The Way We Were

We’ve all heard the Barbara Streisand song of that title, and we’ve all thought, probably many times, of the way we were when we were younger, prettier, stronger, perhaps more optimistic, certainly more naïve. 

‘Memories light the corner of my mind.  Misty water color memories of the way we were.  / Can it be that it was all so simple then, or has time rewritten every line?  If we had the chance to do it all again, Tell me? Would we? Could we?’

For me, the answer is, generally, ‘no’ and ‘perhaps.’  And for that I am very thankful—I’ve had few regrets.  I’ve got ‘miles to go’ and great things to look forward to. 

She goes on: ‘Memories may be beautiful and yet, what’s too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget.’  Well, again, perhaps. 

I did not see the movie, so I do not know the context of these lyrics, but I suppose it was her reflection of a past relationship that probably was once good but then went bad.  We’ve all got a movie that we sometimes run back. 

But the notion is valuable.  It congers a reflection in all of us as we look back at our lives: where we’ve been, where we are, where we have yet to go.  Are we satisfied?  Are we prepared for whatever might lie ahead?  

As another year passes (it is, after all, December 31^st), as our life passes, we invariably look back.  Often we see—or sometimes ‘simply choose to forget,’ but better yet choose to learn from—the rough parts ,  as well as happily recounting and replaying that which was good. 

One of the greatest boons that we have, in real time, is that we have access to an editing mechanism, a ‘delete’ button that really can ‘re[write] every line.’  Call it ‘repentance,’ and the outcome call ‘forgiveness,’  and call the life ahead a great ‘new day dawning,’ or a new beginning—whatever, with God’s help, we choose to make it. 

As I seem to be infused today with song lyrics,  I end this year with two more: 

For me, ‘It’s been a good life, all in all.’ (John Denver)  

If not for you, ‘Pick [yourself] up and get back in the race…that’s life.’ (Frank Sinatra) You might be surprised at who might be happy to run beside you! 

Auld lang syne. 

Great Expectations

Fascinated with the title of this novel by Charles Dickens, I had nevertheless avoided reading it for many years, until now, because my experience with some of Dickens’ other works.  As a youth I was exposed to Dickens in English classes, but my reading experiences, as I recall, were never uplifting or positive.  I thought, in fairness, now, I ought to give this well-known and highly-read author another chance.  And, again, I liked the title.  

But again, I came to the same conclusion.

I would think we should have great expectations for anything in which we voluntarily invest our time or energy.  If we give any credence to the cardinal Christian virtues of ‘faith, hope, and charity,’  hope being that of a great future ahead of us, beyond this life, and I do, we should apply ourselves to it.  Besides, aren’t there those who have ‘great’ or ‘high’ expectations of us? As parents, don’t we have these expectations of our children?

Unfortunately, with Great Expectations which I have not and may not finish, though I have found the prose style and some of the character workups and their language usage (which was apparently common of mid-nineteenth century England) fascinating, the darkness of theme and plot and character weaknesses of many other introduced characters is repelling and deterring to me.  There is much evil in this book.  If it, like A Christmas Carol, finally comes to a good end, and I suppose it does, the end with both books comes too late. 

Moreover, with the reported moral weakness of the author, of which I have recently learned, further tainting the content, and notwithstanding his reputed ‘literary genius,’ as evaluated by numerous critics and scholars, I just can’t get into his works.  My literary and entertainment standard has not been met; and that is to seek after that which is “virtuous, lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy,” and to read “out of the best books words of wisdom.”  I think I was mislead on this one.  

I had ‘great expectations’ for this book, but may have to put it down so as to not waste my time when there are so many other excellent works  to read that I’m sure I will never have time to exhaust in my mortal lifetime. 

Secular Education / Higher Education (part 2)

Ironically, many refuse to examine gospel truths simply because of how God reveals them. These very methods swell skepticism among many. “Furthermore, these divine disclosures are not democratically dispensed” (Maxwell) because such things are "made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works" (Alma 12:30; see also 2 Nephi 1:10).  This self-limits a huge part of the population.

In eternity, when the faithful receive "all that [the] Father hath," this will include an enormous enlargement intellectually (D & C 84:38).

