Strikes, Softies, and Sermons

My oldest nephew has a passion for electronics.  The kid is a wizard with computers and can find anything he is interested in online.  When he was in preschool, the school was held in a elementary school building.  One day, the school's computer went down during an assembly.  They came to the preschool and took my five-year-old nephew down to fix it!

One challenge with this gift is that he can become nearly obsessed with electronics.  If there are any electronics around, he just isn't able to keep his hands off the device.  Because of this, his parents have to limit the amount of time he spends on them.  And the computer time is used both as a reward and consequence for bad behavior.

When I go to visit him, of course, I normally have my Nook and phone.  If I forget to put passwords or locks on the devices, I oftentimes can find my suitcase and purse ransacked and my nephew in a corner playing on them.  Now, unless he's downloading something I have to pay for, I don't mind so much.  He gets a lot of pleasure doing what he wants.  

However, when he does this without asking, he breaks a house rule - no taking things without asking - and will get a strike.  One strike is usually enough to prevent it from happening again, but three will cause him to lose all computer time for the day.  I respect his parent's rules and know these rules are for his own good.

If I catch him, I usually will scold him a bit and tell him to turn it off because he is going to get a strike.  That's usually enough to stop him.  It may seem a little sneaky to not tell his parents.  But, I'm a softy aunt that hates seeing him in trouble.  If I can make a little course correction quickly and privately, it's usually done.

How many of us are lucky enough to have people in our lives that help us course correct?  Do we have good friends, family members, ward members that can say things in a way that helps us to change what we are doing right now into a way that's better?  Or better yet, helps us to be obedient in the first place?

Just like my nephew's parents rules, our Heavenly Father gives us rules to keep us safe and happy. And, whether we choose to obey or disobey, there is always a consequence - good or bad.  If my nephew obeys, he gets computer time; if he doesn't, no matter how sorry he is, the punishment is fixed.  Our Heavenly Father, in order to be just, must follow the same path.

Unlike the exchange between my nephew and me, we never truly escape from the consequences of our actions.  We may not have an immediate tangible consequence, but we always displease our Heavenly Father when we make mistakes.  But, fortunately, because of the Atonement and the mercy of our Heavenly Father, we are able to repent and move forward.  

I was thinking about the upcoming General Conference- a semiannual gathering of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where people can receive inspiration and instruction from Church leaders.  At the beginning of the year, I started reading the talks from the last general conference.  Each talk gives insight into areas of my life where I need to make improvements and changes.  

This year, I'm planning to view conference a little differently.  I want to think of general conference as a time where the leaders can pull me aside, like a softy aunt, and remind me that there are areas of my life where I am either doing something where I could "get a strike" if I'm not watchful.  , or worse, letting me know I have strikes from what I'm already doing and find my way back.

I hope all of you will join me - whether or not you are of my faith.  There are many ways to watch or listen. There is something we all can learn from the words of these inspired leaders who speak with love.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/invite-others?lang=eng