For Latter-day Saints, the "Dancing" Is the Easy Part

Cecil Jenkins was one of my favorite high school teachers--easily distinguished from the rest of the faculty by his trademark crew cut, sport coat, and ever-present bow tie. Sure, other instructors could have taught the same principles of geometry that he did, but nobody could match his subtle humor, boyish grin, and those piercing blue eyes. Unlike most other classes, I looked forward to this one because he created such an enjoyable learning environment. On Friday, November 22, 1963, I was sitting in Mr. Jenkins' classroom when events in Dallas, Texas, rocked everyone's world. It was shortly after 10:30am, and the class routine was suddenly interrupted by Mr. Copper, Senior Math instructor from across the hall. He stepped into the room and said to Mr. Jenkins, "El Presidente (meaning John F. Kennedy) has been shot." Strange how our minds work when tragic or historic events occur. Not only do we recall precisely where we were at the time, but we retain a crystal clear recollection of the sights and sounds. That tragic event isn't the only memory I've retained from Mr. Jenkins' class. Surprisingly, I actually remember some basic geometry, such as: -- Parallel lines are like railroad tracks, always equidistant and never touching. -- Perpendicular lines are like those in a "+" sign, intersecting at a perfect 90-degree angle. -- And then there are the congruent lines. These are unique because, while there may be two or more of them, they have the same length, so when one is placed on top of the other, they are a perfect match. The word "congruent" doesn't just apply to geometry. It can also apply to human behavior. The dictionary says that a person has congruency when his behavior mirrors his beliefs. Many public figures have seen their careers flame out prematurely when their private behaviors were found to be shockingly incongruent with what they always claimed to be. This is why the media make such a big deal when a Latter-day Saint commits a crime; the criminal act is incongruent with the person's professed beliefs. The challenge of living a congruent life is faced by everyone, not just Latter-day Saints. Because worldly influences are so appealing--and even appetizing--we are constantly pressured to behave in ways that are in direct conflict with our moral principles. I once saw evidence of this in a Texas airport. Love Field in Dallas is the home base for Southwest Airlines. Many years ago, every Southwest gate in the airport offered free donuts, muffins, juice and coffee to all early-morning fliers. The gate area where I waited for my flight was almost empty, so it seemed strange when a woman chose to make a rather personal phone call while standing within six feet of me. As a result, I overheard every word as she called her doctor's office and confirmed the date and time of an upcoming surgery. Once the call was completed, she walked over to the free refreshments and helped herself to a large glazed donut. Now you may not see any incongruency in this, but I did. You see, I'd overheard the conversation in which she'd mentioned the specific nature of her upcoming surgery: a "stomach stapling" procedure, designed to help curb the appetite of people fighting obesity. The Lord gives members of His Church a remarkable gift to assist us when we’re tempted to make choices that are incongruent with our gospel commitments. When we're in tune with this gift of the Holy Ghost, we receive reminders—spiritual nudges—helping us remember the behaviors expected of those who've made sacred covenants with the Lord. But these nudges from the Holy Ghost don't come automatically. Church membership alone is no guarantee of personal revelation. Don't take my word for it. It was President Joseph Fielding Smith who said that while he couldn't prove it, it was his belief that most Latter-day Saints had never had a personal manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Never? Never? How could this be? I think the following story may help us understand why he held this belief. One day an old man came into the waiting room of a health clinic on an Indian reservation. Instead of signing in at the front desk like the others in the room had done, he just stood at the back. Noting that this man did not look at all well, the admitting nurse left the desk and approached him. She said he needed to register in order to be seen by a doctor. He made no reply, nor did he move toward the desk. Once more she suggested he follow the regular sign-in process, and once more he remained silent, not moving. The nurse then went into the back offices, found one of the doctors, and told him about the old man. Soon the doctor came out and invited the man to accompany him to an exam room. This time the man responded, following along behind the doctor but still saying nothing. Taking a seat across from the old man, the doctor said, "I can tell by your clothing that you are a medicine man, so I would like to ask you a question: Can you teach me to dance?" There was silence as the old man considered the doctor's request. And then he said, in a low voice: "I can teach you to dance . . . but I cannot teach you to hear the music." Now, if you go back and read President's Smith's statement again, this story may help you understand it. You see, for Latter-day Saints, there is "dancing" and then there's "hearing the music." The "dancing" part is when we attend our Church meetings and activities. In Mormon-speak this is commonly referred to as "being active." But, according to President Smith, far fewer members have learned to "hear the music"--to recognize and feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost, the whisperings of His still small voice, what Joseph Smith called "sudden flashes of inspiration." And just as the old medicine man said, the ability to “hear the music” of these spiritual promptings cannot be taught. It only comes when our thoughts, words, and actions are congruent with our covenants, congruent with the temple recommend standards, and congruent with the Savior's expectations. We can routinely "dance" day after day, week after week. But only when our lives are congruent with gospel principles will we qualify to "hear the music." slk 12/4/13