Christ said to his disciples:
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9:23-24)
It is interesting that it says "daily." Is Christ trying to say to follow Him daily?
Christ is always exhorting us to follow Him. Part of our journey in life is to become like Him. He shows us how. His command to "take up his cross" has some intriguing imagery. Christ carried His own cross, bearing his own weight and the weight of the sins of the world. Like Him, we need to carry our own cross. We each have our own cross, unique from that of Christ. Our cross is to keep the commandments, serve one another, take care of our families, follow the prophet, etc.
Christ had a certain distance to walk while carrying the cross. We also have a certain distance to carry our own cross. We need to follow Christ and walk every day in the right direction. It does no good to stand in one place, not progressing. Although it requires work, it is necessary to progress "daily."
Christ had help carrying his cross. He would walk fast enough so another man was compelled to carry it for him. We can also have help carrying our burdens. Again, this help comes through Christ. Because those who follow Him have a light burden, while his yoke is heavy.
Christ also lived his entire "daily" life for others and not for himself. He even died for others - His Father and for us. He warns us that if we save our own lives we will lose them, but if we lose our lives for His sake (serving Him and others) then we will save them. I imagine that the kind of life we lose after finding it would be a different kind of life than the one we would find if we lost it. The latter would be Eternal Life.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Getting to know Jesus Christ
Today we had a nice lesson in Relief Society about our Savior. We talked a little about how he is our foundation, our friend, the Savior and the one who makes the Atonement valid. We talked about how we can come closer to Him (scripture study, prayer, covenants, using the Atonement). I had a lot of things that I could have said but I found it more beneficial to listen to others. I learned a few things like the Sacrament is really the only ordinance that we get to enjoy together as a family. I also left church today with a real desire to study the Savior in my personal study so that I can get to know Him better. The index has pages about the Savior!! In the section "Jesus Christ, Atonement through," I found these verses:
"Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him - Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D&C 45:3-5)
I've obviously read this before because it was marked but it seemed like it was the first time I've read it. The image that came to my head was that God was a judge on a high wooden platform with a mallet, and Jesus was standing up for me and pleading my case while I stood in the background only a step in front of several people watching the judgment. The difference between this scene and a typical court case was the love that was radiating from God and Jesus for each other and for me. Jesus Christ was pleading with the Father with all his heart, as if I was his most important client. He looked back at me with hope and yearning in his eyes. The yearning was for me to trust in Him completely or His case wouldn't work. And at the same time Heavenly Father, of course, was listening to the words of Jesus, even though he already knew what he would say. Only this time it was about me. Heavenly Father looked at his Son with love and watery eyes because he knew that it was true that his Only Begotten Son had suffered a grief beyond any mortal imagination. And He had done this for me. The problem was that I had no string to God. I had a string in my hand and Jesus held the other end. It held it so well and so tight that it was as if it was glued to his hand. Jesus also had another string, but it was a brilliant and beautiful string. His Father held the other end of that string. Neither of them had to hold on to that string very tightly. It seemed to be a natural channel between the two of them. It was a perfect connection. In fact it seemed that if one of them walked out of the room that brilliant string would just stretch and grow around the doorway and continue to keep the channel between them as strong as if they were in the same room. Neither would have to give any more slack like you must do with the vacuum cleaner cord if you step too far away from the outlet. I held one more string. It was frayed and dirty from neglect and being dropped many times. God held the other end of that string. However, those two ends were no longer connected. Somewhere along the way the middle of this string was severed. It looked like it was burned in several places, actually, and was almost severed in a few different spots. But there was one burn that was especially severe, leaving the ends uneven, charcoaled and ashy. I remembered where those burns came from. Even more than painful - it was sorrow to remember. While Jesus had this seemingly perfect connection to God, my string was not even long enough to reach half way across the room. While Jesus was guiltless and at one with God, I came severely short to being worthy to be in his presence. And while I was so obviously distanced from Heavenly Father, Jesus was pleading for me. His love almost propelled me forward. And hearing his plea for me turned my regeretful tears into tears of hope. Soon not only I was crying, but Jesus and God as well. The love in the room was thick and almost tangible. If it were not for Jesus Christ, my Savior, I would have had no hope nor right to come before God my Heavenly Father. I looked behind me and saw that there were hundreds of thousands awaiting their judgment. Each of them held two strings in their hands. One string was also held by the Savior, but the other was dirty and frayed, burned and severed.
"Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him - Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D&C 45:3-5)
I've obviously read this before because it was marked but it seemed like it was the first time I've read it. The image that came to my head was that God was a judge on a high wooden platform with a mallet, and Jesus was standing up for me and pleading my case while I stood in the background only a step in front of several people watching the judgment. The difference between this scene and a typical court case was the love that was radiating from God and Jesus for each other and for me. Jesus Christ was pleading with the Father with all his heart, as if I was his most important client. He looked back at me with hope and yearning in his eyes. The yearning was for me to trust in Him completely or His case wouldn't work. And at the same time Heavenly Father, of course, was listening to the words of Jesus, even though he already knew what he would say. Only this time it was about me. Heavenly Father looked at his Son with love and watery eyes because he knew that it was true that his Only Begotten Son had suffered a grief beyond any mortal imagination. And He had done this for me. The problem was that I had no string to God. I had a string in my hand and Jesus held the other end. It held it so well and so tight that it was as if it was glued to his hand. Jesus also had another string, but it was a brilliant and beautiful string. His Father held the other end of that string. Neither of them had to hold on to that string very tightly. It seemed to be a natural channel between the two of them. It was a perfect connection. In fact it seemed that if one of them walked out of the room that brilliant string would just stretch and grow around the doorway and continue to keep the channel between them as strong as if they were in the same room. Neither would have to give any more slack like you must do with the vacuum cleaner cord if you step too far away from the outlet. I held one more string. It was frayed and dirty from neglect and being dropped many times. God held the other end of that string. However, those two ends were no longer connected. Somewhere along the way the middle of this string was severed. It looked like it was burned in several places, actually, and was almost severed in a few different spots. But there was one burn that was especially severe, leaving the ends uneven, charcoaled and ashy. I remembered where those burns came from. Even more than painful - it was sorrow to remember. While Jesus had this seemingly perfect connection to God, my string was not even long enough to reach half way across the room. While Jesus was guiltless and at one with God, I came severely short to being worthy to be in his presence. And while I was so obviously distanced from Heavenly Father, Jesus was pleading for me. His love almost propelled me forward. And hearing his plea for me turned my regeretful tears into tears of hope. Soon not only I was crying, but Jesus and God as well. The love in the room was thick and almost tangible. If it were not for Jesus Christ, my Savior, I would have had no hope nor right to come before God my Heavenly Father. I looked behind me and saw that there were hundreds of thousands awaiting their judgment. Each of them held two strings in their hands. One string was also held by the Savior, but the other was dirty and frayed, burned and severed.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Pleasing God
For Christmas we like to think of things that will make others happy. For everything that we have that makes us happy we should be thankful to God. What can we give God that makes Him happy? I've wondered about this. What could we possibly give to God? I love the idea that you can give your own will to him. It is the only thing that He won't take away from you. So give that to Him, and you have really given Him something.
I didn't know that "please/pleased/pleasing" was a topic in the Book of Mormon index until I stumbled across it. Here are some interesting verses that teach us how we can please God:
"... The things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world." (1 Nephi 6:5, 2 Nephi 5:32) What are the kinds of things that Nephi writes? He writes about the Plan of Salvation, the Atonement, repentance, and his own life experiences. I imagine that it would please God if we entertained these topics in our households as well.
"...Feelings... tender and chaste and delicate... pleasing unto God." (Jacob 2:7) It is really easy to "be tough." It is easy to be hard hearted and not appreciate the delicate things, like soft music, soft words, whispers, motherhood, kindness, and the still small voice of the Spirit. I thought it was interesting that tender and delicate feelings please the Lord. What a nice goal to have - to be more tender. It seems that when I try to keep my voice softer (conveying more tenderness) then it is easier to feel the Spirit.
