A Blind Eye to Badness??

Okay, this post is a little different than some of the other ones that have been posted before… I kind of want some feedback on this one.

I have been struggling a little with how people (myself included) seem to just block out the “badness” of the world.  Sometimes people will turn a blind eye to what is really going on, and refuse to address the issues.  

I feel like I am not expressing myself very well.  Here are a few examples of things that I have seen/heard in the last little while that kind of fall into what I am talking about:

• There is a kid in one of my classes that literally ducks and covers his ears when one of my professors swears in his lecture.
• Different political candidates refuse to address issues or say things like, “stuff happens.”
• Comments from church members in real life or on Facebook about gays and about how (I am summarizing/paraphrasing here) “are ruining our community/school/children”.
• People that I love and respect from church that call all muslims terrorists.
• (you may not think this one applies - but here it is anyways) A girl I know delayed breaking up with her boyfriend for a LONG TIME because it was easier to avoid the problem than it was to address it.
• A kid in my Russian literature class refused to read a short story because he didn’t like the “material” (it was about a woman who changed husbands/committed adultery)

I don’t know if these examples are helping much - but in short, I feel like a lot of times we, as human beings, get caught up in OUR OWN WORLDS.  We forget that there are a lot of people, a lot of different scenarios, and a lot of different trials out there.

But then, there is a balance, right?  We don’t want to just say, when it comes to a sin, “well that is what the world is doing; learn to roll with it.”  We don’t want to downplay the dirt in the world.  BUT, there is a difference in downplaying it and understanding it, isn’t there?

Is this making any sense at all?  Has anyone else ever felt this way?

We can close our eyes and pretend that there is not evil in the world… and lock down and live in our bubble, OR, we can try to read and experience and understand what is going on around us.

Children are innocent.  They aren’t expected to understand others immediately.  They are expected to see these problems and deal with them like adults are expected to.

Paul:  1 Cornithians 13:11 -  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Sometimes we prefer to IGNORE things.  But no matter how hard we ignore it, there IS dirt in the world.  It is there whether or not we decide to see it.  And our job durning this life is to learn how to deal with it.

How do we do that?

Here is a list that I have compiled:

• Pray
• God can give the best insights as to how to understand the world around us.
• Read the scriptures
• This is often how our answers will come.  It may be through the words of Paul or maybe through the example of Moroni.  
• Serve
• Service helps us understand people.  The people we serve we will begin to love.  We will understand the world from their point of view.
• Read the news (multiple sources)
• Learning about and thinking about current events help us understand difficult situations we may be placed in later.
• Travel
• We can see the REAL WORLD.  Often times our little bubble gives a very skewed perspective as to what is REALLY going on in the world.  Changing our physical location gives new perspective and helps see the world through other people’s eyes.
• Have patience with people
• I think this is the hardest one for me - I feel like people should act how I THINK they should act.  And when they don’t, I get mad.
• Read classical literature
• Probably the EASIEST way to understand the minds of real life people in real life situations is to read the classics.  Sure the characters in these stories are not real, BUT, we can get in the minds of all kinds of people - from murderers, to prostitutes, to priests, to animals.  We read classics because there is a need to understand ourselves.  
• Listen to prophets
• This is a hard one - sometimes prophets can be seen as “old, white men that are out-of-touch”.  And that is dangerous.  It is the fact that they are in direct communication with God that we MUST TRUST THEM.  In fact, I would argue that their council can be our best ally when it comes to understanding sin.  BUT - I also feel that it can, if we are not careful, it can push us to believe that because we know the TRUTH and WHAT IS RIGHT, that other people that don’t, are bad, evil-doers that should be ostracized.  

Anyways, that is what I have got so far on the topic.  I would REALLY love to hear from some of you concerning this.  If you have other points to add or maybe somewhere I can turn for some more guidance on the issue… 

Thanks guys!

What's on your mind during sacrament?

Pretty sure that most of you have heard of one of my cities on the mission - Tver.  I tend to talk about it a lot.  It is a special place.  

Anyways, the first councilor there would give a (I kid you not) 10 minute preach session EVERY SUNDAY right before the sacrament about how we need to be thinking of the Savior durning sacrament.  

He made such a point of this, that I really can't hear the words "now we will prepare to partake of the sacrament" without thinking of his weekly preach session.  It is BURNED into my memory.

