In search of a quote that has been haunting me since pioneer trek, I came across this article in the Ensign that really put a wrench to my brain and gave me a little chastisement for my recent whininess. Here is a snippet from the article but the whole thing is chalk full of good quotes...
A Champion of Youth
Ensign, November 1987, p. 28
It is not difficult to understand why the great God of heaven has reserved these special spirits for the final work of the kingdom prior to his millennial reign.... This generation will face trials and troubles that will exceed those of their pioneer forebears. Our generation has had periods of some respite from the foe. The future generation will have little or none....This is a chosen generation.... I believe today's [Church youth] will lead the youth of the world through the most trying time in history.
~Vaughn J. Featherstone
Why did this article move me so? Let me explain...I have recently been down on myself, frustrated that life has not gone the way I had envisioned it would. The goals and dreams of my youth and young adulthood not quite bearing the fruit I had hoped for. I am now in my 40's and finding myself looking back instead of forward, often distraught by my lack of personal achievement, "I had so much potential" echoes in my head more than it should.
My sweet wife grieves when I find myself locked in this melancholy because she feels I resent her in some way, as if I blame her for blocking my possibilities by grounding me to life: marriage, children, work, etc. I do not blame her or resent her because I am well aware that without her my allegiance to God and righteousness would have fallen decades ago. The ultimate goal of celestial, eternal, glory is still within my reach solely because of her and who she has molded me to be as a man, husband, and especially as a father.
The father part of who I am is the key. The Vaughn J. Featherstone article enlightened me to this point because I am one of the youth he was talking to - the article was written in 1987. He was speaking to me when he said, "The future generation will have little or none [respite from the foe]." He was speaking to me when he said, "I believe today's [Church youth] will lead the youth of the world through the most trying time in history."
I can testify that there is no respite from the enticements of Satan! Pornography is everywhere, alcohol, drugs, and all forms of addiction are readily available. Every spiritual experience we have is immediately assaulted by the realities of life and the wieght of evil that surrounds us! It doesn't stop!! Our only recourse is to seek out those spiritual moments as often as possible and shield our drowning marriages and children with whatever means we can find available. The serpent of lies is not going to stop and we must not wallow for the slightest of moments or we shall surely be overcome and lost - our children with us!!
I look around and see close friends and family wander from the light as it is so easy to do and a prospect most desireable. I have done nothing to stop their drift or attempt to open their eyes? I watch stunned and saddened and praying I can hold to my own shaky ground; but the worst part, the tragedy, is watching their children, without fail, follow them.
Reading this article has opened my eyes to what I have accomplished as one of those youth. My children are looking to Angela and I. They are watching and somehow, though tenious at times, we have maintained some hold to that dream of God, our unseen faith, a belief and a set of morals that is ridiculously heavy and burdensome at times; yet we keep walking, we keep pushing our handcart through this storm of reality and gulp in those moments of spiritual boost when we find them. Our children are strong. They are faithful. They are following our path and adding to our strength as they grow. They must be the cause and reason for my existence, if nothing else, and it must be enough or I too shall falter, stumble, fall and get lost. I pray I do not and that my wife holds me up and keeps me moving when I studder in my footsteps.
This storm of reality is a tempest most powerful and there will not be a respite from its constant pounding and thrashing of our souls. Understand that to be true and accept that you cannot stop moving, searching for those spiritual boosts, and you will succeed; but more than that, when you arrive in Zion and fall gloriously into the arms of your redeemer, you will turn and notice behind you those sweet young spirits, your children, following in your footsteps, reaching for you as they too find Glory and respite in the arms of their Saviour - Believe it!
~Kipling
Here is a link to the article, A Champion of Youth
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