Life is about what we become, not what we do

 

The Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts — what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts — what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks

I tend to get caught up in the mindset that judgment will be some kind of point-based system where all of our actions (good and bad) are tallied, and the final score will determine our fate. Instead it is based on our desires and our trajectory. 

Repentance is therefore not so much about trying to wipe specific sins off our balance sheet, as it is trying to refocus our desires and thoughts back towards the Savior.

Source: Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become”

There are always flowers for those who want to see them

Henri Matisse, the French artist, had a prolific and influential art career spanning over six decades.

But by the time he reached his 70s, illness had confined him to a wheelchair, and surgery had left him too weak to hold a paint brush. But instead of quitting art, he decided to focus on what he could still do. Matisse looked inward and forward rather than backward.

He began using scissors instead of a paintbrush. He cut vibrant shapes from painted paper and arranged them into "cut-outs." This wasn’t a compromise — it was a reinvention. His art from this era of his life was still radiant, uplifting, and full of life. They pulse with joy — not despite his limitations, but through them.

One of the most stunning pieces from this era, La Gerbe (The Sheaf), is a cascade of colorful leaves dancing upward.

Another is Icarus. The figure appears to be falling — or maybe flying — against a deep blue sky, surrounded by stars. Matisse could have made it tragic, but instead he made it electric. He gave Icarus vitality and courage, even in descent.

Matisse was asked why he didn't express his struggles or sorrow in his art. He answered that there was enough sadness in the world already and that art should instead celebrate and focus on the happiness and beauty of life. He said, "There are always flowers for those who want to see them." His later works weren't an escape from reality but a choice to seek light even in shadow. They were declarations of optimism crafted with conviction.

So if life pushes us into unexpected corners, maybe the lesson is this: We don’t need the perfect conditions to create beauty. We just need the will to keep cutting shapes from the vibrant paper of what we still have.

Source: The basics of the story were told to us by our tour guide in France.

Turn your pain into power

True superheroes aren’t born, they’re forged through adversity. The song "Superheroes" by The Script, has these words in the chorus:

When you've been fighting for it all your life
You've been struggling to make things right
That’s how a superhero learns to fly
Every day, every hour, turn the pain into power

When you've fighting for it all your life
You've been working every day and night
That’s how a superhero learns to fly
Every day, every hour, turn the pain into power

It is by overcoming adversity that we find our own superpowers.
Source: Superheroes lyrics

The Parable of the Three Rings

Three brothers stood before a wise judge, each claiming to be the rightful heir to their late father's most prized possession: a ring said to bring wisdom and prosperity. The father had promised it to each of them in private, and now, with no will and no witnesses, the dispute threatened to divide the family.

The judge listened carefully, then asked for a few days to consider the matter. When the brothers returned, he presented each with a ring—identical in every way. "This is a test," the judge said. "Only the true ring will bring wisdom and prosperity. Return in a year, and we shall see which of you has used it best."

A year later, the brothers returned. One had used his ring to build a school, another to start a business that employed many, and the third had kept his ring locked away, fearing it might be stolen.

The judge smiled. "The true ring is not the one you wear, but the one you live by. Stewardship is proven not by possession, but by what you do with what you're given."

Source: Adapted from the Parable of the Three Rings, as explored in Iris Shagrir's academic paper "The Parable of the Three Rings: A Revision of Its History" (PDF). This parable has roots in medieval Islamic, Jewish, and Christian storytelling traditions.

Gaius Maecenas - The legacy of a faithful steward

In ancient Rome, a diplomat named Gaius Maecenas (GUY-us mee-SEE-nus) came to become one of the most trusted advisors of Emperor Augustus. Maecenas administered Rome and Italy while the emperor was away fighting battles. He was so trusted that he was given the position of informal vice-regent, which meant he could use the emporer's seal and even alter his dispatches at will.

He gained this trust and power by being known as a person of wisdom, and in an age of ruthless violence, he won praise for his mildness and humanity.

What also set him apart was how he chose to use his power. Despite his great wealth and influence, he did not hoard his riches or seek personal glory. Instead, he became a patron of the arts. He supported poets like Virgil and Horace, believing that culture, ideas, and creativity were just as vital to Rome's future as military strength. His investments in people and their potential left a legacy that has far outlasted his lifetime.