"It pleased the Lord to bruise him." (Isaiah 53:10) This is a strange one. I've heard a lot of people talk about this chapter. Why would it please the God to bruise his Son? I think it has to do with the Atonement. While Christ was suffering for our sins, he was fulfilling God's purpose - Christ was completing the most important step to making eternal life possible for man. It was pleasing to God that all his children would be able to obtain eternal life. Obviously it was painful (not pleasing) to see his Son suffer, but there was joy in that great purpose being fulfilled. It was a little like watching my little baby girl get her vaccination shots. She was looking at me with her beautiful trusting eyes until she felt a pain in her thigh that made her scream and cry like she's hardly ever done in her little lifetime. I felt so sorry for her, and I wanted her pain to stop. I knew that there would be another shot in her other thigh, but I did not ask the nurse to stop. This was for the best. And although it brought tears to my eyes too, I let her burst with another cry for the second shot. It was so hard, but I knew it would be better for this suffering to happen to avoid a much greater suffering (if she got sick). I held her so close for the next 2 days remembering how much she had hurt in that moment. My poor little baby. So what does this teach us about pleasing the God? Repentance. The Atonement is pleasing unto God, and it is a joy for Him to see us USE the Atonement to better our lives.
"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (3 Nephi 11:7) Be like Christ. And someday God will say that about you.
"Without faith no man pleaseth God." (D7C 63:11) I suppose you wouldn't be trying to please God unless you had faith in Him... But is your faith strong enough? (How can you tell? Here's a way: Do you keep all the commandments? If not, you need greater faith. How? Go read Preach My Gospel, the chapter on Christlike Attributes)
"... With some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man..." (D&C 60:2) Spread the gospel. That's an amazingly great way to please the Lord. You can feel the Spirit right away when you share the gospel. And feeling the Spirit is a way you know that the Lord is pleased with you (Preach My Gospel). Don't fear man. Obey God.
I didn't know that "please/pleased/pleasing" was a topic in the Book of Mormon index until I stumbled across it. Here are some interesting verses that teach us how we can please God:
"... The things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world." (1 Nephi 6:5, 2 Nephi 5:32) What are the kinds of things that Nephi writes? He writes about the Plan of Salvation, the Atonement, repentance, and his own life experiences. I imagine that it would please God if we entertained these topics in our households as well.
"...Feelings... tender and chaste and delicate... pleasing unto God." (Jacob 2:7) It is really easy to "be tough." It is easy to be hard hearted and not appreciate the delicate things, like soft music, soft words, whispers, motherhood, kindness, and the still small voice of the Spirit. I thought it was interesting that tender and delicate feelings please the Lord. What a nice goal to have - to be more tender. It seems that when I try to keep my voice softer (conveying more tenderness) then it is easier to feel the Spirit.
"It pleased the Lord to bruise him." (Isaiah 53:10) This is a strange one. I've heard a lot of people talk about this chapter. Why would it please the God to bruise his Son? I think it has to do with the Atonement. While Christ was suffering for our sins, he was fulfilling God's purpose - Christ was completing the most important step to making eternal life possible for man. It was pleasing to God that all his children would be able to obtain eternal life. Obviously it was painful (not pleasing) to see his Son suffer, but there was joy in that great purpose being fulfilled. It was a little like watching my little baby girl get her vaccination shots. She was looking at me with her beautiful trusting eyes until she felt a pain in her thigh that made her scream and cry like she's hardly ever done in her little lifetime. I felt so sorry for her, and I wanted her pain to stop. I knew that there would be another shot in her other thigh, but I did not ask the nurse to stop. This was for the best. And although it brought tears to my eyes too, I let her burst with another cry for the second shot. It was so hard, but I knew it would be better for this suffering to happen to avoid a much greater suffering (if she got sick). I held her so close for the next 2 days remembering how much she had hurt in that moment. My poor little baby. So what does this teach us about pleasing the God? Repentance. The Atonement is pleasing unto God, and it is a joy for Him to see us USE the Atonement to better our lives.
"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (3 Nephi 11:7) Be like Christ. And someday God will say that about you.
"Without faith no man pleaseth God." (D7C 63:11) I suppose you wouldn't be trying to please God unless you had faith in Him... But is your faith strong enough? (How can you tell? Here's a way: Do you keep all the commandments? If not, you need greater faith. How? Go read Preach My Gospel, the chapter on Christlike Attributes)
"... With some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man..." (D&C 60:2) Spread the gospel. That's an amazingly great way to please the Lord. You can feel the Spirit right away when you share the gospel. And feeling the Spirit is a way you know that the Lord is pleased with you (Preach My Gospel). Don't fear man. Obey God.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
D&C 11 Mind Enlightened
This goes along very well with what I wrote yesterday.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy." (D&C 11:13)
I love how this teaches that the Spirit not only enlightens your mind, but fills your soul with joy.
Why do people keep the commandments? Isn't it easier to do things your own way and not worry about rules? One time in high school my English teacher asked the class this question. After just a few minutes the discussion lead to the conclusion that it was easier not to follow rules. Class was just about to be over and there was not time for me to put in my comment, but I sure did not agree! Even as a 17 year old, I knew that there was a satisfaction to doing what was right that made it worth it. This satisfaction is internal, a joy that you feel in your soul, when you know that you've chosen the right. Because the reward to obedience is often internal, it is not outwardly obvious why it is preferable to be obedient. But there is a darkness that comes when you do not obey. This is one affect that the Spirit has.
This is the opposite of what happens when we disobey God's commandments, as we learned in D&C 10.
What are the things that enlighten our minds? (D&C 11:12)
1. Put your trust in that Spirit - listen to and obey him! Believe in him
2. do good - be kind, serve, take care of your family
3. do justly - do your duty, be honest
4. walk humbly - remember gratitude, thank the Lord
5. judge righteously - keep your heart pure and hands clean
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy." (D&C 11:13)
I love how this teaches that the Spirit not only enlightens your mind, but fills your soul with joy.
Why do people keep the commandments? Isn't it easier to do things your own way and not worry about rules? One time in high school my English teacher asked the class this question. After just a few minutes the discussion lead to the conclusion that it was easier not to follow rules. Class was just about to be over and there was not time for me to put in my comment, but I sure did not agree! Even as a 17 year old, I knew that there was a satisfaction to doing what was right that made it worth it. This satisfaction is internal, a joy that you feel in your soul, when you know that you've chosen the right. Because the reward to obedience is often internal, it is not outwardly obvious why it is preferable to be obedient. But there is a darkness that comes when you do not obey. This is one affect that the Spirit has.
This is the opposite of what happens when we disobey God's commandments, as we learned in D&C 10.
What are the things that enlighten our minds? (D&C 11:12)
1. Put your trust in that Spirit - listen to and obey him! Believe in him
2. do good - be kind, serve, take care of your family
3. do justly - do your duty, be honest
4. walk humbly - remember gratitude, thank the Lord
5. judge righteously - keep your heart pure and hands clean
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Marriage
Why should marriage be between one man and one woman?
There is the history of Mormons being polygamists, but I'm going to leave that out of this. We are no longer polygamists, and those who are polygamists are not Mormon.
What is the difference if two people who love each other are of the same sex or opposite? Afterall, it is very difficult to help who you love.
The difference is procreation and God's plan for His children. The family is central to the Creator's plan. In the home among the family is where the gospel is best taught, lived, and learned. Having children is suppose to bring you joy - a taste of the joy that you will experience in exaltation, where you will have a far larger family. God created man and woman so that this would be possible. Entering into a relationship of partners with the same sex is denying oneself of one of the major stepping stones in God's plan.
Something that I didn't understand until I met my husband was how male and female compliment each other. Neither is complete without the other. Each has special attributes to contribute to the marriage and to the family. The lack or neglect of either sex would lead to a lack of crucial attributes in the home and family.
There is the history of Mormons being polygamists, but I'm going to leave that out of this. We are no longer polygamists, and those who are polygamists are not Mormon.
What is the difference if two people who love each other are of the same sex or opposite? Afterall, it is very difficult to help who you love.
The difference is procreation and God's plan for His children. The family is central to the Creator's plan. In the home among the family is where the gospel is best taught, lived, and learned. Having children is suppose to bring you joy - a taste of the joy that you will experience in exaltation, where you will have a far larger family. God created man and woman so that this would be possible. Entering into a relationship of partners with the same sex is denying oneself of one of the major stepping stones in God's plan.
