Judging

When I was first beginning kindergarten, I was excited by the opportunity to meet new kids and have new friends. One day, as I was riding home on the school bus, I remember a young boy sitting in front of me. Desiring to make new friends, I introduced myself. Without any warning, and to my surprise, instead of welcoming my greeting, this young boy punched me in the nose!

From that experience, and numerous others, I have learned of the consequences that can stem from rash judgments. In The Book of Mormon, we learn that "...the same that judgeth rashly shall be judged rashly again..." The word "rashly" signifies acting hastily without due consideration. In our world of comparisons, competition, and ambition, it is often difficult for me to avoid judging. When I do so, I often picture myself as the middle-man. For example, I consider myself to be sufficiently social. Anyone who is more social than me, in my mind, is only seeking attention. Anyone less social than I am is anti-social. Another example: I consider myself to be happy. Anyone more happy than I am is hyper, while anyone less happy than I am, I consider to be depressed. I think one can easily see the irony and rashness of my judgments and comparisons.

In The Book of Mormon, I believe that we can find the best method of judging others. From Moroni 7: 19 we read, "...lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not..." For me, this passage of scripture signifies my responsibility as a son of God to search out the good in everyone. As I focus more on the good in others rather than the "obvious" faults I may see, I am able to free myself from judging rashly, and ultimately from being judged rashly myself.

I know that Christ, as our ultimate judge, will judge us in a loving manner. He will look at the good that each of us attempted and will understand with perfect clarity the faults, weaknesses, tendencies, and temptations that we experienced in this mortal life.

Heavenly Treasures

My thoughts this week as I have read from The Book of Mormon have been centered on a verse I read in 3 Nephi 24, while Christ is visiting the Nephites. Part of the verse reads, "...It is vain to serve God, and what doth it profit that we have kept his ordinances..." I believe that this passage struck me so forcefully because I can see evidence of this viewpoint today. The thought of ordinances, covenants, and faith in God have become seen by the world as "the effect of a frenzied mind" (Alma 30:16).

During His visit to the Americas, Christ talked about worldly treasures vs. heavenly treasures. Although I have read this passage many times, I believe that I am just now beginning to understand the application to my life. Worldly treasures are temporary; they are perishable, can be stolen, and the value will ultimately end at death. Heavenly treasures are eternal; they are accessible even after this life, provide lasting benefit, and continue to be in force after death. Comparing these two types of treasures makes it very obvious the importance of one and the uselessness of the other.

I am in a point of decision-making right now, trying to figure out what the future will hold for me as far as college, a career, and so forth. As I was caught up in these "important" decisions, I took the opportunity to go to the temple. While there, I allowed my mind to relax and to just focus on the work at hand. At the end of my time there, I felt a very clear impression with an answer to all of my current decisions: "Cling to your covenants." Just four words, a very simple phrase, but what an answer it was for me!

I hope that I can always focus on what is most important---my heavenly treasures---the covenants and promises that have lasting value. I know that the restoration of the Gospel brought about the opportunity for each of us to find eternal treasures as we enter covenants with our Heavenly Father through ordinances.

The Value of My Journal

On my desk, I keep a very ugly gray notebook. The notebook is not in the best condition, and it is certainly not very admirable. But what is contained in the notebook is priceless for me: my own personal journal.

Ever since I was a small child, my mother encouraged me, as well as my brothers and sisters, to begin writing down our own histories. This "history" started out as a very simple form for me---I would draw a picture each Sunday of something that had happened during the week, and my mom would write a sentence about the picture. Journal entries of this kind date back to 1991, when I was just three years old.

Since then, journal writing has become an important aspect of my life. I now have many journals filled with the stories of my life. I am able to write what I would never communicate to anyone; my journals are sacred. They contain my desires, my dreams, my weaknesses, and the things I am most proud of. They contain my experiences: my trials, my best and worst moments, and my spiritual experiences. My journals are of great value to me.

As I was studying in The Book of Mormon this past week, I realized how important "journal writing" is to others. In chapter 19 of Nephi, Nephi gives seven specific reasons of why he writes his own history, including to record his history, spiritual experiences, the things that most concern him, and so others can learn from his experiences and apply them into their own lives. Essentially, The Book of Mormon is a journal, kept by several people, preserved over thousands of years.

Mormon Church leaders have always encouraged journal writing as a way to connect with our future posterity, as well as leaving our own legacy. President Spencer W. Kimball said, "People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us—and as our posterity read of our life’s experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us."

So whether it be an ugly notebook or a simple picture, I know that keeping a journal will be a blessing to us, as well as to the future.