Elder Christofferson said, “True
success in this life comes in consecrating our lives-that is, our time and
choices –to God’s purposes. Life offers you two precious gifts-one is time, the
other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what your time what
you will.” He goes on to tell us that there are five elements of a consecrated
life: purity, work, respect for one’s physical body, service, and integrity.”
I’m going to touch on a few of these elements.
About 8 years ago I remember a
Sunday afternoon. I had a rare moment of a clean home and quietly playing
children. I sat down in my living room and remember thinking this seems too
easy, almost too good to be true. Needless to say that was definitely the last
time I thought that. A few short months later I received one of the most
challenging and rewarding callings. My third child was born with Down syndrome.
I can say I had feelings of inadequacy. I was under qualified for such an
important calling. I was overwhelmed by what I thought I needed to be and
overwhelmed by all that I didn’t know. Of course I accepted the calling. I knew
that I loved her and I’d do anything to help her be successful. In the last 7
plus years I grew spiritually. I learned a deeper level of compassion. I gained
knowledge to help her make her milestones and appreciate the small ones just
like the big. I’ve gained compassion and a thick skin. I’m still being molded
and refined. It is not a glamorous calling. It is exhausting and frustrating.
Like many before me and many to come I am a parent. I have chosen to consecrate
everything I have to His children. This calling or blessing (I look at it as
both) has offered me experience in a joyous work. A work that I didn’t know I
wanted. Elder Christofferson said, “A consecrated life is filled with work,
sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work
that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers, aspires.” This work set me
on a path that I’m not even close to finishing. Everyday the work is tested. It
is sometimes menial and unappreciated but work shouldn’t be done for praises
but a sense of accomplishment. This calling that I accepted has molded me and
expanded what I thought I was capable of.
Four years ago my husband and I
decided to become foster parents. Last August we accepted our 6th
child. She also happens to have Down syndrome. This work and service to our
Heavenly Father’s children has been a process in our ability. I think of the
Adrienne of 8 years ago. Would I be accepting of raising someone else’s child?
Would I be willing to accept the calling of raising someone else’s child with
special needs?
Our Lord put me on a path for the
opportunity to consecrate my life to work and service. I chose the calling. I
chose to put my fullness into the calling. Elder Christofferson said, “Yours is
the freedom to choose.” Heavenly Father will give us opportunity. We can be
successful in our journey if we consecrate our lives. We make the time and
choice. Elder Christofferson said, “Every day, every hour, every minute of your
span of mortal years must sometime be accounted for. And it is in this life
that you walk by faith and prove yourself able to choose good over evil, right
over wrong, enduring happiness over mere amusement. And your eternal reward
will be according to your choosing.”
Mosiah2:17 And
behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn
that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the
service of your God.
My experience is one of many. We
all have our unique experiences. We all have choices to make. Elder Hales
taught, “For every one of you the question will come in life, “When is the time
to serve? The only answer I can give you is, ‘When you are asked.” I believe
when you are called to serve, to labor, to have integrity, to respect your
physical body, and to be pure; accept the calling. Put your fullness and best
efforts. Consecrate your life. When we fall short repent. Repent of
stubbornness, rebellion, and rationalization.
When I think of living a life of
consecration I think of giving myself fully. Living a life of consecration can
be beautiful. It is turning us over to the Lord. A successful life is
consecrating it to the service of our Lord. Jesus Christ was the ultimate
example of living a consecrated life.
