Decisions Determine Destiny

"We never fail when we try to do our duty, we always fail when we neglect to do it."
-Sir Robert Baden-Powell.

Duty. What does duty mean to you?

I love the scouting program, and there are many things that we can learn from what the boys are taught as they grow into men.
One of the very first phrases every scout learns is a rather profound statement -- "On my honor I will do my best. to do my duty, to God and my Country..."

[insert soapbox here]
On my Honor.
These young (12-18 year old) men are pledging their honor to the fulfilling of their duty. Duty to what?  God and their Country. What a powerful commitment that these young men are making! A commitment that I would venture to say that a lot of people are afraid to make, yet one that needs to be made, in my opinion, by more people. [/soapbox]




















Now you can't go far talking about duty without talking about the courage required to adequately do your duty. Anything worthwhile will be hard. From getting in shape to setting up a successful business, it all takes dedication, good planning, and courage.
I asked a few of my friends what courage meant to them, and these are some of the responses I have seen:

"Courage is the act of doing the right thing when it is more difficult to chose doing right than it is to chose to do nothing or to chose to do wrong."

"[Courage is] standing for what you think is right, or what you think must be done, when no one else will. Sometimes that means doing what God tells you, even when it seems like the worst possible solution to what you're facing/going through."

"Courage is breaking out of a comfort zone because you know it makes you stronger, and if you don't, the gravity of life WILL pull you down and keep you there. For life to be truly 'lived' there must be constant effort!"

"[name withheld] is how I would define courage. She's an amazing courageous woman that is kinda new to our church. She's going through so much in her life. Single mom, she's sick right now and not sure if she can work her job, she's been homeless, jobless, abused, abandoned and all the while she stands tall and continues to confess her love for Heavenly Father, his plan for her, and the Gospel.THAT'S COURAGE!!!"

"To me courage is to be strong to face any situation ."

"Courage is what changes our fears into faith, doubt into trust, discouragement to progress. It brings love into our lives. It helps us to conquer our troubles. The most important thing it can do for us is make us become the person we want to be."

One example of courage that I have seen, that is a little bit more close to home, is that of my Parents. To give some back story, imagine that it is a nice, beautiful, and snowy Christmas Eve and your Dad went out snowboarding with a friend earlier that morning. Then the phone call from the hospital comes saying that he had an accident, has been admitted to the hospital, and cannot feel his legs. Your Mother holds her peace exceptionally well, despite the reeling pain and sorrow destroying her bit by bit on the inside. Pain that would then move to you and the rest of the family challenging just about everything that you had come to know in your few (or many) years of life experience.

An award winning video that my little brother made about my Dad

Since that event that some may define as tragic, our family has seen many blessings. Some outright, but most in the form of trials. We've had our ups and downs, just like every other family. Some days were more rough than others, and many of the trials and tribulations that were made manifest then are still here. My Dad is still paralyzed, and I still have depression, but our capacities have been enlarged over the passage of time and the utilization of the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But I believe that the journey was made much better by the courage displayed by my parents as they led our family through the unknown paths of life. They could have easily given in to the stress and let depression consume their lives. They could have turned their focus inwards rather than focusing on my brothers and I. They could have done those things, but they took up courage and did not. It definitely was not the easiest path for them, but it was the best path for us, and I am grateful.

Consider with me, if you will, some of the last writings of Moroni, son of Mormon and last author in the Book of Mormon, for a moment:

"Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of 

Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; 

and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.

 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; 

and because of their hatred they put to death every 

Nephite that will not deny the Christ...."

Now many of us will not have to face such physical opposition of death by martyr like he did, but we can still learn much from Moroni's courageous exclamation,

"And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ;"

-Moroni 1:1-3 (Italics added)

Times get tough, and the things you stand for will be challenged. Those are two givens in life, but don't get discouraged! Don't get disheartened! Things will work out, and always remember:

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." 

-Joshua 1:9