Something that I didn't understand until I met my husband was how male and female compliment each other. Neither is complete without the other. Each has special attributes to contribute to the marriage and to the family. The lack or neglect of either sex would lead to a lack of crucial attributes in the home and family.
D&C 10 Mind Darkened
After Joseph Smith gave the manuscript of the Book of Mormon to Martin Harris, against the will of the Lord, the Lord told him, "And you also lost your gift at the same time, and your mind became darkened." (D&C 10:2)
When Joseph Smith did something that he knew was contrary to the will of the Lord. Then a terrible thing happened. This "darkening" is when the Spirit leaves you. This is when you do not feel the peace that comes from living righteously. You do not have the sense of well being or that lightness of heart. What a tragedy. I think that most of the time when this happens to people, it happens slowly.
What are the things that darken our minds? I think one of the worst things is watching sketchy movies. I choose not to watch rated R movies and many PG-13 movies because they darken my mind terribly. Another easy way to darken our minds is lying. It is too easy to do, yet immediately upon pondering the action, the light dims. The worst part about it is that you KNOW better than to lie or watch filthy movies. I think this defiance is what drives the Spirit away.
When Joseph Smith did something that he knew was contrary to the will of the Lord. Then a terrible thing happened. This "darkening" is when the Spirit leaves you. This is when you do not feel the peace that comes from living righteously. You do not have the sense of well being or that lightness of heart. What a tragedy. I think that most of the time when this happens to people, it happens slowly.
What are the things that darken our minds? I think one of the worst things is watching sketchy movies. I choose not to watch rated R movies and many PG-13 movies because they darken my mind terribly. Another easy way to darken our minds is lying. It is too easy to do, yet immediately upon pondering the action, the light dims. The worst part about it is that you KNOW better than to lie or watch filthy movies. I think this defiance is what drives the Spirit away.
Monday, November 3, 2008
A Special Gift
"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart." (D&C 8:2)
The Lord says this when he is explaining to Oliver Cowdery what his gifts are. And what a great gift this is!
Sometimes I have really important questions and I know that I can count on the Lord to answer my questions. Sometimes all I need is to feel peaceful about a decision (which is exactly what happens when the Holy Ghost comes upon you and dwells in your heart). Some of the really important questions I've had to ask were: "Should I go on a mission?" "Should I marry this man?" "When should we have a child?" It is very comforting to know that the Lord cares about these important subjects - he answered my prayers. The Holy Ghost comes and dwells in your heart, giving you a feeling that makes you breathe in deep and feel happy. It is a feeling that you are doing what is right, and you are headed in the right direction. It is a feeling that the Lord is happy with you. Funny enough, this feeling only comes when I am actively seeking it! I usually have to be up-to-date on my scripture reading especially, which seems to be the indicator of my spirituality level.
The Lord says this when he is explaining to Oliver Cowdery what his gifts are. And what a great gift this is!
Sometimes I have really important questions and I know that I can count on the Lord to answer my questions. Sometimes all I need is to feel peaceful about a decision (which is exactly what happens when the Holy Ghost comes upon you and dwells in your heart). Some of the really important questions I've had to ask were: "Should I go on a mission?" "Should I marry this man?" "When should we have a child?" It is very comforting to know that the Lord cares about these important subjects - he answered my prayers. The Holy Ghost comes and dwells in your heart, giving you a feeling that makes you breathe in deep and feel happy. It is a feeling that you are doing what is right, and you are headed in the right direction. It is a feeling that the Lord is happy with you. Funny enough, this feeling only comes when I am actively seeking it! I usually have to be up-to-date on my scripture reading especially, which seems to be the indicator of my spirituality level.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Posterity
My husband and I just had a baby. It is a strange new way to look at life. Immediately I felt a difference as we were driving home... the world is not such a safe place. I always felt secure enough and never felt threatened, but I feel this urge to protect her. Now when I drive with her in the back seat, I think about how I must drive extra safely because not only is my invincible self in the car, but also my daughter who I want to protect.
Someone once said, "It is annoying how people do not return their shopping carts. Why don't they just walk 20 feet and return it to it's spot?" Well I have an answer. I do not want to walk 20 feet away from the car to put the shopping cart away after I've already put my baby daughter in the car. I want to keep her within my reach always. She is too small to defend herself if someone else reaches in to grab her when I am 20 feet away, and I already walk slow enough that I would never be able to catch up to someone running away from me. So there.
I went to the temple today while our baby was with my husband. I thought about how the decisions and things that my husband and I do together and with our family are part of our earthly test. It has been hard to take care of my daughter who cries and demands attention often. But when I was in the temple I was reminded that caring for my daughter is one of the most important things that I will ever do. I also thought about how our daughter demands so much of us that my husband and I do not have just each other anymore. That makes me sad because my husband is my very best friend and nothing makes me happier than to be with him. However in the temple I remembered that my husband and I are working for a great goal - to be together forever. If we work hard now then I will gain the reward of being with my best friend forever. So I must work hard now and hope for that reward which we can gain through Jesus Christ and His gospel. I love the temple and how it puts things back into perspective for me. The world has a way of distorting my priorities.
Someone once said, "It is annoying how people do not return their shopping carts. Why don't they just walk 20 feet and return it to it's spot?" Well I have an answer. I do not want to walk 20 feet away from the car to put the shopping cart away after I've already put my baby daughter in the car. I want to keep her within my reach always. She is too small to defend herself if someone else reaches in to grab her when I am 20 feet away, and I already walk slow enough that I would never be able to catch up to someone running away from me. So there.
I went to the temple today while our baby was with my husband. I thought about how the decisions and things that my husband and I do together and with our family are part of our earthly test. It has been hard to take care of my daughter who cries and demands attention often. But when I was in the temple I was reminded that caring for my daughter is one of the most important things that I will ever do. I also thought about how our daughter demands so much of us that my husband and I do not have just each other anymore. That makes me sad because my husband is my very best friend and nothing makes me happier than to be with him. However in the temple I remembered that my husband and I are working for a great goal - to be together forever. If we work hard now then I will gain the reward of being with my best friend forever. So I must work hard now and hope for that reward which we can gain through Jesus Christ and His gospel. I love the temple and how it puts things back into perspective for me. The world has a way of distorting my priorities.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Moroni 4:3, 5:2 Sacrament Prayers
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee int he name of thy Son, Jesus Christ
(always ask in the name of the Son)
1. to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it;
(why?)
that they may
1. eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son,
2. and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to
1. take upon them the name of thy Son,
2. and always remember him,
3. and keep his commandments which he hath given them,
(blessing:)
that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
***
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of they Son, Jesus Christ,
1. to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it;
a. that they may eat in remembrance of the body of they Son,
b. and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are
1. willing to take upon them the name of thy Son,
2. and always remember him,
3. and keep his commandments which he hath given them,
that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
***
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ,
to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it,
that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them;
that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father,
that they do always remember him,
that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. (blessing)
(always ask in the name of the Son)
1. to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it;
(why?)
that they may
1. eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son,
2. and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to
1. take upon them the name of thy Son,
2. and always remember him,
3. and keep his commandments which he hath given them,
(blessing:)
that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
***
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of they Son, Jesus Christ,
1. to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it;
a. that they may eat in remembrance of the body of they Son,
b. and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are
1. willing to take upon them the name of thy Son,
2. and always remember him,
3. and keep his commandments which he hath given them,
that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
***
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ,
to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it,
that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them;
that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father,
that they do always remember him,
that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. (blessing)
Moroni 2 Priesthood Leaders Meeting
The Lord does not do things in secret. But then why is the Priesthood session not recorded? Why are bishopric meetings kept private? Why are temple covenants kept private?
Because they are sacred and do not need to be discussed among those who may not understand the sacred nature of the topic.
Why were these words to the disciples kept from the Nephites? The Nephites alive at the time were righteous since the most wicked people were destroyed before Christ's appearance.
Even righteous people may not be completely prepared to hear extremely sacred things. For example, a convert of 6 months can be a very strong and faithful member. However he still needs to be nourished and strengthened in his testimony before he can enter the temple to make sacred covenants after a year. There are even members that have been attending church their whole lives, but do not have the valiant steadfast testimony needed to comprehend or appreciate some sacred things. Meanwhile the weaker in testimony have plenty of resources and means to grow spiritually and they will eventually come to know the mysteries of God, just like any other persistent student of the gospel.
