We Must Never Again Let Our Freedoms Become 'Nonessential'

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Nothing like a global pandemic to get you thinking about what matters most. The forced physical isolation and disruption from the “daily drill” have created solitary moments of introspection and the opportunity to define what is truly essential in our lives.

I recently interviewed best-selling author Greg McKeown for my “Therefore, What?” podcast. His book “Essentialism” is a must-read for many reasons. When I asked him for some specific applications of the principles for living as an “essentialist,” he quickly flipped it into an intervention and used me and my current schedule as clinical material to make the point.

Greg gave me a series of things to consider so that I would be able to better function at my highest, most discerning, most impactful and most authentic self. (More on that next month, as I am in the middle of a 30-day essentialism challenge. I am learning that there is a lot of nonessential stuff cluttering my time and attention.)

In the midst of this quest for what is essential, I listened to an address by Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His keynote address was part of Brigham Young University’s three-day Religious Freedom Annual Review.

Elder Bednar is a master teacher who clears out the clutter so listeners can become learners and discover for themselves what is needful, mindful and essential. The title of his address struck me, “And When He Came to Himself,” taken from the Parable of the Prodigal Son in the New Testament. Hardly the title or approach you would expect for an address delivered for a law school on the topic of religious liberty.

In his masterful way, Elder Bednar presented an observation and then provided moments for the participants to discern the meaning on a multitude of levels.

The individual application, “coming to one’s self,” was understood quickly. The pandemic has provided many with a wake-up call to what is important and essential in their lives. Elder Bednar shared a tender conversation he once had with his aging apostolic associate, Elder Robert D. Hales.

Read the rest from Boyd Matheson HERE.

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