I’m an interesting individual . . . okay, wait, let’s just say that I march to the beat of a different drummer. As I have grown older and have studied the gospel intently and followed the admonitions of Jesus Christ, prophets and apostles, I find that every aspect of life strikes a spiritual chord in me. I have wondered of late, if every conversation I am going to have for the remainder of my life will eventually take a spiritual bent? Then I read President Faust’s talk Voice of the Spirit and breathed a sigh of relief:
“I feel deeply my responsibility to teach sacred things. I am so aware that the world is changing and will be vastly different from the one I have known. Values have shifted. Basic decency and respect for good things are eroding. A moral blackness is settling in. In many ways our young people are the hope of the future, like valuable diamonds that shine better against a dark background.
“I turn to a scriptural text found in the Doctrine and Covenants: “Give ear to the voice of the living God.” The voice of the Spirit is available to all. The Lord said, “The Spirit enlighteneth every man [and every woman] . . . that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.” He further said that “every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.” Some people are seeking to find the abundant life. Paul made it clear that it is “the spirit [that] giveth life.” Indeed, the Savior said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (Ensign, June 2006)
So, yes, it’s okay for me to laugh and have fun with family and friends. I still enjoy taking the kids to the coolest pool I’ve ever seen, to the movies or a barbeque in the park. It’s all right that conversation inevitably turns to topics of the gospel with family, friends and acquaintances because everything that is on the face of this earth, including each individual, came from godly creation. So it would be silly if a beautiful sunrise didn’t evoke an awed thank you to my Heavenly Father. It’s all right that the tops of mountains bring to mind the sacred feelings found within the temples of the Lord. It does not make me a boring person that conversation eventually always turns to one of the things that absorbs me the most in my mortal existence, the gospel of Jesus Christ. So I’m going to keep marching to the beat of my drummer and not worry I’m becoming a bore. I figure that’s what friends and family are for, to tell us if we’re obsessing and I’ve yet to be told that I harp too much on the gospel, so my drummer and I are doing just fine.