Challenges, Gratitude and Blessings

"Nowhere Else to Go" by Nathan Greene

1863 was a year of great unrest in the United States. It began with President Lincoln’s controversial second executive order of the Emancipation Proclamation, specifying ten states in which slaves were to be freed. The Civil War raged on for a third year, including the particularly bloody Battle of Gettysburg.

In what is now Idaho, the U.S. Army massacred an encampment of Shoshone while some Shoshone and other tribes frequently attacked wagon trains headed to Oregon and Washington. In Kansas, guerilla confederates killed more than 150 civilians for their city’s abolitionist reputation. In California, volunteer cavalry massacred 35 Paiute men on the bank of the Kern River near Keyesville.

It was in 1863 that Congress passed the Enrollment Act that authorized a military draft and triggered the week-long New York Draft Riots. Five thousand women in Richmond, Virginia, rioted to protest the exorbitant price of bread. The first race riot in Detroit occurred when a white mob attacked the city’s black population. In cities around the country, protests against the war, slavery, poor wages and poor working conditions were common.

The fourth cholera pandemic of the Nineteenth century began in 1863, though it would take seven years to make its way from the Bengal region through Europe and Russia to the United States. Half of downtown Denver burned down in a fire-- some said it began with a protest against brothels—and more than a block of San Francisco was turned to ash in the Great San Francisco Fire. Florida was hit hard, as it seems they always are, by the unexpected Hurricane Amanda.

With challenges on every side, President Lincoln issued a proclamation toward the end of 1863:

“The year that is drawing towards its close,” he proclaimed, “has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.”

President Lincoln listed blessings including rich natural resources, general order in society and a strong and vigorous union despite the ongoing war before concluding:

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people.”

Lincoln then invited all Americans throughout the world to observe "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens". He recommended that our penitence and worship also include fervently imploring, "interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."

Earlier this month, President Nelson also invited us to experience the healing power of gratitude. Mindful of the global pandemic and its effects in our lives, and noting “a host of other ills” including “hate, civil unrest, racism, violence, dishonesty, and lack of civility,” President Nelson invited each of us to keep a gratitude journal on social media for seven days and unite in thanking God through daily prayer.

“We can all give thanks for the beauties of the earth,” he taught, “and the majesty of the heavens that give us an inkling of the vastness of eternity.

“We can give thanks for the gift of life, for our amazing bodies and minds, that allow us to grow and learn.

“We can give thanks for art, literature and music that nurture our souls.

“We can give thanks for the opportunity to repent, start over, make amends and build character.

“We can give thanks for our families, friends and loved ones.

“We can give thanks for the opportunity to help, cherish and serve one another, which makes life so much more meaningful.

“We can even give thanks for our trials; from which we learn the things we would not know otherwise.

“Most of all, we can give thanks unto God, the Father of our spirits, which makes us all brothers and sisters — one great global family.”

“Prayer brings forth miracles,” he explained, and practicing gratitude can help us be happier and have more peace in our lives. Despite a challenging year, and more difficulties likely headed our way, following this counsel from a living prophet has helped to calm our anxieties and find the joy in this season of “Thanksgiving and Praise.”

In counting our blessings, as President Nelson has encouraged us to do, we have also been reminded that many of our bounteous blessings have been so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come. I have found four habits that, when practiced, help me to remember my many blessings and feel more gratitude, peace and joy. These include striving to always remember my Savior, Jesus Christ, and be more like him; looking for the hand of the Lord in my life each day; seeking to have an eternal perspective, and separating my gratitude from temporary temporal achievements.

The Lord has taught that his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:5-9). As I remember the Savior and seek to build my life on the principles he has taught, I am more likely to respond to others with patience and understanding, to notice the beauty of nature, to remember my own weakness and all the Lord has done for me, and the covenants I have made that bind me to both magnificent eternal blessings and significant mortal duties. Striving to remember my Savior, Jesus Christ, changes who I am and helps me to maintain an uplifting sense of gratitude.

Of course, we all have bad days. Sometimes we might also feel like we have bad months and bad years. Looking for the blessings we receive, especially when we are feeling like life is hard, can open our eyes so we can see the love God has for each of us. This can be one of the greatest sources of strength we need for our lives.

A few years ago, as my family was driving home from church, my wife commented on what a good year our family had. We had welcomed a new child to the world, I received a promotion at work, we were able to travel to some new places around California and things seemed to be going well.

As I thought a little more about her comment, memories of events I did not enjoy as much also crept into my thoughts. Yes, a lot of good things had happened, but we also had the catastrophic Detwiler Fire, two significant flood events and snow that knocked out power for several days. Some turmoil persisted in my extended family and there had been months with more demands than we could meet and days when we just seemed out of sync. There had been illnesses and injuries and world events that added to a pile of evidence that could convince any jury we’d just had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year.