Because they are sacred and do not need to be discussed among those who may not understand the sacred nature of the topic.
Why were these words to the disciples kept from the Nephites? The Nephites alive at the time were righteous since the most wicked people were destroyed before Christ's appearance.
Even righteous people may not be completely prepared to hear extremely sacred things. For example, a convert of 6 months can be a very strong and faithful member. However he still needs to be nourished and strengthened in his testimony before he can enter the temple to make sacred covenants after a year. There are even members that have been attending church their whole lives, but do not have the valiant steadfast testimony needed to comprehend or appreciate some sacred things. Meanwhile the weaker in testimony have plenty of resources and means to grow spiritually and they will eventually come to know the mysteries of God, just like any other persistent student of the gospel.
Moroni 1: An unexpected twist
Moroni explains to us that he had a certain expectation, but that things turned out another way: "Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished... Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord." (Moroni 1:1,4)
The Lord has a plan for each of us. It is funny how life doesn't always turn out the way we plan it to. In relief society on Sunday we talked about how "If it isn't all right, it isn't the end." We may even think that we know what the Lord wants. For example, Moroni had worked hard on the record and probably felt content about it being finished. But later I imagine that he probably had some kind of stirring inside of him that told him that he wasn't done.
This has happened to me, too. The summer before coming to college I planned on majoring in music. However just before arriving I changed my major, and it felt very good. I felt much more content and it just felt right. I didn't plan on changing again. However a few years into that major I started feeling not sure about it. I started to pray telling the Lord my plan, and if that plan was not the best plan, I prayed that he would let me know. A few months later another route was placed before me. It was an exciting change, and once again I felt lighter and happier and very content with my new major. The Lord had a great plan prepared for me. I just needed to be flexible and trust in Him.
This also brings up another point. Even if we feel that we know the Lord's will for us at a certain time, we need to be flexible and continue to pray for guidance. Perhaps it is important to take a detour to our life plan to gain experience, and the Lord will direct us as we trust in Him. It turns out that when I changed my major I had to take a couple of classes which I thought were unnecessary. However, in one of those classes I grew close to my future husband. Now I have graduated in a major that is very exciting to me, and I am married to the very most wonderful man I have ever known. Having to take a couple extra classes was a small price to pay.
The Lord has a plan for each of us. It is funny how life doesn't always turn out the way we plan it to. In relief society on Sunday we talked about how "If it isn't all right, it isn't the end." We may even think that we know what the Lord wants. For example, Moroni had worked hard on the record and probably felt content about it being finished. But later I imagine that he probably had some kind of stirring inside of him that told him that he wasn't done.
This has happened to me, too. The summer before coming to college I planned on majoring in music. However just before arriving I changed my major, and it felt very good. I felt much more content and it just felt right. I didn't plan on changing again. However a few years into that major I started feeling not sure about it. I started to pray telling the Lord my plan, and if that plan was not the best plan, I prayed that he would let me know. A few months later another route was placed before me. It was an exciting change, and once again I felt lighter and happier and very content with my new major. The Lord had a great plan prepared for me. I just needed to be flexible and trust in Him.
This also brings up another point. Even if we feel that we know the Lord's will for us at a certain time, we need to be flexible and continue to pray for guidance. Perhaps it is important to take a detour to our life plan to gain experience, and the Lord will direct us as we trust in Him. It turns out that when I changed my major I had to take a couple of classes which I thought were unnecessary. However, in one of those classes I grew close to my future husband. Now I have graduated in a major that is very exciting to me, and I am married to the very most wonderful man I have ever known. Having to take a couple extra classes was a small price to pay.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Ether 15:34 It Mattereth Not
Ether was alone at this point. Millions of people had died, leaving a stench of death all around the land. What was going to happen to him? Hopefully he knew how to find his own food and live by the land with only his own strength. Some lonely and difficult times were ahead of him.
Yet Ether made an interesting statement - that it did not matter what happens to him after this point. What mattered is if he were saved in the kingdom of God.
The same is true for all of us. There can be extreme trials and period of loneliness for all of us, but what really matters is if we live worthily to obtain Eternal Life. Whatever tribulations come our way, the important thing is to stay on the pathway that leads to our eternal destination. Nothing in mortality is more important.
Yet Ether made an interesting statement - that it did not matter what happens to him after this point. What mattered is if he were saved in the kingdom of God.
The same is true for all of us. There can be extreme trials and period of loneliness for all of us, but what really matters is if we live worthily to obtain Eternal Life. Whatever tribulations come our way, the important thing is to stay on the pathway that leads to our eternal destination. Nothing in mortality is more important.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Ether 11:13 "The prophets mourned and withdrew"
We learn that the Spirit will withdraw himself from anyone who refuses to listen to his promptings or offends him. The prophets (and missionaries in our day) can likewise only do so much to try to bring a people to repentance. If the people are stubborn or have hardened their hearts, then the prophets will simply have to move on. Of course this would be very difficult because they would feel Godly love for the people and understand the grievous mistake that the people are making.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Children of God
Why is it a big deal that we are children of God? This is something that we have learned at church since we were small. "I am a Child of God" is one of the first songs you learn as a child or convert. But what about it? Why is it so important? I don't get to physically see Him or hear His voice like an earthly father.
After talking with a few sisters in my ward, these are few ideas that can help us appreciate our divine heritage:
1. Since we are children of God, we also have the potential to become like Him. Because our Father in Heaven has eternal life and glory, we can inherit that since we are His children. He has perfect attributes such as charity, omniscience and omnipotence. Those are things that we can develop and will eventually achieve by His grace.
2. Eternal Life is a giant goal. It means perfection and glory without bound. How will I ever achieve that? Because God loves me as His daughter, He will help me. He wants me to achieve eternal life - that is why He sent His Son! With His loving help I can do anything.
3. My life is not perfect. I make mistakes all the time, and it makes me frustrated and sad. Yet because I am a daughter of God, I know that eventually I will be able to be perfect like Him. I must keep striving to do my best and learn from my mistakes.
4. Sometimes life is crazy, unpredictable or painful. But I know that God is in control. He has a master plan, and even though my life seems like havoc, the truth is that God has it all worked out. Everything will turn out alright, no matter what happens before then.
After talking with a few sisters in my ward, these are few ideas that can help us appreciate our divine heritage:
1. Since we are children of God, we also have the potential to become like Him. Because our Father in Heaven has eternal life and glory, we can inherit that since we are His children. He has perfect attributes such as charity, omniscience and omnipotence. Those are things that we can develop and will eventually achieve by His grace.
2. Eternal Life is a giant goal. It means perfection and glory without bound. How will I ever achieve that? Because God loves me as His daughter, He will help me. He wants me to achieve eternal life - that is why He sent His Son! With His loving help I can do anything.
3. My life is not perfect. I make mistakes all the time, and it makes me frustrated and sad. Yet because I am a daughter of God, I know that eventually I will be able to be perfect like Him. I must keep striving to do my best and learn from my mistakes.
4. Sometimes life is crazy, unpredictable or painful. But I know that God is in control. He has a master plan, and even though my life seems like havoc, the truth is that God has it all worked out. Everything will turn out alright, no matter what happens before then.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Ether 4 Believe in the Book of Mormon
This is a beautiful chapter that can be used in the context of introducing the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is sometimes criticized because it is not a part of the Bible, but rather a separate book of scripture. Some people believe that there is no other scripture necessary besides the Bible. I completely disagree. In fact, in this chapter it seems that the Lord is talking to those very people.
Be your own judge
The Lord says, "And he that believeth not my words believeth not my disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day." (verse 10) This is one of many times that the Lord invites you to judge for yourself. It is important that you judge correctly - is the Book of Mormon true scripture written by prophets or is it not? The prophet Mormon teaches us in the Book of Mormon that you will be judged by this book. (See Words of Mormon verse 11) Do you believe it or not? I do, so I will strive to live as it teaches me to live (ie: have faith in Christ and always follow His commandments, which can be found in the Book of Mormon and other scripture) What about you? Try reading the Book of Mormon and praying to God to know if really this is a true book. Because if it is, it is crucial for you that you start living according to the teachings found therein. Be your own judge - it is your right as a son or daughter of God
So what if the Book of Mormon is true?
