Beginning, Middle, End

I'm in the middle of a remodel job in my home and I've decided I missed my calling in life. I've enjoyed getting bids from contractors, lining up work crews, and making all the decisions about what goes where and when. But it has kept me busy so I've been a little sporadic with the Good News! I hope you haven't given up on me.

I did discover something fun the other day that I've been eager to share. The word for truth in Hebrew is transliterated as emeth and in Hebrew it consists of three letters. I had known that before, but what I didn't realize is that the three letters are the first letter of the alphabet, the exact middle letter of the alphabet (thirteen letters before and thirteen letters after), and the last letter of the alphabet. Jews teach that the word itself testifies that truth must be the beginning, the middle, and the end of all things.

When Living in Truth it is a good thing to remember--truth must be our beginning, our middle, and our end!

The Power of Association

Way back in the days of manual typewriters—before word processing and before electric typewriters—I learned to test out the touch of a typewriter by typing this sentence: “Now is the time for all good boys to come to the aid of their country.” Supposedly this sentence covers most of the keys on the typewriter so you can get the feel of it. To this day, every time I put my hands on a key pad those words start go go through my head.

Touching my fingers to key pads also brings back another memory. In my freshman year of college I was taking a linguistics class where we had to memorize the phonetic symbols for sounds. I transcribed the "good boys" sentence into phonetic symbols figuring if it had most of the keys it would be an easy way to learn most of the sound symbols. To my surprise the final exam asked us to write out that “good boys” sentence in phonetic symbols. I aced the exam!

The fact that forty-plus years later the simple act of putting my fingers on a key pad brings back those memories is intriguing to me. Our minds are powerful and if instead of just letting things happen we recognize the power of the mind and memory we can make them work for us. We can purposely make associations that will constantly remind us of the things that will make us better, bring us closer to God, and help us remember His ways.

For example: the first thing I see when I wake up every morning and something I stared at when I was recently sick is the light and fan that hangs from the ceiling over my bed. It has five big brown blades and five is the numeric symbol for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. As I open my eyes each morning and see those five blades, I think about the Atonement. Those thoughts encourage and lift me and they get my heart and mind ready for the day. 

 

This is something all of us can do. We don't have to wait for memories to just happen. We can make associations with things we encounter every day that will remind us of our Father in Heaven and our Savior and thus empower and encourage us.

All These Things . . .

While I was sick a few weeks ago with the flu and pneumonia all at the same time, I had some dark moments when I wasn't sure I was going to make it. One night I awoke and had to use the bathroom. I was so weak it took great effort to walk the twenty-five or so feet to the room, but afterward I found myself too weak to make it back. I fell to the floor and lay there a long time finally falling asleep.

On the cold carpet before I slept vexing thoughts began to bombard me. I had a high fever. I could barely function. But I had faith to be healed. So why wasn't I healed? I knew God had the power to heal me so why didn't He? Why was I so sick? Why hadn't the priesthood blessing pronounced upon me that I would experience a miracle come to pass? Why was God letting this happen to me?

But as the thoughts began to come, I began to recite a scripture the gist of which is found several places in scripture including Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Actually I wasn't quoting the whole verse. In my weakened state I just kept saying, "All things work together for good. This must be for my good. There is something about being too weak to get to the bed and something about being this sick that is good for me."

The thoughts finally faded and I slept. After awhile the cold awoke me and by then I had gathered enough strength to make it to the bed. But the feelings and encouragement that the words I had recited stayed with me and helped me endure. Over and over I kept repeating snatches of scripture such as, "All these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7).

I was aware how much the words were helping me at the time. I could feel them lifting and helping me. But looking back now, I am even more grateful that I knew those words and was able to call upon them to give me the strength and encouragement I needed. It is only now that the trial is past that I am beginning to realize what I learned from this experience and why it was important that I learn those things. It is also only now and looking back that I realize that a miracle did happen. No I didn't heal instantaneously, but the miracle is I did not die. I came close, but I did not die and that is a miracle.

Last night Elder Bednar gave an amazing talk at a CES fireside on this very subject and if you did not hear it go to this site and watch or listen to it. It answers so many questions about the relationship between faith and adversity and encourages us to endure whatever adversity befalls us with faith, hope and charity.

Sabbath Scripture

But I say unto you,

That every idle word that men shall speak, 

they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 

For by thy words thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 

Matthew 12:36-37

No More New Year's Resolutions!

The new year is fast approaching and the time has come when people choose their New Year's Resolutions. But I've found that a list of goals becomes overwhelming and by the end of January I'm discouraged and done with resolutions so I don't set goals instead I pick a Word of the Year. I have loved the benefit doing this has brought to my life! Three years ago my word was rejuvenate, two years ago grateful, and this year it was anchored.

