The Eternal Perspective of the Gospel
Elder Rafael E. Pino
April General Conference, 2015
Perspective is the way we see things when we look at them from a certain distance, and it allows us to appreciate their true value.It is like being in a forest and having a tree in front of us. Unless we step back a little, we will not be able to appreciate what a forest really is. I once visited the Amazon jungle in Leticia, Colombia, near the boarders of Brazil and Peru. I was not able to appreciate its magnitude until I flew over it and gained perspective.
When our children were little, they used to watch a children's television channel that featured a program called WHAT DO YOU SEE? The screen would zoom in very closely on something and the children had to guess what it was as the image gradually widened. Once the entire object was visible, you could easily tell that it was a cat, a plant, a piece of fruit and so on.
I remember that on one occasion they were watching that program and it showed something very close up that looked very ugly to them, even repulsive; but as the image widened, they realized that it was a very appetizing pizza. Then they said to me, "Daddy, buy us one just like that!" After they understood what it was, somethings that at first had looked unpleasant to them ended up being something very attractive.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that we do NOT make decisions of eternal value from the perspective of mortality.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell---"Though anchored in grand and ultimate hope, some of our tactical hopes are another matter. We may hope for a pay raise, a special date, an electoral victory, or for a bigger house---things which may or may not be realized. Faith in Father's plan gives us endurance even amid the wreckage of such proximate hopes. Hope keeps us "anxiously engaged" in good causes even when these appear to be losing causes."
Not having an eternal perspective, or losing it, can lead us to have an earthly perspective as our personal standard and to make decisions that are not in harmony with the will of God.
We had such a great lesson. Lots of wonderful discussion and lots to think about. Carisa also quotes from the talk that Amber gave last week, which I wasn't there so I can't report on it...but it was
Approaching the Throng of God with Confidence
Elder Jorg Klenbingat
From October, 2014 General Conference.
WONDERFUL TALK! You need to read it if you haven't already done so!!!
Thanks to Carisa and also to Amber McKenna, who is our new instructor in Relief Society!!!
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