To quote The Lion King again, "He lives in you, He lives in me...in your reflection, He lives in you!" As we allow Christ to enter into our hearts and we remain worthy, we can always have Christ's Spirit to dwell with us always through baptism. The Spirit, also known as the Holy Ghost, has many roles "The Holy Ghost has a sanctifying, cleansing effect upon us. The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ and helps us recognize the truth. He provides spiritual strength and helps us do what is right. He comforts us during times of trial or sorrow. He warns us of spiritual or physical danger. The Holy Ghost provides the power by which we teach and learn. The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of our Heavenly Father’s most precious gifts. Through the power of the Holy Ghost we can feel God’s love and direction for us. This gift is a foretaste of eternal joy and a promise of eternal life." (Preach My Gospel Chapter 3 Lesson 3: Gift of the Holy Ghost)

2.) He promises to forgive us of our sins. Who doesn't want that? When we are baptized our sins are washed away. By using the atonement, and continually repenting and doing our best to keep the commandments, we are able to continually be forgiven of wrong doings, so long as we have sincere desire to change.
3.) We are promised that we will be born again in Christ. "And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters" (Mosiah 5:7). This also goes back to taking Christ's name upon us. We get to share a name with Christ. What a blessing!


So that being said, why does it all matter? Well to get straight to the point, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit , he cannot enter into the kingdom of God"(John 3:5). It is necessary to enter the kingdom of God, IT'S A BIG DEAL!!!
Baptism is also the first ordinance of Christ's restored gospel (Articles of Faith 1:4) and is also essential for membership in Christ's restored gospel. 
It is the source of all blessings. Everything good and wonderful in my life can be traced back to my willingness to follow the example of my Savior and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God.
It is one of the best decisions a person can make in life and will bring you closer to your Savior than you ever thought was possible.

A is for Atonement

Atonement. Where do I even begin? Such a huge way to begin.

At it's most basic form, atonement means "the reconciliation of man to God" (Bible Dictionary "Atonement"). We all sin which causes us to be separated from God, so "the purpose of atonement is to correct or overcome the consequences of sin" (Bible Dictionary "Atonement")

Obviously, this is not something we can accomplish by ourselves. "Jesus Christ, as the Only Begotten Son of God and the only sinless person to live on this earth, was the only one capable of making an atonement for mankind." (Bible Dictionary "Atonement")

We know from that, that Jesus Christ was the only one who could atone for our sins. But how did He do it? Well, I'd like to view it in 3 different parts.

1. The Garden of Gethsemane

During the last week of our Savior's life here on earth, He prayed unto the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36). He pleaded with the Father that there might be some other way (Mark 14:36).

"And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22-43-44).

What caused Him such great agony that He did "to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit" (D&C 19:18), was that He took upon himself "the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam" (2 Nephi 9:21).

Christ took upon himself all of our pains and sicknesses in the Garden of Gethsemane. He suffered "more than man can suffer" (Mosiah 3:7)

2. The Crucifixion

 Crucifixion is probably one of the most cruel and slow ways to die and very insulting as well. It is a "Roman form of punishment, usually inflicted only on slaves and the lowest criminals...The punishment was preceded by scourging. The criminal was made to carry his own cross to the place of execution, which was always outside the city. His clothing was the perquisite of the soldiers who carried out the sentence. The cross was driven into the ground so that the feet of the prisoner were a foot or two above the surface. The cross was watched by four soldiers at a time until death took place, which was sometimes not until the third day." (Bible Dictionary "Crucifixion").

This is exactly what happened to our Lord and Savior. He took upon Him our sins and was nailed to a crass to die having so much love for each of us that even in His last hours He asked the Father to forgive those who tortured Him so (see Luke 23:34).


3. The Resurrection

After His body laid in a tomb for three days, Christ rose again and His body was reunited with His Spirit, never to be separated again. He made this possible for everyone: "for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22)


So in summary here's a great scripture: "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." (Alma 7:11-13)

So now that I've overloaded you with information, you might be wondering, "what does this mean for me the reader?" Well my dear readers, I testify to you that it means everything. In the most darkest and lonely moments of my life, and all of my mistakes and sins, I have felt the beauty of becoming clean and and in tune once more and receiving the comfort and love that comes only from experiencing the gift of the atonement. I'd like to close with one of my favorite poems:

"The Touch of the Master's Hand"- by Myra Brooks Welch

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

 

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

 

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

He knows you. He loves you. He needs you. Never give up and heed His invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28) and "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not" (D&C 6:36).

 

An Introduction: Reasoning Behind the Madness

Interesting title of a blog isn't it? Well my friends, there is reasoning behind most everything I do so let me lay it down straight.
 Many of you are familiar with the books "Chicken Soup for the Soul" with inspiring stories about various topics. And I know you all are familiar with the ABC books. I decided to morph the two and create "Alphabet Soup for the Soul". My purpose behind it is to provide a more spiritual type ABC book with some inspirational stories from my life and the lives of other.
 It's not my most original idea and I may not have the most original insights, in fact most of what you read here may be what you already know. But there might be a chance that you may learn something. I love learning and gaining knowledge, but what I love even more than that to share what it is that I learn and know.
So I plan to make my way through alphabet bit by bit and you dear reader, should feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments on your testimony of the various subjects or maybe something that you learned. Let's have an adventure together!