Over the past week many of us have had the opportunity to view some of the Olympic events on the television. It is exciting to see the competition and how each of the athlete perforns under the extreme pressure of the Olympics. In addition; I have found that the stories behind the lives of some of the participants to be as fascinating as some of the competition. The odds, the hardships and struggles that many have had to overcome just to make it to the games is heart rendering. On Monday night I saw the story of the skier that blew her knee out about one year ago, they showed the dedication and persistence that she had in order to get herself back in shape first to just walk again, then to run, begin skiing again and finally compete just a few months ago; for the first time since her injury!I was moved by the story behind Dan Jansen who somehow has been plagued in every Olympic activity that he has competed in for the past four Olympics, he had one ever other medal and competition that he could but a medal in the olympics had eluded his grasp. On Monday night he was favored, but again he slipped and fell short out of the medal contention. However; on Friday when he would compete for his supposed last time in an Olympic event he set a world record time, and placed himself as the fastest in the world in the 1000 meters.
While there are so many struggles that go on behind the scenes there appears to always be one thing that seems to be consistent with every athlete in the Olympic games. It is interesting to note that every time before an athlete gets on the ice, goes to the starting gate or jumps onto their bob sled the final minutes are spent with their coach. The athlete knows that above all the people in the world the one person that knows their individual weaknesses and tendencies more than all others is their coach. Their coach has been there through every practice, every fall, every jump and turn, on the cold days in preparation and through the summer training. He is there to give the athlete the guidance that they need that day to be as the army puts it "The best you can be".
While there are many similarities and lessons that we can take from the olympics and apply to our everyday lives, there is one that I would like to focus on today and that is the relationship between the coach and the athlete.
When this life is over we will all receive our just medals whether they be Gold "The Celestial Kingdom", Silver the "Terrestrial Kingdom" or bronze "the Telestial Kingdom". We will not be judged by who made it through with the quickest, time but how well we executed against the rules set down before we came to earth.
If we were to see on our television set an athlete shunning his coach, never talking to him for further instruction we would quickly realize that the olympians changes for success are not as good as those whom he is competing against. I would propose to you this day that we are no different than the Olympic athlete that desires perfection. If we are not in constant contact with our coach for this life we will have a very tough time winning the Gold.
The scriptures are full of storys' of what I would classify as spiritual olympicians' One of my favorites is the story Daniel and the Lions den.
If you recall:
Following the death of King Nebuchadnezzar, his son Belshazzar came to the throne. He was a wicked man who taxed the people heavenly so he could spend there money on sinful living.
In the midst of one of his great and spacious parties, there appeared fingers as of a man' s hand which wrote upon the palace walls words which the King could not read. The kings wise men could not interpret the writings on the wall so Belshazzar promised to make anyone who could read the writings on the wall the third ruler in the land. Daniel was summoned to interpret the words written on the wall for the king.
Upon his arrival, Daniel declared that the writing was done by the hand of the Lord, and was written due to Belshazzar's sinful living. The interpretation of the writing was "God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it; thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting; thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians"
Belshazzar was overcome with fear, but in gratitude to Daniel he had the prophet clothed in a purple robe and pronounce Daniel the third in authority in the land. That night however Belshazzar was slain by on of the Medes Darius who took over the kingdom.
Darius divided the kingdom into sections and appointed 120 princes to serve as governors over the land. Three others were appointed as presidents over the governors to which Daniel was appointed chief president. Darius grew to love Daniel and soon appointed Daniel ruler of the whole realm. This action did not sit well with the other presidents and the princes who were jealous and sought to destroy Daniel. They searched for some fault that they could accuse Daniel of that they may have him removed from office. However; the only thing that they could find against him was that Daniel prayed to his Father in Heaven and not the heathen Gods that they worshipped.
The plan was laid that they would get Darius to pass the law that would make it unlawful for anyone to ask a favor from any one except the King and that they must not pray to God for his blessings. Not seeing any harm Darius passed the law. In the culture of the Medes and Persians a law that was passed could not be changed for any reason.
The jealous princes and presidents, waited outside Daniels' room, for they knew it was his custom to go to his house three times a day and kneel to his father in heaven. Upon seeing this these wicked men when right back to the king like a bunch of tattletales and told the King that Daniel was breaking the law.
Darius was upset, because he loved Daniel and he also knew that he did not have the power to change the law. In addition; he had decreed that anyone who broke the law would be thrust into the den of lions. Darius struggled all day to figure out a way to get Daniel out of being thrown into then lions den but to no avail. Daniel was thrown into the den of Lions.
The King was sorry because he loved Daniel. Darius spent the whole night worrying about Daniel, then early in the morning he went down to the den and cried out in a sad voice "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the Lions?"
Daniel then replied: "O King, my God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions' mouths that they have not hurt me, because I was innocent before him."
Darius was overjoyed and he had Daniel removed from the Den and had the wicked presidents and governors with their families placed in the den in his stead.
While Daniel had never had the opportunity like use to watch the olympics on television he did know how important that it was for him to stay in constant communication with his coach, our Father in Heaven. It was important enough to Daniel to pray that he was willing to risk being thrown into the den of lions'. He was cast into the lions den because he continued to pray. He
knew that he was no exception to the rule that he were to return home to live with his father in heaven, he would have to receive the constant guidance from our father in heaven.
On another continent, another young prophet penned these words regarding prayer they are found in Moroni 7:48
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
This one scripture provides for us a complete foundation for prayer the first is that ...
