Haz la Obra

I had the privilege of giving the devotional message this morning for the employees and missionaries here in the Area Office. I drew on the talk Elder Duncan gave at our Stake Conference about the third son. Here is the message in Spanish.

HAZ LA OBRA

Hermanos y Hermanas, me complace mucho estar aquí con ustedes y tener la oportunidad de compartir con ustedes este pequeño mensaje. Estamos enfocándonos en este mes en el tema de “Haz la Obra” y hablando de este tema, quiero empezar con la parábola del Salvador que compartió después de la entrada triunfal en Jerusalén que se encuentra en el libro de Mateo, capítulo 21, versículos 28-31, que dice:

28 Mas, ¿qué os parece? Un hombre tenía dos hijos, y acercándose al primero, le dijo: Hijo, ve hoy a trabajar en mi viña.

29 Y respondiendo él, dijo: No quiero; pero después, arrepentido, fue.

30 Y acercándose al otro, le dijo de la misma manera; y respondiendo él, dijo: Sí, señor, voy. Pero no fue.

31 ¿Cuál de los dos hizo la voluntad de su padre? Dijeron ellos: El primero.

Un punto de esta parábola es que lo que hacemos es más importante que los que decimos--es más importante hacer el trabajo que decir que lo haremos. Los otros pasos del modelo de liderazgo, el definir dirección, deliberar en consejo, desarrollar capacidades y organizar la labor no valen de nada si no hacemos la obra.

Recientemente Elder Duncan presidió la conferencia de estaca en la estaca Molino en la Zona 6 donde nosotros asistimos. Él contó esta parábola y entonces la cambió para que hubiera un tercer hijo. Y el hombre dijo al tercer hijo, ve hoy a trabajar en mi viña. Y el tercer hijo respondió, Sí, Señor, voy. Y fue y trabajó con toda su fuerza y con todo su corazón. Elder Duncan nos animó que seamos como el tercer hijo, pronto para aceptar una asignación y fiel para cumplirla.

Pensando en la parábola como revisada por el Elder Duncan, me di cuenta de que este tercer hijo realmente es Jesucristo. Fue él que dijo, “Heme aquí; envíame.” Y después vino e hizo siempre lo que a su Padre le agrada. Y cuando estuvo abrumado de la agonía de la expiación, dijo, “Padre mío, si es posible, pase de mí esta copa; pero no sea como yo quiero, sino como tú.” Realmente Elder Duncan estaba invitándonos a llegar a ser como Cristo.

Jesucristo dijo, “No todo el que me dice: Señor, Señor, entrará en el reino de los cielos, sino el que hace la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos,” otra vez enseñándonos que lo que hacemos cuenta más que lo que decimos.

Para mí, un gran ejemple del valor de hacer la obra es el profeta Nefi. Cuando su padre le dio una tarea muy difícil, dijo “Iré y haré lo que el Señor ha mandado, porque sé que él nunca da mandamientos a los hijos de los hombres sin prepararles una vía para que cumplan lo que les ha mandado.” 1 Nefi 3:7

Cuando él y sus hermanos mayores llegaron a Jerusalén para obtener las planchas de bronce de Labán, él trató de matarlos y robó sus bienes. Sus hermanos desanimaron, lo maltrataron y quisieron volver a la tienda de su padre sin las planchas de bronce. Pero Nefi les dijo:

“Así como el Señor vive, y como nosotros vivimos, no descenderemos hasta nuestro padre en el desierto hasta que hayamos cumplido lo que el Señor nos ha mandado. … Subamos de nuevo a Jerusalén, y seamos fieles en guardar los mandamientos del Señor, pues he aquí, él es más poderoso que toda la tierra.” 1 Nefi 3:15; 4:1

