We Are All Children

 

One thing I've learned growing up ... is that we don't really grow up. Well, we do learn things, gain experience, and become wiser and much more capable, but we all still have imperfections, insecurities, and ignorance.

And when I say "ignorance," I'm meaning in a good sense -- simply not knowing something. There are so many things to know in the world that it's impossible to know everything, and so we must rely on other people who are experts. Like a couple of weeks my lawn mower broke down. I did everything in my power to fix it, but it wasn't enough. I had to take it to a mechanic ... it turned out to be a clogged carburetor. The guy got paid, and everyone was happy. 

I could write a whole post on ignorance, but I'll continue on with this child idea.

I look at myself as a child, and there were some things I did well. I was always good at music ... a little prodigy. There were things I enjoyed ... TV and video games. Also math and logic puzzles. And I had a vivid imagination. I'm sure we all have lists of things we were good at as a child.

I also had a whole bunch of insecurities. I was kind of okay making friends, but I was always a cut-up, always looking for attention, and not really connecting with many people. People liked me, but always saw me as goofy, or someone to make fun of, or to go to for a good joke.

And I was always afraid to go somewhere new, to call someone on the phone, or go up to someone to engage. I hated doing the door-to-door sales many schools had you do for fundraising. My parents also pointed out to me many times that I spent too many times reading books instead of playing with friends.

As a child, I always looked up to adults -- how they had it all together. They were wise, and I could trust them. They were grown up. I longed for the day to come when, I, myself would be grown.

When I finally did grow up, I found that hardly anything changed. My body was larger and stronger, but other than that, my strengths were still my strengths, and my weaknesses were still my weaknesses. Of course I learned how to capitalize on my strengths, but I was already doing that as a child.

And I look at all the other grown ups around me, and I can see the same in them. They all still have insecurities. That's one thing my age and experience has granted me ... the ability to see these insecurities in everyone. Even when I look at famous people -- presidents, CEOs, religious leaders ... I can still see the same insecurities even through the facade each of these people put up.

So, I totally get it when Jesus tells us to be like little children.

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)

Understanding this has helped me immensely in my adult years. I think it's being honest, knowing my own shortcomings, and realizing that everyone else is in the same boat -- none of us are immune.

And I know that God and Jesus realize that, too. To them, we all really are children.

The most important part ... if we truly are children, then that means we all have potential. There's always room to grow and become bigger than what we were before. So, realizing we are children should constantly remind us that we need to always push ahead and always improve, and never stop. And this is what I believe Jesus is talking about in his quote above. Those who stop trying think they're already there, and are no longer children -- and these types with their arrogance are unlikely to progress any further.

So who's with me! Who wants to keep on being a child?

Jesus is the Cornerstone

 

As I am resuming activity in this blog, I must remind myself of my intended audience. Most of my friends do not belong to my church. Many are Christian or Jewish, a couple are Muslim and other religions, and several are agnostic. But one thing my friends all have in common: they are not afraid to ask me questions about my religion.

I figure that if you're here, you have curiosity, and you are more than welcome -- I, myself, love to learn about just anything. Sometimes I write to just my Mormon peeps, and sometimes I take time to explain some of the more basic principles -- which can even be good reminders for strong members of the Church as well.

Also, this year, our church, worldwide, is on a reading schedule ... every week we read a selection of the Book of Mormon, and by the end of the year we will have read all the way through. Our Church started this new program last year with the New Testament. Next year we'll read the Doctrine & Covenants (lots of Church history). And the year after that is most likely the Old Testament.

I'd like to emphasize that this week's reading is about the most important event of the whole Book of Mormon: Jesus' visit to the Nephites / Lamanites on the American continent. This time I caught a different angle that I'd like to share today.

At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi and his family left Jerusalem and sail to the Americas. Along the way, for whatever reason, Lehi and his son, Nephi, received a revelation that the Son of God would be born 600 years in the future. And during the next 600 years, there were several revelations, similar to Isaiah, but with much more precise information. Jesus Christ would be born in Jerusalem, and he would die to save us from our sins.

The faithful always believed this would happen, but many did not. These unbelievers would say, "There's no way you can know this Savior is coming." Or "What is that to us? He's going to be in Jerusalem, not here."

It's easy to imagine the skepticism. "You just made this all up to create a church to control us. 600 years is a long way away, so there's no way to prove your prophecies. Your church is 'safe.' And when 600 years comes and we don't see him, you're just going to say you had a revelation that he was born and that he's already died, and we'll never know because we're over here."

As I discussed last week, there were signs given prior to Jesus' birth. Samuel the Lamanite said in 5 years a night would be as day, and a new star would appear. And then at Jesus' death there would be darkness for 3 days straight.

When the new star appeared, there was a short period of repentance and peace, but then most of the people went back to being wicked, even saying that the new star was a trick of sorcery. During the next couple of decades, there was lots of death and more wickedness.

Then in 33 AD, the sign of the death occurred. There were 3 days of darkness, such that no light could penetrate. Earthquakes changed the land and killed many people. During these 3 days, those who were spared had to endure darkness, uncertainty, remorse, and pain. And then something happened that no one knew was coming.

Jesus, himself, appeared to them, during his 40-day ministry on earth following his resurrection. At first it was just a voice in the darkness, giving the survivors comfort. And then after an announcement from the Father, Jesus descended from the skies and landed among the people. He then ministered unto them, explaining who he was, healing the sick, giving blessings, and so on. (3 Nephi 8-11)

And I don't know why I always seemed to miss this before. The people who believed in Jesus prior to his coming to earth had no idea that He, himself, would visit them in person. As far as they knew, he would only be in Jerusalem, and not anywhere near them. So great is His love for all of us!

In later readings, Jesus will tell the people that he needs to go and visit other sheep that are not of his fold. Which all emphasizes the center of every Christian denomination: Jesus is the one and only Cornerstone of the Church. He is the reason for everything. Without his sacrifice, our sins would make us unworthy to return back to heaven. His teachings help us to become more like him and become better people. And most importantly, he's not just for the Jewish people he lived with during his mortal existence, but he reaches out to all of us, regardless of our position, heritage, or even our beliefs.

Even if our several denominations disagree on certain characteristics of Jesus and other points of doctrine, this is the one aspect of Christianity where we are all united. Jesus is the one way for us to proceed and return to heaven. And he invites all of us to come unto Him.

Edit - 1:45PM: It looks like I did miss a prophecy in there. Alma 16:20 says (around 78 BC): "And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness." 

Further, 3 Nephi 11:12 (back to 33 AD) says: "... the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven."

So, it seems the prophecy was known to the people, but it seems to have only come back to memory after Jesus had shown himself.

BTW, I found this great classic video depicting Jesus' visit -- very touching, and makes me want to have been there.

Is Trump Chosen By God?

 

If you've been following my recent posts in my other blogs, you'll probably already know that Trump is not my favorite president. Yes, I'm biased, but I would yet like to explore this question: Is it possible that Trump has been chosen by God?

Another quick disclaimer: the main audience of this post are the members of my church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). The others of you are free to read along, but for this post I'm going to assume the readers already have a working understanding of my religion.

It's very clear that many Christians love Trump, as evidenced in the picture up top. Maybe this is because he's been mostly positive toward the Judeo-Christian religions. He's the very first president to visit the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem while in office. He has talked up religious freedoms. He has even reached out to Utah and our church members.

So, it can seem that Trump, though imperfect he is, was chosen by God in order to strengthen Christianity in general and help us all come closer to God. And I've had several indicate this to me on social media, concerned that my vote for Biden may usher in a wave of socialism that would destroy our Constitution, and fall under the devil's wishes.

First off, we should explore the question: "Does God even choose political leaders to lead us?"

Some people use Romans 13:1 to say that every single government leader in the world is chosen by God.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

A literal reading of this would have us believe that Hitler and Mussolini were chosen by God, as evidenced by the fact that they came into power. However, do any of us believe they were chosen by God? It seems to me that the verse written by Paul is being misinterpreted. Also, it wouldn't answer the original question, as Trump becomes no more special than any other leader ... (just like every month at Benihana is Manager Treat Month -- some of you will get this one -- "It's my treat").

If we include the Book of Mormon and D&C, I think we get a fuller picture on how God intends for our leaders to be chosen. Consider the following scriptures:

D&C 98:7-10

7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.

8 I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.

9 Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.

10 Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.

Mosiah 29:25-26

25 Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord. 

26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people. 

It seems clear to me from these verses that God intends for us to choose our own leaders. This is why our Constitution was formed, so that we can have the freedom to choose. And not only that, we can also be held accountable for our choices. If we choose a wise leader, we prosper; and if we choose a wicked leader ... Mosiah 29:27

27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

In other words, I believe that God has allowed us, in the extension of the free will that we enjoy, to have full stewardship over the people we choose to lead us. So, God doesn't choose our president; we do.

Also consider from the New Testament when Jesus was asked about paying taxes. In Matthew 22:21, he answered: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

It already seems pretty clear ... the concept of the separation of church and state established millennia before the United States were formed. And again it appears that we have full reign on how we choose our leaders.