And then today, as I was browsing lds.org, I found a talk that was being featured on the front page - What's on your mind during sacrament?.  I smiled and immediately thought of Brother Oxyonov in Tver.  So I clicked it.  

I ended up read the talk by Don R. Clarke and REALLY REALLY liked the activity that his Sunday school teacher did.  Check it out:

"There are special experiences in the lives of all of us that touch our souls and make things different forever. One such experience happened in my youth. This experience transformed my life.

I was always active in the Church and progressed through the Aaronic Priesthood. When I was a teenager, Brother Jacob, my teacher, asked that I write down on a card what I had thought about during the sacrament. I took my card and began to write. First on the list was a basketball game we had won the night before. And then came a date after the game, and so went the list. Far removed and certainly not in bold letters was the name of Jesus Christ.

Each Sunday the card was filled out. For a young Aaronic Priesthood holder, the sacrament and sacrament meeting took on a new, expanded, and spiritual meaning. I anxiously looked forward to Sundays and to the opportunity to partake of the sacrament, as understanding the Savior’s Atonement was changing me. Every Sunday to this day, as I partake of the sacrament, I can see my card and review my list. Always on my list now, first of all, is the Savior of mankind."

I liked it so much, I set a reminder of my phone to ask "what were you thinking about durning Sacrament?"  I plan on making a note for every Sunday and write down what I am thinking about.  Hopefully, like he states in his talk, I will be able to say Jesus Christ in big bold letters. I will let you all know how that works out.  haha

I hope that I will be able to always have the Savior in big bold letters.  I hope that it will not only help me remember Him and His sacrifice for me during the sacrament, but that it will help keep Him in my mind throughout the week.

Love you all!

A BOM for a Hero

Okay, I didn’t know this, but apparently the “famous Book of Mormon” that Tolstoy had… you have all heard the story, right?  ANYways, it was send to him by a farmer from Idaho!

He sent a letter with a book of mormon to Russia!  From Idaho to Russia! In like the 1900s With it he sent a really nice letter praising Tolstoy and his work.  He stated that Tolstoy was a representation of all that was good in humanity.

I just thought it was cool that he had enough GUTS to send a Book of Mormon to his hero.   I tried to picture my self sending a Book of Mormon to my hero… or my idols.  (first of all I had to think of who that would be…)  But man, that is pretty gutsy!  And you know, I think it is cool!  I may try it myself!  haha!  I think I am going to send a Book of Mormon to some of the people that have influenced my life (outside the church).  Maybe Jon Stewart??  hahaha   

Anyways, I thought it was another cool thing from Idaho.  Let’s be brave like that when it comes to sharing the gospel.  Love you guys!

Billy's Temple Prep

So - my wife is out of town.  I hate going to our ward (even though I shouldn't) without her.  So I went to Billy's ward!  Turns out he had the temple prep lesson today!  Lucky draw!  I decided to share my notes with you guys on his killer lesson.  He doesn't know in posting this, so hopefully he doesn't get mad.  Also, I recorded the whole thing.  I haven't even listened to it - so it may not be that good of quality.  Take it for what it's worth.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-bGd24M6J0OaUZucm56TVZyRG8

Blessings from the Temple:

Lesson 3

Exodus chapter 40

38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

The temple was the place of the Lord since the beginning of time

Mathew 21:12-15

Jesus flipping tables - RAGER.

The purpose of the temple was changed - it was no longer for the fulfillment of covenants and the enriching of the children of God

He was pissed - shows the importance of the temple in God's plan

2 nephi somewhere...

(Chap5-16)

16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

Nephi built a temple - so what?

Where people are - temples need to be

PURPOSE OF THE TEMPLE

---Preparing for exaltation---

That's what it's all about!

D and C 97

16 Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.

17 But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples.

       18 And, now, behold, if Zion do these things she shall prosper, and spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very terrible.

19 And the nations of the earth shall honor her, and shall say: Surely Zion is the city of our God, and surely Zion cannot fall, neither be moved out of her place, for God is there, and the hand of the Lord is there;

20 And he hath sworn by the power of his might to be her salvation and her high tower

Check out these blessings!!!

YOU DONT HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!!!!

'Pure of heart' does not mean "oh, you haven't sinned in two weeks, you're good to go." 

If your heart is in the right place in your heart, and you're doing your best, you're in!  You're golden!  You can see God.