Maecenas understood that true stewardship is not about possession, but purpose. He used his resources to nurture beauty, truth, and culture — investing in the soul of a civilization. His legacy reminds us that what we manage is not truly ours, but a trust given for the good of others and the glory of something greater.

As stewards in our own workplaces and communities, we are called to ask:
Are we using what we've been given to build up others?
Are we investing in what lasts beyond us?

Maecenas reminds us that stewardship isn't just about managing money or tasks — it's about using what we have to build something meaningful. Whether we're leading teams, handling budgets, or mentoring others, we all have the opportunity to invest in things that last.

The Maecenas-Ehrung award was named in his honor and is a distinction awarded by the German Association of Independent Cultural Institutions. It is give to people that have significantly promoted art and culture in Germany.

Source: Britannica: Gaius Maecenas

The Parable of the Empty Pot

Long ago in China, a boy named Ping was known for his love of flowers. Everything he planted bloomed beautifully. The Emperor, who also loved flowers, was growing old and needed to choose a successor. He decided to let the flowers choose.

He gave every child in the kingdom a special seed, saying, "In one year, bring me your best flower. The one who grows the finest one will become the next Emperor."

Ping was thrilled. He planted his seed in rich soil and watered it carefully. But nothing grew. He tried new soil, a bigger pot, and even more care — but still, the seed wouldn't sprout. Months passed, and Ping worked hard, but the pot remained empty.

When the year ended, children came to the palace with beautiful flowers. Ping felt embarrassed, but his father encouraged him to be honest and bring the empty pot.

At the palace, the Emperor looked at all the flowers but said nothing — until he reached Ping. "Why is your pot empty?" he asked. Ping explained everything, holding back tears.

The Emperor smiled and announced, "You are the one! The seeds I gave were cooked and couldn't grow. All the others replaced theirs. Only Ping was honest. He shall be the next Emperor!"

Lesson: True stewardship includes honesty and integrity, even when it seems to lead to failure.

Source: Ancient Chinese Parable – "The Empty Pot"

Living in fear of the future

“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.”
- Michel de Montaigne

“In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. ‘How are we to live in an atomic age?’ I am tempted to reply: ‘Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.’

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. ... It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things — praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts — not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies ... but they need not dominate our minds.”
- C. S. Lewis

We can replace the phrase "atomic bomb" above with something like "global climate change", "coronavirus", or whatever else the fear-du-jour is.

Sources:
Michel de Montaigne
C. S. Lewis, Living in an Atomic Age

Happiness is being content

President David O. McKay often quoted William George Jordan: "Happiness consists not of having, but of being; not of possessing, but of enjoying. It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with itself."

Happiness is a state of being contented or satisfied. But sometimes it’s hard to be content and satisfied — to have enough. There will always be a newer watch, a more powerful computer, a fancier car or closet organizer. But you can never get enough of what you don’t need, because what you don’t need never satisfies. We spend money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like who don’t come over and get impressed anyway.

President McKay further said that "to seek happiness or even contentment in the acquisition of . . . worldly things alone is to lose sight of the higher purpose of life. And that is one reason why there is discouragement and why there is despair generally in the world."

Source: Godliness with Contentment, Mary Ellen Edmunds

Nourish the roots of your testimony - the Savior

If you want to nourish a tree, you don’t splash water on the branches. You water the roots. Similarly, if you want the branches of your testimony to grow and bear fruit, nourish the roots. If you are uncertain about a particular doctrine or practice or element of Church history, seek clarity with faith in Jesus Christ. Seek to understand His sacrifice for you, His love for you, His will for you. Follow Him in humility. The branches of your testimony will draw strength from your deepening faith in Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son.

For example, if you want a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon, focus on its witness of Jesus Christ. Notice how the Book of Mormon testifies of Him, what it teaches about Him, and how it invites and inspires you to come unto Him.

If you’re seeking a more meaningful experience in Church meetings or in the temple, try looking for the Savior in the sacred ordinances we receive there. Find the Lord in His holy house. If you ever feel burned out or overwhelmed by your Church calling, try refocusing your service on Jesus Christ. Make it an expression of your love for Him.

Nourish the roots, and the branches will grow. And in time, they will bear fruit.
- Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Source: Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow

Foundation of a testimony

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”
- The Prophet Joseph Smith

Source: Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith

Understand what is eternal

One of the most important things we can learn in this life is the difference between what is eternal and what is not. Once we understand that, everything changes — our relationships, the choices we make, the way we treat people.
- Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Source: Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow

Service is a way of (celestial) life

Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.

Source: Marion G. Romney, The Celestial Nature of Self-reliance

Fable of the gullible gull

“In our friendly neighbor city of St. Augustine [Florida] great flocks of sea gulls are starving amid plenty. Fishing is still good, but the gulls don’t know how to fish. For generations they have depended on the shrimp fleet to toss them scraps from the nets. Now the fleet has moved. …

The shrimpers had created a Welfare State for the … sea gulls. The big birds never bothered to learn how to fish for themselves and they never taught their children to fish. Instead they led their little ones to the shrimp nets.

Now the sea gulls, the fine free birds that almost symbolize liberty itself, are starving to death because they gave in to the ‘something for nothing’ lure! They sacrificed their independence for a handout.

A lot of people are like that, too. They see nothing wrong in picking delectable scraps from the tax nets of the U.S. Government’s ‘shrimp fleet.’ But what will happen when the Government runs out of goods? What about our children of generations to come?

Let’s not be gullible gulls. We … must preserve our talents of self-sufficiency, our genius for creating things for ourselves, our sense of thrift and our true love of independence.”

Source: Readers Digest, quoted by Marion G. Romney

The rabbit effect

In the 1970s, researchers set up an experiment to examine the effects of diet on heart health. Over several months, they fed a control group of rabbits a high-fat diet and monitored their blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol.

As expected, many of the rabbits showed a buildup of fatty deposits on the inside of their arteries. Yet this was not all! Researchers had discovered something that made little sense. Although all of the rabbits had a buildup, one group surprisingly had as much as 60 percent less than the others. It appeared as though they were looking at two different groups of rabbits.

To scientists, results like this can cause lost sleep. How could this be? The rabbits were all the same breed from New Zealand, from a virtually identical gene pool. They each received equal amounts of the same food.

What could this mean? Did the results invalidate the study? Were there flaws in the experiment design? The scientists struggled to understand this unexpected outcome!

Eventually, they turned their attention to the research staff. Was it possible that researchers had done something to influence the results? As they pursued this, they discovered that every rabbit with fewer fatty deposits had been under the care of one researcher. She fed the rabbits the same food as everyone else. But, as one scientist reported, “she was an unusually kind and caring individual.” When she fed the rabbits, “she talked to them, cuddled and petted them. … ‘She couldn’t help it. It’s just how she was.’”

She did more than simply give the rabbits food. She gave them love!

At first glance, it seemed unlikely that this could be the reason for the dramatic difference, but the research team could see no other possibility.

So they repeated the experiment—this time tightly controlling for every other variable. When they analyzed the results, the same thing happened! The rabbits under the care of the loving researcher had significantly higher health outcomes.

Years later the findings of this experiment still seem influential in the medical community. In recent years, Dr. Kelli Harding published a book titled The Rabbit Effect that takes its name from the experiment. Her conclusion: “Take a rabbit with an unhealthy lifestyle. Talk to it. Hold it. Give it affection. … The relationship made a difference. … Ultimately,” she concludes, “what affects our health in the most meaningful ways has as much to do with how we treat one another, how we live, and how we think about what it means to be human.”

In a secular world, bridges connecting science with gospel truths sometimes seem few and far between. Yet as Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints, the results of this scientific study may seem more intuitive than astonishing. For me, this lays another brick in the foundation of kindness as a fundamental, healing gospel principle—one that can heal hearts emotionally, spiritually, and, as demonstrated here, even physically.

Source: Hearts Knit Together

Challenges can produce growth instead of anxiety

In the pursuit of extraordinary performance, it’s easy to succumb to anxiety and pressure, because so much is out of your control. When you learn to live a life that is fully engaged, however, then you can perform your best and love the challenge. Every performance, presentation, or problem you face is an opportunity to learn and grow and vividly experience each moment.
- Jim Murphy

Source: Inner Excellence, by athletic performance coach Jim Murphy

Sacrifice is making something holy

In the ancient world, sacrifice wasn't giving something up. It was making something holy. - Dr. Dan Belnap

This can really change our perspective on sacrifice. Instead of asking ourselves a question like, "Am I going to sacrifice this time to go to the temple?" or "Am I going to sacrifice this money to pay tithing? we should ask ourselves "Do I want to make this time holy? Do I want to make this money holy?" Really it is just a shift in perspective.

Source: Follow Him podcast

God wants help from imperfect servants

We have a God who holds worlds without number in his hands. He's more than capable of doing His own work. He tells us that on two occasions in 2 Nephi 27, "I am able to do my own work". And yet the fascinating thing is that he relies on servants to assist in the work when he could just miraculously perform all the work way better, quite frankly, than Joseph Smith or any prophet or any teacher.

Jesus could give every talk this coming Sunday in sacrament meeting and it would be the best most perfect sacrament meeting ever. But a perfect sacrament meeting isn't the point. Helping us grow line upon line to become more like the Savior, that's the point. And you can't do that by going and having a lesson and having somebody teach you facts and figures and dates and places. You do it by walking with the Savior, by keeping His commandments to the best of our ability and then pleading for forgiveness when we don't, extending mercy to others who are struggling in their part of the vineyard as well.

We work together, we grow together. We with the Lord help produce fruit together and it's just this long process of becoming who we have the capacity to become. And I just marvel at God's goodness. Instead of just taking over my life and doing everything perfectly, He lets me wrestle, He lets me struggle. He lets me teach those lessons. Because there's an opportunity for learning and growth and development and becoming. It's amazing to me how patient and kind he is with us as children of God through this growing process.
- Dr. Tyler Griffin

Source: Follow Him podcast

Personal agency is the core of God's Plan

Heavenly Father's goal in parenting is not to have his children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him.
- Elder Dale G. Renlund

We might think that the Lord wanted obedience to a set of rules, whereas he really wants people of a particular sort.
- C. S. Lewis

Sources:
Follow Him podcast
Elder Dale G. Renlund
C. S. Lewis

What the rising generation needs

When President Meredith was called to be the President of BYU-Idaho, his wife had a distinct impression from the Spirit about what they needed to give the rising generation.

1. We need to point our rising generation to the Savior in all things
2. We need to point them to living prophets and apostles
3. We need to model that living the gospel of Jesus Christ is joyful

Source: Follow Him podcast

Growth comes through opposition

Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me Lord, all those experiences which made thee what thou art. Then let me come and dwell with thee and fully share thy joy.'
- Elder Neal A. Maxwell

A God who is asking nothing of us is making nothing of us.
- Brad Wilcox

Sources:
Follow Him podcast
Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Attributes of a true disciple of Christ

The best and most clear indicator that we are progressing spiritually and coming unto Christ is the way we treat other people.
- Elder Marvin J. Ashton

One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people.
- President Russell M. Nelson

We may sometimes measure our spirituality by how often we spend in the scriptures or in the temple or in our callings, but the best and most clear indicator that we are progressing spiritually and coming unto Christ, is the way that we treat others.

Sources:
Follow Him podcast
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
President Russell M. Nelson

Bids and turns

Bids and turns is one of the greatest tools for saving your relationships. The simple idea is a bid is anytime you invite connection, "Hey, how was your day?" And the turn is when the person turns to the bidder.

John Gottman, the leading researcher in marriage and family has found out that the healthiest couples turn 86% of the time to their partner when their partner initiates a conversation or talk. They don't keep doing what they're doing. They turn. What they're trying to do then is get in sync and to create attunement or at-one-ment.

The power in his research is the couples that were most likely to divorce were only turning 33% of the time. 86% for the healthiest marriages and 33% for the least healthy. The simple question for all of us is, "do you turn?"

Sources:
Follow Him podcast
Communication theory by John Gottman

The gifts of the magi

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
- Matthew 2:11

The gifts the wisemen* brought the Christ child symbolized key aspects of the Jerusalem temple and kingship theology. The gold was used to symbolize the glorious nature of God himself and the temple where he dwelt in the heavens. All of the vessels and furnishings in the Jerusalem temple were made of gold to symbolize this. Frankincense was the key ingredient in the special incense blend used in the Holy of Holies, and was also used in the gift meal offerings described in Leviticus. Myrrh was the primary component in the holy anointing oil used in the temple.

*In the original greek, the word used is "magi", which was the name used to refer to Zoroastrian priests, a religion in Persia.

Source: The Ancient Tradition #48