There are so many blessings that come from knowing that the Book of Mormon is true scripture. It means that Jesus Christ is really your Redeemer and that God loves you. It means that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, because it was through him that God gave us this book. It means that there really is only ONE path to Eternal Life, and part of that path is being baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
There are more beautiful blessings that await the believing heart and the studious pupil. You have judged and accepted the word of the Lord. Here are some blessings that await you as you continue to read and study the Book of Mormon and other scripture:
1. "But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. for because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good." (verse 11) You will do good!
2. "... I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief." (verse 13) One of my favorite things about studying the scriptures is the additional insight I receive every time I study. Once you start to believe in the Book of Mormon, you will start learning great things at church that you've never heard anywhere else on earth.
3. "...it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief." (verse 14) You will understand more about this life, before this life, and what will happen after this life (the great things the Lord hath laid up for you). These are things that are explained in the Book of Mormon, other scriptures, and by modern Church leaders. We learn about this Plan of Salvation in detail at church regularly.
4. "...Ye shall know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel." (verse 15) Do you know what covenants your fathers have made? Read the Book of Mormon and slowly you will start learning.
5. "And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of allt he people." (verse 16) You know that book of Revelation in the Bible? Sometimes difficult to understand? Don't worry - the Book of Mormon and teachings of the Church will enlighten you and help you understand that Revelation is a pure and simple prophecy of our day and days to come. This is not the only time that John's words are mentioned in the Book of Mormon. This is an example of how the Book of Mormon testifies of the Bible and that the teachings found therein are TRUE! There are many other examples.
6. "Therefore, when ye shall reveive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land." (verse 17) Once you realize that the Book of Mormon is true, you will start to learn at church about the glorious and marvelous things that have been happening since Joseph Smith's time. We are in the last dispensation and the true and everlasting gospel is being preached to all the ends of the earth. You are only one of millions to recently become a part of the Lord's one and only true Church. You have the priviledge of hearing a living prophet - a man with the same authority that Moses, Abraham, and Jacob had while on the earth.
7. "...Signs shall follow him that believe in my name." (verse 18) I promise that you will see miracles. Trust in the Book of Mormon and live according to it's teachings. It will change your life. It has changed my life! President Gordon B. Hinckley, the late Prophet promised, "Those who read the Book of Mormon will be blessed with an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a greater resolve to obey His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God. " It is true. I've seen it change other people's lives, too, and I cannot doubt the power of it's teachings.
Be your own judge
The Lord says, "And he that believeth not my words believeth not my disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day." (verse 10) This is one of many times that the Lord invites you to judge for yourself. It is important that you judge correctly - is the Book of Mormon true scripture written by prophets or is it not? The prophet Mormon teaches us in the Book of Mormon that you will be judged by this book. (See Words of Mormon verse 11) Do you believe it or not? I do, so I will strive to live as it teaches me to live (ie: have faith in Christ and always follow His commandments, which can be found in the Book of Mormon and other scripture) What about you? Try reading the Book of Mormon and praying to God to know if really this is a true book. Because if it is, it is crucial for you that you start living according to the teachings found therein. Be your own judge - it is your right as a son or daughter of God
So what if the Book of Mormon is true?
There are so many blessings that come from knowing that the Book of Mormon is true scripture. It means that Jesus Christ is really your Redeemer and that God loves you. It means that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, because it was through him that God gave us this book. It means that there really is only ONE path to Eternal Life, and part of that path is being baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
There are more beautiful blessings that await the believing heart and the studious pupil. You have judged and accepted the word of the Lord. Here are some blessings that await you as you continue to read and study the Book of Mormon and other scripture:
1. "But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. for because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good." (verse 11) You will do good!
2. "... I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief." (verse 13) One of my favorite things about studying the scriptures is the additional insight I receive every time I study. Once you start to believe in the Book of Mormon, you will start learning great things at church that you've never heard anywhere else on earth.
3. "...it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief." (verse 14) You will understand more about this life, before this life, and what will happen after this life (the great things the Lord hath laid up for you). These are things that are explained in the Book of Mormon, other scriptures, and by modern Church leaders. We learn about this Plan of Salvation in detail at church regularly.
4. "...Ye shall know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel." (verse 15) Do you know what covenants your fathers have made? Read the Book of Mormon and slowly you will start learning.
5. "And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of allt he people." (verse 16) You know that book of Revelation in the Bible? Sometimes difficult to understand? Don't worry - the Book of Mormon and teachings of the Church will enlighten you and help you understand that Revelation is a pure and simple prophecy of our day and days to come. This is not the only time that John's words are mentioned in the Book of Mormon. This is an example of how the Book of Mormon testifies of the Bible and that the teachings found therein are TRUE! There are many other examples.
6. "Therefore, when ye shall reveive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land." (verse 17) Once you realize that the Book of Mormon is true, you will start to learn at church about the glorious and marvelous things that have been happening since Joseph Smith's time. We are in the last dispensation and the true and everlasting gospel is being preached to all the ends of the earth. You are only one of millions to recently become a part of the Lord's one and only true Church. You have the priviledge of hearing a living prophet - a man with the same authority that Moses, Abraham, and Jacob had while on the earth.
7. "...Signs shall follow him that believe in my name." (verse 18) I promise that you will see miracles. Trust in the Book of Mormon and live according to it's teachings. It will change your life. It has changed my life! President Gordon B. Hinckley, the late Prophet promised, "Those who read the Book of Mormon will be blessed with an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a greater resolve to obey His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God. " It is true. I've seen it change other people's lives, too, and I cannot doubt the power of it's teachings.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Ether 3:8,15 We are Created in the Image of God
The brother of Jared was shocked when he saw the finger of the Lord. He exclaimed, "I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood." Why was this such a shock? He was after all, a man that had had many many conversations with the Lord up until this time.
One of the very most precious doctrines that is misunderstood by many religions is that Jesus Christ has a resurrected body, and that we are like Him in our image. Our Spirits look like His spirit, and His Spirit looks like His body, and thus our bodies look like His body.
There are few doctrinal points that this encounter supports:
1. The body is a gift from God and it is precious.
2. Just like a child looks like his parents, we look like our Heavenly Father.
3. We will be resurrected and have a body like Him.
It is interesting that the Lord commands the brother of Jared not to reveal this important doctrine, but to write it down in a confounded language (verse 22). If the brother of Jared, a super righteous man, was so shocked by the fact that the Lord looks like a man and will have flesh and blood, how would others (perhaps not so righteous) have reacted?
One of the very most precious doctrines that is misunderstood by many religions is that Jesus Christ has a resurrected body, and that we are like Him in our image. Our Spirits look like His spirit, and His Spirit looks like His body, and thus our bodies look like His body.
There are few doctrinal points that this encounter supports:
1. The body is a gift from God and it is precious.
2. Just like a child looks like his parents, we look like our Heavenly Father.
3. We will be resurrected and have a body like Him.
It is interesting that the Lord commands the brother of Jared not to reveal this important doctrine, but to write it down in a confounded language (verse 22). If the brother of Jared, a super righteous man, was so shocked by the fact that the Lord looks like a man and will have flesh and blood, how would others (perhaps not so righteous) have reacted?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Ether 2:16-18 According to the Instructions of the Lord
How do you build a barge?
If the Lord commanded me to go and build a barge that my family would have to survive in, how would I build it? I've never built a boat before, so I would go and find the best boat-building instructions around. I would look up the very best techniques and use the very best materials available. Price would not be a matter - because we are talking about the safety of my family!
Perhaps somebody came to me and said, "nope... do it this way instead," referring to a way that I'd never seen before. I would definitely be hesitant to be experimenting with the safety of my family.
Yet that is what happened to the brother of Jared. Had he ever built a barge before? I don't know. He had to trust the Lord and build the barges "according to the instructions of the Lord."
