Good Things

One key principle we learn from the experience in the Garden of Eden is that everything has its opposite, and both opposites are required for us to comprehend all things. The Book of Mormon describes it as “opposition in all things”, and were it not this way, there would be “no purpose” in creation. However, we all know that between most opposites is a wide range of options – one could argue that between “green” and “red” exist hundreds of stages of “yellow”, and that between “yes” and “no” exist thousands of creative “maybes”. On this concept hinges all aspects of growth in mortality.

I begin my article with this as a sort of buffer to soften the strength of what I’m saying, and to provide explanation for why I am saying it. 3 weeks ago I wrote an article entitled “To Wait” (if you haven’t read it, CLICK HERE to read it). Today, I wish to expand on that topic – specifically, to discuss how it works and what it accomplishes.

Let me share a quick lesson I learned on my mission. One day my companion and I were having dinner with a member family in our ward. We enjoyed lively conversation, as we always do, and then the topic came up about how they met. Obviously they loved telling the story, evidenced at how well they traded back and forth and how eloquently they spoke. For the next 30 minutes we heard an incredible life story that was both surprising and inspiring. To not give away any personal detail, they in essence did not expect to end up together but they did. They were separated by oceans, met in an unlikely situation neither expected to be in, and somehow they made it work. The husband of the family summed up this story in a single phrase that had now become this family’s life motto. He said:

“Good things come to those who go get them”

An obvious observation would be that this phrase contradicts the more common phrase “good things come to those who wait”. However, through analysis we can find that they exist symbiotically – like two opposites full of possibilities between them – and both are necessary to a happy and successful life.

Patience is important. But it has its place. In fact, patience in overabundance is not healthy, like any quality. For example, I learned a wonderful lesson from a very realistic British companion that too much optimism – as I had – can be just as bad as too much pessimism. Any good quality must be supported by other good qualities for all to work together as they should. Thus, while the importance of waiting cannot be ignored, the equal importance of “going” cannot be either. If we believe both counter phrases as mentioned above, then we believe that “good things” are earned by a perfect balance of WAITING and GOING.

To yearn spiritual truth from this analysis, we must first determine how good things are made possible to us. The scriptures teach us plainly that “in Christ there should come every good thing”. Further on, this Book of Mormon passage says:

“All things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.

“Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.” (Moroni 7:24-25)

Without Christ, nothing good could come in our lives. Do we understand the scope of that doctrine? Had Christ not come, repentance and faith would not be possible. What would that look like? For starters, any mistake we made, any weakness we had, any sin we commited, would remain forever. We would do one wrong thing and become a bit eviler, then do another evil thing, on and on until we became, as Jacob taught, “angels to a devil”. This would happen to even the most noble souls we know, for willpower on its own is no match for the adversary, no matter how strong we think we are. No, without Christ, we would have no chance to achieve anything good or worthwhile. We would be born into darkness and forever remain in darkness.

But no need to dwell on that, because Christ has come! We can exercise faith in Christ and receive divine strength as we do. That strength is necessary to overcome that darkness around and in us – fallen man in a carnal world – and achieve good things in life. Thank goodness for Christ.

(This video represents exactly what I just said)

So how does this apply? Let me share a story. I was driving to the temple early one morning this week. I had a lot on my mind and a lot I wanted to sort out. I was also filled with an unusual amount of doubt and fear. As I was listening to my favorite Church group, Nashville Tribute Band, I was struck with a heavy dose of inspiriation. A pattern formed in my mind for achieving good things in my life. It went as follows:

1. Ponder what you want in life, and decide what that is

2. Pray and ask that you will receive that desired thing

3. Act as though you have received it, or that you are guaranteed to receive it

Is that not perfect faith? Following that pattern is showing perfect trust in a perfectly loving God who can make all things possible.

“Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you” (Moroni 7:26)

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have struggled with this in my life. A prominent example is my ongoing battle with contact lenses. However, let it be known that the battle is over! A month ago they entered my eyes for the very first time. When people would ask why I didn’t use them, I would typically say that it was because I didn’t like them – but that’s not true. They’re fantastic. Yeah, they aren’t the most comfortable in my small eyes, but being able to wear sunglasses for the first time in my life quickly outweighs that setback. I never wore them because I could never get them into my eyes.

Somehow, that changed. After a painful 20 minutes at the mirror just a month ago, they actually got into my eyes. What a good thing! How was it done? For the last 8 years of battle with the stupid lenses, I had never actually considered that they would ever go into my eyes. I did not act as though they actually would. I had insufficient faith. It was on my mission that I realized my folly, and re-committed to getting them in. No more having to play frisbee with glasses on! No more inability to wear sunglasses! This is gonna happen! That mentality motivated me to practice and, when the time came, successfully get them in.

I acted as though the impossible were possible and, somehow, the impossible became possible.

Take away this temporal example and replace it with anything.

Getting a good grade on your final?

Landing that competitive job?

Winning that championship game?

Overcoming that fear of public speaking?

Becoming a good singer?

Dating that girl you really want to date?

Conquering that pesky temptation?

Leaving your home for 2 years to preach about God in a foreign country?

We will see that all good things are possible if we follow this prophetic and inspired pattern – a pattern also known as the doctrine of Christ.

Now, many of you are probably complaining, “Well, I’ve prayed and acted in complete faith for a certain outcome, and it hasn’t come”. To that, Elder Bednar gives a wonderful answer:

Elder David A. Bednar

“Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains—if moving mountains accomplishes God’s purposes and is in accordance with His will. Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in healing the sick, deaf, and lame—if such healing accomplishes God’s purposes and is in accordance with His will. Thus, even if we have strong faith, many mountains will not be moved. And not all of the sick and infirm will be healed. If all opposition were curtailed, if all maladies were removed, then the primary purposes of the Father’s plan would be frustrated.” (Bednar, Accepting the Lord’s Will and Timing)

And here is the correlation. We figure out what we want from life, praying in faith that we will receive it. We do all in our power to go and get these good things. But if – really, when – some of these good things are not received, we have the faith to wait. That faith we applied to moving that mountain is redirected towards finding the mountain that God actually does want you to move. And when all is said and done, let our faith be in Christ, not in any desired outcome. As Sister Runia used to say, quoting a BYU speech, “put your faith not in the gift but in the giver of gifts”.

Let us remember that the “High Priest of good things to come” is and ever will be on our side.

“Good things come because of Christ to those who go get them, understanding that waiting may be required, having full faith that God will help us do the impossible and leave us happier than we can ever imagine”

Adam Simpson