I really recommend listening to the recording - there's a good story about James Franco that you WONT want to miss!  (Around 25 minutes)

Guilt or shame can keep us from going to the temple

Guilt - I've done something bad

Shame - I am bad

We can't equate things we've done with who we are

If you don't listen to the whole thing - or even to the James Franci story - listen to the last minute  - Billy throws down a great testimony of the temple.  

Here is the link again:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-bGd24M6J0OaUZucm56TVZyRG8

Ken Caminitti - For Your Health

Here is a reminder of our boy's STATS.  

And here is the scripture that he landed on today:

Psalms 3:3

"But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my Glory, and the Lifter up of mine head"

Don't go into battle without your shield!!!  What are you, NUTS?!  You have to get in your daily prayers!  It's your protection.  Plus, if you are feeling down, God can lift you.  He can help you be happy. 

Dostoyevsky and the Atonement

"If anyone could prove to me that Christ is outside the truth, and if the truth really did exclude Christ, I should prefer to stay with Christ and not with truth."

-Dostoyevsky

This quote was in one of my books when I started the mission.  I read this my first day in the MTC and haven't been able to forget it since.  I strive for this level of devotion to Christ.

Okay, so I know that I talk about my Russian Literature class a lot.  I just can't help but share what I learn in this class!  I love Russia.  I love Russian literature.  I love all of you guys, so it just makes sense to share.

ANYWAY - 

The lecture today was EPIC.  Here is picture I took of my professor (Raissa Volfovna) throwing down:

Today we were talking about Dostoyevsky.  If you have never heard about Dostoyevsky, read about him here.  He is the author of Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and Poor Folk... to name a few of his novels.

In short, he was a genius and a believer.  

But what is interesting is that his life, and the testimony that I quoted in the beginning, didn't come without a struggle.  He lived through some scary stuff.  

At one point in his life, he was on Red Square with a death sentence from the Tsar.  He was saved only after watching group after group of his friends get shot in front of him.  It was after this, that he promised to never waste another minute of his life.

After telling us this story, our Professor went on to describe how Dostoyevsky became an avid gambler.  At one point he had lost everything down to his wives earrings.  He was LOW. 

At this point, a few of my fellow students started "bagging" on Dostoyevsky.  They commented on how he didn't hold to his promise of never wasting a moment of his life again.  They commented on how his work is too dark and how they felt that he was a "hypocrite".

Thats when my professor LOST IT.  She went OFF on this student!  haha

She explained that after he hit his low point with his gambling, that he swore again to his wife that he would never gamble.  And that after that day, thanks to his love for his wife and for his daughter (and to his Savior), he never gambled again.  

My professor went on to explain that this is how Dostoyevsky teaches us in his novels as well.  His themes are dark and scary.  They are full of murder, theft, temptation, and sin.  But he, through his characters, always shows us a way out of the dark times.  He shows us the path back to the light!

And then to translate the poem that is on the board in the picture (I was actually taking a picture of what she pulled up, but I happened to catch her in one of her passionate moments... haha):

Don't say that there is no salvation,

That you are in sorrow inescapable:

The darker the night, the brighter the stars,

The deeper the mourning, the closer God is...

 - Apollon Maykov (another Russian poet)

And that is what is beautiful about this life and about the atonement!  There is always a way back.  This earth is mired in sin, evil, and sadness.  At times is can seem REALLY DARK.  Sometimes your sorrow is so deep, you feel you can't escape!  BUT WE CAN.

I want to add my testimony to that of Dostoyevsky's.  I know that Christ is the way.  I have a testimony of the efficacy of the atonement.  IT WORKS.  We can be clean!  The dark and scary parts of life have an escape!  If our challenge is gambling, the death of a loved one, pornography, same sex attraction, or just doubts in general - the way out is through Him.

John 14:6

 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Lobster Claws

Feet are a big deal.

For some reason I have been thinking about feet a lot lately.  I don't know if I just have a bad case of the Foot, or what, but I feel like there has been a lot of discussion about feet in my life lately.  Probably because I had an incident last week that made mine look like they were going to fall off (more about that later)... but really I have been having a lot of "feety" thoughts lately... so I figured I would share.

I searched the scriptures to see how often "feet" were mentioned... and I got a HUGE amount of results.  Here are a few:

• Exodus 21:24

  24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot...