So, did God choose Trump, or Obama, or Reagan for that matter? The answer seems clear: No, he did not.

Every election cycle, our church puts out a statement to remind us ... the choice is ours. And almost always, they will include that bit from D&C 98:10 and paraphrase it like this: "Latter-day Saints as citizens are to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are wise, good, and honest."

Here's a sample statement. 

Though, if you compare with the 2016 statement, that phrase was replaced with: "Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties, and members should seek candidates who best embody those principles." A funny playing down of the "wise, good, and honest" bit!

Coming back to the our current president, I know that some of you reading this have problems with Trump, but you voted for him anyway, which is more than okay. It's your right to vote. Some vote solely on policy and not the character of the candidate.

If you look at recent Utah voting history, Trump was voted in with the smallest of margins, winning only 45.5% of the vote compared with the next lowest of 62.6% for Bush Sr. in 1988. So, I know he isn't necessarily your most favorite conservative pick.

I, personally, have my own problems with Trump and the policies and actions he's taken in relation to the coronavirus, and everything else. I also do not think Trump is "wise, good, and honest." I do not think he exhibits the traits of leadership we're all taught in Sunday School. He isn't humble, nor compassionate to all of his constituents. And I think he is by far the most divisive president I've ever seen during my lifetime. But that's just me.

To end my post, I will try to leave you with something positive. 

Why in the world am I voting for Biden? Why not some 3rd party, like I did in 2016? Because ... something caught me off guard.

On the night of Super Tuesday, I decided to watch the celebratory speeches of Sanders and Biden. Sanders came first. And it was pure fire. It was scary. He was talking about how he was going to go after everyone and punish everyone. He wasn't humble. And even after losing so many states he talked about how he was still going to win and show Trump and the Republicans. I would actually prefer Trump over him.

And then I heard Biden, and it was like night and day. I saw humility. I saw energy, and I saw true concern and compassion toward ... everyone. He talked about how he was going to unite and heal the nation, and it hit me. This is exactly what our nation needs now. After years of divisive rhetoric, we need desperately to work together. And I think Biden could actually pull it off. Here's his speech if you feel so inclined to watch ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnE9kKeOyTg

So, give it all good thought. Who do you want to lead this country the next 4 years? It's not God's choice, as it's a decision he has given to us so we can practice our free agency. Whoever gets the most electoral votes will be our next president. The best you can do is vote, and do it proudly. Go and vote according to your conscious, and we'll see how it all comes out in the end.

Seeing the Signs

 

This week's spiritual thought will again come from the weekly Book of Mormon reading, but I encourage my other Christian friends to stick around, as the message I believe is universal. The messages in these verses seem to apply to today's times, as several of my friends have remarked in social media.

This story centers around the people of Nephi ... not the original Nephi, but the one that comes later around 10BC. Nephi was the designated prophet, and he told his people repeatedly that they needed to repent. He performed all sorts of miracles. A couple of weeks ago we read about how his father (also called Nephi) and uncle saw angels along with hundreds of people. And then how he predicted the death of their governor with great detail, but the people on the most part ignored all that. 

And then last week it was about Samuel the Lamanite prophesying about the night that would be day and a new star that would appear in five years to mark the birth of the coming Messiah near Jerusalem.

This week, the sign finally happens -- there's a night as bright as day -- and a lot of people repent. There was no denying that the sign was of God. Or was there?

Only a few years pass, and a large group of people say: that sign was a work of magic or sorcery. I don't believe it really happened. And the people go back to being wicked.

And I'm all: really? Can people really be that blind?

Yes, they can. I see it all the time today, and have myself fallen victim to this very trap. Every time it's the same thing: people rationalize the obvious away. It's usually something they don't want to hear, so they ... make stuff up.

In the case of these "Nephites," they wanted to be wicked. So, it was easier to come up with crazy explanations for what actually happened. Because ... if it didn't happen, then it becomes okay to be wicked.

In the case of politics, no one wants to hear that their candidate is bad, so people tend to surround themselves with articles as to why their candidate is good, and why the other candidate is bad. And will also prefer to read apologetics as to answer allegations against their own candidate. However, we should all know that there is bad in every candidate ... so if you're hearing that your candidate is perfect, that should be a big sign that you're ignoring something. This phenomenon is usually referred to as "confirmation bias" in today's nomenclature.

As a mathematician, modeler, programmer, and logistician, I feel like I'm in tune with all the happenings with the coronavirus. It's all very clear to me what's all going on. I can see all the people dying all around the world, and I can see which countries are enjoying success, and how they're accomplishing it. I mean ... it's very easy to see. I try to describe this to others, and sometimes I'm dumbfounded when many people come up with the craziest stuffs. I feel like I'm this Nephi character trying to help people see the simple truth, but then I'm met with people who don't want to hear it -- all so they can feel good about not wearing masks?

