What an Experience! - Sister Beck

SFL Alumni Honoree Guest Lecture: Julie B. Beck.

“What an Experience!” Given Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Brigham Young University

(These are my notes from the lecture.)

            Sister Julie Bangeter Beck gave a lecture for the School of Family Life. Her main topic covered her experiences at Brigham Young University, and she also talked about lessons she has learned. While her focus did not pertain to Human Development directly, I was provided with strength for my personal development.

            She related a story about her parents making goals when they got married. One of the goals was that they wanted all of their children to get a college degree. Her parents have ten children. All ten graduated at BYU. She said that we sometimes think that dreams will come magically out of everyday life and going through the motions. This goes back to Adam and Eve. They had expected life to be one way, and their transgression (or “life experience” Sister Beck said) gave them more. She referred to Moses 5:10-11. Our life experience may be more difficult than we anticipate, but we can look back with appreciation. She mentioned the commandment to “Be Fruitful”. “You don’t need a book to remember that.” We can be fruitful in all aspects of life.

Her journey at BYU was a bit non-traditional. Sister Beck attended Dixie College even after a High School counselor had advised her against college because she did not have the grades and was not smart enough. She graduated from Dixie. She and her husband relocated to BYU. After paying tuition, they had $3 left until they got to their next payday. By some miracle they made it. After a semester or two she stopped school so she could work to help them get by. She had a few children, and then, because of the help of family, specifically one sister, she was able to go back to finish. She even attended school with 5 of her siblings. He mother made them all a bologna sandwich every day, and she ate it regardless of her dislike of bologna. She took 18 credit hours per semester. She put her books away when she was home with her children. How she managed to take care of her family, act as Primary President, and pass all of her classes, I do not know. She talked of being able to organize well, and how she had better thinking and communication skills. She knew what a priority was better than some of her younger classmates.

This was the most inspiring part of her talk concerning my own development. I am a transfer, non-traditional student. I am married and have three young children. I am so blessed and so overwhelmed. I was not planning on returning to school until my youngest was, at least, in first grade, but I received a prompting. God got her through all of it. He will help me too.

She finished her lecture with the following life lessons.

Be Fruitful

            The world discourages fruitfulness. Multiply your family, talents, and abilities. We are here to have dominion and leadership.

Life is a battle against inertia

            Getting up is harder than getting going. Break down big projects into small bites. Her mother had them do “1, 2, 3, 4” every day. 1. Get up. Get on your knees. 2. Prayer. 3. Scriptures. 4. Get dressed (and make bed).

Try to be happy

            Pray to be happy and work at being happy now. Crisis+Time=Humor. Be of Good cheer. 

Life is a battle of Priorities

            It is essential, necessary, or nice to do. Do the essentials daily. Do service.

Mistakes are how we learn

            Mistakes are how we learn, so get started on mistakes! She was not provided a translator on a visit to another country. Had to speak Spanish asking “¿Cómo se dice...?” often. Life is mistakes and the atonement liberates us.

Give service

            There is nothing like serving to reveal weaknesses, humility, and to purify. Rely on the Lord.

There is always a way out of a problem

            Use at least two heads for every problem, and one of them should be the Lord’s. We all have more support than we think we have. 

Relationships that are worth it never go smoothly

            Families are a crucible. Investment in family takes time.

Our own vision of life is too limited without God

Seek, receive, and act on revelation. Holy Ghost + Atoning power=Amazing partnership. The Lord needs valiant servants.

 (Sister Beck had many family members attend including her mother, husband, siblings, children, and grandchildren. She answered a few questions following her lecture.)

Week 8- Begin to See

READING: 2 Nephi 25-33.

There is usually so much I could share from my assigned reading. It is amazing how even after multiple readings of the Book of Mormon that there are new insights and ideas. My understanding deepens even on chapters that I previously thought I understood.

This week the verse that won't let go of me is from 2 Nephi 30. In verse 5 it says that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is declared and knowledge is restored concerning the Gospel. Here is verse 6:  "And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people."

The footnote refers to the scales as Spiritual Darkness or Blindness. I thought on this for a while about how as we learn about the Gospel (and as we receive the truth) that we gain vision. I love that the word is 'scales' because that infers layers to me. We all have varying layers of spiritual blindness and varying steps that we need to take to acquire God's perspective, but it is ours to have when we chose it. We choose. We choose (sometimes unknowingly) which scales go up and we choose when they come down. It all depends upon our understanding, knowledge, and perspective. I once heard President Eyring speak at a Stake Conference (he was an Elder at the time) about perspective. He said something very close to this: Perspective is more important than reality, because perspective makes us do things, when reality could be the opposite. I think on this concept periodically so that I can try to gauge whether my perspective reflects reality. 

I hope that I can come to understand my own areas of blindness and gain God's perspective, then, as it states in verse 18 “Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more.” When all is revealed, and when we have pure and complete knowledge then we will see clearly and Satan will lose his hold on us. Oh, how I long for that day. Sin comes too easily. (See 2 Nephi 4: 15-35) This is why I need continual learning and understanding of what God’s will is for my life. The closer I come to God the easier it is to ignore the taunting of the devil. 

