Escaping Enemy Territory

I love learning about my family.  My grandfather told me some stories about a relative who served during WWII as a paratrooper.  This story is one of my favorites:
"Asael Lyman was part of the 82nd Airborne which went in behind the German lines into Holland. They were in wooden gliders and lost a third of their men before they even got on the ground. Only a handful of men survived this campaign.

"He goes from an innocent country boy to a battle hardened soldier in a matter of three days or so. He told me about trying to dig with his nose because he was in a partially dug foxhole and the Germans were trying to dig him out with a machine gun. Bullets were going through his clothes. The Americans were eventually pinned down and captured and put in a prison camp after riding for several days in a train boxcar where they could not lay or sit down so many were crammed into the cars.

"While in the camp, he saved the cigarettes he was supplied by the Red Cross in his mattress until he had enough to buy a few potatoes which he traded over the fence with the locals for a map, and compass, and two Italian worker's uniforms. He and an Italian man walked right out the front gate and hid in barns and other places until they got back to friendly forces.

"His parents didn't know he was alive for 6 months until he called from New York on his way home."
(W. Wilcken)

Aseal reached the Allied forces by listening to the Machine Gun fire of the two opposing armies.  You may not think they would be different, but because of the abilities of both armies, they manufactured different equipment.  Being trained to go behind enemy lines, Aseal knew what to look for.

We are in enemy territory right now.  Sounds stupid but think about it, Satan rebelled against God.  He is going around trying to destroy the souls of men, and we are stuck on his ground.  But it's not hopeless.  Even though we have a lot of opposition in our way, we can still make it back, even those under Satan's grip.  Our search for happiness or even truth will help us receive certain tools needed for the journey back home.  God has given us the scriptures for a map so as to have an idea what we need to do.  Heartfelt prayer provides direction in our journey, much like a compass.  As we pray, truly seeking God's help, we are given direction through the quiet whisperings of the Holy Ghost.  You can go ahead and ignore it if you want, you are not going to get everything you want following the Holy Ghost. But you will be the happiest.  The road is going to be rough, and you are guaranteed to experience opposition along the way.  But as you press forward towards your eternal goal (heaven), you will make it home.

Something I've found fascinating about the world around us, is everything has a certain "voice" or "feeling" telling us what it is.  This is better known as the Light of Christ.  We are born with the ability to tell good from evil.  No one is born bad.  As we try certain activities we will get a certain feeling about what it is.  When an activity is bad, our conscience will give us a bad feeling to warn us.  Because the rate of fire on a German machine gun is faster than an American one, Aseal was able to tell which army he was near.  When we feel good, it must be the place we are at is good.  If we get a bad feeling as we near a certain place, it is wise to stay away from that place.

God has given us the tools we need to make it home.  Christ has provided us a way to make it home.  We are separated from God here on earth.  He wants us home.  Can you imagine the homecoming when we make it to heaven?  Our job is not to sit there and wait to be rescued.  Often times it requires us to rise up and go, because Christ cannot save us in sin.  He asks us to leave our nets, follow him, and he will give us eternal life.  As we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost we are able to stay away from destructive influences that will tear us down.  The gentle promptings will only be felt so long as we invite it into our lives.  The spirit is neither loud nor forceful, but it's impression is greater than anything man has created.  That is what will lead us home.

President Boyd K. Packer tells us what the Spirit is there for:

Finding direction is most important.  See how to filter the voices:

Purity: a Healthy Spirit

One of the stories of the Savior is when he comes across a leper who called on him saying, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."  Without hesitation the Savior said, "Be thou Clean."  Instantly the man was healed of his leprosy.  Someone who was a leper was often shunned from society.  The body was literally unclean, which explained the cause of leprosy.  The neglected body was taken over by the disease.  We all know the benefits of a healthy body.  The activities you can participate in are endless.  However, when the body is neglected by poor eating, lack of exercise, or exposure to harmful substances like drugs will destroy it.   Purity is caring for the spirit.

What is Purity? Obviously cleanliness, but it is in a perfect form.  Purity in spirit is being clean from sin.  But why is purity so important?  Every culture in the world has some method of purifying their people.  Even Atheists, but that is a civic thing.  Purification is a process in which the body/spirit is cleansed in order to prepare the person for a special event such as marriage or entering manhood to name a few.  In Ancient Israel, the Levites had to be purified because they handled the Priesthood (God's power) and were given charge of handling sacred objects, such as the Ark of the Covenant.  Prophets were subject to purification too.  The process was not some crazy ritual where there were tom-toms and chants all through out.  It was more of a process of the heart, a change of character.

