'Fit to Print'

I worked at a newspaper (the Sanpete Messenger) before coming out to Tennessee. My experiences there helped prepare me for my mission.

Good newspapers adopt the mantra "All the news that's fit to print." This means we don't print material that is inaccurate, uninteresting, or not newsworthy.

But some of our small-town competitors and associates were notorious for adopting a very different slogan: "All the news that fits, we print!" One newspaper even published that slogan on its front page! Newspapers like this are little more than community gossip columns; a potpourri of reader submissions with very little news coverage and an absence of responsible reporting.

If the Book of Mormon were a newspaper, its slogan would surely be a modification of the former; perhaps, "All the doctrine that's fit to print."

The book's primary editor, Mormon, reminds us in several places that the Book of Mormon is an inspired abridgment containing a fulness of the gospel. It is not a tedious, all-inclusive history, and it does not contain uninspired scripture (as does, for example, the Song of Solomon in the Bible). The Lord selected what would and would not be included in the Book of Mormon. Some prophets were commanded to record certain things. Others were forbidden to record certain things.

Mormon, ancient American prophet and editor of the Book of Mormon

The end result is a book which does not include a "hundredth part" of the dealings of the Nephite, Lamanite and Jaredite people in Central and South America. That's a lot of editing! Why did Mormon leave so much of his people's history out? Refer to Words of Mormon 1:7—

And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.

Because Mormon was righteous, he was entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit. And because he listened to the Spirit, he was able to determine what the Lord wanted him to include in and exclude from the Book of Mormon.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently published the 150 millionth copy of the Book of Mormon. People throughout the world are blessed by reading this wonderful book. It is clear, concise and complete. It is the greatest tool in our conversion.

Because of a courageous man who listened to the Lord, the Book of Mormon contains only and exactly what is "fit to print." I challenge you to read this inspired text and watch it bless your lives.

The Road Less Traveled

Regardless of where we live, we should all be on the Lord's path. It's not always an easy road to traverse, but the journey is rewarding and the destination eternally wonderful. In Matthew 7: 14, the Lord warned that many wouldn't follow Him—

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.


The Lord's path has taken me to Fairview, Tennessee

Each day, we must choose if we will take the pathway of the Lord or the parkway of popular culture. The former route is narrow and rarely traveled, but it leads to eternal life and provides joy to those who follow it. The latter route is wide, attractive and busy, but its travelers wander without purpose until they reluctantly arrive at a place of misery and regret.

The Lord's path has taken me to Fairview, Tennessee, where I serve as a full-time missionary. That same path might take you to one of millions of places around the world, but the destination is the same. The goals, the doctrines, the principles are all the same. And though our joys and sorrows may be unique, we know that Jesus Christ has experienced everything we have experienced through the Atonement. He understands everything you are going through.

If we will commit each day to take the Lord's path, narrow and difficult though it may be, we will be blessed with happiness and peace. Consider the closing stanza of Robert Frost's famous poem The Road Not Taken:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Indeed, in my life, that has made all the difference.

Don't Forget Alaska and Hawaii

Have you ever noticed that songs learned at a young age seem to stick in your memory?

When I was a child, I was obsessed with learning about states and capitals in the Untied States. My mom gave me some tapes with different songs that helped me memorize the information. One of the songs went like this:

Don't forget Alaska and Hawaii;

they are also states.

But they're sorta in the wrong region

because they're so, so far away.

Why do I remember that? I don't know. Sometimes I wish I could forget the song, especially on a day like yesterday when it was stuck in my head.

They say you can relate anything to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This might be a stretch, but I thought I'd share with you what I've learned as I've thought about this song:

1) You are more likely to remember what you learn at a young age. It's easier to learn and retain information when you're young. That's why I wish I would have learned Spanish in high school. That's why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints places noted emphasis on families and programs which help children and youth learn gospel principles. Habits, good or bad, learned at a young age are more likely to stick with you throughout your life. It is important to teach children honesty, gratitude, patience, virtue and hard work so they'll continue to develop those attributes when they're older.

2) Don't forget about the outliers. Just as it's easy to forget about Alaska and Hawaii because they're "so, so far away", it's easy to forget about friends and family who are distant to us geographically, spiritually or emotionally. Don't forget about them. Strive to develop good relationships with those you care about or ought to care about before it's too late. There is no time like the present, and there is no promise of time in the future. Write a letter, say "hello", make a phone call, give a gift—and do it today.

