Joseph Smith: "The dispensation of the fullness of times will bring to light the things that have been revealed in all former dispensations; also other things that have not been before revealed."
In my reading of The Great Apostasy I have noted a few quotes from historians relating to the early Christian era and they mention how Pagans and Jews mocked the Christians because they didn't have temples as part of their worship. This, of course, is a little troublesome to our Church since "we believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive Church". We believe in the "restoration of all things" and so we usually say that we believe that our Church is the restored version of the original Church of Christ. However, I would argue that perception is not complete and may lead us to inaccurately assume that anything not mentioned in the days of the primitive Church cannot be accepted. This is the mentality of most protestant movements. They recognized the obvious apostasy in the Catholic Church and so the reformers desired to return back to the original basic truths of Christianity. This is why for them anything in addition to the Bible cannot be true, a belief which is rooted in their fear of another perversion through the evolution of doctrines that lead to Catholicism. In the establishment of our religion, on the other hand, our main objective wasn't to simply return to what was taught in the Primitive Church (though this was necessary) it was also to progress in the direction the Primitive Church would have progressed had the apostles maintained control. This is evident in the previous quote from Joseph Smith. The first step of the restoration was to restore what Christ and his apostles taught. The next step, to make this truly the dispensation of the fullness of times, is to reveal things that not even Peter or Paul revealed (that they knew of some of them* is hard to tell, but they may not have taught them publicly). This is why Elder Talmage said that "the Restoration of the Gospel marks the inauguration of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times" because it is a continuous process and was not 100% completed by Joseph Smith (and is still not complete), hence, "we believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." This is a possible explanation for why some say there is no proof of temples in the Primitive Church. That being said, there are substantial evidences that the temple ordinances were known by the early apostles (see Temple and Cosmos by Hugh Nibley). So it may just be that with an apostasy looming the apostles had to protect these ordinances from corruption by not propagating them openly. It may also be that building a temple was an impossibility for this group of Christians persecuted even worse than our early members. So maybe the Lord didn't require them to build a temple but allowed the administering of the ordinances on mountaintops like the example of the Mount of Transfiguration where Joseph Fielding Smith teaches that "it appears Peter, James, and John received their own endowments while on the mountain."
*The things that I am referring to here are things that may have not been revealed plainly until this dispensation. Examples: the fullness of the temple ordinances, the three degrees of glory, the Atonement commencing in Gethsemane, the priesthood going to every worthy male, the pattern for succession of the President of the Church, etc.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Abraham a Polytheist?
Abraham 4:1-"they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth."
So because LDS Doctrine acknowledges the fact that there are multiple Gods some people see us as pagans with heretical doctrine of ordinances and temples. However, I believe Elder Talmage's description of paganism in his book "The Great Apostasy" makes it clear that what made Paganism heresy was not the multitude of gods but rather the moral values of their deities. He said, "Paganism was a religion of form and ceremony, based on polytheism-a belief in the existence of a multitude of gods, which deities were subject to all the vices and passions of humanity, while distinguished by immunity from death. Morality and virtue were unknown as elements of heathen service, and the dominant idea in pagan worship was that of propitiating the gods, in the hope of averting their anger and purchasing their favor." In no part of LDS scripture or talk do we ever think of other gods as having vices and passions of humanity. Our belief stems from the fact that we believe in our divine potential as Paul put it "we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ". We do not, however, worship a multitude of Gods, as Paul put it "to us there is but one God", meaning there is only one God in the sense of the God who created us, whom we worship, who has all power over us.
I find it interesting to point out that in the Pearl of Great Price we find Abraham speaking of many Gods. However, most of the world recognizes Abraham as the first great monotheist. Furthermore, the entire Jewish canon (the Old Testament) is recognized as being completely monotheistic. I propose a solution to this seeming discontinuity. Think about who Abraham was dealing with in Egypt. All the wicked priests around him were polytheists and of the pagan fashion. So he was raised with that mentality. So when God spoke to Abraham it wasn't anything strange for Abraham to hear God speak of "the Gods". So God started off by explaining to Abraham how polytheism really works, how it is about exalted beings counseling together and one presiding over all. However, the Egyptian form of polytheism was abominable and so God had Abraham preach monotheism after explaining the true nature of "the Gods". It was much more important (and still is) to focus on the one and only true God of all of us, the only one the matters for us. That the others exist, yes, that they have any affect or say on our exaltation, no. So since one of the great evils of Abraham's times and all of the Old Testament was pagan polytheism, God focused on helping them understand that He alone was their God. In our days, however, we have religions that completely misunderstand the nature of salvation. Thinking that our end goal is to be an angel throughout all eternity. We, however, have a more complete vision of exaltation (not more than Abraham or the prophets but than our contemporaries) and for such it is necessary to recognize that the reason we can become a God is because there have always been more than one God. Again, this doesn't change our worship or our respect for Deity, it just expands our view of the borders of the universe.