And yes, I know I'm not immune. I can be stubborn. I think all we humans are made to be stubborn. That can be both good and bad. But I do know an important principle we should all consider:

There are signs everywhere, and sometimes they are as clear as day. With as many signs as there are, there are going to be some that you do not want to hear. You could choose to ignore the sign, but then you might miss the warning and/or blessings. If, on the other hand, you choose to consider the sign and act upon it, then you might be able to change your course and do something to avoid that punishment or gain that blessing.

In other words, I think it would be in our best interests to consider ALL signs -- even the ones we don't want to hear. The ones that we miss could mean everything in the world to us, and we might not know until it's too late.

So, go out there and keep your eyes open. Be prepared to see and hear what don't want to see and hear, and then you will be better prepared for what comes next.

Edited at 3:30 PM -- someone pointed out that I was mixing up Nephi - the son of Helaman with Nephi - the son of Nephi (the son of Helaman who was also the son of Helaman). And yes, I understand the confusion ... I'm named after my father, and some people thought I had died a few years ago. Anyway ... blog post fixed.

Perspective in Life

I once worked with someone (a temporary job at SunTrust in Virginia) who commented on how happy I was all the time. She also hated my church, which back in the 90s was the normal thing to do for many Protestant denominations. But even with this hatred, she looked past it and could enjoy talking with me, which she did a lot.

When my assignment was coming to an end, of which I was sad (they paid me over $10 an hour, which was good for a temp at the time), this lady -- I'll call her Sarah -- she asked me, "You have to tell me. How are you so happy all the time?" This was on my very last day.

I answered, "Would you believe me if I told you?"

"Go ahead. Tell me."

"It's the church I belong to. It gives me perspective in life and makes me happy."

At first, Sarah seemed to hate the answer, but it was what it was. I told her the truth, and it was for her to consider as I walked out that door, never to return again. I have no idea how she took that piece of information -- and I wonder if she even remembers it. Did she eventually change her attitude toward my church?

When I was young, I don't think I had much reason to be sad because I felt like I knew how everything fit together. Part of this was religious, and part was all the science and math I was learning. When you already know how everything works, you can spend a lot less time worrying: "Do I matter?" or "Why do I need to be a good person?" or "Why should I even try?"; and spend a lot more time actually enjoying life and doing things. Then it becomes a self-reinforcing loop because I get to experience first-hand what my perspective already teaches me.

In other words, I know it works because it has helped me in my life countless times.

So, what exactly in this perspective causes this much happiness? I've tried to analyze it, and this is the best I can do for right now.

Most Christian denominations believe in this fact in common: We are not perfect, and we all sin. But Christ can save us from our sins. We can repent and benefit from His Atonement, which means our sins can be washed away and we have a real shot to make it into heaven. Overall, it's a positive message.

Ironically, this same exact message can also be a downer. Some denominations seem to focus on the sin and "we're not worthy" aspect. Or even the predetermination aspect, which means we can't change what we're about to do. "So why even try?" We're lesser beings and can never even hope to be on the same level as God. It's almost like beating oneself on the back all the time ... kind of like that scrupulosity I wrote about a couple of weeks ago.

But I've found that those who understand my own church's doctrine will see this in a much different light. We have some new pieces of doctrine, which I think contributes to an overall positive message. It's the whole "children of God" aspect. God didn't create us solely to have creatures worship him all the time. Rather, he created entities and provided them the means to live up to their full potential, knowing full well that they will mess up and make mistakes along the way.

Much like how a father raises a child. The father wants the child to succeed, so he may punish when needed, but he will also reinforce and support the child so that possibly they can do better in life than he did.

My church does indeed state in its doctrine that if we live a good life, we can actually become like God in the next life. In heaven we will continue to grow, continue to learn, becoming more perfect each and every day.

And I've believed this in my core my entire life. The worth of each soul is great in the eyes of God. We are ALL important. And we all have incredible potential. We are made up of intelligence that cannot be destroyed, and is capable of so many great things.

And shouldn't that make everyone happy? Knowing who I am and what I'm capable of has allowed me to see how everything falls into that perspective -- exactly how I fit in. And it has helped me push forward with endless determination, endless optimism, and a sense of success before it happens.

So, give it a try. Looks at how the world works around you. Enjoy the patterns, and find your place in it all, and I promise a good experience, and perhaps even ... happiness.