3) Music has a powerful influence on our minds. I struggle to remember many of my childhood experiences, but I can almost always remember experiences associated with music. Music—again, good or bad—stays with us. We are blessed when we listen to good music. The Lord makes this promise in Doctrine and Covenants 25:12—

For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

An old saying goes, "Show me a man's friends, and I will show you the man." I propose: "Show me a man's music, and I will show you the man." What we listen to has a profound influence on our character. Let me leave you with one of my favorite songs—

Why Must We Suffer?

Here are a few scenarios you're all familiar with:

• You're accused of something you haven't done
• You're persecuted because you've chosen right
• You're ridiculed for standing up for your beliefs
• You suffer in spite of your efforts to take away others' suffering
• You endure pain beyond what you think you can handle

Why must we go through trials? Why should good people suffer?

I think suffering helps us recognize what is good in life. It helps us savor precious moments with friends and family. It helps us appreciate simple joys, like the smell of rain or fresh-baked cookies; the sight of spring flowers; the sound of a songbird; the taste of fresh water on a hot day; the touch of the wind against our faces. Suffering helps us grow. It gives us a greater capacity to love and be loved.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, "Righteous sorrow and suffering carve cavities in the soul that will become later reservoirs of joy."



Popular country music singer Dolly Parton explained this concept another way. "The way I see it," she said, "if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." 



"If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

Middle Tennessee has been getting pounded with rain. I woke up to a fantastic display of thunder and lightning around four this morning. It's supposed to rain throughout the day. 

I like rainstorms because they aren't all that common in Utah, where I'm from. But storms hinder our missionary efforts and get our scriptures wet (on weeks when we don't have a car to drive).

In that sense, storms can be frustrating. Too often, I fail to see the rainbows because I'm too busy worrying about the rain. Too often, I fail to endure suffering with a positive attitude because I forget to focus on the blessings that will come because of that suffering.

 

But Elder Maxwell's promise is sure. Cavities carved by suffering do indeed fill with joy, just as this normally dry pond near our home has filled with rain:

"Righteous sorrow and suffering carve cavities in the soul that will become later reservoirs of joy."

If you're going through hard times—and we all do at one point or another—remember difficult days will bless you later in life. If you'll allow it, suffering can bless you even now—with patience, and charity; hope, and understanding.

And always remember you are never alone. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: "[N]ot only has the Savior suffered, in His case entirely innocently, but so have most of the prophets and other great men and women recorded in the scriptures...If you are having a bad day, you've got a lot of company—very, very good company. The best company that has ever lived."

Be patient. Have faith. As soon as this storm is over, you'll be blessed with a beautiful rainbow.

Agency

During my time in Fairview, Elder Dallof and I have come across two people, in particular, I felt the Lord prepared for us. Several things made me come to that conclusion: 1) We prayed to find these people; 2) We found them in unusual circumstances; 3) They were interested in and receptive to our message; 4) We set return appointments with both of them.

Unfortunately, both of those appointments fell through, and we haven't seen either of them again.


Satan sends obstacles, large and small, our way to deter us from making correct choices

As missionaries, we joke that the most effective way to teach the gospel and prepare people for baptism would be to take away their agency to choose. Of course, that is not the Lord's way, and neither is it ours. But it's interesting to think about—especially in times of disappointment and discouragement.

It's hard to see initially receptive people resist truth for any reason. We pray for, prepare for and worry about these people. We yearn for what is best for them. We love them. We're offering them the greatest blessing in the world, and they either don't know why they need it or aren't willing to receive it.

I suppose that's how our Father in Heaven feels about us when we make bad choices. He loves us beyond our capacity to understand. He yearns for what is best for us. He offers us everything He has, and too often we are unwilling to receive those blessings.

He loves us so much that He will not take away our agency, our right and privelege to choose. He's given us commandments: eternal laws which, when obeyed, bring peace and happiness. He's given us everything we need to return to live with Him. All we need to do is follow Him.

I'm hopeful that we will be able to reach these people in a coming day. I'm hopeful they will accept our wonderful message. When we choose what is right, we choose happiness; when we choose what is wrong, we choose misery.

Learn more about the divine principle of agency from an apostle of the Lord, Elder Robert D. Hales.