TOWARDS THE END of the prophet Jacob’s life in the Book of Mormon, he said, “Our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream.”
I’m not at the end of my life as far as I know, but I can relate to Jacob. I look at pictures and videos of my children when they were young and think as did Jacob, that my life has passed like a dream.
We cannot control everything in the world, but we can control how we spend our time.
As you reflect on your life, maybe you are like me and Jacob, and it has all passed as if it were a dream.
What are we to do with what time we have remaining on this beautiful planet? What do we value most? Where are our priorities?
As we decide how to spend our time, what is most important?
I propose that it is wise to invest some of our time on things of a spiritual nature. Mortality is temporary.
We, however, are eternal. Through the atonement and grace of Jesus Christ, each of us will be resurrected.
As the prophet Amulek taught, “Even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now.”
After our resurrection, we shall stand before the bar of Christ, the Son of God.
Knowing that this mortal life is not the end, and that we will be resurrected and stand before God, living as a disciple of Jesus Christ is paramount.
President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said at his 100th birthday celebration, “The length of your life is not as important as the kind of life that you live. For each of us, even for a 100-year-old man, life passes quickly. My prayer is that you will let God prevail in your life.”
Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor to Nelson, taught that we might be spending too much time “on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best.” He went on to say, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”
Every week there are many things that can fill our calendars. Are we filing our calendars with the best things?
I make sure that my family, church, prayer and scripture study, along with my church duties, take priority over any other “good” things that I might want to do during the week.
Nobody on their deathbed wishes they had spent more time at the office or at work.
Jesus taught in 3 Nephi, Chapter 13, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
As a father like Jacob in The Book of Mormon, looking at my life as it were a dream, I don’t remember the television programs, the movies, the entertainment and the things I’ve purchased.
However, I do remember the time spent with my wife, my children, my family and my friends. I cherish that time and those memories.
I am also grateful for time to draw closer to God through quiet study of the scriptures, through earnest prayer, through worship at church, and by serving my fellow brothers and sisters.
As our lives pass like a dream, they will be far more fulfilling lives if we choose to forgo many of the good things in favor of making time for the very best things.
_________
Issues of Faith is a rotating column by religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Bishop Jason Bringhurst is the leader of the Mount Pleasant Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port Angeles, ComeUntoChrist.org. His email is jasonbring@gmail.com.
