Making Decisions for Today and Tomorrow

Today it is a wonderful time to live. We have unrestricted access to the scriptures, the words of religious leaders, the time and means to do help others. We have technology available for us that most people couldn’t have imagined 20, or even 10 years ago. Information and entertainment are rarely more than seconds away. We can travel anywhere on the globe within twenty-four hours. 

However, in spite of this and perhaps because of ease of our circumstances it is one of the most challenging times. We are bombarded daily by advertisements that encouraging us to:

• “You want it, you know you want it, you deserve it, get it now”
• “Get Cash Now”
• “Get Instant financing”
• “Wear this cologne and you’ll be popular now”
• “Drink this or take this pill and you’ll be happy”

We are told we can have anything we want NOW provided we follow the seller’s advice. We are living indeed in the times prophesied by Paul in his letter to Timothy where he writes:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;—2 Tim 3:1-5

Richard G. Scott made these comments in a BYU Commencement address:

There are two patterns for making decisions in life: (1) decisions based upon circumstance and (2) decisions based upon eternal truth. Satan encourages choices to be made according to circumstance. That is: What are others doing? What seems to be socially or politically acceptable? What will bring the quickest, most satisfying response? That pattern gives Satan the broadest opportunity to tempt an individual to make decisions that will be harmful and destructive, even though they may appear most appealing when a decision is made. With this approach there is no underlying set of values or standards used to consistently guide those decisions. Each one is made for what appears to be the most attractive choice at the moment. Those who choose this path cannot expect the help of the Lord but are left to their own strength and to that of others influenced to act in their favor. Sadly, most of God’s children make decisions this way. That is why the world is in such turmoil. —Richard G. Scott, “Living Right,” Ensign, Jan 2007,  10-15

With the myriad of choices that lie before us each day how do we navigate safely through life today? For youth who, in the coming years, will be making critical decisions that will impact their future these can be difficult decisions.  Here are four simple steps to follow that can help each of us.

1. Commit to Following Christ

First we start by reaffirming the decision we made in the pre-mortal life to follow Christ. As Elder Robert D. Hales said in a March 2007 conference address,  “Now is the time to become a disciple of Jesus Christ”. This is a decision that once made need not be revisited but must be reaffirmed each day by remembering His atoning sacrifice and keeping His commandments.

With respect to our decision to follow Christ we should be as Joshua of old who said; “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”—Josh. 24:15. We must be firm in this commitment and persist.

Persistence is a prerequisite to success as illustrated by the following story:

His name was Theodore S. Geisel and he had a fertile imagination, with a special gift for inventing words, putting them to rhyme, and creating the most captivating kinds of creatures. Armed with his first book – which was ostensibly written for children but which actually possessed and ageless appeal – and brimming with high hope, he knocked expectantly on the door of a publishing house.

His manuscript was rejected.
He went to another publisher and was rejected.
He went to a third publisher. And was rejected again.
Number 4 said no. Number 5 said no.
Number 6 said no. Number 7 said no.
Numbers 8, 9, and 10 said no.
Numbers 11, 12, 13,14, and 15 were not interested.
Numbers 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 passed.

When would you have given up? After the fourth rejection?
Or would you have persisted through ten rejections and then quit?
Would you have knocked on 15 doors before surrendering?
Would you, like Theodore S. Geisel, have gone on to Number 23, and hearing yet another rejection, then said, "That's it, I'm done"?

Well, you would have really been sorry then. But not nearly as sorry as the first 23 publishers who rejected him. Because he kept on. He went on to Number 24. Who said: "YessssSSSSS!" That sweet sound that the salesperson in all of us craves. "YessssSSSSS!" And Number 24 went on to publish 6 million copies of that first book written by Theodore S. Geisel, whose pen name was …

Dr. Seuss! The author of Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat. Do these titles ring a bell? He went on to write more than 50 books that have sold more than 200 million copies, and which are still selling to this day in seventeen different languages.

Success in business is very often a matter of simply persisting. In spiritual matters persistence is essential. While discussing the last days the Savior made these remarks (Matt 24:7-13):

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

In fact there are nearly 20 instances in the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and D&C where we are counseled to “endure to the end” in order to return to our Father in Heaven.

Calvin Coolidge stated: "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

2. Learn to Listen

Having made the decision to follow Christ we now have an iron rod that we can hold onto so that we don’t lose our footing. And what is that iron rod – the word of God; which can be found in the scriptures, the words of the modern day Prophets, and in the whispering of the Holy Ghost. To ensure that we have a firm grasp on the rod we need to study His words daily and stay in touch through regular prayer.

Nephi shares this insight

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?

Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do[6].

Additionally, Moroni informs us that “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things”[7].

In order to hear the words of Christ we need quiet time – away from all the techno toys – to reflect and to listen. One of my favorite Old Testament scriptures is in I Kings. The story starts after Elijah fled from the wrath of Jezebel into the wilderness. She was upset because after the Lord accepted Elijah’s offering by consuming it with fire Elijah slew her false priests, who’s offering to their false Gods was ignored.

