My Mormon Third Eye: I See... My Two Dads

Sunday, July 3, 2016

I See... My Two Dads

I have two fathers. I knew the first one, before he passed away almost 32 years ago, as a strong man with a gentle side who loved me. He wasn't perfect, but his lasting gift to me was the clear line between right and wrong. There was never any question between right and wrong and good and evil. I always knew him as someone dedicated to the gospel and his family. When he summoned up the courage the last few years his life to write about it and reveal the history of his wild side growing up, it made me respect him even more for how far he had come to love us and take care of us.

The second father is actually my first father; my Father in Heaven. He has always been there for me and loves me perfectly. He shows that love for me by creating and executing that Great Plan of Happiness, the Plan of Salvation, so that I could come to earth and learn through my own experience the difference between good and evil. Although I've never seen him with my physical eyes, nonetheless I often sense the indescribable love he has for me, usually in quiet pondering moments during my Saturday morning temple shift or on slow lazy Sunday afternoons when I'm blogging for the Mormon Third Eye (like I am right now). The epitome of that love was the great Atonement of his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that makes it possible for me to repent of my sins, endure my sorrows, and return to his perfect presence some day. Matthew 5:16, We should let our light shine to bring glory to God

Matthew 5:16, We should let our light shine to bring glory to God

I have a lot of work to do first. I look forward to meeting both of my fathers some day.

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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.