Power to Change

Power to Change

By Jacob Sok

As a youth I have many memories of going of Boy Scout adventures and outdoor excursions. Prior to departing on any particular trip my father would always meet with me to help go over what we would expect on the coming trip and most important go over what I would be packing into my backpack for the hike. Now as any instinctive youth, my natural tendency was to consider my packing done upon putting a pillow and few candy bars in my bag. When my father would then recommend that I should try again and think about things I might need. To which my response was a usual "oh ya, duh, thanks Dad. That was a close one, almost forgot the beef jerky."Eventually through council and practice I began to understand the art of packing but more importantly I have been able to outline a humble example of a great truth. My father's patience in the packing of my bag was his way of helping prepare me for the trip, or rather he was helping me avoid any potential stumbling blocks of a rather self-inflicted rough trip.

When thinking about this fact that simply coming to my father, I was able to prepare for what was ahead and be taught to remove potential obstacles for my coming trail, I reached for the Book of Mormon. As I read this week a special doctrine stood out to me in scriptural phrasing for the first time. In the book of first Nephi, we have an account of a vision Nephi has of our day. He sees the contentions and confusions and the works of the Lord. I found in chapter 14 the first verse stood out to me "And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word and power in deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks" 

What an amazing promise; that the Lord as we hearken unto Him, or learn of Him will manifest himself unto us. He will do it through His words and His power, be it His teachings and grace, that we will have the power to remove the stumbling blocks we face in everyday life. 

Have you ever noticed how a lot of trials and mishaps in life are self inflicted. When we get confused or sometimes sin, the effects of those actions came through habits or lack of experience. That is part of mortality. But I promise the Lord's statement is true. 

My angelic mother is one of the most beautiful reminders of this truth to me. Many times when learning to accomplish some task (most frequently the importance of separating laundry into colors and whites) she would be very attentive to certain tendencies of mine and when appropriate give me council, however I have learned that council has been most effective when I have made the choice to ask her opinion. 

Some times it is to hard to see past those obstacles. Often when I feel my vision is clouded, I usually have forgotten to clean my glasses. I feel it is easy to get lost when looking in the mirror. We are limited in our view, only being presented one things. I would say as we hearken to the lord we begin looking through windows, cultivating perspective and sight. I find it interesting that I have applied more principles the less I pay attention to the man in mirror and more the portrait of Savior next to it. 

Simple weakness, slip ups and mishaps, bad habits all things that become stumbling blocks can be removed. Many believe that this hope of them being removed is impossible. But I would say the removing is not of a one time effort rather, it is a pattern by which to live the remainder of our lives. This is the path to becoming even as He is. 

I share with you a personal example from my life.--

 For many years I have had a struggle (or stumbling block) with what people thought of me. I recall an particular time when after a rough nights rest I had awoken late the next morning and noticing on my phone several missed calls from my work. My shift had already started as I had missed my alarm. My stomach had sunk to the bottom of my feet which I believe gave me the momentum to get dressed and ready faster than any quick change artist in a Russian circus. I informed my work via phone that I would be there in 10min. As I made the drive to work, I was drowning in fear and frankly irrational ideas. I was worried what my boss would say, what they would think of me and what was to come of this irresponsible infraction. My mind immediately thought how pathetic my reason to being late was..  sleeping in?? I instantly starting thinking of some elaborate tale of how my car was stuck in a ditch or their was some quote on quote "family problem". In my desperation to find some validity in the extremes of my imagination I vocally said "I wish I was at least in a wreck or something dramatic" as I said that my mind cleared for a second and for the first time in that whole drive I thought how ridiculous I was being, I mean wishing that I was in some danger to avoid admitting to my boss that I accidentally slept in. It was then when I thought about how I have promised to the Lord to be a man of integrity. Thoughts came to mind of my parents who have always taught that we should own up to our choices and learn and grow despite the outcome.
While in debate it became more clear in my mind that I did not want to through away that promise all for a 40min tardy to my part-time employment. When I really felt at peace was when I apologized in prayer before going in, about the tendency I had of being way more worried about what my boss would think versus the Lord. To which I asked for the courage to be sincere and true and loyal to the promise I had made. Doing this allowed me to admit to my supervisor what happened and everything worked out fine. But even more miraculous to me that day was realizing how the Lord did manifest himself unto me, by bringing to my mind a remembrance of promises I had made and things I had been taught...rather his word. His power came by asking in prayer to help me remove a 21-year stumbling block. If I had to sleep in that day just to learn the truthfulness of that promise than I say thanks be to Heaven.

Now I am not perfect at it yet and there are plenty examples of when I did not show such faith. I don't share this story flex spiritual prowess or show the one good example from my life rather on the contrary it's my hope that I can be open and frank with you that most of my life's hike has been me tripping over stumbling blocks; doubt, fear, bad habits, poor judgment. But much more than that hear to let you know that He does come to us.  

The Lord overcame every stumbling block of ours in the garden of Gethsemane many years ago, so that our access to this power, hope and life pattern would be ours.

Chapter 14 goes on to share a statement from the Lord " I will work a great and marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting. Convincing them unto peace and life eternal or unto deliverance". I testify that the marvelous work among the children of men goes beyond the spreading of church buildings and congregation sizes, rather the work and wonder of this marvelous mortal experience is in fact that God in his mercy and love grants us power to heal and change. Truly erase and eliminate over the course of a life time the common stumbling blocks of life. As we hearken unto him and pray for that power and strength we will come to a peace..a living hope that the possibility of being one day with the Lord is real, even better being like him is possible too.

I promise that this is true and it really is the reason for my hope and the root of my discipleship. I never chose Christianity because I was good at if from the start, but rather the good of Christianity come by drawing closer to Him  knowing that God measures progress far more that results, yet both come, line upon line and little by little 

The weak and simple a refined of the Lord. After all fisherman became apostles, a plow boy became a prophet, and this blonde kid is becoming hopeful. He Lives...He Guides..He Helps..is my promise to you. 

To further your study on this topic prayerfully consider the following sources:

- More Holiness Give Me (LDS Hymnal) 

-Lord I would Follow Thee (LDS Hymnal)

- Book of Mormon: Ether Chapter 12

{All pictures found through Google Imaging, Paintings are property of LDS Artwork}