Always Look Up, Brother Beau McCraney, November 20th, 2022
Last Wednesday (my birthday), I decided to be a good boy and go to the
temple. I didn’t make reservations, because I was instructed by my
Elders Quorum President that I didn’t need to make reservations, “Just
show up.” So this is all your fault President Barlow! As I drove to the
temple, I was feeling quite good about myself—being all righteous and
stuff. I arrived early hoping that they would fit me into any type of
temple service. As I walked to the entrance I noticed a friend—
Brother Clark (former member of our ward) dressed in all white. The
sun was shining brightly, and he was literally glowing! I saw other
temple workers/angels dressed in white exiting the temple as it was the
end of their shift. I anticipated that the rest of the temple experience
would be just as uplifting! I opened the doors and noticed two temple
workers at the front desk clothed in white taking recommends from a
couple that was ahead of me. Suddenly, one of the workers looked up
and past the couple he was helping and directly at me and declared,
“Hello Sinner!” I was completely taken aback! I didn’t know this man! I
had never seen him before in my life! I thought, “Should I be offended
by this?” “Should I call him out?” “Is it okay to fight in the temple?” “He
must know something about me that I don’t know about myself,” “Do I
need to confess something to the Bishop?” “Perhaps he was inspired to
shame and embarrass me.” “Maybe he thought he knew me and was
making a joke!” I finally concluded that maybe he didn’t say what I
thought he said. He took my recommend and I entered past the front
desk and deeper into the temple. The first thing I noticed was a picture
to the left of me of the Savior holding a little lamb which appeared to
have been lost but was found by the Savior. I thought, “That lamb
could be me.” I looked to the right, and saw the baptismal font and
thought, “That is where sinners go to be washed clean through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ.” I then concluded, “Who am I to expect to
be called anything other than a sinner?” This is my relationship with
the Savior. I am a sinner. This is why I am here! And He is my Savior,
and he is mighty to save me!
In the October 2011 General Conference, Elder Carl B. Cook spoke
about a life changing event that took place in his life stating,
“At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first
week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my
mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?”
I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church
Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was
down and I stared blankly at the floor.
The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the
door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down
there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.
I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.”
But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase.
He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is
better to look up!” As we traveled down one more level, he
cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he
bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now,
remember, it is better to look up.”
Two suggestions from a Prophet of God
1) “Look up!” and
2) “Get to
the temple!”
In the April 2017 General Conference, Elder Yoon Hwan Choi of the
Seventy stated, One day, a few months after my baptism, I heard some members
criticizing each other in church. I was very disappointed. I went home
and told my father that maybe I should not go to church anymore. It
was difficult to see members criticize others like that. After listening,
my father taught me that the gospel had been restored and it is
perfect but members are not yet, neither himself nor me. He firmly
said, “Do not lose your faith because of the people around you, but
build a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t look around, look
up!”
Look up to Jesus Christ—the wise advice of my father—strengthens
my faith whenever I face challenges in life. He taught me how to apply
the teachings of Christ, as in these words: “Look unto me in every
thought; doubt not, fear not.” 4
Don’t look around, look up!
In the October 2020 General Conference, Our Current Prophet Russel
M. Nelson spoke about his granddaughter-in-law stating,
“Not long ago, the wife of one of our grandsons was struggling
spiritually. I will call her “Jill.” Despite fasting, prayer, and priesthood
blessings, Jill’s father was dying. She was gripped with fear that she
would lose both her dad and her testimony.
Late one evening, my wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, told me of Jill’s
situation. The next morning Wendy felt impressed to share with Jill
that my response to her spiritual wrestle was one word! The word
was myopic.
Jill later admitted to Wendy that initially she was devastated by my
response. She said, “I was hoping for Grandfather to promise me a
miracle for my dad. I kept wondering why the word myopic was the
one he felt compelled to say.”