The Tyranny of the Unweighted Agenda

In a talk by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone that I mentioned yesterday he referred to the phrase “the tyranny of the unweighted agenda” (see here).  I haven’t found the phrase anywhere else, and he doesn’t quite explain it, but I think what he meant is that we should not view all activities on our agenda or to-do list as being equally weighted.  In other words, we have to be able to “put first things first” in our life as Stephen Covey would tell us (see here).  If we are not careful the less important things on our agenda can easily take so much of our time that we do not do that which is of the most value.  Elder Featherstone mentioned obedience, service, testimony, and love as examples of those things that should be high priority on our agenda.  But of course with the pressures of daily life it is hard in practice to always put those kinds of things first.   

                This scriptures speak of priorities in terms of focusing on those that which is eternal as opposed to those things that are only fleeting and temporary.  The Savior put it this way in the Sermon on the Mount: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt. 6:19-20).  The physical treasures that we obtain in this life will be left behind when we leave, but the eternal treasures obtained through diligence and obedience “will rise with us in the resurrection” (D&C 130:18).  If we spend all of our time trying to “lay up treasure for [ourselves]” then at some point the Lord will say to us, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:21) If we want to be “rich toward God” then we must seek after wisdom, the mysteries of God, and ultimately eternal life (see D&C 11:7).  Peter spoke of “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).  Paul wrote to the Hebrews and referred to those who allowed the “spoiling” or their earthy possessions because they knew “in [themselves] that [they] have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (Hebrews 10:34).  In the Book of Mormon, those who seek the ephemeral pleasures of the world are asked this piercing question, “Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?” (Mormon 8:38)

                Elder Perry related a story in general conference recently about a mother who was “frantically trying to finish bottling some fruit” after she had finally gotten the kids settled down for the evening.  He recounted, “As she began to peel and pit the fruit, two little boys appeared in the kitchen and announced that they were ready for their bedtime prayers.  Not wanting to be interrupted, the mother said very quickly to the boys, ‘Why don’t you just say your prayers alone tonight, and Mother will just keep working on the fruit?’ The older of the two sons firmly planted his feet and asked, ‘Which is the most important, prayers or fruit?’” (see here).  It’s a simple example but these are the kinds of choices that in reality face us in day to day lives.  If we do not properly weight our agenda, then we may find ourselves bottling perishable fruit and missing out on storing those experiences which will “rise with us in the resurrection.”