Sunday, December 5, 2010

A consecrated life

In General Conference, Elder D. Todd Christofferson quoted Elder Marvin L. Evans in a 1969 pamphlet.

“Life offers you two precious gifts—one is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will. You are free to exchange your allotment of time for thrills. You may trade it for base desires. You may invest it in greed. . . .Yours is the freedom to choose. But these are no bargains, for in them you find no lasting satisfaction.

"Every day, every hour, every minute of your span of mortal years must sometime be accounted for. And it is in this life that you walk by faith and prove yourself able to choose good over evil, right over wrong, enduring happiness over mere amusement. And your eternal reward will be according to your choosing.

"A prophet of God has said: ‘Men are that they might have joy’—a joy that includes a fullness of life, a life dedicated to service, to love and harmony in the home, and the fruits of honest toil—an acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—of its requirements and commandments. Only in these will you find true happiness, the happiness which doesn’t fade with the lights and the music and the crowds.”

It is sobering to consider that every day, every hour, every minute must sometime be accounted for. I consider the care with which we account for every dollar, quarter, and penny. How is our time spent?

Caring for others or selfish endeavors
Visiting the lonely, or becoming the lonely
Feasting at the banquet of the scriptures or starving while devouring novels.
Growing closer or growing apart
Playing with others, or criticizing others
Solving problems, or making problems.

I would choose the former, forsake the later. Worn down by the cares of the world, we slide away. Lifted by the sabbath and daily counsel we climb back up. The more we feast and care, the more we maintain an abundant life. Faith/trust in Christ overcome the cares of the world.

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