Como sabemos volvieron a Jerusalén y dejando a sus hermanos fuera de la ciudad, Nefi entró de nuevo y volvió a la casa de Labán y fue “guiado por el Espíritu, sin saber de antemano lo que tendría que hacer.” Y cuando encontró a Labán ebrio de vino, el Espíritu le constriñó a que matara a Labán, cosa que era muy difícil para Nefi. Y sucedió que otra vez le dijo el Espíritu: Mátalo, porque el Señor lo ha puesto en tus manos. Entonces obedeciendo la voz del Espíritu y cogiendo a Labán por los cabellos, le cortó la cabeza con su propia espada. Después Nefi obtuvo las planchas de bronce y él, sus hermanos y siervo de Labán volvieron a la tienda de su padre.

Aun cuando encontramos desafíos y obstáculos en el camino de lograr nuestro trabajo, si oramos con fe como hizo El Salvador en Getsemaní y seguimos el Espíritu como lo hizo Nefi en Jerusalén, podremos sobrevenir todos estos desafíos y obstáculos y lograr un buen trabajo para El Señor.

Yo les invito que sean como el tercer hijo, siempre dispuestos a aceptar una asignación y leal y fiel en llevarla acabo.

Testimonio.

The Third Son

Early this morning I received a message from Angie Morrill, a client of mine from years ago in Richfield. This is what she said:

"I just came home home from a wonderful adult session of adult stake conference about missionary work, and I had to write you a quick thank you note.... many years ago I tagged along with you and Karla to lunch at the Pastry Pub after a training and you shared a story about living in Germany and taking your young family a significant distance to attend stake conference and you spoke about the many blessings you received from doing that.....anyway I had grown up in a completely inactive somewhat anti Mormon home and my husband grew up with a very faithful mother and a father who is an ambvilant but supportive regarding church..Brandon served a mission and we were married in the temple, but stake conference Sunday was always  a "day off" until that conversation many years ago with you in the Pastry Pub.....anyway you really made an impact on my life that day...and I haven't thought about for years until tonight....thanks...."

"I came home and Brandon and I talked about your story and the example we wanted to set for our kids and since that day 10 plus years ago I think we have missed 1 stake conference."

I was moved by her story, and this was my response:

"Thanks for sharing that, Angie.  Just yesterday we also had stake conference here in the Molino Stake where we are assigned to attend. It is clear across the city in a very poor area, and the wards in that stake really struggle. Yesterday there were meetings scheduled for all adults beginning at 3:00 pm and continuing until 7:30 pm. The BYU football game began at 1:30 pm, and we had three other missionary couples, good friends of ours, gathered in our apartment to watch the game. They all planned to go out to dinner after the game as well. Mary Ann can't speak the language and doesn't understand anything in these meetings, so sitting through 4 and a half hours of unintelligible talking would be very difficult for her. I have to confess that I was sorely tempted to skip these Saturday meetings and enjoy the time with our missionary friends. Nonetheless, we decided to do our duty and attend the meetings to set a good example for the struggling members of our assigned ward. So we left our friends watching the game in our apartment and headed across town to our stake conference. It was hard for Mary Ann, but as always, we were spiritually blessed for our efforts. Elder Kevin Duncan, our area president presided, and he taught us for a good part of the meeting. He told us the parable of the two sons, the one who said he would go and did not and the other who said he would not go, but then went. He then changed the parable to add a third son who said he would go and went with full purpose of heart. He asked us all to raise our hands and commit to always be the third son or daughter.  How grateful I was for having made the right choice to fulfill my duty yesterday.  There were very few members of that struggling stake in attendance, and the streets around the chapel were filled with people and vendors as some big celebration and concert was going on "in the world."  I know that when we do as we have covenanted to do, we are always blessed, even if in ways we don't recognize. May God bless you for your righteous desires and choices."

I concluded the convesation with this final thought:

"As I have thought about Elder Duncan's parable of the Third Son this morning, I have realized that the third son in the parable is Jesus Christ.  He was the son who said, "Here am I, send me."  An then He came and did always that which pleases His Father.  And even when faced with the overwhelming agony of the suffering He was called to bear, which caused Him to cry out saying, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me," He said, "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."  Elder Duncan was really asking each of us to covenant to be like Him."

