The arrival of March brought with it more comfortable weather. For the first time in a long time I was able to wander around outside without a sweater or jacket. Flowers were up. The frogs in the swamp at the bottom of our road got very loud. Our fruit trees had small leaves emerging. I became ready mentally to get some outside work done around the house. You might think it strange, but I consider that sort of thing as my therapy. It’s much cheaper than the professional sort, and probably more effective.
This spring has brought something new with it in the form of the COVID-19 (corona) virus. Our son Matthew lives in northern Italy. His area was quarantined early. He could still go to work each day, and make some trips around the area (shopping, etc.), but he couldn't, and still can’t, leave the country, or even drive to other parts of Italy. Jacob, and his family live in Bellingham, WA. That’s just north of Seattle, another hotspot for the virus. So far there have not be so drastic actions there as Matthew has experienced in Italy. Here in DC cases have been diagnosed so we’ll see what sort of effects it will make in our life. The main effect for us so far has just been policy changes at my work. Several trips I had planned are now cancelled, and we are prepping for the possibility of a significant portion of our staff being unavailable to work. Many can work from home, but others can’t. If they are sick they can’t work even if work from home is an option.
Before stay-at-home orders came to our area I was busy with a lot of church obligations. Stake High Council meetings, ward activities, and the like. One Saturday night in March I helped set up the sound system for the youth dance, conducted the Stake AP and YW Committee meeting, and then chaperoned at the dance. That’s a late night for an old guy like me. That same Saturday night was the shift to daylight savings time so we lost an hour of sleep. Next morning I had to get up early to participate in the King George ward conference. On the way home from that event I pulled off the side of the rode to snap some picks of an old house that is slowly succumbing to encroaching nature. The day didn’t end there. In the afternoon I attended the Rising Generation meeting at Bishop Johnson’s house. That’s a monthly meeting the stake sponsors during the school year for graduating high school seniors. Finally my wife and I finished up our evening with a ministering visit to one of our families. It makes me tired just thinking about it all. This is how people get gray hair and bad knees!
Prior to general conference President Nelson challenged us all to consider the words of Heavenly Father when he encouraged Joseph Smith, and others in the scriptures, to ‘Hear Him’. He was of course referring to the Savior. This has been a topic I’ve been considering for some time now. How does one have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? I felt for some time this was a puzzle. For example I pray to Heavenly Father and receive answers through the Holy Ghost. In this way I felt like I can have a direct relationship through direct interaction with two members of the Godhead. The role of Jesus Christ as my mediator is of course important, even critical, but that would make my relationship with him more indirect. Back then, after a few months of focused study I came to the conclusion, and felt a confirmation through the Spirit, that I have a direct relationship with Him when I repent and feel the healing power of the Atonement. That really helped and has built my testimony.
Fast forward to President Nelson’s challenge. How do I ‘hear Him’?
As part of my normal routine, while riding the train into Washington DC every day I spend some time praying, then reading for school. As I approach the city I put up my reading, put on my ear buds, and listen to a chapter of the Book of Mormon, followed by other audio. A few weeks into the invitation by the prophet I was listening to 2 Nephi 27. I heard the following in verse 23: “For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.” It quickly came to me that in this verse were the words of the Savior being quoted to us by the prophet Nephi. Because I was listening to the words through technology, I was literally hearing Him. My direct relationship with Jesus Christ could come, at least, through listening (literally or figuratively) to His words as they come to us in the scriptures. What a blessing!
There are so many competing ideas in the world. I am deeply studying many topics around the disciplines of science and technology. This semester approaches these topics from the angle of philosophy. I’m thankful for a measure of truth I can use with which to gauge other ideas. Confirmation by the Spirit trumps all logical debate, especially since most of the debate finds no real agreement even among the scholars who advance their respective areas of study.
As the world begins to consider and fear an advancing virus, we can find peace knowing such challenges, though concerning, are but temporary. Despite quarantines and travel restrictions, we can find joy in the positives of life. Believe me, I have seen some of the worst this world has to offer. I understand how so many people can despair, or at least feel discouraged. I encourage each of us to follow the words of the prophet and ‘hear Him.’
This spring has brought something new with it in the form of the COVID-19 (corona) virus. Our son Matthew lives in northern Italy. His area was quarantined early. He could still go to work each day, and make some trips around the area (shopping, etc.), but he couldn't, and still can’t, leave the country, or even drive to other parts of Italy. Jacob, and his family live in Bellingham, WA. That’s just north of Seattle, another hotspot for the virus. So far there have not be so drastic actions there as Matthew has experienced in Italy. Here in DC cases have been diagnosed so we’ll see what sort of effects it will make in our life. The main effect for us so far has just been policy changes at my work. Several trips I had planned are now cancelled, and we are prepping for the possibility of a significant portion of our staff being unavailable to work. Many can work from home, but others can’t. If they are sick they can’t work even if work from home is an option.
Before stay-at-home orders came to our area I was busy with a lot of church obligations. Stake High Council meetings, ward activities, and the like. One Saturday night in March I helped set up the sound system for the youth dance, conducted the Stake AP and YW Committee meeting, and then chaperoned at the dance. That’s a late night for an old guy like me. That same Saturday night was the shift to daylight savings time so we lost an hour of sleep. Next morning I had to get up early to participate in the King George ward conference. On the way home from that event I pulled off the side of the rode to snap some picks of an old house that is slowly succumbing to encroaching nature. The day didn’t end there. In the afternoon I attended the Rising Generation meeting at Bishop Johnson’s house. That’s a monthly meeting the stake sponsors during the school year for graduating high school seniors. Finally my wife and I finished up our evening with a ministering visit to one of our families. It makes me tired just thinking about it all. This is how people get gray hair and bad knees!
Prior to general conference President Nelson challenged us all to consider the words of Heavenly Father when he encouraged Joseph Smith, and others in the scriptures, to ‘Hear Him’. He was of course referring to the Savior. This has been a topic I’ve been considering for some time now. How does one have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? I felt for some time this was a puzzle. For example I pray to Heavenly Father and receive answers through the Holy Ghost. In this way I felt like I can have a direct relationship through direct interaction with two members of the Godhead. The role of Jesus Christ as my mediator is of course important, even critical, but that would make my relationship with him more indirect. Back then, after a few months of focused study I came to the conclusion, and felt a confirmation through the Spirit, that I have a direct relationship with Him when I repent and feel the healing power of the Atonement. That really helped and has built my testimony.
Fast forward to President Nelson’s challenge. How do I ‘hear Him’?
As part of my normal routine, while riding the train into Washington DC every day I spend some time praying, then reading for school. As I approach the city I put up my reading, put on my ear buds, and listen to a chapter of the Book of Mormon, followed by other audio. A few weeks into the invitation by the prophet I was listening to 2 Nephi 27. I heard the following in verse 23: “For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.” It quickly came to me that in this verse were the words of the Savior being quoted to us by the prophet Nephi. Because I was listening to the words through technology, I was literally hearing Him. My direct relationship with Jesus Christ could come, at least, through listening (literally or figuratively) to His words as they come to us in the scriptures. What a blessing!
There are so many competing ideas in the world. I am deeply studying many topics around the disciplines of science and technology. This semester approaches these topics from the angle of philosophy. I’m thankful for a measure of truth I can use with which to gauge other ideas. Confirmation by the Spirit trumps all logical debate, especially since most of the debate finds no real agreement even among the scholars who advance their respective areas of study.
As the world begins to consider and fear an advancing virus, we can find peace knowing such challenges, though concerning, are but temporary. Despite quarantines and travel restrictions, we can find joy in the positives of life. Believe me, I have seen some of the worst this world has to offer. I understand how so many people can despair, or at least feel discouraged. I encourage each of us to follow the words of the prophet and ‘hear Him.’
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