Sunday Series: The Recent Shift

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that following today's ruling by the Supreme Court, same-sex marriages are now legal in the United States. The Court's decision does not alter the Lord's doctrine that marriage is a union between a man and a woman ordained by God. While showing respect for those who think differently, the Church will continue to teach and promote marriage between a man and a woman as a central part of our doctrine and practice." (here)

In the past, I have often wondered (and sometimes complained about) how no one really teaches the correct way to balance truth and tolerance. Everything I read was vague, with comparisons that I didn't always understand, or that did not help. But today I had a thought: what if balancing truth and tolerance isn't something that can be taught?

This week, the Supreme Court, in a close 5-4 vote, legalized same sex marriage in all fifty states. If you haven't heard about it by now, I might be a little concerned for you. It seemed like everything exploded into rainbows when the news came in, and it's the thing on everyone's lips, for good or for bad. As the statement above says, the Church does not support same sex marriage. In fact, twenty or so years ago, the Church released "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" (full text here) which states that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children" and that "gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." As such, how could the Church support today's many gender-neutralizing movements? 

Of course, this is not the be-all and end-all of the Church's teachings on the topics of same sex attraction and marriage. Their teachings also include exhortations to love and support all of our brothers and sisters in this human family, even if they act in a way that is contrary to our beliefs. This is much different than the moral relativism preached in the world today- we believe in absolute truths. However, we also believe in agreeing to disagree, and treating each other with respect as equals in the sight of God. 

My thought today related to the balancing of truth and tolerance as mentioned above. The Church speaks about truth and tolerance, often in the same breath. But what is the best way to balance these seemingly contradictory principles? 

The car that I drive is a 2001 Saturn, a little blue car. It's also a stick shift, which is a rare sight nowadays. The first time I drove that car, I was with my dad. He tried to explain to me the best way to achieve balance between the clutch and the gas pedal. He used words like "about halfway" and showed me the engine rotations increasing and decreasing as he changed gears. When I attempted to move, I did so slowly, with a lot of jerking about, and occasionally stalling. I did not have another chance to drive this car until months later, when I took it out on my own. Again, I was met with much trouble, as the engine stalled and I could not figure out how to start it back up! As I slowly meandered through the neighborhood, I often misjudged the balance and ended up bouncing as the car struggled to stay alive. 

I have been driving that car for over a year now, and I not only know how to start it, I almost never stall the engine. I am able to stop and go smoothly, with little protest from the engine. I can accelerate quickly and I know how to use the gears to get up hills, or to slow down on ice. The only way to learn how to drive a stick shift, in my experience, was through practice and application of the basic principles that my dad taught me. 

I'm sure it's easy to see the parallel that I'm drawing. At first, the clutch and the gas may seem to be at odds with one another, yet in order to drive, both pedals are required. For a smooth ride, the driver needs to achieve a careful balance when shifting between the two pedals. I would like to compare the clutch to truth, and the gas to tolerance. Letting up on the clutch too quickly can result in jerking around. Not using it at all means being stuck in first gear, or even neutral, unable to move faster than about fifteen mph without ruining the car. Yet, too much on the clutch, and you will only end up coasting. Without gas, the car cannot accelerate at all, but will gradually slow until it stops completely. You need both truth and tolerance to achieve maximum speed and control, and they must be carefully balanced according to the situation. 

As a Mormon in this chaotic world, I am trying to learn how to drive, desperately attempting to balance truth and tolerance. Sometimes my engine stalls. Sometimes I get thrown around a bit. But I keep trying, keep practicing, so someday I can navigate the troubles of this world with relative ease. As same sex marriage becomes normal, this will become a necessary skill. I must stand firm in my beliefs of the absolute truth of marriage between a man and a woman, just as I must respect and treat with kindness those that do not accept the same belief. 

Like driving a stick shift, balancing truth and tolerance is a skill each individual must learn for themselves. Practice is necessary, and I think in the coming months, we will all have opportunities to do so. 

Sunday Series: The Parable Of The Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13

We discussed this parable in Sunday School today, and I enjoyed hearing the many different interpretations. My friend Daniel did ask a question that I'd like to explore, one that didn't really get answered in class. He asked, "If we sin, are we taking oil out of our lamps?" 

I think the answer is both yes and no. A different answer applies depending on the situation. I would argue that sins of omission do not remove oil, but that sins of commission do. 

With a sin of omission, of not doing a good thing, I would say that we are simply failing to refill our lamps, letting the oil burn down. Thus, we have less oil, but we have not really removed any from our lamps. Doing this for too long can result in a spiritual lack and a sputtering flame of faith. We can commit sins of omission for a fairly long time before burning out.

A sin of commission, on the other hand, results in an oil spill. It sloshes out uselessly onto the ground. Committing sins can have greater consequences far faster than simply forgetting to read your scriptures or not going to church. They can also result in excommunication (though I'm not sure exactly how to apply that within the parable). Spiritual burnout can occur far faster when sinning by commission. 

And, of course, repentance is always key. In every case, a speedy change of heart can help us refill our lamps and shine brightly again. Repenting is the key to keeping our flames of faith from sputtering out. 

Do you agree? How else would you answer this question? Please let me know!

Sunday Series: Faith To Find The Answers...And To Admit We Don't Know Them

"I’ve been looking through windows into the night sky Wondering if all the prayers that I pray ever reach that high ‘Cause sometimes life can get so crazy, I can hardly make sense of it These are the times when I really discover what believing is I use my faith to find the answers to the harder things I lift my questions to the sky and find the peace it brings I do my best to solve the problems that are in my hands And I leave the rest up to Jesus, and He understands" - "Faith To Find The Answers," Cherie Call

This song is actually not on YouTube (at least not that I could find). How crazy is that? If you can find a way to listen to it, then great. The general message of this song is that we must turn to our faith when we need answers the most.

I had a great discussion with a friend on Friday night about a similar concept. We had been talking about our respective New Testament classes from last semester, and how differently they were taught (and it was a big difference). We mainly focused on authorship of the Epistles, and how many of them are uncertain. Soon, of course the topic turned to gospel principles and how sometimes we can be unsure of some of the most obscure of those. We talked about how sometimes it seems people receive contradictory revelations, and sometimes opinions are published as fact.

