Puente's Pontifications

Father Figures

2010-06-20T16:06:00.004-06:00

Good Afternoon. My name is Joe Puente. I've been in the ward for several months now and I'm grateful for this opportunity to introduce myself to everyone. I've been laying kind of low since I got here. My last congregation was a branch with about 20 regular members so coming into a ward of this size has taken a little getting used to. I've never cared much for crowds but I do love an audience.

I'm an actor, by the way. I'm also a writer and filmmaker. I was born in Los Angeles and lived in central California for several years. My family joined the Church in 1983 after my brother Bob went and married a Mormon girl in Texas. Funny how the Gospel seems to spread virally sometimes. My family moved to central Utah when I was 15. When I was 19 I joined the U.S. Navy, in which I served for five years stationed in Illinois, Panama and the eastern U.S. When I was discharged, I came back to Utah and lived in Ogden for a few years. I subsequently escaped with my life, spent some time in Sanpete County again and a little over a year ago I made the decision to move to Salt Lake City to pursue more acting and filmmaking opportunities.

I've been making films since I was in high school including a number of short films including a series of documentary shorts for local television and, of course, the internet. Now that I'm in Salt Lake City, I'm writing and producing more narrative films and acting in other filmmakers' projects. Despite being a filmmaker, I don't go to the movies that often. I value the time I spend watching a well-produced film as I would time spent in an art gallery or a museum. My favorite films are intense dramas that leave you emotionally exhausted at the end and those are also the types of films that I want to make. I actually own a pretty eclectic library of films and I'd like to extend an open invitation to any of you to schedule a movie night. My policy is that you can watch whatever you want as long as you've never seen it before. I'm all about broadening horizons.

The Bishop asked me to speak a couple of months ago so I've had some time to contemplate today's topic of Fatherhood. I did have a Fathers Day talk in the archives but decided that it would probably be best not to recycle it. I didn't want to be accused of cheating.

I personally don't have any children--that I know of--so Fatherhood from the point of view of a dad is kind of an academic concept for me but then Laura Woods mentioned to me the idea of father FIGURES so I'm going to go ahead and run with that.

I've got a family that's pretty spread out, geographically and chronologically. My parents have a "hers, mine and ours" situation with their kids so I have a number of older half-siblings and then there's me and my sister Christine. What's kind of cool about this situation as it relates to Fatherhood is that in addition to my Dad, my older brothers have also been father figures in my life. In particular my brothers Bob, Mark and Mike.

Bob, who I mentioned earlier had introduced our family to the Church has always been someone that I can turn to when I needed to discuss spiritual matters. My brother Mark who has spent much of his adult life in the Army was always there to give me advice when I was in the military and offer me perspective when I was considering my career choices. My brother Mike, who I probably keep in touch with more than anyone else in the family, has always been someone that I have admired and looked up to because he is one of the most intelligent people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Mike and I are also the geeks in the family so we're often sharing links with each other about science and technology.

Ours seems to be a family of wanderers. At one point while my dad was living here in Utah he had children in southern California, Alaska, Georgia and Maine. As such, it seems that I have sought out father-figures where ever I have found myself. During my last few years in the Navy, I was in the unusual position of having a commanding officer who was also a member of the Church. I remember when he first came to our base I'd listen in on some of the scuttlebutt and hear things like, "Yeah, he's a Mormon. And he's a got a huge family. Four kids!" Thankfully I wasn't any sort of trouble maker while I was in the service so I rarely had to deal with my C.O. professionally which was nice because he was usually my ride to Church. Thankfully we also became pretty good friends and his family came to feel like my own extended family.

When I last lived in central Utah, I found myself pretty much on my own again but, thankfully, I also found another extended family. My friend Dave and his family have opened up their home to me on the holidays. There's been many a Christmas when I've been greeted with what I liked to call a bachelor's kit. Usually some food, a little light reading and, one Christmas, a copy of "The Four Ingredient Cookbook." Any guys here familiar with that one? This wonderful family also helped me through some rough patches in my life and I've been especially grateful to Dave for giving me a priesthood blessing when I sorely needed such guidance.

I'd like to conclude by speaking of the most important father-figure in my life, my dad. Dad and I have had an interesting journey over the years. He's quite a bit older than the parents of most of my generational cohorts. As such, there has been a wider generation gap between me and my dad. Add to that the fact that my father, who was born in southern California, spent the formative years of his youth in Spain. He grew up speaking Spanish and only learned English as a second language once he returned to the States after World War Two. Despite being an American by birth, culturally, he's very European. So, we had a very wide generation gap, a culture gap and a language barrier to overcome but over the years, Dad and I have been able to connect more. It's interesting how the conflicts between a parent and child can be let go of as we mature and I can also credit having the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives to help both me and my dad come to the understanding that even though in this life, we are father and son, in God's eyes we are also brothers and have even become friends. I'm very grateful for the guidance and assistance my dad has given me over the years. I think we reached a sort of turning point in our relationship a little over five years ago when my mom passed away. For the first time that I could remember, my dad asked me how I was feeling and that really meant a lot to me. I hope that on this Fathers Day we can all come to appreciate the roles in our lives that our fathers play and that it is a very precious relationship that needs to be nurtured throughout our lives.

The Fifth Article of Faith

2007-10-28T21:02:00.000-06:00

(Delivered in both English and Spanish)

I remember listening to a radio talk show following the General Conference in which Elders Uchtdorf and Bednar were sustained as apostles in the Church. During this program, the guests were criticizing the Church for not taking the opportunity to make the Church leadership more ethnically diverse.

The 5th Article of Faith states, "We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof." When a change in leadership in the Church is needed, God does not consider things like race or ethnicity. Among the primary factors in the decision are one's abilities and worthiness.

For the majority of its existence in this dispensation, the Church has been regarded as an American church with a predominantly caucasian membership. Today, the majority of Church members don't even live in this country. During the last General Conference, I couldn't help but notice that as the Church has grown, the ethnic face of the leadership is starting to change. Obviously this change isn't fast enough for the talk radio critics but that's only because God does not work on man's timetable nor is he influenced by man's politics.

When we think of callings in the Church, we usually think of full time callings like those of General Authorities, bishops, priesthood and relief society leaders, teachers, etc. When we receive a calling in the Church, we are expected to magnify that calling. To complete our tasks to the best of our abilities. By putting forth that effort and appealing to our Heavenly Father for his guidance and strength, we will not only be blessed with the strength to complete our tasks within the Church but to find balance between those responsibilities and those we have to ourselves, our families and even our communities. But those of us with callings are not expected to rely solely on our strengths and our Heavenly Father.

In the Church, we are not alone. We are a family. We support one another When a person is given a calling in the Church, it's brought before the membership for a sustaining vote, including the Prophet himself. God does not just put people into positions of authority; as members of the Church, we have a voice in its government. For the most part, the membership places its trust in God and in Church leaders when a person receives a new calling. In the rare cases when there are votes of objection, those concerns are addressed.

But sustaining a person in a calling does not end when we put our hands down after a vote. We sustain our leaders by heading their counsel, from the Prophet down to our bishops and branch presidents. We sustain our priesthood and relief society leaders by completing our home teaching and visiting teach assignments among other duties we are asked perform. We sustain our Priesthood, relief Society and Sunday School teachers by coming to our meetings and classes and being prepared not only to hear what they have teach us but in being willing to participate in the discussion.

I want you to ask yourselves, "Am I sustaining those who have been called to lead and to teach me? Am I completing my assignments? Do I come to classes prepared to learn?" But more than anything, I want you to ask yourselves if you have considered the effect you have on a leader or a teacher when you do NOT sustain them. How do you think your priesthood and relief Society leaders feel when you fail to complete your home-teaching or visiting-teaching assignment?

When I was a boy, I was called to be the President of my Deacons Quorum. It was a calling that I was very grateful to receive and I tried my hardest to be a good quorum president, to be an example to my fellow deacons. But while I did my best to magnify my calling, I lacked a key component to being an effective leader. My Quorum would not sustain me. My counselors did nothing to help. My secretary refused to carry out the most basic and routine of tasks. Every Sunday, I passed the Sacrament with four or five Elders while the rest of the deacons sat with their families because they refused to pass the sacrament with me.

To this day, I don't know why they wouldn't sustain me as their president. The only reason I could think of was that they just didn't like me. While I didn't let it affect my testimony , it certainly affected my self-esteem and sense of self worth. A lot of people are surprised when I tell them that story. I've even been told that something like that could never happen despite the fact that I just related my personal experience to them. But while stories like this are rare, the practice of ignoring and not sustaining someone in a leadership position is not unusual at all. One need only to look at the counsel we receive from the Prophet and then observe how that counsel is ignored by the membership.

Christ himself said, "A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house." (Matthew 13:57) When addressing the Priesthood in General Conference in 1978, Spencer W. Kimball quoted a children's songs that said, "Don't kill the little birds that sing on bush and tree?"

He then asked the members to refrain from killing God's creatures for fun, and quoted President Joseph F. Smith, who said, "I never could see why a man should be imbued with a blood-thirsty desire to kill and destroy animal life. I have known men—and they still exist among us—who enjoy what is to them the ‘sport' of hunting birds and slaying them by the hundreds. I think it is wicked for men to thirst in their souls to kill almost everything which possesses animal life. It is wrong, and I have been surprised at prominent men whom I have seen whose very souls seemed to be athirst for the shedding of animal blood."

This admonition by two of our prophets is rarely quoted. Particularly at this time of year. Hunting season. Many of us tend to criticize each other for the clothes we wear, the movies we watch, the music we listen to, the activities we participate in and preface it with the words, "The Prophet said..." While other activities and attitudes simply go ignored.

I was recently in a Sunday school class in which we were asked which Prophets we identified with. It was a difficult questions to answer. Not many of us would presume to be ANYTHING like a prophet.

These men who were called of God to be His spokespersons. Finally, someone in the class said they could identify with Jonah. A Prophet who's response to God's calling was to run away. Well everybody can relate to him! At least up until the part where he's swallowed by a whale. Though I'm sure there are those of us who have found ourselves inside a metaphorical whale of one kind or another when we tried to get out of a particular calling. And so we should be.

When we receive a calling of any sort, be it a full-time leadership position or to give a talk in Sacrament meetings, we are "called of God." No distinction is made between a calling to preach and a calling to administer, both require his authority, both are called by prophecy and we need to respect that and we do so by answering the call.

Think about it. When you are approached by someone in your bishopric or branch presidency and are asked to give a talk, it isn't that person who is asking you to speak. He is only a messenger. The person asking you to speak is God and he is doing so through his servant. When we walk away from such an opportunity or find an excuse to get out of it, we are not turning down the person who asked us to speak, we're turning down the One who prompted him to ask. And when we deny ourselves the opportunity to serve our Father in Heaven, we deny ourselves the blessings that come with that service. I don't think a single person in this room would turn down an opportunity to feed their families by finding gainful employment and by providing a service to their community. But how many of us have hid ourselves from our leaders in one way or another to avoid feeding our spiritual families with the bread of the Gospel? Remember, God makes no distinction between the temporal and the spiritual. Everything is spiritual to Him.

In a large congregation, like a Ward, it might be easy to hide in the crowd and avoid having to give a talk or teach a lesson very often but in a small group, like our little branch, the opposite is true. But we shouldn't look at that as a bad thing. We should see it as a blessing. Our members have many more opportunities to serve our Heavenly Father in the Church and we shouldn't shy away from that. We should embrace it. Celebrate it. Rejoice in it. I would like to extend a challenge to all of you. Resolve now to magnify the callings you have, to sustain your leaders and your teachers in their callings and to be open to accepting callings in the future. When a member of the Branch presidency approaches you and asks you to give a talk in Sacrament meeting, remember that it isn't he that's asking you to speak, it's your Father in Heaven giving you an opportunity to serve and learn. A chance to feed his sheep and reap the blessing that come with loving Him enough to head his counsel and keep his commandments.

I would like to close by sharing with you my testimony of the Gospel and the blessings that come from accepting the callings we receive from our Heavenly Father. I have tried to answer God's callings throughout my life both within the Church and in my work. I have had the privilege of being lead to many different places so that I might serve God's children in a wide variety of capacities and I look forward to continue serving him. At this time in my life, I feel called to be in a new Branch in Manti. That God has work for me to do there and it's my responsibility to follow his direction.

I want you all to know how much I love you and how blessed I am to have been a part of the Spanish Branch. Were it not for you, I'm not sure if I would have been active in Church at all. I've found in this congregation a closeness that I've only felt in branches and wards that I've attended in other parts of the country and during the time I spent in the Navy. One thing I've learned from moving from branch to branch and ward to ward over the years is that the farther you travel to be together, the closer you are when you get there.

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El quinto Articulo de Fe

Me acuerdo que despues de la conferencia general en que los elderes Uchtdorf y Bednar fueron sostinidos como apostoles de la Iglesia escuché un programa de radio cuando los locutores trataron el tema del la seleción de apostoles. Los huéspedes criticaron la Iglesia por no usar la oportunidad de selecionar personas de otros culturas diversas.

El quinto Articulo de Fe declara, "Creemos que el hombre, debe ser llamado por Dios, por profecia y la imposicion de manos, por aquellos que tienen la autoridad, a fin de que pueda predicar el evangelio y administrar sus ordenanzas." Cuando hay cambio en el liderazco de la Iglesia es necesario, no le importa a Diós cosas como raza ni étnico. Eligiendo un apostol requiere ciertos requisitos incluiendo abilidad y dignidad. Por supuesto, requiere inspiración de Diós.

