Yay! You did it! I am so proud of all of you! Congratulations Bob Whites on a great finish!
I bet you all thought I was done posting these now that you've graduated. Nope!
As we head into fall I can't help but think about football and fresh peach pie. Both favorite things of mine that make me happy to be alive. And isn't that what life is all about... finding joy and happiness in this thing called life?
Joseph Smith once said, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God." I believe that will all my heart.
I have thought about the prophet's statement often over the years. I also have pondered this scripture, "Adam fell that man might be; and men are, that they might have joy." 2 Ne 2:25.
Take some time and think about what father Lehi teaches us in this scripture, particularly the first two words of this sentence and all it implies. Adam fell.
Before that, Adam and Eve were in a paradisiacal state but as such there was no opportunity for progression. A cosmic law of nature states that in order for eternal progression to exist opposition must exist and the use of agency is the vehicle to move along the eternal continuum, either toward God or away from Him. Opposition therefore is absolutely essential for the eternal progression of man. This is a doctrine Lehi emphasizes earlier in the same chapter just a few verses before that culminating statement in verse 25.
With that background I wanted to share with you something I read recently on LinkedIn. A user posted this statement along with a picture of a very nice home and an expensive sports car parked out front:
"So grateful, 2 years hard work starting with nothing, culminating in a beautiful new house and life With my lovely fiancé expecting a baby we could not be prouder to be able to bring our new child into a world where they will never know the struggles that we have had financially, never know what it's like to think, "where is the next meal coming from" "How can we afford Xmas?" Or hear from their parents we can't afford it... My message, don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't have something or can't do something because it's garbage, you can achieve anything you want...you just have to believe it and take action towards it Those people always lose."
While his sentiments are based on a desire to provide and protect his family I think he is missing the point of why we struggle in life. The struggle is good. Hardships and trials build character and empathy and faith. Without them we would not learn the lessons we must learn to be what we hope to be. In a nutshell, without struggles, we can't have joy and happiness.
This is a tough concept for a lot of people. In particular our young people struggle with this concept. That is one of the main reasons we do what we do. If we make life too easy for our children or the boys in our stewardship we aren't doing them any favors. One of my favorite mantras I've heard in BSA circles goes like this, "Never do for a boy what he can do for himself." Some people balk at that and think it's cruel and rude. They are missing the picture. It's not because I am lazy or don't want to help a boy. It's because I am robbing him of vital experience if I step in and do it for him. It's like Uzzah who tried to steady the ark of the covenant. https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-81-89/section-85-those-who-put-their-hands-to-steady-the-ark?lang=eng
As human beings we are afraid of failure and embarrassment. We know what it feels like ourselves to fail and so naturally we want to protect those we care about from experiencing those same feelings. But what we miss when we do is the truth that those very experiences are what taught us to do or not do those behaviors in the future. We are all enrolled in the school of hard knocks but some of us want to play hookie or check out our students. Don't get me wrong... I am not advocating a PHD from that school. In fact if you can get out of there with a GED you're probably better off but everyone has to have some sort of degree from that institution. It's just a fact of life.
So as you work with the young men and boys you have a responsibility for, the next time you are tempted to take over an art project for a boy who just can't seem to get the paint on his derby car; or tie that half hitch; or plan that Eagle Project - don't. If he's drowning... help him come up for air, but don't pull him out of the pool until he's learned to swim. And help them see the wisdom in the journey.
God bless you all in your efforts. Build and bless these young men!
YIS -
Tom Brand
The Regal Eagle
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