I love the temple! I know, that's not two words, but I love the temple nonetheless!
Today I got to go to the Jordan River temple.
I recently read this post by Stephen Palmer. Again.
And while at the temple, I was able to connect more clearly with my core life mission. It is, as you've guessed, two words: Inspire Righteousness.
Why Righteousness?
I strongly considered the word goodness. My perception is that the word goodness is perhaps more acceptable or politically correct; it has less of a judgemental connotation in today's world than righteousness. But why is that? If it's because much evil is considered good and good evil, then the message is more susceptible to individual interpretation and ambiguity.
We all have good judgement in our own eyes, so what is there to be inspired about? It becomes the principle that everyone needs but me, since I've already got it.
Righteousness however has some clear implications. To me these include:
* Continual development of one's relationship with God and family
* Continual development of one's character
* Purity and virtue in mind, heart, and soul
* Seeing people as people -- respecting individual sovereignty and worth
Why Inspire?
Righteousness is impossible to coerce because it is not an action -- it is a willful determination of heart and mind. Actions are merely an evidence or fruit of whatever determination one's heart and mind hold.
One could attempt to manipulate righteousness, but this will not persist when the manipulation is past.
Inspiring righteousness is indeed the only way to make a lasting impact.
Purpose
As I consider how this mission plays out in my life, I find that inspiring righteousness is my fundamental why -- it is the reason I do all I do. When my actions are not aligned with this standard, I want to investigate what within me is the root of this misalignment and change it!
Whenever considering a decision of any significance, my goal is to make inspiring righteousness as my core standard upon which to judge.
Why do I strive to be a good husband and father? To inspire righteousness in myself, my family, and perhaps others who might be quiet, unknown observers.
Why do we homeschool? We (or at least I -- I haven't asked Bont) feel it is the best way to inspire righteousness in our family.
Why do I serve in my church? It inspires righteousness in my own life, in the life of my family by example, and I hope, in those I teach.
What motivates what I do in my assigned church service? My drive to inspire righteousness.
Why do I engage in scripture study and personal development? To seek my own inspiration to righteousness and become more effective at inspiring righteousness.
Why do I promote Strongbrook? To inspire righteousness. It is my platform of choice for generating Peaceful Prosperity.
Why do I promote Peaceful Prosperity? You can see previous posts about it, but Peaceful Prosperity comes down
to having a relationship with God, seeing people as people, and creating
significant financial wealth so that this influence can reach further and wider
than it would without such wealth.
Joseph Smith taught "A man filled with the love of God, is not content
with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world,
anxious to bless the whole human race." I promote Peaceful Prosperity to inspire righteousness throughout the earth.
Perfection
Are my actions always the most inspiring?
Definitely not! I am far from perfect! Fortunately, there is no rule
that states one must be perfect to inspire another; I have oft been
inspired by imperfect men and women. Christ is perfect, and to inspire
righteousness eventually comes back to Him. Always.
Jesus said "but he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." Matthew 23:11 What makes one great? I believe it is the capacity to inspire men and women to devoting their best selves to a worthy cause. Service -- being a Go Giver -- is one of the most powerful ways to become great.
Jesus' life and mission is, when understood, the most powerful inspiration to righteousness that exists -- there is no coercion or manipulation in it. He, in securing our immortality and enabling our salvation, is the greatest Servant of us all.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Purpose of Life
I believe that Heavenly Father truly wants us to become like Him.
I really do.
If someone asks "what is the purpose of life?" there are really many answers one could give. The main one's I think of are:
The first one is done -- we're here on earth, we have bodies, and Christ's resurrection ensures we will be so as well.
All the rest, however, require our participation, work, and effort.
The life of a full-time missionary seems like a type here. A missionary studies and strives to develop Christ-like attributes while simultaneously going out to live the mission of directly sharing and teaching the gospel.
It seems the purpose of life, too, is to simultaneously become the person we need to be and fulfilling our life missions the best we can along the way. There's no "once I'm good enough I'll start fulfilling some of my life mission." It's prepare and do at the same time. It's practice.
So a purposeful life is one where we have a clear sense of mission, we strive to fulfill that mission, all the while striving to become our best possible version of ourselves.
To me this means actively seeking out mentors and classics (books, movies, etc.) from which to learn principles, natural law, and to see ourselves clearly, for this is the beginning of wisdom.12 It also means seeking out our life missions and striving to live them all along the way.