In essence we are building barges for our families! The homes we live in are the vessels that will bring our families back to live with Heavenly Father. How should we build our homes? There are many philosophies that you learn about on TV and read in books. Some are "proven by studies" or are easier implement than others. But the truth is that the way we build our homes affects the eternal safety of our families. There is no better instruction manual than the gospel. The scriptures and words of Church leaders along with the guidance of the Spirit are the materials we can use to build and make the foundation for our home. I'm sure that the Lord directed the brother of Jared to use boat-building methods that he'd never seen before. The Lord has also shown us ways to build our homes that are unheard of by the world. For example, the Lord directs mothers to be the primary care-givers to their children. This is preposterous to feminists and career-driven societies.
The Lord knows best the storms that lie ahead
The Lord tells the brother of Jared "ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you..." (Ether 2:24) The Lord knew what storms they would be facing. The brother of Jared did not. For this reason it was essential that the brother of Jared follow the Lord's instructions in everything! The Lord promised, "I will prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come." (Ether 2:25)
Even though they are not the customary nor accepted ways that the world works, I will use the Lord's methods to build our home and raise our family. Why? Because the Lord knows better what kind of storms lay ahead for us. He knows better than anyone how to achieve Eternal Life. Since that is my goal for myself and my family, I will follow His instructions.
If the Lord commanded me to go and build a barge that my family would have to survive in, how would I build it? I've never built a boat before, so I would go and find the best boat-building instructions around. I would look up the very best techniques and use the very best materials available. Price would not be a matter - because we are talking about the safety of my family!
Perhaps somebody came to me and said, "nope... do it this way instead," referring to a way that I'd never seen before. I would definitely be hesitant to be experimenting with the safety of my family.
Yet that is what happened to the brother of Jared. Had he ever built a barge before? I don't know. He had to trust the Lord and build the barges "according to the instructions of the Lord."
In essence we are building barges for our families! The homes we live in are the vessels that will bring our families back to live with Heavenly Father. How should we build our homes? There are many philosophies that you learn about on TV and read in books. Some are "proven by studies" or are easier implement than others. But the truth is that the way we build our homes affects the eternal safety of our families. There is no better instruction manual than the gospel. The scriptures and words of Church leaders along with the guidance of the Spirit are the materials we can use to build and make the foundation for our home. I'm sure that the Lord directed the brother of Jared to use boat-building methods that he'd never seen before. The Lord has also shown us ways to build our homes that are unheard of by the world. For example, the Lord directs mothers to be the primary care-givers to their children. This is preposterous to feminists and career-driven societies.
The Lord knows best the storms that lie ahead
The Lord tells the brother of Jared "ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you..." (Ether 2:24) The Lord knew what storms they would be facing. The brother of Jared did not. For this reason it was essential that the brother of Jared follow the Lord's instructions in everything! The Lord promised, "I will prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come." (Ether 2:25)
Even though they are not the customary nor accepted ways that the world works, I will use the Lord's methods to build our home and raise our family. Why? Because the Lord knows better what kind of storms lay ahead for us. He knows better than anyone how to achieve Eternal Life. Since that is my goal for myself and my family, I will follow His instructions.
Ether 2 Questions
1. Do I have any friends that I trust so much that I would uproot my family if they said I needed to? (Ether 1: 41, 2:1)
The friends and family of Jared and his brother left their homes following the revelation received by the brother of Jared. Perhaps these friends knew that Jared and his brother were men of revelation. If the Prophet told us that we needed to move (or do anything else) then I would believe him and we would go and do as he tells us to. This brings up another point. Perhaps the term "friends" meant those that were also God fearing people, and knew Jared and his brother through their faith. On the same lines, would that make us "friends" to the Prophet?
2. Why did the Lord make him ask twice?
In Ether 2:19 the brother of Jared asks about how to light the barges, and how to breathe in the barges. The Lord answers one of the two questions, but the brother of Jared must come back second time to ask again, "wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?" (Ether 2:22)
It is interesting that his second prayer included the phrase "I have done even as thou hast commanded me..." referring to his obedience to the answer to his first prayer. Was the brother of Jared being tested in obedience? Sometimes we to pray more than once to receive an answer.
3. Why did the Lord have the brother of Jared find his own solution to darkness?
The Lord answered quite clearly what he should do to allow for him and his family to breathe. (Ether 2:20) But he did not give a clear answer on how to have light in the barges. He returns the question back to the brother of Jared. "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" (Ether 2:23) Why? Perhaps the Lord knew that the brother of Jared was capable of thinking of a way.
4. Why didn't the Lord explain about the holes to breathe before or while the barges were being built?
Maybe it was necessary for the holes to be built afterward for stronger barges.
Maybe the Lord just left it for the brother of Jared to find the problem himself and inquire about it. The Lord leaves us puzzles all the time that we need to solve for ourselves, of course with the option to go to the Lord for help.
5. What would you have done to light your barges?
The Lord eliminates some choices for the brother of Jared. "ye cannot have windows... ye shall not go by the light of fire." (Ether 2:23) The Lord makes it clear in verse 25 that it was true that he needed light. I imagine those would have been the two methods that the brother of Jared would have thought of himself. He did not know about light bulbs or clappers. Somehow he came up with the idea of using stones (Ether 3). What sparked that idea? What would you have done to light your barges? Remember the Lord said, "...what will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" (Ether 2:23) So the Lord is willing to help, but it is up to you to come up with the idea.
The friends and family of Jared and his brother left their homes following the revelation received by the brother of Jared. Perhaps these friends knew that Jared and his brother were men of revelation. If the Prophet told us that we needed to move (or do anything else) then I would believe him and we would go and do as he tells us to. This brings up another point. Perhaps the term "friends" meant those that were also God fearing people, and knew Jared and his brother through their faith. On the same lines, would that make us "friends" to the Prophet?
2. Why did the Lord make him ask twice?
In Ether 2:19 the brother of Jared asks about how to light the barges, and how to breathe in the barges. The Lord answers one of the two questions, but the brother of Jared must come back second time to ask again, "wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?" (Ether 2:22)
It is interesting that his second prayer included the phrase "I have done even as thou hast commanded me..." referring to his obedience to the answer to his first prayer. Was the brother of Jared being tested in obedience? Sometimes we to pray more than once to receive an answer.
3. Why did the Lord have the brother of Jared find his own solution to darkness?
The Lord answered quite clearly what he should do to allow for him and his family to breathe. (Ether 2:20) But he did not give a clear answer on how to have light in the barges. He returns the question back to the brother of Jared. "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" (Ether 2:23) Why? Perhaps the Lord knew that the brother of Jared was capable of thinking of a way.
4. Why didn't the Lord explain about the holes to breathe before or while the barges were being built?
Maybe it was necessary for the holes to be built afterward for stronger barges.
Maybe the Lord just left it for the brother of Jared to find the problem himself and inquire about it. The Lord leaves us puzzles all the time that we need to solve for ourselves, of course with the option to go to the Lord for help.
5. What would you have done to light your barges?
The Lord eliminates some choices for the brother of Jared. "ye cannot have windows... ye shall not go by the light of fire." (Ether 2:23) The Lord makes it clear in verse 25 that it was true that he needed light. I imagine those would have been the two methods that the brother of Jared would have thought of himself. He did not know about light bulbs or clappers. Somehow he came up with the idea of using stones (Ether 3). What sparked that idea? What would you have done to light your barges? Remember the Lord said, "...what will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" (Ether 2:23) So the Lord is willing to help, but it is up to you to come up with the idea.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Ether 1 Questions
1. Why did Jared ask his brother to do all the praying?
Maybe Jared did pray also. Today we accept the custom of asking others to fast along with us for important causes.
Perhaps the brother of Jared had a gift of receiving answers. But then, why didn't the brother of Jared come up with these questions himself? Was that Jared's gift?
Maybe it is because this is a record by Jared's descendants. If I were to make a record, I might say "My grandpa did this," and then "my grandpa's brother did this in response."
Maybe Jared did pray also. Today we accept the custom of asking others to fast along with us for important causes.
Perhaps the brother of Jared had a gift of receiving answers. But then, why didn't the brother of Jared come up with these questions himself? Was that Jared's gift?
Maybe it is because this is a record by Jared's descendants. If I were to make a record, I might say "My grandpa did this," and then "my grandpa's brother did this in response."