  • John 12:3

    3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

    • Doctrine and Covenants 84:109

      109 Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?
      
      

      • John 13:14

        14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
        
        

        • 3 Nephi 17:10

          10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.
          
          

          • Mark 9:45

            45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
            
            

            • Doctrine and Covenants 60:15

              15 And shake off the dust of thy feet against those who receive thee not, not in their presence, lest thou provoke them, but in secret; and wash thy feet, as a testimony against them in the day of judgment.
              
              

              • Acts 14:10

                10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
                
                

                • Luke 24:40

                  40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
                  
                  

                • Exodus 3:5

                  
                  
                  5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  There are SO many stories about feet! There are lessons to be learned from all of them. I will let the spirit speak to you as to what you can take away from these scriptures, and I will tell you a few of my own feet stories:
                  
                  
                  Story ONE -
                  
                  I was probably six years old. During a highly competitive round of cabin games, I jumped off the back porch of the patio and the patio and landed on an overturned board with nails sticking up. One of the nails went right through my cool Ninja Turtle velcro shoes. I screamed. Dad came running. They pulled me off the board and took me to Uncle Manx to get my foot cleaned up and make sure I didn't have tetanus or whatever. Lesson learned - "look before you leap."
                  
                  Story TWO -
                  
                  When I was 15/16 our stake went on a pioneer trek. We bussed out to Wyoming and walked the route that the pioneers did. We pulled handcarts up hills, over rivers, and thought Martin's Cove. It was pretty cool. Jay and I thought that we were really cool and decided to "get the real pioneer experience" and do the whole thing barefoot. Turns out it was genius because the paths were soft most of the way and we didn't have any shoes to get blisters from. So while everyone else was dealing with moleskin and crying that their blisters popped, we just laughed. However, this soft dirt didn't last the ENTIRE TIME. The few mile section in Martin's Cove was covered in tiny, sharp rocks. These rocks were the kind that cripple you as you try to run across the road barefoot... and the place was full of them. Long story short, my feet hurt SO BAD... there were a couple of times that I felt pretty dumb for choosing to go barefoot. But, I was determined and made the whole thing. I can say that I really did gain a deeper appreciation for the saints that came across in the dead of winter without shoes... Yeah okay, my feet weren't freezing cold - but I did feel pain. Lesson learned - The pioneers were tough.
                  
                  Story THREE - 
                • This last year, as I spent time in California with Madison's dad, I watched as her Uncle Scott would massage Madison's Dad's feet every morning. Her dad couldn't move his feet at all, and the little bit of mobilization got the blood flowing and had to feel SO GOOD. This one thing he did every morning is symbolic of the love and care that he would give throughout the day. He would dress, feed, help in the bathroom, and watch YouTube and cycling videos with his brother all day every day. Scott was literally and angel human for Tracy.  Lesson learned - Love your brother! 
                • Story FOUR -
                  
                  Two weekends ago, around mile 19 or so in the St. George Marathon, as Madison and I took a few seconds to stretch out our untrained legs, I looked down at my feet and saw that my right shoe was bloody.  I knew my feet were hurting, but I didn't know I was bleeding! From then on, it was a mental game. I didn't look at them again until the end of the race.  I knew that if I took my shoe off at that moment and tried to "fix the problem" that I wouldn't finish the race. So I ignored it. At the end of the 26.2 miles, I removed my shoes and my socks only to find the gnarliest blisters I have ever seen. I was messed up - BUT I FINISHED. Lesson learned - I can do hard things when I CHOOSE not to give up.
                • Who knew there were so many lessons to be learned from feet!?!  I am sure that by the end of this mortal race, not only will I have bloody feet, but my hands, knees and probably elbows will be bloody from crawling to that finish line.  BUT - I am going to make it!  And when I get there, I don't care how bloody my feet and knees are, I will kneel at Christ's pierced feet and thank Him for helping me make it home.  
                • Here is a picture of the nasties, in case you were curious:
                • 

Hello Bearries,
I hope everyone is doing great in their respective spheres. A big (if belated) shout out to Zach and Landon for starting grad school. I just finished a book called "The Chosen" and was deeply affected by it. In particular there was a passage that I though was particularly poignant. In it the main protagonist is concerned that his dad is working too hard and asks him to slow down. To this the dad responds by saying

"Human beings do not live forever Rueven. We live less than the time it takes to blink an eye, if we measure our lives against eternity. So it may be asked what value is there to a human life. There is so much pain in the world. What does it mean to have to suffer so much, if our lives are nothing more than the blink of an eye?...I learned a long time ago, Reuven, that a blink of an eye in itself is nothing; but the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing; but the man who lives the span, he is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant. A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning- that, I do not think you understand yet. A life filled with meaning is worthy of rest. I want to be worthy of rest when I am no longer here."