When I saw the world with my wife’s faith and optimism, I experienced a sense of gratitude that was encouraging and uplifting. As doubts came, my hope diminished and I began to re-live the stress and burdensome weight of life’s difficult experiences.

While the Lord can do all things, most of the time the blessings we receive are subtle. Speaking with particular reference to the law of tithing, Elder Bednar has taught:

“Often as we teach and testify about the law of tithing, we emphasize the immediate, dramatic and readily recognizable temporal blessings that we receive. And surely such blessings do occur. Yet some of the diverse blessings we obtain as we are obedient to this commandment are significant but subtle. Such blessings can be discerned only if we are both spiritually attentive and observant (see 1 Corinthians 2:14).

“The imagery of the ‘windows’ of heaven used by Malachi is most instructive. Windows allow natural light to enter into a building. In like manner, spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing.”

Looking back over my life, I can see periods when my family has experienced an outpouring of light and understanding. Though I can see it so clearly now, it wasn’t always obvious at the time.

One such experience occurred while I was attending graduate school in Arizona. Soon after graduation, my wife and I accepted a job in Virginia. It was a big decision that came as a shock to a lot of our friends and family members. Some of them wondered out loud how we could make a decision so suddenly that wasn't even in realm of possibilities just the day before.

Of course, we hadn't made the decision suddenly at all. Years before we decided to move, we began praying for guidance and that we would be able to find a good job after graduate school. I paid close attention when my professors, most of whom were or had been active in my chosen profession, would give career advice. I interviewed for promotions within the company where I worked and started applying for jobs in my field around the metro area where I was attending school. I was constantly looking at job ads and talking with my wife about what we wanted from life, the kinds of communities where we would like to live and jobs that would help us reach our long-term goals.

Over time, my wife and I began to have experiences that helped to clarify the path ahead. One interviewer at my employer in Arizona told me I was overqualified and another told me it would be several years before the labor union would allow me to be considered for promotion. A guest practitioner in one of my classes shared stories from working in rural communities that resonated with me. When we traveled, we would discuss what we liked and disliked about the communities we visited. The same advice about mobility and finding a first job was repeated over and over and over again by professors, mentors, role models and career counselors.

As graduation approached I was getting anxious to find a position, but it was much easier to identify the jobs that would get us closer to our professional and family goals. My wife and I knew the jobs that were most likely to lead to management opportunities, the size and type of community where we wanted to live, where we could make the greatest contributions and which states and communities we were willing to call home. Four months after graduation, I interviewed in Virginia and accepted a position that was everything we had learned we wanted.

Looking back, there was not a single epiphany that dramatically changed our course. There was no grand revelatory moment where the Lord commanded us to move to Virginia. Instead, the Lord opened the windows of heaven and steadily poured out a thousand smaller experiences, thoughts and impressions that gradually opened our minds, clarified our goals, developed our skills and understanding, and has led us gently down the path to where we needed to be.

Recognizing the Lord’s hand guiding our lives has inspired a deep sense of gratitude in me. It has also given me confidence that the Lord continues to give guidance and direction, even when it is hard for me to see at the time. With this and so many other assurances that help me trust more fully in the Lord, I am able to worry less and enjoy greater happiness, testimony, strength, knowledge and prosperity than would be possible otherwise.

Sometimes, I admit, I don’t feel like I have the patience to be led gently down a path. I wish I could avoid some of the hardest experiences in my life and skip the anxiety of uncertainty. With riches as a symbol for an easier life, I want to shout with Tevye from The Fiddler on the Roof: “If riches are a curse, may the Lord smite me with them! And may I never recover!”

Perhaps we can all relate to Tevye’s yearnings when he prayed:

                Lord who made the lion and the lamb,

                You decreed I should be what I am;

                Would it spoil some vast, eternal plan,

                If I were a wealthy man?

Couldn’t things just be a little bit easier? Do we really need pandemics and wildfires and family members losing health and losing faith? Would that spoil God’s plan for us?

Then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks answered Tevye’s plea in a General Conference Address in 2003. “Yes, Tevye, it might,” he said. “The revelations, for which we are grateful, show that we should even give thanks for our afflictions because they turn our hearts to God and give us opportunities to prepare for what God would have us become… Let us give thanks for what we are and for the circumstances God has given us for our personal journey through mortality.”

Elder Anderson taught earlier this year that:

COVID-19 did not surprise the Lord, and He will use it to accomplish His purposes. ‘And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments’ (D&C 59:21).

This time, when society has paused, can be a time of great learning, a time to shift one’s focus from a temporal perspective to an eternal perspective. When these things come to us, of course there are worries… there are emotions and all kinds of pressures and things that are not comfortable.

Church members have an opportunity to stand back and say, ‘There is something about this that will be important for me.’ Perhaps above all else, it brings each of us humility. During these moments, God’s children are praying more often and more fervently.