May we all be the Third Son--always willing to go and do the will of Our Father, and always keeping the covenants we make with Him.

The House of the Lord

Tonight during my shift at the temple, I had the wonderful opportunity to officiate in an endowment session when a beautiful young woman received her own endowment in preparation for serving a mission in Nicaragua.  The session was full of beautiful and humble Guatemalan Saints supporting this future missionary.  I prayed the Lord would pour out his spirit upon those gathered in the session, and that prayer was answered in a powerful and moving way.  I know this beautiful young woman received a witness of the temple ordinances, as I did the first time I attended the temple in preparation for my own mission.  That was one of the most powerful spiritual experiences of my life.  I am a witness that the ordinances of the temple are true and that the power of God is present in the temple inder the direction of priesthood keys, and it can truly seal a family together for all eternity.  Going to the temple is like going to the top of a mountain; it is a place of peace and a place where the veil seems thin and one may commune with God in a way he cannot in other places.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I have here to serve in the temple each week.  It is a place of holiness where we can learn to be holy.

What Manner of Men?

Our Heavenly Father sent us to this beautiful earth so that we might become like Him by receiving and gaining dominion over a body and by learning from our own experience to choose good and reject evil. To make our perfection possible, He sent His Son to atone for our sins and Adam's transgression, teach us the truth, and show us by His perfect example the way back to Our Father. Jesus said to the Nephites and Lamanites gathered at the temple in Bountiful:  "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." 3 Nehpi 12:48.  He subsequently asked their leaders rhetorically, "what manner of men ought ye to be"?  And then He answered, "Verily I say unto you, even as I am."  Jesus is our perfect example, and He invites us to come and follow Him.  "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.

One day a rich young man came to Jesus seeking counsel.  He was like many of us.  He kept the commandments and did his best to please God.  In our way of thinking, he attended church, said his prayers, paid his tithing and fast offerings, did his home teaching.  He was faithful in holding family home evening, family prayer and scripture study.  He attended the temple regularly and in short kept all the commandments.  Mark tells us the story this way:

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, one thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." Mark 10:17-22

Like the rich young man, each of us needs to ask what we must do to inherit eternal life; what lack we yet?  If we ask with a sincere heart and real intent (i.e. the intent to do what He tells us), He will show us what He would have us do.  He may show us that we need to change certain desires or thoughts or that we must change the way we speak, the words we say.  He may show us things we must stop doing or things we must begin to do or do better.  He will help us follow Him and become like Him.

One of the great blessings of serving a mission is having the opportunity to turn our hearts more fully to Him and become more like Him.  I pray that we will not be as the rich young man, but that we will be willing to do all that the Lord asks of us.  May we strive each day to follow Him and become more like Him in the desires of our hearts, our thoughts, our words, and all that we do.

For those who want help in identifying areas to improve, I recommend the study of Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel and the completion of the Attribute Activity at the end of the chapter.  

Keep the Commandments

Why are our happiness and keeping God's commandments inextricably intertwined?

Humans desire happiness and are driven to seek it in many ways. Some seek it in pleasures or possessions, others in exhilaration and extreme sports. Some believe they will find it in money, power, or fame. Some seek it in learning some new or strange thing. And the list might go on and on.

Our Heavenly Father has created us that we might be happy and provided us all that we need to find happiness. He knows and loves us best, and knows what will make us truly happy. He teaches us that without righteousness there can be no happiness and that wickedness never was happiness. (See 2 Nephi 2:13; Alma 41:10) He has given us His commandments that we might be happy.

Among the many reasons this is true, two stand out to me. First, his commandments lead to happiness, because he has decreed that it be so; He has conditioned many of His choicest blessings upon obedience to His commandments.