The same thing applies today, and the process remains the same.  Before we can handle anything sacred was must be pure before God.  This does not mean become a germ-a-phobic just so that you can be clean on the outside.  A clean body is good, but a filthy spirit will keep us from God.  The Prophet Isaiah said to abstain from the unclean things of the world and to be clean in order to bear the vessels of the Lord.  The vessels of the Lord could be the Priesthood, positions of leadership or even raising children.  If we are not pure in heart why should we be allowed to touch those things that are important to God?  Someone who is impure will abuse the privileges and powers God gives them.

One of the great responsibilities of having a pure heart before God is to help others reach that point.  One way is to be an example to others.  Even though you seem to remain anonymous, there are people who are watching you.  If you follow the commandments given to us by God, others will see in your actions that you are special.  This will inspire them to change, because obedience to God brings happiness and everyone wants to be happy.  One of the changes that may come on you is you will want to see others succeed as well.

One thing that is guaranteed to happen when you purify yourself before God is you will abhor sin.  Everything the world has that is degrading and unhealthy to your soul will be rejected.  Just like a healthy body is more able to fight sicknesses and infections when it is healthy, your spirit will reject evil by telling you this is not good so long as it is pure.  The Holy Ghost can help play a role in that too.

The most important part of becoming pure is the Atonement.  No one can take away the effects of sin alone.  Just like a regular person cannot fix a broken bone with out medical help, we cannot cleanse ourselves from sin without the Savior.  Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane and took upon himself the punishments for sin.  Because of that we are purified so long as we repent of our sins and resolve never to do it again. Being unrepentant is like finding a black widow and having it bite you after getting treatment for it the first time.

In my studies I have discovered to know that purity before God brings a very special gift from Him.  In Doctrine and Covenants 50:28 it says that those who are pure can have possession over all things.  This does not mean you are entitled to riches and pomp.  But you are able to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to which brings the greatest wealth, even greater than all the gold on this earth.  This is something that can only be obtained by the Holy Ghost which only available when one is obedient to God and lives worthy of the accompaniment of the Spirit.  Through Prayer, Diligent Scripture Study, Repentance and Obedience to the Commandments of God makes it possible for everything that God has promised is ours.  But only if we remain pure can this happen.

Good vs Evil

A classic element to books and movies is: Good vs Evil.  It's almost unheard of to not have the two opposing forces going at each other all the time.  No matter what there is always those two opposing forces battling it out for supremacy over the other.  Everyone is all familiar with the Star Wars Saga.  I find a perfect example of a Good vs Evil element in these movies/stories.  Two of the key forces is the Jedi and the Sith.  These two opposing parties used to united but the Sith were power hungry, and broke away.  This began an eternal war.  I find this very similar to God and Satan.  Satan used to be with God, but rebelled out of greed and was cast out.  In his wrath he began to tempt men here on earth to lead them away from God.  Satan's tactics are clever and well devised.  Yet there is a way to define which side you are serving.

The Jedi are the "Keepers of the Peace", and are there to protect the weak.  Some Jedi are better than others when it come to certain skills in the force. (For example: swordsmanship, mastering the force, foresight, etc.)  They work together to help keep the peace in the galaxy.  With God, his mission is to help all men to come unto Christ and become perfect.  He works with our weaknesses and turns them into strengths.  We each have special talents and abilities that can help in God's work.  To know that you are following God you need: Faith, Hope, Virtue, Patience, Humility, Diligence, Knowledge, Obedience, and Charity. (Moroni 10:20-21) Charity is the greatest of all of these attributes.  It is the pure love of Christ.  Charity doesn't put itself above others, don't put others down, looks for the good in others, and exercises all the attributes previously listed with love to all men. (Moroni 7:44-47, 1 Cor. 13:4-8, 13.)

The Sith, as you already know, are a break off of the Jedi Order.  They are in a desperate and greedy search for power.  Life has no meaning to them, and often they will fight each other for more power.  With Satan he tries to get us to be self-centered.  Everything that Satan does is the exact opposite of God.  God is trying to help us be happy.  Satan is trying to make us as miserable as he is (2 Nephi 2:27).  His traits are: Pride, Greed, Selfishness, Self-pity, Anger, Laziness, and anything meant for self gratification.  Satan uses the lie, "you're not good enough" but God says, "I can help you become better."  You are choosing happiness, or misery.

What side do you Choose?

The Sculptor

". . . Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen . . . for ye recieve no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Ether 12:6)
"My Son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment . . . And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high . . ." (D&C 121:7-8)
" . . . know thou, my Son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (D&C 122:7)

There was a certain Sculptor, whose name was Jacob, who was the creator of wonderful pieces of art.  He took great care in creating these sculptures.  Every day he would sit down and shape and mold a lump of clay and turn it into a beautiful statue or figurine.  One day Jacob set his clay on the table and began to mold and shape this mound of clay.  As the clay began to dry and harden he would moisten it with water so that it was easier to mold.  As time went on this sculpture was refusing to be shaped any more.  The molding and shaping was very uncomfortable to the sculpture and it hurt to be changed so often.  As it refused to budge Jacob applied more water only to find it just as difficult to shape it. When Jacob finally shaped the sculpture the way he liked, he set it in the furnace solidify it.  In the fires the sculpture melted and shape itself into a hideous and deformed shape.  The fires were too hot and the sculpture bent under the pressure.  When Jacob took it out he looked over it, and with sorrow in his heart, threw it out with the garbage.