"Stay on your knees longer and see what the Lord will teach you. There are always compensatory blessings in these times.

Along with the challenges, our family has seen many compensatory blessings throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic. We were grateful for a late snow in March that made it easier to want to stay inside. I appreciated the sacred responsibility to prepare and bless the sacrament for my children and to hear their testimonies in our at-home testimony meetings. I’ve been blessed to serve the families to whom I minister in meaningful ways and to learn from their experiences and wisdom. I’ve been fortunate to work from home much more often and to see my children excelling in their studies. Thanks to Zoom and other video conferencing apps, I can now have a long day of meetings in Sacramento and still be home for dinner.

Finally, we will experience greater gratitude and joy from striving to become grateful and cheerful people than we do from any temporary event or accomplishment. This may seem counter-intuitive. We may think, as Tevye did, that we could be more grateful if only we didn’t have a particular burden in our lives or if we had some blessing we feel we’re currently lacking. The world tells us that gratitude and happiness follow success.

The happiest person I've ever known was my maternal grandmother. Grandma Findlay grew up in the high deserts of eastern Utah during the Great Depression. She served at Fort Douglas in World War II then married my grandfather, a teacher, with whom she raised a family of eight children. Grandma lost a teenage son to cancer, gave countless hours in church and community service, and spent the last several years of her life selflessly caring for a husband with dementia even while her own health declined.

Despite all she had been through, I seldom saw Grandma when she wasn't quick to share a warm smile and make others laugh with her subtle, dry sense of humor. She had a sharp mind, enjoyed helping others be their best, and could tell from the kitchen if I was slouching while practicing on the living room piano. She was a talented pianist herself and enjoyed writing short stories and poetry. Grandma refused to say a negative word and would often rebut the unpleasant remarks of others with a simple exclamation of, "Oh, well!" Everyone who knew my grandma knew that "Oh, well!" meant that Grandma was about to turn the conversation in a more positive and uplifting direction.

Missionaries, researchers and world travelers have often been surprised to find that the happiest people, like my grandma, are often those in the most humble circumstances or with the most incredible challenges. While many celebrities who seem to have it all fight off depression, drug abuse and failed marriages, those who have been compelled to be humble are, in many cases, more grateful for what they have and experience greater happiness than those who appear to be prospering.

Social scientists have observed that when we place happiness on the other side of arbitrary successes, we end up spending all of our time pushing it farther and farther away while we pursue the next fleeting “success”. When we do well in school, we expect to do better the next time. When we get a good job, we start “climbing the ladder” for a better one. We make money and only end up wanting more than we have. Ultimately, of course, we never get to these kinds of successes for long, so we perpetually chase happiness until it disappears beyond the cognitive horizon and there’s nothing we can do to actually achieve happiness.

Gratitude is not something we get. It is not something we have. It is something we become. 

Author C.S. Lewis has observed, “What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of a person you are.”

When we become the kind of people who are sincerely grateful; when we become more like our Savior, acknowledge the bounty the Lord has given us, seek to see the events in our lives from an eternal perspective, and separate our gratitude from temporary successes; we will experience a greater realization of our potential including the greater happiness and joy the Lord wants us to experience.

President Nelson shared:

"Over my nine and a half decades of life, I have concluded that counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems. No matter our situation, showing gratitude for our privileges is a fast-acting and long-lasting spiritual prescription.

"Does gratitude spare us from sorrow, sadness, grief, and pain? No, but it does soothe our feelings. It provides us with a greater perspective on the very purpose and joy of life."

In short, President Nelson echoed Paul’s admonition: “In every thing give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

This year, like 1863, has been filled with challenges, disappointments and turmoil. Yet, the year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people and all the children of our Heavenly Father.

Courage to Go Forth

Some of the most courageous figures in all of scripture must be the sons of Mosiah. These four brothers, heirs to the throne of the Nephite nation, each refused the crown in order to move to a hostile nation and preach the gospel. They left without knowing when they would return-- it ended up being about fourteen years later-- and without means to sustain them or connections in the foreign land.

Many talks and lessons have cited the quality of the sons of Mosiah's character to explain why Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni would go as missionaries to the Lamanites:

They had waxed strong in the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with the power and authority of God (Alma 17:2-3).

Although this verse comes before the account of the challenges of their respective missions-- everything from imprisonment without food and water to witnessing others be killed for their faith-- it is a narrative description of the sons of Mosiah after they had returned from their mission. Fourteen years earlier, they were very aware of the danger of the mission they had chosen and the hardness of the hearts they felt called to teach.

With some anxiety, they began their journey through the wilderness to the mission field. The scriptures say that the sons of Mosiah, and those that were with them, "fasted much and prayed much" as they traveled, asking that "that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring... the Lamanties to the knowledge of the truth" (Alma 17:9).

And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted.

And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls (Alma 17:10-11).

