John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or...I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy." I protested. "Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."
I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins! Wanna see my scars?!"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or..I coudl choose to die. I chose to live."
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. He continued, "...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read "he's a dead man". I knew I needed to take action.
"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was this big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity!'. Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'"
He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude...I leanred from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself..." Matthew 6:34
Many people have asked for Chris's book of thoughts. So, instead of lending it out and worrying about it's safe return, I have compiled them all here (it's a work in progress still...obviously).
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Heber And The Pope
Many years ago, the Pope decided that all the Mormons had to leave Rome. Naturally, there was a big uproar from the Mormon community. So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate with a member of the Mormon community. If the Mormon won, the Mormons could stay. If the Pope won, the Mormons would leave. Realizing they had no choice, the Mormons picked a young missionary from Idaho, named Heber, to represent them.
Not able to speak Italian very well, Heber asked for one addition to the debate. To make it more interesting, neither side could talk. The Pope agreed.
The day of the great debate came. Heber and the Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Heber looked back at him and wagged one finger. The pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Heber pointed to the ground where he sat. The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine. Heber pulled out and apple. The Pope stood up and said, "I give up! This man has good answers to all of my questions. The Mormons can stay."
Afterwards, the Cardinals, gathered around the Pope, asked what had happened. The Pope said, "First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there was still one God common to both our religions. Then I waved my finger around me to show that God is all around us. He responded by pointed to the ground and showing that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin and how we all must be able to rise above that. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?"
Meanwhile, the Mormon community and all the missionaries had crowded around Heber. "What happened?" They asked. "Well," said Heber, "first he said to me that the Mormons had three days to get out of here. I told him that not one of us was leaving. He told me that his whole city would be cleared of Mormons. I let him know we were staying right here."
"And then?" Asked a woman.
"I don't know," said Heber, "he took out his lunch and I took out mine!"
Not able to speak Italian very well, Heber asked for one addition to the debate. To make it more interesting, neither side could talk. The Pope agreed.
The day of the great debate came. Heber and the Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Heber looked back at him and wagged one finger. The pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Heber pointed to the ground where he sat. The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine. Heber pulled out and apple. The Pope stood up and said, "I give up! This man has good answers to all of my questions. The Mormons can stay."
Afterwards, the Cardinals, gathered around the Pope, asked what had happened. The Pope said, "First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there was still one God common to both our religions. Then I waved my finger around me to show that God is all around us. He responded by pointed to the ground and showing that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin and how we all must be able to rise above that. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?"
Meanwhile, the Mormon community and all the missionaries had crowded around Heber. "What happened?" They asked. "Well," said Heber, "first he said to me that the Mormons had three days to get out of here. I told him that not one of us was leaving. He told me that his whole city would be cleared of Mormons. I let him know we were staying right here."
"And then?" Asked a woman.
"I don't know," said Heber, "he took out his lunch and I took out mine!"
The Room
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "People I have liked". I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. Then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with it's small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, both big and small, in a detail that my memory could not possibly match.
A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories, others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone else was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to the one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I have read." "Lies I have told." "Comfort I have given." "Jokes I have laughed at." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I have yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I have done in my anger." "Things I have muttered under my breath at my parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I would have expected. Sometimes fewer than I had hoped.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I have lived. Could it be possible that I had time in my 20 years to have written each of these thousands or millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own hand-writings. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I have listened to." I realized that the files grew in order to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I still hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, ashamed, not so much by the quality of the music I listened to, but more by the vast amount of time that I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked "Lustful thoughts." I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at it's detailed account. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke in me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy, I yanked the file out. It's size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But, as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to it's slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore: "People I have shared the Gospel with." The handle was brighter than those around it, new and almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
Then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook all through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame...from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of filed shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then, as I wiped away the tears, I saw Him. "No...please...not Him. Not here! Oh...anyone but Jesus." I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bare to watch His response. And in the moments that I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow much, much deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?
Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arms around me. He could have said so many things, but He didn't. He didn't say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room. He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "NO!" I shouted...rushing toward Him. All I could find to say was "No...no..." as I pulled the card from Him. His name didn't belong these cards. These were thoughts and actions that He never would have imagined thinking...let alone doing. Yet there it was...His name...written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the rest of the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly...so willingly...but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on it's door. There were still cards to be written.
