News Archives - Page 46 of 77

The extra mile

May 27, 2022

Recently I was asked, “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞?”

A scripture from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:41 came readily to mind… “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”

Back in the times of Jesus, a Roman soldier could compel a Jewish male to carry their hefty packs, armour or weapons for one mile (it was the law after all).

I am certain that back then the paths would be sweltering, dirty, difficult to travel and many (if not all) of the Jews must have detested carrying the items.

But then Jesus taught them to “go with him twain.” …meaning to carry the soldier’s packs for two miles.

What does that mean for us today?

In this verse of scripture, Jesus was teaching us one way that we can love and serve others.

We don’t carry Roman packs anymore, but the principle applies to every area of our lives today.

When we go the first mile, we are only really doing what is expected of us.

But when we go the second mile, we are giving freely of our time and service to others.

Here is a little personal story.

Shortly after arriving in the Netherlands, one experience taught me a lot about going the extra mile.

Due to corona, the number of missionaries we had serving was at approximately 20% of our complement.

All of the missionaries were swamped with things to do.

I recall a missionary called me one day and asked “President, you know that we are very busy. Can we get up one hour earlier every day, so we can get everything done?”

My heart melted.

I must admit to shedding a tear or two.

I replied, “Of course but remember to be careful and take time to rest.”

The first mile is often required of us, in many things that we do.

The second mile however, is only made possible by being obedient to the first mile.

You cannot go the second mile without influencing others.

It only takes one second miler to impact others lives.

I shall ever be indebted to Daniel Andrade for the lesson he taught me that day. Thank you.

James E. Faust said “Some of the most rewarding times of our lives are those ‘extra miles’ hours given in the service when the body say it wants to relax but our better self emerges and says, ‘Here am I, send me.’”

How can you apply this principle and go the second mile today?

Finishers Wanted

May 24, 2022

Recently I was asked; “How do I improve my self-discipline?”

It requires time and effort on your part.

It also requires the development of daily habits by reminding yourself often why you need this ability and how it will help you achieve your goals in life.

Remember the little poem…

Finishers wanted.

Stick to your task, till it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders few.

Honour, power, place and praise will come, in time, to the one who stays.

Stick to your task, till it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it, too;

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile

Will come life’s victories after a while. (Anonymous)

Focus and self-discipline are the foundations for producing truly amazing results and performance.

Plato said: “The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile.”

Consider these ideas…

Set clear goals.
Start small.
Learn how to say no.
Know where you will struggle and where you succeed.
Find a way to monitor your progress – create a to do list.
Encourage yourself to stick to your plan, a partner can help too!
Get rid of your distractions.
Forgive yourself when you fail – begin again!
Keep a journal.
Practice, repeat, practice, repeat.

The path may be tough, but the results are amazing.

The pain you feel today, will be the strength you feel tomorrow.

It starts with you – begin now!

Why do you think self-discipline is important to your progress and happiness?

Is love the answer?

May 22, 2022

𝐈𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Celebrating my 57th birthday this week, I received several lovely cards and gifts from family and friends.

One particular gift came from the missionaries.

A folder of 60 pages, 109 letters, 30 photos and a few sketches too.

As I read through the album on Thursday evening, I must admit to being moved.

The letters and photos simply touched my heart.

I shed a few tears of joy.

Think of the last time you experienced joy.

Real joy – that deep enduring feeling that seems to warm your entire soul.

I felt of their love, one by one.

“God’s love is always there for you, whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.” – Thomas S. Monson.

Arriving in the Netherlands nearly a year ago now, in a few meetings Monic and I have frequently sung together (also with the help of missionaries too) “Love One another.” It is always a beautiful experience.

In the book of John, Jesus spoke to His Apostles about love “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you…. By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

“Love is the greatest of all the commandments—all others hang upon it. It is our focus as followers of the living Christ. It is the one trait that, if developed, will most improve our lives.” Joseph B. Wirthlin

There are a number of ways you can feel the Saviour’s love.

