What is important?

 

What is important?

The pandemic that is sweeping the nations has pointed out that there are important things and those that are really not important. 

 Unimportant things:

1. Sports. Everyone seems to be concerned that they are not playing sports because of the pandemic. The professional teams are not playing because of the pandemic. This affects those who play and the spectators. We can live without sports. They are not necessary. Of course there are some people who never watch or participate. So sports of all kinds are not necessary.
2. Restaurants. There are some people who frequent fast food establishments and sit down restaurants on a regular basis. Eating out is not essential. It is a convenient luxury. I do not remember eating out when I was growing up, perhaps only once a year if that often. We enjoy it, but it is not a necessity. 
3. Vacations. It is not necessary to travel or go away from home to relax and enjoy our selves. It is a nonessential pleasure that we have become accustomed to.
4. Social gathering. Although we enjoy being with people, we have neglected this in favor of in home entertainment. We watch television and DVDs and often neglect the stimulation of interpersonal relationships. The home and home centered activities are now taking their predominant place. 
5. Exercise gyms. There are many who frequent these places for the social experience and to exercise because many sit at a desk all day. The agrarian society that I grew up in had plenty of opportunity to break a sweat doing manual labor. Most people could do push-ups at home and fill empty gallon milk bottles with water and use them for weights to lift and build up their muscles. Manual labor provided all the exercise when I was growing up. 
6. Movie theaters and theaters. These are for recreation and diversion. They have their place, but are not essential. 
   

This is a test to see how we will handle adversity. Will we refuse to wear a mask? Will we vilify others because we don’t agree with their point of view? This is an individual test for everyone. We will be judged by our own response. Are we going to be kind or cross? Are we going to keep the commandments of Jesus or are we going to follow Satan and be contentious? Are we going to demonstrate or spread the gospel in a civil and polite manner? How are you going to measure up when you stand up before the Savior at the judgment day? 

 

Now what is important?

The knowledge that you are a child of God.

The gospel of Jesus Christ.

Keeping the commandments.

Family and family relationships.

Being an example of the believers in word and deed. 

Keeping our covenants with the Lord.  

Temple covenants for the living and the dead. 

Let me say here; that if the series of events follows the pattern that mankind has exhibited in the past are coming prior to Christ's coming in glory, then the family and family ties will be more important in strengthening the testimonies of the individual than at any time in our lifetimes. I think that the pandemic has given us an opportunity to help our family bond remotely.  Your grandmother and I have commented frequently how much we have enjoyed our weekly virtual meetings and how it has bonded us as a couple. This  will be more important as we strengthen each other in the times to come.  It was not available to our parents and grandparents, but it is given to us now to prepare us for that which is to come.

 

Please stay connected.

 

Love,

Grandpa and more importantly Grandma