Por la majoria de su existencia en esta dispención, la Iglesia es juscado como un iglesia Americano y en que los miembros por mayor parte son Erupeos blancos. Sin embargo, hoy la mayor parte de los miembros no viven en este pais. Durante la ultima conferencia general de la Iglesia, yo noté que mientras la Iglesia se crese que la cara cutural del liderazco empiesa a cambiar. Obiamente este cambio no es suficiente rapido para los criticos. Diós no obra en el horario del hombre. Tampoco, la politica del hombre no puede influir a Diós.

Cuando pensamos en llamamientos en la Iglesia, usualmente pensamos en los llamamentos de larga duración como los de los autoridades generales, obispos, el sacerdocio, las lideres de la sociedad de socorro, maestros, etc. Cuando recevimos un llamamiento en la Iglesia se espera que magnificamos el llamamiento. Se espera que completamos nuestros deberes lo mejor que podamos. Esforzandonos a completar nuestros tareas siempre orando al nuestro Padre Celestial por su guía y apoyo, las tareas recibimos bendiciones y magnificamos nuestro llamamiento. Buscamos un equilibrio entre las responsibilidades a la Iglesia y los que tenemos a nuestros mismos, nuestros familias y tambien a la comunidad. Mas allá de nuestros proprios esfuerzos y nuestra fe en Diós tenemos ayuda.
En La Iglesia, no somos solos. Somos una familia, apoyamos uno al otro. Asi la lucha es mas facil, la carga mas liviana. Cuando una person recibe un llamamiento en la Iglesia, el preposito se presenta delante de los miembros por un voto de apoyo, el profeta mismo necesita recibir sustenimiento de los miembros. Diós no solamente impone personas en posiciones de autoridad. Como miembros de la Iglesia tenemos voz en el gubierno de la Iglesia. Por el mayor parte los miembros confien en Diós y en los lideres cuando llaman una persona al nuevo llamamiento. Muy pocas veces hay votos en contra al llamado. En estas ocasiones, los miembros tienen opportunidad de espresar sus sentimientos acerca del llamamiento.

Pero, al sostener una persona en una llamada no termina cuando levantamos la mano y no termina cuando bajamos la mano despues del voto. Sostenemos nuestros lideres por fielmente siguiendo sus consejos. Es necesario siguir direciones del profeta, obispos, presidentes de rama, etc. Sostenemos el liderazco del sacerdocio y de sociedad de socorro cuando completamos nuestras deberes de maestros orientadores, y maestras visitantes. Sostenemos el sacerdocio, la socieedad de socorro, la eacuela dominical cuando asistimos las debidas reuniones y clases y cuando preparamos, no solamente para oir, sino para participar en las clases.

Debemos preguntarnos, "¿Sostengo a los llamados para dirigir y enseñarme? ¿Yo cumplo con mis deberes en la Iglesia? ¿Vengo a las clases preparado para aprender?" Pero mas que nada debemos preguntarnos si hemos conciderado el efecto sobre nuestros maestros del sacerdocio y sociedad de socorro, cuando fallamos de completar nuestros deberes.

Cuando yo era un jovencito, Recibi llamamiento como presidente del quorum de deaconos. Estuve muy agradecido por la llamamiento. Me esfuerze ser un buen presidente de quorum y ser un ejemplo para mis companeros deaconos. Pero ,cuando yo hacia el mejor que podia para magnificar mi llamamiento, parece que me faltaba un componente clave para server como lider efectivo. Mi quorum no me sostuvo. Mis consejeros no hicieron nada para ayudar. Mi secretario nego de completer aun las mas basicas de tareas de su oficina. Todos los domingos participe en pasar la santa cena junto con cuatro o cinco elders, mientras que los otros deaconos se sentaron con sus familias porque negaron pasar la santa cena conmigo.

Hasta este dia, No se porque negaron sostenerme como su presidente. La unica rason que you pude pensar es que yo no les gustaba. Aunque el comportamiento de los deaconos no afecto a mi testimonio, en verdad, me causo pena, danando a mi autoestima. Muchas personas estan sorprendidos cuando les relato esta historia. Dudan que pudiera haber pasado estas cosas aunque yo les habia relatado esta historia como una experienza personal. Aunque relatos como este son raros la practica de no hacer caso y de no sostener personas en positiones de liderazco no es raro. Si solamente consideramos el consejo del profeta, entonces nos damos cuenta como los miembros frequentamente no le hacen caso.

Jesucristo dijo, "No hay profeta sin honra, sino en su propria tierra y en su casa." En su discurso al sacerdocio en conferencia general en mil noveciento setenta y ocho el president Spencer W. Kimball cito de una cancion de ninos. " No matan los pajaritos que cantan en los arbustos y los arboles."

Entonces el profeta pidio que nos refrenaramosos de matar las creaturas de Dios por deporte. Presidente Joseph F. Smith dijo, Nunca pude ver como un hombre puede ser infiltrado con un deseo sanguinario para matar y destruir las vidas de animals."

Esta admonision de dos de nuestros profetas se cita muy pocas veces. Especialment en east sesion del ano, la sesion de casar. Muchos de nosotros juscan el uno al otro a causa de la ropa que usamos, las peliculas que vemos, la musica que eschuchamos o las actividades en que participamos. Decimos que El Profeta nos consejo hacer tal y tal. Pero negamos seguir su consejo, no le hacemos caso en muchas actividades. No es correcto eligir el consejo del profeta que vamos a obedcer y lo que vamos a negar.

Recientamente asisti una clase de escuela dominical en la cual la maestra nos pregunto, "Con cual de los profetas pudimos identificarnos? No habian muchos de nosotros que pudian asumir ser semejante de un profeta.

Son hombres llamados de Dios para declarer su voz. Por fin, alguien en la clase dijo que se identeficaba con Jonas. Jonas fue el profeta quien respondio al llamamiento huiendo. Podemos identificarnos con el. Por lo menos hasta el punto cuando fue tragado por la ballena. Estoy seguro que hay de nosotros que nos encontramos en una forma u otra adentro de una ballena metaforicamente cuando tratamos de evitar un llamamiento particular.

Cuando recebimos qualquier llamamiento, que sea uno de tiempo largo o ofrecer discurso en la reunion sacramental es llamamiento de Dios. Todos los llamamientos para ensenar o administrar requiren la debida autoridad de Dios, que sean llamados por revelacion y imposicion de manos. Debemos respetar nuestros llamamientos y aceptarlos.

Piensenlo. Cuando alqien del obispado o la presidencia de la rama le pide que ofresca un discurso, el no es la persona quien le pedio ofrecer un discurso. El es solamente el mensajero, un sirviente de Dios quien es la persona piediendo que habla. Cuando evitamos la oportunidad o damos escusas no estamos rechazando al Obispo o a la persona que nos pidio, sino que estamos rechazando a Dios. Y cuando nos negamos la oportunidad de servir a nuestro Padre Celestial, nos negamos las bendiciones que vienen por el servicio que prestamos. No creo que ninguna de las personas que estan aqui rechazarian una oportunidad de alimentar a sus familias a travez de un buen trabajo. Pero cuantos de nosotros nos escondemos de nuestros lideres de una manera u otra para evitar alimentar nuestra familia espiritual con el pan del evangelio? Recuerden, Dios no distinge entre lo temporal y espiritual. Todo es espiritual para El.

En una congregacion grande, como un barrio, seria facil escondernos en la multitude y evitar tener que dar un discurso o enseñar una leccion. Pero en un grupo pequeño como nuestra ramita, es todo lo opuesto. Pero no deberiamos ver eso como algo malo. Debemos verlo como una bendicion. Nuestros miembros tienen muchas mas oportunidades de servir a nuestro Padre Celestial en la iglesia y no debemos negar esta oportunidad. Debemos abrazar, celebrar y regocijarnos de ser miembros de esta ramita. Me gustaria darles un desafio. Decidanse ahora de magnificar sus llamamientos, de sostener a sus lideres y sus maestros en sus llamamientos y estar listos a aceptar llamamientos en el futuro. Cuando un miembro de la presidencia de la rama se les acerca para pedirles dar un discurso en la reunion sacramental, recuerden que no es el quien se lo esta pidiendo, sino que es nuestro Padre Celestial dandonos una oportunidad de server y aprender. Una oportunidad de alimentar sus corderos y cocechar las bendiciones que vienen por amarle suficiente como para seguir sus consejo y guardar sus mandamientos.

Quisiera terminar compartiendo con ustedes mi testimonino del evangelio y las biendiciones que vienen de aceptar los llamamientos que recibimos de nuestro Padre Celestial. He intentado aceptar los llamamientos de Dios duarante mi vida. He tenido el privilegio de vivir en muchos lugares diferentes en que yo pudiera server los hijos de Dios en una variadad de capacidad. Espero continuar en el servicio de El. En este tiempo de mi vida, siento llamado a estar en una nueva rama en Manti. Creo que Dios tiena una obra para mi alla y es mi responsibilidad seguir Sus direciones.

Quiero que todos ustedes sepan cuanto les amo y cuan bendecido me siento de que he sido parte de la rama de español. Si no fuera por ustedes no estoy seguro que yo seria activo en la iglesia. Yo descubri en esta congregasion un sentido intimo que yo solamente senti en las ramas y barrios que asisti en otros partes del pais y durante el tiempo que estuve en el servicio marinero. Una cosa que aprendi a traves de los años moviendo desde rama a rama y barrio a barrio es que lo mas lejos que se viaja para congregarse lo mas intimo la esperiencia se enquentra alla.

Enduring Vs. Enjoying

2007-07-22T20:52:00.002-06:00

(With a few editorial comments)

I was not assigned a specific topic to speak about so I did some thinking and I did some praying and my thoughts focussed on a wonderful quote by President Hinckley: "Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." He said that in the mid 90's but I only heard it for the first time earlier this year.

As soon as I read it, the first thing I thought about was Lagoon. I could enjoy that. Then I came back to reality and thought, he's probably not talking about recreation. It also reminded me of something my dad would say when I was a kid about how we spend our time. He said, "There are twenty-four hours in a day. That gives you eight hours to sleep, eight hours to work and eight hours to play... Now go mow the lawn."

Now the enjoyment in our lives need not be limited to our 8 hours of playtime but before we get more into that, let's take a quick look at the basics. What's the difference between enduring and enjoying?

We are told to "endure unto the end" (Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13, 1 Nephi 13:37), but what are we doing when we endure? The word itself means putting up with something difficult. Like, oh, I don't know–life? Enduring can also mean staying on a specific course. As Christians, we tend to think of being on a "course" with our final destination being Heaven where we'll finally be with God.

These are the definitions we're most familiar with. But "to endure" also means remaining "indefinitely in existence or in a particular state..." (Merriam-Webster 1994)(emphasis added) and that is NOT what we're supposed to do. Unfortunately, many of us are. Yes, we are supposed to endure life and all it's trials and difficulties but we are also expected to progress. Not necessarily in the sense of forward movement–which isn't far removed from enduring–but in our growth as children of God. In our intellectual and spiritual development. Our personal evolution from fallible mortality to a nature that is both divine and eternal.

You'd think enjoyment is a no-brainer. Taking delight or pleasure in something; but it's not limited to our "play time." We can learn to enjoy our work, enjoy our callings, even enjoy those unexpected changes in plans or even our lives.

But there are other meanings to these words that we don't usually think of. We can also confuse them with other concepts entirely.

Consider what I said before, that enduring can also mean UNchanging. But how many of us have plateaud in our eternal progression? Either by circumstance or even by choice.

Some of you might be thinking, "Why would anyone choose NOT to progress?" I think it's tied to what people are perceiving as joy but in reality is only contentment.

Think about it. Joy and contentment are NOT the same thing. We strive for joy. No one strives to be content. Contentment is something that one SETTLES for. Contentment is coasting on the highway of eternal progression. Sure, you're moving forward but you're putting little or no effort into it, you're satisfied with just doing the bare minimum, thus you are only enduring, unchanging and without real joy.

Meanwhile there are others who are on the same course as you but they're racing past you because they aren't willing to settle for contentment. They want joy. They are seeking it out, regardless of the pain and suffering that we must all endure.

Ask yourselves, "Am I content? Am I comfortable with my life? With my progress?" If you are, that's the fist sign that you might have a problem. It's been said that the gospel exists to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.

I think that there are a lot of people who have settled for contentment, not because they don't WANT to enjoy life but because they don't know how. They're in a rut. Their lives have become routine. They go to work, they go to church, they go to the temple, they pray, they keep track of all the commandments they're keeping and all the sins they're not committing. They walk into Sacrament, Sunday school, priesthood and Relief Society hearing the same talks and the same lessons and asking themselves, "Is this it? Do I just keep doing this until I die?"

The answer is NO. There are others things that we should be doing. And yet there are those members who keep saying, "Just get through it. Just obey. Just do as you're told and everything will turn out right in the end."

That has got to be the worst advice you can give anyone. That's enduring without enjoying. Even worse, it's enduring life without even the POSSIBILITY of enjoying it. That is NOT what God wants for us. Yes, He wants us to be obedient but He also wants us to be happy. Not just in the next life but in this one. "Men are that they might have joy."