*I also find this quite ironic. A renowned historian Edward Gibbon in his book "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" wrote that pagans were "representing the Christians as a society of atheists". Even the original believers in the True Church of Christ had complete misrepresentation of their view of deity. Because the early Christians denounced the plurality of the gods that the pagans felt was essential, the pagan persecutors called them atheists. In other words, because the early Christians worshiped too few gods for the pagans it was as if they didn't worship any gods. So too today people misrepresent the LDS Christians as being polytheists (in the common vulgar sense of the word) because we accept the existence of multiple righteous Gods. They weren't atheists, we're not polytheists, both solely worship, honor, respect and pray to the Father in the name of his Son by means of the Holy Ghost.
So because LDS Doctrine acknowledges the fact that there are multiple Gods some people see us as pagans with heretical doctrine of ordinances and temples. However, I believe Elder Talmage's description of paganism in his book "The Great Apostasy" makes it clear that what made Paganism heresy was not the multitude of gods but rather the moral values of their deities. He said, "Paganism was a religion of form and ceremony, based on polytheism-a belief in the existence of a multitude of gods, which deities were subject to all the vices and passions of humanity, while distinguished by immunity from death. Morality and virtue were unknown as elements of heathen service, and the dominant idea in pagan worship was that of propitiating the gods, in the hope of averting their anger and purchasing their favor." In no part of LDS scripture or talk do we ever think of other gods as having vices and passions of humanity. Our belief stems from the fact that we believe in our divine potential as Paul put it "we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ". We do not, however, worship a multitude of Gods, as Paul put it "to us there is but one God", meaning there is only one God in the sense of the God who created us, whom we worship, who has all power over us.
I find it interesting to point out that in the Pearl of Great Price we find Abraham speaking of many Gods. However, most of the world recognizes Abraham as the first great monotheist. Furthermore, the entire Jewish canon (the Old Testament) is recognized as being completely monotheistic. I propose a solution to this seeming discontinuity. Think about who Abraham was dealing with in Egypt. All the wicked priests around him were polytheists and of the pagan fashion. So he was raised with that mentality. So when God spoke to Abraham it wasn't anything strange for Abraham to hear God speak of "the Gods". So God started off by explaining to Abraham how polytheism really works, how it is about exalted beings counseling together and one presiding over all. However, the Egyptian form of polytheism was abominable and so God had Abraham preach monotheism after explaining the true nature of "the Gods". It was much more important (and still is) to focus on the one and only true God of all of us, the only one the matters for us. That the others exist, yes, that they have any affect or say on our exaltation, no. So since one of the great evils of Abraham's times and all of the Old Testament was pagan polytheism, God focused on helping them understand that He alone was their God. In our days, however, we have religions that completely misunderstand the nature of salvation. Thinking that our end goal is to be an angel throughout all eternity. We, however, have a more complete vision of exaltation (not more than Abraham or the prophets but than our contemporaries) and for such it is necessary to recognize that the reason we can become a God is because there have always been more than one God. Again, this doesn't change our worship or our respect for Deity, it just expands our view of the borders of the universe.
*I also find this quite ironic. A renowned historian Edward Gibbon in his book "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" wrote that pagans were "representing the Christians as a society of atheists". Even the original believers in the True Church of Christ had complete misrepresentation of their view of deity. Because the early Christians denounced the plurality of the gods that the pagans felt was essential, the pagan persecutors called them atheists. In other words, because the early Christians worshiped too few gods for the pagans it was as if they didn't worship any gods. So too today people misrepresent the LDS Christians as being polytheists (in the common vulgar sense of the word) because we accept the existence of multiple righteous Gods. They weren't atheists, we're not polytheists, both solely worship, honor, respect and pray to the Father in the name of his Son by means of the Holy Ghost.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Relying Alone Upon the Merits of Christ
D&C 45:3-5-"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."
