Don't Drop The Ball

     In October, 1994 President Gordon B. Hinckley, then First Councilor in the First Presidency, gave a conference talk titled "Don't Drop The Ball." He related a story from the 1912 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants. Here is the story, "The event of which I speak occurred in the World Series of 1912. It was an eight-game series because one of the games was called at midpoint because of darkness. Playing fields were not electrically lighted at that time. It was the last game and the score was tied 1-1. The Boston Red Sox were at bat, the New York Giants in the field. A Boston batter knocked a high-arching fly. Two New York players ran for it. Fred Snodgrass in center field signaled to his associate that he would take it. He came squarely under the ball, which fell into his glove. It went right through his hand and fell to the ground. A howl went up in the stands. The roaring fans couldn't believe it. Snodgrass had dropped the ball. He had caught hundreds of fly balls before. But now, at this crucial moment, he dropped the ball. The New York Giants lost. The Boston Red Sox won the series. Snodgrass came back the following season and played brilliant ball for nine more years. He lived to be eighty-six years of age, dying in 1974. But after that one slip, for sixty-two years when he was introduced to anybody, the expected response was, Oh, yes, you're the one who dropped the ball." 
   
     President Hinckley then explains that there are many situations in life where people "drop the ball". A successful student who thinks he is doing well enough, but stresses under the final exam and flunks out. The driver who has a flawless record until one moment of carelessness and is involved in a tragic accident. Or there is a trusted employee whose performance has been excellent, and then he steals a little from his employer. "A mark is placed upon him which never seems to entirely disappear."

     In the world we live in, people want to define others by their sins and not by their successes. At the same time, they want to sweep their own sins under the rug and put their best self forward. We are all guilty of this at some point in our lives. One common thing I've seen is the smell of smoke that lingers with a heavy smoker. It seems like wherever they go people are quick to give them dirty looks, talking about them behind their back after they pass by, etc. I'd like to offer this question, "what if your sins smelled as bad as theirs?" The point is, we are still commanded to love everybody. (this is the second great commandment)

     There is a great urgency to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Instead of looking for the blame in others, look inside yourself and ask God where He would have you get better. We are commanded to invite and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone who will listen, and this does not mean that we condemn others for their actions. We simply invite all to come unto Christ. We are all guilty of sin every single day, or in other words we "drop the ball". The great thing is that each time we drop the ball, we can be forgiven because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We depend on this promise for our very salvation, and we must invite others to partake of the same promise. My dad gave me this wise counsel last year, "treat others the same way that you depend of Jesus Christ to treat you."

     As a side-note: As I was listening to this talk again, I realized how much I loved President Hinckley. He was the first prophet that I remember listening to, and he was so full of love. I enjoy going to Gospel Library or lds.org and listening to past church leaders. It strengthens my testimony that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/10/don-t-drop-the-ball?lang=eng