Celestial Focus-Joy in the Journey

Normally when I've had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meetings, I get a few extra seconds to compose myself standing here in front of the pulpit as they adjust the height of the pulpit. As you might imagine, it rarely ever comes up. It always goes down. And so I apologize to you in the back. I assure you I'm standing.

Along with the other schools which were mentioned in my introductory biography, one that wasn't mentioned that I also attended is the “school of hard knocks.”For those of you who may not have attended this institution, the “school of hard knocks” refers to the lessons people learn through real-life experiences, especially difficult or challenging ones that are not necessarily part of formal education.

Unlike most institutions of learning, the school of hard knocks of my youth had few rules and allowed for activities that might be viewed today as maybe a bit foolish or even reckless. I grew up in an era without video games. I am sure that there are a significant number here today who just gasped, thinking that you'd heard stories of such a time but doubted that they really existed and were probably just fictitious tall tales. As strange as it may seem, as children, we actually went outside to play. Not that we had a lot of choice when our mothers threw us out of the house for being too noisy. We were even sometimes unsupervised. Can you imagine?

We may have lived a little dangerously by today’s standards. We often didn’t wear seatbelts, rode in the back of pickup trucks, and if they made bicycle helmets for kids to wear, my friends and I were not aware of them. As teenagers during the summer, my friends and I would visit some of the larger lakes in Utah to sightsee, swim, and water ski. At Lake Powell, there was another activity that my friends and I liked to participate in that, for good reason, is prohibited today. That was cliff jumping. Today at Lake Powell, it is prohibited to jump or dive off rock cliffs, ledges, or man-made structures that are 15 feet or more above the water

We weren’t totally irresponsible. Before jumping from the cliff into the water, we prepared by checking for hazards above and below the waterline. The water was murky, and we normally couldn’t see more than a couple of feet under the surface. We would get off the boat, swim around the area, and dive down to see if the cliff’s face came farther into the water or if rocks, trees, or other unseen objects might be present where we wanted to jump. Once we felt comfortable that we had done what we could to determine what was under the surface, we would climb to a point on the cliff and jump. For some reason, no one ever wanted to be the first to go. After some deliberation, someone would finally jump. The momentary fear would dissipate after entering the cool water and swimming to the surface. Once the first person would resurface, the rest of us would be emboldened and would each take our turn jumping into the water.

In the beginning, we would not jump off very tall cliffs, maybe around 15 to 20 feet high. We would wear life jackets to make sure we had additional protection. As the days at the lake went on, we would jump from higher and higher cliffs. The life jackets started to seem like a burden. We went from wearing them, to throwing them down before we jumped, to not using them at all. By the time we reached the heights of 20 feet and above, the impact speed with the water could easily exceed 20 mph, and it would be painful on our bare feet. So one day, we decided it’d be a good idea to wear our shoes.

Now, I must tell you about my shoes. I loved my shoes. They were the latest technology in running shoes. I had never owned such a fine pair of shoes, and I treasured them. The upper part of the shoe was made of foam and was so light that I felt like I could run and keep up with an Olympian.

So as my friends jumped wearing their shoes and resurfaced, smiling and laughing, I was very confident and took my turn. All went exactly as planned until I entered the water. My momentum stopped, and I began to try to swim to the surface. I found that the shoes that I had worn to be my protection had become two great sponges. The foam that had been so light had almost instantly been saturated by water and was now heavy and pulling me downward. The laces were tied tight, and I could not shake them off. I swam as hard as I could toward the surface. I could see the bright round light of the sun reflecting on the surface, but it seemed just out of reach. I tried again and again, but I could not get to it. I knew that I was in trouble. I made another attempt and redoubled my efforts. Exerting all my strength, my head finally emerged from the water. I took a breath and then dropped back under the water surface. During that brief moment, I had seen our boat, and I began to move toward it. I wouldn’t call what I was doing “swimming.” Sometimes my head was above water and sometimes below. When my hand finally touched the slippery side of the boat, I was completely spent.I had no strength left to get myself into the protection of the boat. Then, literally, when I could do nothing more for myself, a hand reached down and grabbed mine and pulled me to safety.

I have reflected on this event many times during my life. This was a single class in the curriculum taught in my school of hard knocks. For me, there were many things learned from this particular life lesson, and I would like to share a few of them with you.

