Too Busy for God?

Feb 246 min read

Written by April T Giauque

Elder L Todd Budge General Conference Oct 2024

Busyness….distractions in doing much good…running the race of life. I’m guilty of all of these. Life and survival are what they are, but how much of that do I cause by my choices?

When I first heard this talk, I was in the 7th hour of listening to the 10 hours of the General Conference and trying to take notes for my friends. And as my hands flew across the phone screen, I stopped. I had to pause. I had a flashback moment to my mission, remembering how often investigators told us that “they were too busy” to hear about God. Suddenly, I listened to that same question in Elder Budge’s talk. It made me laugh that this question was in the talk.

President Nelson shared with other missionaries the following:

“I would ask if they were too busy to eat lunch that day and then teach them that they have both a body and a spirit, and just as their body will die if not nourished, so will their spirit if not nourished by the good word of God.”

With that, I stopped and knew that I would need to take different notes with this talk.

Even Christ Sought Time with Heavenly Father

Jesus Christ himself sought after His Father in quiet solitude time.

Even the Savior took time from His ministry to be still. The scriptures are replete with examples of the Lord retreating to a solitary place—a mountain, the wilderness, a desert place, or going “a little way off”—to pray to the Father.

If Jesus Christ sought quiet time to commune with God and to be strengthened by Him, it would be wise for us to do the same.

Isogashii mean Busy

Japanese characters for isogahii or "busy."

Elder Budge talked about his time in the Japanese word for “busy,” isogashii, which comprises a character with two symbols (忙). The symbol on the left means “heart” or “spirit,” and the one on the right means “death.” That pulled me up short. I thought, does he mean a heart attack or spiritual death?

Well, jump back to the beginning quote that President Nelson taught: being too busy to nourish our spirits can lead us to die spiritually. That is what Satan wants. Many of us have good moral character, so he will not tempt us with robbery or murder; however, many of us can just be too busy for God, and the result of never knowing Him is the same.

They that pursue you

So far, I was tracking with what he said, and then he hit me with this saying and a passage in Isaiah, that I missed! Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, The Lord provided these words of counsel to us in our day.

“In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.”

“But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.”

Elder Budge clarifies that even though our salvation depends on returning to Him often and resting from the world's cares, we do not. Why Not? Elder Budge shared that the Lord knew—in this fast-paced world full of distractions and commotion—that making quality time for Him would be one of the significant challenges of our day.

Busy with other things

“No, we are busy with other things”—fleeing upon our horses, so to speak. We are in pursuit of something else. Therefore, we will get further and further away from God; we will insist on going faster and faster, and the faster we go, the swifter Satan will follow in pursuit.

There is a very clear image that pops into my head when I think about that Scripture. It is from the movie “The Lord of the Rings,” where the Black Riders are pursuing Frodo and Arowen—that hand reaching out and nearly snagging them as they are on their horse fleeing from the Ring Wraiths or Black Riders. It’s terrifying and soul-catching!

Perhaps this is why President Nelson has repeatedly pled with us to make time for the Lord in our lives—“each and every day” so we stop running and start resting with the Lord. President Nelson reminds us that “quiet time is sacred time—time that will facilitate personal revelation and instill peace.” However, hearing the still voice of the being requires more than just making time for the Lord—it requires letting go of our doubtful and fearful thoughts and focusing our hearts and minds on Him.

Be Still with God

Elder Bednar said that being still doesn’t mean “not moving.” It means focus “upon the Savior unfailingly.” The Lord has counseled us: "You too must be still.”

“Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.”

Do I take the time to “be with the Lord?” I think I do as I am studying for these talks or as I help to prepare family scripture time, and that’s good, but I think I can improve my meditation time as well. President David O McKay said, “Meditation is one of the … most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.” There it is! The council is to take the time to meditate and be with the Lord.

Elder Budge then shares with us a Japanese word called “Mui.” It means “non-doing.” Don’t confuse this with not doing anything. It means to BE STILL! “To be still” has a higher meaning; it is a reminder to slow down and to live with greater spiritual awareness.

Mui

Elder Budge then shares a story about the time he was serving the church in Japan. He met Sister Wada and discovered that she was an accomplished Calligrapher. He asked her to paint the word “Mui” for him. She said no. Elder Bugde was confused. It seemed like a simple request.

Later, her husband explained that to paint any words, she must meditate, think, and ponder so that the brush strokes happen perfectly. Leder Budge was embarrassed and withdrew the request. However, months later, when he was leaving Japan, Sister Wada presented him with the “MUI” painting. He was humbled and surprised.

“It hangs on his wall to remind me to Be Still and Be with God.”

God Years and desires, but Will Never Force Us to Him

If you need to remember anything from this talk, it is this: God yearns for us to commune with Him. God desires our attention, but he will not force us to come to Him.

When Christ came to the Americas, he said these words as an invitation to all of His children: “How oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.”

Heavenly Father, President Nelson, and Elder Budge encourage us to “Be with God through daily prayers, scripture study, the sacrament ordinance, the Sabbath day, and temple worship. Be mindful! Savor Scripture—they are His Words! Be more aware of God when you set aside for Him.”

Remember the Sabbath, which means “rest,” we are to rest from other cares and sit quietly with the Lord to pay our devotions unto Him.

During our temple worship, what if we were to make a more disciplined effort to pay attention or lingered a little longer in the celestial room in quiet reflection? Commune with the Lord daily; He will help us know what is most needful.

Elder Budge then shared his testimony:

“I testify as we concentrate our hearts and minds on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost, we will have greater clarity about what is most needful, develop deeper compassion, and find rest and strength in Him.

I testify that as we return often to the Lord with full purpose of heart, we will, in quietness and confidence, come to know Him and feel His infinite covenantal love for us.”

And then he reminds us about the Lord's promise: