My Mormon Third Eye: I See... Enduring to Eternity

Sunday, August 8, 2010

I See... Enduring to Eternity

The Mormon Third Eye “saw” this thought resting on top of an Arizona butte watching one of God's sunsets unfold before him. “All things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me.” (Moses 6:63).

Although my testi

mony is just as strong as the next middle-aged Mormon man, until this sunset I was puzzled by a seemingly contradictory commandment- How do we “endure to the end” to receive eternal life (D&C 14:7), when we are taught that our souls are immortal? How can one endure to the end something that has no end? Thinking about that too long may make your head ache.

Then I realized I had the “endure” part all wrong, and now I think I have it right. I'm relieved that at least two apostles, Elder Wirthlin and Elder Uchtdorf (according to an lds.org search on “enduring to the end”) agree with me. Enduring to the end, which is basically nothing more than keeping commandments and commitments after we have completed all the saving ordinances, is supposed to be an uplifting experience. Per Elder Uchtdorf, it involves “making wise choices, including paying our tithes and offerings, honoring our temple covenants, and serving the Lord and one another willingly and faithfully in our Church callings and responsibilities. It means strength of character, selflessness, and humility; it means integrity and honesty to the Lord and our fellowmen. It means making our homes strong places of defense and a refuge against worldly evils; it means loving and honoring our spouses and children.” (October 2007) All this can bring us happiness in this life and the next.

However, the cornerstone of the “enduring” principle is another promise from Elder Uchtdorf in the same address: “By doing our best to endure to the end, a beautiful refinement will come into our lives. We will learn to “do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us] (Matthew 5:44).”

This “beautiful refinement” allows us to even love those close to us who make decisions that disappoint or even offend us. This is how our Heavenly Father and his only begotten son, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, loves all of His children, even those who have turned their backs on Him. He enjoys endless joy loving His children this way for eternity.

If that is the direction I'm going, I guess I can hang on another buzillion years.

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The Mormon Third Eye Quote of the Week

"As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Priesthood Session Conference, October 2012

Why My Mormon Third Eye?

When I politely excused myself in the middle of dinner to make a bathroom stop, how did Mom know that I had uneaten peas in my pocket to flush down the toilet? When I came home late from a youth dance and slid quietly into bed to avoid waking parental units, how did Dad know, without looking at the car, that I smashed in the front bumper? When I watch my daughter play a video game, how do I know that she's not ready for her Geometry final?

Its the Third Eye. The notorious eye in the back of the head, the extra view of life that God blesses parents striving to do the right thing so they can see more of life than the children they chase after.

Our third eye also permits us to see things and feel emotions that are too refined, too far on the edge of our standard two-eyed peripheral vision to enjoy in its fullness. I've learned that I have a Mormon Third Eye; that is, as a life-long, fully-dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have unique perspective on how the doctrines of the gospel and the demands of my faith in them intersect every other part of my mortal existence to create the entertaining, self-deprecating kaleidoscope of my life.

So... for those of you bold and bored enough to read this far, every so often I'll be sharing here what my Mormon third eye sees. Third eyes are relatively huge; they see the humorous, the entertaining, the embarrassing, the beautiful, the inspirational, and even the moral and political; however, they tend to ignore the evil, depressing and destructive: there is enough of that in world already!

The Four Secrets to Successful Living

Always Go Where There is Free Food - This includes ward and work parties, wedding receptions and missionary open houses; the money you spend to buy the ingredients for the world-famous triple chocolate cake you bring doesn’t count.
Never Pay Full Price for Anything – See my posts on Black Friday escapades for more information on this.
Never, Ever Press the Red Button - Usually, if you are faced with a red button somewhere, don’t press it – it usually means trouble. For example, the red button launches the missiles. Do yourself a favor and don’t press it.
Any Problem You Face Can Be Solved With Bungee Cords and Duct Tape - Bungee cord and duct tape technology has saved many marriages and ward parties. I’m not just talking about problems with plumbing or keeping groceries from bouncing around the trunk; I know of relationship and family issues that have been solved with creative applications of these two substances.