Welcome.

Know someone who has disengaged from the church and said they feel so much more free, less guilty, and more happy? Ever talked to a member of another faith and realized how open their day to day schedule seemed to be compared with your church filled busy one? Have you been in an athletic competition and been outperformed by athletes who lived all manner of natural man commandments?

Elder Uchtdorf shared this story (I can relate to him when I was in the military myself!):

“I remember when I was preparing to be trained as a fighter pilot. We spent a great deal of our preliminary military training in physical exercise. I’m still not exactly sure why endless running was considered such an essential preparatory part of becoming a pilot. Nevertheless, we ran and we ran and we ran some more. As I was running I began to notice something that, frankly, troubled me. Time and again I was being passed by men who smoked, drank, and did all manner of things that were contrary to the gospel and, in particular, to the Word of Wisdom. I remember thinking, “Wait a minute! Aren’t I supposed to be able to run and not be weary?” But I was weary, and I was overtaken by people who were definitely not following the Word of Wisdom. I confess, it troubled me at the time. I asked myself, was the promise true or was it not?” (Uchtdorf, D., “Continue in Patience,” April 2010 General Conference)

Elder Uchtdorf confessed that his answer “didn’t come immediately,” but he readily acknowledged that years later, he was able to see both temporal and spiritual blessings. (Uchtdorf, D., “Continue in Patience,” April 2010 General Conference)

That’s because he stayed in the game.

The “long game” that is.

That’s how my friend termed it today in Gospel Doctrine. She said,

“We are playing the long game…

the way to happiness and deliverance.”

(comment by Heather Farrell)

In the long game, there are foul balls, strike outs, missed hits, too much time in the key, missed shots and layups, interceptions, and lots of other plays that might make one think the game is going the wrong way.

But there is also time for corrections, three pointers, free throws, homeruns, and sliding onto home plate.

The game isn’t over until it’s over, and when you are in the long game, a lost battle or two doesn’t always translate into loosing the total war.

Take General Washington for example.

Most agree that his tactical skills were less tuned and helpful than were his leadership skills. In fact, he lost more battles than we won, but in the end, he won the Revolutionary War.

And why was that?

The Son of the Republic to be formed, Washington was inspired by God and backed by him. He stayed in the long game, despite the battle losses, and in the end, God gave him victory!

And so it goes with us.

Keep your head in the long game.

For an eventual victory!

As my friend said, that’s where deliverance and happiness are. And “better than we can imagine” circumstances (that’s what the Spirit told me once in the temple, and I believe Him).

“I know for sure,” said Elder Uchtdorf, “that the promises of the Lord, if perhaps not always swift, are always certain.”

Unto all the world: And I know it, too!