To make the Word of the Year work best choose a verb—an action word—and then constantly remind yourself of your Word of the Year. For example, when I chose rejuvenate, I let the word underscore everything I did. If I was cleaning house, I’d think about rejuvenating it—doing it better and/or more effectively than ever before. If I was studying, I’d think about rejuvenating my studies—having more enthusiasm and excitement in my study. If I was with friends, I’d think about rejuvenating my friendship—not taking friendship for granted but cherishing it and giving more to it. Instead of feeling like something extra or burdensome to do (like a goal often seems), a word resolution simply enhances and invigorates everything I am already doing. In this way I help the natural process of letting the Spirit renew and guide me day by day without getting discouraged or being tempted to give up. I love it!

I'll share my 2013 Word in a day or two (It won't surprise any of you who have been following Good News! for long.) but in the meantime, what words are you thinking about? And what experiences did you have last year with your 2012 Word of the Year?

(Just for fun leave a comment and guess my 2012 Word.)

Dem Words

There is a story in the Old Testament that most of us have never read, but we know the story well from the old folksong, “Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.” In this story, the prophet Ezekiel is taken by the Spirit and put down in the middle of a valley. As Ezekiel looks around he discovers that the valley is full of bones. The Spirit causes him to walk around and he sees that these bones are very dry. After he’s had a chance to see the devastation and lifelessness, the Spirit asks him, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

Imagine you are Ezekiel. What would you answer? Ezekiel answered, “Oh, Lord God, thou knowest,” (Ezekiel 37:3).

The Lord then commanded Ezekiel to speak to the bones and prophesy that the Lord will “cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live” (Ezekiel 37:4-5). And the bones began to move and to attach to one another, and sinew and flesh was restored to them, and they were covered with skin and filled with the spirit.

Obviously this is a prophecy of restoration, resurrection, and life, but there are other things for us to learn from this story about words and their power. What would have happened if Ezekiel had answered the question “Can these bones live?” by saying, “No way!” That’s the natural response most people would have. But Ezekiel says, “You know they can.”

Likewise when we face difficult life situations such as bad relationships, health impairments, financial woes, or anything that looks as hopeless as a valley full of old, dry bones and the adversary tempts us with thoughts of discouragement and hopelessness, we can say, “But God can fix this.”

The words we choose to speak and say have power over us. Words of faith bring about feelings of faith.

Just a Few Salted Words

Some of you put salt on your salad, but did you realize that the word salad is derived from the Latin word for salt which is sal?  It seems that Romans loved a dish of vegetables that were highly salted and the dish became know as salad.

You may have also heard that Roman soldiers were once paid in salt and thus we got the word salary. That isn't exactly true, but the word salary is about salt. Salt throughout history has been very valuable. Sometimes equal to gold in value. And because of its importance in sustaining life, Roman soldiers were given a daily ration of salt. But someone decided that instead of carrying large containers around so they could dispense salt to every soldier it would be easier to give them all a monetary allotment and let them buy their own salt. The money alloted became know as salary and from there we get the phrase, "He isn't worth his salt."

It is impossible to go about your day without encountering something that has to do with salt. Tomorrow you may even encounter the word salvation. If you do, think about what it has to do with salt.

Happy Words

Our bodies are amazing. Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells that work together to keep us alive and functioning. Each cell has its own tasks to perform, but at the same time all cells are dependent on other cells in order to function. Each cell "understands" exactly what to do and some, such as the white blood cells, actually sacrifice themselves for the good of the whole body.

But even more interesting is the fact that our cells communicate with each other through electrical messaging that is conducted by minerals and chemicals that act as neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters flow through every cell in the body and transmit messages through out the body. This means that if you are thinking happy words and thoughts that happiness is communicated to every cell in your body. Happiness isn't only about your heart or your mind. Every cell is influenced by positive words and thoughts.

Inspiration

We've talked a lot about the power and importance of words here on Good News! But I've never said much about the meaning of words. So I'm about the rectify that!

Words have meaning and if we want to convey the proper meaning with the words we use we need to know what meanings are inherent in the word. Also, studying the meanings of words, especially words we think we already know because we've used them forever, intensifies our understanding of life. Let me give you an example. You all know and use the word inspire. Your feeling for that word probably centers around the idea of motivation. But the word comes to us from the Latin word, inspirare,  which means to breathe in. Thus its literal definition is to breathe life into yourself or others. If you think about this and ponder it for a few minutes, I guarantee that next time you hear or use the word inspire you will feel something deeper and more meaningful.

Add to that the thought that as you ponder and learn to use words that inspire others, you breath life into their hopes and dreams and situations. So create something beautiful today by breathing hope or joy or love into someone you know. Inspire someone!

Mantras

It's all done with words!

