Be Selfish to be More Selfless

On commercial airline flights they tell us that when the oxygen masks drop we were to put the mask on ourself and get the air flowing, then help our child or others that need assistance. This bothered me for years -- I thought it was inconsiderate to put my needs in front of others and that a good Christian would defer to the needs of others first.

This was incorrect.

Jesus told Peter "and when thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren." Essentially Peter needed the 'oxygen' before he could give it to others.

This applies to helping other people economically. Given that high inflation is coming, job security will continue to be less secure, and taxes are going to increase, there will be many opportunities and needs to help people and relieve their suffering.

Now is the time to create a solid foundation for our own families. Not for selfish reasons but so we can effectively help those in need. If we don't have food stored for these times and food becomes scarce, we'll be forced to spend all our time just trying to get food for our family leaving no opportunity to help others.

If we have built income streams that don't require going to a job then we can spend our time helping people in need rather than just trying to survive ourselves. In other words, become financially independent now and you will have a great capacity to be of service to others.

While on the surface it might seem selfish to take care of yourself first, it actually allows you to be less selfish and more giving to others.

- Luke 22:32

How We Learn Best

Dale Edgar studied how people learn and created the "Cone of Learning" to illustrate it. His findings validate what I will be doing teaching seminary this school year.

Listening to lectures is one of the least effective ways to learn. However I believe it is effective to talk in front of the class to explain a context or set the stage for what they will be learning. Reading the scriptures also sets the stage for learning, and we'll be doing that as well.

So while there will be some lecturing and reading, I want to spend a fair amount of time having the students participate in discussions and teaching/sharing the scriptures with other over the new media.

Here is the Cone of Learning:

Scripture Stories as Patterns for Our Lives

Elder Jay E. Jensen Of the Presidency of the Seventy in a recent Ensign article talks about a scripture study pattern that can help us better understand the scriptures.

When I read this article a few weeks ago I felt strongly that we should use this pattern while studying the Book of Mormon in seminary this upcoming school year. It's a great way to benefit and learn from the scriptures.

Scripture Stories as Patterns for Our Lives (PDF)

Join the Conversation

My seminary class this upcoming school year will be sharing and teaching what they are learning by joining the conversation on the new media. These links below are reference material I'll be using to help my students understand what we can do.

Elder Ballard encourages us to join the conversation in the new media, share the gospel in simple and clear terms including the message of the restoration (Dec 2007):


Click here for the text of his talk

News article of what members are doing to join the discussion:
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/mormons-make-their-voices-heard-digitally

Elder Ballard in October 2007 shared the need for clear, simple statements about our faith. Suggests creating a list of simple statements or points:
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-9,00.html

Bad Economy is Good

A faltering economy means real suffering for many people.

In some ways having a faltering economy is good. It helps us remember our dependence on our Creator. In remembering this dependence we are humbled, live better lives, and repent. Which is good.

Prophets of old have actually asked for conditions that resulted in a faltering economy. Their purpose specifically was to encourage people to repent and remember who they really are.

Nephi requested "let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee."

Keep our current economic situation in perspective. It is temporary and if it stirs us to a remembrance of our Lord then there is good in it.

- Heleman 11:4-7

The Price of Pleasure

Tiffany and I ate dinner last night at a Cajun restaurant. Yum.

I noticed a middle-aged couple near our table completely enjoying their meal. Heaping plates with blackened shrimp and fish, okra, and peppered french fries. All things Cajun. Bite after blissful bite, no time for talk, just eat and enjoy. Hors d'oeuvres, main course, desert, the works.

After they finished they sat in quiet reverie for a few minutes contemplating the enjoyment they just had, expressions of satisfaction on their faces.

As they got up to leave their expressions changed to discomfort and pain. They both slowly hauled themselves up out of their chairs, one with a cane, the other using the table and chair for support. They were both about 100 pounds overweight.

Then it struck me that for the 15 minutes of enjoyment just concluded they would now suffer the effects of that pleasure 24x7, around the clock, in everything they did. Even sleeping would not give repreive since their sleep would be inhibited. Even while eating they still had to deal with feeling terrible physically.

Imagine if they swapped the amount of time feeling good and feeling bad -- they would spend 15 minutes of pain for feeling good at all times. Wouldn't it be worth it? Ironically when we eat in moderation and eat healthy food a natural pleasure is felt so there wouldn't even be the 15 minutes of pain.

As Alma says, "see that ye bridle all your passions." Following that advice will go a long way to living a truly pleasurable life, one where we can feel good all the time rather than just for a few moments here and there.

- Alma 38:12

Pleasure Has Limits

You might believe that super rich people have much more pleasure in life than you do. This is why many of us envy the rich, picturing a life with no constraints on the fun and pleasure we can have.

The truth is that even super rich people have constraints on the amount of pleasure in their life. Consider this: are their bodies special in some way that they can eat large amounts food and not get fat?

All people, regardless of how much money they have, need to love and be loved, need a purpose in life, need physical exercise, and need mental development. No amount of money can change this.

Regardless of how much wealth you have, you still have to take care of your body, your mind, and your spirit. If you don't you will suffer. So rich people who neglect these things suffer just as much as poor people do.

Instead of envying rich people and thinking that somehow they have much better lives, we should focus on gratitude for the blessings we already have in our lives. Everyone, regardless of challenges or economic position, has blessings to be grateful for.

"Humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

- Alma 34:38