Thoughts on Spirituality

Liz and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting today, and I learned so much in preparing my talk, that I wanted to share it with all of you. Our topic was Spiritual Experiences, and I was particularly impressed to focus my remarks on passing spirituality to our children. I hope there's something for you to enjoy. The articles referenced in here are truly astounding, and I recommend a separate read of them; I just learned so much. Love you all!

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In a world whose values and norms are increasingly distanced from the teachings of our Saviour, the strengthening influence of the Holy Ghost is increasing vital to our success in our journey back to our Father in Heaven. Many of us, as parents, have a responsibility to ensure not only our own spiritual well-being, but also that of our children and families. While the task may seem daunting, the solution in surprising simple: We must simple ensure that our children have more spiritual experiences than worldly ones. This means that we, as parents, must do [at least] two important things: First, we must set high standards of spirituality in our homes, and second, we must create an atmosphere in which spiritual experiences are sought out and experienced on a regular basis.

What are these norms for which we should strive? We should emphasize prayer and scripture study within the walls of our home. Not only should we hold regular family prayers and scripture study, but we must also increase the amount and quality of time spent alone with our Father in contemplating and learning our responsibilities, whatever they must be. Neil J. Flinders, in the July 1976 Ensign observed, “I find it easier to teach my children if I talk to God about my children as much as I talk to my children about God” (Neil J. Flinders, Ensign, July 1976).

In addition to teaching and reinforcing these habits, we must be an example of covenant making and keeping. We should attend church meetings weekly, and worship in the temple regularly, as often as we can. Reflect often on the covenants we have made, and strive to show our commitment to those covenants in the decisions we make and the way we live our lives every day. Even the clothes we wear should be a testament to the covenants we hold dear.

As we create an atmosphere of reverence and covenant-keeping within our homes, we must also develop relationships with our children that are stronger than the relationships they develop with their friends. The influences of the world are strong, but as righteous parents, we can be a force for good in our children’s lives, even when they seem most susceptible to the whims of the world, if we stay close to them. While striving to do so, we must take the time to teach our children to create spiritual experiences in their lives rather than waiting for them to happen to them or to us.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks observed, “Experience teaches that strong faith and spirituality do not pass automatically from one generation to another.” (Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Dec. 1998) As an example, consider the people of King Benjamin, who received his great teachings. These people were so profoundly affected that they had “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually,” and experienced “a mighty change” in their hearts (Mosiah 5:2) Only a few years later, however, the scriptures record the following about their children, the rising generation of Nephites: “They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ. And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened. And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God” (Mosiah 26:1–4). A similar account follows the conversion of many because of the teachings of Samuel the Lamanite in 3 Nephi. In our own day, Elder Merrill J. Bateman, in his role as President of Brigham Young University, instructed that, “The intellect is housed in a spirit that must also be educated,” and “Sacred . . . truths . . . are the foundational truths.” (BYU Devotional Jan. 1996). This wise counsel follows a pattern set by the Lord in D&C 93, wherein he instructs the saints to “bring up [their] children in light and truth.” (D&C 93:40). In addition, President Spencer W. Kimball instructed, “Of all treasures of knowledge, the most vital is the knowledge of God: his existence, powers, love, and promises. … If we spend our mortal days in accumulating secular knowledge to the exclusion of the spiritual then we are on a dead-end street, for this is the time for man to prepare to meet God; this is the time for faith to be built. … Secular knowledge, important as it may be, can never save a soul nor open the celestial kingdom.”

Given so convincing evidence and prophetic counsel, how can we ensure that our children are taught in light and truth and have the best chance to continue in it when they have left the sphere of our direct influence? The answer, as always, begins in our own lives, minds, and hearts. In order for us to have the power necessary to teach or children to create and grasp spiritual experiences, we must first learn the process for ourselves and apply it successfully in our own lives.

We have learned, from experience and the words of the prophets, that sin is the result of thought and preoccupation, and only then will the unhappy actions manifest themselves. For example, in the musical Camelot, we witness the heartbreaking fall of the queen, Guinevere, who violates her marriage vows, and hurts all those to whom she was closest. This action, however, was not an instant one. From the very beginning of the show, Guinevere is flirting with disaster as she sings longingly of “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood” and ponders the potential in “The Lusty Month of May.” Her actions began as small seeds of thought, and grew, steadily, bit by bit, into life-altering decisions.

If unrighteous behaviour is the result of the seeds of forethought and planning, then it follows that righteous behaviour and habits must result from a similar process of germination and nourishment. If we can clearly see that poor decisions and actions are planned, and that growth and nourishment can be achieved in the same way, the obvious question that presents itself, then, is “Why don’t we plan our spirituality?” Rex W. Allred, in the February 1977 New Era, elaborated on this principle, “A rehearsing of each of our lives would probably indicate that we drift along from one happenstance spiritual experience to another. We don’t plan their arrival, nor do we know or control when they are coming. We simply catch them when we can and try to profit by them. They strengthen us for a while and then pass on. Again the question, “Why shouldn’t spirituality, or spiritual experiences, or spiritual strength—why shouldn’t these things be planned and deliberate processes? The answer must be, “They should be planned and deliberate processes.” The serious accomplishment of any important goal must be planned out and systematically pursued if results are expected. So also must we plan our spiritual lives.” In order to accomplish this lofty goal, might I join Brother Allred in suggesting eight steps that will virtually guarantee a greater level of spirituality and more frequent spiritual experiences for us and our families:

1. Meditate on your current standing before the Lord, and your progress in keeping your covenants and His commandments.
2. Resolve to take action based on your earnest and thorough meditation.
3. Translate your intentions into a specific Plan for improvement.
4. Pray mightily for strength and for the results you desire. A single prayer is not sufficient, but a pattern of prayer that includes requesting, humbling, and refining as you seek to understand the Lord’s will.
5. Fast as appropriate, in conjunction with your earnest prayer. The Lord has given us this key for unlocking spiritual matters, and He promises that using it will bring us closer to Him.
6. Study the word of the Lord in the scriptures every single day. Often the answers to our questions or the specific guidance we need will be found as we pour over the words of the prophets.
7. Serve. The Lord has said that we find ourselves by losing ourselves in the service of others.
8. Thank the Lord for the strength, answers, guidance, and blessings He gives during the process of spiritual refinement. (Rex W. Allred, New Era February 1977)

Receiving the spirituality and experiences promised can be sudden and impressive, or it can take a great deal of time and patience. Elder David A. Bednar, in our most recent conference discussed the receipt of spiritual light, contrasting the turning on of a light bulb with the gentle rising of the sun. Sometimes we will recognize instantly the blessing, answers, and instruction the Lord offers. Sometimes it will happen gradually, over time, and the small changes will be virtually imperceptible as we enjoy the fruits of greater spiritual light. Often the process itself will be the answer that we seek, and sometimes the Lord will withhold the answer until we are of sufficient strength and maturity to receive it. Given so many variations of the experience, one thing is key: We, and in turn the children we teach, must wait on the Lord in patience for the spiritual experiences that will, unfailingly, follow. Doing so in consistency and unwavering faith will not only creates more spiritual experiences for us, but will also help lift us, and our families, to a higher spiritual plane.

I know that as we create patterns of spiritual growth in our lives, we will reap the results promised by the Lord. I have experience for myself occasional blinding moments of light, and more often quiet moments of reflection in which I realized that the light in my life was greater than it was during my last quiet moment. I know that our Heavenly Father knows and loves each of us, and that he knows and loves each of our children as well, and wants to help us in the great task of teaching them how to return to His loving arms. With my testimony, I leave the eloquent and promising words of an Apostle of the Lord “As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will ‘walk in the light of the Lord’ (Isaiah 2:5; 2 Nephi 12:5). Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding (see Alma 5:7; 32:28), and direct and protect you and your family" (Elder David A. Bednar, Ensign, May 2011.)