First, life is truly a marvelous gift! It is sometimes frustrating. It can be difficult to predict or navigate. It can be fragile, and seemingly small decisions can have great impact on our lives {such as a decision to wear shoes while cliff jumping).

At my now advancing age, I look back and time seems to have passed so rapidly. I know that while you are doing your homework, preparing for tests, and especially final exams, time seems to drag or even stand still. But I am assured that each day is still 24 hours long and hasn’t changed since the creation. I counsel you to purposefully make the most of your individual gift of life.

Around 588 BC, Lehi gave us this truly great insight: “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Sometimes this joy is misinterpreted to mean fun or amusement.
Fun is a light, immediate emotion. It is usually tied to activities that are enjoyable in the moment, like playing a game, going to a party, or watching a movie. Fun is more external and surface-level, and it tends to fade once the activity ends.

Joy, on the other hand, is a deep, lasting emotion. It often arises from meaningful experiences like achieving a personal goal, connecting with others, or witnessing something beautiful or profound. Joy is more internal and reflective and can be present even during difficult times if there is a sense of purpose or love.

President Russell M. Nelson, in the October 2016 General Conference, said: “My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation […] and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy.”

Our focus is very important. If we focus on the opposition, detours, dead ends, trials, and challenges of life, it can lead to feelings of apprehension, anxiety, worry, and fear. That is what the adversary would have us do.

If we have an eternal focus, with Christ at the center, then we can be sure of the promises of personal revelation, peace, strength, comfort, and finally resurrection, eternal life, and exaltation.

In the same October 2016 conference talk, President Russell M. Nelson also said: “Every day that you and I choose to live celestial laws, every day that we keep our covenants and help others to do the same, joy will be ours.”

Elder Patrick Kearon, in the October 2024 General Conference, said: “Because of the loving plan of our Heavenly Father for each of His children, and because of the redeeming life and mission of our Savior Jesus Christ, we can—and should—be the most joyful people on earth. Even as the storms of life in an often troubled world pound upon us, we can cultivate a growing and abiding sense of joy and inner peace because of our hope in Christ and our understanding of our own place in the beautiful plan of happiness.”

Make sure to find joy in your journey.

Another lesson I learned while cliff jumping: Make good choices in how you use your allocation of time on earth. In my case, I should not have put on those shoes, I should not have neglected the safety of wearing a life jacket, and now, with the benefit of hindsight, the correct choice was not to jump off a cliff at all. That day, in my youthful inexperience, choices were made that could easily, and nearly did, end my earthly experience early.

In Doctrine and Covenants Section 58, we are advised to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause,” and to “do many things of [our] own free will,” and to “bring to pass much righteousness.”(D&C 58:27)

During the days of Home Teaching, if you can remember those days, I once had the privilege of visiting a family with several young children. It was difficult to share any kind of formal lesson because of the many distractions caused by youthful exuberance and seemingly endless energy. In one of my attempts to share a message, I decided to bring the Tator family along with me. The Tator family was actually some small potato-head toys.

Let me introduce the Tator family to you. Starting on the left, there was the mother, whom I called Commentator. She always had a lot to say and even indulged in gossip from time to time. The father, whom I named Dictator, was a bit of a know-it-all who liked to tell everyone what to do. One of the children was named Agitator, who seemed to specialize in causing trouble. And the youngest in the Tator family was named “Participitator”. Obviously, the youngest child’s name was a bit of a stretch, but “participant” didn’t really work as a name in the Tator family. As we talked about the different good and, possibly not-so-good, attributes of the members of the Tator family, we discussed how important it was that Participitator would participate in activities and contribute her talents to helping the Family.

To get the most out of life, we need to be participants, not bystanders. Watching others play a sport can be enjoyable, but there is so much more to the experience when we participate ourselves. There are an incredible number of distractions that the adversary uses to try and keep us on the sidelines rather than fully experiencing all that life has to offer.

In Doctrine and Covenants 60:13, it counsels:“…Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known.”

When we get off the sidelines and actively participate in the Plan of Happiness, we can expect to experience both the good and the bad in life, because we are taught that there must be an opposition in all things (2 Nephi 2:11).

In his talk entitled “Come What May and Love It”, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said: “The Lord in His wisdom does not shield anyone from grief or sadness.”

