Recently Dr. Wayne Dyer, a notable motivational speaker and writer passed away. The only work of his that I'm familiar with is Making the Shift - a book about moving from a life driven by ambition to one of meaning.
Yesterday, I had the unique experience of teaching the same lesson back-to-back in both my Sunday School class (16-18 year olds) and Elders Quorum (thank to the teacher going MIA). It came from the lesson outline,
How do the commandments help me learn to be more like Heavenly Father? I found myself inspired to teach a lesson about
why we keep the commandments that I don't think I would have heard as a youth 20 years ago. Instead of talking about the rules themselves and the peace, protection and power they give to do the Lord's work (ambition); I focused on how they give us access to the Atonement to change our natures. What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am. Yesterday's experiences have further led me to believe the Church (the people/culture) are making a shift from a spiritual life driven by ambition to one of meaning.
Alright, put your pitchforks away! Hear me out. I am
not saying the doctrine has been incorrect or that the ordinances, covenants and commandments have not been the work of the Lord. I am saying we are appropriately adapting how we teach the Gospel and ultimately how we live it for true conversion in the Last Days. Motivated by charity, not hope of reward, duty, fellowship, fear of punishment, shame or plain ol
"that just what we do in this family." That's the whole point of the new Come Follow Me curriculum.
For much of my life as a member, the Gospel has been a very goal oriented, check-list lifestyle in order for me to feel accepted, worthy and loved. I freely admit I felt proud of the growth and expansion of the Church and desired to help it fill the earth. It made me feel important. I was saved for the last days to serve a mission and fight Satan and help build the kingdom. Or as Elder Taylor would say, THE KINGDOM OF GOD OR NOTHING!! Marry a woman that personifies both outward and inward beauty; raise humble, righteous children with keen intellects and Gryffindor hearts and change the lives of all around us. Through all my study, prayer, service and attendance I was going to change the world. Its what I was born to do. Army of Helaman! Here are some pictures that embody stuff that inspired me in younger days:
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| Welcome to the Gun Show! You don't stand a chance. |
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| Righteous Biceps - No wonder he survived the battle. |
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| #ThugMormon |
Nothing inherently wrong with all of that, but I let my sense of self-worth get tied up in my works. Without realizing it, I created a spiritual bank account that I made deposits in, but all my unworthiness seemed to draw off more that I put in. As a result, I've spent most of my life struggling to overcome feelings of depression, shame and guilt over never being the true Stripling Warrior. Only as good as your last mistake. As a result, I was often genuinely unhappy, but soldiering on making sarcastic comments and embracing dark humor. It would all work out in the end right?
I now understand this is not the heart of the Gospel and one of the hardest things to do is let go of being the ideal mold member. Here is a video Mormons can relate to:
A funny but painful line: How did this tradition get started? I don't know. But you'd better comply or no driver's license, marriage to my daughter or welcome under my roof!
And while we may not know the meaning of all things, I know God loves his children. Even me and especially when I'm not a model citizen. Tevia breaks tradition twice, but the third he cannot allow. We need the commandments, covenants and power of the Atonement to keep our balance on the roof of life, not all of the answers are clear and easy. The world looks at us and thinks we are crazy! They love to mock high standards point the finger and scorn those who fail to live their religion perfectly (as if anyone ever has). The world would have us believe that striving to be like Jesus is to eventually become a hypocrite. The unforgivable sin in the age of universal tolerance. So why try? Easier to sit back and Armchair Quarterback everyone else's problems. But Teddy sets us straight:
In Lehi's vision of the tree of Life; those who make it to the Tree of Life wind up falling on their faces. Why should I expect anything different? Others may say I look stupid and I'm wasting my time, my money, my life. But they haven't tasted the fruit; or they've been unwilling to humble themselves and keep striving despite repeated sins and shortcomings.
But our sweat in the arena is not what truly qualifies us (grace), it is what helps refines us (works) as God will force no one to inherit all He has. What ultimately got King Saul removed from his station? He took the Priesthood (offering a sacrifice to win victory over the Philistines) or the responsibility of salvation upon himself.
1 Samuel 15:22 -
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
By sacrifice, I mean taking the work upon us. Putting our trust in the arm of flesh not God. Steadying the ark (not a good idea). Believing we are going to outwork our problems... our sins. Works cannot hide or cover mistakes on an eternal scale. Sooner or later, we have to accept its God's work, not ours. Sins of commission and omission can be repented, forgiven and remembered no more. But what God will not do is force us to desire to be like him. When we give up, that is the ultimate loss. Perhaps that is why enduring to the end is ultimate opportunity to shift from living for selfish, ambitious motives to charitable ones. I believe this is going to be the only way anyone weathers the storm of the Last Days - especially me if you can't tell.
