Abraham's servant refused to eat until he had accomplished his mission. In contrast, Esau traded his birthright away because he was hungry. It's important for us to bridle our passions, to prioritize duty over convenience, and to defer gratification in the interest of accomplishing significant goals and serving other people.
“Temperate in All Things”
The Lord told Joseph Knight, Sr. that no one can assist in His work without being "temperate in all things." The apostle Paul compared disciples of Christ with elite athletes, who carefully manage their diet, sleep, and exercise. Elder Kent D. Watson compared a temperate soul to tempered glass, which does not shatter dangerously when it is subjected to extreme stress.
Truth and Soberness
Paul told Festus that his words were "of truth and soberness." Words of truth are in harmony with reality. Words of soberness are disciplined and serious. The sons of Helaman were "men of truth and soberness." Their courage was governed by reason.
“He Opened Not His Mouth”
Isaiah prophesied that, like a lamb, the Savior would stand silently as He was afflicted. On the night of His crucifixion, Jesus was questioned several times. In some cases, He answered with extraordinary poise. In others, He said nothing at all.
“Consider Your Ways”
Sometimes we spend a lot of time and energy on activities which are not aligned with our goals and priorities. We can reduce that waste with a little self-reflection and self-discipline. "Consider your ways," said the prophet Haggai to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. "Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough;... Continue Reading →
Neither to the Right Hand nor to the Left
As Moses prepared his people to enter the promised land, he warned them multiple times not to turn "to the right hand or the left," but to stay focused on keeping God's commandments (Deuteronomy 5:32, 17:11, 20, 28:14). After Moses' departure, the Lord reiterated this charge to Joshua, who extended it again to the Israelites... Continue Reading →
Quail
Be careful what you wish for. And how much you wish for it. And how you allow that wish to influence your decisions. As the children of Israel traveled to the promised land, some of them "fell a lusting" (Numbers 11:4). They wanted meat, and they wanted it now! The manna, which miraculously appeared six... Continue Reading →
“Faster Than He Has Strength” – Mosiah 4:27
The first movement of Robert Schumann's Piano Sonata number 2 (Op. 22) is labeled "So rasch wie möglich" (as fast as possible). Near the end of the movement, he writes "Schneller" (faster), followed shortly after by "Noch schneller" (even faster). It's an exciting piece to listen to (I recommend this performance by pianist Tiffany Poon),... Continue Reading →
Stirred Up
What would possess a group of people to invade and occupy their own Capitol Building while their elected representatives were conducting official government business on their behalf? How could they convince themselves that this action was morally acceptable, or that it was even helpful to their cause? The troubling events this week in the United... Continue Reading →
“Go Ye Forth of Babylon” – 1 Nephi 20:20
"The world is too much with us," wrote the poet William Wordsworth. He meant that our lives are influenced more than we realize by the society in which we live, leaving us unable to properly perceive "things as they really are" (Jacob 4:13). As Elder David R. Stone explained: Our culture tends to determine what... Continue Reading →