The Lord responded to the sons of Mosiah's pleadings with three things: comfort to calm their anxieties, instructions for success, and a promise that following the instructions would bring the outcome they had fasted and prayed to receive.

When we pray for blessings from our Heavenly Father, sometimes we can make the mistake of stopping our progress when the comfort comes. None of us likes to be troubled or anxious, so when we are worried or struggling we fast and pray diligently until we are comforted. Then, somehow, when comfort comes we seem to think that the blessings we desire will be delivered with minimal effort on our part. We say things like, "we just need to have faith," or "the Lord will deliver on his timetable," and we wait for a miracle.

Faith in the Lord, and in His timetable, is, of course, important. Miracles do happen. And sometimes there is nothing we can do but stand still, like the children of Israel trapped by Pharoah's armies against the Red Sea, and behold the Lord's mighty power. But most often, genuine faith requires us to act and do all we can do to realize the blessings we desire. The Lord then magnifies our faithful efforts, and helps us learn and grow along the way, until we obtain the things we desired from Him.

Acting with faith can cause a little anxiety, even if we're not on a mission to an enemy country. It can be hard to share the gospel with a friend, heal a relationship, stop a bad habit, move to a new place, accept a new calling, or whatever else we feel called to do. We need courage to keep moving forward.

In the moment of comfort, the Lord instructed the sons of Mosiah. First, he confirmed that they should go to serve the Lamanites. Next, he commanded them to establish his word by their example and admonished them to be patient in affliction. Despite the moment of comfort they were enjoying, the blessings they desired could only be achieved through a great deal more discomfort. Finally, he promised that if they would keep this commandment, he would grant them the blessing they desired.

And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God (Alma 17:12, emphasis added).

Like the sons of Mosiah, we can fast much and pray much to know from the Lord whether we are on the right path. We can learn what we need to do to receive the blessings we desire and receive assurances that, if we will be faithful to the commandments the Lord gives to each of us, the Lord will ensure our success.

With the Lord's assurances, and trust that God will prepare the way, we can find the courage we need to save the kings flocks from marauders, endure an unjust imprisonment, or overcome whatever other obstacle we may face in pursuit of our desired blessings. As we do, the Lord will make us his sons and daughters-- strong in the knowledge of the truth, armed with spiritual gifts and the power and authority of God to do his work.

Affliction, Potato Salad and the Stockdale Paradox

Around 60 B.C., after a power-hungry expatriate and his followers caused a fourteen-year war between two ancient American nations, the prophet Helaman wrote:

And thus [we had] wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years. And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of inquity... But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility (Alma 62:39-41).

Like these ancient people, we are surrounded today by all manner of wars and afflictions. We frequently find ourselves obliged, like the Nephites, to defend, "our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our [spouses], and our children" on social media, in our communities and in our nations (Alma 46:12). We have all undoubtedly also witnessed friends and family members who, in the middle of these dangerous circumstances, have hardened in their hearts and been overcome by bitterness, cynicism and worldly pressures. Perhaps we have also felt an onslaught of adversity and wondered how long we could endure when it seems at times that we are hopelessly outnumbered.

In such times, we can find a great reminder in the simple pleasure of a potato salad. Both of the key ingredients in a good potato salad, potatoes and eggs, are boiled in water for several minutes before they can be added to the salad. Interestingly, while the boiling water softens the potatoes, the eggs, encased in their shells, become hardened in the same circumstance.

During the Vietnam War, Admiral James Stockdale was held as a prisoner for more than seven years. He was tortured more than twenty times and had no way of knowing whether he would survive the war or ever see his family again. He told author Jim Collins:

"This is what I learned from those year in the prison camp, where all those constraints just were oppressive. You must never ever ever confuse, on the one hand, the need for absolute, unwavering faith that you can prevail despite those constraints with, on the other hand, the need for the discipline to begin by confronting the brutal facts, whatever they are."

The Lord has taught that he refines us and chooses us in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10; 1 Nephi 20:10). Our trials, in other words, are opportunities to become stronger and better people.

This point seems lost on the children of Israel in Moses' day. They endured the mass murder of their children, slavery and all its accompanying ills, and many years wandering in the desert without a home. They also saw many miracles. Yet, many of the children of Israel ultimately chose to harden their hearts, worship the golden calf, turn from Moses amid the poisonous serpents, and ultimately perish in the wilderness rather than allowing their hearts to soften and change. In the literal and figurative heat of affliction, the children of Israel built barriers of cynicism and doubt that would not permit the Lord to refine them and to make them His. In the midst of wars and afflictions, the children of Israel chose to be eggs.

On the other hand, the people of Alma were also pursued by a king for their faith and fled their homes only to become slaves to their enemies. A particularly hateful man became their ruler, persecuting them heavily and killing anyone who so much as said a prayer. When these trials were not immediately removed, it would have been easy for this people to become as cynical and angry as the children of Israel.

