Don't hold back...

I saw a movie once that tells a story of two brothers. They would go to a lake near their home and swim a sort of race. The object of the race was not to finish first, but it was to not be the first to turn back.

Part of the story was that the younger brother was stronger because of a genetic advantage that he had. The older brother had asthma and several other things that held him back so he always lost when they raced.

Looking back on his experience the older brother explained that the crux of the game was saving enough energy to be able to make the swim back to shore, only going as far as you knew you could swim back.

Finally, there was one instance when the older brother won. Years later the younger brother asked the older brother how he was able to win in spite of all his challenges. In answer to his question the younger brother responded that he didn't save any energy for the swim back. He was so focused on his goal that he used all of his energy to achieve it.

I saw this movie several years ago and I've often pondered the wisdom of his decision. After all, it is kind of dangerous to use up all of your energy to swim to the middle of a lake with no way of getting back other than using your own -now depleted-energy. When he decided to not hold anything back he had enough trust that everything would work out to outweigh the risk of drowning in the lake.

The movie doesn't really specify what he was putting his trust in, but when I apply the story to myself I put my trust in the Lord. There are some things that the Lord asks me to do that seem too hard for me because of my weaknesses. I am often afraid to use up all of my energy in attempting to do the Lord's will for fear of "drowning" (failing). BUT, deep down I know that I won't ever really fail if I put my trust in the Lord.

There are some great scriptures that help me to remember that having trust in the Lord always works out.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7

I know that the above is true. We can do anything the Lord expects of us if we just put our trust in Him and exert all of our energy in accomplishing it. I invite all of you to test the Lord, put your trust in Him and see if everything won't just work out for your good. I know it will.

"Shut da door..."

I have this song that randomly pops up in my head sometimes. It is an African-American Spiritual that some of my friends sang in choir in 7th grade, it goes...

Shut da door, keep out de devil.
Shut da door, keep de devil in de night.
Shut da door, keep out de devil.
Light the candle everything's alright.
Light the candle everything's alright.

They would sing it all the time so I picked it up and I still sing it almost ten years later. I think a big reason why this song has stuck with me so long is the uplifting message it contains. I love that it teaches that we have power to keep the devil out of our lives, all we need to do is "Shut da door" to his influences.

It goes on to suggest that we need to do something in addition to "Shut[ting] da door" before "everything's alright," we need to light the candle. When speaking to His disciples and others in Jerusalem the Savior said,

He taught something similar to the people in ancient America when He visited them,

"Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life." 3 Nephi 15:9 (emphasis added).

I know that as we "light the candle" and invite the light of the Savior into our lives, we will have the power to "keep out de devil," and ultimately, we will be blessed with eternal life where "everything [will be] alright."

Patterns of Light

I just watched this three part series about Light and the Savior. I loved how an Apostle of the Lord, Elder David A. Bednar, so beautifully explains how the Lord communicates with and influences us. I invite all to watch these videos and share your insights and feelings.