• David Malter to his son, Reuven (p. 217)

Mormon put it in a gospel context to his son when he said against a backdrop of extreme hardship "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God."

One of the greatest changes that occurred in my life when I gained a testimony was the new meaning it brought to my life. I now knew (and know) that I have a divine role in the scheme of life, and that as a child of God my worth was such that the creator of the universe put a plan in motion to provide for my eternal happiness. With this knowledge and forgiveness though, came a deep responsibility to do my best to try and live up to what Jesus Christ gave to m, and wants to share with me. 

For sure our lives at times seems hectic and challenging, but when I find the time to serve God by keeping the commandments and serving his children it makes the down parts of my life either become easier to cope with or go away entirely. I feel strongly that each of the Bearrie boys have a strong capacity to do something meaningful with their lives; you guys are awesome and are uniquely gifted at reaching out to the people around you. I know that by trying our hardest to stay close to the spirit and serve God and the church that we can find the most meaning to our lives, and be able to make a huge difference to some of God's children. 

A Quick Thought on the Atonement

Just a quick Sunday thought. This video just crushed me. I want to bear my testimony that the Atonement is real and that through Christ everyone of us really can change and become who we want to be and who we need to be. There are 11 other videos like this one on the church's new addiction recovery page (watch the other ones here http://www.mormonchannel.org/12steps). The ones I've watched have taught me a lot about the Atonement and about our Savior. I think that these are just phenomenal.

ПТИЧКА - A LITTLE BIRD

Bearrie Bisnus:

First day of shooool!  Giddy up. Hopefully that went well for all.  I am sure it went well, particularly those of us who aren't in school.

People are moved in and situated... if there are more moving concerns let us know!  Jay, is Phoebe set up?  Need to move any more big stuff?  Let us know.

Madison and I are back from Thailand - it was awesome.  Here is a link to the movie we threw together about it (don't tell Madison I sent this out - we aren't supposed to share it via social media until we premier it at her family's house this weekend) -  Madison and Cees Thailand

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I have been waiting for this year because my favorite Russian professor is teaching a literature class that I need.  She is AMAZING.  She, hands down, gives the best lectures I have had here at BYU.  And she somehow invites the spirit into class every day.  It is amazing.  And the interesting part is, she isn't mormon.  She is Russian Orthodox.  So, just so you know, the best lecturer at BYU isn't even a member... haha.

ANYWAYS, I want to share an insight that I had in her class today.

I hope everyone here has heard of Pushkin.  He is a very famous Russian poet.  From early age all Russians begin to memorize his poems.  Here is a picture:

Anyways, long story short, the king of the time didn't really like Pushkin.  He was in prison a lot during his short life.  Even though he was never really affiliated with any of the political groups of the time, he was held captive as a political prisoner.  

During one of his times in prison, he wrote the following poem:

ПТИЧКА

В чужбине свято наблюдаю

Родной обычай старины:

На волю птичку выпускаю

При светлом празднике весны.

Я стал доступен утешенью;

За что на бога мне роптать,

Когда хоть одному творенью

Я мог свободу даровать!

Александр Сергеевич Пушкин

(1799 - 1837)

A Little Bird

In alien lands devoutly clinging

To age-old rites of Russian earth,

I let a captive bird go winging

To greet the radiant spring's rebirth.

My heart grew lighter then: why mutter

Against God's providence, and rage,

When I was free to set aflutter

But one poor captive from his cage!

Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin

(1799-1837)

Honestly I didn't really get the poem at first.  It wasn't until class that I was clued into the significance.

In prison he was allowed to celebrate Easter.  One of the Russian traditions on Easter is to let a bird free from a little cage.  As he was himself in a "little cage" he was able to rejoice in giving freedom to another.  The last part of the poem is what was so profound to me - "why mutter against God's providence, and rage, when I was free to set aflutter but one poor captive from his cage". 