~ Author Unknown ~
A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories, others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone else was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to the one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I have read." "Lies I have told." "Comfort I have given." "Jokes I have laughed at." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I have yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I have done in my anger." "Things I have muttered under my breath at my parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I would have expected. Sometimes fewer than I had hoped.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I have lived. Could it be possible that I had time in my 20 years to have written each of these thousands or millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own hand-writings. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I have listened to." I realized that the files grew in order to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I still hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, ashamed, not so much by the quality of the music I listened to, but more by the vast amount of time that I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked "Lustful thoughts." I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at it's detailed account. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke in me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy, I yanked the file out. It's size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But, as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to it's slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore: "People I have shared the Gospel with." The handle was brighter than those around it, new and almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
Then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook all through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame...from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of filed shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then, as I wiped away the tears, I saw Him. "No...please...not Him. Not here! Oh...anyone but Jesus." I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bare to watch His response. And in the moments that I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow much, much deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?
Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arms around me. He could have said so many things, but He didn't. He didn't say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room. He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "NO!" I shouted...rushing toward Him. All I could find to say was "No...no..." as I pulled the card from Him. His name didn't belong these cards. These were thoughts and actions that He never would have imagined thinking...let alone doing. Yet there it was...His name...written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the rest of the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly...so willingly...but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on it's door. There were still cards to be written.
~ Author Unknown ~
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Some Random Quotes
"If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God as your goal in life, it will, in the end, make no difference what you choose instead." ~ Neal A. Maxwell ~
"If you meet someone in whose presence you feel a desire to achieve, who inspires you to do your best, and to make the most of yourself...such a person is worthy of your love and is awakening love in your heart." ~ David O. McKay ~
"The most satisfying experience I have is to see what this Gospel does for people. It gives them a new outlook on life. It gives them a perspective that they have never felt before. It raises their sights to things noble and divine. Something happens to them that is miraculous to behold. They look to Christ and come alive." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley ~
"We counsel you, young women and young men, not to pollute your minds with degrading matter, for the mind through which filth passes is never the same afterward." ~ Ezra Taft Benson ~
"Practice self-discipline to be in harmony with your Heavenly Father:
1. Avoid rationalization.
2. Keep the commandments.
3. Discipline comes one step at a time.
4. Become strong through prayer.
5. Self-discipline brings harmony."
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
"Sacrifice: To give up something good for something better."
"Our gifts and opportunities differ; some are more visible and impactful... We all have at least one gift and an open invitation to 'seek earnestly the best gifts'." ~ Neal A. Maxwell ~
"If you want pleasure, you can have it right now, but you'll pay for it the rest of your life. If you want joy, you pay for it now and enjoy it the rest of your life."
"It is better to PREPARE and PREVENT than it is to REPAIR and REPENT." ~ Ezra Taft Benson ~
"Helping hands tighten the load, and shorten the road when given a job to do. If each hand feels a part of the task from the start, they'll be joined when their labor is through." ~ Judy Beck ~
"If we learn to work early in life we will be better individuals, better members of families, better neighbors, and better disciples of Jesus Christ, who Himself learned to work as a carpenter." ~ Neal A. Maxwell ~
"While others may tire or quite in despair, or feel as if failure is too hard to bear - I will keep going, put failures aside, if I can't keep up then I'll lengthen my stride. I've made up my mind, set my sight on a quest, through many have tried, few gave it their best. Trying my hardest is what makes me great, desire and determination, not fortune and fate." ~ Judy Beck ~
"Let us reaffirm more vigorously than we ever have in the past that it does matter where you marry and by what authority you are pronounced man and wife. All of our efforts in proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead, lead to the holy temple. This is because of the temple ordinances are absolutely crucial, we cannot return to God's presence without them." ~ Howard W. Hunter ~
"Happiness is the state of becoming."
"Happiness is cleverly nested in the process of attainment."
"A definite goal is the beginning of self confidence and persistence."
"A leader is one who:
1. Identifies the wants and needs of all.
2. Teaches them to establish worthwhile goals.
3. Help them to attain their goals."
"The characteristics of powerful goals consider:
1. Personal Reward
2. Overall need
3. Real Purpose
4. Wants, Needs, and Ideas of Others
5. All Major Phases of Life
6. Long Range Attachments
7. Specific Short Range Plans
8. Control & Evaluation"
"The Virtues of Goal Setting:
1. Unites in purpose
2. Establishes Order
3. Releases Creativity
4. Unlocks personality
5. Eliminates Apathy & Discouragement
6. Improves decision making
7. Magnifies powerful characteristics (belief, enthusiasm, courage, persistence, empathy, charity)
8. Enables to fix specific responsibilities
9. Provides evaluation & correction"
"The Process of Goal Attainment:
1. Define the Purpose
2. Establish the Goal
3. Visualize Success
4. "Spend the Rewards"
5. Openly Commit
6. Outline Specific Plans (time, measurement)
7. Control the Moment
8. Make the "Little" Decisions
9. Courageously Act
10. Involve Others
11. Stand Firm"
"If only you could see the vision I have. I wish I had your bodies to do this work. I would run from house to house telling everyone of the gospel, and after I lost the strength to run I would begin to walk and after I collapsed from walking, I would begin to crawl, and after my knees were so bloody that I could not use them, I would use my arms to drag myself, and once every muscle in my body was gone, I would begin to yell! Oh if only you could see the vision that I have." ~ Spencer W. Kimball ~
"If you meet someone in whose presence you feel a desire to achieve, who inspires you to do your best, and to make the most of yourself...such a person is worthy of your love and is awakening love in your heart." ~ David O. McKay ~
"The most satisfying experience I have is to see what this Gospel does for people. It gives them a new outlook on life. It gives them a perspective that they have never felt before. It raises their sights to things noble and divine. Something happens to them that is miraculous to behold. They look to Christ and come alive." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley ~
"We counsel you, young women and young men, not to pollute your minds with degrading matter, for the mind through which filth passes is never the same afterward." ~ Ezra Taft Benson ~
"Practice self-discipline to be in harmony with your Heavenly Father:
1. Avoid rationalization.
2. Keep the commandments.
3. Discipline comes one step at a time.
4. Become strong through prayer.
5. Self-discipline brings harmony."
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
"Sacrifice: To give up something good for something better."
"Our gifts and opportunities differ; some are more visible and impactful... We all have at least one gift and an open invitation to 'seek earnestly the best gifts'." ~ Neal A. Maxwell ~
"If you want pleasure, you can have it right now, but you'll pay for it the rest of your life. If you want joy, you pay for it now and enjoy it the rest of your life."
"It is better to PREPARE and PREVENT than it is to REPAIR and REPENT." ~ Ezra Taft Benson ~
"Helping hands tighten the load, and shorten the road when given a job to do. If each hand feels a part of the task from the start, they'll be joined when their labor is through." ~ Judy Beck ~
"If we learn to work early in life we will be better individuals, better members of families, better neighbors, and better disciples of Jesus Christ, who Himself learned to work as a carpenter." ~ Neal A. Maxwell ~
"While others may tire or quite in despair, or feel as if failure is too hard to bear - I will keep going, put failures aside, if I can't keep up then I'll lengthen my stride. I've made up my mind, set my sight on a quest, through many have tried, few gave it their best. Trying my hardest is what makes me great, desire and determination, not fortune and fate." ~ Judy Beck ~
"Let us reaffirm more vigorously than we ever have in the past that it does matter where you marry and by what authority you are pronounced man and wife. All of our efforts in proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead, lead to the holy temple. This is because of the temple ordinances are absolutely crucial, we cannot return to God's presence without them." ~ Howard W. Hunter ~
"Happiness is the state of becoming."
"Happiness is cleverly nested in the process of attainment."
"A definite goal is the beginning of self confidence and persistence."
"A leader is one who:
1. Identifies the wants and needs of all.
2. Teaches them to establish worthwhile goals.
3. Help them to attain their goals."
"The characteristics of powerful goals consider:
1. Personal Reward
2. Overall need
3. Real Purpose
4. Wants, Needs, and Ideas of Others
5. All Major Phases of Life
6. Long Range Attachments
7. Specific Short Range Plans
8. Control & Evaluation"
"The Virtues of Goal Setting:
1. Unites in purpose
2. Establishes Order
3. Releases Creativity
4. Unlocks personality
5. Eliminates Apathy & Discouragement
6. Improves decision making
7. Magnifies powerful characteristics (belief, enthusiasm, courage, persistence, empathy, charity)
8. Enables to fix specific responsibilities
9. Provides evaluation & correction"
"The Process of Goal Attainment:
1. Define the Purpose
2. Establish the Goal
3. Visualize Success
4. "Spend the Rewards"
5. Openly Commit
6. Outline Specific Plans (time, measurement)
7. Control the Moment
8. Make the "Little" Decisions
9. Courageously Act
10. Involve Others
11. Stand Firm"
"If only you could see the vision I have. I wish I had your bodies to do this work. I would run from house to house telling everyone of the gospel, and after I lost the strength to run I would begin to walk and after I collapsed from walking, I would begin to crawl, and after my knees were so bloody that I could not use them, I would use my arms to drag myself, and once every muscle in my body was gone, I would begin to yell! Oh if only you could see the vision that I have." ~ Spencer W. Kimball ~
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
What Does Salt Taste Like?
"I will tell you of an experience I had before I was a General Authority which affected me profoundly. I sat on a plane next to a professed atheist, who pressed his disbelief in God so urgently that I bore my testimony to him. "You are wrong." I said, "there is a God, I know He lives!"
He protested. "You don't know. Nobody knows that! You can't know it!" When I would not yield, the atheist, who was an attorney, asked perhaps the ultimate question on the subject of testimony. "All right," he said in a sneering, condescending way, "you say you know. Tell me how you know."