I really just want to discuss a point that our conversation came to more than once: admitting we don't know, and we might never find out in mortality. Sometimes it seems we can go to God with opinions and not get a "no" answer. I don't believe that necessarily means we are right. It might be what we need at that time, or it might be a small piece of a greater truth that our mortal minds cannot comprehend. There is an infinite number of ways to experience mortality, and to perceive it, and at some level, all are valid. Why, then, would that same principle not persist in eternity? There are the base truths, and our personal experience can build any direction from there.

Sometimes we don't know exactly what the answer might be, and we don't even know what we personally believe. In this situation, there are two options: to struggle and learn and attempt to form an opinion or belief, or to sit back and admit that we may never know, and let our faith carry us. Both are valid paths to take.

In the first path, we are striving towards an expansion of knowledge. We do learn useful things and become more knowledgeable along this path. We find ourselves in new places, meeting new people, and enriching our mortal experience. We may find an opinion that suits us, that we can live by, or we may not. Either way, attempting to learn is not a bad idea.

In the second path, we are striving towards an expansion of faith. This path, taken properly, means that we must have cultivated and nurtured our faith. We must be living and learning the Gospel every day. And we must be humble. Admitting some matters are out of our reach is an expression of our mortal imperfection, and a way of saying that we need God and Christ in our lives, to help us believe though we don't understand. This isn't an easy path either. In a way it is harder to admit that we may never understand, that we have to rely on the Plan of Salvation purely on faith in God's goodness, at least in the matter at hand.

Sunday Series: Hunting For Eternal Treasure

"For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith." (D&C 98:12)

In the book "The Holy Temple" by Boyd K. Packer, it says this:

"When a contractor is to construct a building, he has beforehand...the plans and specifications. It is common procedure for these to be complete in great detail. They show the elevation...to indicate how it will appear from the front, and the sides, and the back...He can then see how the architect envisions the building will look when it is completed. The plans are carefully and minutely drawn, with details included...for electrical outlets, parts of the plumbing and heating systems, etc...This is not so with prophets."

Using the contrast of construction, President Packer is illustrating the principle of "line upon line, precept upon precept." The Lord alone holds all the plans for the details of salvation. We, however, cannot even begin to comprehend such a big picture, especially all at once. So instead, the Lord gives it to us in ways that allow us to grow in understanding.

The way I read it brought to mind a treasure hunt- not the kind with pirate maps, but the kind that I set up as a kid. Each clue (usually written on a sticky note) led to the next clue, which led to the next, and so on. As kids, my siblings and I loved to have treasure hunts, especially for our parents' birthday presents. We'd set up the clues, and most likely, we'd wrapped the first one to give to mom or dad. Then we'd all run throughout the house, following the clues until we reached the end of the line. My parents did this to me for one birthday. It was always a lot of fun, especially because we knew what lay at the end.

For visiting teaching this month, my companion and I shared a message from Elder Pino's conference talk. It's titled "The Eternal Perspective of the Gospel." He quotes President Kimball saying "If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective." The message of eternal perspective is an important one, especially when we understand the nature of our lives.

A long treasure hunt would surely be very frustrating if we did not understand the end of it. Surely we would get distracted and forget about the clues to go play other games. But the gifts at the end of the hunt are often the greatest, and the people you hunt with will make that time into wonderful memories. These are things we cannot understand without eternal perspective. We have to know first of all what the nature of a treasure hunt is, and that the work is worth it for the ending. Then we must follow the clues, line upon line and precept upon precept, until we reach the final goal. And, in addition to the classic treasure hunt, the gospel also expands our minds and teaches us eternal truths. Each "clue" builds upon the one before it, helping reveal the end.

Life is a treasure hunt, and eternity is the goal. This plan of salvation is so beautiful, and its nature so wonderful to us, allowing us to create joy and memories while learning about our goal. My challenge to you is to keep that in mind this week, and perhaps to share it with someone else.

Happy hunting!

Sunday Series: Come What May And Love It

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility." (2 Nephi 2:11)

"And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet" (D&C 29:39)

"And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good." (Moses 6:55)

Last night, I went over to a friend's apartment and watched the last half of "Patch Adams," an old Robin Williams movie. One of the scenes really stuck with me (as it was meant to) and I'd like to talk about what I thought of in that moment (if you haven't seen the movie, you ought to watch it before reading this).

It takes place after Carin dies, when Patch, full of grief, goes to stand on the edge of a cliff. In this moment, Patch is on the verge of suicide. He calls out to God, begging for answers and mercy, asking why man must suffer so much pain, why man cannot just be compassionate. Now, throughout the portion of the movie that I'd seen thus far, I'd gotten the impression that life had been good for Patch Adams. It felt as if he'd never had sorrow or cruelty touch his life, in a truly personal way. In this moment, he wasn't sure what to do with all that he felt. Eventually Patch gives up on praying and turns to leave, when he sees, on his bag, a butterfly. This revitalizes Patch, as to him, butterflies are sort of a symbol of hope, as well as a reminder of Carin. He returns to the hospital and begins his work anew.

This scene struck a chord in me. Once, I might've thought it would be nice to live in a world without sorrow or pain, a world of only kindness and love, but at this point in the  movie, I realized I no longer believe that to be true. Now I realize that love cannot truly exist, cannot thrive without the opposition of pain and grief. Love is so precious because of the potential for hurt that it brings. I've heard it said that people with depression will laugh louder, smile bigger, and try to make others happier, and I believe it's true. I believe that through their struggles, they have learned how to truly and deeply love. This can also be true for victims of tragedy, as Patch Adams was. Those who see that darkness and choose to move forward with hope become the strongest and most compassionate people. Knowing pain and choosing to love in spite of it results in a deeper, truer love than any other- that is what I believe.

So in the end, I think, seeing both the light and the darkness of our world is necessary to our growth as human beings. By being hurt, and choosing to move forward, we nurture our humanity. Our hearts become stronger, and because of that, because they can hold more pain, they can also hold more love. So in the end, evil is not entirely bad, because it can teach us how to love. And isn't it true that light is always brighter and more appreciated after being in darkness for a while? We see the night, and we must choose to look forward to the dawn.

