Stephen R. Covey and My Daily Private Victory

One year ago today, Stephen Covey passed away due to complications from injuries he suffered in an unfortunate biking accident. I am reminding you of him today because I have been reminded of him nearly every day since his death. The reason I have thought of him is because I have a file in my computer documents called “Daily Private Victory” which I see every day. “Daily Private Victory” is what Covey called his daily lifestyle practices of continually “sharpening the saw.” While Covey’s “daily private victory” included four dimensions: spiritual, physical, social/emotional, and mental, I chose to focus on the spiritual in my own personal daily private victory. During the past year, under each day’s date, I have logged the scriptures that I have read that day.

On 16 July 2012, when Covey died, I was about halfway through The Book of Mormon and I was also reading Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s talks.  Additionally, a footnote in one of Elder Maxwell’s talks had led me to the writings of Malcolm Muggeridge, including his Confessions of a 20^th Century Pilgrim, A Third Testament, and “The Christ-Centered Life,” which I was also in the process of reading in July 2012. At that time, however, my reading of the scriptures was not always consistently done on a daily basis. My purpose in deciding to keep this log was so that I would become more consistent in my daily reading of the scriptures.

So, each day I see the words: “Daily. Private. Victory.” Daily reminds me that I made a commitment to read the scriptures every day. Private reminds me that keeping my commitment has everything to do with my spiritual health and strength. Victory reminds me that the very real struggle is between my “natural man” and my spiritual nature. “Daily. Private. Victory.” And then I log in the readings of that day. I am happy to report that although I have not been perfect at it, I have indeed improved! In mid-December 2012, I finished reading the second half of The Book of Mormon. The next day, I began again. A few days ago, I yet again completed the cycle and began again.

I expect that there are those who would wrinkle up their noses at so many re-readings of The Book of Mormon. I may even have been one of those in the past. But, the counsel from more than one Prophet of the Church has been to read daily from The Book of Mormon. Obedience brings blessings. (Incidentally, for those who might be concerned about such things, I am also reading from The Doctrine and Covenants, and from the writings and talks of the General Authorities, among other things.)

Many thanks to Stephen R. Covey for his inspirational example and teachings. He is gone, but not forgotten.

David and Goliath 2012

 

As you may have previously surmised, I am not into rock music. Classical is more my style. So, prior to a few days ago, if someone had dropped the name Brandon Flowers while conversing with me, I would have been completely clueless.  Not so today. Although I’ve not listened to him sing, and I cannot name any of his hit songs, I will now call myself one of Brandon Flowers’ fans. Why?

While on a concert tour this summer, Brandon was being interviewed on a Norwegian TV show when the host asked him questions about his Mormon faith. After Brandon responded with positive remarks about prayer, the Church, etc. the host brought out another guest, the famous atheist Richard Dawkins. Dawkins, true to form, launched into an attack on Joseph Smith, whom he called a “charlatan,” and the Book of Mormon, which he called “an obvious fake.”

It was apparent that Brandon was surprised by this deliberate and cynically planned ambush. The goal of the show seemed to be: Let’s humiliate this Mormon guy -- and don't give him a real opportunity to respond.

So, after Dawkins spewed forth his huge disdain for the Mormon faith (looking directly at Brandon as he did so), Brandon responded: “The book's been studied and torn apart and looked at — and I am not one of the professors that have done it — but to call this man a charlatan, I take offense to it.” He also told Dawkins that he (Dawkins) “needed to do his research” (on the Church and the Book of Mormon). Dawkins huffed that he had done his research, “obviously.” 

Brandon, of course, was absolutely right. Real scholars who have actually done honest research on the Book of Mormon, undoubtedly would agree that there were tell-tale signs that Dawkins had done no true research. His argument against the Book of Mormon was a "straw man" argument that would earn Dawkins a C-minus in any college logic class. Dawkins, in fact, is himself the charlatan -- a person who pretends to have expert knowledge or skill that he does not have. He specializes in sound bites, and he has no real interest in the truth. Obviously!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8uEr69s5nQ&feature