Ether 1:38 Prayer and the Holy Ghost
This is a rather specific question with details and a plan of action! It seems that Jared knew what might happen to their family (being driven out) before he even asked in prayer. How did he know to ask this question? Perhaps he had seen other families driven out of their land. Likely the Holy Ghost had started to give him impressions and he had some feelings as to what might happen. Can the Holy Ghost guide our prayers like this? I believe so. Because Jared followed the promptings of the Holy Ghost to pray about this topic, the brother of Jared was able to receive a great revelation from the Lord. This revelation showed them what to do and promised great blessings for their family - that the Lord would go before them and that from them would rise a great nation.
His prayer is full of the intent to act! This shows faith. He intended to go where the Lord wanted him to go. Although it must have been difficult accept a response that he would have to completely move his family, he was willing to DO it and ACT according to the Lord's will. Elder Bednar teaches us that this is a critical element of sincere prayer - the intent to act!
Unfortunately it is not always easy to accept the Lord's will. Let's say that I pray and ask, "should I move away from my home?" And Lord says, "yes." Would I actually move? Perhaps I could start doubting why I ever asked that in the first place. I had a friend that didn't want to pray about getting married to his girlfriend because he was afraid that the answer might be "yes!" So he delayed praying about his future because he wasn't willing to make the change that the answer might require of him.
His prayer is full of the intent to act! This shows faith. He intended to go where the Lord wanted him to go. Although it must have been difficult accept a response that he would have to completely move his family, he was willing to DO it and ACT according to the Lord's will. Elder Bednar teaches us that this is a critical element of sincere prayer - the intent to act!
Unfortunately it is not always easy to accept the Lord's will. Let's say that I pray and ask, "should I move away from my home?" And Lord says, "yes." Would I actually move? Perhaps I could start doubting why I ever asked that in the first place. I had a friend that didn't want to pray about getting married to his girlfriend because he was afraid that the answer might be "yes!" So he delayed praying about his future because he wasn't willing to make the change that the answer might require of him.
Brother of Jared's preparation
The brother of Jared is one of my favorite Book of Mormon heroes because of his faith and the miracles that come because of his faith. He did a lot!
What did he do?
1. He received answers to prayers (Ether 1)
2. He and his family started a new nation on a new continent
How was he prepared to do these things?
1. The brother of Jared was familiar with the process of prayer and receiving answers. During the time of the Tower of Babel, he prayed that the Lord would not confound his language, and so it was done. (Ether 1:35) He also prayed that the Lord would not confound the language of his friends and family, and so it was done. (Ether 1:37) If it stopped here, I would still conclude that the brother of Jared saw great mercies and miracles - to be able to keep his close relationships with friends and family. But it does not stop there. He seeks after the Lord to know what his family should do in a time of turmoil. He receives revelation (Ether 1:41-43) and very specific steps as to what he should do to ensure the safety of his family.
2. The brother of Jared and his friends and family were going to travel to a new land. The Land of Promise, or the American continent is a land with great promises and curses. Ether 2:7-12 explains that "whoso should possess this land of promise... should serve him... or they should be swept off when the fullness of his wrath should come upon them." (Ether 2:8) So it was important that the brother of Jared and his family lived a way that would enable them to receive blessings rather that curses when living in the promised land. The Lord teaches the brother of Jared an important lesson in Ether 2:14-15: "... the Lord chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord." Considering that brother of Jared was having this conversation while the Lord was concealed in a cloud tells me that Jared hadn't completely severed his prayerful communication with the Lord. Perhaps he was getting a little lazy in his prayers. But there was an important lesson that the Lord had to teach the brother of Jared before he could live in the land of promise. "...my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefor, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord." (Ether 2:15) It was essential that the brother of Jared and his family were devoted in their prayers to keep the presence of the Spirit. Without this, they would eventually fall into sin and they would be cursed while they lived in the Land of Promise.
What do we learn from the brother of Jared and his preparation?
1. It is interesting to note that the 3-verse long revelation does not come as an answer to his first prayer. The Lord could have easily told him to leave right away, but instead blesses him with protection in response to his prayers. Perhaps it is because the brother of Jared needed to learn to pray and trust in the Lord even in times of turmoil.
The Lord gave the brother of Jared extremely specific instructions to prepare his family to depart. "Go to and gather together thy flocks... and also of the seed of the earth... and thy families... and also thy friends...." (Ether 1:41) Why doesn't the Lord give us super-specific instructions like this? I believe that the Lord CAN and WILL give us super-specific instructions if the lines of communications between Him and us are sufficiently strong and "well-oiled." It is significant that the brother of Jared had previously received answers to fervent prayers. The prayers offered in verses 35 and 37 asked for a "yes" or a "no" answer, but this prayer in verse 39 required much more than a "yes" or a "no" answer. But since the brother of Jared had regular lines of communication open, he was very capable of receiving a very detailed answer to his prayer. I'm sure that the Lord wants to tell us things regarding our family, safety, etc. If we keep our prayers strong and faithful, we will be prepared to receive revelation when we need it.
2. We are living in the Americas now! We are also subject to the same curses and blessings by living on this continent! It is extremely easy to lose the presence of the Spirit in our homes and our lives. When this happens, there is only one downward direction we can go. When we allow ourselves to live without the Spirit, we are asking to be cursed and destroyed - we know the doctrine! In a sense, every day that we live without the guidance of the Spirit brings us closer to the devil - and eternal destruction. Without the guidance of the Spirit it is inevitable to get caught up (however slowly) in the ways of the world and forget our purpose... To get back to Heavenly Father!
What did he do?
1. He received answers to prayers (Ether 1)
2. He and his family started a new nation on a new continent
How was he prepared to do these things?
1. The brother of Jared was familiar with the process of prayer and receiving answers. During the time of the Tower of Babel, he prayed that the Lord would not confound his language, and so it was done. (Ether 1:35) He also prayed that the Lord would not confound the language of his friends and family, and so it was done. (Ether 1:37) If it stopped here, I would still conclude that the brother of Jared saw great mercies and miracles - to be able to keep his close relationships with friends and family. But it does not stop there. He seeks after the Lord to know what his family should do in a time of turmoil. He receives revelation (Ether 1:41-43) and very specific steps as to what he should do to ensure the safety of his family.
2. The brother of Jared and his friends and family were going to travel to a new land. The Land of Promise, or the American continent is a land with great promises and curses. Ether 2:7-12 explains that "whoso should possess this land of promise... should serve him... or they should be swept off when the fullness of his wrath should come upon them." (Ether 2:8) So it was important that the brother of Jared and his family lived a way that would enable them to receive blessings rather that curses when living in the promised land. The Lord teaches the brother of Jared an important lesson in Ether 2:14-15: "... the Lord chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord." Considering that brother of Jared was having this conversation while the Lord was concealed in a cloud tells me that Jared hadn't completely severed his prayerful communication with the Lord. Perhaps he was getting a little lazy in his prayers. But there was an important lesson that the Lord had to teach the brother of Jared before he could live in the land of promise. "...my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefor, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord." (Ether 2:15) It was essential that the brother of Jared and his family were devoted in their prayers to keep the presence of the Spirit. Without this, they would eventually fall into sin and they would be cursed while they lived in the Land of Promise.
What do we learn from the brother of Jared and his preparation?
1. It is interesting to note that the 3-verse long revelation does not come as an answer to his first prayer. The Lord could have easily told him to leave right away, but instead blesses him with protection in response to his prayers. Perhaps it is because the brother of Jared needed to learn to pray and trust in the Lord even in times of turmoil.
The Lord gave the brother of Jared extremely specific instructions to prepare his family to depart. "Go to and gather together thy flocks... and also of the seed of the earth... and thy families... and also thy friends...." (Ether 1:41) Why doesn't the Lord give us super-specific instructions like this? I believe that the Lord CAN and WILL give us super-specific instructions if the lines of communications between Him and us are sufficiently strong and "well-oiled." It is significant that the brother of Jared had previously received answers to fervent prayers. The prayers offered in verses 35 and 37 asked for a "yes" or a "no" answer, but this prayer in verse 39 required much more than a "yes" or a "no" answer. But since the brother of Jared had regular lines of communication open, he was very capable of receiving a very detailed answer to his prayer. I'm sure that the Lord wants to tell us things regarding our family, safety, etc. If we keep our prayers strong and faithful, we will be prepared to receive revelation when we need it.