I guess in the end, I truly believe that you must see both sides of this world in order to truly love it.

Sunday Series: To Stumble

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)

I believe that we, as people, as much as we'd like to think otherwise, do not walk or run or dance through life. I believe that we all are just stumbling. Can't you see it? We're all toddling through our first steps, just learning to walk, or live, as the case may be. We trip over our own feet ever day, and sometimes we fall.

This view of mine is actually synonymous with Gospel principles. As children of God, we were sent here to grow. We are learning to live just as our children in mortality learn to walk. I am sure we've all seen children and watched them, as they begin to pull themselves up and step along walls. They grin and smile and awkwardly swing their chubby little limbs around. Just like them, we must lean on things around us- people, places, and most of all, God. Throughout our whole lives, we never stop stumbling.

Sometimes it's not a bad stumble, but endearing, like tripping over words when talking to someone, or fumbling when holding something (preferably not anything too valuable or breakable). We as humans are often a little awkward or weird in our moods, and many may view this as a fault. Yet the truest friends anyone can have will view it as just a part of life. I know my best and truest friends deal with all sides of me, those times when I'm most steady on my feet, and also those times when I can barely stand without tripping (metaphorically, of course).

But sometimes it hurts, when we fall and make bigger mistakes, whatever they may be. It can hurt us, and it can also hurt others. We gain bruises and calluses from these falls, and we learn what not to do again. I'm sure everyone has personal experience with this. The pain of admitting to the fall, and not blaming anyone else is not pleasant, but it is redeeming. And this is how we learn, by falling over and over and getting back up to try again. Our Father watches us, and helps us as we shuffle along walls and couches.

To stumble and to fall is not shameful. I think this is the most important part to understand. It is natural, part of our learning here on earth. Just like stumbling children, we must view falls not as failure, but as a lesson. Just like children, we must get up again and again and not be afraid to fall. And just like we would not reprimand a toddler for slipping, we must not reprimand ourselves, only get back up with whatever lesson we have learned. Someday, long after this world's time has ended, we will truly be able to walk and run and dance. But for now, all we can do is continue to stumble and continue to learn.

Sunday Series: Easter

Now I know it's late at night and I'm cutting it a bit close, but to be honest, there hasn't been much of a chance to blog today. Between conference and various instances of socialization with other humans, I've been booked. But I have time now, so here goes.

Easter Sunday is a miracle.

It wasn't emphasized as much this year, perhaps because I moved out, or because I didn't go to family dinner (I hadn't heard if it was happening or not until too late). Yet it was also more important, if only because I'm living on my own. I feel that over the past couple months, I have developed a stronger relationship with my Savior. This has happened through many small improvements and changes in my life, concerning scripture study, media time, taking good classes, etc. I've come to understand a few things.

Firstly, the Savior does know and love us individually and personally, like that one friend you've known your whole life. He loves us each so much, again individually and personally. This isn't a blanket love, like "I love the people in Europe!" or "I love my ward!" No, He loves you. If you were alone on this Earth, He still would have come. He would've died and risen again, suffered in the Garden, to save you, personally.

Secondly, Christ is always with us. It brings to mind the song "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." He is, in fact, behind you and before you and His angels are round about you, as the scripture says. I believe those people who say that we would be shocked to see what legions of angels are protecting us. Christ is always there and He will never leave. He will bless you with what you need.

Third, that the Atonement is about both little and big things. It is both the small changes in my life, and the big course corrections after making a wrong decision. He doesn't care what the world thinks of me, only whether or not I am trying to change. The General Authorities spoke about this in conference, how a Saint is a sinner who keeps on trying.The Lord doesn't care if we've stumbled or wiped out or fallen off a cliff. He will lift us up if we let Him. That is so marvelous to me, that no matter how I mess up, if I genuinely repent, I can be forgiven, and I can truly change.

There are quite a few mistakes in my past that I regret, that I perhaps never fully rectified, or that I didn't handle as I should. But this Easter Sunday, I know that they can be made right through faith. I can change. I will be able to say "Yes I was, but I am no longer" about who I used to be. That is the most marvelous thing about Easter and the Atonement is the potential for change.

Change is marvelous. Sometimes in this world I think we insist too much on seeing people as they were, as if they have not changed. I think we can have trouble recognizing true differences in hearts and countenances. Yet change is at the core of our being. No one stays the same for long. No, they will change, one way or another. The only time change slows is when we are given over to the adversary. Satan wishes only to keep us from growing, where Christ and our Father want us to become so much more.

This is my testimony this Easter Sunday: that because of the Atonement, we can truly change. We can leave our pasts behind us, and the Lord will remember it no more. Improvement occurs when a heart is willing to accept Christ's all-encompassing love.

Sunday Series: The Narrow Path We Choose

"Standards do not restrict us, but rather guide us down the path to get to where we want to go" -me right now because I couldn't find a good quote

In my mission prep class last semester, we had spiritual thoughts every class. Often they capture my attention. This one, I wanted to write about. Whoever gave the thought managed to compare the plan of salvation/gospel standards to a college major, specifically in neurosurgery. As a student majoring in neurosurgery takes classes, they gradually become more specific. That is, they start out with a wide variety of courses, electives, and Gen Ed requirements. As the years roll by, suddenly they are only taking increasingly more difficult classes on the brain and surgical technique, and they have to intern at a hospital before being able to graduate.

The Plan of Salvation can seem like that sometimes. As we grow, it can appear as if there's more and more standards, and piles of rules. Each step on the path seems narrower. Yet, we have to remember- we are not restricting- we are specializing. As this major becomes harder, we must remember that we chose this path for a good reason, and that it will bring us happiness. We must enjoy our "hard classes" and "internships" as much as we once enjoyed our electives and free time. This is our passion, and our life choice.

And it is less restricting than it might seem. Sure, you can't take certain classes, or may not have room for a lot of "fun," but there is still goodness. The choice is still left to us what to do with our future beyond this life and what to do beyond college. And even within this mortal time, we are allowed to choose our friends, our spouses, our likes and dislikes, how we spend what free time we do have- reading, writing, playing sports, hanging out with friends- and we get to choose whether or not to enjoy it.

