REPENT

We can’t solve the problems of our country spending time blaming other people. “With blame comes a loss of control. Others determine our reality because we are not accountable.” (Chad Ford) And if we aren’t accountable, there is no need to repent. Repentance is what brings a change of heart. (Helaman 15:7) And when  we are remorseful, our individual and collective hearts change. and our world will change.

So no matter where any of us stand; as a republican, democrat, racist, looter, policeman, evangelist, atheist, etc.; let’s all take a hard look at ourselves and have compassion for the other side and repent for the trouble we might have caused. Because, let’s face the truth, we have all sinned in some way or another. There was only one perfect person who has ever lived. Blaming, condemning, and attacking other people is creating such negativity and is dividing us. And honestly, is a big distraction of our own sins. In essence, by blaming someone else, we are giving away our personal power to change the one and only person we can truly change. We don’t have to agree on everything, but as we focus on our own beam (Matthew 7:5) and all take personal accountability, be humble and individually repent; we can find more compassion and more connected hearts and thus be united. Because, after all, we are the UNITED States of America. 

Creativity

Sometimes messages we need to hear come from a couple of different sources. If that is the case, pay attention. Today I received the repeated message of how important it is to be creative. We are born to create and within each of us is a unique way to to express those creative juices whether it is dancing, singing, painting or just creating a visually appetizing meal. As I thought about how to pull myself from the lethargic slump I was experiencing, the quiet whispering from the messages I received was to immediately fan those creative juices. And I went with the first thing that called to me—water coloring. As I sketched and put color on paper and watched it spread, I was reignited and joy spread through my soul. I felt enthusiasm reborn.

Freedom

Alma 44:2 is interesting. I have had people claiming that religions are just trying to control people. They reject religions and essentially become “angry with us because of our religion,” thinking religion creates a sort of bondage. But the truth of the matter is that I practice my religion to gain more freedom. Freedom from the consequences of harmful practices. Obedience to the principles and practices taught in my religion have brought more peace and happiness into my life. The greatest pain I endure is not what religion has done to me, but watching people who deny religion and thus reject the lifestyle and ultimately put themselves in a sort of bondage. It is hard to watch the suffering. I am grateful that I truly know that breaking commandments in the short term might seem liberating and fun, but eventually will lead to a loss of freedom. And I am grateful for the foresight to know that the commandments might seem to be restrictive but ultimately create freedom and peace and happiness. (See 3 Nephi 27:11)

Justice and Mercy

Alma 42:30- The justice of God is what is required of us. Let us be clear about those requirements. They aren't some arbitrary expectations to control us. There are what will bring us true joy and happiness. God's mercy is the price Christ paid for us to be redeemed from falling short of that requirement. 

When I am at odds with the requirements, I can beat myself up and feel ashamed for my weakness. Or  I can refuse to take responsibility and not be remorseful and instead want to excuse myself. It is especially tempting to claim it is just to hard to live up to so why even try. Or I want to blame something or someone else as the source of my pain. When we don’t believe in and thus deny God’s mercy, it makes all of those destructive choices necessary to relieve the pain of not meeting the requirements because that is all I can do to avoid suffering. 

Of course, we will all fall short. When we are told that no unclean thing can enter His presence, that includes all of us. The plan of happiness says that is why we need a Savior. We cannot be clean enough, we cannot be good enough. And it is a waste of time to beat ourselves up, to give up, or to blame something or someone else. Instead, we can choose to be humble and come unto Christ and take advantage of the mercy that is offered to us.  

It’s for your own good

As I read scriptures, it is helpful to ask myself questions about what I am reading to discover what I might also be guilty of. When I read “they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word” (Alma 35:15), I asked myself, in what ways am I sort of offended or bothered by some truth that I don’t want to comply with? As I sort of have had a struggle with adhering to a healthy eating regiment, I realize that I am bothered by the fact that to be truly healthy at my age, a stricter eating protocol is necessary. No longer can I get away with such a permissive diet like I got use to in my younger years. Back in the day, I could eat leftover pizza right before bed and I could eat ice cream like it was going out of style and not seem to suffer any great consequences. And now I look at the negative results of a permissive diet and I am a little peeved that I can’t have my ice cream AND a healthy outcome. 

In this world, it can be tempting to think we can do just what we want without restriction. But the “strictness of the word” means that there is a certain amount of denial that is necessary to have positive outcomes. We cannot have just eat, drink, and be merry and not expect the consequences to follow. The “strictness of the word” actually gives us more freedom in the long run. It has lasting benefits. So I give up the immediate gratification of junk food and live what seems like a strict healthy eating plan described in D & C 89, and then I can enjoy better health. It is vital that I just comply and not be offended nor complain about the restriction to try to justify my bad habits. Easier said than done.  

Lessons learned from quarantine

I have learned something profound from the quarantine. It has revealed to me how many of the things I normally do that I have obviously done out of habit, or out of duty that must not be that important or beneficial to me because when the restrictions started lifting, I have to admit, I was kind of sad that I might now be expected to do those things again (whether that expectation was coming internally or externally, I am not always sure). I realize I still longed for the excuse not to do them. I found the quarantine actually set me free in some ways. It has now made me want to re-evaluate what is important to me and given me permission to eliminate those things that obviously I didn’t want to do in the first place but only felt compelled to do them. Or at least do them differently and most likely, in a simpler way.  

I also think we have learned a lot about self-reliance and preparedness and how to be alone without being lonely. I have also certainly rediscovered the simple pleasures of the staying- -at-home projects such as cooking, gardening, reading, puzzles, sewing, organizing, etc. In essence, I have learned that I have a choice—either I complain or I get creative and find solutions that can make my life better. 

With that said, I want to be careful that I don’t eliminate service and sacrifices that are beneficial to bless other people, especially being considerate of those whose circumstances aren’t as privileged as mine are. But I will be more thoughtful about what is essential and what is just doing to be doing because someone told me I should or because I have erroneously put that expectation on myself to feel busy and important. I also don’t want to be caught up in doing it to just look good to desperately prove to myself and others that I am worthy. Like actually washing my hair wearing uncomfortable clothes instead of being content with nappy hair and wearing sweats all day🤪

Even inconveniences can bring blessings

This is a unique time. We are given the chance just like in Alma 33 in which people weren’t allowed to worship in the churches. What an opportunity to truly worship on our own without being seen of men. (Alma 33:7-8) It is a chance to flush out my individual desire to worship my Heavenly Parents and Savior and not just going to church to socialize. Although I do know that with every expectation we are given there are a multitude of benefits, and worshiping at a church with other people allows for the second blessing to be able to rub shoulders with other inspiring people. But for me, this time has afforded me the unique opportunity for an intrinsic experience that has fed my soul in ways that meeting in a congregation hasn’t. I am solely dependent on my own effort to experience communion with the Divine. I feel a new sense of self reliance as I connect with my Heavenly Parents without thinking about what I wear or if my hair looks okay to the people sitting behind me or consumed with what other people are wearing. It is all about feeling the Spirit and being inspired through my own efforts. It is true that with every inconvenience we can find blessings.