In the talk, Elder Wirthlin pointed out that “Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we, too, may have increased compassion and understanding for others.”

He also said:“…those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.”

He continued: “If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be the times of greatest growth—which in turn can lead to times of greatest happiness.”

To be successful participants in the plan of salvation, we must have faith and trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. That trust will be an essential protection that we need during these latter days.

While participating in all the activities in the water at Lake Powell, I should have worn my life jacket to protect myself. A large amount of technology and experience had gone into designing life jackets, and it was of no value at all if the jacket was not worn. I had casually placed it aside, thinking that I was a good swimmer and didn’t need it. I did not fully understand the dangers that could happen when I made an error in judgment.

In Ephesians 6:11–17, we are charged to: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We need to put on our spiritual life jackets, which is the whole armor of God: truth, righteousness, preparation in the gospel, faith, the word of God unto salvation.

At Lake Powell, after I had decelerated in the water and tried to swim back to the surface, I realized I wasn’t as strong a swimmer as I had supposed. I struggled and failed multiple times to reach the surface. And as I struggled to reach the boat, I wondered if I would actually make it. Because we don’t know everything there is to know about life, there may be spiritual perils that we do not recognize, especially if others are doing something and appear to be safe. Others had put on their shoes before me and jumped into the water. With my limited experience, I did not realize the danger it would pose to me. Our Heavenly Father knows all things. He has given us scriptures, prayer, personal revelation, and living prophets to help steer us away from potential spiritual perils. Because He loves us, He allows us to repent and to untie and remove the things that weigh us down and would pull us toward destruction.

In the Book of Mormon, Alma was talking to his son Helaman. Like me, he was now older and wanted to impart a little of his knowledge and life experience to his son.

He said: “And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me. For I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 36:3)

This promise isn’t that those who trust in God will not have trials, troubles, and afflictions, but rather, that He will support us as we pass through them.

During your educational journey, you may have heard about the Biosphere 2 project. It was a great large dome created as a research tool for scientists to study Earth’s living systems. One of the most profound discoveries made by the scientists had nothing to do with a cure for disease or a new method of farming. Rather, the discovery had to do with the wind’s role in a tree’s life. The trees inside the biosphere grew rapidly, more rapidly than they did outside the dome, but they also fell over before reaching maturity. After study and evaluation, the scientists realized that the lack of wind in the biosphere caused a deficiency in what they called stress wood. Stress wood helps the trees grow more solidly. Without stress wood, a tree can grow quickly, but it cannot support itself fully. In other words, the trees needed some stress in order to thrive.

In the First Presidency message in the Liahona magazine in January 2012, President Thomas S. Monson wrote: “We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”

Later, he continued, “Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come, but also to make a second effort should such be required.”

President Monson then quoted Mary Anne Radmacher from Courage Doesn’t Always Roar (2009), saying: “Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”

Each time I feel the stress and strain caused by the winds of life’s challenges pushing and pulling me around, I like to think that I am developing strong parts of my character that will allow me to stand and not fall.

Those of you who know me are also aware that I love the game of golf. Those who have played the game with me are also aware that I’m not a particularly good golfer. I chase the ball from one side of the course to the other, only rarely visiting the fairway. I may hit dozens of poor shots during a round of golf, but it only takes one good shot during the round to bring me back and make me want to keep playing.

Ben Hogan, a famous golfer, famously said: “The most important shot in golf is the next one.”It reminds us to stay focused on the present, not dwell on past mistakes, and to commit fully to what needs to be done now.

President Jeffrey R. Holland, in his April 2016 conference talk, said: “So keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever.”

The Savior wants us to try, to give our best effort. And if we don’t succeed…try, try again. He promises that once we have done all that we can do, He can and will make up the difference. He will extend His hand and lift us to safety.

I know that one day I will stand at the end of the straight and narrow path that leads to heaven, and the Savior will be there to meet me. I will give an accounting of all things that I have done, and despite my best efforts, there will be a chasm between me and what is required to enter.

Then, if I can offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit, having honored my covenants and repented of my sins, and faults, and shortcomings, the Savior will reach across that great gap and apply His Atonement to erase that great divide.

Brothers and sisters, we can have Joy because through His Atonement, Christ has already won the victory!

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.