It’s true, isn’t it?

Matthew 10:38—“He That Taketh Not His Cross, and Followeth after Me, Is Not Worthy of Me”

Although this verse and the verses immediately before and after seem very harsh and demanding of those who follow Jesus, they are very real to some converts to the Church. President Gordon B. Hinckley told about one such convert. He was a naval officer from a non-Christian nation who received professional training in the United States. While in the United States he was introduced to the Church and decided to be baptized. Before returning to his home he met with President Hinckley, who related their conversation: 

“I said: ‘Your people are not Christians. What will happen when you return home a Christian, and, more particularly, a Mormon Christian?’ 

“His face clouded, and he replied, ‘My family will be disappointed. They may cast me out and regard me as dead. As for my future and my career, all opportunity may be foreclosed against me.’ 

“I asked, ‘Are you willing to pay so great a price for the gospel?’ 

“His dark eyes, moistened by tears, shone from his handsome brown face as he answered, ‘It’s true, isn’t it?’ 

“Ashamed at having asked the question, I responded, ‘Yes, it’s true.’ 

“To which he replied, ‘Then what else matters?’” (“It’s True, Isn’t It?” Ensign, July 1993, 2).

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Poor People

One day the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On the return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me," asked the father, "what did you learn from the trip?"

The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "I always thought we were the wealthy ones!"

All too often, we forget what we have to be thankful for. We focus on what we don't have. Everything is based on based on our perspective and our confidence to change our strategies for growth. See challenges as an opportunity to grow stronger, to learn more, to be a good friend or mentor to others. to others! All exponential growth in technology, our personal lives and business comes when people have to work harder, together to make it through a challenging situation.

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