VI. AND HOW IS THIS TO BE?My father in the last stages of stomach cancer, when his spirit had outgrown his body, stood the last fast and testimony meeting before his “graduation” as he called it and recited:
MOSIAH 3:19 “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”
IT BEGINS WITH A BROKEN HEART AND A CONTRITE SPIRIT WILLING TO SUBMIT OUR WILL To His AND TAP INTO THE SOURCE OF DIVINE LEADERSHIP. We have access to the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, Personal revelation. The Lord explains, “…I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.” (D&C 8:2)
IN FEBRUARY OF 1847, THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH APPEARED TO BRIGHAM YOUNG IN A DREAM OR VISION. PRESIDENT YOUNG ASKED THE PROPHET IF HE HAD A MESSAGE FOR THE BRETHREN. THE PROPHET JOSEPH REPLIED, “Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice, it will teach you what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom.” (Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 23 Feb. 1847, 2 vols., ed. Elden Jay Watson, Salt Lake City: Elden J. Watson, 1968, 1971, 2:529.)
Of all the truth he might have taught Brigham Young on that occasion, he emphasized the importance of keeping the Spirit of the Lord. CAN WE ASK FOR MORE?
We have a handbook.
D&C 88 [“The Olive Leaf-The Lord’s Message of peace to us.”]
I will go before your face…’ (D&C 84:88)
Alma 37:37 [“Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee for good. . .”]
# 1 Keep an eternal perspective. This life is short.
I came to realize this one day in Arizona. [Sister Kapp told a story at this point. She said that her Niece was away from home while having a baby, and Sister Kapp was babysitting her Great Nephew. She and the boy were painting rocks together when the boy asked her:]
“HOW MANY BIRTHDAYS DO YOU HAVE Left?”
[Sister Kapp was surprised by the question but decided to answer that when the boys mother comes home with the new baby, she herself would leave and return to her own home in Utah and that even though she was away, the grand nephew would still know that she loved him, even though they were not together at that time. She likened this to death, we go to separate homes for a while, but you still know that you are loved and cared about by those who you can’t be with at the time, but you know that when you can, you will all be able to feel each others love. The boy was very satisfied with Sister Kapp’s explaination and returned to his rock painting project.]
Helaman 5:12 “…it is on the rock of our redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation…”
Testimony
CAN WE ASK FOR MORE?
The scriptures give us an eternal perspective
Crossing the Ditch
Now I would like to share the most significant lesson on leadership of self that I learned from my father on the farm that continues to inspire, lead, guide and direct me every day.
It was in the springtime of the year at the end of the day. A time to evaluate the activities of our day. Did what we want to have happen, happen?
On [one particular] morning, my Dad and I stood side by side at the edge of our main irrigation ditch. “I’m going to teach you how to vault across this ditch” he explained. As I stood watching the water that seemed to get deeper and deeper and the ditch wider and wider. Sensing my obvious concern, Dad offered a suggestion, “Ardie,” he said, “Don’t look at the water in the ditch. Look beyond the ditch. You keep your eye on the bank on the other side. It’s keeping your eye on the target that makes the difference.” He took the shovel that he was carrying on his shoulder, placed it in the middle of the ditch and, holding on for stability, stepped across like I had seen him do many times. Then it was my turn. He helped me get a firm hold on the handle of the shovel. As I waited and waited at the side of the ditch, Dad said these words that resound in my heart and mind today. “Don’t wait. Keep your eyes on that clump of flowers on the other side of the ditch. Give it all you’ve got and you’ll make it.” Taking a deep breath, I tightened my grip, gave it all I had and swung forward. I made it. I landed right on top of the clump of flowers. I looked back and with hands clasped over his head, Dad shouted, “I knew you could do it.” At the end of the day, as we got in the truck and were headed for home, it was time for evaluation. What did you learn today he asked in a very casual tone. “I learned to jump the ditch,” I responded proudly. What he had planned to have happen, happened. And the lesson continued in a tone of testimony. “My dear, there will be a lot of irrigation ditches in life that you will have to cross, some deep and some wide but if you keep your eye on the other side and give it all you’ve got, you will make it.”
That lesson rings true today. Not the shovel but the iron rod. Not the other side of the ditch but the other side of the veil, and hearing in my mind my Father and your Father whose children we are, telling us “I knew you could make it.” “. . .Well done, thou good and faithful servant: Thou hast been faithful over a few things. . .”(Matthew 25:21) and are ready now to take on even greater leadership responsibilities.
May God bless each of us in our leadership responsibilities and opportunities, I pray...
No comments:
Post a Comment