When I attempted to answer, even though I held advanced academic degrees, I was helpless to communicate.
Sometimes in your youth, you young missionaries are embarrassed when the cynic, the skeptic, treat you with contempt because you do not have ready answers for everything. Before such ridicule, some turn away in shame.
When I used the words Spirit and witness, the atheist responded, "I don't know what you are talking about." The words prayer, discernment, and faith, were equally meaningless to him. "You see," he said, "you don't really know. If you did, you would be able to tell me how you know."
I felt, perhaps, that I had borne my testimony to him unwisely and was at a loss as to what to do. Then came the experience! Something came into my mind. And I mention here a statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith: "A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus." (TPJS p. 151)
Such an idea came into my mind and I said to the atheist, "Let me ask you if you know what salt tastes like."
"Of course I do," was his reply.
"When did you taste salt last?"
"I just had dinner on the plane,"
"You just think you know what salt tastes like," I said.
He insisted, "I know what salt tastes like as well as I know anything."
"If I gave you a cup of salt and a cup of sugar and let you taste them both, could you tell the salt from the sugar?"
"Now you are getting juvenile," was his reply. "Of course I could tell the difference. I know what salt tastes like. It is an everyday experience! I know it as well as I know anything."
"Then," I said, "assuming that I have never tasted salt, explain to me just what it tastes like."
After some thought he ventured, "Well...I...uh, it is not sweet and it is not sour."
"You've told me what it isn't, not what it is."
After several attempts, of course, he could not do it. He could not convey, in words alone, so ordinary an experience as tasting salt. I bore testimony to him once again and said, "I know there is a God. You ridiculed that testimony and said that if I did know, I would be able to tell you exactly how I know. My friend, spiritually speaking, I have tasted salt. I am no more able to convey to you in words how this knowledge has come than you are to tell me what salt tastes like. But I say to you again, there is a God! He does live! And just becuse you don't know, don't try to tell me that I don't know, for I do!"
As we parted, I heard him mutter, "I don't need your religion for a crutch! I don't need it."
From that experience forward, I have never been embarrassed or ashamed that I could not explain in words alone everything I know spiritually.
The Apostle Paul said it this way: "...we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2: 13-14)
Boyd K. Packer, Ensign Jan 1983, pp. 51-56
He protested. "You don't know. Nobody knows that! You can't know it!" When I would not yield, the atheist, who was an attorney, asked perhaps the ultimate question on the subject of testimony. "All right," he said in a sneering, condescending way, "you say you know. Tell me how you know."
When I attempted to answer, even though I held advanced academic degrees, I was helpless to communicate.
Sometimes in your youth, you young missionaries are embarrassed when the cynic, the skeptic, treat you with contempt because you do not have ready answers for everything. Before such ridicule, some turn away in shame.
When I used the words Spirit and witness, the atheist responded, "I don't know what you are talking about." The words prayer, discernment, and faith, were equally meaningless to him. "You see," he said, "you don't really know. If you did, you would be able to tell me how you know."
I felt, perhaps, that I had borne my testimony to him unwisely and was at a loss as to what to do. Then came the experience! Something came into my mind. And I mention here a statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith: "A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus." (TPJS p. 151)
Such an idea came into my mind and I said to the atheist, "Let me ask you if you know what salt tastes like."
"Of course I do," was his reply.
"When did you taste salt last?"
"I just had dinner on the plane,"
"You just think you know what salt tastes like," I said.
He insisted, "I know what salt tastes like as well as I know anything."
"If I gave you a cup of salt and a cup of sugar and let you taste them both, could you tell the salt from the sugar?"
"Now you are getting juvenile," was his reply. "Of course I could tell the difference. I know what salt tastes like. It is an everyday experience! I know it as well as I know anything."
"Then," I said, "assuming that I have never tasted salt, explain to me just what it tastes like."
After some thought he ventured, "Well...I...uh, it is not sweet and it is not sour."
"You've told me what it isn't, not what it is."
After several attempts, of course, he could not do it. He could not convey, in words alone, so ordinary an experience as tasting salt. I bore testimony to him once again and said, "I know there is a God. You ridiculed that testimony and said that if I did know, I would be able to tell you exactly how I know. My friend, spiritually speaking, I have tasted salt. I am no more able to convey to you in words how this knowledge has come than you are to tell me what salt tastes like. But I say to you again, there is a God! He does live! And just becuse you don't know, don't try to tell me that I don't know, for I do!"
As we parted, I heard him mutter, "I don't need your religion for a crutch! I don't need it."
From that experience forward, I have never been embarrassed or ashamed that I could not explain in words alone everything I know spiritually.
The Apostle Paul said it this way: "...we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2: 13-14)
Boyd K. Packer, Ensign Jan 1983, pp. 51-56
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