When I was younger, I always loved to play survival games; I would pretend to be on the Titanic or stranded on a desert island. Where all else failed, I would be the survivor. And, according to President Henry B. Eyring, that assumption, though just child's play at the time, is not too far off. Every day, every hour, we, in similitude of Samuel the Lamanite (albeit on a spiritual rather than literal level) dodge arrows of the adversary, sometimes sneaking by and other times with a powerful, imperturbable shield as our protection. Personally, I think that that is pretty cool.
That's a bit daunting, wouldn't you say? Because we are needed in the kingdom now more than ever, we are, says Eyring, to face and endure more: more than the Mormon pioneers, more than the early Christians persecuted by Nero, and perhaps even more than the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, who gave there lives to keep in accordance with their covenant with God ; essentially, we have to be more, more than we might even think possible. However, no matter what we become, no matter how many spiritual bullets we face down in our days, we cannot let ourselves fall to pride. If God knows we're doing good, it shouldn't matter who else thinks so.
There was one more thing in the talk that kinda struck my attention. It wasn't particularly prominent in the six pages on educational excellence, but it was there nonetheless. It was on page five, where it says that great learners have something else, something more personal, that drives them to continue with what they have chosen to do, to do that thing for a lifetime, to make it a part of them; it is in the pursuit of excellence in this field/pasttime/whatever that one fields meaning.
That's a bit daunting, wouldn't you say? Because we are needed in the kingdom now more than ever, we are, says Eyring, to face and endure more: more than the Mormon pioneers, more than the early Christians persecuted by Nero, and perhaps even more than the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, who gave there lives to keep in accordance with their covenant with God ; essentially, we have to be more, more than we might even think possible. However, no matter what we become, no matter how many spiritual bullets we face down in our days, we cannot let ourselves fall to pride. If God knows we're doing good, it shouldn't matter who else thinks so.
There was one more thing in the talk that kinda struck my attention. It wasn't particularly prominent in the six pages on educational excellence, but it was there nonetheless. It was on page five, where it says that great learners have something else, something more personal, that drives them to continue with what they have chosen to do, to do that thing for a lifetime, to make it a part of them; it is in the pursuit of excellence in this field/pasttime/whatever that one fields meaning.
I think ultimately what Eyring is saying is that, because "life at its longest is short," each of us is to pursue excellence in whatever we choose to do, then use that to help others. Will we be tried and tested along the way? Absolutely! Does that really matter though? If we are living life in a way that is gradually making us our best by doing what we love and helping others, then no I don't think it would matter. I think that if we are truly excellent, or are at least continually on that road, if we always remember that we are children of God, who loves us, then we will be able t o strongly stand through all the trials we might face and know that all of it is worth it, that all is how God would have it be.
And...because I am rambling and not completely sure how I want to end this blogpost, I will do so by quoting one of the great philosophers of our time who also had a lot to say about excellence; in 1989, Bill S. Preston, Esquire stated "Be excellent to each other." I hope you all will do the same. Have a wonderful week, take extra caution this Friday and I'll...likely post again soon.
And...because I am rambling and not completely sure how I want to end this blogpost, I will do so by quoting one of the great philosophers of our time who also had a lot to say about excellence; in 1989, Bill S. Preston, Esquire stated "Be excellent to each other." I hope you all will do the same. Have a wonderful week, take extra caution this Friday and I'll...likely post again soon.