Its different for everyone – but the missionaries can help you along the way.

“Love is the greatest power and will have the most powerful influence. – Elaine S. Dalton

May we love Him and love one another.

#HearHim

Do you accept mistakes?

May 17, 2022

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬?

We all make mistakes, its part of being human – they are a natural part of life.

There are however a lot of negative connotations around making mistakes, which can lead to each of us avoiding things that may stretch us.

Yet, getting it wrong is often the best way to learn.

Albert Einstein once said, ““Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

In fact, giving ourselves permission to fail takes courage!

That may even feel scary too, because it may make us a little vulnerable.

Learning from mistakes can be challenging.

Yet, mistakes are actually very valuable, as long as you learn from them, grow from them, and improve yourself.

Indeed, mistakes are an opportunity to do better next time, and we should make the best out of every mistake we make.

Top Tips

– It is important to acknowledge your mistake and own it.

– Take a deep breath, admit the error, and make your apologies.

– Identify where you went wrong.

– Find the lessons so you can improve next time.

– Apply those lessons so you don’t repeat the mistake.

– Consider sharing what you have learned with others

– Get ready for new mistakes!!

In summary – learning from mistakes is about understanding what you did wrong and making sure that you do not do it again.

What did you learn from your last mistake?

Cramming!

May 12, 2022

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲?

Cramming – “to study intensively over a short period of time just before an examination.”

For many I know, these last few weeks has been cramming season.

The date of the exam is looming.

It can become a state of panic for many.

Its all about stuffing a lot of information into our short-term memory for that up-and-coming exam.

However, during cramming season, we try really hard to quickly absorb some lessons which should have been learned a long, long time ago.

Admittedly there are on many occasions’ success, followed by an abiding forgetfulness of those things just crammed in!

As to the process of cramming, not only do we see it in schools and universities – we see it in life too.

Like students, many people neglect, postpone, and procrastinate things that we should be doing every day.

Just like school or university, there always comes of course a time of examination for all of us in our life.

Life brings frequent trials, tests, and choices.

Don’t procrastinate the important matters of life, remember 𝐧𝐨𝐰 is the time to prepare!

Don’t end up in a state of panic….

It is essential to be diligent in doing what should be done now – while it is called today.

What should you be doing every day?

#preparation #study

Self-Mastery

May 10, 2022

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤?

In recent months, I have enjoyed too many Dutch desserts (toetjes).

Subsequently, my waistline has expanded a little, by 5 kilo’s or 11 pounds.

Yesterday, I’d eaten healthily and had some exercise too – I was pleased with my progress.

By 8.00pm, my thinking had slowed down, I was starting to relax.

Then it happened!

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌?

I had a craving for something sweet!!!

Do you know that feeling?

I walked in and out of the kitchen a few times.

I’d already had a few pieces of fruit through the day, blueberries, an apple, an orange….

Some raisins perhaps?

I’d had enough fruit.

Then I spotted a chocolate Toblerone bar.

I walked back out of the kitchen.

Luckily Monic was there.

I confessed my thoughts – she said, “You can do this!”

I know I didn’t need it, but I wanted it!

Don’t you?

Then it struck me.

I knew that 30 minutes later I’d regret eating the Toblerone, and it wasn’t worth the five minutes of enjoyment!

A few minutes later, some visitors arrived. After a pleasant short visit, they departed with every piece of chocolate we had in the house – including the Toblerone!

Through a little willpower, self-mastery and a great deal of help from Monic, I realised that present pleasure is nice, but the joys of overcoming, are a much more meaningful reward!

Be ever mindful of your downtime – thoughts come that you may regret!

Rather choose to apply the principles of self-mastery and discipline. A little help from a trusted friend never goes amiss too!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤?

What path are you on in life?

May 4, 2022

Recently I was asked “Am I on the right path?”