Instead, the scriptures say, "they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord" (Mosiah 24:16). Without barriers, they confronted the brutal facts of their reality and let the boiling water of their trials change who they were. As their faith in God grew, they found strength to endure the persecutions heaped upon them until they finally had sufficient faith to be delivered from their bondage (see also 1 Nephi 17:3). In short, the people of Alma chose to be potatoes.

We often cannot control whether we end up in a figurative pot of boiling water; but we do get to choose whether we will put up walls of doubt and cynicism or face the brutal facts without losing faith that we, with the help of the Lord, will ultimately prevail. We get to choose whether we will be eggs or potatoes.

Admiral Stockdale said of his experience in Vietnam: "You have to understand, it was never depressing. Because despite all those circumstances, I never wavered in my absolute faith that not only would I prevail--get out of this--but I would also prevail by turning it into the defining event of my life that would make me a stronger and a better person."

The people of Helaman chose continue an attitude of learning and development-- they chose to be potatoes-- through the difficulties of war and the challenges of prosperity that followed. The scripture records that, "notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him. Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them... And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land" (Alma 62:49-51).

In the end, whatever our choices have been, eggs and potatoes are both needed to make a good potato salad. Though we'd be hard pressed to find a good potato salad that doesn't first require we take the eggs out of their shells.

The Fast I Have Chosen

On the first Sunday of each month, many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints go without food or drink for two consecutive meals as part of a sacred fast. We are taught that fasting is incomplete without prayers of faith to ask the Lord for what we need and offerings to the poor and needy. I've written on these topics in the past. Re-reading some of the scriptures about fasting however, I believe that there is more involved in fasting.

The Lord rebuked ancient Israel for fasting without spiritual motivation. They afflict their souls, he states, but, "in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors." He continues, "Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness... Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul?" (Isaiah 58:3-4).

Fasting in this way, the Lord tells the Israelites, only engenders discomfort and irritability. The Lord then teaches the Law of the Fast and how we can fast with appropriate intent:

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7).

These popular verses are often read with an emphasis on the power of fasting. Fasting can relieve oppression, lift our burdens and help us break the bonds of addiction and wickedness. Yet, these things don't happen simply because we do not eat or because we've written a check to the bishop for the poor. Fasting is more than that. Unlike the Israelites, who were chastised for working or seeking pleasure while they fasted, the Lord calls for us to follow His example and do His work on our day of fasting. This call echoes through the promised blessings for the faithful.

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.

If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday; And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in (Isaiah 58:8-12, emphasis added).

In other words, the spirit of fasting means that we not only pray for the oppressed but we spend our day helping to lift their burden and striving for their freedom. We should not only donate a fast offering to the poor, but we should find ways to serve and support those in need. In short, we should take the opportunity when we fast to live our baptismal covenant, mourning with those that mourn and comforting those that stand in need of comfort, so that we might be called a repairer of the breach and a restorer of paths to dwell in. When we cannot serve those for whom we are fasting, we can serve others and know the Lord is mindful of our sacrifice.

As with all other gospel principles, the intent of the Law of the Fast is to soften our hearts and bring us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We should be more like Him because we have fasted. When we fast each month, or more often if we so choose, we should be able to genuinely feel the words of the poet stirring in our souls:

On bended knees, with broken hearts,

We come before thee, Lord,

In secret and in open prayer--

Oh, wilt thou speak thy word?

We've shared our bread with those in need,

Relieved the suff'ring poor

The stranger we have welcomed in--

Wilt thou impart thy store?

As witnesses, we gather here

To thank, and to attest

Of mercies and of miracles--

Oh, still our lives so bless!

Feed thou our souls, fill thou our hearts,

And bless our fast, we pray,

That we may feel thy presence here

And feast with thee today.

(John Sears Tanner)

No Unhallowed Hand

Joseph Smith once declared that "no unhallowed hand can stop [God's] work from progressing". While that hasn't stopped some people from trying, it is instructive to note that opposing efforts often contribute more to the progress of God's work than they ever detract from it.

A classic example can be found in the people of Amulon. Amulon and his followers had lived lavish, idolatrous lives as priests supported by the burdensome taxes imposed by King Noah. When their country was invaded, they abandoned their families to preserve their own lives and then later kidnapped some women from a rival nation to be their new wives. Given the opportunity to oversee a righteous people, Amulon  and his followers oppressed the righteous severely and forbid prayer and religious worship. It is easy to think that nothing good could have come from Amulon.

Yet, we read that the righteous oppressed by Amulon actually grew in faith until they were eventually delivered from Amulon's rule altogether (Mosiah 24:12-16). Meanwhile, Amulon and his followers taught the language of the Nephites in every land of the Lamanites, paving the way for Ammon and his brothers to have missionary successes only a few years later (Mosiah 24:4).

