Growing

This post is going to combine two things that are different but with some similarities.

It might be clumsy.

First of all, the last three posts have been about believing my religion. 

I don't have a way to say that succinctly, accurately, and strong enough.

For example, I believe a lot of things in the Bible, but there are things that I definitely think were not inspired or mistranslated or that are symbolic. 

I believe in creation and in evolution. I don't know exactly how they work together, but I sure think the people who believe that the Bible is going to tell them everything about how it works are underestimating the complexity of that process and overestimating their ability to comprehend. 

I believe that we have prophets now, but I believe there are some things that they are not getting right, but also I believe there are some things that they might have to delay getting right because their listeners aren't ready yet, while still wondering if could there are ways they could speed things up and prepare their listeners better.

I also believe that sometimes even when there is something that you believe pretty unequivocally, you might not understand it that well. You may not realize the gaps in your understanding. I think my father's death has caused me to understand some things better about the spirit world, but I had not been thinking about them before. Was it lack of belief or understanding, or just not explored?

There is a vast universe with many true things. Not only is our mortal ability to understand limited, but there are things that are more important to know now and things where we can totally be fine waiting for a complete understanding.

That still leaves room for a lot of truth and beauty right now.

In addition, I taught Relief Society (the women's meeting) last week. 

The conference talk that I built the lesson around was My Love for the Savior is My "Why" by Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, given during the Saturday morning session:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/04/17gimenez?lang=eng 

What drew me to it was mainly from this paragraph:

For example, when you set a goal to read the scriptures, offer sincere prayers, or prepare an activity for your family or ward, is the real goal simply to accomplish these tasks? Or are these actions the means, the tools at your disposal, to achieve the true goal? Is the purpose merely to hold an activity because we have done it for many years and then check the box that we have completed it? Or, once again, are these the means we use to learn, to feel, and to connect with the Savior?

Beyond that, it was the different levels of "why", specifically with regards to holding an activity; helping with activities is one of my responsibilities.

Certainly, I have a calling and I do it; that is because I love the Savior. 

Without taking anything away from that, we have activities for fellowship with each other and sharing and learning and various purposes. Those are other reasons why. 

As we do some things, ideally we will learn more about the reasons: it was good I got this calling because I have learned this thing or gotten to know this person better or gotten more patient.

As we find that there is that help coming to us through doing what we are asked to do, we should get more of a sense that we are loved by the Savior. Our love for Him might grow.

That could be a cycle, but it is more than that because there is growth: more knowledge, more love, and more connection.

More people that we love and serve.

More capacity for the next level of understanding.

More truth and beauty.