Throughout my life I have observed that small course corrections, can make a dramatic difference to the success we have in our home, family and personal lives.

I recall a message by Dieter F. Uchtdorf who said: “Suppose you were to take off from an airport at the equator, intending to circumnavigate the globe, but your course was off by just one degree. By the time you returned to the same longitude, how far off course would you be? A few miles? A hundred miles? The answer might surprise you. An error of only one degree would put you almost 500 miles (800 km) off course, or one hour of flight for a jet.”

Clearly errors of only a few degrees, minor things even, can sometimes lead to terrible tragedies, disasters and the arrival at a different destination than the one you set out to achieve in the first place. “The longer we delay corrective action, the larger the needed changes become, and the longer it takes to get back on the correct course—even to the point where a disaster might be looming.”

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞?

What corrective actions do you need to take to get back on course?

Is it simply a matter of taking time to stop… reflect, consider and refocus on what really matters most?

What distractions are in your way?

Distractions: “a thing that prevents someone from concentrating on something else”.

Benjamin Franklin stated ” We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour, each day, making choices. We choose the thoughts we allow ourselves to think, the passions we allow ourselves to feel and the actions we allow ourselves to perform. Each choice is made in the context of whatever value system we’ve selected to govern our lives. In selecting that value system, we are, in a very real way, making the most important choice we will ever make”.

As I have grown fond of repeatedly saying recently – your personal values are your sure compass in life. Be true to them, live them, honour them – they are essentially who you really are.

“May we always choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong” – Thomas S. Monson

From time to time, distractions and errors of judgement will happen.

We all need to accept that, there will occasionally be some moments of real serendipity along the way.

Be mindful to take corrective action, consider what really matters most, refocus and get back on the course that will enable you to arrive safely at your intended destination.

I am fond of a quote by Henry B Eyring, who said that “If you are on the right PATH, it will always be UPHILL” – How true that is!

Like my recent picture from Keukenhof below, there are many beautiful things to see and admire along the path that you choose to follow – if you will take the time to seek them out.

Where will your path lead you today?

Gen Z Children

May 3, 2022

“That is so annoying!” I said to Megan as we laughed and smiled together.

Let me explain by introducing you to our Google Smart Speaker.

I am neither a technophile or technophobe – somewhere in between – I think!

However, after this last experience, I am acutely aware of my limitations!!

A few weeks ago, we had a new Wi-Fi system installed to improve coverage throughout our home.

It meant several devices had to be reconnected, including the smart speaker.

I was mindful of Wendy Nelson’s recent message about her husband, that he never delays! Her words ring in mind, when she shared, “he’d frequently say, “what’s wrong with now?!””

In a like manner, I knuckled down as quick as I could to get all the devices connected again.

The smart speaker however, turned out to be a tricky one.

Eventually, I got it reconnected and was happy.

Then the problem started.

Monic likes to listen one specific radio station here in the Netherlands and despite the fact that the smart speaker was reconnected, it wouldn’t play the station….

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

And thus began the quest to overcome the technical problem.

I researched, I connected, I disconnected, I hunted even more online, I fiddled, I checked settings, I removed google home, I reinstalled google home….. and so forth!!!

Eventually, after many, many hours, over several days, I gave up!

My conclusion – maybe it was something to do with the home settings.

In the meantime, Monic was none too happy about the fact that she was unable to listen to her favourite radio station.

The Solution

Then Megan arrived.

One of our three Gen Z children, a digital native and technical wizard.

I mentioned the problem to Megan one afternoon and explained the situation.

I thought to myself, “Good luck with that, she’ll be busy for an hour or two.”

I left her in the living room and started my walk upstairs to the office.

I had barely sat down for less than a minute, when I heard a clarion call from downstairs “𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭!”

How annoying is that!!?

I returned downstairs.

Sure enough, the smart speaker was playing Monic’s favourite radio station and has done ever since.

