Mansions of My Father

In the scriptures this morning I read over the book of Enos and found his farewell so moving. In looking at his life before his passing he wrote, "...and I have declared [the Word of God] in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world. And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me; Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father..." (Enos 1:26-27)

This made me wonder what I look forward to when I no longer exist in this mortal world...Is there anything to look forward to? We tend to think as death being the end, but Enos's words indicate there is more than what we see here and now. I wonder what I will look back on as the story of my life ...will I wish I had allowed more time to accomplish milestones in my career, traveled more, spent more time with my loved ones, or been a better wife, mother, sister, friend, or Christian? As people we often share common dreams and sometimes common regrets. We value certain aspects of life depending on our understanding. It is interesting to realize how quick we sometimes are to place a value on material things or to judge a person based on their net worth. We may not perceive others as important unless they have money, possessions, and power.

People are willing to give of their personal and family time, even lose sleep or give up other necessities, in exchange for worldly recognition and possessions. Why is that? We've all heard the old saying "Money can't buy you happiness." Yet I see many trading their happiness for money. What happens when we detract from needs to justifying our wants as needs? You don't have to look far. We are daily bombarded by media telling us that more is needed to make life easier, happier. We are flooded with choice in the purchase of everything. During Sunday school a few weeks back we were discussing how Satan twists the truth and makes worldly things enticing. Satan robs us of our eternal focus and prevents us from looking beyond our immediate gratification/happiness.

 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (3 Nephi 13:19-21)

If you were to ask someone on the street what they consider a treasure, they would likely answer that it is something that has value maybe even referring to an archaeological find. Running a search on a search engine will bring up the definition of the noun of treasure as a quantity of precious metals, gems or other valuable objects. The verb however is more significant and is described as to keep carefully a valued or valuable item. I believe that the scripture above refers to the verb of treasure. When we treasure something that has value in the eternal perspective, it isn't something that can easily be taken from us. It cannot tarnish the way physical treasure can. A person cannot deprive us of holding it near to our hearts. They are some of the most prized of possessions yet they are the easiest to take for granted or set aside. We insure our homes, our cars, our physical bodies, our income even, but we take little precaution to insure our family ties, our relationship with God, our testimony of the Gospel. How can you insure something that isn't tangible you may ask?

Dieter F. Uchdorf shared that "Perhaps the most universal regret dying patients expressed [is] that they wished they had spent more time with the people they love. Men in particular sang this universal lament: they 'deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the [daily] treadmill of … work.' Many had lost out on choice memories that come from spending time with family and friends. They missed developing a deep connection with those who meant the most to them."

Why is it that we procrastinate when it comes to our loved ones as if time were something that will always be available to us? We wait for tragedy to breathe meaningful perspective into our lives. For me personally that realization came when I moved thousands of miles away from any family. I couldn't drive a few minutes and visit face to face with my parents, I couldn't call on my sisters to meet up with me for lunch or to go shopping, I wasn't an arms reach from hugs and kisses, and that was hard. I definitely wished I had taken more advantage of my time with them. Visiting them during the summer has definitely made for the sweetest of reunions knowing that it is only temporary. I can't express it enough, take advantage of your time with loved ones, you never know when it could be your last.

"Another regret people express...[is] that they failed to become the person they felt they could and should have been. When [looking] back on their lives...too many songs remained unsung. I am not speaking here of climbing the ladder of success in our various professions. That ladder, no matter how lofty it may appear on this earth, barely amounts to a single step in the great eternal journey awaiting us." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2012. Of Regrets and Resolutions).

Christ taught that we cannot serve two masters. To set our hearts on the things of this world has the tendency to lead us away from God and our eternal purpose. You may think oh I am smarter than that. Or, that can't happen to me. Let me tell you that it is true what they say that the devil is in the details. He is very cunning and has a lot of experience influencing the hearts of men negatively. He is very well aware that he cannot lead us away with trying to get us to turn our heart away from God by big changes. He waits there patiently and will try small things to get you to inch your way towards misery. To think that this could not happen to you is foolish. We are all prone to temptations and mistakes. No one is immune.

"[S]eek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

"And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good--to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." (Jacob 2:19) 

There is no better use of our abundant resources than to put it to the aid of those who need it. We praise people and organizations that do so on a larger scale and believe that giving is for those who have more than sufficient. Let me tell you that this is not so. It is required of all to help one another even if the portion is small. I have found so much more happiness and satisfaction in having sufficient for my needs when I share of my portion with those that stand in need. Elder M. Russell Ballard counseled: "If you choose to seek riches for the sake of riches, you will fall short. You will never be satisfied. You will be empty, never finding true happiness and lasting joy." Seek first the kingdom of God for you will be blessed with the surety Enos received, a place among the mansions of our Father to rest in Christ.