Remember that old saying that if you give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. If you TEACH a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime.

We have tens of thousands of young men and women serving full-time missions whose job it is to teach people how to fish. They're giving those people the basics. The first principles of the Gospel. Once they have learned those basics, they have the responsibility to start using them. To move BEYOND them, to progress, to delve deeper into the teachings of the gospel. To start catching those fish for themselves and sinking their teeth into them.

Unfortunately, as soon as some ofthese new members walk through the doors of their home wards, they are told, "It's so nice to see you here. Now keep coming back and we'll give you more fish." Going to the supermarket is not fishing. Sure, it's convenient, it's easier, you don't have to endure the elements or the dirtier aspects of preparing a fish to be eaten.

So instead of seeking truth for ourselves, we just do as we're told. We accept new knowledge just as quickly–or slowly–as we hear it in Sunday school, priesthood and relief society. We hang on every word of our church leaders or people that we presume to be very spiritual or have "figured it out" and accept everything they say at face value. God doesn't want us to just follow the leader and be drones. But so many of us do it anyway, because we don't even want to cook our own fish. It's just too much effort. We want our knowledge nicely packaged with someone else's understanding and interpretation–batter-dipped, deep-fried and flash frozen–instead of taking this new knowledge to God and asking Him to help us understand it.

"Do as your told... Endure to the end... It'll all be over... just as soon as you die.... have faith."

Faith is supposed to go hand-in-hand with hope. Where's the hope in only enduring? Where's the hope in just going the motions while you wait to die? It's faith, reinforced by hope and finding joy in this life that HELP us to endure our struggles.

The comedian Carlos Mencia often says, "If you're not laughing, you're not living." Well, I think if you're only enduring, then you aren't progressing.

I'm a big believer in finding and accepting truth regardless of its source. God has given us the ability to discern good from evil. Knowing that, one can find truth and a positive message in places where one might not expect. Bearing that in mind, I'm going to share a story with you that I feel does an excellent job of illustrating the difference between contentment and joy.

It's from an episode of "The Simpsons" titled "And Maggie Makes Three."

The story starts with the family looking through their photo albums when Bart and Lisa realize that there are no baby pictures of their sister Maggie in any of them. They ask their parents why and Marge and Homer start to tell them the story of how Maggie came into the picture.

When it was only himself, Marge and their two children, Homer managed to figure out how he could quit his job at the power plant and work his dream job at a bowling alley. So he quits his job, tells off the boss and literally burns a bridge behind him on his way out. Homer then decided that as long as nothing changed from that point on, he would be happy. He even kneeled at his bedside and prayed to God that nothing would change.

Sure enough, the situation changes. Marge becomes pregnant. When Homer finds out, he's disappointed to say the least an soon his job at the bowling alley wasn't paying enough to make ends meet so he had to crawl back to the power plant and ask for his old job back. He gets it but his boss, Mr. Burns, places a plaque in his workspace that reads, "Don't forget. You're here forever." A constant reminder that Homer could never quit again.

Because of this, Homer wasn't very enthusiastic about Maggie being born, but as soon she was, Homer fell in love with her.

Back in the present Bart and Lisa say that they still don't know why there aren't any baby pictures of Maggie in the photo albums. Homer says that he keeps them in the one place where he needs them the most.

The scene then cuts to Homer's workspace at the plant where Maggie's pictures are taped to the wall and positioned around the plaque so that it now says, "Do it for her."

Homer had to give up being content but managed to find joy in his children.

So, how do we find joy? It's not the same for everyone. But before I examine that question, I'd like to tell you where you aren't going to find joy.

Joy is not to be found in superficiality; in focussing on minutia that have little if anything to do with the gospel.

You do not find joy in wearing white shirts and long dresses to sacrament meeting. Outside of the mission field and the temple, there is no dresscode. There is no commandment regarding the color or style of our clothing.

I got up early one Sunday morning and, half asleep and in the dark, I thought I found a clean shirt to wear to church. Of course later that morning, when I was more alert and with brighter lighting, I realized, "Oh my gosh! This thing's filthy." I was so embarrassed. Then Brother Stevens came up to me and said, "You're looking really nice today."

"But my shirt is dirty," I said.

He came back with, "The important thing is that you're here."

Thank you!

Be honest, have you ever asked someone why they aren't wearing a white shirt or the "right" kind of dress? How do you think it makes a person feel when they're criticized for coming to church wearing the "wrong" thing? As if it's a measure of a person's spirituality or character. What if that person is coming back to church after a long absence? The first thing that comes out of our mouths should be that we're glad to see them, not criticize their wardrobe. You do not lift someone up by talking down to them. Such criticism is shallow and it is not Christlike. We all know that. But so many of us insist on doing it anyway.

I read about this guy who dressed very nicely to work every day of the week. He wore suits, ties and white shirts. From a distance, he didn't look much different than your average general authority. If he was walking down the street, I bet anyone would say to themselves, "That guy's got it together. He looks classy, dignified, responsible." Well he was responsible... for 19 counts of fraud, conspiracy, insider trading and lying to auditors. His name's Jeffrey Skilling, former CEO of a little company called Enron and he's serving a 24 year sentence at a federal prison in Minnesota. How's that for judging a person based on the clothes he wears?

Okay, enought of that.

(I did go off on a bit of a tangent there. Sorry. -JLP)

Joy is not found in the color or length of your hair.

Joy is not found in pretending to be something that you're not.

Joy is not found in pretending that everything is okay when it clearly isn't.

Joy is not found in abandoning your sense of free will.

Being superficial, shallow, overly critical, passive and living in denial are not virtues.

So where DO we find joy?

President Hinckley once said, "There is reading to be done, instruction to be received, discussions in which to participate that will stretch your minds and feed your spirits."

Who isn't excited, even comforted, when they learn a profound Gospel truth and, through the Holy Ghost, feel that it's true before understanding why?

And yet, there is that part in all of us that wants to run away and plug our ears at the prospect of learning something new about the Gospel. Why? Because we all know that as soon as we learn something new, we're accountable for it; but think of what we're denying ourselves as a result of that trepidation, that fear. We are only holding ourselves back. We are expected to learn and to progress as much as we can in THIS life. We will not pass through the veil and find ourselves immediately bestowed with new knowledge. We're going to pick up right where we left off and yet there are those of us who insist, not only in holding themselves back, but discouraging others from learning all that they can. They say things like, "You shouldn't ask questions like that" or "We aren't meant to know the answers to such things" even "That's only for the general authorities to know." These people refuse to believe that God WANTS us to ask those questions. He WANTS us to find the answers. He WANTS us to know that we are all entitled to this knowledge.

Two weeks ago, a gentleman stood at this very podium and declared to us that as long as we do what we're told, in the next life we will have the opportunity to meet with God. And he is absolutely right. If all we're willing to is just what we're told that's what we can count on. In all fairness the majority of us, regardless of our individual progress, will have precisely that experience.

I'm here to tell you that there is more to the Gospel than just "doing what you're told." God has given us free agency and has provided for us the guidance we need to make righteous choices. "...the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil..." (Moroni 7:16) It's okay to make our own decisions. We can't expect someone to hold our hand through every choice in our lives, nor should we impose such a burden on someone else.

I had a friend in Ogden who was a professional puppeteer. He had even worked with Jim Henson Company at one point. Well, he decided to join a regional organization of puppeteers in Utah and Wyoming. He went to one meeting, made a couple of suggestions and everybody wanted him to be the president of the organization. Now he didn't have the interest or the time to take on something like that. He just wanted to meet some other puppeteers in the area. When he told me about this, I said to him, "I'm not surprised. It's a pioneer mentality."

He said to me, "I don't think it's the pioneer spirit."

I said, "It's not. It's a pioneer MENTALITY.

"The 'pioneer spirit' says, 'Yes, lets take the lead and make this thing happen.'

"'Pioneer mentality' says, 'Yeah, let's do this... just as soon as we find a Brigham Young to lead us.... but that's not me.'"

(This might not have been well received considering the fact that I'm smack in the middle of a pioneer community... I wasn't ripping on pioneers, I was just making a cultural observation. -JLP)

Nobody wants the responsibility. We foolishly believe that if we just "do as we're told" then we can't be accused of doing anything wrong and THAT's what we're really afraid of, regardless of the fact that we aren't expected to get everything right in the first place. But we become so obsessed with trying not to do anything wrong that we're afraid to do anything at all. And that, in itself, is a sin.

Brigham Young once said: "Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve, will NEVER be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them. They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality and eternal lives. They never can hold scepters of glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true INDEPENDENCE of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course." (DBY, pg. 383)

I know what you're thinking:

"Okay, so what do I do?"

There actually is an answer to that and it's in the scriptures. Doctrine and Covenants Section 58 Verse 27 makes it very clear: "Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness."

This does not limit us to activities and causes that are sponsored, sanctioned or approved by the Church. There are many good causes out there that bring about righteousness and we don't need to ask for permission to be a part of them; just as we don't need permission to do as Christ would do and we shouldn't wait to be asked or commanded to do them.

You don't need to drain your bank account with donations to charities. That isn't doing. Instead, give some of your time. Pick a cause. Something you believe in. Something you feel strongly about and play a part. Even a small part.

Now I want you to consider the blessings that can be enjoyed in this life by doing our best to keep God's commandments, especially the commandment to think and do for ourselves. Consider the promise we have to be with God.

In John 14:23 Christ says, "...If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

Most people read that and think about the comforter. About feeling the Holy Spirit within us, assuring us that we are indeed loved by our Heavenly Father. But that isn't what it's saying.

I said earlier that the majority of us will have the opportunity to be with God in the next life.

I want you to look in Doctrine and Covenants Section 130 Verse 3. I want you to see the words on the page. It says, [in reference to] John 14:13 "The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man's heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false."

My brothers and sisters, such an appearance is not just for prophets and apostles. If we love Him and keep His words, the potential exists within all of us to commune with Our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ in THIS life.

I can think of nothing more wonderful than this to give us hope as we endure this mortal probation.

The Eternal Principles of Work and Responsibility

2006-08-17T20:49:00.000-06:00

(Delivered in Spanish)

I'm going to talk with you today about the importance of work. Many of us probably have similar opinions when it comes to work. When we're working, we're usually thinking of something else we'd rather be doing. So, it's easy to forget that work is an eternal principle. That work exists in both Heaven and Earth in many different forms. During our mortal probation in this life, we have been commanded by our Heavenly Father to work. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Genesis 3:19).

As families, our children should be raised with an understanding and appreciation for what it means to be responsible and have a strong work ethic. My sister, who I recently visited in Georgia, has taught her children that if they want something, they must put forth some effort to acquire it. She does not believe in giving her children allowances. If one of her sons wants to buy a toy or a game, he approaches his mother with the question, "What can I do to earn money so I can buy this game?" And my sister will find a project around the house that needs to be done outside of their regular chores and she will hire her son to do it.

One of the things that we need to remember as parents is to praise our children for the work that they do. So they understand that their efforts aren't in vain. That sometimes doing a job and doing it well can be it's own reward.

As I was researching this talk I read that one way to enjoy life is to learn to love work. This can be a difficult concept to learn, but it is possible.

In the Book of Mormon, we find in Mosiah chapter 2 verse 17, "When ye are in the service of your fellow being ye are only in the service of your God."

When we think of service within the context of work, our thoughts might turn to professions we might consider noble. For example, the doctor or nurse taking care of their patients, making them healthy again.

But have you ever considered the impact that your own "average" jobs have on the people around you? When I'm hired to video tape a wedding, I'm not just doing a job. I'm preserving memories for a new family.

A mechanic ensures that his client is going to have a functioning car so he can get to work, church and to his kid's ball game.

We don't always get to do the jobs that we would like. We might be put into a position where we work very hard for little pay and we're not afforded as many opportunities to serve that we might like. But if the work that we do only provides enough to take care of ourselves and our families, we are still helping some of God's children.

Our Heavenly Father wants all of us to do our part. He wants us to be independent and able to take care of ourselves. In Doctrine and Covenants 75:29, the Lord tells us, "The idler shall not have a place in the church, except he repent and mend his ways." He also says in Section 42:42, "Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer."

Knowing this, as Latter-day Saints, we should never willingly give up on taking care of ourselves. As long as we are able to do so, we should do all that we can to provide for ourselves and our families.

There are always going to be people who find themselves on hard times. Fluctuations in the economy, downsizing, outsourcing and workplace injuries can put otherwise able people in a difficult economic position. When this happens there are people and programs that are ready to help. When we find ourselves in these situations, we should first turn to our families for assistance. If our needs are greater than that, the Church has resources available to provide temporary assistance in times of need. When we make our fast offerings, it is those funds that are set aside by the Church in order to help those in need. There are also public programs in place for such needs. As long as any of these resources are not abused, one need not feel ashamed of accepting help when one needs it.

Spencer W. Kimball once said, "I feel strongly that men who accept wages or salary and do not give...[fair] time, energy, devotion, and service are receiving money that is not clean."

There are those who find themselves disabled and unable to maintain regular employment. I want to stress that there is nothing wrong with being disabled and accepting assistance to meet one's needs for food and shelter, but the temptation to abuse a disability program is very real. There are those who use their disability status to justify an idle lifestyle and idleness can lead to some very dangerous practices.

