The following is a letter shared with me by my good friend James Ritchie who is serving with his wonderful wife as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia. It is shared with his permission.

The more I witness Mediocrity - and it surrounds us -  the greater chance I have that I'm going to be a witness to FEAR. Peter, out of Fear, (supported by the gospel according to Ritchie) denied the SAvior three times in one eventful night...it caused him to Weep Bitterly (according to Matthew, a better source of pure knowledge). The remorse Brother Peter felt at his failure to STAND UP for the Savior CAUSED CHANGE in his heart and motivated him to RESOLVE that when the next opportunity arrived to defend the Savior, it would not end in defeat or in a 'weep' but, instead, it would be a life changing moment for him and his future.

The opportunity came a few weeks later at the Day of Pentecost when things, again, were not going well for the Home Team and the invited guests instead of being impressed with the display of Spiritual Power thought they were witnessing a public display of binge drinking.  The crowds were big, loud, boisterous and unimpressed until something happened that changed history and the course of events:  PETER, this man who wept at his weakness the last time around, STOOD UP and altered the affairs of state forever. 3,000 baptisms later the crowd finally went home to tell the story of their Christian Conversion and the Miracles they witnessed that day.  Peter, especially, slept better that night.

From FEAR TO FEARLESS in two public opportunities!  What happened?  Why the 180 degree turn of events?  I'm not going to try and evaluate Peter's heart as he has earned the right for those of us in the cheap seats, instead of judging him, to learn from him.  "Repent", Be "Quick to Observe",  "Liken the Scriptures unto ourselves",  and by so doing we too will STAND UP without FEAR  when our opportunities come - and of more importance than responding to opportunities - we will begin CREATING OPPORTUNITIES instead of waiting for them. That's when we know we are on the road to RECOVERY FROM MEDIOCRITY,  a disease caused by continual bouts with FEAR.

Many die without ever singing in the CHOIR let along LEADING IT.  Books unwritten.  Journals unkept. Companies never created.  Trips never taken.  Speeches never given. Phone calls never made. Missions never served. Notes never sent. Smiles never seen.  Loaves of Bread never delivered. Words never expressed. For a Foreordained House of Israel Member, also known as one of the "Noble and Great Ones", a life sidelined by FEAR is  a tragedy, but one played out far too often. 

Joseph Smith, through revelation, while serving a five month sabbatical in Liberty Jail gave us the answer to overcoming our FEARS when he penned the words:  "Let thy bowels...be full of charity towards ALL men...and let virtue garnish they thoughts UNCEASINGLY..." and then with a legal four letter word he Empowered us:  "THEN"  meaning after you have taken control of your HEART (Charity towards ALL) and MIND (Control thoughts UNCEASINGLY) he continues, "THEN SHALL THY CONFIDENCE WAX STRONG IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD"  (meaning you would even have CONFIDENCE - lack of FEAR - to communicate with Deity - and if with Deity - wouldn't it be easy to  transfer to ALL PEOPLE?)  He even goes on to promise that the 'dews from heaven will distill'  upon those living in such a righteous state (sounds like eligibility for Revelation to me) and even promises that the Holy Ghost will be our 'constant companion'. (D&C 121:45-46)

Simple translation: Take control of your heart and mind and CONFIDENCE will replace FEAR, inspiration will follow your every action and Angels will be your companion. Might be worth a try!  Sure better than living a life of Mediocrity where  most of our music remains unwritten and we often end up weeping over our weaknesses and failures. King Benjamin promised Never Ending Happiness for those who learn to STAND UP and live those two verses.  Sure beats "weeping bitterly"!  

With love from the Potomac,

Bro Jim 

I love 2 Nephi 25:23 in the Book of Mormon which states:

I love this verse for a multitude of reasons.

First, it reminds me of the importance of writing. Not just any kind of writing, diligent writing. That implies hard work. It implies making writing a priority. It implies writing and rewriting and working to put the polish on the product so that it will resonate with those who read it!

Second, it helps me understand what it is important to write about, or why we write - to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ and be reconciled to God through Him. Only in and through Christ and the reonciliation that he offers through his glorious atonement can we be saved.

Third, this wonderful verse helps to keep things in perspective for me. After all I can do, striving to be faithful and true to God by keeping His commandments, serving my fellow man, etc., I cannot save myself. It is only by grace that we are saved. Not just any grace, the grace of Christ. Only through His marevelous enabling power can we be raised to a state whereby we can be saved in the kingdom of God.

How I love the savior Jesus Christ. I know He loves me! I know He knows and loves each of us! I am a weak man. I make many mistakes. How grateful I am to know that as I humble myself before God and seek reconciliation with Him through Christ, I can be made whole.

To those who know Christ, I invite you to continue in Christ. Continue learning of Him and continue striving to be like him.

To those who once knew Christ, but have turned away, I invite you to come back and be reconciled to God through Him.  Come back to the marevelous table that is spread before you and feast upon the joy and happiness that can only come by learning of and striving to be like Christ.

To those who don't know Christ, His invitation to all, as found in The New Testament, in Matthew 11:28-30, still stands today: