Caleb:
Elder Grant C. Anderson gave a talk in 2004 at BYU titled, "Living a Life in Crescendo", In that talk he said... Elder Neal A. Maxwell said in a general conference address, "In case you hadn't noticed it, in the last days, discipleship is to be lived in crescendo."[1] And that is the essence of my message today: as disciples of Jesus Christ, our lives should be lived "in crescendo."
But what does that mean? It obviously has nothing to do with getting louder as you get older. I offer as one possible answer a sentence from our Administering Appropriately handbook: "As individuals come unto Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, they become more like the Savior in knowledge, performance, attitude, and character."[2]
I would like to emphasize two things from that statement. First, becoming like Christ is the ultimate aim of living a life in crescendo. Second, that statement identifies four specific areas where each of us should be experiencing crescendo or growth. Those four areas are knowledge, performance, attitude, and character.
The scriptures teach that the Savior Himself, as our exemplar, lived a life in crescendo. The scriptures record that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52) until He eventually "received a fulness" (D&C 93:13). Speaking of Christ, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "You will find your greatest example in the Son of God. . . . He was the great paragon of righteousness, the only perfect man ever to walk the earth. His was the wondrous example toward whom each of us might point our lives in our eternal quest for excellence."[3]
Another example, according to Elder B. H. Roberts, was the Prophet Joseph Smith. Please note that the things Elder Roberts identified as evidence that the Prophet lived a life in crescendo center on these areas of knowledge, performance, attitude, and character.
Elder Roberts wrote: "He lived his life, as I have said elsewhere, in crescendo, it grew in intensity and volume as he approached its close. Higher and still higher the inspiration of God directed his thoughts; bolder were his conceptions, and clearer his expositions of them. . . . He grew stronger with each passing day; more impressive in weight of personal character, and charm of manner."[4]
[1] Neal A. Maxwell, in Conference Report, October 1985, 18; or Ensign, November 1985, 15.
[2] Administering Appropriately: A Handbook for CES Leaders and Teachers (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003), 15.
[3] Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Quest for Excellence," in Brigham Young University 1998–99 Speeches (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University, 1999), 70–71.
[4] B. H. Roberts, introduction to The History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2nd ed. rev. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1980), 6:xlii.
As your mission progresses, you will live your life in crescendo. You will understand what it takes to be successful and will not hold back as you deal with investigators, members, and companions. Just as the prophet Joseph, you will development Godlike attributes in the areas of knowledge, performance, attitude, and character. Read that paragraph above again. Then replace your name for the prophet's and his life with your mission. Then shoot for it.
Be confident in yourself. It's incredible to watch you grow and develop. You have so much to offer the people you come in contact with. I'm so proud of and love you,
Dad
I love your letters and everyone who gets them or reads the blog loves them also. Not a week goes by but what I get complimented on how positive you are and how well you are doing.
Think of the implications of being a positive. You may be having a difficult day or week but by being positive everyone who reads your letters is uplifted and feels better about life. Just as importantly, they gain strength from you. I can't help but believe that those who are close to you feel the some way. It's an interesting study in human psychology.
But what does that mean? It obviously has nothing to do with getting louder as you get older. I offer as one possible answer a sentence from our Administering Appropriately handbook: "As individuals come unto Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, they become more like the Savior in knowledge, performance, attitude, and character."[2]
I would like to emphasize two things from that statement. First, becoming like Christ is the ultimate aim of living a life in crescendo. Second, that statement identifies four specific areas where each of us should be experiencing crescendo or growth. Those four areas are knowledge, performance, attitude, and character.
The scriptures teach that the Savior Himself, as our exemplar, lived a life in crescendo. The scriptures record that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52) until He eventually "received a fulness" (D&C 93:13). Speaking of Christ, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "You will find your greatest example in the Son of God. . . . He was the great paragon of righteousness, the only perfect man ever to walk the earth. His was the wondrous example toward whom each of us might point our lives in our eternal quest for excellence."[3]
Another example, according to Elder B. H. Roberts, was the Prophet Joseph Smith. Please note that the things Elder Roberts identified as evidence that the Prophet lived a life in crescendo center on these areas of knowledge, performance, attitude, and character.
Elder Roberts wrote: "He lived his life, as I have said elsewhere, in crescendo, it grew in intensity and volume as he approached its close. Higher and still higher the inspiration of God directed his thoughts; bolder were his conceptions, and clearer his expositions of them. . . . He grew stronger with each passing day; more impressive in weight of personal character, and charm of manner."[4]
[1] Neal A. Maxwell, in Conference Report, October 1985, 18; or Ensign, November 1985, 15.
[2] Administering Appropriately: A Handbook for CES Leaders and Teachers (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003), 15.
[3] Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Quest for Excellence," in Brigham Young University 1998–99 Speeches (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University, 1999), 70–71.
[4] B. H. Roberts, introduction to The History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2nd ed. rev. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1980), 6:xlii.
As your mission progresses, you will live your life in crescendo. You will understand what it takes to be successful and will not hold back as you deal with investigators, members, and companions. Just as the prophet Joseph, you will development Godlike attributes in the areas of knowledge, performance, attitude, and character. Read that paragraph above again. Then replace your name for the prophet's and his life with your mission. Then shoot for it.
Be confident in yourself. It's incredible to watch you grow and develop. You have so much to offer the people you come in contact with. I'm so proud of and love you,
Dad
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