When Joseph Smith knelt to pray, he was "siezed upon by some power which entirely overcame [him], and had such an astonishing influence over [him] as to bind [his] tongue so that [he] could not speak." Yet, this attack only led Joseph to exert all his energy to calling upon God and led to not only his deliverance, but his calling as a prophet and the beginning of the restoration of Christ's church and gospel (Joseph Smith-History 1:15-20).

Subsequent offenses from apostates, politicians and mobs had similar results, leading Brigham Young to declare, "Every time you kick [the Church] you kick it upstairs; you never kick it downstairs. The Lord Almighty so orders it" (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941, p. 351).

The greatest opposition was reserved for the Savior himself. Though he "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38), he was hated by the leaders that claimed to be seeking him and betrayed by one of his own disciples. The people sought to kill him on several occasions and by several means, even setting traps to facilitate his demise, and finally delivered him to the Romans to be crucified. Though the governor could find no fault with him, Christ was nailed to a cross and left to die.

If any act could be perceived to hinder the work of God, killing His chosen son would seem to be it. Yet, even this advanced, rather than hindered, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Isaiah prophesied of Christ:

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised with our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:3-5).

Through the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins, redeemed from death and empowered to act in faith beyond our own ability. As the Lord taught Joseph Smith in the Liberty Jail, no matter the obstacle or the odds, "if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7).

Perhaps some of that experience was reflected in Joseph Smith's letter to Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, written three years after his inhumane treatment in Liberty. Declared the prophet:

The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

Prospering by Degrees

After being captured by the Lamanites, the people of Limhi sought for deliverance. Three times they lashed out in armed conflict against their oppressors; and three times they were soundly defeated and suffered great losses. Finally, they turned to the Lord, but their prayers were answered in a way they perhaps did not expect.

The scriptures record that the people of Limhi "did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions" (Mosiah 21:14). Perhaps their prayers were like many of ours, hoping for the Lord to grant a quick and complete relief from the burdens and afflictions they were forced to bear. Perhaps some of them were disappointed or began to waver when they woke up, day after day, with Lamanite guards still surrounding their city.

Although the desired outcome was not immediate, "the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens... [and] they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger" (Mosiah 21:15-16).

Relative prosperity allowed Limhi to send a group of men to find the Nephites. They were unsuccessful in their mission, but on their journey they discovered a record of a people who had become extinct. Thinking they had returned empty handed, the hearts of the people turned to the Lord and began to desire that they could be baptized and serve Him with all of their hearts.

Finally, Ammon and his men found the people of Limhi and helped them devise a plan to escape from their Lamanite captors. Mosiah, the Nephite king and a seer, translated the record and found it to be an insightful account and scripture in its own right. Though their prayers were not answered as quickly or in the way the people of Limhi had perhaps hoped, they were delivered from oppression in their bondage, strengthened in their faith, and then delivered from bondage as different people than they were when they were lashing out with wars against the Lamanites.

While we are promised that the Lord's grace is sufficient for us, sometimes we miss the blessings He grants in our lives because we are looking for grand and spectacular splashes of divine intervention. We want singing angels and the division of the Red Sea. While those things happen, we must learn that they are the exception rather than the rule. The Lord is usually more subtle.

Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls" (Alma 37:6-7).

When we feel like lashing out against our oppressors, or that our faithful prayers are not being answered, we will often find that our faithful actions are being prospered by degrees. Maybe our clothes or our car or our employment is lasting longer or providing better than they otherwise should. Sometimes we will feel peace or patience or joy when others are panicked and distraught. Maybe we're learning foundational principles or building our relationship with God in ways that will enrich the rest of our lives.

However the Lord chooses to bless us, we can find confidence in his unbreakable promises:

The Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless-- whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day (Mosiah 23:21-22).

"But behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me-- but he will show that he hath not. For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. They children shall make haste against thy destroyers; and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee" (1 Nephi 21:14-17).

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day (Alma 37:37).

Leadership Lessons from Those Not Called

In the two hundred years since Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet, others have come forward with claims of divine appointment. In each case, the Lord has directed his people to follow the prophets and apostles he has called and ordained to lead his Church. Comparing the leadership of those who sought to lead with those who have been called to lead, and with the help of two centuries of leadership studies since the establishment of the Church, reveals a pattern that can inform the behavior of disciples regardless of their present callings.

One of the first challenges to the singular authority of a prophet came from other significant players in the restoration of the gospel. In the summer of 1830, just months after the Church was founded, Oliver Cowdery, then the Second Elder of the Church, wrote to Joseph Smith. Oliver had drafted articles to govern the new church that were superseded by the Articles and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ authored by Joseph Smith. Oliver disapproved of Joseph's inclusion of demonstrable works as a requirement for baptism and commanded Joseph "in the name of God to erase those words" (Joseph Smith, "History, 1838-1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805-30 August 1834]," 51, josephsmithpapers.org). Oliver Cowdery had also convinced the Whitmer Family, who had themselves played significant roles in witnessing the Book of Mormon and the founding of the Church, to support his position.