That, I think, is the biggest trap of choosing a difficult path. While traveling a hard road, the hardest part can be remembering why we're on it. It can be bumpy, and narrow, and a little scary. It may lack a lot of lanes to choose from, or distant views of mountains and mesas. We may be stuck behind Grandma and Grandpa, who don't know how to drive faster than 35mph. But we chose that road for the way that it ends. And, just as certain as knowing the end, we know there is something about the road itself that pulled us in. We take the paths in life that captivate us, and the trick is to remember that.

The path may seem narrow, but truly, it isn't. It is wider than you believe, and you chose it for a reason. And the more narrow it seems, the closer you are to the end, to the destination- the top of the mountain, where suddenly everything is in full view and we are on top of the world.

Sunday Series: Peace

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

"Peace: (1) a state of tranquility or quiet...(2) freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions" (Merriam-Webster)

Is there only one kind of peace? The world seems to say there is. When I think of peace, my first thought is stillness and tranquility, quiet and gentle. This is what we are taught. I don't believe, however, that there is only one type of peace for all humanity. I believe peace comes differently to all of us. After all, we are all unique individuals. Our minds interpret it differently

In the scripture above, the Lord is speaking about His peace, which we can receive.He includes only two qualifiers for this peace: that our hearts are not troubled, and that we are not afraid. I find this interesting. Peace can be very different from what the mainstream identifies it as. I believe peace is not just quiet and stillness. It is not just a state of tranquility, though that is still peaceful.

Peace can be movement. It can be bright and energetic. I would define peace as security and confidence, in all that is occurring in your life. Peace is, as the Lord said, not being upset or afraid. My peace often comes when I am busy, but not so busy that it's hard to handle. It comes with energy and strength to make it through each day, as well as happiness and confidence. I find myself standing taller, smiling brighter, and mumbling less when I feel "at peace." I find myself saying "Everything will work out." At these times, I feel safe in the knowledge that the Lord has my back.

We can find the truest peace through the Lord. He will deliver it to us in our times of need, if we are willing to lean on Him. His peace will free us to live our lives as who we are, without worldly concerns holding us down. All we must do is follow the path He has set- a path that is not restricting, that leads to being the best that we can be.

Prayer is key to finding this peace. Without prayer, our need is in vain. We must humble ourselves and ask for His help, and be willing to accept it however it may come. Sometimes help comes from others, and sometimes it is simply strength to keep pushing on. The Lord will give us what we need. Peace is knowing that, and knowing that our Father will take care of us.

We must all find our own peace in Him.

Sunday Series: He Has No Sin

How can a Savior who never sinned truly understand the pain of one who has sinned? He never had to repent or experience a change of heart....right?

Wrong. He did experience it. More than any of us, he knows how it feels. He did not sin or repent for Himself, that is true. But that was so He could atone for us. He knows exactly how it feels in our hearts when we sin, and when we repent, because He has felt our hearts. He has experienced all the pain the world ever offered to anyone, and He came through it, glorious, to redeem us all. Because of Him, we can get up after we fall, and heal, as if the fall had never happened. The only evidence is our own memory of it. 

The visiting teaching message for this month is titled "The Attributes of Jesus Christ: Without Sin." The message's focus is on how this attribute of Christ can guide us. It says that "Understanding that Jesus Christ was without sin can help us increase our faith in Him and strive to keep His commandments, repent, and become pure."

How do we do this? We are imperfect mortals, with a tendency to regress. Elder D Todd Christofferson said that "As we endeavor day by day and week by week to follow the path of Christ, our spirit asserts its preeminence, the battle within subsides, and temptations cease to trouble." How do we "endeavor?" 

Mosiah 5:2 reads "And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."

This change is also a promise, to do our best to live the Lord's way. Yet it is not a one-time promise. We are imperfect mortals and so we constantly sin, and regress. So we must make this promise over and over again. We recommit every day to living how the Lord wants us to. And when we fall, He can help us get back up, so that it was like we never fell in the first place.

I heard a valuable insight while visiting teaching today. One of the girls I teach referenced a talk that spoke on how sometimes the Sacrament prayer has to be redone. Perhaps a word is out of place, or the phrases were mixed up. Yet, even though it had to be blessed again, once it is right, it is just as perfect as if it had only been done once. Even though we messed up, if we repent, it is as if we never fell. And if we change, truly, to Christ it becomes as if we were never the way we were before, but for the memories that we have. 

Christ was without sin because we are sinners. Christ was without sin because He is our Savior. He lived a life without sin in order to save us. He lived the way He did so that we could live better. Christ is our constant. He sacrificed Himself for us, so that when we repent, it is as if we never sinned. All that remains is the memory of it, and that memory holds no weight in the eternities. 

Christ knows and loves us just the way we are, and He will guide us to be better.

Sunday Series: To Proclaim Liberty To The Captives

There is a Messianic prophecy in Isaiah that touches a chord in my heart. It is found in Isaiah 61 , and there are two phrases in particular that stick out to me. I believe I have written about one of them before- "beauty for ashes." It is the second phrase, though, that made a point in Sunday School yesterday.

As you might have inferred, the phrase is "to proclaim liberty to the captives."

In Sunday School, we specifically discussed what it might mean, and I wish that I had raised my hand and said what I was thinking. Because of course, it does mean the literal freeing of captives, of Israel and the Jews, but I wondered if it might mean something more. If it might mean, say, the freeing of a cripple from a body that cannot walk. The freeing of the blind from a life without sight. The freeing of the disabled, bringing their minds in true harmony with their bodies, bringing them to their full potential. The freeing of the depressed to happiness, the freeing of the down-trod to hope. I wondered if "proclaiming freedom" was more than literal.

In addition, this freedom is a freeing from sin. Christ is the Mediator, the forgiver of sins. He knows our hearts, and through His Atonement, He brought freedom to our spirits, from sin, and also from death.