When one finds themselves with a lot of time and no obligations or responsibilities to fill it with, one can become isolated and withdraw from family and friends. Valuable time can be wasted watching hours of television or clicking through web sites on the internet. With the ubiquity of distractions like pornography, on line gambling and even video games, all have the potential to become serious addictions that affect not only the addict but his or her family and friends.

Journalist Andy Rooney recently spoke about the growing trend in our nation of state sponsored gambling in the form of lotteries. He observed that out of 50 states in this country, 48 have lotteries.

He spoke about how "most lottery money comes from the poorest people." A national study was conducted in states with gambling where it was discovered that the people who make the least money gamble the most. "Lower income people in Massachusetts, for example, spent 15 times as much on gambling as people who make a decent living."

But how can someone who is unable to have a regular job avoid these pitfalls? I draw your attention once more to Mosiah. "When ye are in the service of your fellow being ye are only in the service of your God."

Disabled people who can't maintain a regular job can still contribute to society through volunteer efforts. There are a plethora of non profit organizations and community programs that rely on volunteers to help them provide valuable services to their communities. And when one considers the value of the time spent in these efforts in traditional terms of wages and salaries, volunteer time can be worth much more than the financial assistance received by that volunteer. It can also be very fulfilling spiritually and appreciated by the community that is served by these organizations.

After all this talk about work, jobs, contributing to ourselves, our families and society, we should never loose sight of the fact that not only has God commanded us to work, he has also commanded us to rest. Even during the week, we're encouraged to spend time visiting with family, friends and relatives. Improving our talents, enjoying our hobbies and other activities that we find refreshing.

I like the way my dad taught me about how to spend my time wisely. He said to me, "Son, there are 24 hours in the day. That gives you 8 hours to sleep, 8 hours to work and 8 hours to play."

We must also learn to have balance in our lives between work, play and rest. I spoke earlier about the dangers of addiction. One can also become addicted to work. We often call people with this addiction "workaholics." They toil during the day and often bring work home with them at night. They sacrifice sleep for work, they neglect their spouses and children and convince themselves that it's okay because they are "providing for the family." While that may be true for their material needs, it should not be at the expense of the spiritual and emotional needs of the family.

It has been said that "Work is essential to each of us for growth, character development, and many satisfactions that the idle never know."

Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The happiest man is he who has toiled hard and successfully in his life work. The work may be done in a thousand different ways; with the brain or the hands, in the study, the field, or in the workshop; if it is honest work, honestly done and well worth doing, that is all we have a right to ask."

President David O. McKay said, "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success"

And not only is there work to be done in this life, both secular and spiritual, we can look forward to work in the eternities.

Often we're presented with traditional images of what the afterlife is supposed to be like. We're given visions of people in robes with wings and halos, sitting in clouds strumming away on their harps. I don't know about you, but immortal or not, I'd get bored of that really quick.

Through revelations that we have been blessed to receive, we now know that there's much more in store for us then harp lessons. We will have the opportunity to continue our progress beyond what we learn in this life. We will learn more and be able to do more. All of us have the potential to be like our Heavenly Father and as we become like him, our work will become like his work. And we are only scratching at the surface of what that work really entails.

For those of you who find yourselves in jobs that you aren’t exactly excited to go to every day, I would like to share a story with you called, “Pushing Against the Rock.”

There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told him he had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock, explaining that he was to push against that rock with all his might. This the man did, and for many days he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulder set squarely against the cold massive surface of the rock pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture, placing thoughts in the man's mind, such as, "Why kill yourself over this, you're never going to move it," or "Boy! You've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface," etc... giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was an unworthy servant because he wasn't even moving the massive stone.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man and he started to ease up in his efforts. "Why kill myself?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, putting forth just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough." And that he did, or at least planned on doing until one day he decided to take his troubles to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored hard and long in your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which you have asked me. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord said, "My friend... when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength, and that you have done. But never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it! At least, not by yourself. Your task was to PUSH! And now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed and ready to quit. But is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your back sinewed and brown. Your hands are calloused from constant pressure and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your ability now far surpasses that which you used to have. Yet still, you haven't succeeded in moving the rock; and you come to me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent. I, my friend, will move the rock. Your calling was to be obedient and to PUSH, and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom... and this you have done."

Brothers and sisters, I would like to close by bearing my testimony to you of the importance of work and service to our fellow man. I do not have a traditional job. But my situation affords me many opportunities to serve my community and my fellow man and I try my hardest to take advantage of those opportunities, though I am not always successful. From my work with the youth in the community to my volunteer efforts with different organizations that have community minded goals. I try to not put myself in a position where one can call me idle.

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Los Principios Eternos del Trabajo y la Responsibilidad

Hoy voy a hablar de la importancia del trabajo. A lo mejor muches de nosotros tenemos opiniones similares del trabajo. Cuando trabajamos, muches veces pensamos en otra cosa que queremos hacer. Por eso, es facil olvidar que el trabajo es un principio eternal. El trabajo existe tanto en los cielos come en la tierra en muchas formas diferentes. Durante nuestro probación mortal, hemos recibido de nuestro Padre Celestial el mandamiento de trabajar. ”Con el sudor de tu rostro comerás el pan” (Génesis 3:19).

En nuestras familias debemos criar nuestros hijos con un entendemiento de la responsibilidad y una aprecacion del trabajo. My hermana que vive en Georgia, a quien visité hace un mes, ha enseñado a sus hijos gue si quieren algo deben hacer algun esfuerzo para adquirirlo. Ella no les da ni un centavo semanalmente. Si uno de mis sobrinos quiere comprar un juguete, le pregunta a su madre que pueda hacer para ganar el dinero para comrarlo. Entonces, mi hermana hallará una tarea especial en la casa para que pueda ganar un poquito de dinero.

Como padres, una de las cosas que debemos recordar es alabar a nuestros hijos por el trabajo que ellos hacen, para que entienden que sus esfuerzos no estan en vano, que a veces el hacer una tareja y hacerla bien puede ser su propio galerdon.

Al preparar este discurso, leí que una manera de disfrutar de la vida es aprender a apreciar el valor del trabajo. Puede ser dificil aprender este concepto, pero es posible.

En El Libro de Mormon, leemos en Mosíah capitulo 2 versiculo 17, “...cuando os halláis en el servicio de vuestros semejantes, sólo estáis al servicio de vuestros Dios.”

Cuando pensamos del servicio en el contexto del trabajo quizás pensamos de unas professiones que consideramos noble. Por exemplo, el médico o la enfermera que cuide a los pacientes, ayudandoles a recuperar su salud.

¿Se han preguntado alguna ves como impactan sus propios occupaciones a otras personas? Cuando yo saco imágenes de una boda, no solo estoy haciendo mi trabajo, estoy preservando memorias para una familia nueva.

Un mecánico asegura a su cliente que su auto funcionará para que pueda ir al trabajo, a la iglesia y al partido de fútbol de su hijo.

No siempre podemos hacer los trabajos que queremos. Quizás nos enconstramos en una posición donde trabajamos mucho por poco dinero, y no recibimos tántas oportunidades de servir que nos gustarian. Pero si nuestro trabajo provee suficiente para cuidar a nuestras familias y a nosotros mismos, estamos ayudando a algunos de los hijos de dios.

Nuestro Padre Celestial quiere que todos nosotros hacemos nuestra parte. En Doctrina y Convenios Seccion 75 versiculo 29, el Señor dice, “No habrá lugar en la iglesia para el ocioso, a no ser que se arrepienta y enmiende sus costumbres.” El dice tambien en Seccion 42 verciculo 42, “No serás ocioso; porque el ocioso no comerá el pan ni vestirá la ropa del trabajador.”

Sabiendo esto, como santos de los ultimos dias, nunca debemos voluntariamente dejar de cuidar por nosotros mismos. Mientras podemos hacerlo debemos hacer todo posible para proveer por nuestras familias y nosotros mismos.

Siempre habrán personas que se encuentran en dificultades. Cambios en la economia, cambios en las empresas, o el mandar trabajo a otros paises, o accidentes en el trabajo puede poner a uno en una posicion economica dificil. Cuando sucede esto hay gente y programas dispuestos a ayudar. Si nos encontramos en tal situación debemos primero pedir asistenia de nuestros familias. Si nuestras necesidades son mas graves, la iglesia tiene recursos disponibles para dar asistencia temporaria. Cuando pagamos nuestras ofrendas de ayuno, estamos manteniendo una fonda de la iglesia apartada para ayudar a los necesitados. Tambien hay programas públicos que pueden ayudar en cuanto no se abusan de estos privilegios no se debe sentir vergüenza al aceptar ayudo cuando sea necesario.

Spencer W. Kimbal dijo, “Estoy convencido de que las personas que aceptan salarios o dinero sin proporcionar... el tiempo, la energía, la devoción y el servicio justosreciben dinero mal habido.”

Hay algunas personas desabilitadas que no pueden mantener un trabajo regular. Quiero dar enfasis al hecho de que no hay nada de malo en ser incapacitado y aceptar asistencia para la comida o mantener una casa, pero la tentación de abusar un programa de asistencia existe. Hay algunos que usan sus incapacidades para justificar una vida osciosa y la osciosidad lleva a situaciones muy peligrosas.

Cuando uno se encuentra con mucho tiempo y sin obligaciones o responsibilidades para llenarlo, uno se puede retirar de su familia y de sus amigos. El tiempo valioso puede gastarse mirando a la tele o repasando el internet. Las pervasión de las distracciones como la pornographia, el jugar por dinero, y aún los juegos de la computadora puede resultar en una compulsión tanto como las drogas o el alcohol que puede affectar no solo al individuo, sino tambien a la familia y a los amigos.

El jornalista Andy Rooney habló recientemente de la popularidad de las loterias estatales. Observó que 48 de los estados en esta pais tienen loterias.

Dijo que la majoria del dinero viene de las gente mas pobre. Una studio nacional de los estados que permiten los juegos de chanza reveló que la gente con menos dinero juegan lo mas. Por exemplo, la gente de menos ganáncia en el estado de Massachusetts, apuestan 15 veces mas que la gente que ganan un sueldo adecuado.

¿Pero como puede uno que no puede mantaner un trabajo regular evitar estas trampas? Otra vez, cito a Mosiah, “Cuando os halláis en el servicio de vuestros semejantes, sólo estáis al servicio de vuestros Dios.”

Los incapacitados que no pueden mantener empleo todavia pueden contribuir a la sociedad por los esfuerzos voluntarios. Hay un montón de grupos y programas comunales que dependen en las ayuda de voluntarios para proveer servicio a sus comunidades. Cuando se considera el valor del tiempo gastado en estos esfuerzos en terminos de dinero, el tiempo voluntario puede ser de mas valor que la asistencia financiera recibido por el voluntario. Tambien puede ser de beneficio espiritual y apreciado por la comunidad que se sirve por estos grupos.

Despues de hablar tanto del trabajo, el empleo, encontribuir a nuestras familias y sociedad, y a nosotros mismos, nunca debemos perder vista del hecho de que Dios no solo nos ha mandado a trabajar, pero que tambien no amandado a descansar. Aún durante la semana, debemos pasar tiempo visitando con la familia y con amigos. Debemos tambien mejorar nuestros talentos, disfrutar de nuestros pasatiempos y pasar el tiempo en otras actividades que nos gustan.

Me gusta lo que mi padre me enseõ de gastar mi tiempo sabiamenter. El me dijo a mi, “Mi hijo, hay 24 horas en el día. Tienes 8 horas para dormir, 8 horas para trabajar y 8 horas para jugar.”

Tenemos que aprender a tener un balance en nuestras vidas entre el trabajo, el juego y el descanso. Hablé mas temprano de los peligros de la adicción. Uno puede tambien contratar una adicción al trabajo. Nombramos tales personas “workaholicos.” Trabajan duramente durante el día y muy a menudo llevan la terea a la casa sacrifican el descanso por el trabajo. Descuidan a sus esposas e hijos y piensan que todo está bien porque están, “proveyendo por la familia.” Aunque puede ser cierto en cuanto a sus necesidas materiales, no debe ser al costo de las necesidades espirituales y emocionales de la familia.

Se ha dicho que, “El trabajo es esencial para nuestro progresso, para el desarrollo de nuestra carácter y para muchas satisfacciones más que los ociosos nunca podrán disfrutar.”

Theodore Roosevelt dijo, “El hombre más feliz as el que se ha afanado con éxito en su vida laboral. El trabajo se puede realizar de miles de manera diferentes; utilizando la mente o las manos; en el despacho, el campo o el taller; si el trabajo es honrado y lo llevamos a cabo en forma honesta y dando lo mejor de nosotros mismos, es todo lo que podemos pedir.”

Presidente David O. McKay dijo, “Démonos cuenta que el privilegio de trabajar es un don, que el poder de trabajar es una bendición y que el amor por el trabajo es un triunfo.”

No solo hay trabajo que hacer en esta vida, espiritual tan como secular, podemos anticipar mucho trabajo que hacer en las eternidades.

A veces se nos presentan imagenes tradicionales de como será la vida eterna. Se nos dan visiones de personas con alas y nimbos, sentados en las nubes tocando sus arpas. No se de usted, pero immortal o no, yo me aburriría de esto muuuuy pronto.

