An Interview with the Lord

I came across this lesson from President McKay. While I don't know if I agree that this is exactly how it will be, these are nonetheless great introspective questions that we should ask ourselves. I appreciate him teaching it and it would be interesting to see how close to Zion we would be if every person could answer these questions in a pleasing way to the Lord.

"Let me assure you, Brethren, that some day you will have a personal Priesthood interview with the Savior, Himself.  If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.

First, He will want an accountability report about your relationship with your wife.  Have you actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?

Second, He will want an accountability report about each one of your children individually.  He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship, but will request information about your relationship with each and every child.

Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.

Fourth, He will want a summary of your activity in your church assignments.  He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had, for in His eyes the home teacher and a mission president are probably equals, but He will request a summary of how you have been of service to  your fellowmen in your church assignments.

Fifth, He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings.

Sixth, He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to you community, state, country, and the world."

(Address to employees of the Physical Facilities Dept. of the Church, Hotel Utah, June 1965,)

                                                                                                                        -David O. McKay

Dedication and Heavenly Choirs

This morning and afternoon (21 Sep, 2014), members throughout the northern Utah region had the opportunity to meet and participate in the re-dedication of the Ogden temple. I'd like to share a few thoughts from the dedication:

1.  Towards the end of the dedicatory prayer, President Monson paid tribute to the Father and the Son and asked that they accept this offering, I felt the spirit pour into my heart. Describing it the way I felt, "that this might be an abode for the Father, the Son, and their angels". Although there are places that are or can be like unto a temple (our homes, the mountains, etc.), there is still something sacred and beautiful about a dedicated building to the Lord.

I've had a love for temples since going through for the first time in 1994. I've spent many, many hours in the temple through the years. There have been many special and sacred experiences in the temple, for which I am eternally grateful.

Since my posterity are the primary readers of this content, I hope they will make worshiping in the temple a priority in their lives. Despite changes to the endowment over the years, the message is still powerful and the veil can get thin in the temple if our hearts are pure and we seek the Lord. If we portray ourselves as Adam and Eve, we'll see the path that we need to walk and how to converse with the Lord through the veil AFTER WE HAVE BEEN PREPARED IN ALL THINGS. That preparation will come when we're ready, the Lord will prepare each one of us.

As President Monson presented the house to the Father and our Lord, I felt a deep appreciation to them for their love and patience with me and many others on this earth.

2. The second lesson is that there is a great deal of turmoil and confusion in this world. There's never been a time when it's more important to stay close to the Lord. I appreciate all those who share their witness, not only vocally, but through their actions. I appreciated Elder Bednar's words today, they rang true to me by the voice of the spirit.

3. I believe many angels are allowed to participate in these dedications. In 1996, I participated in the Mt. Timpanogos temple dedication the same day I returned home from my mission. Even though there were only 100 - 200 people in the room, I remember hearing concourses of heavenly voices singing. There were thousands of beautiful voices that joined us that day and I felt there were many there with us today as well.

I love the Lord and I'm keenly aware of the many ways in which I fall short. I hope that our children will grow up in the gospel and learn for themselves the truths of eternity that will carry them through the challenges they will see in their lifetime. I have a firm conviction that burns deeply of the power of worshiping in temples, that they can stand as a beacon in a storm and provide us with personal direction and guidance!

Dreams Are Powerful

I came across this dream from a person who I don't know. I can't vouch for it's truth, however, the lesson taught is a wonderful lesson and one to be pondered by all of us:

"I dreamed I walked into a large room filled with people and books, as well as many other instruments of learning. 

The people organized into a large circle and I saw Jesus was there with them. He beckoned me to come join the circle but I didn't feel I was quite ready yet. My vision in both eyes was blurry and I was keenly aware of it.

Jesus told me to take all the time I needed to explore the room and learn. He assured me that there was a special place saved for me when I was ready and He wouldn't let anyone else take it.

I walked around, exploring and reading. I learned a lot of great things. I noticed as I learned the vision in one of my eyes became clearer and I finally felt I was ready to join the circle.

The Lord had not only saved a place for me, but He had saved the spot right next to Him! I sat down and we held hands and sang and learned.

After a while the circle broke up into small groups. The Lord was ministering to groups and individuals. Every once in a while I would hear Him laugh and His laughter thrilled my entire body and filled me with warmth. I could hardly wait for my turn to speak with Him!

When I finally had my opportunity I just said,

" Lord, what would you have me do? I will do anything you ask of me. Anything at all. Just tell me."

He took my hands in His, looked into my eyes and smiled as He said my name,

"Holly. You're gonna do what you're gonna do. While doing it though, be kind to people. Serve them. Love them. Lift humanity up every chance you get. If you live your life in this way you will please me."

I realized at that moment my eyes were no longer blurry and I could see clearly."

Then the dream ended.

Connecting with Heaven: Meditation and Pondering

I recently talked with Greg Olsen and I described his new painting to him as one that causes me to be "pensative and meditative". He said, "I really like that description." I purchased this painting and have it sitting above my computer:

How many evenings do you think Christ spent doing this...gazing upon his creations? I LOVE this verse in Matthew that seems to describe this picture well (Matthew 14:23), "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray; and when the evening was come, he was there alone." I believe there was a reason he loved to do this, there is great power in pondering and meditation.

Here are a few powerful verses:

1 Nephi 11:1 "For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot."

D&C 138:1 "On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures". This is what led to the vision by Joseph F. Smith.

3 Nephi 17:3 "Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."  The Savior's counsel after he ministered to the people in the America's.

D&C 43:34 "Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds."

How often do you (and I) meditate and ponder?

How often do you (and I) gaze upon the stars and think about the things of eternity?

Do you (and I) feel directed by heaven?

Have you (and I) felt the Savior's presence?

In our busy schedules, I hope we can find time to follow Christ's example and escape to a place where we can be alone to ponder upon the things of eternity.

A Voice of Warning

I came across this talk from Elder (then Elder, former President of the Church) Benson given at a BYU devotional on April 14th, 1981.

Have we not been warned on every front for years and decades? Have you felt the warning voice within your own soul? Have you felt personal direction on what it is that you need to do to prepare individually and as a family for the return of our Lord?

I appreciate this devotional talk from Elder Benson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlNxBHOqeIc&app=desktop):

After watching that video, I ask myself if we find ourselves in a similar situation as the Nephites in 3 Nephi 2:1 "The people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen."

Interestingly, there is a parallel to the stock market. When the markets move upward, it is usually a slow churn that lasts for months or years and people tend to become very complacent. However, when there is a steep decline in the market, it tends to happen very quickly, sometimes even as quick as one day (the crash that started the depression). When the steep decline happens, most people are caught off guard and lose a substantial amount of money.

Let us guard against complacency as we prepare for the return of our Lord and Savior. Let us "prepare every needful thing", both temporally and spiritually. Let us seek him out that we may be led by him, the one true Shepard that we may do his will and fulfill the measure of our creation.

At some point, there will be a "last day" and I hope and pray that we might be prepared for the events leading up to that day.