In traditional Hindu teachings mantras are used to invoke and bring about spiritual transformation. A mantra according to Hinduism is “a mystical formula of invocation or incantation.” The Hindu word mantra means “sacred Counsel” and comes from the word manyate which means “he thinks.”  We, in the Western world, have adopted the word to mean “a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses someone's basic beliefs.” For example, I read the statement the other day, “This businessman’s mantra is, ‘Bigger is better’.”

Whether we recognize it or not we all have mantras or habitual ways of thinking that guide our actions. That’s why it is powerful to analyze our actions and determine if those habitual ways of thinking are bringing us closer to God or keeping us from Him. It is also powerful to put our healthy ways of thinking into sentences or mantras that we can repeat over and over to ourselves to solidify and help us remember what we really want to be and do.

As I’ve so often said here, words have power, especially the words we repeat and use to guide our lives.  By selecting and often repeating to yourself a simple mantra such as,

“I behave in any situation like a child of God”  

you help yourself stay on the straight and narrow path that will take you back to Him.

Feasting on the Word

The great prophet Nephi encouraged us to “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3). Obviously the first step to feasting is to read the words of scripture, but reading is more comparable to preparing the feast than it is to actually eating the feast. The word feast means, “an elaborate and usually abundant meal often accompanied by a ceremony or entertainment” or “something that gives unusual or abundant enjoyment.” 

To have an” abundant meal” you prepare many, many different dishes and then sit down and take time to enjoy eating them. This bringing together of many different foods is what gives the “abundant enjoyment.” When we put mashed potatoes on our plate alongside the broccoli and the cranberry jelly, we not only enjoy the tastes of each one, but we enjoy the aromas, the color contrasts, and the difference in texture.

Likewise when we read scripture we are preparing the mind by putting the foods on the table where they can be acknowledged and chosen from. When we feast upon the scriptures we “eat” by pondering and meditating on comparisons and contrasts in all that we have read. We savor the delicate nuances of meanings and benefit from the “nutrients” that are available. 

“Unusual and abundant enjoyment” can happen when we eat a simple peanut butter sandwich. But it is much more likely to happen at a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings filling the table.

Say "YES!"

The universal stance of triumph.

As I've been studying words and paying attention to how words affect me, I've noticed something very interesting about the simple word yes. If I'm discouraged or just feeling a little down in the mouth, if I say the word, "Yes!" with enthusiasm and conviction I feel immediate empowerment.

In addition, if I raise my arms up in a victory stance like you see runners do as they cross the finish line in first place, there is an added boost of power. I can't explain it, but I can feel it. It is immediate and it is real. It doesn't matter if I'm feeling or thinking anything wonderful or if I'm feeling or thinking negative things. Saying YES and raising my arms in a power stance makes the negative go away and enhances the positive.

I know it sounds too simple to be true, but it works. Try it right now and tell me how you feel.

YES!

The Essence of Spirituality

I hope you enjoyed the LDS General Conference as much as I did. I especially enjoyed it because of the research I've been doing on words and the power of words. As the Lectures on Faith teach us, "Faith works by words." And hearing the words of prophets always increases my faith.

But there was something more this conference. I was making some connections that I've never made before. The Hindu holy book, the Vedas, is believed by its followers to be divinely revealed. Many of the writings in the Vedas obviously correspond to our Biblical teachings, but others have indirect correspondence and can enlighten our own understanding of what is meant.

One of these is the Vedic teaching that “Speech is the essence of humanity.” According to this all of what humanity thinks and becomes is determined by the words that are spoken. In other words, everything has its birth in words. You cannot do something until you have first thought it and formed it into words. When we connect this idea to the teachings of John in the New Testament it expands our understanding of what John means in his gospel when he writes, "In the beginning was The Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God..."

By the same token, our words determine who and what God is to us. He is born in us by the words we choose to think and speak. We can create Him in our own image by thinking of Him as someone who acts and reacts like we do, or we can let Him give us the words of love and peace that allow Him to unfold His divine nature within us. It is then that we are changed to be like Him.

Speech is not only the essence of humanity, it is the essence of spirituality.

A Great Link

This week one of my colleagues,Ray Huntington, presented a wonderful devotional address to the university. It was entitled "A Grateful Heart" and it is worth watching. So go here and enjoy.It is well worth the time.

Ray begins by explaining some of the new research that shows the power of gratitude but then he moves into a short discussion of the power of positive words.

If you've liked our discussions about the power of words, you'll love this talk.

A New Kind of Word Game

I believe life should be fun and that means even the difficult things like changing life-long habits. So as we work toward Living in Truth one of the things we can do to is to make efforts to change into a game.

One example that comes to mind is a game that can be used when we are changing our language from negative power sapping words to positive empowering words. What you do is enlist the help of someone who is around you a lot and ask them to listen to what you say. When they hear you use negative and low energy words they then call out, "Swap!" Your job is to immediately swap the negative word with a positive high energy word and repeat what you just said.