Why? Because God wants us to become like Him, and that's how He is.
1. "We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the Celestial Kingdom" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith TJPS, p. 181)
2. See Abraham 3:24-25.
3. See 3 Nephi 12:48, Matthew 5:48.
4. See 2 Nephi 2:23.
5. See 2 Nephi 2:15-16.
6. "A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge." (TJPS, p. 217)
* See also D&C 130:18-19, D&C 88:118 (repeating 88:118 - D&C 109:7,14).
7. See the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30.
8. See 2 Nephi 2:21, Alma 12:24.
9. "If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from Him and drawing towards the devil." (TPJS p. 216)
* "By faith the worlds were made." (TPJS p. 270)
* See also Matthew 5:48, 3 Nephi 18:16, John 14:6, Moroni 7:46,
10. See Jeremiah 1:5-8, Abraham 3:23-26,
* "There is neither man nor woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live." (Brigham Young, "Remarks", Deseret News, July 3, 1867 as quoted here)
11. "Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and. . .the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children." The Family, A Proclamation to the World
12. "Seeing ourselves clearly is the beginning of wisdom." (President Uchtdorf, Priesthood Session, October 2014 - link)
I really do.
If someone asks "what is the purpose of life?" there are really many answers one could give. The main one's I think of are:
- To obtain a physical body1
- To be tried and tested to see if we will obey God2
- To progress3 -- I feel like this is broad and a few specific key things are worth mentioning here:
- To have joy4
- To put us in a situation where we may exercise agency -- needing to be enticed by at least two options, thus needing to be without memory of our pre-earth life.5
- To gain intelligence by study and by faith, i.e. to learn, grow, develop talents and gifts6
- To put us in a situation where we can be stewards and learn to be wise stewards.7
- To provide a time wherein we can repent and prepare to meet God8
- To become more like Him -- Personal development comes in many forms as well. I include developing attributes such as charity, humility, faith, compassion, meekness, etc. as well as developing our skills of creation.9
- To build His kingdom through fulfilling the missions and callings that were conferred or preordained.10
- To create eternal familial bonds, including multiplying and replenishing the earth.11
The first one is done -- we're here on earth, we have bodies, and Christ's resurrection ensures we will be so as well.
All the rest, however, require our participation, work, and effort.
The life of a full-time missionary seems like a type here. A missionary studies and strives to develop Christ-like attributes while simultaneously going out to live the mission of directly sharing and teaching the gospel.
It seems the purpose of life, too, is to simultaneously become the person we need to be and fulfilling our life missions the best we can along the way. There's no "once I'm good enough I'll start fulfilling some of my life mission." It's prepare and do at the same time. It's practice.
So a purposeful life is one where we have a clear sense of mission, we strive to fulfill that mission, all the while striving to become our best possible version of ourselves.
To me this means actively seeking out mentors and classics (books, movies, etc.) from which to learn principles, natural law, and to see ourselves clearly, for this is the beginning of wisdom.12 It also means seeking out our life missions and striving to live them all along the way.
Why? Because God wants us to become like Him, and that's how He is.
1. "We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the Celestial Kingdom" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith TJPS, p. 181)
2. See Abraham 3:24-25.
3. See 3 Nephi 12:48, Matthew 5:48.
4. See 2 Nephi 2:23.
5. See 2 Nephi 2:15-16.
6. "A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge." (TJPS, p. 217)
* See also D&C 130:18-19, D&C 88:118 (repeating 88:118 - D&C 109:7,14).
7. See the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30.
8. See 2 Nephi 2:21, Alma 12:24.
9. "If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from Him and drawing towards the devil." (TPJS p. 216)
* "By faith the worlds were made." (TPJS p. 270)
* See also Matthew 5:48, 3 Nephi 18:16, John 14:6, Moroni 7:46,
10. See Jeremiah 1:5-8, Abraham 3:23-26,
* "There is neither man nor woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live." (Brigham Young, "Remarks", Deseret News, July 3, 1867 as quoted here)
11. "Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and. . .the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children." The Family, A Proclamation to the World
12. "Seeing ourselves clearly is the beginning of wisdom." (President Uchtdorf, Priesthood Session, October 2014 - link)
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