The Lord's Work

I have recently been trying to establish a habit of memorizing scriptures. I'll memorize one every day (unless it's long), and if I remember it the next day, I'll check it off and move to the next one. The scripture that came up this morning made me think a bit. It's 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

I first discovered this verse during my college years (though I had read it a few times before). It speaks to me of always being willing to serve others in whatever context I am in. As a member of the Church (my shorthand for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), it means being willing to accept callings extended by my church leaders and to be vigilant in the fulfilling of my duties. This includes such things as home teaching, helping with the planning and execution of activities, and well, serving in whatever way I can.

But the application of this scripture extends far beyond formal church duties. For what is "the work of the Lord"? Clearly, it includes anything the Lord Himself would do. This idea has implications for my daily walk - for my often mundane interactions with others at home, in the grocery store, and on the road.

I once heard some wise counsel that I try to implement in my day-to-day. "Never suppress a generous impulse." There's that quiet, inner part of us that will occasionally give us hints as to how we can brighten another's day or lift another's burden. But how easy it is to ignore the nudge, seeing as we're almost late for that meeting or already have too much on our plates. Yet the principle is clear. "Your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

I hope I can do better, remembering that as small as the service that I feel nudged to offer may be, it will not have been in vain in the Lord.

What this Blog is About

Well, now that you know a little bit about me, you should probably know what I hope this blog will be. As the title describes, I hope to make of this a bit of a journal of the things that have defined my Latter-day Saint experience. Probably there will be some day-to-day reflections and that sort of thing, but I also hope to recount past experiences that have increased my faith or helped to define me as an individual of faith.

I also hope that this blog will be a place for faith-building discussion. Feel free to comment, ask questions, or respond to questions. Please note that I will be moderating the comments and will not post comments that are abusive, argumentative, or that belittle individuals or attack faith. The primary filter for all content will be: does it invite to do good? does it persuade to believe in Christ? (See Moroni 7:16)

I hope this endeavor bears fruit. I hope that it allows me to think deeper about my faith and that it brings spiritual events from my past back to my mind. And I hope you, the reader, find some value in it as well. I hope you'll not hesitate to contribute, and that it will be a tool for building faith in any who encounter it. I look forward to watching its development.

Who I Am

First, as the name of this blog indicates, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's also known as the Mormon Church. I have been a member all of my life (all of 35 years), and it has been a remarkably positive influence in my life as long as I can remember, though I didn't always appreciate it at the time. Interestingly, I feel its influence even more powerfully now than I ever have. It's not something that has become old hat, rather, it has been a developing, crescendo-ing exploration as it brings me closer and closer to my Savior and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. This aspect of religion has caught me somewhat by surprise - after all, wouldn't you think that reading the same books (the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, the Holy Bible) and discussing the same principles week in and week out would get old? It hasn't for me, which strengthens my conviction that this is pure truth.

I'm currently a student, taking classes in preparation for a finance PhD. I've always been studious, loved reading, and really gotten a kick out of school. I don't think I ever foresaw how much education I would end up receiving, but in my opinion, it's a great way to spend a life, so long as I'm able to provide for myself.

I'm single - never married. This is not by design. I've been hoping and praying for marriage for many years. One day it will come.

Like many young Latter-day Saints, I served a mission for the Church shortly after graduating from high school. My mission was in the Southwest United States, including southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. I taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Spanish. Most missionaries report that it was the best two years of their lives, and that was my experience. At least, it was the best two years up to that point. Now I view my mission as a wonderful experience, and the foundation for what my life has become since then. All the good that I have experienced since my mission flows in one way or another from my mission experience - specifically, from the way the Lord was able to change me during that time of sacrifice and growth.

Well, I could go on. But I'll leave the rest for another day.