Sadly, when people are left alone--without angelic visitations, without divine disclosures, without prophets, without scriptures, without the Holy Spirit--many cease believing. Belief in Gospel fundamentals is the first thing to go, as happened with Book of Mormon peoples who ceased believing in God, in the resurrection, and in a redeeming Christ, and therefore in repentance, and forgiveness, and in Faith, Hope, and Charity (Omni 1:17; Mosiah 26:2).  Confirmation follows faith and belief; it does not precede it.  

Many in the world hold back from making the "leap of faith" because they have already jumped to some other conclusions--often what the Book of Mormon calls the Korihor conclusions, which are: God never was nor ever will be; there is no redeeming Christ; man cannot know the future; man cannot know of that which he cannot see; whatsoever a man does is no crime; and death is the end (see Alma 30:13-­18).  

When so positioned, many mortals do not accept an invitation to explore the fullness of the Gospel of Christ which is the highest education and which challenges many secular assumptions.  Their reactions to the Gospel range from indifference to contempt. Happily, there are some who are meek enough to consider that which they have "never considered" and "never had supposed" (D & C 101:94; Moses 1:10). 

We who have made the ‘leap of faith’ and become immersed in the gospel framework sometimes fail to appreciate and take for granted how illuminating gospel truths are with regard to so many issues of the day. For instance, given the Plan of Salvation with our need to experience this probationary mortal school, to acquire a mortal body, and then knowing the very preciousness of human life--we see the awful practice of widespread abortion differently than many of the liberal element. Similarly, struggling to have the "mind of Christ" includes purity of thought and “letting virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly.” Hence we view pornography as a love-killing, distorted, enslaving thing. Likewise we cannot feel otherwise concerning such practices as licentious or violent entertainment  and blatant homosexuality even if these and other deviant sexual practices are or may become legally protected.

Education that is only "for a season" is narrow; it pertains only to a knowledge of things as they temporarily are, like today's weather forecast or an airline schedule or current fashion trends.  “Temporary facts are useful but terminal.” (Maxwell) Even an Ivy-League education will get us only so far. 

Thus our consuming of certain information is like consuming our daily bread. We need it (if it is not poisonous) but it is of temporary value and taken alone does not provide a balanced diet. We will soon hunger again (see John 6:47­-48, 51). Instead, the Bread of Life is not only satisfying, but it is inexhaustible.

Ultimate wisdom enables us to see Jesus as the Light of the World, but, further, we also come to realize that it is by His light that we are to see everything else. (C. S. Lewis) The Gospel's bright and illuminating light thereby helps us see God, ourselves, others, the world, and the universe more correctly and more deeply. Indeed, as Paul declared, "in [Christ] all things hold together" (RSV, Colossians 1:17). 

For now, though we can mercifully see something of our eventual possibilities, you and I are aware of our present limitations.  “For now we see through a glass darkly” and we should not forget it (1^st Corinthians 13:12).  So, “Is that all there is to life?” asks singer Judy Collins.  Having matriculated in an Eternal education I respond with a resounding, ‘No!

 Finally,  I submit that you and I should be fully qualified and certified both in traditional education and its processes and in ‘higher education’ as I have defined it for yet another very good reason: bilinguality. The men and women of Christ should be truly educated and articulate as to secular knowledge, but should also be educated and articulate in the things of the Spirit—in an education for Eternity.  For it is the Spirit that giveth Life—and that more abundantly.  It also gives a greatly expanded worldview.

It is for this I am grateful and to this that I aspire.  

(I am indebted to Elder Neal A. Maxwell, late of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for his B.Y.U. Campus Education Week 1992 keynote address, of which I listened and took careful notes.  It was his address which inspired me to discuss this topic and for providing a number of insightful thoughts and quotations.)

Secular Education / Higher Education (Part 1)

As a youth I resonated to T. S. Eliot's lamentation: "Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" (T. S. Eliot, The Rock [1934], I).  How much more is his lament true now in our ‘information age?’