The problem – the speaker thought it was in Scotland and not in the Netherlands!

Megan changed the address and hey presto the music returned.

Moral of the story – Gen Z kids can be annoying at times, but always great to have around to fix technology issues

Thank you Megan – again!!!

I am all alone in this world, or can anyone else relate?

Sweet Reunions

May 1, 2022

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 were aplenty this week.

Last Sunday evening Megan arrived. The next day we travelled to Brussels together to attend the BYU Ballroom Dancing Company. It had been several weeks since she was last in the Netherlands.

As we travelled together, it was great to catch up and share stories with one another, about how similar we are. Then came a funny coincidence, as without any coordination mother and daughter dressed for the evening and realised that they had both chosen almost identical outfits for the show.

See the picture evidence above!

The evening brought another sweet reunion.

Moroni Wright who had served in the Belgium Netherlands Mission and returned home several months ago, was one of the many talented performers in the BYU Ballroom Dancing Company. The show was amazing, and what a delight it was to see Moroni again and catch up with him once more. It was especially pleasing to see him living his dream, as he longed for the opportunity to perform in this dance company.

And our third sweet reunion was with Kiera and her husband Brendan – who we met for the first time.

It had been several years since our last encounter together. Kiera had become a wonderful friend with Megan, when she was studying in Arizona, in 2016. What a joy it was to see them, share stories together and feel of their love.

Reunions are special

Reunions are special, they are built on love for one another.

Travelling along our own pathway in life, let’s not forget those family and friends who have passed through the gateway to the next life that we call death. I hope that we can turn our hearts to them who have gone on ahead of us. They are not dead, their spirits live on, on the other side of the veil.

In a not-too-distant time there will be a sweet reunion for each and every one of us. We need not look upon death as an enemy.

I was reminded of that this week too, as I walked through the sprawling cemeteries in Ipres, with vast numbers of the dead from WW1.

In Malachi 4:6 we read: “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

We can begin our own quest for forever families, by considering our ancestors and coming to know them through online tools such as Family Search.

Then take some time to understand why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has so many Temples around the world. In them, families are united forever. Our missionaries can help explain this further to you.

Sweet reunions await us all.

#HearHim

Exhortation – Menin Gate, Ipres

April 29, 2022

One word played through my mind over and over again on Tuesday, as we visited Ipres, in Belgium and spent the day with missionaries from the Antwerp Zone.

…“𝐒𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠”

Sobering – “making you feel serious or think about serious matters”

Don’t get me wrong, we loved being together all day and had some fun too, but the memories created have been sobering ones of the futility of war.

The constant reminder and experiences throughout the day, were truly sobering of the reality of the ravages of war and in particular the horrors of WW1.

Our well informed and organised guides for the day were Stephan Willems and Marnix Schotte. I am truly grateful for their knowledge, insights and experience they shared all day long.

We visited several fascinating places, museums, trenches, tunnels, a gigantic crater where a huge explosion took vast numbers of soldier’s lives.

Then on to the Christmas truce site – where we sang silent night from opposing trenches together in English and German. We then played football in memory of the game played on Christmas Day 1914.

Afterwards we travelled to Tyne Cot, where we reverently walked around a vast sprawling cemetery.

The Menin Gate

Then onto the Menin Gate where we laid a wreath on behalf of the church. I was also invited to deliver the exhortation, known the world over.

“They shall grow not old,

As we that are left to grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

Nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning,

We will remember them.”

The last line was then repeated by the vast crowd in attendance.

Since 1928, every evening at 8pm precisely, the “Last Post” has been sounded under the imposing arches of the Menin Gate.

It was an honour to participate, and it has left an indelible impression on my heart and mind.

It was a sobering sight.

Reflecting upon this day together, I am so grateful for the constant reminders that I received and will always remember.

“When you go Home, tell them of us and say,

For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today”

John Maxwell Edmunds – 1916