My Mormon Third Eye: I See... Growing Up Easter

Sunday, April 8, 2012

I See... Growing Up Easter

Ever since we are old enough to know there is somebody out there besides ourselves, we all want to grow up to be like someone else. These are the people we look up to, both fictional and real. Typically when we are very young, we faithfully express inner desires to serve and help others, so we might yearn to be a policeman, a fireman, or one of many superheroes. If we are lucky parents, we have children who want to grow up and be like us. What our kids fail to realize, however, is that as parents, even parents whose children have left the homestead to find their own pastures to graze on, we are still growing up.

My wife was heartbroken when Sister Julie B. Beck was released as the General Relief Society President in General Conference last weekend. She appreciated Sis. Beck's dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ, her bold, direct messages to the sisters of the church on faith, family, and relief, and her boundless compassion for all sisters in all situations of life. More than once she exclaimed that she wanted to be like her when she grew up. It was a frank confession that Sis. Beck possessed personality traits and personal beliefs worth emulating.

Easter is the season where we are reminded that we all have a lot of growing up to do. The scriptures teach us to emulate the perfect compassion and love that the Savior held for all mankind. It is also an opportunity to stretch the limits of our gratitude as we strive to thank him in our own puny mortal ways for the atonement he wrought on our behalf. We may never be able to fully comprehend the depth of his sacrifice and the debt we owe him, but I suspect he understands that. He accepts us as we are, and finds joy in knowing that we are at least on the path to growing up to be like him someday.

Easter is a time to show our gratitude to the Savior by recommitting ourselves to grow up to be more like him. Just as earthly parents find great joy in watching their children mature into responsible adults, we have a Heavenly Father who watches over us as we strive to become more Christ-like.

I'm ready to grow up. Are you?

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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.