This passage is one of my favorites in all of scripture. We speak of Christ often as the Judge, but I prefer his role as Advocate (lawyer) as well. I just finished reading Tad R. Callister's book "The Infinite Atonement" and one of the last chapters is about Christ's dual role as Judge and Advocate. I highly recommend at least reading that chapter. The understanding that there are numerous Judges and the Father can be seen as a head Judge is important to understanding what relying alone upon the merits of Christ means (see Moroni 6:4). Especially since we know Christ himself taught that "except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." The whole issue comes back down to Christ pronouncing us clean because of His works.
We see that Christ's case before the Father's for our defense is not based upon anything we have done. At no point does Christ say "look at all the good things they have done, or listen to these people that have been so good" (when he says "spare these that believe on my name" he is simply stating his request. Since this comes after the word "wherefore" it is clear that he has already presented all of his "evidence" in the previous verse). Christ's only defense for us relies alone upon His merits. What a unique case. How many times have you heard of a lawyer standing before a judge and saying "listen judge, I know this guy is guilty, I mean he has repeatedly broken this law. But, look at all the good things I have done." That would never stand in court. Amazingly though, that is our only hope with God. This is part of why Tad R Callister explained that it had to be an Infinite Atonement because anything short simply would not justify any of us being saved. We simply are not worthy of anything according to justice. However, because there is a mediator (as Boyd K Packer eloquently explains) we stand a chance. The Father doesn't have to pay any regard to what we have done, he can completely turn a blind eye at that and rely alone upon the merits of Christ. He effectively says to his Son, "I see thy sufferings and death when thou wast sinless, and because of this I will allow thee to be merciful towards whomever thou pleasest." The verse explains that the people for which Christ is pleading his case are those that believe on his name. So there is the key for us (meaning the only things we can do, hence "all that we can do"), we must believe on his name (which implies repentance, righteous works, charity, and ordinances-since all ordinances are symbols of Christ's Atonement which is also explained in the "Infinite Atonement".)
In other words, the only reason the Father will extend mercy to us is because of what Christ did. So then Christ says to the Father that in honor of his grace, spare those that believe in him. So the terms of the contract have been changed so that now they are reasonable (just like Boyd K Packer's parable between justice and mercy). Now instead of us trying to stand before the Father and make a useless case for why we should be forgiven, we rely alone upon the merits of Christ and then Christ tells us his new terms. He says, believe on me, come unto me, be cleansed in my blood, be thou perfect, even as I am. So because of Christ's works-his Infinite Atonement- he can appease the Father and justices demands and then he is allowed to assign us whatever requirements he pleases. So returning back to the subject of multiple Judges, we may be able to say: Christ's Atoning blood completely and 100% satisfies the requirements of the first Judge, the Father. We really don't even appear in the court room, this is a one on one meeting between Judge and Advocate, Father and Son, Creditor and Mediator, Justice and Mercy. Then, once the Advocate has satisfied the Judge we are all freed from the demands of Justice that we could never meet, this can be thought of what it means to be saved by grace. The Advocate has saved us solely based on his actions. We are no longer under justice but under grace or mercy. Salvation is now possible 100% thanks to Christ. However, he then turns to us and says that we still must meet his requirements, that of obedience to what he teaches us. He explains that for us to live with him we must love him, which we all automatically reply "of course we will love you, you just saved us." He then rebuttals, "if you love me, keep my commandments". This is why other religions erroneously accuse us of believing we are
saved by works, because we believe that we have a contract or a covenant
with Christ that we will be obedient to him because he has done for us
what we could not.
Elder James E. Talmage puts it succinctly: "We will be saved through the merits and by the atoning sacrifice of our Redeemer and Lord; and our claim upon the salvation provided is strictly dependent on our compliance with the principles and ordinances of the gospel as established by Jesus Christ."
(I acknowledge that for some people viewing the final judgment as a debate between the Father and Son does not seem consistent with them being one in mind, purpose, justice and mercy. But I do believe this scriptural figurative example helps us understand how Christ is able to save us from our sins.)
Sunday, December 16, 2012
"Learning" our salvation?
2 Timothy 3:7- "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
(So I am going to skip the whole "sorry that I haven't posted in so long, the first semester of grad school was pretty demanding" routine and get right to the point)
Erica and I are gospel doctrine teachers now and we have very different visions for what our class should be like. I prefer dissecting passages of scripture and pulling out lots of quotes for clarification, while Erica prefers applying the scriptures to our modern needs and circumstances. Tonight we went on a walk and we were talking about how feeling the spirit is more important than knowing all the ins-and-outs of scripture stories. I know that is true but its hard because for me learning is a lot easier than feeling the spirit.
8-10: "so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience."
Those verses comfort me as I realize that as long as I don't resist the truth with corrupt motives I can feel safe that I am coming to the truth. In addition, Paul makes it clear that knowing the doctrine is important but also it is important to know how to live, what our purpose is, to have faith, love, patience and overcome trials. In fact, that's probably a pretty good formula for living the gospel: knowledge, service, faith, charity. (But there I go again, trying to reduce the glorious gospel into a mathematical formula).
(So I am going to skip the whole "sorry that I haven't posted in so long, the first semester of grad school was pretty demanding" routine and get right to the point)
Erica and I are gospel doctrine teachers now and we have very different visions for what our class should be like. I prefer dissecting passages of scripture and pulling out lots of quotes for clarification, while Erica prefers applying the scriptures to our modern needs and circumstances. Tonight we went on a walk and we were talking about how feeling the spirit is more important than knowing all the ins-and-outs of scripture stories. I know that is true but its hard because for me learning is a lot easier than feeling the spirit.
This verse written by Paul in regards to the last-days has always been one of the more sobering scriptures for me. Whenever I feel proud of myself, because I have been going a few weeks straight of studying the scriptures everyday, this verse pops into my head and I say to myself "is this referring to people like me?" I always struggle with this apparent dichotomy of knowledge and humility. In the Church we are taught to study the scriptures daily and that "whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come." As well as "seek learning, even by study and also by faith" and "it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance" and Joseph Smith taught that we must "learn our salvation". So it seems clear that knowledge and learning are very fundamental principles to the economy of heaven. But at the same time, I fear that sometimes I am simply studying the gospel for my own aggrandizement or to feel smart. I know the simple answer is "well, what are your motives? Are you doing it for righteous purposes?" But I feel like sometimes I try to tell myself that I am doing it for the right reasons when deep down it may not be the case. I worry that all my gospel study is in vain because all I really want to do is learn the gospel and not really live it.
I guess the best answer can be found in the verses directly after 2 Timothy 3:7.
Those verses comfort me as I realize that as long as I don't resist the truth with corrupt motives I can feel safe that I am coming to the truth. In addition, Paul makes it clear that knowing the doctrine is important but also it is important to know how to live, what our purpose is, to have faith, love, patience and overcome trials. In fact, that's probably a pretty good formula for living the gospel: knowledge, service, faith, charity. (But there I go again, trying to reduce the glorious gospel into a mathematical formula).
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Sermon at the Temple-Come unto Me
3 Nephi 12:1,3,10,19,20,23,24* (found in text in bold)
There are some very important differences between the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon at the Temple. Most of these differences are due to three parameters: the audience, the time, and the translation. For an example of time, the Lord doesn't mention "thy kingdom come" in his prayer in the Book of Mormon because it already had. Also, he includes himself in the statement of being perfect, since he was now already a resurrected perfect being. Furthermore, one of the reasons why the Sermon at the Temple has even more power and clarity is because the Lord speaks openly and directly about himself as the Savior of the world. In the Beatitudes according to the Bible he never speaks of himself, he never directs anyone to follow him. His role is rather gradual as he starts to use the word "I" finally when saying what he would say instead of what had been said of old, and then finally he uses the word "me" once when he says "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." But that's at the very end of the Sermon. This seems strange in retrospect, because we all know that Jesus is our only Savior and means of salvation, but nowhere in his instructions in the Bible Beatitudes on how to live a perfect life does he mention his own role. Maybe he knew that those in Jerusalem weren't ready yet for him to speak so directly, since when he spoke so in the Bread of Life many fell away. However, in the Book of Mormon these people were already accepting and knew who he was. So he was able to clarify exactly his role in our salvation. That is why in 3 Nephi he says*, "blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized" and "blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me" and "blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake" and "come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit" and "come unto me and be ye saved" and "desire to come unto me" and "come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you" (Note that none of these verses' parallels in the Bible uses me or I). Thus we see that the Beatitudes aren't just a generic list that anyone can apply without accepting Christ (like it may appear at first glance, simply a moral code) but rather they are attributes of those that come unto Christ. This is a powerful example of why we can get so much out of Christ's teachings in the Americas, namely because those listening already had a testimony of who He is.
