Pattern for Success
In June 1968, I had
just turned 19 years old and began serving a 2 ½ year assignment in the
Netherlands Mission. That was a tough
and long time to be away from home as a missionary. There were no phone calls, no Skype two times
per year, no email and no Facebook. I
communicated with my family and friends by writing a letter once a week by
hand, placing a stamp on it and sending it “Air Mail”; a skill few people know
or understand now days. Each letter was
written on a piece of light blue paper that folded into an envelope. My mother would typically not hear a thing
from me for several weeks, then miraculously the US Post Office would deliver
several weekly letters from me to her, all neatly tied together with a
string. What made it so ironic, I
received the same excellent service from Nederland Post. I guess this proves the post office does need
to raise the cost of stamps – to pay for storage. My mother states she eventually wondered if
she really had a son and if her dimmed memories were only a dream.
I returned home just
before Christmas 1970. The home coming started
with the excitement of meeting my family at the airport. That is a feeling one never forgets, a
feeling of satisfaction, having done something difficult, love and reunion with
family members. I felt confident and
optimistic. I was eager to start my
regular life. My home seemed huge and
plush. The towns had not changed which
was somehow comforting. The streets were
wider than I remembered. People over 30
years old looked the same. Those who
were younger than 12 years old when I left had completely changed. I did not recognize them. About a month later at Utah State University,
the newness of being home wore off and I really fell into home sickness for the
little country on the shores of the North Sea that I loved so dearly and I
realized I was not going back. Full time
missionary life was over.
We have a large
surge of missionaries going home in the next few months and eventually everyone
will go home. Each of you will have your
own experience of that homecoming and getting on with your normal life. I want to outline the pattern for success
that the Lord has given, as you now pick your way through the mine fields of
regular life. It is a road map for
success. This pattern is found in the
book of Moses and comes with the backdrop of Father in Heaven’s expectation for
each of you to be an agent not an object and to act and not be acted upon in
this life. (2 Nephi 2:14, 26)
1 - Dress and keep
the earth. “And I, the Lord God, took the man, and put him into the Garden of
Eden, to dress it, and to keep it.”
(Moses 3:15) You are given
dominion over the whole earth and commanded to subdue it. I believe we have a responsibility to care
for the earth and prohibit pollutions and waste, but still develop and use its
resources as we strive to raise our standard of living. Remember before you join some radical environmental
campaign dedicate to destroying our economic system, there is enough to spare. The Lord said:
17 For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I
prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto
themselves. (DC 104:17)
2 – Get Married. “And
the rib which I, the Lord God, had taken from man, made I a woman, and brought
her unto the man.” (Moses 3:22) Marriage and family are central to God’s plan
for your eternal destiny. Do it when you
know you have found the one. Do not over
engineer your life and intentionally delay marriage after you have found the
one. Single life is intended in most
cases to be short term.
3 – Cleave unto your
spouse. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.”
(Moses 3:24) To the unmarried
this may seem automatic to accomplish. But,
cleaving to one another is to always adore one another and let it be seen. Also, infidelity does not suddenly happen out
of the clear blue sky. It comes as a
scheduled airline. Early signs of
weakening such as flirtation, looking elsewhere with fondness, viewing
pornography in any form, etc. are the early signs of weakening and eventually will
result in a scheduled disaster.
22 Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her
and none else.
23 And he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her…[and]
24 …he that committeth adultery, and repenteth not, shall be cast out. (DC 42: 22-24)
4 – Use your God
given agency and make choices. What this
really means is you are accountable in your life. Our Father in Heaven paid a
huge price to give you your agency; 1/3 of his spirit children were cast out of
heaven so you could come to earth and experience accountability. “…because that Satan rebelled against me, and
sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him… I
caused that he should be cast down;”
(Moses 4:3) Remember your world
of opportunity is wide open as you exercise your agency:
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he
that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant;
wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do
many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And
inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. (DC 58:26-28)
5 – Work to earn your
bread. This includes receiving as much
education as possible. “By the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread…” (Moses 4:25)
You must make choices and experience accountability for the consequences
of your choices concerning education and career. Be loyal for whom you work. Cowboys say, “When you work for the man, you
ride for his brand.” Adam was told it
was for his sake, it was a blessing, that the earth was cursed to cause him to
sweat to earn his bread. A productive
and responsible citizen is a self-reliant citizen through the labor of his own
hands.
6 – Have children. “And Adam knew his wife, and she bare unto
him sons and daughters, and they began to multiply and to replenish the
earth. (Moses 5:2) Most couples have difficulties of one sort or
another with child birth. It is not
always automatic. The Lord said,
multiply and did not qualify it with, “after your education,” or “when you can
afford to give the child a better life.”
Modern prophets have repeatedly counseled to not delay raising a family,
but to experience the difficulties of raising a young family before you have
made it in life. It will be a blessing
to you.
7 – Offer sacrifices
to the Lord. “And after many days an
angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices
unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.” (Moses 6:6)
We offer a broken heart and contrite spirit to Christ each sacrament meeting. This is called repentance and enduring to the
end. You are also required to sacrifice
to serve your fellow men. This is always
expected and is almost never convenient.
8 – Be grateful. “And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God,
and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters.” (Moses 5:12)
Their degree of gratefulness moved them to teach their children. Gratefulness is also closely tied to
obedience and the Christ-like attribute of humility. “[Humility] includes gratitude for His
blessings and acknowledgement of your constant need for His divine help.” (PMG
p. 120) And, the Lord said,
21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath
kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his
commandments. (DC 59:21)
So there you have
it, a pattern for success. Follow this
pattern while personally doing daily prayer and scripture study, weekly
partaking of the sacrament and regular temple attendance and you will greatly
improve your chances to enjoy fulfillment in your life.
President Robinson
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