Por las revelaciones que hemos recebido, sabemos que nos espera mucho mas que aprender a tocar la arpa. Tendremos la opportunidad de continuar nuestro progreso mas allá de lo que hemos aprendido en esta vida. Aprendaremos mas y podremos hacer mas. Todos tenemos la potencial de llegar a ser como nuestro Padre Celestial y al llegar a ser mas como Él, nuestro trabajo será mas como el suyo. Apenas estamos llegando a un entendemiento de lo que quiere decir la palabra trabajar.

Para ustedes que se encuentran en un trabajo que no les anima cada día, quiero compartir un cuento que se llama, “Empujando Contra La Roca.”

Un hombre durmía en su casa cuando de repente su cuarto se llenó de luz y apareció el Salvador. El Señor le dijo al hombre que tenia una tarea que hacer, y le mostró una roca grandote. El Salvador le dijo que tenia que empujar en contra de la roca con toda so fuerza. El hombre lo hizo y por muchos días del amanecer al atardecer; con su hombro puesto contra el superficie de la roca, empujando con toda su fuerza. Cada noche el hombre regresó a su casa dolorido y agotado, pensando que había pasado todo el día en vano.

Siendo que el hombre estaba mostrando señales de desánimo, Satanás decidió tomar parte en el drama, poniendo en el mente de hombre tales pensamientos como, “No debes matarte por eso, nunca vas a mover la roca,” y, “Hombre, has pasado much tiempo haciendo esto y no has hecho nada,” etc... dándole al hombre la impresion de que la tarea era imposible y que él era un siervo inútil porque ni estaba moviendo la roca gigántica.

Estos pensemientos desanimaron al hombre y el empezó a poner menos esfuerza en su trabajo. “¿Por qué debo matarme?” se pregunto. “Voy a pasar my tiempo dando el es fuerzo minimo y esto sera bastante.” Y así lo hizo o por lo menos es lo que pensaba hacer hasta que un día decidió llevar sus problemas al Señor. “Señor,” el dijo, “He trabajado largo y duro en su servicion, poniendo todo mi esfuerzo en lo que me has pedidio. Sin embargo, despues do todo este tiempo, la roca no ha movido ni un milimetro. ¿Que pasa? ¿Por qué estoy fallando?”

El Señor le dijo, “Hijo mio... Hace mucho tiempo cuando yo te pedia que me servia y tu aceptaste, te dije que empujara la roca con todo su esfuerza y esto tu has echo. Pero nunca te dije que esperaba que la moviera. Por lo menos no tu solo. Tu trabajo fue EMPUJAR. Y ahora me vienes a mi, su esfuerza gastada, pensando que hayas fallado y listo para dejar la obra. Pero, de cierto, ¿es así? Mírate. Tus brazos son fuertes y musculados. Tu espalda tambien. Tus manos son callosos de la presion constante y tus piernas masivas y duras. Por la oposición te has crecido mucho y tus abilidades sobrepasan las que antes tenías. Sin embargo no has logrado mover la roca. Y ahora me vienes a mi con un corazón a entristezado y con tu fuerza gastada. Hijo mio, you voy a mover la roca. Tu llamamiento fue ser obediente y EMPUJAR, y ejercer tu fe y confiar en mi sabiduría... Y esto tu has hecho.”

Hermanos y hermanas, quiero terminar con mi testimonio de la importencia del trabajo y del servicio a nuestros semejantes. Yo no tengo un trabajo tradicional. Pero mi situacion me da muchos oportunidades para servir a mi communidad y a mis prójimos. Y aunque no siempre tengo éxito, yo hago todo lo posible para aprovecharme de estas opportunidades. En mi trabajo con la juventud del pueblo, en mi obra voluntaria con diferentes grupos, siempre trato de ponerme en una posicion donde nadie me puede llamar oscioso.

Digo estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

The Sixth Article of Faith

2005-08-14T20:46:00.000-06:00

(Delivered in both English and Spanish)

Good afternoon, Brothers and Sisters.

For those of you who don’t know me, or only know me as Brother Puente or the guy with the movies, I’m Joseph Puente. Often when I am asked if I speak Spanish, my response is usually, “Only enough to get my face slapped.” Which is rather embarrassing because both of my parents and even my stepmother speak Spanish fluently.

My father, who a lot of you know, was born in California and raised in Spain. My mother is from in the capital of Puerto Rico... New York City. While I can usually follow a lesson or a conversation in Spanish, it’s with the assistance of Brother Papenfuss that I’m able to address you in Spanish this afternoon. I am a convert to the church though I was introduced to it when I was very young. I believe young people have an advantage when they are introduced to new ideas. Their minds are not usually biased by tradition or ideology. When I was taught that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized the same way as the ancient Christian Church of the first century, it simply made sense.

The sixth Article of Faith reads: “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth.” It is this organization that distinguishes our faith the most from all others and serves as a testament to the unchanging nature of God. Throughout the course of human history when the windows of heaven were open and God’s authorized church was upon the earth, he has worked through prophets.

When Christ organized his church in the first century, he did so with twelve apostles. Regional churches were lead by bishops, and ordinances were performed with proper priesthood authority. When the church was restored to the earth one hundred seventy-five years ago, it too was organized with Apostles, Bishops and divine authority.

Every priesthood holder today from the newest deacon to the President of the Church can trace their line of priesthood authority back to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery who received the Melchizedek priesthood from Peter, James and John who were ordained Apostles by Jesus Christ who is ordained by God the Father.

In the five years that I served in the military, I had the opportunity to meet people of many different religions and ways of thinking. I tried very hard to see the similarities. To celebrate the beliefs that we had in common. For example, our belief in salvation through Christ and a loving Heavenly Father. But I was amazed to see not just how much of the gospel was lost following the great apostasy, but how many of the truths are right there for anyone to read in the scriptures and yet their eyes are closed to them.

Twelve years ago, when I was in basic training, I attended a servicemen’s branch. It was there that I met some wonderful and beautiful sister missionaries. It often made me wonder if it was fair to have SISTER missionaries on a base of mostly men who have been separated from women for up to eight weeks at a time. I had been a member of the church for ten years but decided to reintroduce myself to the gospel. And what better way to do that than to start with the missionary discussions.

As members of the true church, with modern revelation at our disposal in the form of The Doctrine and Covenants, modern day prophets and inspired leadership, I think we tend to take the fullness of the gospel for granted. As I sat through the missionary discussions, I was surprised to learn how many of the truths that we embrace are contained in the bible. And I couldn’t understand why other faiths, who try so hard to follow those same teachings, couldn’t see what was written so plainly on those pages. From the simple truth that we are all God’s children to the role that prophets play in the church. The importance of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is in the Bible that we first learn of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the offices of apostles, high priests and seventies and of the different degrees of glory in Heaven.

I tried to understand why no one else spoke of these things, even though they had the very same bible. Then I met a young man named Alex. Alex was injured during basic training and was waiting until his injury had healed before he was able to complete his physical training and go on into full-time service. My advanced training was also postponed and I found myself spending long days in a compartment with Alex.

As I was looking through my missionary discussion pamphlets, Alex asked me a very simple question: “So what do you Mormons believe in?”

I said to him, “These pamphlets pretty much cover that. I can read them with you, if you like.”

He said, “Sure.”

So I gave him the missionary discussions. When we spoke of reading the scriptures, he said to me, “I’ve tried reading the bible before. It never made any sense to me.”

I told him that when you read prayerfully and sincerely want to learn, the Holy Ghost can help you understand.

Alex came to church with me and listened to the missionary discussions from those same wonderful and beautiful sister missionaries and he surprised them with what he had already learned from talking with me.

Several days later, I had been transferred to another part of the base, but I was able to visit Alex and see how he was doing. One day, he was so excited. He showed me his bible and passages that he had highlighted. He said to me, “Joe, for the first time in my life, I’m reading the bible and I understand what it says.”

“That’s the Holy Spirit helping you to understand,” I said. That’s when I realized why so many other religions don’t see so many of the things that are written in the bible. They do not have the gift of the Holy Ghost. It has been lost to them for nearly two thousand years.

In traditional Christianity, as it has evolved without revelation, the responsibility of teaching the masses falls to a handful of priests or ministers who attend schools and seminaries to prepare them to teach their followers.

In our church, no line is drawn between presbytery and parishioner. No priesthood holder is required to have a degree in divinity, theology or philosophy which would certainly put a lot of pressure on our deacons.

With the exception of certain general authorities, there are no lifetime callings for the management of the church. The stewardship of the kingdom of God on earth is a shared responsibility. We are not expected or required to place any leader or authority on a pedestal because we are all servants of God and the organization of the church reinforces that understanding.

As I learned about the many years of study required of priests and leaders in other religions, I came to a fascinating realization. Everyone in our church, from the teacher in primary to the prophet, receives instruction on the teachings of the gospel the same way: by attending meetings, through personal study and confirmation of the truths we learn through the gift of the Holy Ghost. Sermons are not just delivered by the bishopric, anyone can have the opportunity to speak in a sacrament meeting just as anyone can receive a calling to teach in sunday school, priesthood or relief society.

When my basic training in the military was complete, I went home on leave. When I arrived at my parents’ house, there was a letter waiting for me from the sister missionaries. They said that Alex was receiving the discussions very well and they thought he might be ready to be baptized. When that time came, they asked if I would baptize him. Of course, I wasn’t able to. I was on my way to advanced training.

When I arrived at my next base in Massachusetts, there was a letter waiting for me. Again, it was from the missionaries. They told me that Alex was baptized.

Brothers and Sisters, we have a wonderful missionary tool in the Articles of Faith. It is much more than a simple list of our corps beliefs. It is an inspired document and I implore you to study it and remember that it is through the restoration of God’s authority on earth that we are able to walk in the light of his knowledge and love.

I want to close by bearing my testimony to you that this is the true church of God, restored to the earth by Jesus Christ through his prophet Joseph Smith. The evidence of that truth is confirmed to me and to all sincere seekers of the truth through the Holy Ghost. The organization of the church also serves as a testament to the world of how God’s house is one of order. That His church is organized today, the same way it was two thousand years ago with “apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth.”

********************************************

El Sexto Articulo de Fe

Buenas tardes, hermanos y hermanas.

Para aquellos que no me conozcan, o me conocen solamente como hermano Puente o el hombre con las películas, yo soy Joseph Puente. A menudo cuando me preguntan si hablo español, suello responder, “Solamente lo suficiente pare que me palmean la cara.” Lo cuál es algo penoso porque ambos de mis padres e incluso mi madrastra hablan español fluentemente.

Mi padre, a quien muchos de ustedes conocen, nació en California y se crió en España. Mi madre viene de la capital de Puerto Rico ... La ciudad de Nueva York!! Aunque puedo entender una lección o una conversación en español, es con la ayuda del hermano Papenfuss que puedo dirigirme a ustedes en español esta tarde.

Soy un converso aunque me trajeron a la iglesia cuando era muy joven. reo que la gente joven tiene una ventaja cuando la introducen a nuevas ideas. Sus mentes todavía no están predispuestas por la tradición o la ideología. Cuando me enseñaron que la iglesia de Jesúcristo de los Santos de los U'ltimos Días fue ordenada de la misma manera que la antigua iglesia cristiana del primer siglo, simplemente tuvo sentido.

El sexto Artículo de Fé dice:” Creemos en la misma organización que existió en la Iglesia Primitiva, esto es, apótoles, profetas, pastores, maestros, evangelistas, etc.”

Es ésta organización que más distingue nuestra fé de todos las demas y sirve como testamento de la naturaleza constante de Dios. Durante la historia humana, siempre cuando las ventanas del cielo estaban abiertas y la iglesia autorizada de Dios estaba sobre la tierra, él ha trabajado a través de profetas.

Cuando Cristo organizó su iglesia en el primer siglo, lo hizo con doce apostoles. Las iglesias regionales se guiaron por los obispos, y las ordenanzas fueron realizadas con autoridad del sacerdocio.

Cuando la iglesia fue restaurada a la tierra hace ciento setenta y cinco años, fue organizada también con apostles, obispos y autoridad divina.

Cada hombre, poseedor del sacerdocio desde el diacono mas nuevo hasta el presidente de la iglesia puede delinear el origen de su sacerdocio al profeta Jose Smith y Oliver Cowdery, quienes recibieron el sacerdocio de Melchezidic de Pedro, Santiago, y Juan quienes fueron ordenados como apostoles por las manos de Jesucristo quien es ordenado por Dios el Padre.

Durante los cinco años que servía en la fuerza armada, tenía muchas oportunidades a conocer a mucha gente de otras religiones y maneras de pensar. Me esforzaba para ver las similaridades. Para celebrar las creencias comunes. Por ejemplo, nuestra creencia en la salvacion atravéz de Cristo y un amoroso Padre Celestial. Pero me asustó ver no solo cuanto se perdió del evangelio después de la apostasía, sino tambien cuantas verdades están allí mismo en las escrituras delante de los ojos de cualquier persona, pero sus ojos están cerrados.

Hacen doce años, cuando yo estabe en el entrenamiento básico, asistía a una rama de los hombres militares. Fue allá donde conocí a unas maravillosas hermanas misioneras. Muchas veces me preguntaba si era algo bueno tener a las HERMANAS en el base militar con hombres que habían estado separados de otras mujeres por ocho semanas a la vez. Yo era miembro de la iglesia por diez años, pero decidí reintroducirme al evangelio. Y qué sería mejor que empezar con las charlas misionales.

Como miembros de la iglesia verdadera con revelacion moderna a nuestra alcance en forma de Doctrina y Convenios, profetas vivientes, y liderazgo inspirado, creo que no apreciamos el evangelio en su plenitúd. Al tomar parte en las charlas misionales, me sorprendí aprender cuantas de las verdades basicas en nuestra creencia vienen de la biblia. Y no podía entender porqué otras religiones, que intentan seguir las mismas enseñanzas, no podían ver lo que se escribía tan claramente en las paginas de la biblia. Verdades como nosotros somos hijos de Dios, hasta el papél de los profetas en la iglesia. La importancia del bautismo y el recibir el don del Espíritu Santo. Aprendemos primeramente en la biblia del sacerdocio de Melchizedec, los oficios de los apostoles, sumo sacerdotes y los setenta, y hasta las tres glorias de los cielos.

Trato de entender por qué nadie mas habla de estas cosas, aún que tienen la misma biblia. Entonces conocí a un hombre llamado Alex.

Alex tuvo un acidente durante el entrenamiento básico y estabe esperando hasta que se sanó antes de completar su entrenamiento físico. Mi entrenamiento avanzado tambien se pospuso y me encontré pasando mucho tiempo en un compartamento con Alex. Al repasar mis folletos de las charlas, Alex me preguntó sencillamente: “Qué es lo que ustedes, los mormones creen?”

Yo le dije, “Estes folletos explican eso.”

“Puedo leerlos contigo, si lo quieres.”

Dijo él, “Seguro.”

Entonces le dí las charlas. Cuando hablamos de leer las escrituras, él me dijo, “He intentado leer la biblia ántes. Nunca tenía sentido para mí.”

Yo le dije que cuando leas sinceramente y con mucha oración, el Espíritu Santo te puede ayudar a entender.

Alex vino a la iglesia con migo y tomó las charlas de las mismas hermanas misioneras tan hermosas, y se sorprendieron ellas de lo que aprendió él al hablar conmigo.

Muchos días despues, me trasladaron a otro citio, pero pude todavía visitarle a Alex para ver como le fuera. Un dia él estaba tan emocionado. Me mostró su biblia y algunos pasajes que había marcado. Me dijo, “Joe, por primera vez en mi vida, estoy leyendo la biblia y puedo entender lo que dice.”

“Eso es el Espíritu Santo ayudando te a entender,” le respondí. En ese momento, comprendí porque tantas religiones no pueden ver lo que dice la biblia. Ellos no tienen el don del Espíritu Santo. Les ha estado perdido por dos mil años.

En el cristianismo tradicional, se ha cambiado tras los años sin revelación, la responsibilidad de enseñar a la gente cayó a un pequeño grupo de presbíteros y ministerios quienes estudian en escuelas y seminarios para preparar les a enseñar a sus seguidores.

En nuestra eglesia, no hay línea entre los maestros y los creyentes. Ningún hombre del sacerdocio está requerido graduarse del seminario por divinidad, tealogía, o filosofía. Eso ciertamente sería una presión por nuestros diaconos.

Con la excepión de ciertos autoridades generales, no hay llamamiento para manejar la iglesia que dura la vida. El mayordomo del reino de Dios en esta tierra es una responsibilidad que se comparta. No se nos requiere poner a un líder o autoridad en alto porque todos somos siervos de Dios, y la organización de la iglesia aumenta ese entender.

Al aprender de los años de estudio que se requieren de un sacerdote u otros líderes en sus religiones, llegué a una realizacion fasinante. Todos en nuestra iglesia, desde el maestro de la primaria hasta el profeta, recibe instruccion en la misma manera: al asisitir las reuniones de la iglesia, atravéz del estudio personal y la confirmacion de las verdades que aprendemos por el don del Espíritu Santo. Sermones no solo se den por el obispo, todos podemos tener la oportunidad de discursar en la reunion sacramental, igual que todos podemos ser llamados a enseñar en la escuela dominical, el sacerdocio o la sociedad de socorro.

Cuando cumplí mi entrenamiento básico, salí de vacacion. Al llegar a casa de mis padres, había una carta de las misioneras esperando me. Dijeron que Alex estaba tomando las charlas muy bien, y pensaban que fuera listo para ser bautizado. Cuando llegara ese tiempo, me pidieron que lo hiciera. Claro que no pude. Estaba en via a mi entrenamiento avanzado.

Cuando llegué en Massachusetts, había otra carta. Otra vez, venía de las misioneras. Me dijeron que Alex se bautizó.

Hermanos y hermanas, tenemos una herramienta maraviosa en los Artículos de Fé. Es más que una lista de nuestras creencias basicas. Es un documento inspirado y yo les ruego a estudiarlo y recordar que es por la restauración de la autoridad de Dios en ésta tierra que podemos caminar en la luz de Su conocimiento y amor.

Quiero terminar con mi testimonio, yo sé que ésta es la iglesia verdadera de Dios, restaurado a la tierra por Jesucristo a travéz de su profeta Jose Smith. La evidencia de ésta verdad se confirma a mí y a cualquier persona que busca en sinceridad por el Espíritu Santo. La organizacion de la iglesia tambien sirve como testimonio al mundo de que la casa de Dios es una casa de orden. Que Su iglesia esta organizada hoy en día, al igual que lo hizo hacen miles de años con “apostoles, profetas, pastores, maestros, evangelistas, etc.”

Digo estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Missionary Work

1997-08-10T20:37:00.002-06:00

Good morning, brothers and sisters...

In preparing for a talk, I usually ask myself a few questions such as, "What am I going to speak about about?" and "Who should I quote?" etc.

But today I decided in stead of asking questions I would listen to a few questions. I've had the opportunity to hear a lot of interesting questions from non-members but I don't always get the chance to answer them.

I decided (at first) to take the opportunity afforded me with this talk to answer a few questions that some friends of mine have asked me about the church and the gospel. Then I realized that approaching the talk this way falls directly in line with another aspect of the gospel that I have been giving some very serious thought about this year... I have decided to speak, today, on missionary work.

Why are we, as members of the church, so anxious to talk about our religion, even with people who seem to be perfectly happy in their own faith and with their own way of life?

This is essentially the question I was asked by a friend of mine not too long ago. My answer was that, "Well, not everyone is happy with what they have and they are looking for answers to their questions." I posed this question to a group of Latter-day Saints on the internet and received among others, this interesting response:

"We have a responsibility as members of the Church to bring the gospel to ALL of the world... we covenant to do so in many ways... It is true that many other religions contain bits of light and that some are happy with what they have. However, to have a FULLNESS of joy, you need the fullness of the gospel. Essentially, when we serve as missionaries, we are bringing our brothers and sisters to Christ to enable them to reap ALL of the blessings our Heavenly Father has for them... not just some of them."

["Little Miss Sunshine :)" ]

We're all familiar with the saying, "Every member a missionary." But what does this calling of "Member Missionary" require of us? I guess keeping our eyes and ears open. Finding prospective investigators and Fellowshiping them.

When I think of member missionary work, though, three basic things come to mind.

One of them is inviting non-member friends to church meetings and activities.

Another is explaining basic principles of the gospel. The key word in this item is "basic." We needn't go into a detailed history of the origins of different baptismal practices through the centuries to explain why we baptize by immersion. Give a simple answer to a simple question. Our full time missionaries are in a much better position to offer more detailed explanations of gospel principles.

One other contribution to the missionary program that we as members can make is the most important. It is simply this, making our lives a daily example of the gospel in action so that nonmembers will recognize something different and want to have it in themselves.

This year marks some very interesting events in Church history which I guess is the reason for a recent cover story in "TIME Magazine" which describes Mormonism as "America's Most Prosperous Religion." One item that caught my attention the most was that membership of the church has reached approximately 9.7 Million members worldwide and as of February of this year, the majority of Latter-day Saints live outside of the United States.

This year also marks the 150th Anniversary of the Mormon Pioneers' settlement in the Salt Lake Valley. Following years of torment and persecution the early Mormons were driven from numerous locations in the eastern United States until they finally settled in what is now Utah under the leadership of the prophet Brigham Young.

Most people who know me are aware of my interest in computers. I have a web page on the internet where I have shortcuts or links to numerous church related resources. I also publish, if you will, an electronic news letter of sorts for the dissemination of inspirational and edifying stories over the internet. This year, I couldn't wait for July 24 to roll around because I had a really great story to share. And I'd like to share it with you now.

Prophecy of a Catholic Priest*

Since these stories are sent out via e-mail, my subscribers, about half of which are complete strangers to me, are free to respond directly to me about any of them. I got the following response from a friend of mine in Ohio. We've known each other through e-mail and internet chat for about a year and a half. He's originally from India and works at the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland. His comment reads:

"As prophecies go, this one was pretty much on the mark, wasn't it? :-]

"In reference to 'speedy messengers,' I have always been fascinated and intrigued by the emphasis on 'spreading the word' in Christianity -particularly since, from where I come from (the land of hindu-ism), there is absolutely no emphasis on this aspect.

"I have always wondered about it - if one believes that 'the truth shall prevail' and that 'the truth can stand alone,' why does it need the help of us mere mortals to be 'spread'?

"Anyway - this is not to question anyone's beliefs - rather to spawn some 'thought and consideration.'

"Respectfully,

"-Kumud"

And "spawn some thought and consideration" it did. My earlier comments of members' responsibility for bringing the gospel to all the world addresses this question to a certain degree. However, in trying to look at this issue from my friend's perspective, I realized that it isn't just the LDS practice of missionary work that was being taken into consideration but the missionary or Evangelical practices of pretty much all Christian religions.

As Latter-day Saints, we are not in the habit of using the term "Evangelism" in reference to missionary work. In my studies, I've found that an evangelist has a very distinct role apart from that of a missionary. Though it took a while before I came to this understanding.

If you look through modern dictionary definitions of Evangelist and Evangelism, you find its modern usage is very similar to that of the word missionary. However, more detailed definitions describe evangelism with such terms as fanatical and even militant. Terms that, quite frankly, leave a bed taste in my mouth.

I could find only three references to the word Evangelist in the Bible and as the word is described in the Greek and Hebrew lexicon in my CD-ROM study aids, an evangelist is "a bringer of good tidings... This name is given in the New Testament to those heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles."

That an evangelist is a bringer of good tidings makes sense from the Greek root of the word, euaggelion {yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on}, which means good tidings. However, the name Evangelist is "given... to those... who are not apostles." And apostles, as well as seventies, are charged by Christ with spreading the gospel. The references to Evangelists in the New Testament refer to specific persons and to a specific office in the priesthood.

In the January '95 issue of the Ensign, there is a fascinating article by John W. Welch titled "Word Studies from the New Testament" in which specific words from the original Greek gospels are examined so that we might have a better understanding of how they were used during new testament times. Here, in part, is what the article has to say about Evangelists.

"In 1839, the Prophet Joseph Smith explained that 'an Evangelist is a Patriarch.... Wherever the Church of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a Patriarch for the benefit of the posterity of the Saints, as it was with Jacob in giving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons.'

"With this in mind, the earliest known use of the word euangelistes ('you-ON-gell-is-TAYS') outside the Bible is of considerable interest to Latter-day Saints. It was found in a Greek inscription on the island of Rhodes; it appears to be a burial inscription of a high priest who functioned in a temple of Apollo. Most scholars who have studied this fragmentary text have concluded that this priest was called a euangelistes because he was 'the deliverer of oracular sayings' to individuals who typically came seeking prophetic information from Apollo about their personal lives.

"Today we cannot be certain of the origins of the New Testament term euangelistes. But of all the meanings attributed to the word evangelist over the years, the Prophet Joseph Smith's identification of this office as that of a patriarch who gives spiritual and prophetic blessings to individuals still comes closest to the meaning of this term in its earliest known occurrence."

(Ensign January 1995 pp. 29)

I have a friend who has a gift for being blunt and she said to me once, "Come on, you guys pretty much want to convert everybody to your religion don't you?" I answered her question as best I could, then dropped it into the laps of my LDS friends on the internet.

Where are the missionaries? Or "My Guys in Ties," as I like to call them.

Now, it is not the role of the missionary to knock on someone's door and say, "Hi there. We're Mormons and we're here to convert you." (To the missionaries) You don't, do you? Good.

Instead, they tell the people whom they seek out, "We have a message that we would like to share with you." That message is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As far as converting everybody is concerned... as much as that would be a nice thing to see, we, as Latter-day Saints, do not fool ourselves into thinking that all will come unto Christ. That everyone who hears this message will actually take the time to listen . We all have our free agency. Or, as it was put to me in a recent e-mail message which also offers insight into an earlier question:

"This is part of the mission of the Church... to proclaim the gospel. The reason behind missionary work is not to defend the gospel... in other words, it isn't a question of letting the truth stand alone. The truth will do that by itself and the issue is unrelated to why we spread the gospel. We spread the gospel to BRING people TO the truth (to expose them to it)...

"Spreading the gospel fulfills the promise Heavenly Father gave us that we would all have the opportunity to accept or reject the Savior and His plan. If we didn't spread the gospel (here or later in the spirit world) this aspect of the plan would not be fulfilled, nor would the kingdom of heaven be built on the earth."

["Little Miss Sunshine :)" ]

Brothers and sisters, conversion to the gospel is a very personal thing. We do not go out as member missionaries or full time missionaries to convert people. We go to spread the word. To show people where the truth in its fullness can be found. We may or may not find converts along the way, that isn't necessarily the point of being there.

I have come to a point in my life where I have made a decision regarding my future. I haven't very much time left here with you in this branch. I will be moving on toward other opportunities. To be with other members and hopefully to find some new ones. There are a lot of Latter-day Saints out there who are waiting... waiting to be shown the way.

When my family was first introduced to the Church 14 years ago, two young men called Elders Gunther and Johnson came into our home to share with us a message. Before either of them got a word in edgewise, my mother stated to them quite clearly, "Alright, listen. As a family, we believe in this and this and this and this..." and she rattled off a number of points of doctrine that we knew for sure were true.

In response to this, one of these missionaries turned to the other and said, "Elder... These people are Mormons. It's just that, until now, no one has bothered to tell them."

My brothers and sisters, I am looking forward to the day when I will be that young man knocking on a door.** And when it opens, I will look into the eyes of my brother or sister and say, "Hello. My name is Elder Puente and this is my companion. We are ministers of Jesus Christ and we have a message that we would like to share with you."

*This document this linked to has been deleted. Like a lot of naive young and new members, I accepted at face value a story that had no basis in fact.

**Hey, plans change.

Talents and Gifts of the Spirit

1996-12-15T20:32:00.002-07:00

Good morning, Brothers and Sisters. I would like to ask before I begin, that your thoughts and your prayers be with me today that I might be able to convey these remarks to you in a manner pleasing unto the Lord.
While I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping recently, I was walking through the isle of a local department store and I heard a song which is very popular this time of year. "The Little Drummer Boy." I thought about the story that went to that song and it took on a new meaning for me. For those of you who aren't familiar with the story behind it, the three wise men were on their way to visit the Christ Child and on their way they stopped in a small village to water their camels and to rest for a while. A little boy with a drum stopped by and asked where they were going. One of the wise men pointed to the star in the east and said, "Do you see that star there?"

The little boy said, "Yeah."

"That is a sign that a king has been born and we're going to pay homage to that king."

The little boy asked if he could go with them.

The wise men said, "Certainly. You're free to come with us."

When they arrived in Bethlehem and saw the Christ Child, the little boy noticed that these three wise men were bringing that child gifts of gold, frankincense and Myrrh and he realized that he didn't have anything to give to the child... but he did have his drum. So he asked Mary if it would be okay if he could play a song for the newborn king.

This time of year is a time of giving, a time of sharing and it's not uncommon to look at the things that we give and realize that it's kind of a materialistic time of the year also. But, you know what, some of the greatest gifts that are given can't be measured with a dollar value.

One of my favorite authors once wrote, "Such as I have, that which I am, I share with you."

I would like to talk about talents. We all have talents or gifts that we have been blessed with. But where do these gifts come from? In The Book of Mormon, in Moroni chapter 10 verse 18, we read, "I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that you remember that every good gift cometh of Christ." I would like to share with you an excerpt from a story entitled Serafina by Marie Alvarez, my Mom. This was a gift that she gave to her children. It's basically her narrative take on where our talents come from. The story takes place in the Celestial Nursery, where the spirit children of our Heavenly Father await their callings to Earth.

Lately, things seemed to be accelerating to a break-neck speed. [ . . . ]Some went out almost as quickly as they came in. Others seemed to wait forever for their call-ups, and Serafina was one of those. The Nursery seemed to have become one endless round of going away parties. There were hats, and decorations, and favorite foods-to-be.[ . . . ] And, of course, there were the gifts. Big talents, little talents, average talents, they were all needed down thereÐand there were plenty to go around. So everybody took extra care in wrapping the presents and practicing the presentation. -"This talent is yours to take and use as your heart guides you"- was the standard line.

Sometimes I wonder if we had these same talents in the preexistence. And though I do not speak from any doctrinal source on this matter, I think, "Why not?"

I can see myself as a spirit in Heaven telling stories to my little brothers and sister. Seeing their eyes light up as I spin a yarn about living our mortal lives on earth.

"Really, Joseph?" they might have said, "Will it really be like that on earth? With mortal parents and games to play and things to learn? With friends to make and trees to climb and puppies to play with?"

"Will you write about these things when it's your turn on earth, Joseph?" asks my little brother.

A little sister chimes in, "Joseph... will you write about us?"

Perhaps I had a little trouble keeping my audience seated... But I wasn't upset by it... They had their own talents and dreams to develop. Bobby is putting the finishing touches on a lamp he's making. Maggie is sewing a new dress. Josie is baking a cake. "Sorry, Joseph," said Jacob, "I'm painting today."

"No need to apologize," I reply. "And just where do you think you're going, young lady?"

"I'm late for choir practice," said Audri, apologetically.

**********************

One of my favorite parables from my youth is the parable of the talents. You can read it in Matthew 25. I'd like to summarize it, if I could,. The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who is getting ready to go on a journey. Before he goes on his journey, he gathers three of his servants and gives each of them money, or talents. To the first servant he give five talents. To the second servant he gives two and to the last he gives one. When this man came back from his journey, he called his together and he asked them what they did with their talents. The first servant said, "I took my talents and I increased them and got five more."

The second servant said, "Master, you gave me two talents. I took those two talents and I got two more."

Then he asked the last servant what he did with his one talent.

"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine. His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."

I suppose I could say, "Your talents, my friends, use 'm or lose 'em." But this parable warrants a finer explanation. These servants were given these talents for the purpose of increasing them just as we are blessed with certain talents and are expected to use and improve them. It's not just a matter of being given a talent, but of embracing it and encouraging it's growth and development in our lives. When we recognize talent in ourselves and our children and in our friends, we should encourage it to grow.

The Prophet Joseph Smith in a letter to Nancy Rigdon date 19 august 1842 said, "Blessings offered but rejected are no longer blessings but become like the talents hid in the earth by the wicked and slothful servant. The proffered good returns to the giver. The blessing is bestowed on those who would receive and occupy for unto him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundantly but from his that hath not...or will not receive...shall be taken away that which he hath or might have had."

Brothers and Sisters, I have a confession to make. this year I have been guilty of neglecting my talents. Of hiding them up in the earth and forgetting about them all because of a nasty little habit called low self esteem.

Several weeks ago I learned something very interesting about the Holy Spirit and what can drive him away. A list of items was read to me. It included such things as profanity, misused well, contention and, to my surprise, low self esteem.

"Low self esteem," I said. "Why?"

And I was told, "What do you mean, 'Why?' Why should you have low self esteem? You are a child of God. The offspring of deity. You are the purpose of all creation. Basically, you've got no business feeling like you're not worth anything."

So, I thought, "Hey, yeah, that's right." So I grabbed a shovel and I dug out my talent from the earth and I started to embrace it again and I started to realize what I had been missing out on.

My particular talent is writing. I really enjoy writing very much. I write short stories and essays and I've even written a few novels. I got to work on some old projects that I had been neglecting for a long time. Things that I knew I should have been working on and when I started working on them again, Wow. What a feeling. It was so great to be able to write again. to be able to feel that creative energy again. It was incredible. This is a gift from God. I believe if you don't use a gift that God gives you, that he finds that a little bit offensive. A lot of people might come out and say, "Gee, I'm not a writer or a singer or what have you. I don't have any talents." Well, that's not true. We all have a talent. When we think of talents we usually think of things like that. Writing and singing but there are a lot of unsung talents too. Did you ever stop to consider that it is a talent to be a good listener. I'm lucky. I've got a lot of friends who are outstanding listeners. I wish I was as good a listener as they were. There's a talent in caring. There is a talent in being a good friend. There is a talent in serving.

We are counseled by doctrine and common sense not to be so preoccupied with seeking out worldly things but, like Bridget(The previous speaker) said , the getting seems pretty cool at Christmas too, that's pretty awesome, sure but there are some gifts that it's okay to desire. In fact we are encouraged to desire them. These gifts are the gifts of the Spirit.

In Doctrine and Covenants, Section 46, we have a neat definition of what the gifts of the spirit are. It reads in part:

"And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church. For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby. To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucifies for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful. [...] And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of wisdom. To another is given the word of knowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge. And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed; And to others it is given to have faith to heal. And again, to some it is given the working of miracles; And to other it is given to prophesy; And to others the discerning of spirits. And again, it is given to some to speak with tongues; And to another is given the interpretation of tongues. And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God." (Emphasis Added)

As I looked through the New Testament in preparation for this talk, I read of these wonderful gifts and their manifestations upon the lives of the saints of the primitive church. They were the same gifts described by the passage from the Doctrine and Covenants that I just read. We can read of Christ and the Apostles healing the sick, causing the lame to walk, the blind to see. We read of these saints speaking in tongues and prophesying. We see how the ancient church was guided by revelation. All of these were and are gifts of the Spirit. The same gifts which guide The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.

When I think of all these gifts, sometimes I ask the question, "Of all the gifts that our Heavenly Father has given us, which one is his greatest?"

I'm going to read a verse from the New Testament. It is a verse that we are all very familiar with and we've heard it many, many times but I would like you to take a special moment as I read it to you to really try and comprehend the power behind this statement:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

To further illustrate this point, I'd like to read you a story titled,

The Bridge

There was once a big turntable bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day the bridge sat with it's length running up and down the river paralleled with the banks, allowing ships to pass through freely on both side of the bridge. But at certain times each day, a train would come along and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river allowing a train to cross it.

A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed. One evening as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day to come, he looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight, and caught sight of the trains lights. He stepped to the controol and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge. He turned the bridge into position for the train to cross, and moved the lever to lock the bridge into postion, but, to his horror, he found the locking control didn't work. If the bridge was not securley in position it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto it, causing the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This would be a passenger train with many people aboard.

He left the bridge turned across the river, and huurried across the bridge to the other side of the river where there was a laver which he could hold to operate the lock manually. He would have to hold the lever back firmly as the train crossed. He could hear the rumble of the train now, and he took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply his weight to it, locking the bridge. He kept applying the pressure to keep the mechanism lock. Many lives depended on this man's strength.

When coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. "Daddy, where are you?" His four year old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run! Run!" But the train was too close, the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost left his lever to run and snatch up his son and carry him to safety. But he realized that he could not get back to the lever. Either the people on the train or his little son must die.

He took a moment to make his decision. The train sped safely and swiftly on its way, and no one aboard was even aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the onrushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of a sobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after the train had passed. They didn't see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked - to tell his wife how he had sacrificed their son.

Now if you can comprehend the emotions which went through this man's heart, you can begin to understand the feelings of our Father in Heaven when he sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Can there be any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His Son died? How does He feel when we speed along through life without giving a thought to what was done for us through Jesus?

When was the last time you thanked him for the sacrifice of His Son?

During this holiday season, I hope we aren't like the passengers of that train. This is a time of sharing, a time to look out for those in need but it should not be just during the holidays that we have these things in mind, but always. We have many opportunities to serve and to use our talents in serving. The edification of the body of Christ is not limited to the weekly sacrament and Sunday school meetings that we attend. Consider the callings that we have like home teaching and visiting teaching. These are a wonderful opportunity to serve and a wonderful opportunity to share.

I remember as a youth when I was in Utah in high school. I would go home teaching with a friend of mine who was a return missionary. I took the opportunity on a couple of occasions to share some of my writing with the families that we home taught.

In the church film, The Mountain of the Lord, which is a picture about the building of the Temple in Salt Lake City, we see how following the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the Latter-day Saints, under the inspired leadership of Brigham Young and the Twelve apostles, settled in the Salt Lake Valley. The first order of business when they got there was to pick a site for the temple. Throughout the film we see how the talents of the Latter-day Saints were used in building that temple. People that were carpenters and stone masons, artists, sculptors and painters. We know, whenever we visit the temple, that these temples are works of art.

Whenever I think of the gifts that I have given to family and friends over the years, those that I cared most about, those that meant the most to me as well as those I gave the gifts to, were those gifts that were of the heart and of the mind. Gifts of words and writing. Stories, poems, novels that I had written. Sharing my testimony of the gospel with a friend. Giving someone a Book of Mormon and sharing my testimony of that work with him or her.

Brothers and sisters, I wish to leave you with my testimony that I know this is the Lord's work and that it could not be done without the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the God given talents of all our members and I would exhort you to seek out the elect among you, for the spirit does manifest himself in others. The gifts of the Spirit are not limited to the membership of this church, though it is through the Priesthood that we may receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, the manifestation of his power can be felt by all earnest seekers of the truth.

Repentance

1995-10-14T20:28:00.000-06:00

(Note the classic cliches of LDS Talks the world over)

I'm speaking today on repentance... and I've had to do a lot of thinking, a lot of reading and a lot of praying so that I could speak to you about this.

When President Dalton assigned me this topic, I said, "I think I need to hear this talk..."

And he quickly replied, "We all do, Joe... you don't have to feel you're alone in this."

Which was comforting... Because in my particular situation, it's easy to feel alone and out of touch. In these last couple of years, I've found the single life to be very overrated... despite what some of my married coworkers have to say.

How many of us have looked heavenward and said, "Heavenly Father, why do you put up with me?" I look around at the people that I live and work with... particularly those who call themselves Christians... And I have to ask, "Is repentance a part of their lives?"

They've professed their beliefs, whatever they may be, and have come to their conclusions and their theories of what salvation is and they go along with their lives... usually not knowing that there is so much more out there.

In preparing this talk I asked myself two questions: "What leads us to Repentance?" and "After repentance, What?"

The Fourth Article of Faith reads: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Much of the "Christian" world today has done away with certain ordinances that were taught by the Savior... and others have simply changed them. Since leaving Utah, I have met a number of people who hold the belief that all one needs, to be saved, is to confess that Christ is their personal savior and that they appreciate him for it... and that's it.

I spoke with a man recently about the teachings of Christ. He was familiar only with the Bible, but we found common ground on a number of things until he spoke of the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ. "That's the first step toward salvation," I told him, assuming that he had read of the need for repentance and baptism... But he said, "No, that's the only step."

He is not the first person that I have met to say that all one needs is faith... believing that we are saved by grace alone and that it doesn't matter what else we do.

James Talmage, on the Nature of Faith and it's relatioship to Belief, said:

"The predominating sense in which the term faith is used throughout the scriptures is that of full confidence and trust in the being, purposes, and words of God. Such trust, if implicit, will remove all doubt concerning things accomplished or promised of God, even though such things be not apparent to or explicable by the ordinary senses of mortality; hence arises the definition of faith given by Paul: 'Now faith is the substance [i.e., ...assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence [...] of things not seen.' It is plain that such a feeling of trust may exist in different persons in varying degrees; indeed, faith may manifest itself from the incipient state which is little more than feeble belief, scarcely free from hesitation and fear, to the strength of abiding confidence that sets doubt and sophistry at defiance...

"The terms faith and belief are sometimes regarded as synonyms; nevertheless each of them has a specific meaning in our language, although in earlier usage there was little distinction between them, and therefore the words are used interchangeably in many scriptural passages."

I looked at a number of references to faith in the scriptures and found that oftentimes accompanying the word faith was the word, Hope.

Spencer W. Kimball once said, "Hope is indeed the great incentive to repentance, for without it no one would make the difficult, extended effort required..."
In a lot of these people that I see who say they have faith, the last thing that they say they have, if they say it at all, is hope...

The other day, when I was relieved of my duties at work, I was waiting for the my ride back to the barracks... as I waited, a young woman, the wife of a friend of mind, waited with me. As I waited, I was reading the Articles of Faith by Talmage... as she watched me read, she said, "You look happy."

I said, "I do?" It was just another day really, but I thought about what she said... Generally I am a fairly happy person. Apparently, it shows a little more when I'm studying the scriptures and reading the words of our modern day prophets. I am so thankful for the restoration of the gospel... so thankful that we have prophets and apostles today that help us to answer questions about the gospel, so that we may know how we can truly repent of our sins and live our lives the way Christ would have us live them.

Spencer W. Kimball put it best when he said, "What relief! What comfort! What joy! Those laden with transgressions and sorrows and sin may be forgiven and cleansed and purified if they will return to their Lord, learn of him, and keep his commandments...

"Can we not understand why the Lord has been pleading with man for these thousands of years to come unto him?"

And yet we still sin. We still stumble... and it can be discouraging. Sometimes we ask ourselves, "Why try? It's too difficult! What's the use in repenting? I'm just going to do it again." With that sort of attitude, what is the use? The apostle Orson Pratt once said, "It would be of no use for a sinner to confess his sins to God unless he were determined to forsake them; it would be of no benefit to him to feel sorry that he had done wrong unless he intended to do wrong no more; it would be folly for him to confess before God that he had injured his fellow man unless he were determined to do all in his power to make restitution. Repentance, then, is not only a confession of sins, with a sorrowful, contrite heart, but a fixed, settled purpose to refrain from every evil way."
We, in Christ's church, repent of our sins directly to God in prayer, there is no vocal confession to our clergy unless it is a serious sin... then we may seek out the council of our branch president or our bishop. When we repent, we do so in prayer to our Heavenly Father. My thoughts turn to the hymn "Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire." The fifth verse reads, "Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, Returning from his ways, While angels in their songs rejoice, And cry, 'Behold, he prays!'"

This approach toward our Heavenly Father can be difficult. When we feel the shame and guilt for the wrongs that we have committed. The words of our savior ring loudly in my mind, "Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me."

As long as I shall live, I don't know if I could understand the Lord's capacity for forgiveness. The hymn "I Stand All Amazed" speaks for me in the verse that reads, "I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine..." And then I consider what that verse really means. As our redeemer, he has felt our pain with us. From that night in Gethsemane to his affliction on the cross. And he did no wrong. Each verse of that hymn ends with the words, "Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me! Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"

As we attempt to comprehend the forgiving nature of our Lord, we should try to be more forgiving ourselves.

James Talmage said "The Sinner Must be Willing to Forgive Others, if he hopes to obtain forgiveness. A man's repentance is but superficial if his heart be not softened to the degree of tolerance for the weaknesses of his fellows. In teaching His hearers how to pray, the Savior instructed them to supplicate the Father: 'Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.' He gave them no assurance of forgiveness if in their hearts they forgave not one another: 'For,' said He, 'if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.' Forgiveness between man and man, to be acceptable before the Lord, must be unbounded. In answering Peter's question: 'Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him -- till seven times?' the Master replied: 'I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven'; clearly intending to teach that man must ever be ready to forgive. On another occasion He taught the disciples, saying: 'If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.'"

It is faith that leads us to repentance. But it doesn't stop there. After Repentance, the next principle of the Gospel is Baptism. But one cannot enter into the waters of baptism without having first shown their faith and repenting. Before John the Baptist commanded his followers to be baptized, he first commanded them to repent. Peter said, "...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." When he met with his apostles as a resurrected being, Christ said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (emphasis added)

These first principles and ordinances of the Gospel do not stand alone... for there are other ordinances that must be performed... as well as other commandments that must be kept. Among these commandments is the commandment to renew the covenants that we make at baptism. The very reason we are gathered together today. The most important element of this meeting was our partaking of the sacrament... in remembrance of the sacrifice that the Savior made for us. And as we partook of those emblems, I pray that we did so in righteousness... with a repentant heart.

For this talk, I looked up the word Repent in the dictionary. Webster took the liberty of braking it down into its Latin components, of which there were two. re, meaning: again; and poenitere, meaning: repent. So, essentially, the word repent means repent again. Repentance is a continuing process. We will always fall short of the glory of God in this life, that's why the Savior made the sacrifice that he did... so that we could be closer to him. Our Heavenly Father knows that we make mistakes and that we stumble, and when we do, it hurts and separates us from him spiritually... that is why we have the gift of repentance with which we may bridge the gap that we create between ourselves and our God. We need to keep in mind our progression. It starts with our faith in Christ and continues as we live the commandments and follow the path of righteousness from the ordinance of baptism to the ordinances of the temple.

I wish to share with you a story that I've had in my possession for some time.

Pushing Against the Rock

There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told him he had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock, explaining that he was to push against that rock with all his might. This the man did, and for many days he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulder set squarely against the cold massive surface of the rock pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture, placing thoughts in the man's mind, such as, "Why kill yourself over this, you're never going to move it," or "Boy! You've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface," etc. . . . giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was an unworthy servant because he wasn't even moving the massive stone.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man and he started to ease up in his efforts. "Why kill myself?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, putting forth just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough."And that he did, or at least planned on doing until one day he decided to take his troubles to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored hard and long in your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which you have asked me. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

"My friend . . . when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength, and that you have done. But never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it! At least, not by yourself. Your task was to PUSH! And now you come to me, your strength spent,thinking that you have failed and ready to quit. But is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your back sinewed and brown. Your hands are calloused from constant pressure and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your ability now far surpasses that which you used to have. Yet still, you haven't succeeded in moving the rock; and you come to me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent. I, my friend, will move the rock. Your calling was to be obedient and to PUSH, and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom . . . and this you have done."

Brothers and Sisters, I pray that we may all continue to push against the rock and that we keep in mind that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to do the best that we can. And when we fall short of what we should do... we remember not to despair and give up... but to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off and continue to do as our Heavenly Father would have us do.

Fatherhood

1994-06-17T20:25:00.000-06:00

Before I begin, I would like to wish a Happy Fathers day to all the Dads in the congregation. That should hold me over until I call my Dad this afternoon.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Joseph Puente and for the last month I've been serving in this ward as the Young Men Secretary... a calling that I am very grateful for and has blessed me in many ways.

When Bishop Priggemeier asked me to speak in sacrament meeting, I jumped at the opportunity not having given a talk in a few years. When I asked him what the topic would be, he said, "The 19th is Fathers Day. You'll be speaking on Fatherhood."

So, I went home and began to ponder this thing called fatherhood... Then, I realized... that I don't have any kids... so speaking from practical experience was out of the question. It was a bit of a struggle at first but there's a quote from D&C 112:10 in my secretary notebook which reads: "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers."

Then I thumbed through the notebook and found my starting point. I wish to address this talk to the future fathers of the church. The Aaronic Priesthood. So pay particularly close attention, Guys.

Part of the Mission of the Aaronic Priesthood "...is to help each young man-... "Prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood..." and "...Live worthy to receive temple covenants and prepare to become a worthy husband and father."

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to get married and have a family. But when I was in the Aaronic Priesthood, I didn't pay as much attention to the mission and responsibilities of that priesthood as I could have. I knew the duties of the respective quorums but my understanding of them was somewhat vague and preparation to become an Elder was not something that I took into consideration until I Became a Priest and even then I wasn't exactly sure what being an Elder meant... aside from Home Teaching and giving blessings.

I grew up in a somewhat abusive household. My father wasn't perfect... Okay, at times he could have taken a few pointers from Homer Simpson. But my father taught me many things... usually by showing me exactly what not to do. But I don't hold it against him. Unfortunately, as much as I hated some of the things he said and did, I found that these things began manifesting themselves in me... I was very much like my father... which no normal teenager wants to hear, but to me it was frightening because, as much as I want to be a father and a husband, and as much as I love and respect him, I don't want to be my Dad. I haven't heard him say "I love you" to my Mom in maybe ten years. But I wouldn't trade my childhood or my Dad for anything because Dad made me into a very strong person.

I was trying to remember something nice that my Dad did for me... It took me a while, simply because the negative experiences had a tendency to overshadow the positive ones, but I finally remembered something. And it involved the Priesthood. I remember him giving me a fathers blessing one night when I couldn't sleep because of an allergic reaction. After my blessing, I slept like a baby.

I didn't have as much support and encouragement from my Dad that many other boys had from their fathers which forced me, rather reluctantly, and difficultly, to push myself to do things. And when I didn't do as well as I could have, or wanted to, I was always very hard on myself as my father was on me.

I had to ask myself, "Is this the way I am going to treat my children? Am I going to be the type of father I want to be or the type of father that I'm most familiar with... My Dad. How am I going to treat my wife?"

This led me to question my worthiness in other areas as well. I was already very depressed over the way I was treated in my youth... from all sides, not just at home, and I drifted away from the church for a short while... not attending meetings as often until I got to boot camp where I reintroduced myself to the gospel by sitting in on the missionary discussions.

After a period of much prayer and learning, my testimony grew and I was ordained an Elder on December 26th. I had already been attending Elders quorum meetings for close to a year and I was astonished to discover the content of the lessons. For some reason, I had always pictured the Elders Quorum discussing nothing but Priesthood ordinances, Home Teaching statistics and ways to serve members of the ward. But as I listened to the lessons being discussed, I learned that there is much more to being an Elder. At the young age of 20 years, I'm not only learning how to help others by using the priesthood. I'm learning how to be a gentleman. How to be a better husband. How to be a better father.

Here are a few of the lesson titles in the Melchizedek Priesthood manual:

Counseling with Your Children.

Fathers' Blessings and Patriarchal Blessings.

Improving Family Communications.

Live Joyfully with Your Wife.

This is a regular "How-To" manual. Supplemented by the thoughts and experiences of worthy patriarchs. I don't need to go to the self help section of the book store to learn how to be a better father. As an Elder, I'm learning to do these things because it's my responsibility to know them. A responsibility that I have always been willing to accept but was blinded by doubt to ever pursue... And I want so much to be able to share the blessings of the Priesthood with others simply because I have seen so many who could use it.

In the past year, I have seen a number of marriages of young people just getting started in life. I've seen a few of them end in divorce rather quickly and more that just didn't turn out to be what the couples had expected. Unfortunately, I have also seen a few unplanned pregnancies, new young fathers unwilling to take responsibility and taking out their frustrations mentally and emotionally on their spouses.

Oftentimes, I have seen these young men and have wanted to say, "If only you had the Priesthood in your home... you would at least know not to take it out on your wives. And you would be better prepared to care for your children." But there are others who have had a better start. Others that have been more responsible and caring and happy... but could be so much happier.

I have a friend on his way to Okinawa and his new wife will be on her way to be with him very soon. This couple is very special to me. I had the honor of being an usher at their wedding. She is a sweet, intelligent young woman and he is a dedicated and honorable man. A great husband and will one day be a wonderful father. As I got to know him, I felt that he would make a great Elder, for already he was putting into practice some of the basic principles that I have learned.

At HIS request, I did give him a Book of Mormon.

Through the experiences shared by my brethren in every Elders quorum lesson I've had the privilege of hearing, I have witnessed the power and love of fatherhood magnified so greatly by the Priesthood. And it is through these examples that I continue to learn what it really means to be a father. To really be the type of gentleman that I want to be. But more importantly, the type of husband and father that my Father in Heaven wants me to be.