In school I once heard a teacher say, âIf you donât choose the right answer, it doesnât matter which wrong one you pick.â
Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said something similar. âIf, in the end, you have not chosen Jesus Christ it will not matter what you have chosen.â This is so very true; second-best doesnât always count.
If someone asked us to list our priorities, of course we would put Jesus Christ at the topâbut in mortality we will inevitably lose our footing. We will wonder how we can exemplify our beliefs better. How can we show what we know?
Here are five thoughts that may help you re-design your life:
- First, are you all in? Do you really believe in a living, loving Savior and in a living, loving God? Do you believe Christâs gospel was restored in these latter days? If your testimony burns brightly, start each day with gratitude for what you know is true. Plan your day with this as the focal point. President Russell M. Nelson said, âThe joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything do to with the focus of our lives.â
Some people find it helps to use symbols and signs to keep them centeredâa CTR ring, a motto on the wall, religious music, paintings of Christ, whatever reminds them to keep the Lord first. When it comes to priorities, I like the phrase, âThe main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.â - Pare down on all the emotional clutter and extraneous things that can crowd out spirituality. Watch for Satanâs cleverly disguised distractions. As St. Augustine once said, âGod wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full â thereâs nowhere for Him to put it.â
- Be willing to sacrifice. Ponder this important principle. We really canât have one foot in Zion and one in Babylon. Look at the things that have risen in importance in your life, and weigh them carefully. Is anything depleting you of the energy and time it takes to worship? Are we sometimes so busy that weâre unavailable to God? Do we justify little things that become big wedges between you and the things you value most? Ask hard questions and be willing to make hard choices that reflect the answers you find.
I love the story President Hinckley once shared, of a young man who found the gospel while studying in the U.S. President Hinckley asked him what would happen when he returned to his native home a Christian. âMy family will be disappointed,â the young man answered. âThey may cast me out and regard me as dead. As for my future and my career, all opportunity may be foreclosed against me.â
âAre you willing to pay so great a price for the gospel?â President Hinckley asked.
And, with tears in his eyes, the young man answered, âItâs true, isnât it? Then what else matters?â Truly here was a man with the confidence and courage that comes when our priorities are straight. - Realize that your purpose here really does matter. Weâre not just to tick off boxes (education, job, house, kids, etc.) but to impact those around us. We need to be more enthusiastic missionaries. We need to fully grasp the importance of Family History. We are to love and serve those around us. It may seem that life is swirling with options, but we neednât be confused about which âgoodâ thing to put first.
President Dallin H. Oaks said, âJesus taught about priorities when He said, âSeek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto youâ (JST, Matt. 6:38, in Matt. 6:33). âSeek ⊠first to build up the kingdom of Godâ means to assign first priority to God and to His work…â - Remember that this only sounds hard until you actually do it. Once you commit to making Christ your top priority, youâll be astounded at how free you feel. You wonât anger as easily, you wonât tire as easily, you wonât feel confusion about decisions that puzzled you before. President Ezra Taft Benson said, âWhen we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims of our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.â
Our love of the Lord. There it is, the key to everything. For young or old, instead of grappling with a decision about whatâs okay morally and whatâs not, decide how much you love the Lord. You wonât want to cause Him anguish and now you know exactly how to behave.
Youâre arguing with your spouse. But suddenly you picture the Savior right there in the room with you, disappointed in your tone and words. Instantly your love for Him outweighs the disagreement and you beg forgiveness.
Your boss asks you to do something dishonest, possibly even illegal. Times are tough and you really need this job. But then you remember the Lord, and suddenly it isnât even difficult to say no to your boss. You know that even if you get fired, youâll be able to live with yourself. And you have faith that God will lead you to a better job.
In the grand scheme of things, God wants our hearts. He wants our devotion, our obedience to the commandments, our very best efforts to be like Christ. Do we have to be perfect? No. But we have to be facing the right way, earnestly trying to improve. We have to realize that how we live our lives actually tells a storyâthe story of our real priorities.
Hiltonâs books, humor blog, and Youtube Mom videos can be found on her website. She currently serves as an Inter-Faith Specialist for Church Communications.