RSS Feed

October, 2010

  1. All Hallows Eve

    October 31, 2010 by Ben Tanner

    So today is Halloween.  We had a great time this weekend and enjoyed my daughters school parade, a fun Halloween work party, and of course, trick or treating.  My kids dressed up and this year, my wife and I did too.  I remember in  my mission in Alabama that there were some religious sects that refused to celebrate Halloween.  Some would hold “Hallelujah Night” instead (which I thought was awesome).

    With this specific holiday, I can totally see why certain Christian groups would not feel comfortable celebrating it.  It certainly has pagan roots.   Mormons are neither encouraged to celebrate Halloween or discouraged.  We simply don’t take it that seriously.  We just think of it as another fun way to have some family time.

    We recently hired a new co-worker at my place of employment who’s faith is that of Jehovah’s Witness.  He is a stellar man who has made a very positive impact on the organization of our warehouse.   Beyond that, he’s just a great person in general.

    The only reason I bring up his faith is because from what I understand, they do not celebrate birthdays or holidays.  It has come up a couple of times this last week as we had an employee birthday lunch at work,  and then of course we had the Halloween party.

    While I do not agree with the interpretation of the scriptures that says we should not celebrate birthdays or holidays, I have a great deal of respect for this man and his beliefs.  Think about it for one minute:

    1. There is a birthday or holiday just about every month (sometimes more often than that)
    2. His children would not be able to participate in the activities that their peers are engaged in.
    3. He would have to refrain from Birthday Cake!!! 😀

    I believe that the Lord is blessing this man for showing his commitment and devotion to what he believes is the Lords will.  I think the Lord smiles on us when we are willing to sacrifice our own desires and put Him first.  Now, having said that, I wouldn’t take this too far.  If a person believes that sacrificing their children is the Lords will I don’t believe they will be blessed for doing such a twisted and terrible act.

    But for the most part, if you are engaged in an act of personal sacrifice that is not destructive to others or yourself to show your devotion to the Lord, I would say that this is a sure blessing.

    May the Lord bless everyone who desires to serve Him in  sincerity and truth.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

    CLICK HERE to Chat with Missionaries.

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  2. Choices and Giving…

    October 24, 2010 by Ben Tanner

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  3. About Tolerance…

    October 17, 2010 by Ben Tanner

    Question…

    Since there is so much talk about tolerance these days, how much are we to tolerate?  Where is the line where we are no longer suppose to tolerate?    If we all are just going around tolerating each other can their ever be true unity and peace?  Or is that just a false peace?   I have a family of varying political and moral views.  I think of the 7 children in my parents family we probably span the entire political spectrum.  However, we do love each other and try to see eye to eye as much as we can.  But their are times when our differences blow up into sharp confrontations that are fueled by the very different ways we see the world.

    I think it’s safe to say that if you fundamentally see the world, and the purpose of life in a completely different way than another person, you will never completely be united with that person until one of you changes the way they see the world and their purpose in it.

    It’s not enough just to say.. “we are all Americans”  or “we are all brothers and sisters”.  That will kind of unity will only take you so far.  Eventually something has to give or else  the directions your views take you will just keep taking you farther a part, or they will collide.  It’s a law of motion that an object in motion stays in motion (or rest) unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force.

    It seems that by the time we collide or someones actions or ideas collide with ours each side thinks they are right and has a hard time understanding the other.  And unless the fundamental assumptions about life change, there will be no reconciling the two.

    For example:

    I approach life from the stand point that their is a God, He has given specific commandments and He will hold everyone accountable for breaking those commandments. But if you are willing to repent He has provided a way for you to be completely forgiven and also a way for to change from the inside out and become like Him.

    Others I know and love approach life from the stand point that there is no God, there is no right and wrong and therefore no sin.

    Still others approach life from the stand point that there is  a God, but He “loves” everyone so much that it really doesn’t matter if they keep His commandments only that we be nice to other people.  In other words a kind of selective view of the scriptures where the accountability is taken out and nothing but your ability to tolerate others matters.