Week 7- The reward of their hands shall be upon them

The reading this week was included chapters 11-24 of 2nd Nephi. That covers so much and since there is no lack of Isaiah's writing, I felt that I was slow to understand.

In my Psychology class this week I had to write a paper about whether man, with all of his possible limitations and/or mental illness or damage to the brain, can truly overcome the "natural man." Do we have true agency? I wrote about the fact that while some men's understandings differ or are limited that ultimately we still have agency. It was an academic paper and therefore did not include my religious views on the matter. I think that God will judge us all fairly and he will take into consideration all that is happening to us physically, mentally, emotionally, chemically, and otherwise. We will not feel cheated by him, but we may feel cheated by our self.

In the reading there were multiple chapters about the wickedness of people and how God's hand is stretched forth against them. In 2 Nephi 13:13 it says "The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people." 2 Nephi 13:10 says, "Say unto the righteous that it is well with them; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings." The latter part of that statement can be applied to all. Whether we do good or evil we reward ourselves with blessings or punishment. We feed the good or the bad. In verse 11 of that same chapter is says "Wo unto the wicked, for they shall perish; for the reward of their hands shall be upon them."

We choose. God has provided a way. He beckons us to change. He welcomes us into his embrace when we prepare ourselves to do so. He gave us the Atonement through our brother Jesus Christ. Jesus suffered incomprehensibly. There is nothing that we can bring to Him that he cannot heal. No pain is too great. No mistake too grave. In 2 Nephi 15:4 the Lord asks, "What could have been done more?" He has already provided us with everything we need to succeed in returning to our family in heaven. We must learn to understand and learn to use the tools he has provided. When in doubt, pray. He will light the path. Our life is in our hands. Any reward can be ours. 

Week 6- Ask not amiss

This week there were multiple things that I loved learning about on my own and discussing in class. I am really enjoying the insights I receive both personally and from classmates or Brother Griffin.

We spoke about the atonement this week (mainly from 2 Nephi 9 and a few cross-references). My, how Christ suffered. His perfect love is incredible. This is a subject in which I believe that I will never completely understand, but for now, have my flawed-human understanding. As those truths are more deeply revealed over time I can continue to get closer to a more accurate vision of what the Savior has truly done.

This brings me back to 2 Nephi 4. Some call this chapter Nephi's Psalm wherein one can find a pattern to pulling one's self out of depressions or mistakes. He lists desires, personal weakness (plus, the heartache he feels from it), then he counts his blessings and sees the value of looking to God. Then, he does some reevaluating of his behavior. "Why should I yield to sin?" "Why should my heart weep?" and these questions evolve into the praise of God. Because of God he can change. Because of God he can rejoice and move forward. His conviction to act on his desires is clear. "Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord...." Pray. Pour your soul into the hands of God. He speaks of trusting God, and not man. He speaks of knowing that God will give him (and all men) anything that he asks for, if he "ask[s] not amiss."
If our desires are righteous, then God may provide a way for us to accomplish those desires. God is merciful and loving. He will provide. I have myself and my actions to consider. Do I ask amiss? Probably more than I realize, but I hope that I can consider this chapter and pull myself up to higher ground. I am just a woman who makes many mistakes, but I know there is a loving God. I know that I can get past any trial if I trust in Him.

I could quote so much from this chapter. If you are not familiar with it, then perhaps you could take the time to familiarize yourself with it. I think that most people can easily relate to Nephi's words. He is human. Flawed. He is acknowledging his faults and giving himself to God. We can be molded into great things if we strive to live the will of God.

Nephi tells us in verse 15 that he writes the things of his soul on this set of plates. We often keep the things of our souls to ourselves, or maybe we share with a select few. Nephi gives these thoughts and tender feelings to all of us. May we use them wisely.

Week 5- O that thou hadst hearkened

Have you ever had an amazing experience and wanted to share it with your family or someone you really care about? Nephi is having all sorts of miraculous experiences and each time he returns to his family to share and tell, and he is met with arguing, resistance, and stubborn hearts.

1 Ne. 20: 18 In my heart I hear Nephi's own desires for his family. "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments- then had thy peace be as a river..." Perhaps he felt a connection with this verse. He has already showed concern for those in Jerusalem, "I have workings in the spirit, which doth weary me even that all my joints are weak," 1 Ne. 19:20. Then in verse 23 says that he shares all that he has to persuade men to more fully believe in God. He mentions likening the scriptures to them.

Nephi loves his brothers. He expresses this multiple times in the Book of Mormon. "My soul is  rent with anguish because of you and my heart is pained." (1Ne. 17:47). I feel like he desires for them to understand the things that he understands, but they will not see.

There are people in my life who I desire to regain a relationship with God. There are people who I wish I could will them to change their lives. O how I wish I could help them see how to attain peace. In my own life, I know that as I keep commandments, listen to promptings, and continue in faith (even when you have a bad week and you dream of quitting) that I receive peace. I am so grateful for this.