The 'To Be' List

I have been reflecting recently on the recent General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, an opportunity to hear a Prophet of God, and hear what God would have us do in our lives today. My attention has recently been drawn to the talk given by one of God's servents-Elder Lynn G. Robinns, of the Quorum of the Seventy, entitled "What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?"

Now i'm not going to try and give his talk, you can read it for yourself. I would, however, like to describe my thoughts of one particular portion of his talk about how we often times create 'To-Do Lists'. He said,

"Many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists. Why? To do’s are activities or events that can be checked off the list when done. To be, however, is never done. You can’t earn checkmarks with to be’s. I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to do. But being a good husband is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am.

Interesting isn't it? I have one ginormous 'To Do List', and I run around like crazy trying to get it all done. But how often do I focus more on what I need to be than what I need to do? To me, being is what I am inside-reality. Doing is on the outside-which can change every day. The trick, and the commandment really, is to make these things-the outside and the inside-the same. Just having some cool stuff on my 'Done' list will not cut it. I cannot be a hypocrite. What good will that do?

"For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?" Job 27:8

This is all part of God's command to endure to the end. It is the only way. We can't do the gospel. We have to be it, all the time. We have to have faith, change daily for the better, and never forget Jesus Christ and what He did for me, and for you. It is our only path to Eternal Life.

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

Am I really saying that we have to be that way every day for the rest of our lives? You better believe it. Why should I? Because I love Jesus Christ. I answer His call. I will do it for Him.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

I still struggle to be all the time. I have doubts, but we can overcome them! When we have doubts, or when being gets really, really, hard, remember that you love Jesus Christ, that He asks you to be that way, and will be there for you every step of the way. Go ahead, think and pray about what God wants you to be, and make a list. Then be it, and don't even think about checking one of those things off until I say so!

God lives. He wants us to be as He is, and will help us to do so. Now go out and BE! Trust Him, don't trust me, and you'll see yourself grow more than you could imagine.

Expect Greatness

"Expect Greatness" has been one of my favorite mottos to live by. In High School, while playing football, I put that on the front of my playband. Not to tell everyone else to expect that just from me, but to tell myself that it is my job to expect greatness from my teammates, my coaches, and especially the other team.

Since I have become a missionary, I have been able to relate much of my 'sport smarts' from the playing field to the missionary field. This motto, "Expect Greatness", has been something I have learned a gospel tie to.

We can expect greatness in every aspect of our lives. We first must develop the HOPE that it can happen, then work our tails off to make it happen. That is the FAITH required for greatness a.k.a. miracles.
       'And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.'            Moroni 10:33

Anything we want to accomplish, that is part of God's will, we can do. We just must expect it, then work at it. God will sustain the effort, and the miracle will be brought to pass. Let us 'Expect Greatness' in all that we do, so God may be glorified in our works (see Matt. 5:16)

God bless you all, I Expect Greatness from you.