He was in a crappy situation.  He was locked up.  He had a few things that he could have been upset at God about.  But he recognized that EVEN IN HIS SITUATION, he could still serve and help others.  He was FREE to free another!  And that is what life is about!  That is what we are here to do.  

Yeah, sometimes life is going to suck.  We are going to feel stuck.  We are going to feel picked on.  We are going to feel grumpy because our life isn't as good as someone else.  But if we give up and say, "Poor me, poor me.  I am stuck.  I can't do anything."  Well then we have missed the point.

Pushkin nailed it.  We never have reason to mutter against God.  We can always make a difference in the lives of others.  I really believe that.  Whether it is a kind word, a warm meal, a smile, a favor, or 50 bucks.  We can always make a difference and set someone free.

Every week we have the opportunity to remember the ultimate "setting free".  Jesus Christ, like in everything, is the ultimate example.  He was in the lousiest of places.  He was in the worst of conditions.  He had every right to complain, BUT HE DIDN'T.  He set the rest of us free with the Atonement.  He could have bailed.  He could have said, "eh, I have enough problems as it is.  I think I will pass on taking on the problems of the world."  But He didn't.  And I am so grateful for that.

Pushkin remarked that when he let the bird go that his "heart grew lighter".  In Russian, the line "Я стал доступен утешенью" literally means, "I became available to comfort".  I can testify along with Pushkin, that when we focus on others, we are then able to become comforted.  We can let go of some of our cares and worries.  And our problems will not seem so daunting.

May we all focus on others when the going gets tough.  

Hey team!
This is a paper I wrote while in Jerusalem. I hope you like it.

Christmas rolled around Ellensburg Washington at the same time of year that it did for everyone else. It was bitter cold; the temperature rarely went into the double digits. I was a brand new missionary, enjoying the festive season and the kindness that was being poured upon me by members in the ward. I wasn’t homesick but I knew that my mother missed me dearly. I decided to take great care to make my phone call home meaningful and comforting.

Each Christmas eve, my family would gather around candles and read aloud the Christmas story. Our tiny living room in Manhattan would become a grotto as candlelight danced across the window onto the busy street. Dad’s mood would determine how many verses were to be recited. Not wanting to miss this tradition, I requested and received permission from my Mission President to call home on Christmas Eve. I thought it would be a nice gesture to my mother.

I lit a small candle on my desk, stationed in the corner of a cold basement in a rickety old farmhouse and read along over the phone. Dad decided that this year, we would read Luke 2 in its entirety. I took my turn to read aloud verse 49. Though written two thousand years ago, the words became mine. “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Time seemed to stand still. My mother was comforted and knew that I was doing a great work. Like Jesus, she knew I had to leave everything behind, including family and friends to serve a higher purpose. My gratitude to the Lord was immense for he had comforted my Mother and taught me a valuable lesson.

Reflecting on the story, Christ’s desertion to the temple seems counterintuitive. It would not have been any trouble to inform Joseph and Mary of his decision to study in the temple. How could he worry his parents so desperately? I do not have a perfect answer to this question but I can take a stab at it. Mont Poulsen provided a powerful insight in the July 2011 Ensign. Brother Poulsen points out that many of the good things, like children and marriage, when done in the wrong order is a “disaster.” “Satan deceives us by convincing us to do the right thing in the wrong order.” The Savior taught on many occasions that the greatest commandments, and thus the ones Satan is most interested in, is to love God and our neighbors (Luke 10:27). The consequences of incorrectly prioritizing these two commandments are dire.

            It is easy to justify our sins by prioritizing people over God. I cannot number the dumb things done by missionaries in my mission in the name of companion, district or zone unity. It is vital that we consider the feelings of others and the impact our decisions will make, but we must first consider what God thinks of our decisions, then how it will affect other people. Elder Holland in October 2012 General Conference taught, “the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty.”  

            The Savior wants us to be loyal to and love all men equally. The importance of this principle is evident its status as the second greatest commandment in the universe. Yet we often make it the greatest commandment when our loyalty to our brothers and sisters supersedes our loyalty to God. Christ’s love of his Father drew him to the temple as he left behind his friends and family and I can attest to the blessings of loving God more than man. As I read the scriptures with, but far from, my family those years ago in a hick town in the middle of nowhere, I could feel the encircling arms of a God who was blessing us for loving him more than each other. 

My Bearrie Brothers,

We love each other. but we must love God even more.