There is support for this idea- did not Jesus live His life healing the sick and mending the broken? His life was full of  miracles such as this. There is a famous story in Luke about a paralytic who was confined to his bed. This man's friends carried him before Christ, who proceeded to free this man in two ways, both from sin and from his bed. With the simple words, "Rise up and walk," Christ brought a new freedom into this man's life- a freedom of movement.

Christ can free us from everything that holds us captive. He can free us from fear, from doubt, from pain and loss. He can free us from heartbreak or longing. He has freed us from sin and death. He can free us from all that binds us, and keeps us from living to our full potential, if we just choose to follow Him.

Sunday Series: To Never Escape His Notice

"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully." (Luke 19:1-6)

How small must we be to escape God's notice, and how wicked to not receive His love?

There is nothing too small for Him or too sinful. God loves all. God is love, as the scripture says. The story from Luke illustrates this quite well. Even a publican who was too short to be seen in a crowd was seen by the Savior. I love this story. If Zacchaeus was seen, how could He miss us? He has a place for us and will reside with us if we but strive to see Him.

Allow me to explain that last sentence. Jesus may not have gone with Zacchaeus, had he not climbed that tree to see Him. Zacchaeus sought the Savior, and as a result, the Savior came to him, even into his home. Zacchaeus was a good guy as well- giving to the poor and striving to right every wrong he had done. This seems to me to be a wonderful metaphor for how we ought to live.

I'd like to use this to suggest three guidelines to inviting the Savior in.

1) Give to those in need, whenever possible. 

This is not just those in financial poverty, or those suffering from hunger. Nourish those who are starving spiritually and emotionally as well. Take hold of the outstretched hand, heal broken hearts, bind up their wounds, and help them on their way. They need the help often just as much as those who need money and food. It is almost harder to help someone who is suffering in a metaphysical sense, because their needs are so much less definable. A few dollars or a meal may not help.

Aid all you can, in every way, with needs that are spiritual, temporal, mental, emotional, and otherwise.

2) Seek out the Savior

This is not a casual action. This is the willingness to go to any end, use any means, just to glimpse His face, as Zacchaeus did. Run ahead; climb the tree. Even if He does not see you, you have seen Him and know that He was there. It is necessary to seek out the Savior in all we do, and in all we are striving to be. And it is climbing the tree that places Zacchaeus in the right place and time to meet and shelter Christ.

3) Receive Him with joy

Do not falter in that crucial moment- when the Savior comes to your door, answer it with haste! Do not drag your feet or murmur. Do not wring your hands and hesitate. Receive Him with joy and gladness as Zacchaeus did on that day centuries ago. If we have done all we can, and striven to live the best life we are capable of, then He will gladly remain with us until the end of days. If this is true, what reason might we have to hesitate?

Sunday Series: A Peculiarity

Our Gospel Doctrine teacher today made an interesting remark today. He mentioned how it's funny that members of the Church get offended more often than nonmembers do. So, if I tell a nonmember I can't participate in something, they're more often fascinated, whereas a member would react by asking why I couldn't; after all, they're doing it and they share your standards right? This struck me as a fascinating thought.

I find that we, as members, sometimes go into conversations expecting to be offended my those who do not share our beliefs. Have you ever talked to someone about your beliefs and expected them to react negatively? I have. The stories of rude nonmembers are prolific and spread like wildfire. Yet, truly, they represent a fraction of interactions so small as to be nearly insignificant. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but that it is very rare. Most of those adhering to other systems of belief do not react in such a negative way, and I've come to resent that stereotype for harming how I relate to others in a spiritual sense. It's difficult to speak about my beliefs with the fear of judgment and rejection hanging over my head like a cloud.

We truly are offended less by nonmembers than by members. And sometimes we give offense as well- in our tone or words. The times this occurs are most often when we are blunt about sensitive subjects. I've seen it happen more than once, in religious and secular matters. A blunt manner leaves no room for compassion, or for hearing any other viewpoint or angle on the subject. I have tried being blunt once or twice, and it never led anywhere good.

That being said, could it be that members go into discussions with other members with a more blunt manner? With the view that things can only be one way? Or, perhaps, without a place for other views on certain doctrine. Members do seem to hurt each other more than nonmembers ever have. One sister in my Gospel Doctrine class responded to the original thought with the story of a grandmother speaking to her grandchildren. "I walked across the plains," she said, "but I would much rather do that than what you must do." They lived in an LDS community. These children would have to stand up to their friends. This peculiarity of offense requires more strength than trekking thousands of miles and facing years of persecution, she seems to be saying.

Doctrinal disputes seem to cause more uproar than any other discussion. The world thinks the Church is crazy and backwards for not supporting gay marriage? No big deal to the majority of members. A woman starts a group to ordain females to the priesthood? That becomes an issue for everyone. And perhaps that particular dispute is a little extreme, but I think it is representative. There were multitudes that were offended one way or another, and feelings hurt all around. There were heated debates and it spread like wildfire. I, personally, have heard so much more about Ordain Women than I have about any issue between the Church and the world. If you want a less extreme issue, look at steady dating in high school, or whether it's okay to drink caffeine, or evolution, or perhaps the reasons behind a man being able to be sealed to multiple women, but a woman only being sealed to one man.

The whole point, I guess, is that we Latter-Day Saints tend to battle more within the ranks than without them. Sometimes our greatest enemies are those we should be able to call on to support us. And this needs to stop. The stereotype that those who are not members will reject our beliefs needs to stop- spread better stories than that. The blunt, stubborn mannerisms need to stop- actually, I think this is just a general statement. Blunt and stubborn rarely ever got anyone anywhere. Our Church is so accepting of those outside it. Let us be equally accepting and supportive to those inside it.

Now, after saying this, I'd like to look at the positive side of the issue- the part where the statement I heard in Sunday School is wrong. I have met some absolutely wonderful members within the church that would never dream of judging or causing offense, that tread with care among the feelings of others. They may not be completely immune to gossip or being offended themselves, yet, I think it is fair to say that, the majority of the time, "no corrupt communication proceed[s] forth" from them (Ephesians 4:29). They are wonderful role models and phenomenal friends.

I think it can then be said that there is as much variability in who a person can be within the Church as there is for a person outside of it. It is more often than not that this peculiarity of offense is true, but it is by no means a constant. All we can say, then, is that we are human, and that we can try to become better humans than we were before, by striving to be kind and not take or give offense.

Sunday Series: Be Perfected (Puzzles and Perfection)

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." (Moroni 10:32)

I love this scripture, and not just because it was my last theme as a youth. It's a wonderful scripture with a good message, and I wish we shared the full thing more often, rather than just the beginning. My visiting teaching companion and I actually shared it as part of our message for the month and I loved the thoughts that we had.

My companion said that this scripture is wonderful because it illustrates a process. The transformation we go through from imperfect beings, from the natural man to a godlike being and a joyous, perfect creation, is not instant. It does not happen in a moment or in the twinkling of an eye. Rather, it occurs over years and years of striving. It takes a lot of work, and a lot of mistakes. We fall and we stumble, but if we get back up and keep moving, we can make it someday. By God's grace, we can make it.

While she was speaking, I was thinking, and what crossed my mind was the relationship between "perfect" and "complete." In the scriptures, as I've heard many times in Sunday School, "perfect" means "complete" more than it does "without flaw." I love that meaning and relationship. God just wants us to become complete. And Christ can complete us- we can "be perfect in Christ" as the scripture says.

This brought to mind the idea of a puzzle. I imagine that each of us have one- our own puzzle, with a unique image that illustrates our lives. We are given the pieces when we are born, and all our lives, we try to solve them. Most days, we put pieces in place. Others, we knock them out, or lose them, and then we have to get on our hands and knees and search. But as we work to become better people, as we live and grow, our puzzles gradually take shape.

Yet, at the end of our lives, when we look at this puzzle, we will find that it is still incomplete.

There are pieces missing! Vital ones to the final picture. They just barely obscure the image. We may have a vague idea of what the picture could be, but we cannot see it. The pieces are missing. So we get down and we search everywhere. We look under tables, between couch cushions, around corners, in vents, in cupboards and down drains. We look everywhere. But they are nowhere to be found, and the puzzle has to be finished. Time is running out.

When we have searched as long and as hard as we can, we finally slump down to the floor, burying our heads in our arms. We have done all we can and there is nothing else we can do- we have fallen short. This is when we feel a gentle hand on our shoulder and a question. "Is this what you were looking for?"

We look up to find our older brother there. His face is kind and filled with love and sympathy. His hand is outstretched, and in it, we see our missing pieces, the ones we could not find. He gives them to us, and we cry tears of gratitude. Now the puzzle is complete, right on time. And the picture is beautiful.

Christ has the pieces that we do not. Once we have done all we can, searched everywhere we can look, placed every piece we have, then He comes and fills in the gaps in our puzzles. In the hymn "Where Can I Turn For Peace," in the third verse, there is the line "reaches my reaching." This is exactly what He does. We reach as far as we can, straining for just another inch. Once we can go no further, He extends His arm and takes our hands.

So we reach out! We come unto Christ, we area perfected in Him. He reaches our reaching, completes our puzzles, and makes us whole.

The other beauty of this is that this too is not an instant transformation right before judgment. In truth, He is right beside us as we work on our puzzles. He guides us, and helps us when we don't know what to do next. He is beside us throughout our life, and guides us to perfection, to completion.

And we now "can in nowise deny the power of God" for we have seen it! We have lived with it beside us every day. He has guided us in our trials and our joy, redeemed our sorrows and our sin, and all we need to do is reach just as far as we can, and He will do the rest.

Sunday Series: Let's Keep It Simple

The church is true

God lives and loves us

Our trials only make us stronger

Love others and love will flow into your life

Serve others even when you won't be thanked

Believe when everything goes wrong

Pray when there's nothing left to do

Pray when life is good

Study your scriptures often and well

Don't forget He loves you

He cares less about what you've done and more about what you will become

Happy Sunday

Sunday Series: Prospective Missionary Fireside

What are the four most important things a missionary need to know before embarking to serve the Lord?

In a recent Prospective Missionary Fireside, I had the privilege of hearing Elder Munday, an experienced mission president, speak. (I did miss the beginning part for a dress rehearsal that unfortunately overlapped, but I got to hear the majority of the talk.) From Elder Munday's words, I pulled four main things that every missionary ought to know before going out. So here they are!

1) Be exactly obedient in all that you do

Elder Munday brought up the point that we cannot ask others to keep Gospel commitments if we are not keeping our own! He emphasized the point of absolute obedience multiple times, as a tool to spread the Gospel, and as a way to help us make it through our missions. He said that our names will be sitting with the Savior's, on the name tag we will wear, and we should never do anything that will make someone question why.

I have heard quite a few stories involving exact obedience, and its effects on investigators. My dad likes to tell the story of a girl he taught, who had been an investigator for a while. She was living with her boyfriend, who was an inactive member of the Church. My dad was not the first missionary to come to her door, nor the first to be invited in. If I remember the story right, it was pouring rain when they first knocked on her door. She invited them in, out of the wet, but they said no, until she said that her boyfriend was there. It is, after all, against the rules for the elders to be alone with a sister. That was the first instance of obedience. My dad and his companion began to teach this woman and her boyfriend, but every time they came, there was something tempting them to break the rules. Sometimes, the boyfriend had the game on, and invited them to watch, or there was music on that was against mission rules. But my dad and his companion stayed true and didn't break the rules. They wouldn't watch the game, or they'd ask that the music be turned off or replaced with something appropriate for missionaries. This woman was eventually baptized, and she and her boyfriend were married and began coming to Church. My dad said that she later told him that in the past, they'd had missionaries teach them who did not obey the rules. Those missionaries would've sat and joined in watching the basketball game on TV, or would've come in out of the storm even if  there was not another man in the house. But my dad and his companion touched this woman's heart with their obedience and that is why she listened to their lessons and chose to be baptized. Their obedience changed the course of her life.

We heard another story in class just the other day, a shorter story, but equally impactful. There was an investigator who was very close to baptism. In fact, if I remember correctly, their baptism had been scheduled. But then this investigator happened to witness these same missionaries breaking the rules. They called off their baptism and didn't have those missionaries over again. It was another nine years before they were baptized, by a different set of missionaries.

Obedience to the rules in every way can change the course of people's lives, including that of the obedient missionary themselves.

2) Be patient. You're working on the Lord's time

During the prospective missionary fireside, I took special note of one association made by Elder Munday. He said to us that rejection does not mean absolutely "no," but rather means "not yet." They may just not be ready to receive the messages we carry yet. But our efforts are not wasted! If we make a good impression on everyone we see, then we are paving the way for those who come after. How many stories have we heard of missionaries meeting "Golden Contacts" who had been impressed by missionaries, or just members in general, in the past? By being optimistic, patient, kind, and accepting, we are making sure that they will remember us well in the future. 

I have long held the belief that we do not meet the people that we meet by chance. Rather, I think the Lord places each person in our way. He is not blind to those we meet and reach out to, but will put in our path the ones that we can help most. Never let the opportunity to make a good impression pass you by, but never be discouraged. You may not be the one to baptize them, but you prepared a way.

We also cannot rush our investigators. While it is important to move forwards with the goal of baptism in mind, I think that it is also important to wait until they are ready. They must be truly converted and ready to accept the Gospel. This is a lifestyle, and a huge commitment, and we cannot rush them into it. They must be ready. For some this will be faster than others, and it's important to be aware of and careful of that fact.

It is also important to note that patience does not mean passivity! Patience, rather, is the knowledge that God has a plan and we are but a small part of it. If we are prepared to take the opportunity, we can affect lives in ways that we will never know. Be patient, and don't give up.

3) Don't forget the small and simple things.

I loved the story that Elder Munday told to illustrate this principle. It went something like this: there was a woman who often had missionaries knocking at her door, but she never let them in. And then one day, she and her husband were driving somewhere. They had to pass through a part of town that was not too neat. She saw, across the street, a pair of elders. One had a burger in his hand, and as she watched, the wrapper blew out of his hand! This elder chased down the wrapper, trapped it under his foot, and then proceeded to dispose of it properly, in a garbage can. The woman turned, incredulous, to her husband, and said "Did you see that??" The neighborhood was very messy, and litter was everywhere. No one would've blamed that elder for just letting the wrapper go. But instead he picked it up. The woman then said to her husband, "Next time the missionaries come to our door, I am going to let them in." Years later, they did come, and she stayed true to her word. She and her husband were both baptized.

Something as simple as picking up after ourselves can lead others to the truth. The Lord works in mysterious ways, after all. Do not forget the small details of your life. Small acts of service can make all the difference.

I have another story that my dad likes to tell that I believe applies to this principle. My dad was transferred into a new area, and in this area, they had one investigator (well they probably had more than one, but this story is about this guy). This man lived in a grand house and he had a humongous library (the kind that I want when I get rich...) with one of those sliding ladders, like in Beauty and the Beast. This man was extremely intelligent, and knew the scriptures like the back of his hand. The missionaries had been trying to teach him for a long time, and on their first dinner appointment, my dad understood why. They had gotten maybe five minutes into the lesson when the investigator waked over to one of his bookshelves, slid the ladder over, and got down a special Bible that I can't remember the name for, but it had a side-by-side translation in four languages. He proceeded to expound on whatever scripture they were studying until my dad and his companion had to leave or risk breaking curfew. My dad went home and prayed about what they could do, and found a small and simple solution. At the next appointment, he asked this investigator if perhaps they could try something. He said "For the first half hour you can teach us, and for the second half hour, we can teach you." Then the man said "Good, but I have a better idea. How about you go first?" This man was later baptized, and my dad says he was able to learn a lot from this man as well. It was a small and simple solution that went a long way.

Another "small and simple" thing that Elder Munday spoke of was actually our own knowledge of the gospel. He said that he saw so many missionaries who came through panicking because they didn't think they knew enough. He'd ask them if they knew the church was true, and if they knew Joseph Smith was a prophet. If they said yes, he said they knew enough. A small and simple, but strong and firm testimony is enough. The Lord will teach us even as we teach others. 

So when you're on your mission, don't forget that solutions are not always grand things. Often, they are as easy as saying "let's take turns" like my dad did. Just remember that the Lord works in mysterious ways.

4) Leave the past behind you

Elder Munday put a large emphasis on this point. I love the metaphor he used to hit the point home. He said that our heads only turn so far around on our necks, and our hands and feet only face one direction. We are not meant to look back. 

He told a wonderful story as well. He was on the disciplinary council for another man once, and much later, he ran into this man again. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not remember why the man had needed that disciplinary council. Then he said he heard words, clear as day, "If I the Lord do not remember his sins, what right do you have?" (sorry for the botched quote).  This man's past was truly behind him, and his repentance was complete. And we also learned from this that the Lord truly remembers our sins no more. 

Elder Munday said that we must make peace with our pasts. We can learn from them, but they cannot tie us down. We cannot preach the Gospel with something holding us back. So before we leave on our missions, we must make peace with everything that we have done before. Regret will keep us from being the best missionaries we can be, and isn't that the ultimate goal? To serve the Lord to the best of our capacity. 

I know that this is a principle I have had to work on, even just for life. It is so important, so absolutely vital, to not let regrets hold you back. That's not to say I don't have regrets, but I have been forced to learn to not let them stop me. It is essential to my spiritual and mental health even now, and so how much more important will it be on a mission? Learn to leave your mistakes in the past, and take only the lessons you've learned into the future. If you can master it now, it will be that much easier when you are ready to go on a mission.

Okay, but seriously!

There were so many good principles taught at the fireside. This doesn't even come close to covering them all. But I truly believe these four to be the most vital to know before leaving. Obedience, patience, working through small and simple means, and leaving your past behind you, are all essential to being a great missionary. So if you're a prospective missionary, pay attention! And if you're a return missionary, feel free to add your own advice to anything I've missed in my lack of experience. I'd love to hear more that I (that we all) can do to prepare!

Sunday Series: The Ways of the Lord

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6)

The Lord truly works in mysterious ways. 

I've been having a rough time with some stuff lately, just stupid things (seriously dumb) but they've been giving me trouble. Today in church, I was able to hear what I needed to.

I heard the message "God will help you through this"

"Even if you feel you're stuck in a rut, you're still changing."