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— [a]nd when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." D&C 130:20-21.

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold outfaithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." Mosiah 2:41

Those who seek happiness by violating God's commandments seek that which can never be obtained, because it runs contrary to the law of God.

But a second and related reason that happiness is found in keeping the commandments of God, is that the commandments themselves are designed by a loving Heavenly Father to make us happy, to make us like Him.

Joseph Smith taught:

Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. [Teachings, 255–56]

God's commandments are not capricious or random in nature, but their very object and design is our eternal happiness. Even when we don't see how that can be the case, or we think we know better what will make me happy, we should lay aside our own wisdom and trust in our loving Heavenly Father, for He knows best what will make us happy.

My favorite scripture is the following:

"But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." 2 Nephi 2:24-25

To the degree that we keep the commandments of God, to that degree and no greater shall we find happiness in this life and in the world to come.

Guatemala--Land of Natural Wonders

Guatemala is not a vacationers' paradise.  On neither its Pacific nor Atlantic coast does it have a single destination resort or world class hotel.  Visiting the beach is a third world experience.  With the exception of parts of Guatemala City, the country lacks the kind of amenities one expects in the developed world.  But what Guatemala lacks in modern development it makes up for in spades in natural wonders and beauty.

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to visit the city of Coban in Alta Verapaz to the north of Guatemala City.  You begin at nearly 5,000 feet in Guatemala City and within a few short miles descend to the Motagua River basin at less than 1,000 feet, and then within another few miles ascend to Coban at 4,350 feet, passing through beautiful pine forests and a natural reserve for the Quetzal bird.  Alta Verapaz is a beautiful part of Guatemala.  We stayed in a fairly nice hotel for Guatemala standards in the small community of Santa Cruz south of Coban.

Coban is a fairly traditional Mayan city.  Most of the women dress in their traditional Mayan dress with long pleated skirts, some with beautiful embroidery, and their distinctive lacy Huipiles over a chemise like undergarment.  Coban is small city, but it had a nice mall in the city center.  We arrived on Independence Day and enjoyed a Marimba band in the main plaza with the performers being two young and very talented boys with their father or grandfather.  En route to Coban we stopped in the small village of Union Barrios and watched the Independence day parade where all the children, and there were lots of them for such a small town, grouped in their school classes marched and danced along the highway through town.

The next day we made a trip to a famous nature site in Guatemala--Semuc Champey.  The last few miles of the road was a rough dirt road descending from the highway high on the mountainside to the Cahabón River and then up to Semuc Champey, which is a National Park.  This is really a natural wonder of the world!  The raging Cahabón River crashes down a canyon and at the top of the site is funneled into a natural underground tunnel that goes under the pools of Semuc Champey for some 300 meters and then emerges again in a torrent of white water surrounded by waterfalls from the sides of the canyon and from the crystal pools above.  The pools are beautiful natural pools that cascade down to the point where the river reemerges.  It is incredibly beautiful.  We took some pictures which we will try to add to this blog, but they just can´t do the site justice.

After spending a few hours swimming in the pools and enjoying the beauty of Semuc Champey, we headed back to Coban, but missing a left turn early on we spent several hours on a wild goose chase down the canyon along the Cahabón River on very rough dirt roads.  The amazing thing was passing buses and big trucks traversing these back woods trails to get to various points in the river valley.  It was a pretty rough ride.

We rested on Saturday and enjoyed the city.  Sunday we attended Church in the small town of Valparaíso where up from the dirt road into town we found a beautiful chapel where probably 100 to 125 local Mayan members gathered for Church.  Not a single car, other than ours was in the parking lot (well really basketball court) in front of the building.  The valley was beautiful and the faith and warmth of the Saints in this tiny town was inspiring.  It is really a testimony to the truth of the Restored Gospel to see these faithful Saints who have so little of the things of this world, but are true disciples of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  We returned to Guatemala City inspired by the beauty of this country and its humble people.