As a mid-to-late-teenage boy I read and loved the Holy Bible.  As enlightening as the Bible was to me, however, I soon found that by including prayer and pondering I was being led more-and-more to the conclusion that there must be something more.  Didn’t even my Bible reading of Paul suggest that? “…Be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love … grow up into Him in all things. /  Wherefore He saith, awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead [meaning intellectual and spiritual stupor] and Christ shall give thee light. / Walk as children of light. / Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 4:14-15; 5:8, 14, 17) In short, I didn’t buy the conclusion my protestant mentors posited--that revelation of truth was over; that God wasn’t talking to man any more—it had all been said. I knew the Bible simply didn’t teach that. 

Later, when I came much more fully into the Gospel light I read this related warning and explanation: “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men whereby they lie in wait to deceive and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” (Doctrine and Covenants 123: 12)  From The Book of Mormon the prophet Nephi lamented over those who "will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge" (2 Nephi 32:7).  Clearly he was referring to a particular kind of knowledge.  If we understand the Bible, we know there is higher knowledge, indeed eternal truths God wants us to understand,  but that kind of knowledge comes only by revelation and, thereby, is only "spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).

In reflecting upon my young life, when I read this I knew it to be true.  Truth could be found!  In my early adulthood I had found it—at least an important part of it.  I found it on the path Jesus trod. 

But of my associates then, and some even now, I have also come to know that many had not pursued this quest for truth—the ‘higher education’ that the Gospel promised ; it was something they no longer, if they ever had, even thought about.  These good, but ‘natural men,’ pursued the secular ‘higher education’ essential to get along well in the work world, but insufficient, for a complete education that could direct them to ‘the truth , the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.’  The apostle Paul said, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)  

By contrast, those who diligently sought spiritual 'higher education' would be gifted with a ‘pearl of great price’:  “For by my Spirit will I enlighten them [the spiritually enlightened], and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will--yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.” (D&C 76:10)  Knowledge that is ‘spiritually discerned’ does not come without knocking, seeking, searching, pondering, and committing, and is not always easily or with persuasion communicated by the receiver to the non-believer who will not make the same diligent effort to know. 

Embedded in the scriptures, of  the Old World and New World,  are the words ‘truth’ and ‘understanding’ and a plea not to be ‘unwise.’ Implicit is the notion that there is such a thing as ‘truth’; we can come to ‘understanding’, and we should not be ‘unwise.’  

  

It is clear from scripture that some truths turn out to have a place in a hierarchy of Truth that the world doesn't understand. The highest education, therefore, includes salvational truths, bringing us “a knowledge of  things as they really are, as they were, and as they really will be" (Jacob 4:13; Doctrine and Covenants 93:24). Christ's manner of life is truly "the way, the truth, and the life," and he has directed us to pursue it.  (John 14:6; see also Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48; 3 Nephi 27:27).

The point I am trying to make is that all knowledge is not of equal significance. There is no democracy of facts or even knowledge, and certainly not of wisdom.  It should be clear that many things may be factual but unimportant.  Our challenge is to give the weightier matters their deserved prominence without leaving the lesser learning chores "undone" (Matthew 23:23).

Neal A. Maxwell commented that:

“Brilliance, by itself, is not wholeness, nor happiness. Knowledge, if possessed for its own sake and unapplied, leaves one's life unadorned. A Church member, for instance, might describe the Lord's doctrines but not qualify to enter the Lord's house. One could produce much brilliant commentary without being exemplary. One might be intellectually brilliant but Bohemian in behavior. One might use his knowledge to seek preeminence or dominion. Such are not Jesus' ways, for he asks that perception and implementation be part of the same spiritual process.” 

The Prophet Joseph Smith observed, "If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses" (Teachings, p. 216). God possesses perfect knowledge, but he also possesses perfect love and mercy.  Elder Maxwell again observed: “What a contrast He is to those mortals who are bright but bad, who are clever but carnal! Even genius without goodness can be dangerous.” 

No wonder, therefore, "to be learned is good if [we] hearken unto the counsels of God" instead of setting them aside as if we have somehow outgrown them (2 Nephi 9:29). How can one ever outgrow Christ's beckoning example of knowing, behaving, and doing? What happens, however, is that some easily fall into the trap described by Paul, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). For example, one might learn a great deal about the physical characteristics of this planet earth but yet be ignorant of why it was created (for us) in the first place (see Isaiah 45:18; 1 Nephi 17:36; Moses 1:33,39).  The highest education deals much with who, why, and when.  ‘How,’ I suppose, will come later.