Strength

I borrowed a picture from my brother Brandon.  This is what he does for fun on his lunch breaks.  Crazy if you  ask me.  I look at this picture and realize that I will never posses that kind of strength -even though we share the same genes.  I have been dealt a set of cards that prevents me from even entertaining the idea.  It's not gonna happen, and that's ok.  However, there is another kind of strength that I absolutely can acquire. 

I sent this picture to a friend and my husband today to go along with a talk that I listened to called "The Natural Law of Blessings" by R Kent Crookston.   I sent it because we've been talking about being prepared for things that we believe are coming soon.  I am focusing most of my energies on spiritual preparedness while waiting for further light and knowledge regarding any further temporal preparedness- because we've got temporal down.  

What do I think I'm going to need in my bug out bag more than anything else (assuming you've got the basics down)?  It is what Crookston talked about starting right here:

"I am going to focus the rest of my talk on one incredible conditional blessing laid forth by the Lord in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants known as the oath and covenant of the priesthood. This is the key to my message. I invite you to invest your attention.

And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;

For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;

And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;

And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.

Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved. [D&C 84:35–40]

Did you notice it? Did you catch the simple qualification that we need to meet in order to receive the blessing of the Father’s kingdom and all that the Father has? It’s in there, and it is powerful in its simplicity. Sisters, I am completely confident that it is there for you to observe and fully receive as well as the brethren.

Let’s go over it again: “And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord.”

And how do we “receive” the Lord? He tells us in the next phrase: “For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me.”

There it is. That is the qualification. Receive the Lord’s servants. If we receive the Lord’s servants, we receive the Lord. And if we receive the Lord, we receive the Father. And when we receive the Father, we receive the Father’s kingdom and all that the Father has."

We are going to need an abundance of spiritual strength to make it through the turmoil that is headed our way.  It is going to be things like our ability to "receive the priesthood" that will try the most faithful among us.  He gives 5 excellent examples of what this receiving looks like.  It will be hard.  It will try our faith.  It will separate the wheat from the tares.  Just like my brother couldn't just one day decided to pick up a large man and then climb up and down a tire, we can't just one day be spiritually strong.  We've got to condition ourselves.  We are probably going to incur some injuries along the way, but we've got to build up our strength.  We've got to be able to carry others who aren't as strong when they feel like giving up.  We need to not be the ones handing out twinkies or encouraging laziness.  How many times have I been guilty of this?  Commiserating or instigating the negative speech regarding a person whom I've sustained to a calling in the priesthood?

 I think of the pioneers on the trail and those who carried others across rivers or who helped pull carts or carried children, gave their portion of rations to someone else,  cheered someone up, or kept the fire of faith burning strong when others faltered.   You can't do those things if you aren't first strong yourself.  

Neil L Anderson said "now is the time to adjust your own spiritual oxygen mask so that you are prepared to help others who are seeking truth."  I would add; or to those who have decided to sit down and give up along the trail or who aren't strong enough to continue.  

I also just finished reading a book called "Leaders Eat Last..." by Simon Sinek (now I'm reading "Start with Why..., also by him) where he talks about the fact that there are lots of leaders in the world - meaning there are lots of people who are put in positions of authority over people.  Then there are the people who lead - which is a much smaller amount of people.  Those who lead inspire others because of why they believe what they do.  The church is full of leaders -people put in positions of authority that have no ability to lead others, and it can try our faith.  The sooner we learn that God's ways are not man's ways and that there is a purpose and a plan for everything, the happier we will be.  This was one of the major problems the early saints had......it's still a problem....it's going to become an even bigger problem as the 2nd coming gets closer.  

So, the question is - what are my areas of weakness?  Is receiving the priesthood one of my weak areas?  What do I need to be doing to strengthen my spirit?  Then, after I've "got my own spiritual mask on" who could benefit from a strengthening session? Does this mean we've got to wait until we are perfect before we can help someone?  How gloomy of a thought that is. We'd never be accountable to do anything if that were the requirement.  Just make sure you  "seek to obtain My word" before you declare it  (D and C 11:21) and then what you will find - like I have- that in the declaring it, you add more strength to yourself.  

btw.  I hope there is someone as strong as my brother that can pick me up and carry me when I start to falter....oh wait.....that's right......there is......he's everyones elder brother......he's even stronger.....he's Jesus Christ, who gave us His enabling power through the atonement.  We also know that it is usually through each other that Heavenly Father works miracles, so again, I hope my brother Brandon is around to help me out with any actual heavy lifting.