You can also do this yourself if no one is around to help you. As soon as you notice you've said something negative instead of beating yourself up over it or telling yourself how you never are able to do what you've committed to do, simply laugh and cry out, "Swap!" and then restate what you just said with the new positive word.

It works, and it is fun!

Power Words

I keep finding the most interesting things about words and the power of words. For example, this morning while studying I found a study that shows that negative words produce a lower energy or heavier vibration level and positive words produce a higher energy or vibration level. This corresponds with how you feel when negative words or positive words are used. You feel lighter when using or hearing positive words and heavier when using negative words.

Usually we aren't aware of the energy produced by the words we hear and speak, but if we are looking and scrutinizing we can feel the difference. Our minds are like computers that sort our, process, and then respond to the codes that are inputted. Our minds unconsciously sort, process and then respond to the words we hear, think, and speak.

This means that every word is processed so that in fractions of a second meaning, associations, and memories connected with that word are sorted and then relevant ideas are brought to conscious thought. The mind is amazing! But what is important here are the ramifications of using low energy negative words versus high energy positive words.

Some of us have filled our vocabulary with negative ways of stating positive things. For example, someone requests something of you and you answer, "No problem" instead of "You're welcome" or "I'd be happy to do that." The word problem is a low energy, negative word, but welcome and happy are positive and high energy words.

So fill your day with happy words and watch what the good that happens!

Administering Grace

The apostle Paul in writing to the Ephesians said, 

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, 

but that which is good to the use of edifying, 

that it may minister grace unto the hearers" 

(Eph. 4:29). 

We usually read that and think, "Oh, I should only speak good words to others."

But who hears every single word you utter?

You do! You are the major hearer of everything you say. 

This means that by watching what we say and making sure it is edifying, we minister grace to ourselves as well as others. So I am going to think more about the words that proceed out of my mouth plus, I'm going to think more about the words that swim around in my head. 

Because I need all the grace (enabling power) I can get!

Words of Faith

Tomorrow I am teaching a seminar in Davis County about my research on "Faith Works By Words." I'm excited because the more I study this subject the more amazed I am at the significance of the words we think and speak. Words matter! Words make all the difference in our lives. But their significance often escapes us because using words to exercise faith isn't just a matter of bearing testimony or expressing religious thoughts. It is the daily, hourly, minute by minute use of words that is our faith.

For example: I have a friend who is about ten years older than I am who has never married. Many in her circumstances think thoughts (words) such as "Why has God denied me this blessing?" or "This isn't fair that I don't get a spouse when it is a commandment!" But instead my friend told me she wakes up every morning and exclaims, "Wow, I'm one day closer to the time when I'll find my eternal companion!"

Do you see how the first statements are a denial of faith and the second is a declaration of faith? Faith works by words and so we need to examine the words we use at all times and make sure they are words of faith.

Here are just a few of the scriptures that explain the importance of words.

From the Savior: "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37)

From King Benjamin: "But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.” (Mosiah 4:30)

From the Apostle Paul: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)

Growing Words

Today I am teaching the great speech Alma gives to the Zoramites in Antionum, when he compares the word of God to a seed. I cannot read Alma 32:28 without a feeling of childish delight causing a happy chuckle. In that verse Alma explains that if a word is a good word you will know it because when it is planted in your heart it will begin to swell within you, it will enlarge your soul, it will enlighten your understanding, and it will be delicious to you. In other words, you will feel the goodness of the words and those good words will in turn grow into faith.

But look closely at the first letter of those descriptive words. It will Swell, Enlarge, Enlighten, and be Delicious.The acronym spells SEED. That play on words is repeated in verses 34 and 35 with the words, Sprouted, Enlightened, Expand, and Discernible.

It makes me think that God loves language and words as much as I do!

BYU Education Week Day One

The first day of BYU Education Week has gone well. I taught my class on Faith Works By Words and met some wonderful people. That is what keeps me coming back to teach at Education Week. Just walking around campus with all these amazing people lifts and encourages. I wish I could transmit the feeling to you, but hopefully by talking about it and you reading about it you can feel it. But remember WORDS are powerful.

If you read this and think the words, "Poor me. I can't be there,"then the words will create negative feelings that destroy faith and instill depression and dismay.

But if you read this and think, "At least I get to hear about it, and I can imagine how it is," then you will have almost the same experience I am having. The WORDS you use make all the difference in the world.

So use your imagination and think about what it is like to be among thousands of believing, faith seeking, wonderful people. Feel the aura that exists, the love that emanates from them. Enjoy the sounds of people greeting each other with kindness and every where you go people making new friendships. It is a little taste of heaven.