Being Temperate in All Things

My thoughts on Elder Watson's talk "Being Temperate in All Things"

"In a spiritual sense, temperance is a divine attribute of Jesus Christ. He desires for each of us to develop this attribute. Learning to be temperate in all things is a spiritual gift available through the Holy Ghost."

This statement makes me think of the song, "I'm trying to be like Jesus."

"Being temperate is to use moderation in all things or to exercise self-control."

Nothing in excess is good--not even temple attendance. We need to make sure that we are living a balanced life. I believe that is why we have the line "wholesome family recreation" in the Proclamation to the World. (My kids love that line.) I often think of the Prophet Joseph Smith playing with the kids--pulling sticks, arm wrestling etc. when he had so much to do. We need to tend to the needful things when the needful things need to be attended to, but we also need to remember to recharge our batteries.

I know many people talk about the Mary and Martha story. I truly believe that Christ was trying to teach us that sometimes we need to stop the business and have instructions. And likewise we need to remember that each thing has a time and place in our life. Moderation in all things.

But what about "temperance"

"Tempered glass, like tempered steel, undergoes a well-controlled heating process which increases strength. Thus, when tempered glass is under stress, it will not easily break into jagged shards that can injure.

"Likewise, a temperate soul—one who is humble and full of love—is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today’s world."

I have been in a car when the glass breaks. It breaks in to millions of tiny pieces. Trying to put that together would take near on to three or four life-times. But it saved my life. In fact the little pieces kept me from severing vital arteries. Yes, it meant a ton of glass had to be picked out of my hair, clothes and even from my skin, but the damage would have been greater had it not be tempered. The windshield actually held together and therefore saved my life.

I wonder if I'm tempered? I wonder who badly I'll break? Am I able to bend with the trials and tribulation the Lord is giving me? I know I could do better as Elder Watson calls me to repent with this statement:

"When our hearts are stirred to anger by disputation and contention, the Savior taught that we should “repent, and become as a little child.” We should be reconciled with our brother and come to the Savior with full purpose of heart.

"When others are unkind, Jesus taught that “my kindness shall not depart from thee.”

"When we are confronted with affliction, He said: “Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile. Govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast.”

"When we are oppressed, we can be comforted in knowing “he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.”12 “Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.”

"When Jesus Christ, the greatest of all, suffered for us to the extent that He bled from every pore, He did not express anger or revile in suffering. With unsurpassed self-restraint, or temperance, His thoughts were not of Himself but of you and of me. And then, in humility and full of love, He said, “Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.”

Boy do I have a lot more to learn and teaching this to my children is so difficult.