2. We are living in the Americas now! We are also subject to the same curses and blessings by living on this continent! It is extremely easy to lose the presence of the Spirit in our homes and our lives. When this happens, there is only one downward direction we can go. When we allow ourselves to live without the Spirit, we are asking to be cursed and destroyed - we know the doctrine! In a sense, every day that we live without the guidance of the Spirit brings us closer to the devil - and eternal destruction. Without the guidance of the Spirit it is inevitable to get caught up (however slowly) in the ways of the world and forget our purpose... To get back to Heavenly Father!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Correct Information
There are a lot of misconceptions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Why? I believe that it is because people get the wrong ideas from members who perhaps don't explain themselves well or don't live a life that correctly portrays our beliefs. (Which happened in Book of Mormon times too! Alma 39:11) If there are misconceptions about our religion, it is almost certain that there are misconceptions about other religions. I believe it is very important find out information from a reliable source. Heavenly Father has taught us many times "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God..." (James 1:5) So if I want to know what God says, I will ask Him. If I want to know what somebody else says, I will ask that person.
As a missionary I spent 6 months in a very small town in the very most southern part of Bolivia called Bermejo. Bermejo is in the middle of a beautiful luscious jungle. I've never seen such a beautiful landscape! This would be the most beautiful place to live except for the hellish heat and insects that bite up your skin like you are their last meal. One Elder said, "Bermejo is the preparatory state for hell." Despite this, these were 6 of the most cherised months of my entire life.
There are 4 branches in the Bermejo district. There are even 2 chapels! This is remarkable for such a small town where there are no buses you hardly ever even need to take a taxi. There is also a Jehovah's Witness chapel in the middle of the town. While I was there, there was also a German missionary named Juan.
I met Juan one day when we were walking down the street of their chapel. I was new to the area and didn't know that this building belonged to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Juan was painting the outside wall. He was tall and white (obviously not Bolivian) around 30 years old. Perhaps looking for an opportunity to speak English, I spoke to him. I asked, "What are you doing in Bolivia?" He answered, "I am a missionary." I said, "Oh really? We are too!" (As if he couldn't tell by our name tags.) I found out later that he and his wife had lived in Bolivia for several years already and planned on staying for much longer. I always said "hi" to him when we passed him in the streets. Bermejo is really small. We saw him at least once a week.
While my companion and I went about our business, we met several Jehovah's Witnesses. One of the most basic commandments that we taught to investigators was to keep the Sabbath Day Holy. It is important to devote the day to the Lord. We show our devotion to Him on Sunday by going to church meetings and keeping a reverent attitude throughout the day, even at home. One day we asked a Jehovah's Witness family what their church believed concerning this commandment. They weren't sure. (Which is understandable for a family had not practiced their religion with much devotion.) So the question remained.
Jehovah's Witnesses have some interesting doctrines - a few of which are very close to the sacred doctrines that we believe in. So I was interested to know what they thought about keeping the Sabbath Day holy, a commandment that most of the world does not observe, or at least they observe it very differently that we do.
One day I saw Juan walking up the street. He was passing by the small store where we were making photocopies. I stepped out of the doorway of the store and stopped Juan to talk to him. (He was a little surprised). I told him that I wanted to know what the Jehovah's Witnesses believed concerning keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. I explained to him, "I want to ask you because I know you know the answer. If I ask just anyone, I may not get clear information about your church." He stopped and looked at me and said, "I really appreciate that." He then continued to explain to me what they believed (if you are interested, ask a devoted Jehovah's Witness, not me).
Just like it had happened many times as a missionary, I said something else that perhaps I didn't realize would make a big impact. "Will you do me a favor?" He said, "It depends... " (that probably made him nervous, haha!) "If you ever have a question about our church, will you please directly ask me?" He said he would. Then he asked for a Book of Mormon. We gave him one.
A year later another sister missionary went to serve in Bermejo. A few months later she told me a story about going to see Juan. Juan had that Book of Mormon and was full of questions and the sister missionaries spend over an hour going into detail about the Plan of Salvation and other doctrines. Juan explained to them, "I want to ask you because I know you know the answer. If I ask just anyone, I may not get clear information about your church." That sister missionary didn't know about the conversation that Juan and I had had over a year earlier.
Conclusion:
If you want to know what someone thinks, ask that person. Go to a reliable source. The time that I directly asked Juan about his church led to his returning to the missionaries later to ask them about our church. I really appreciate what Juan did.
So if you have questions about my church, you can ask me and I will help direct you to the source of my answer. For example, "How do you observe the Sabbath Day?" Here's my answer: "Thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates... wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Mosiah 13: 16-19, also Exodus 20) And I would also look up some talks by Church leaders and give you my personal experiences in following these commandments.
As a missionary I spent 6 months in a very small town in the very most southern part of Bolivia called Bermejo. Bermejo is in the middle of a beautiful luscious jungle. I've never seen such a beautiful landscape! This would be the most beautiful place to live except for the hellish heat and insects that bite up your skin like you are their last meal. One Elder said, "Bermejo is the preparatory state for hell." Despite this, these were 6 of the most cherised months of my entire life.
There are 4 branches in the Bermejo district. There are even 2 chapels! This is remarkable for such a small town where there are no buses you hardly ever even need to take a taxi. There is also a Jehovah's Witness chapel in the middle of the town. While I was there, there was also a German missionary named Juan.
I met Juan one day when we were walking down the street of their chapel. I was new to the area and didn't know that this building belonged to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Juan was painting the outside wall. He was tall and white (obviously not Bolivian) around 30 years old. Perhaps looking for an opportunity to speak English, I spoke to him. I asked, "What are you doing in Bolivia?" He answered, "I am a missionary." I said, "Oh really? We are too!" (As if he couldn't tell by our name tags.) I found out later that he and his wife had lived in Bolivia for several years already and planned on staying for much longer. I always said "hi" to him when we passed him in the streets. Bermejo is really small. We saw him at least once a week.
While my companion and I went about our business, we met several Jehovah's Witnesses. One of the most basic commandments that we taught to investigators was to keep the Sabbath Day Holy. It is important to devote the day to the Lord. We show our devotion to Him on Sunday by going to church meetings and keeping a reverent attitude throughout the day, even at home. One day we asked a Jehovah's Witness family what their church believed concerning this commandment. They weren't sure. (Which is understandable for a family had not practiced their religion with much devotion.) So the question remained.
Jehovah's Witnesses have some interesting doctrines - a few of which are very close to the sacred doctrines that we believe in. So I was interested to know what they thought about keeping the Sabbath Day holy, a commandment that most of the world does not observe, or at least they observe it very differently that we do.
One day I saw Juan walking up the street. He was passing by the small store where we were making photocopies. I stepped out of the doorway of the store and stopped Juan to talk to him. (He was a little surprised). I told him that I wanted to know what the Jehovah's Witnesses believed concerning keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. I explained to him, "I want to ask you because I know you know the answer. If I ask just anyone, I may not get clear information about your church." He stopped and looked at me and said, "I really appreciate that." He then continued to explain to me what they believed (if you are interested, ask a devoted Jehovah's Witness, not me).
Just like it had happened many times as a missionary, I said something else that perhaps I didn't realize would make a big impact. "Will you do me a favor?" He said, "It depends... " (that probably made him nervous, haha!) "If you ever have a question about our church, will you please directly ask me?" He said he would. Then he asked for a Book of Mormon. We gave him one.
A year later another sister missionary went to serve in Bermejo. A few months later she told me a story about going to see Juan. Juan had that Book of Mormon and was full of questions and the sister missionaries spend over an hour going into detail about the Plan of Salvation and other doctrines. Juan explained to them, "I want to ask you because I know you know the answer. If I ask just anyone, I may not get clear information about your church." That sister missionary didn't know about the conversation that Juan and I had had over a year earlier.
Conclusion:
If you want to know what someone thinks, ask that person. Go to a reliable source. The time that I directly asked Juan about his church led to his returning to the missionaries later to ask them about our church. I really appreciate what Juan did.
So if you have questions about my church, you can ask me and I will help direct you to the source of my answer. For example, "How do you observe the Sabbath Day?" Here's my answer: "Thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates... wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Mosiah 13: 16-19, also Exodus 20) And I would also look up some talks by Church leaders and give you my personal experiences in following these commandments.
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