Wages

By Larry D. Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

Over the years I’ve had many interviews with youth who would argue that they were or wanted to be free from the influence or control of others. Often parents or teachers would be mentioned. I’ve had similar conversations with adults who, likewise felt they were independent of everyone and that they directed the course of their own lives.

Upon closer examination of their goals, plans, and motivations, we would ultimately discover that they were nearly always under the influence of some set of beliefs obtained from others. Such beliefs were absorbed from or being dictated by popular culture, influential friends, or the individual was simply rebelling and moving purposefully in the opposite direction of what they were being told or counseled to do.

In short, it seems that we are ALWAYS being led, motivated, prompted, and influenced by a set of beliefs we have learned and accepted from others.  The question is, “From whom have we obtained our beliefs and which set of “voices” do we listen to or obey?”

This week’s meditation couches the discussion in terms of employment and the wages we receive from those we “listeth to obey.”  The question is, “From whom do we receive wages?”  Which voices do we listeth to obey – those to the right, or left, or front or behind?  For there are always voices calling to us – trying to enlist us – influence us – and some voices are even trying to seduce and capture us. Our meditation suggests that one of the purposes of this life is to learn to recognize and bend our will to the voice of the Spirit- a still and peaceful and enlightening voice that will lead us in the way of truth.  May the Lord be the voice whom we listeth to obey.

Wages

And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.  For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth….

Book of Mormon   Alma 3:26-27

“How much do you earn?” is oft a query

Of those nosey and meddlesome of mind

But there may be a more vital inquiry

When asking questions of this kind

“From whom do you receive your wages?”

May be more probing and concerning

When heaven's angels and prophet-sages

Ask, "From whom are you earning?"

By whom am I engaged and assisted?

Who is my benefactor and employer?

In whose cause am I recruited and enlisted?

Is the Holy Spirit or a nether-spirit my payer?

We receive wages for our toil and labor

From the employer we listeth to obey

Misery to suffer or happiness to savor

Are the wages our employer will pay

Such wages are earned by everyone

Of him whom we worship and listeth to obey

Whether Satan’s minions or God’s Begotten Son

Depends on to whom we listen and to whom we pray

May we work for wages pure and holy

May such an income be our righteous reward

Whether our station be high or lowly

May our true employer be the Lord

Larry Doyle Crenshaw