"God is always there."

I also heard "Study your scriptures and say your prayers" - something I've been slacking on lately.

"Take care of yourself physically as well" - like get enough sleep? What a foreign concept! 

So basically I first heard words of comfort and encouragement and then words of advice. It really helped make my day better. I was able to be in a better mood for the rest of the day, which was a good thing. That's not to say I was completely at peace, or felt totally better- I was still off and fairly grumpy. But it was better, and I have a plan now to get back on track.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I find it profound how He works through others. Who would've thought that so many testimonies could be about kind of the same thing? Or share messages I needed? Who would've thought that the Sunday School lesson could be on the very things that I've been slacking on all week? That is how He works. It is wonderful to me that He was able to take something so normal, something like fast and testimony meeting, Sunday School, and out Relief Society lesson, to comfort me and guide me.

I also find it wonderful the order in which I heard these things. First it was the comfort, the words of love and care. Then it was that which I already knew - the lack of sleep has been affecting my mood a lot. Then, after that, it was those things I've been failing to acknowledge- the things that I have to get back on. It wasn't accusatory at all, but a gentle affirmation that the Lord cares and that if I do these certain things, it'll get me back on my mental feet, so to speak, and I can be myself again (because who truly is themselves when they're grumpy and depressed?). 

The Lord works in wonderful ways.

Many are beyond our understanding. But we can try to emulate them and become more like our Father. We can grow in understanding that He loves us and would only do what's best, even if it sometimes hurts us. He has a grander plan for us than we can ever see with our limited mortal eyes. He is God and He is with us. He loves us first, and guides us always, and that never changes.

Sunday Series: Light of Christ

"Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven." (Moroni 7:3)

In Sunday School today, we were talking about the Atonement and the light of Christ, and someone mentioned that perhaps the Atonement is the source of the light of Christ. How they are connected is what this post is about.

What if, he said, the light of Christ is an expression of our knowledge of what Christ did for us? Even if it's not something we consciously know. Our heart knows, and our brain knows. And the light of that knowledge shines out through us. 

This seems like it could be true. After all, everyone is born with the light of Christ, and it can be amplified through righteousness. 

So the light of Christ could truly be a rejoicing of our souls because they know they can be saved. What a wonderful thought, don't you think?

Sunday Series: The Concept of Worship

I had a thought today, about what "worship" actually is. It is, of course, important, but what does it really mean? What are its connotations, and why do we do it (besides that God has commanded us to)? Worship has always been a very abstract idea in my mind, some nebulous word describing the method by which we pay homage to God. And yet today, worship was on my mind, and I wanted to know what it really meant. So I looked the definition up.

This is the definition of "worship" from dictionary.com

I especially love definition #3, specially since it most easily expresses the ideas that ran through my mind today.

"Adoring reverence or regard"

By this definition, we worship a lot more things than just God. We adore a lot of things in this world. But the most important connection to this definition (in my opinion) is parents. Do we not all treat our parents with adoring reverence or regard? (outside of certain extenuating circumstances such as abuse). We love our parents and look up to them. I know I certainly do.

And then, with that connection established, is it not notable that God has asked us to call Him Father?

What, then, is worship, than the regard of a child to their parent? An all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite parent, for sure, but the idea is much the same. 

Young children absolutely adore their parents. They hang onto their every word, and everything that their parents tell them must be right. Have you ever heard the phrase "That's what Daddy/Mommy told me!" (or variations on it)? Young children do regard their parents with "adoring reverence [and] regard."

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him” (D&C 59:5)

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Ps. 95:6–7)

Don't these scriptures seem to say the same things? Love God, view Him with the greatest reverence, as a mighty Being, and someone infinite, eternal, and wonderful. View Him as a young child views their parents. And have we not been told to become like little children?

I feel like I better understand worship now. I understand what it means, and why we worship. He is our Father- He is everything we can become and so much more than we are now. And we view Him with adoring reverence and regard, for He is our everything.

Sunday Series: Leaven And Statistics

"Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Matthew 13:33)

This scripture is one of Jesus' parables from his ministry. It seems to be saying that we are to be the leaven of the earth- at least that is what I get out of this scripture. And leaven makes bread rise and become better. What a wonderful concept- that we are to make the world a better place. This is our mission, as members of the Church, to make the world a better place. There are multiple ways to understand this principle, and this is the one that I thought of today.

In statistics, there are points called "outliers" that fall outside of the overall pattern of the data (the technical way to find it uses the median and interquartile range, but we won't go into that now). Suffice it to say that the outlier breaks the pattern by sitting either far above or below the majority of the data.

These outliers affect the mean (the average value of the data set). In fact, they pull the mean towards them. Even just one point can change the average of the entire data series. It has to do with the method used to find the mean, which I'm sure you all know (you add together all the values and then divide by how many values there are).  So if one of the values is very large- larger than any of the others- it will increase the average. For example, let's compare the average of 1,2,3,4, and 5, to the average of 1,2,3,4, and 10.

1+2+3+4+5=15/5=3

1+2+3+4+10= 20/5=4

It's the same amount of values, but the fifth value is larger in the second data set, and that value increases the mean. Imagine how much more dramatic the change in the average would be with more data points, and with more of a gap between the outlier and the rest of the data!

I would like to suggest that we, as members of the Church, are to be outliers. If every person was graphed as a data point, based on some spiritual variable (obeying the commandments perhaps, or listening to the prophets), I would like to suggest that we would be outliers sitting far above the rest of the data. We are in the data set but not of the data set (see what I did there?). And by being so far away from the values of the rest of the world, we pull up the average of the entire population. We make it rise. And the best part is, there doesn't have to be a lot of outliers to pull up the average.

Kind of like leaven makes bread rise, even though it's only present in small amounts.

One of the things I love about the statistics metaphor is that even if there is only one outlier, it still can change the average of all of the data. We as individuals can make a difference- we can make the world a better place, even if it's only a little. We can bring up the average of the world simply by following the Church's standards. That's pretty cool, don't you think?

So I challenge you to be an outlier from the world today. Live with higher standards, be better, become more. And by doing so, working together, we will pull up the world's average. We will rise.