"Be Ye Transformed"

In a world where political correctness dictates that we accept ourselves and everyone else as they are, we dare to suggest that "status quo living" is equivalent to driving a car without a motor - never getting anywhere.  Ah! You ask, "But where do we need to go?  Isn't everyone's path different and separate?"  To which we reply with a resounding "YES!  Our paths are each unique, but we have not been left alone to wander aimlessly through life. As the poet Robert Frost reminded us, all paths lead somewhere.  Ultimately as we choose and create our path through the world, it will lead everyone of us to a hallowed spot and a hallowed moment where every knee shall bow (willingly or not) and every tongue confess (willingly or not) that Jesus is the Christ! 

How quickly we are able to get on that path, or if we wander and stumble through dark and troublesome trails in getting there, depends on what light we carry with us and the roadmap that we are following.  We, ourselves, and life around us changes - transforms everyday.  In that sense the status quo life does not exist - we are each transforming - changing each day.

The questions before us are, "What are we transforming - changing into?"  "What is the driving force or standards of behavior that are fueling our transformation?"  "Where is our map taking us?"  "How much light do we have?"

This week our meditative essay takes up the Apostle Paul's trumpeted call to "Be Ye Transformed!"

"BE YE TRANSFORMED"

This message is not for the faint-hearted.  It asks the probing question, “Are my thoughts, feelings, and actions being changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ?”

As you and I grew up we developed certain traits or habits of behavior learned from our parents, friends, and experiences.  Some of these traits helped us progress through life, some hindered our progress.  Those negative traits that hindered may have lingered because we (1) don’t recognize them as negative traits, (2) don’t know how to change them, (3) or don’t have the willpower to change them. These self-defeating traits may imperceptibly begin to influence us as they become ingrained in our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Or, they are ever-present in the words and actions of those with whom we associate in person or in social media.  Over time, they can become part of who we are and how we define ourselves.

Behaviors that were once thought of as inappropriate are becoming the accepted norm and are thus ever-present.  These include crude and offensive language and actions, dress or language that does not reverence the human body. It includes music and media that trivialize marriage, sexuality, and sacred things in general.

These days the politically correct attitude is that we are to accept ourselves and everyone else as we or they are. There is an element of truth to that – after all, “we are who we are.”  However, even though we are a product of our unalterable past, for today and tomorrow, there are no limitations on changing self-defeating beliefs, emotions, or actions.

The Apostle Paul stated it clearly.  Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

If we take that doctrine seriously, then our status quo lives are not fully acceptable.  Personal change and progress are required in God’s plan for us. And applying true concepts will set us free from behaviors that hold us prisoner. Below is a partial list of what God has prescribed to help us transform ourselves in ways that will help us become more like Him. They include behaviors that will improve:

1.   Our physical health and well-being.

2.   Our intimate relationships known as the law of chastity. This governs how we think, feel, and act as it pertains to our bodies, intimate relationships, modest dress, more refined language, and related godly behaviors. As we discipline and bridal these things, our capacity for true love and happiness increases.

3.   Our relationship with Deity such as worshipful reverence of sacred things. It includes finding and applying divine patterns of behavior in sacred scripture, covenants and ordinances - especially those of the temple.

4.   Our capacity to be like Heavenly Father and Christ such as serving others faithfully and diligently in our callings and assignments – taking upon us “the mind of Christ.” (1Corinthians 2) Consider what would He think, feel, say, or do?

5.   The productive use of our time, language, and dress. It includes gaining more knowledge and education, engaging productive employment, budgeting our resources for greater self-reliance, and improving and bringing order to our personal lives.

6.   Our relationships as we become less self-focused and more other-people focused. Looking at life through other people’s eyes and perspectives. Once we learn that skill, we may graduate to the skill of viewing others as Heavenly Father views them.

If the gospel is not helping us make such changes then perhaps we need to look more closely at our priorities and how we are applying the gospel.

We may ask, “What does ‘a living sacrifice’ mean?”  In this sense, it means to remove old self-defeating behaviors from our lives. Such sacrifices are hard, but God will help – it’s what parents do.

What is meant by present a body that is “holy” unto God?  As we put our old self-defeating behaviors on God’s alter of sacrifice and go through the discomfort and pain of putting away old behaviors, we become more holy by allowing the Light of Christ to come into the void left by the absence of our old negative ways – thus bece become more holy.

Helpful spiritual tools include meaningful prayer, purposeful scripture study, church and temple worship, proper observance of the Sabbath, and serving others daily.  Helpful temporal tools include engaging friends, books, media and situations that uplift and inspire us to be better and do better.

There is no illness to body or soul, or no situation which prevents us from making these changes in our behavior.  It is the purpose of this life to make transformations to our personalities. If this is not our first priority, then it makes little difference what our other priorities are.

So, the question is, “When do we seriously begin to make these changes?”  The time, it seems, is never convenient.  But the time-table points to NOW, before, as the Lord says, “it is everlastingly too late.”  Helaman 13:38 “But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late….” That day will come to each and all of us.

“How do we begin?” we ask. Consider descending a foot or so downward upon our knees and prayerfully re-commit our whole soul to Heavenly Father, and apply the Atonement of Christ Jesus, who has ALREADY paid the price of our shortcomings and sins if we abandon them and confess and ask. 

Our last question asks, “What does Paul mean by our ‘acceptable and reasonable service?’”  It is the divine order of things that children grow up and take on the attributes of their parents.  It is no different with our Heavenly Parents. They also feel it “acceptable and reasonable” that each of their children come to this earth-school and through learning, through some pain, some suffering, some hard-knocks, and some grand and glorious experiences have the opportunity to transform themselves into more divine beings – like their Divine Parents. This is the purpose of our existence – the purpose of finding God, finding His priesthood power and authority, finding His covenants and ordinances, indeed, finding His gospel – and then being transformed by them.  Although we go about our work each day and perform our necessary daily tasks, this process of transforming ourselves should be our first and most important task.

Therefore, may we strive to be better than yesterday, improve ourselves today, and prepare for an even better tomorrow.  

Larry Doyle Crenshaw