How often have we read or listened to the Word of Wisdom and heard the concept “run and not be weary, walk and not faint”?  How often is it described as receiving good health, and an evidence of the gospel’s truth?

As that is one way to interpret such scripture, I thought it would be interesting to take a different approach to the concept, by going to its origins in the Old Testament, and see what is meant by the phrase.

The earliest verse that suggests this concept is in Isaiah 5:26-27

And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:  None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken

Here we see in First Isaiah that the concept of not being weary has to do with coming swiftly to the Lord. In this instance, an ensign is lifted to the nations, to which the people hasten to unwearingly.  For Latter-day Saints, the ensign to the nations is the fulness of the gospel of Christ, found in the Restored Church.  While we see many joining the Church now (more than 250,000 per year), the day of reckoning shall approach, where millions will joyfully flock to the banner of Zion for safety and refuge (D&C 45:66-71). 

For Mormons, it is akin to those who flocked to Captain Moroni’s banner of liberty, in order to defend their homes, family, religion and freedoms (Alma 46).  Moroni created the standard of liberty from his cloak, and marched throughout the land calling others to join him.  Many rushed forward and tossed their own cloaks at his feet, as a symbol that they were willing to give all to establish and protect that ensign to the Nephite nation.

Jeremiah shares this thought with us:

But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee. (Jeremiah 12:3-6)

Jeremiah could be speaking to the Lord or his fellow Israelites in stating that if they are wearied by their own people in Jerusalem, how can they be happy elsewhere (and in particular, Zion)?  If they are not happy when living in a peaceful land, then how will they be happy when the floods (from the Jordan River) come and ravage the peace and prosperity they do have?

In this instance, they are not called to seek after Zion, because they are already supposed to be there!  Yet, in establishing David’s kingdom, the temple, and what was to be a holy people, Judah was not Zion.  It still leaned on royal kings, other nations and gods, rather than having Yahweh as their Lord and King.  They were not happy with the best God had to offer them, and so they lost everything.  All the markers of a Zion people: temple, priesthood, the covenant (ark of God’s Presence), were lost or diminished because the people grew weary of the things of God.

The most common and most easily spotted version of the phrase is in Isaiah 40:31:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

In this first chapter of Deutero-Isaiah (probably written by one of Isaiah’s followers), we see that it definitely sounds like a strengthening of physical health?  But let’s look closer at the .context.

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Those who actively seek after God do not just receive good health, but they receive an attribute of God: they do not grow weary and faint!  God, who has created the earth, does not tire. We cannot find out all that he knows by searching, suggestive of the Word of Wisdom’s promise of secret treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In the world, the time will come when the hearts of men will fail. Even the young, who are normally full of hope and energy, will become weary because they have not sought eagerly after the Lord.

But those who run or walk eagerly to join the Lord shall receive not just good health, but HIS strength.  As he is not weary, they will not be weary, either.  God will impart his strength. They will be lifted up on wings of eagles, suggesting being carried to a celestial level of holiness.  It suggests action or movement toward God.

In D&C 84:33-34, it notes that when we accept the priesthood and magnify our callings (something both men and women can do), we become the children of Moses and Aaron, and the seed of Abraham.  In rising up to a new holy lineage, we are then “sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies” and become “the elect of God.”

While we often see the renewing of our bodies as giving us good health, so we can live long lives and serve, may I suggest a better interpretation: we are changed from telestial beings to a higher spiritual and temporal sphere of existence. Our spiritual body, connected to a physical body, will be changed from the natural man to the spiritual man, even the man in Christ.  In so doing, we become as God: not weary or fainting, but able to overcome all things and do great things, even as the Creator does such marvelous things as well.

In the concepts in Jim Collins’ book, “Good to Great”, he discusses the key points from his research on how the best companies go from good to great. Last time, we discussed Level 5 Leadership. This time, we’ll discuss the next important thing: Getting the Right People on the Bus.

One of the problems with many companies is they hire people who have specific talents, but the people are not the “right fit” for the overall goals of the company.  Note that this is a bus, if a person does not fit in one seat, they may fit well in another seat (position), however if they are a bad fit for the bus, there is no seat that will fit them well.

There must be a shared vision that carries the company to success. Continue reading →

Here is part 3 of my review of Good to Great by Jim Collins, and how we can apply it to the Church.  The First key concept: Level 5 Leadership.

In the book, it notes there are 5 levels of leaders, but only discusses levels 4 and 5.  Why? Because they both show positive results. However, there is a major difference in how those results are achieved and how lasting are the effects. Let’s first compare them: Continue reading →

Lots discussed in last night’s broadcast. Geoff has already discussed the social media efforts for full time missionaries, so I won’t discuss that here.

I will note two things.  First, did the camera guy really have to take a nice long shot at the sleeping man (presumably a high priest?) during Elder Nelson’s discourse?  That, for me, is a “how not to”.

Here, though, I would like to open up a discussion to help all of us on something Elder Nelson stated last night: we know the reason why, but we do not yet know the “how to.”  How does one do missionary work effectively as a member?  Obviously, tracting is now anathema, as was pronounced last night, while working with members is the correct manner.  So, how do we do effective member missionary work?

A couple of the videos shown give a hint of one “how to do” method, and added upon my experience (FTM, 9 years WML/Stake mission presidency, 2 year service mission), I will offer some thoughts. However, I really would like to hear others’ thoughts on how we can do the work in an effective and efficient way.

First, there were videos of a few people invited to baptisms/birthday parties, but especially one where a couple was first introduced to one LDS family, then another, and another, until they had many LDS friends.  The second, discussed by Pres Monson, was the small branch in Canada, in which the branch president desired a chapel.  When he was told the branch (25 members, 12 active) would have to grow first, the branch president asked for six FTMs and then went to work. He opened the Yellow Pages and began selecting people from it.  With 6 missionaries, he could better surround these people than with the 12 active he currently had.  Within a couple years, they were approved for a chapel.

The “how to” here is to surround the investigator with loving LDS friends.  If her only contact is with the missionaries or perhaps one LDS family, then there is a major disadvantage, as the person’s worldly friends will be pulling them in one direction, with only one pulling them toward Christ and his Church.  However, if we can surround the person with loving LDS friends, then there is no pulling from the world.  The influence of the Spirit is more prominent, and the opportunities to hear and desire the gospel are everywhere.

This is what happened about 20 years ago in Wetumpka, Alabama.  The branch president at the time, Carl Stephens, wanted to prepare the branch to be a ward.  As the missionaries prepared an investigator, Carl would assign members to invite the family in for dinner each week (often on Sunday after church).  So, one week, the family would eat with one LDS family, and with another the next.  In one instance, a young black family (the Montgomery stake had only recently actively started teaching African-American families) was brought into the Church using this method. They were very well integrated into the branch by the time of their baptism.  One year later, the new brother was called as elder’s quorum president (and did a fantastic job), and a few years after that the couple were called as service missionaries in the Tuskegee branch.  Wetumpka became a ward within just a couple years, and is a strength to the small stake to this day.

What are other methods of “how to” that members and FTMs alike can implement in their wards and lives?

As noted in my last post on this theme, we are discussing Jim Collin’s book, Good to Great. It comes from a 5 year study of public companies, with a team of 21 researchers, to determine just what makes companies great.

In this series, I’m applying his principles to LDS concepts.

“Good” is the toughest enemy of “Great”

Under this concept, we can consider the following:

  First, the great General Conference talk given in October 2007 by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, entitled “Good, Better, Best”.  In this discourse, Elder Oaks notes that often we settle for that which is good or better, rather than seeking for the best: Continue reading →