Internal Movitavtion

Alma 60:23

"...Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also."

This is such a true principle that is so hard for me to adhere to.  My inward vessel, my heart and my inward maturity, is what I must focus on cleansing before I can hope to cleanse or purify the rest of my being.  I can't expect my outward actions and deeds to be truly Christlike until my true intentions are what drive those Christlike actions as opposed to simply "knowing what I should be doing, and doing that despite my instincts desiring otherwise."  I believe that is what Christ means when he says that he will look upon my heart, upon judgment.  He will look at the true desires of my heart.  When that day comes, will he find charity there?  Will he find good intentions but a lack of true desire?  A wise man once noticed that the path to Hell is paved with good intentions.  It is very important to remember that good intentions are not enough to truly become a good person, it is the intentions married to the desires that produce a truly good person.

In my studies of psychology I have come to understand that there are two classifications of people (at least there is one way of classifying people that leads to a dichotomy): Internally motivated and externally motivated.  I am currently externally motivated.  I can only bring myself to accomplish things that are outside of my comfort zone if there is an externally motivating force, like my wife or my family or some reward.  I desire, above all/most, to become an internally motivated person.  I started telling myself this (again) last night while I was driving and covenanted with myself right there and then that I will never drive above the posted speed limit (knowingly) again.  Why?  Because that is the law and I strive to be a law-abiding citizen, because that is what Christ would be if he were experiencing mortality right now (so long as the law did not conflict with eternal principles such as how to properly observe the sabbath day).

Basically, I need to figure out who I am, who I want to be, and then combine the two.  Finally, I need to stick to the desires of my heart as they become more like Christ's desires.

A Child's Demeanor

Alma 59:13

"And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government, because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country."

As I think about little children and their varying demeanors, it makes so much sense that our demeanor carries over from the premortal life to this one.  I have nieces of all ages that demonstrate every type of personality, despite their similar circumstances in how they are raised and all other sorts of variables that could possibly be used to explain such behavior.  This is yet one more piece to the puzzle of building my testimony of the way that things truly are, the plan that I believe the Lord has set forth for us to follow towards salvation and exaltation.  

Because of when I was born, and the era in which I was born, as well as other more personal things, I know that I was valiant and a stalwart supporter of Christ and his plan for us.  I hope that I can be just as faithful and righteous in this mortal body and henceforth.

The Force

Alma 58:37

"But, behold, it mattereth not - we trust God will deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies."

I love the example that the Nephites are (well, at this point in the time line at least) in terms of demonstrating faith in the power of God.  Facing nearly insurmountable odds, they still believe that if they possess enough faith and act on that faith and inspiration, that the Lord will provide a means for them to be successful in battle.  Oddly enough, this sounds very similar to that of the battle between the Dark and Light sides of the force.  OK, I admit, Abigail and I just finished watching the first three episodes of Star Wars over the past 4 days, but it does not seem to be too much of a stretch.  As the Jedi trust in their teaching and in their code - which calls for putting others first, trusting their intuition and inward feelings to guide them, and never questioning the direction of those who have come before them - they will be strengthened and they will overcome the trial at hand.  However, the dark side of the force relies on fear, anger, and hatred to fuel their power.  They believe that they can become so powerful in their own right that there is nothing that can stand in their way.

Satan likes to tempt us into thinking that we can accomplish great and powerful things through reliance on our own abilities and that things that "get in our way" are obstacles that must be done away with, with no thought or regard to anybody but ourselves.  God, on the alternative, tells us that putting others first in thought and deed is the true source of power.  Christ was the perfect example of this, living out his mortality in the service and supplication of all those he interacted with, right down to his words on the cross of "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

O Holy Night

Alma 57:21

"Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them."

I had a wonderful Christmas this past day, full of wonderful time spent mainly at my parents' house, with the day beginning in Hamilton.  It is always wonderful to see so much family around me at one time and to enjoy a huge Christmas feast followed by family games.  The gifts that Abigail and I received were truly inspired.  The Christmas songbook will bring us much joy musically.  The biography of the prophet Thomas S. Monson is a much anticipated read as he is a wonderful man and such an inspirational servant of God.  The money we received which helped Abigail get a new (and working) phone and myself some important software which will help me with my thesis and with research at the graduate school level.  We were also given other gifts that are much appreciated and will be cherished as they contribute to our happiness and spiritual growth.  

But none of these gifts compare to the gift that God gave us 2000+ years ago.  His son, our Lord and savior.  Whom without we would be forever lost and bound by the eternal justice that sin brings upon us.  Thank you, Father.  Christ's birth truly was a holy night.  And I will be forever, eternally, grateful.

Merry Charitable

Alma 56:47

"Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them."

To me, that is true maturity.  The ability and desire to think of others first at all times and in all things.  What is the best way to over come my own bad attitude?  To do something selflessly for another person.  What is the best way to feel the spirit?  To serve in whatever capacity I am able to.  What is the true love of Christ?  Charity.  Unselfish, putting-others-first charity.  I say this again because it is the season.  That is what Christmas is all about.  Christ was the truest and best example of charity, and in order to receive His image on my countenance, that is what I must become, charitable.  To be mature and to grow into who my Father wants me to be, I must first become charitable.  That is the driving force behind tithing, behind the law of consecration, behind fast offerings, behind the bishop's storehouse, and so forth.  What is the best and quickest way to build up Zion?  Charity.  Please Lord, help me be charitable in all of my thoughts and actions.  My life means nothing if the only person I do good things for, the only person I ever think of, the person who occupies the majority of my life is me. 

Poker

Alma 55:31

"But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction.  They could not be taken in their snares; yea, they would not partake of their wine..."

Satan loves making me feel hopeless and helpless.  But I love the saying that 'when you don't feel like praying, that is when you most need to pray.'  In times of affliction, when it feels the world is against me and I feel like there is nothing I can do, Satan wants nothing more than to make me feel abandoned.  But so long as I remember that God is always ready and willing to listen to my pleas and the desires of my heart, there is nothing that Satan can do that I cannot overcome.  I hold all of the trump cards and Satan can only hope to bluff me out of my chips.  There are times that I believe his lies, more often than I would like to admit.  But I know that if I remember that all he can do is bluff, there is no reason I should ever let him beat me.

The Cause of Our God

Alma 54:10

"...and we will maintain our religion and the cause of our God."

As I truly understand that I am a Son of God first and foremost, then life comes into focus and has a clearer perspective.  Choices that I should make, choices that I should not make, habits that will uphold the values that I stand for, and so forth.  Every day, I stand poised to either maintain the cause of our God, or to work against it by my example and the choices I make.  The greatest disservice that I can do for my fellow man is to do things that don't exemplify what a true Christian would do, and the greatest service that I can give to anyone is to do as Christ would do in all opportunities that I have.