Guatemalan Independence Day

Today and tommorrow my beloved Guatemalans will celebrate their independence.  Today they travel in caravans from all over the country to come to the Obelisco, a monument to their independence that is perhaps a hundred yards from where I sit in the Area Offices.  They come as groups from schools and colleges, churches, civic organizations, or communities and at the Obelisco they will light a torch that they will then carry as they run back to their point of origin, even if it is clear across the country (they will run in a relay).  I walked over to the Obelisco this morning and watched the groups of students coming with their head bands saying 100% Chapin and other messages.  Most carried Guatemalan flags, had face painted messages, and were blowing whistles and horns.  They love their country and celebrate her birthday in grand style.  I didn´t see anyone protesting their flag here.

Why I Love the Book of Mormon

I have been thinking lately about the many reasons that I love the Book of Mormon.  Surely my undeniable witness of its truth has been an anchor to my soul against the vicissitudes and vagaries of life.  But its influence in my daily life is its surest testament.  In the depths of my soul, I find its words resonating with the deepest desires of my heart.

1.  When life is difficult and understanding fails me, I hear these words:

"But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.  Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."  2 Nephi 2:24-25.

2.  When I feel the weight of my own weakness and sins, I find myself praying for faith to put off the natural man and deny myself of all ungodliness: 

 "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."
Mosiah 3:19

"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.  And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."  Moroni 10:32-33

3.  At times I find myself pleading as does Nephi:

Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.  I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.  2 Nephi 4:17-19

4.  When others' words or deeds try my patience, I plead for charity, that I might be long suffering, patient, and kind, and put aside my own interests:

"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."  Moroni 7:45

5.  And again, in my strivings to follow the Savior and become like Him, I find myself pleading that my heart and mind and soul will be filled with His pure and perfect love as Moroni explains:

 "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."  Moroni 7:47-48

6.  When I feel my strength slacken and my determination wane, I remember the words of Nephi:

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."  2 Nephi 31:20

And the words of Helaman:

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  Helaman 5:12

And this could go on and on.  No other book has had such a profound influence for good in my life as has the Book of Mormon.  It truly is a marvelous work and a wonder.

Our Trip to Costa Rica

Earlier this month they closed the dental clinic for a week, because of a holiday celebration that blocks the road to the clinic.  So we took advantage of the break and took a trip to Costa Rica with Elder Jeffrey and Sister Ellen Clason and Elder Ross and Sister Kari Sanford.  Elder Clason is the new AALC working with us in the legal department and Elder Sanford is a dentist.  The six of us flew to Costa Rica and stayed in the Barcelo Hotel in San Jose.  We toured the city and took a trip to Volcan Poas and a privately owned park with a butterfly nursery, zoo, and beautiful waterfalls.  We attended the San Jose temple and had a relaxing Sunday with the Saints in the inner city.  The Sanfords and we spent a day white water rafting on the Pacuare River through the rain forrest.  It was incredibly beautiful.  All of us took a trip to Tortuga Island off the Nicoya Penninsula where we saw sea turtles breeding and a humpback whale with her calf, did some snorkeling, and enjoyed the beach.  We also spent a day riding the ziplines through the rain forrest canopy.  It was a fun week and a nice mid-mission break.  We developed deeper friendships with our fellow missionaries and enjoyed Costa Rica very much.

Our Guatemalan Summer

This is the season of the year they call "invierno" (winter) in Guatemala.  But for us it has been an incredibly beautiful summer.  We have had sunny cool days (70´s or low 80's) and overnight rains all through June and July.  Everything has been so green and fresh.  When I get up at 5:00 a.m. it is often still cloudy from the night´s rain, but in short order it clears up and is very nice throughout the day. They say the time is coming when we will have steady rains for several days, like it was last September when we arrived here, but in the meantime, we have enjoyed just about perfect weather all summer long.