Once in the wilderness Elijah sat down under a tree and told the Lord to take his life because he was done! He had been zealous is preaching to the Israelites but they were following false Gods, had killed all the other prophets and were now trying to kill him, even after the Lord had dramatically shown his power to them in the duel of sacrifices. The Lord however had other plans and told him to go into the mountain. After going there

Behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.[8]

Although the Lord can speak in a dramatic fashion it is usually in the still small voice the He lets us know His will. We need to disconnect from the world and listen.

When our oldest son Michael was between one and two I was lying on the family room floor and watching him has he played on the stairs. He was on a landing when the Spirit told me get up. I didn’t know why but did and as I got up he started to fall and went backwards head over heals. I ran, dove, reached out and caught his head a couple of inches before it hit the Spanish tile floor. I don’t know how severely he would have been injured but I do know that had I not gotten up when the Spirit told me the back of his head would have hit the tile quite hard. The Spirit spoke and fortunately I decided to listen.

Not only do we need to listen to the Lord we should “counsel with those who will give sound advice” as Elder Hales suggested in his recent conference address. This would include parents, trusted leaders, and good friends, which leads me to my next point. But before we go there let me offer this caution when we seek advice but do not get the answer we want let us not be like the addict who discussed the merits of smoking pot with his parents, teachers, and leaders. When he didn’t agree with them he sought advise from his dealer and got the answer he wanted. When we don’t like what the Lord is telling us and keep asking people until we hear what we want we are in essence doing the same thing.

3. Choose Good Friends

We should associate ourselves with people who also are trying to follow Christ. To the youth this means selecting your friends not necessarily from the “popular” school crowd but rather from those who are trying to follow Christ. My experience in this life has been that friends who are friends because you are doing “fun” things together are often the first to leave you when things aren’t so fun – when you may really need them. I know you don’t want to believe this but it is true. Associate with those who inspire to you to do great things and not those who tempt you to lower your standards by their words or actions.

President Monson shared this interest insight nearly 25 years ago:

In a survey made in selected wards and stakes of the Church, we learned a most significant fact. Those persons whose friends married in the temple usually married in the temple, while those persons whose friends did not marry in the temple usually did not marry in the temple. The influence of one’s friends appeared to be a more dominant factor than parental urging, classroom instruction, or proximity to a temple[9].

Let us then follow President Hinckley’s counsel:

Choose your friends carefully. It is they who will lead you in one direction or the other. Everybody wants friends. Everybody needs friends. No one wishes to be without them. But never lose sight of the fact that it is your friends who will lead you along the paths that you will follow.

While you should be friendly with all people, select with great care those whom you wish to have close to you. They will be your safeguards in situations where you may vacillate between choices, and you in turn may save them.

4. Prepare

Preparation is a never ending process. In discussing preparation Elder Hales offered these thoughts on the Law of the Harvest.

[It] offers a pattern for making decisions. Prepare the soil through prayer, knowing that you are a son of God. Plant the seeds by counseling with those who will give sound advice; then seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Let the seeds of inspiration grow. The budding ideas need tending. They need time to mature. The light of inspiration will bring the spiritual harvest which will come when we ask our Heavenly Father in prayer if we have made a correct decision. As we follow that light, the darkness will vanish and the light grow, “brighter and brighter until the perfect day[10]” – that day when we are in the presence of our Father in Heaven[11].

We are always preparing for the next step. Teens getting ready for college, parents awaiting the arrival of their first child, or grandparents looking towards “retirement” are all preparing for something new. President Monson offers this counsel.

Years ago there was a romantic and fanciful ballad that contained the words, “Wishing will make it so / Just keep on wishing / And care will go.” I want to state here and now that wishing will not replace thorough preparation to meet the trials of life. Preparation is hard work but absolutely essential for our progress.

Our journey into the future will not be a smooth highway which stretches from here to eternity. Rather, there will be forks and turnings in the road, to say nothing of the unanticipated bumps. We must pray daily to a loving Heavenly Father, who wants each of us to succeed in life.[12]

In simple terms

• You need to be where the Lord wants you today so that you can be where you need to be tomorrow.
• Be in school today – be there 100% – so that you can attend the college of your choice tomorrow
• Get the education the Lord would have you get so that you can have the career you need tomorrow
• Be the person the Lord wants you to be today so that you are worthy of the eternal companion you desire you have tomorrow.
• Be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost and learn to understand Him so that when you need His inspiration tomorrow He will be there and you will be able to hear Him.

Let me conclude with Lehi’s remarks to his children as he was approaching death..

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself

And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;[13]

Again “men are, that they might have joy”. My prayer is that we will seek the will of the Lord in all our decisions so that we will return to Him and live in peace, harmony and happiness forever. My testimony is that this is possible if we endure to the end.

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[1] Elder Robert D. Hales, “To The Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision”, March 2007 General Priesthood Session

[4] Josh. 24:15

[5] Matt: 24:7-12

[6] 2 Ne 32:1-3

[7] Moroni 10:5

[8] I Kings 18:11-12

[9] Thomas S. Monson, “Crisis at the Crossroads,” New Era, Nov 2002,  5 (originally printed in the November 1983 New Era)

[10] D&C 50:24

[11] Elder Robert D. Hales, “To The Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision”, March 2007 General Priesthood Session

[12] Thomas S. Monson, “In Search of Treasure,” Ensign, May 2003,  19

[13] 2 Ne 2:25:28