    All three are very different ideas, and eventually each of these ideas will collide with each other.  I think there is no way to fully reconcile the three so that each belief system can live fully in unity and harmony with the others.

    You might find more harmony between the second two views but even they will collide with each other as the second one does not care about kindness and the third one still wants to worship something other than itself.

    What value is there in tolerance?  I  think there is value in that it keeps many wars and terrible things from playing out in a violent manner.  However, there a mini-wars raging all about us every day.  Underlying disturbances and disagreements that fuel larger fires that do lead to violence, hurt and pain because people simply “tolerated” the others views or actions too long.  Many say it’s important to just talk about these differences.  Others think that if we just keep our opinions to ourselves we won’t fuel the fire.

    None of us has the perfect picture because none of us are perfect.  However some are closer to the ideal and standard that God has set than others.  When a standard is set, you can do one of four things:

    1. Accept it and live by it
    2. Accept it and try to live by it but fall short
    3. Accept parts of it and reject other parts
    4. Reject it

    I think I fall under the second category and am therefore thankful for redemption through my Savior Jesus Christ.  I hope someday to come into full unity with God and with those I love.  I hope to tolerate people as much as I can but  when our fundamental views collide, I hope to stand up for the Lords standard and to be found living by it.

    True love tolerates people but cannot and does not tolerate sin.  This is the love of God. I cannot tolerate my children not learning to be potty trained…because I love them and want them to be happy successful adults someday.

    What say you about tolerance?

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  4. The Temple, and Peace

    October 10, 2010 by Ben Tanner

    This last week I was tired of staring at my computer screen at work and decided to drive up into the nearby mountains on my lunch break and just look over the valley below.  It was beautiful.  All was quiet and peaceful around me.  My nerves were calmed and I felt grateful for the beautiful world that God has created.

    The next day, I decided to go and visit the nearby draper Temple on my lunch break and participate in the work that takes place within those sacred walls.  When I left the temple and felt peaceful, but it was a different kind of peace than the peace I had experienced the day before.

    The peace I felt the day before came from outside of me.  It was the beauty around me that helped calm me and feel rejuvenated.  However, the peace that I felt after going into the temple was coming from WITHIN me.  I felt I would be at peace even if all around me was not.  It was the peace that comes from the Holy Ghost.

    I hadn’t tried hard to get my emotions going to feel this peace.  All I had done, was go and serve the Lord.  Because of this, I was blessed with the kind of peace that Jesus spoke of when he said…

    John 14: 27

    27 aPeace I leave with you, my bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ctroubled, neither let it be afraid.

    I know that when we turn our hearts to the Lord and His work, He can bless us with not only the beauty and peace he gives all His children, but also the peace that comes to those who try to serve and love Him.

    They are two very different things.  Both are blessings, but the second kind of peace is better and worth more. This kind of peace can me yours too.  I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

    CLICK HERE TO CHAT WITH MISSIONARIES

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  5. General Conference

    October 3, 2010 by Ben Tanner

    Every 6 months the entire Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gathers together in church buildings around the world and in the tabernacle and conference center in Salt Lake City Utah to listen to Prophets, Apostles, and other leaders of the church declare the word of the Lord.

    It is a spiritual feast.   Members are given instruction and the Holy Ghost fills our hearts.  Announcements are made about new temples or other church news.  We are given an opportunity to “Sustain” our church leaders.  This means we are able to raise our arms to the square to show our support for them and declare before the Lord that we are willing to follow their council and His council.

    It is a fantastic time to evaluate your life and make new goals based on the teachings of the living prophets.  It is an open display of the power of modern day revelation.  It is an open display of how the Lord is guiding and directing His church today.

    I testify that God is still speaking to His children.  I testify that God is leading this church.  I also testify that I have been personally blessed in my life by heading the words of the living prophet of God.  Ours is not a dead church that relys on the words of dead prophets alone.   We are a living breathing church that is given revelation for today’s world.

    I invite you to come and listen to a prophets voice.  I invite you to feast at the table of the Lord.  Invite you to visit with the missionaries to learn more.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

    Please Click here to chat with Missionaries.

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments