"Whatever!"
By Vickey Pahnke-Taylor

“Whatever!”  How many times have you heard (or said) that?  Sometimes in frustration, sometimes from a lack of caring, sometimes out of confusion, there seems no better word to say. 

But what if we thought of that word whatever in different terms? If we decided to bind ourselves to truth and God’s plan completely ― whatever life offers?  What if:

• We determined to do the right thing, whatever the consequences?
• We held on to hope, whatever came our way?
• We maintained out standards, regardless of whatever is thrown at us?
• We decided to hold fast to integrity, whatever our individual “testing program” offers us in the way of trials and adversity?
• We were to choose to always trust the Savior, regardless of life’s events?

Job held fast.  He declared that “though he slay me, yet shall I trust in Him.”  That is quite the picture of integrity and maintaining trust in the Lord.  When I compare and contrast Job’s ability to hold fast, I feel like I have fallen short on many occasions with whining or weariness over life’s difficulties.  I am grateful for examples from whom I can learn and whom I can keep trying to emulate! 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell shared these wise words regarding our succumbing to the devil’s tool of discouragement:  “Lucifer, who has no future … desperately desires to persuade men that they have no future either.  He desires ‘that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27).  Misery likes company ― especially ultimate misery!”  Hope, on the other hand, allows hope to ‘smile brightly before us’ (refer to hymn number 19 in the hymnal) regardless of the present circumstances … whatever happens.

Regarding choice ― our ability to determine that we will do the right thing, whatever ― I again to Elder Maxwell’s words: “Joshua didn’t say choose you next year whom you will serve; he spoke of 'this day,' while there is still daylight and before the darkness becomes more and more normal.”    This presents a clear picture of how our determinations, on a daily, continual basis, allow us clarity of thought and brightness of spirit, or a growing contentment with lesser light and cloudiness of mind and heart!

Although the Church sets standards in a number of ways, many personal choices of what we will or will not do are set by the individual.  The entire procedure of obedience to set standards is so that we may master ourselves, learning to set our own sights and standards high enough that the world cannot get the better of us.  It is the quiet, honest introspection that allows us to set our standards ― freely and with an open heart ― based upon our love for God and His higher ways.  It also allows us a great deal of freedom from the strangling danglings of a continually changing world where the only constant is that values keep going down!

Trust is a huge word.  It seems to hold so many words and thoughts within that one word, doesn’t it?  For some of us, there have been so many disappointments that we are afraid to trust anyone.  In so choosing, we lose the blessing of remaining open.  We may worry so much about things that never come to pass, having wasted a lot of time shamefully being negative when it was not necessary or wise.  We become confused about what is real and what is not.  If we, like Jacob, determine to put our trust in God, we can gain an understanding of “things as they really are.”  (Jacob 4:13.)  Even though the “world is like a jungle, with dangers that can harm or mutilate your body, enslave or destroy your mind, or decimate your mortality” (Elder Richard G. Scott), there is loving help available when we (as Elder Scott continued), “Trust in the Lord.  He knows what He is doing.  He already knows of your problems.  And He is waiting for you to ask for help.” 

There are times of joy and disappointment in all our lives.  There are moments of uncertainty and times of absolute assurance. That being said, there is more for us to learn, enjoy, savor, and celebrate when we determine to bind ourselves to the One we can trust, the One whose work and glory it is to bring us safely Home, the One whose love is perfect and whose acceptance is complete ― whatever.