Today in this fast-paced world, things go by that just seem like a blur. People trying to get from point 'A' to 'B' in the shortest amount of time. I am here to tell you that many times,we need to slow down. Here are some points for discussion:

Slow down and enjoy

With the fast-paced and sometimes hectic world, people need to slow down to enjoy what life has to offer them. Many of my associates, seem to think that by working 50+ hour work weeks that that they can gain money. Yes, it's true, but at what cost? I submit that a growing family, or even a young marriage is more important that extra cash in the paycheck. Time spent away from them can lead to regrets later on in life. Enjoy your family. Work what you need to. Work will still be there when you return the next day. Keeping realistic work deadlines vs. keeping realistic family time is something that needs to be decided by each individual, but from one who regrets missed time and opportunities with family; hindsight is 20/20.

When my wife and I moved out to Utah, we took some extra time, to enjoy the trip across the country. We got to see some beautiful sights. Instead of working on a deadline, and the road, we saw the beauties of God's creations. In hindsight, there are many places along that path that I would have liked to stop and visit. Seeing the nation at 95 miles an hour (speeding), can lead to troubles. First of all, you are in jeopardy of a huge monetary fine from the police. Secondly, and more important, you are risking your life, those in the car, and those whom you are on the road with; all their lives. We also need to slow down and enjoy life. By making hasty decisions, comments, liking posts - all which are contrary to what we all know to be the truth; we are headed into the dangers of our eternal destiny. We (most definitely including myself) need to ask ourselves honestly, Are our actions something that our Savior would approve of? Do the current controversies and banter affect our personal salvation? I would submit that if we did these things, the world would be in a much different shape that it is now. Many times when these things escalate  peoples feelings get hurt and any further conversation would be more of a battle of words; to get the last jab.  Love one another as Jesus loves you.Try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, for these are things Jesus taught. Slow down and enjoy your travels through mortality.

Slow down and learn

Again, in this fast-paced world, the mentality seems to be one of "what's in it for me"? We learn "line upon line, precept upon precept". Life is not a cram session. If we are doing what we need to be doing, the life lessons are laid out for us by our loving Father in Heaven. He stands ready to bless us, but we need to learn about those available opportunities for us. We can learn them from the scriptures. Today, in Sunday School, I was amazed even in the Old Testament, that there are lessons for us to learn in 2014! I was humbled to see some of the trials that the Old Testament parents had with their children, are still happening today, and I get to learn how they handled the situation; both for the bad and the good. They are life lessons for me. In our fast-paced world, how often do we come before the Lord in prayer and it turns out to be a one-sided conversation? The Lord does like to communicate with us too - if we slow down on our prayers and listen.

As we, as a people have become more dependent on instantaneous things; like fast internet, we also become a "streamlined" child of God. What I mean by this is that often, when we pray for something, we expect to get an instantaneous answer - right away. We seem to forget that we operate on the Lord's time when we pray, and while some answers may had instantly, many come after "the trial of our faith". And even some don't come for a long time. We need to slow down be learn that the Lord's timetable is not ours. Patience and long-suffering are the keys to this.

Slow down to grow

How many of us have ever sat around the Christmas tree at midnight assembling some sort of toy for a sleeping child? And to go a bit further, how many of us have examined the parts and declared we can put it together on our own - without looking at the instructions? Our apartment could be considered a showroom for Ikea furniture. Our living room is 98% Ikea products. If you have ever assembled an Ikea piece, you know that the instructions are mainly pictures. Each step is shown with what part to put where. My wife can attest that many times, I thought I was smarter than the instructions and forged ahead without consulting them, only to find out that a step was either missed completely, or I got something backwards and had to undo several parts to get it back to where it was before I decided to venture out on my own.

We have great instruction manuals in our time. We have them readily available on our smartphones and tablets, online via the internet, and even paper! They are the scriptures. We have even better instructions via our living prophets and those whom we sustain as leaders. We just need to open the app, open the webpage, or open the book to read those instructions. We can tune in twice a year to hear further instructions via General Conference. Yet, many seem to want to muddle through life without opening the written instructions or listening to the instructions. We are in a hurry to move forward that we forget about some important things along the way. My grandmother used to give me some wise counsel:

The hurrieder you go, the be hinder you get.

I am not a fan of speed reading the scriptures, but I understand the importance of doing so from time to time. I would rather study the scriptures. I take each verse, if I'm reading the Book of Mormon, for example. I know that the Book of Mormon was written for us in our day and age. I know that it was abridged for our benefit, so therefore each and every word; every sentence is for our benefit. Do we really understand that principle? So I, personally study one verse or series of verses at a time. If I do not understand them, I will cross reference, do internet searches, and most importantly, inquire of the Lord for understanding. Many times my prayers have been answered through others; be it a Sunday School or Priesthood lesson. But that is the way I learn - line upon line. As I slow down to read, my understanding grows, and my testimony also grows. So, slow down and grow.

Slow down to know

I love the scripture that says, "...be still and know I am God". It speaks to me that sometimes in our crazy world and life that we need to slow down to really know our Father in Heaven. In my earlier example about slowing down and enjoy life, one of my favorite things to do (which I need to do more of), is simply walking/hiking around in God's creation. Imagine if we are on a 4x4 ATV rolling at 50 miles per hour. We can see some of God's creations, but when we are walking/hiking, we can see even more of the fine workmanship of Heavenly Father. I love stopping from time to time to observe nature; to see their interaction with this glorious world. I love to stop and examine the fine craftsmanship of a spider web and the intricate design that goes into it. I love, in the winter to look at a snowflake and see the symmetrical beauty that is there. If I am speeding by, I miss all those opportunities, and to fully understand the scripture that  says in part, "all things denote that there is a God"

Now it may seem contradictory with some of the counsel given to us to "hasten the work". We know the importance of hastening the work, but I submit that we need to slow down and learn how we can become an instrument in the Lord's hands, will be more effective in hastening the work of the Lord.

As I get older (and maybe a bit more wise), I can see the wisdom in slowing down. I observe the hurriedness of the world and know that opportunities will be gone before they know it. I know that my time for exiting the earth is coming (not that I 'm encouraging it :) ). I know each year as I age, so my days are fewer. It's just a realistic fact. So, I tend to wax philosophic and want to slow down and enjoy what time I have left on this beautiful earth which the Lord has given me. I want to experience places and do things that are on a "bucket list". Many have been fulfilled, but the bucket is overflowing with things yet to do. I know that as I grow older, my body doesn't function the way it did when I was a teenager. I recognize that, and know that there are many things which are not good for me to partake. Do I listen to my body? Sometimes, not always. But I know that I need to do it, and just like the scriptures, I will do them "line upon line", or "sugar/calories/weight management, etc." upon sugar/calories/weight management, etc."

I love the Lord and want to return back to His presence. I know that in order to do this, I must master life, this temple, and emulate Him in my daily walk. It is a not a fast-paced, "get-it-done" list that can be accomplished right away, but by slowing down to understand the Atonement of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I want to be taught all that I must do to live with Him someday. By slowing down to understand my eternal destiny and not worry about others (excepting my family), will I slowly become more and more like Him.



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