Upon receiving Oliver's letter, Joseph authored a response that questioned Oliver's authority to command alteration of a revelation or commandment from God. Within a few days, Joseph had also begun a journey from his home in Pennsylvania to speak with Oliver and the Whitmers in person where he was eventually able to reason with them. Joseph later recorded, "And thus was this error rooted out, which having its rise in presumption and rash judgement, was the more particularly calculated (when once fairly understood) to teach each and all of us the necessity of humility, and meekness before the Lord, that he might teach us of his ways; that we might walk in his paths, and live by every word which proceedeth forth from his mouth" (Joseph Smith, "History, 1838-1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805 - 30 August 1834]," 51.).

Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith both wanted to see the restored gospel grow and prosper in the earth. Both men were faithful and had been essential to the work that had been completed thus far, as was the Whitmer Family. In this case however, Oliver and the Whitmer Family proudly asserted that what they thought they knew was right. In contrast, Joseph sought to humbly learn from the Lord and execute His will.

Best-selling leadership author Jim Collins has identified what he calls "Level 5 Leadership" as a key determinant of an organization's success. Level 5 leaders, he writes, embody "a paradoxical mix of personal humility and professional will." They are ambitious, to be sure, but ambitious first and foremost for the company (or organization they lead), not themselves" (Good to Great, p. 39). Level 5 leaders also focus on results, are "more plow horse than show horse", credit others for successes, take responsibility for failures, and set up their successors for even greater success in the next generation.

We see Level 5 leadership in Joseph Smith's response. Though he was not the cause of the misunderstanding, he took responsibility for it and exerted significant effort to not only write a correction but then follow up with a visit that required a 300-mile journey on horseback. He was driven to restore unity-- not to protect his own ego, but because it was what the Lord required. Over the next fourteen years, Joseph Smith would be constantly training future leaders in the School of the Prophets, in Zion's Camp, and through dozens of other experiences. 

Later in the summer of 1830, Joseph and Emma Smith returned to the Whitmer Farm to find that the Whitmer's son-in-law, Hiram Page, claimed to be using a stone to receive divine revelation for the Church. Several members believed in these revelations, including Oliver Cowdery and the Whitmer Family. After unsuccessfully attempting to reason with the Saints as he had earlier that summer, Joseph Smith sought the revelation that appears in the Doctrine and Covenants as Section 28. THe Lord teaches Oliver Cowdery in this revelation about the relevant principles of leadership and how they should have been applied in this situation:

Behold, I say unto thee, Oliver, that it shall be given unto thee that thou shalt be heard by the church in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the Comforter, concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given. But behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.

And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the church. And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the church, thou mayest do it. But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom; And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church; For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead (D&C 28:1-7).

The revelation affirms that Hiram Page's stone was a deception of the devil and assigned Oliver to privately address the issue with Hiram. Joseph Smith's history records that the the stone was discussed at a church conference in September and, "after considerable investigation, Brother Page, as well as the whole church who were present, renounced the said stone, and all things connected therewith, much to our mutual satisfaction and happiness" (Joseph Smith, "History, 1838-1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805 - 30 August 1834]," 51.).

In the language of modern leadership theory, the Lord is telling Oliver Cowdery about his role as the first follower. First followers are often undervalued as leaders, but they are the difference between an individual with an idea and a movement. They are exposed to the same ridicule as the leader who courageously stands up and yet they make it less risky for others to join in. It would be incredibly impractical for everyone to lead or to do what the leader does, but the first follower provides an example for all of the other followers so they know what to do to be part of the movement. This is Aaron's responsibility to Moses and Oliver Cowdery's responsibility to Joseph Smith.

Following the conference, the Lord also provided another revelation addressing a few of the Whitmers. To David Whitmer, the Lord said, "Behold, I say unto you, David, that you have feared man and have not relied on me for strength as you ought. But your mind has been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me, your Maker, and the ministry whereunto you have been called; and you have not given heed unto my Spirit, and to those who were set over you, but have been persuaded by those whom I have not commanded" (D&C 30:1-2, emphasis added).

David Whitmer appears to have forgotten this chastisement and admonition of the Lord and it led to further chastisement over his leadership in Missouri. When economic failures in 1837 led many even prominent members of the Church to be disillusioned, several elders who considered Joseph Smith to be a fallen prophet called a meeting in the Kirtland Temple to appoint David Whitmer as the new Church leader. The effort was unsuccessful, but one of the main charges brought against David Whitmer when he was excommunicated in 1838 was, "possessing the same spirit with the Dissenters" (Donald Q. Cannon and Lyndon W. Cook, eds., Far West Record, Minutes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1844, Salt Lake City, 1983, p. 177). Though he never denied his witness of the Book of Mormon, David Whitmer left the Church and lived his life in Missouri.

Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, the academic authors of The Leadership Challenge, have argued that leadership is about behavior-- an observable set of skills and abilities-- rather than personality. The first of five core practices they endorse is what they call "modeling the way." Modeling the way includes establishing standards of excellence and then setting an example for others to follow so they know how to win. The other four practices are inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart.

David Whitmer may have been demonstrating many of these leadership behaviors as the head of an apostate rebellion, but the best leadership lifts followers to higher heights than they would have found on their own. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young inspired thousands to make incredible journeys, to withstand brutal persecutions, to build some of the finest cities and most industrious economies of their time, to advance technology and accelerate learning, and to make and keep sacred covenants with God. Without the standard of excellence, leadership fizzles and the crowds disperse.

Perhaps a greater threat during the Kirtland years was a man named Warren Parrish. Parrish had served in Zion's Camp and held prestigious positions including as a missionary, a member of the First Quorum of Seventy, and as Joseph Smith's personal secretary and scribe. Yet, one of the reasons the Church-supported bank ultimately failed was because Parrish and others were stealing funds. When this was discovered, Parrish was excommunicated (Smith, George A. "Historical Discourse," Journal of Discourses, 11:1-11).

Warren Parrish responded to excommunication with a bitter drive to destroy Joseph Smith and the Church. He wrote letters to local papers expressing his anger with "infidel" church leaders and used violence and threats of violence to force Joseph Smith to leave Kirtland. Parrish eventually lead a group of dissenters to form a new church based first in Kirtland and then in Far West, Missouri. The new church intended, "to renounce the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, and take the 'Mormon' doctrines to overthrow all the religions in the world, and unite all the Christian churches in one general band, and they to be its great leaders" (Smith, George A. "Divine Origin of 'Mormonism' - Doings and Sayings of Early Opposers and Apostates", Journal of Discourses, 7:111-117).

Among those who supported Warren Parrish was Martin Harris, the man who had financed the first printing of the Book of Mormon and was a witness of the plates from which it was translated. When Parrish began claiming that the Book of Mormon and subsequent revelations were 'nonsense', division arose and Parrish's church soon dissolved. He went on to be a baptist preacher.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) teaches us about the difference between "away from" motivation, or opposition to something, and "toward" motivation, or support for something. Opposition is unsustainable because our motivation wavers as we get some distance from the source of our pain or anger. This is why dieters, who are often more opposed to being fat than they are driven to be fit, often lose motivation after losing only a few pounds (or gaining only a little distance between them and the thing they oppose). Opposition is also less clear (does that mean avoid them or burn down their houses?), doesn't inform our unconscious mind, and is more stressful on our bodies and on our minds.

The devil and his followers provide useful opposition in the plan of God. The destructive path they promote is limited. These spend their strength being angry or claiming they have been wronged rather than doing things that could lead to progress. They are, in the end, damned as much by their own inaction as they are by any external force. In contrast, the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ focus disciples on the powerfully motivating happiness we can experience in this life and the eternal blessings available after death.

Since the time of Joseph Smith, others have claimed the right to lead God's people collectively or in particular doctrines or situations. Upon the death of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon claimed the Lord wanted him to be a guardian of the church rather than continuing with a succession of prophets. In 1858, Walter Gibson claimed to be the prophet for the saints in Hawaii. Local church leaders in Cedar City ordered the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Elias Harrison and William Godbe claimed revelation from deceased church leaders through seances and opposed church counsel on economic matters. Others have claimed inspiration that the church should accept homosexual marriage, ordain women to the priesthood, or support some other position they think is right or true.

Leadership studies give us insights that help explain how the Lord's ordained have been successful leaders; but it does not explain why they were successful or how they knew to use the techniques they did hundreds of years before scholars began studying leadership in earnest. Jim Collins wrote Good to Great 173 years after Joseph Smith needed humility and a focus on the larger organization in addressing Oliver Cowdery's demands. The Lord's pattern for leadership, including first followers, standards of excellence, and "toward" motivation, was established even before the foundation of this world.

President Thomas S. Monson has taught, "When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies" (Ensign, May 1996). The Lord has promised his servants that he, "will go before [their] face... [and] be on [their] right hand and on [their] left, and [His] Spirit shall be in [their] hearts, and [His] angels round about [them]" (D&C 84:88). He inspires his servants to lead well, when they are called to such, and even to use effective methods that may be considered unorthodox or different from the identified or standard practices of the day.

We get to choose who we will follow, but the Lord has promised that if we receive the words of his prophets "as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith," then "the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good and his name's glory" (D&C 21:5-6). When we follow the Lord and his chosen leaders we can "rejoice in his glorious gospel and bask in its life-giving light" while "they who reject this glad message shall never such happiness know" (We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet, Hymns, 19).