#1 pray unto the Father
We address our prayers to our heavenly Father, that is to whom we are praying; not Jesus Christ, or any other heavenly being.
The proper format is to first thank him for all the blessing that we have been given... I suppose that this is probably one of the greatest weaknesses that we have as a people. The lord has said in
D&C 59:21
21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to Ask. As a matter of fact he almost pleads for us to ask.
No less than 16 times in the scriptures he says in almost these exact words as are found in:
3 Nephi 27:29
29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
You see he really is our father and just like us as earthly parents we would do anything that we can for our children. When they get hurt or are sick we hurt too. So it is with our father in heaven our problems are his problems.
Alma 34:
19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper them.
25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
#2 with all the energy of heart.
One of the best examples of praying with all the energy of your heart comes from the story of Enos. One morning he went to the forest alone. He had a great desire to draw near to the Lord, and ask forgiveness of his own sins. In his own words he says:
Enos 1:2
2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.
4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
6 And 1, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
#3 ! that ye may be filled with this love.
Have you ever noticed what is the first thing that happens to people in the scriptures
after they are really converted for example:
Enos 1:2
8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.
9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them.
Enos is a good example of this very principle. The very first thing that Enos did after he was forgiven of his sins was to pray for the welfare of his brethren.
#4 ! which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his son. .Jesus Christ.
We have a way to know if we are true followers of Jesus Christ and that is if we are concerned about the welfare of our brethren. As Alma said In Mosiah 8:18-19
8 ...Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life&emdash;
#5 ! that ye may become the sons of God,
And as with anything that the Lord does comes the blessing. That we may become the sons and daughters of God.
#6 ! that when he shall appear we shall be like him.
Another very important principle is uncovered in this scripture it is that when he shall appear we shall be like him. We all gravitate to those people whom we are like, our friends are those whom share the same kinds of goals and desires. Have you ever met and old friend that you have not seen for many years. someone with whom you were very close you meet and talk about the old times and then you suddenly find that there is not as much to talk about as your lives are a lot different. You have each gone separate ways, and because you have not kept in touch you don't share many of the same likes and desires anymore. Moroni was speaking of this very feeling when he said "That when he shall appear we shall be like him".
#7 ) for we shall see him as he is:
When we want to become like someone what do we do? As each of us have heros that we pattern our lives after. The little boy that wants to be so much like his father that he follows the father around all day long emulating every move that his father makes. In order to emulate or become more like someone then we must first know them.
John 17:3
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
If I may I would like to share with you an example of what it really means to know Christ.
A man passed away and was resurrected and was waiting in a waiting room to be interviewed. Another man was ahead of him. the door opened, the man entered, the door closed. The man left outside the door could barely hear the conversation that was occurring inside the interview room. The interviewer began: I want you to tell me what you know about Jesus Christ.
The response went something like this... well he was born of a virgin in bethlehem;
he lived 33 years, spending the last three in his ministry organizing his church, choosing his apostles to direct it, giving the gospel to direct our lives.
The interviewer said Yes Yes all of this is true; but I want you to tell me what you know about Jesus Christ.
Well he was tortured and crucified on a cross to pay for our sins that we may have eternal life. Three days later he was resurrected that we might return to our father in heaven.
Yes, Yes that is true but can you tell me anything else that you know about Jesus Christ. the man was a little perplexed, again began : well he restored his gospel
in its fullness to the earth through his prophet Joseph Smith, reorganized his church, gave us temples wherein we might do work to save our dead. He gave us family prayer and family home evening were we might unite our families. He gave us the priesthood to heal the sick and personal ordinances for our salvation and exaltation.
The interviewer again stopped him and said: All of what you have said to me is true. The man was then invited to leave the room. After he left, the door opened and the other
man from the lobby entered the room. As he approached the interviewer he fell upon his knees and cried, "My Lord, My God."
You can easily see that there was a true difference between the two men and their individual relationship with the savior. You see one really knew the savior. Through revelations to the prophet Joseph Smith that are found in the Doctrine and Covenants 67:10 we are promised how we too can know the savior.
D&C 67: 10
And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am--not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.
Who is this privilege and promise for?
All those who have been ordained to the ministry.
And whom is ordained to the ministry? Each and every one of us.
What must we do?
#1 strip ourselves from jealousies
#2 strip ourselves of fear
Remember my first play from scrimmage in a game at BYU. I was afraid, I was as prepared as I could be but there is always the unknown. Not trusting in myself and the preparations that I had made to be there was my first mistake. As the ball was snapped all the players started to move. I was covering a wide receiver as was my responsibility. About a second or so into the play fear took over instinct and so as not to get burnt by the receiver I just reached out and grabbed him a little. Well as my luck would have it the referee was close enough to see and threw the flag.
As the game progressed I learned to rely that I had prepared for this moment and then the learning began to take place Line upon line, play upon play until I was able to finally make some of the yardage back by sacking the Quarterback for a loss on a sweep around my end.
#3 Humble ourselves
Never more humble than when we are on our knees.
Now in all humility I give you a story from my life that is a testimony to me that the Lord does hear and answer our prayers from the heart.
Sandy Robins.
And as Moroni said
that we may have this hope.
that we may be purified even as he is pure.
That we may qualify for the Gold,
Close in the name of Jesus Christ. Why do we ask in the name of Jesus Christ? Because just as the< banker asks for a cosigner on a loan that we cannot pay for in full by ourselves so all the blessings that we get from our heavenly Father we get by asking for them through our savior of this world.
Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact we do not get any blessing that do not come through Jesus Christ.