The next day Jacob put a new lump of clay on the table and once again began to shape, and mold.  When it began to dry and harden he would moisten it with water. As time went on the sculpture cried out, "Master, my afflictions are great and my only relief is the water that I only receive occasionally.  Why must I endure so much?"  Jacob paused at his work and replied, "My friend, what I have done is necessary for you to be a wonderful piece of art.  I know your trials are hard but I know it will bring you the most joy." The sculpture agreed and allowed Jacob to do what he found necessary.  When Jacob was finished he carried the sculpture in the furnace to be made solid.  "My friend," said Jacob, "This will be your most trying time, but it will also bring you the greatest joy.  It will be but a small moment, but will be for your good."  The door was closed and the fires were set.  The pressure was strong and the sculpture was tempted to bend, but he trusted in the word of Jacob and held firm and undaunted.  The fires died and Jacob pulled out the sculpture and set it on the table.  He looked over it and looked pleased.

Jacob then carried the sculpture to a great mansion and set him down.  Before leaving Jacob said, "You have been strong in your trials and now you may enjoy peace and in Paradise."  As Jacob left the sculpture looked into a mirror and saw his reflection.  The sculpture was a wonderful, and perfect, work of art.

Enduring not Racing

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfast faith in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have Eternal Life."
-2 Nephi 31:20

Life is not a race, but a test of endurance.

One of my favorite memories was running the St. George Marathon.  It was 26.2 miles, and I ran it in 4:12:56.  It was my first marathon and it was quite an achievement, especially my time.  I spent a little more than a year training for this event, running 25-30+ miles a week including 5ks, 10ks, and an occasional half marathon.  It was long, it was hard at times, But it was fun, it was worth it and I am proud of that accomplishment.  Some things that helped me finish my marathon were: Pacing myself, Thinking Positively, Encouraging or serving others, and being Diligent to the end.  I like to see life as another marathon and these four ideas can help us in our "race" in life.

Pace (balance) yourself
To often people get caught up in life.  Everything is at a constant fast pace.  This will usually causes people to disregard certain things which would be of the most importance.  When you don't have a proper balance you will get frustrated and worn out.  A proper balance will include: Family, God, Prayer, and daily scripture study.  Properly balancing yourself will place peace in your life.  It also makes frustrations easier to handle.  (Mosiah 4:17) If I would have sprinted the whole marathon on what training I had, I most likely would have quit at mile 5.  When we are constantly hurrying about life and trying to get everything done at once our own "stamina" would eventually break and then we become bitterly frustrated.

Think Positively
In Matt. 5:12 it says, "Rejoice, and be exceeding(ly) glad: for great is your reward in heaven".  God doesn't want us to be gloomy and sad.  We have much to look forward to.  In a marathon negative thinking will slow even a well seasoned runner down.  I've noticed that when I'm feeling whiny I am really slow.  Life doesn't seem to have much of a purpose when I'm depressed.  When I'm happy I have a ton of energy and I can plow right through obstacles.  It is the same for everyone. So be happy!

Serve Others
I've been told the best way to shoo gloom out the door is by service.  When I serve I feel good.  When I ran my marathon, I would do everything I could to encourage the people I past to keep moving forward.  When I did that I forgot how sore I was and made a few friends on the way.  When we reach out a serve those around us we brighten our day and help lift up the heads that hang down.  I can guarantee that life will mean so much more when you use it to help others because "when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17, Matt 25:40).  We can be God's hands on earth and help them find joy in their trials.

Be Diligent to the end!
There is a point where most runners hit a point where they just want to give up.  This is often called a wall because that's what it feels like; hitting a brick wall.  There will be times where we will hit a "wall" in our life.  Times where we feel like we can't go on.  Balance, Optimism, and service is a continual process.  There will be times where you hit a "wall" and you just want to say, "I've had enough, this is to hard."  Don't quit.  God has told us to "be strong and of good courage (Joshua 1:9." Life is not an eternal torment, it is to help us grow.  God gave us difficult experiences for our good, we just need to press forward with faith (D&C 121:7-8, 122:7).  When I crossed that finish line I felt like I had accomplished a great task, and it felt good.

The end is always there, and worth the trial.

Life is going to be hard, but who said it couldn't be worth it?  Just like I felt proud of my accomplishment after that 26.2 mile test of endurance we will feel great joy knowing that we came, saw and conquered our trials with high heads.  Our reward is a great reward, more than we can imagine.  All we have to do is press forward with faith and God will reward with eternal life.