Comments on: How U.S. Grant became a great general http://www.jrganymede.com/2011/01/17/how-u-s-grant-became-a-great-genera/ We endeavor to give satisfaction Tue, 22 May 2012 16:20:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Vader http://www.jrganymede.com/2011/01/17/how-u-s-grant-became-a-great-genera/comment-page-1/#comment-24711 Vader Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:03:23 +0000 http://www.jrganymede.com/?p=4160#comment-24711 Indeed. I had honestly not thought of applying this to myself, perhaps because standing by while a crazy Moff blows up an entire planet not make one great. I went on a mission because I didn't have the courage to tell God no, however much I disliked the prospect myself. And it was God, not my parents or girlfriend, I was afraid to say no to. "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." Best decision I ever made. You're right. That's been true of a lot of my better decisions. There has to come a point where you do the right thing because it's the right thing, not because you fear to tell God no. God can bring this about a couple of ways. One is to permit Satan to make you fear to say "yes", which is a big part of the solution to the problem of evil. Another is to say, in effect. "This would be a great thing to do. But I don't command you to do it." I think I've had that experience, too. I've muffed a lot of these opportunities. Which is why I'm not taking off the armor or otherwise measuring myself for a halo just yet. Indeed. I had honestly not thought of applying this to myself, perhaps because standing by while a crazy Moff blows up an entire planet not make one great.

I went on a mission because I didn’t have the courage to tell God no, however much I disliked the prospect myself. And it was God, not my parents or girlfriend, I was afraid to say no to. “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” Best decision I ever made.

You’re right. That’s been true of a lot of my better decisions.

There has to come a point where you do the right thing because it’s the right thing, not because you fear to tell God no. God can bring this about a couple of ways. One is to permit Satan to make you fear to say “yes”, which is a big part of the solution to the problem of evil. Another is to say, in effect. “This would be a great thing to do. But I don’t command you to do it.” I think I’ve had that experience, too.

I’ve muffed a lot of these opportunities. Which is why I’m not taking off the armor or otherwise measuring myself for a halo just yet.

]]> By: Adam Greenwood http://www.jrganymede.com/2011/01/17/how-u-s-grant-became-a-great-genera/comment-page-1/#comment-24708 Adam Greenwood Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:33:17 +0000 http://www.jrganymede.com/?p=4160#comment-24708 Its the same way some young men go on missions and other young people get married or go to school--we lacked the courage to say no. And the result is the same as with Grant--we are becoming men, even great men, in God's grace, as a result. Most of us would like to think that our salvation is due to our own choice, but ultimately we owe it mostly to Christ and a little bit to social expectations and peer pressures and our parents and what looks like happenstance. Not to say that we won't each have our Garden of Gethsemane moment, but getting there isn't our own doing for the most part. I bet that our fear of Satan is like Grant's fear of Harris. Going into a bishop's office to confess and repent seems like such a big deal until you do it, and that you say, is that all? That was nothing, I should have done this long ago. Same with our other fears. Satan is a powerful, fearsome foe, greater than any of us, but the day comes I think when we finally, fully, unreservedly turn to face him and he dissolves into air. That's part of what President Monson meant at conference when he said that living the gospel 100% is easier than doing it 98%. Its the same way some young men go on missions and other young people get married or go to school–we lacked the courage to say no. And the result is the same as with Grant–we are becoming men, even great men, in God’s grace, as a result. Most of us would like to think that our salvation is due to our own choice, but ultimately we owe it mostly to Christ and a little bit to social expectations and peer pressures and our parents and what looks like happenstance. Not to say that we won’t each have our Garden of Gethsemane moment, but getting there isn’t our own doing for the most part.

I bet that our fear of Satan is like Grant’s fear of Harris. Going into a bishop’s office to confess and repent seems like such a big deal until you do it, and that you say, is that all? That was nothing, I should have done this long ago. Same with our other fears. Satan is a powerful, fearsome foe, greater than any of us, but the day comes I think when we finally, fully, unreservedly turn to face him and he dissolves into air. That’s part of what President Monson meant at conference when he said that living the gospel 100% is easier than doing it 98%.

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