There are some very important differences between the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon at the Temple. Most of these differences are due to three parameters: the audience, the time, and the translation. For an example of time, the Lord doesn't mention "thy kingdom come" in his prayer in the Book of Mormon because it already had. Also, he includes himself in the statement of being perfect, since he was now already a resurrected perfect being. Furthermore, one of the reasons why the Sermon at the Temple has even more power and clarity is because the Lord speaks openly and directly about himself as the Savior of the world. In the Beatitudes according to the Bible he never speaks of himself, he never directs anyone to follow him. His role is rather gradual as he starts to use the word "I" finally when saying what he would say instead of what had been said of old, and then finally he uses the word "me" once when he says "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." But that's at the very end of the Sermon. This seems strange in retrospect, because we all know that Jesus is our only Savior and means of salvation, but nowhere in his instructions in the Bible Beatitudes on how to live a perfect life does he mention his own role. Maybe he knew that those in Jerusalem weren't ready yet for him to speak so directly, since when he spoke so in the Bread of Life many fell away. However, in the Book of Mormon these people were already accepting and knew who he was. So he was able to clarify exactly his role in our salvation. That is why in 3 Nephi he says*, "blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized" and "blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me" and "blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake" and "come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit" and "come unto me and be ye saved" and "desire to come unto me" and "come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you" (Note that none of these verses' parallels in the Bible uses me or I). Thus we see that the Beatitudes aren't just a generic list that anyone can apply without accepting Christ (like it may appear at first glance, simply a moral code) but rather they are attributes of those that come unto Christ. This is a powerful example of why we can get so much out of Christ's teachings in the Americas, namely because those listening already had a testimony of who He is.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Alma the Angel
Alma 29:1-2 "O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart...I would declare unto every soul, repentance and the plan of redemption"
Alma 45:18-19 "it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of. Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses"
While still in the flesh Alma desired to be an angel so that he could preach the gospel to every soul. It appears that he was granted this desire once he had finished what he needed to as a telestial creature. If Alma truly was translated then it must have been for a purpose, an angelic mission. Joseph Smith said, "translated bodies are designed for future missions." Since this was before the resurrection this role may have required him having a body or he may have simply proselyted much like John the Beloved. I'm sure Alma was eternally grateful to the angel that came and called him to repentance and he must have felt indebted to return the favor.
Alma 45:18-19 "it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of. Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses"
While still in the flesh Alma desired to be an angel so that he could preach the gospel to every soul. It appears that he was granted this desire once he had finished what he needed to as a telestial creature. If Alma truly was translated then it must have been for a purpose, an angelic mission. Joseph Smith said, "translated bodies are designed for future missions." Since this was before the resurrection this role may have required him having a body or he may have simply proselyted much like John the Beloved. I'm sure Alma was eternally grateful to the angel that came and called him to repentance and he must have felt indebted to return the favor.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Different Fathering Examples
Alma 39:12- "And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities"
Here Alma the younger is correcting very sternly his son Corianton. In Sunday School last week someone suggested that maybe Alma was being too hard on his son. However, we can see in this verse that Alma was following the Spirit of the Lord. When it comes to righteous rebuking there really is no recipe or formula that says when you should and when you shouldn't, except for this: follow the Spirit. We see here that Alma was very bold and didn't stand by to let his son fall away forever. That being said, we know that Alma's father, Alma the elder followed a different pattern. In the scriptures we only know that Alma the elder taught his son about Jesus and that he prayed constantly for him.
Mosiah 27:14-"prayers of his servant, Al ma, who is thy father, for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee"
Alma 36:17-"I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world."
Since the Lord answered his prayer by sending an angel, we can be certain that Alma the elder was also following the Spirit in his vastly different parenting method. Sometimes children need a strong wake-up call, others need simply to be loved, taught, shown an example and left to find repentance by themselves. Both methods require a lot of faith from the parents, it is hard to confront a child but it is equally hard to stand by and watch them make mistakes, this is why we need to rely upon help from their real Heavenly Parent. I think this is a good lesson for when we see people raising their kids different than we would. To often we might say, "why don't they correct their child? Don't they realize this is going to be their fault?" or "man he is way to strict with his kid." We should assume that everyone is counseling with the Lord in regards to how to raise their children and if we are really concerned then we can speak to them privately.
Here Alma the younger is correcting very sternly his son Corianton. In Sunday School last week someone suggested that maybe Alma was being too hard on his son. However, we can see in this verse that Alma was following the Spirit of the Lord. When it comes to righteous rebuking there really is no recipe or formula that says when you should and when you shouldn't, except for this: follow the Spirit. We see here that Alma was very bold and didn't stand by to let his son fall away forever. That being said, we know that Alma's father, Alma the elder followed a different pattern. In the scriptures we only know that Alma the elder taught his son about Jesus and that he prayed constantly for him.
Mosiah 27:14-"prayers of his servant, Al ma, who is thy father, for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee"
Alma 36:17-"I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world."
Since the Lord answered his prayer by sending an angel, we can be certain that Alma the elder was also following the Spirit in his vastly different parenting method. Sometimes children need a strong wake-up call, others need simply to be loved, taught, shown an example and left to find repentance by themselves. Both methods require a lot of faith from the parents, it is hard to confront a child but it is equally hard to stand by and watch them make mistakes, this is why we need to rely upon help from their real Heavenly Parent. I think this is a good lesson for when we see people raising their kids different than we would. To often we might say, "why don't they correct their child? Don't they realize this is going to be their fault?" or "man he is way to strict with his kid." We should assume that everyone is counseling with the Lord in regards to how to raise their children and if we are really concerned then we can speak to them privately.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Abinadi Applied Today
Mosiah 13:28- "Salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement,
which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people,
that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."
We always say that the Book of Mormon was written for our day, but how could something that was written during the time the law of Moses was practiced really be written for us? Well, the whole argument that people give us today saying that we believe we are saved by works and not grace is very similar to the priests who thought that they were saved by the law of Moses and ignored the atonement (so in this case they are actually arguing the other extreme, but either way Abinadi's answer is a true one). Bruce R. McConkie gave an excellent application of Abinadi's teachings to thiis very point.
"Suppose we have the scriptures, the gospel, the priesthood, the Church, the ordinacnes, the organization, even the keys of the kingdom-everything that now is down to the last jot and tittle-and yet there is no atonement of Christ. What then? Can we be saved? Will all our good works save us? Will we be rewarded for all our righteousness?
"Most assuredly we will not. We are not saved by works alone, no matter how good; we are saved because God sent his Son to shed his blood in Gethsemane and on Calvary that all through him might ransomed be. We are saved by the blood of Christ.
"To paraphrase Abinadi: 'Salvation doth not come by the Church alone: and were it not for the atonement, given by the grace of God as a free gift, all men must unavoidably perish, and this notwithstanding the Church and all that appertains to it.'"
We always say that the Book of Mormon was written for our day, but how could something that was written during the time the law of Moses was practiced really be written for us? Well, the whole argument that people give us today saying that we believe we are saved by works and not grace is very similar to the priests who thought that they were saved by the law of Moses and ignored the atonement (so in this case they are actually arguing the other extreme, but either way Abinadi's answer is a true one). Bruce R. McConkie gave an excellent application of Abinadi's teachings to thiis very point.
"Suppose we have the scriptures, the gospel, the priesthood, the Church, the ordinacnes, the organization, even the keys of the kingdom-everything that now is down to the last jot and tittle-and yet there is no atonement of Christ. What then? Can we be saved? Will all our good works save us? Will we be rewarded for all our righteousness?
"Most assuredly we will not. We are not saved by works alone, no matter how good; we are saved because God sent his Son to shed his blood in Gethsemane and on Calvary that all through him might ransomed be. We are saved by the blood of Christ.
"To paraphrase Abinadi: 'Salvation doth not come by the Church alone: and were it not for the atonement, given by the grace of God as a free gift, all men must unavoidably perish, and this notwithstanding the Church and all that appertains to it.'"
Retain a remission of sins
Mosiah 4:11-12 "if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission
of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls,
even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in
remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come [Christ's atonement], which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins"
This verse teaches a very important and eternal truth in a very simple but profound manner. The topic at hand is how to retain a remission of our sins. Previously King Benjamin discussed the process of being born again and putting of the natural man, but that doesn't mean that we become perfect after the initial change of heart. Consequently, we often get discouraged because we feel like since we are new creatures we should never sin again. However, because of this fallen world, we will always commit sins (the key is not to have a desire to sin though). Therefore, the question is: how do I stay redeemed/guiltless/clean/forgiven/worthy/saved? I love the answer. Notice the parts in bold above. Robert Millet summarizes them quite well in "After all we can do...Grace Works". He says, "acknowledgement of God's greatness and goodness, recognition of our absolute ineptitude without divine assistance, and surrendering to the sobering verity that our spiritual condition is bankrupt without the Atonement- these are the necessary conditions whereby we retain a remission of our sins from day to day." In other words, we must:
1. Remember God's greatness
2. Remember our nothingness
3. Apply the Atonement with Faith
These three essentials really lay out the complete doctrine of redemption. First, God is more perfect and magnificent than we can imagine. He is infinitely high on Jacob's latter to exaltation. Then there is us. Hardly on the bottom rung. What could ever redeem, bring into harmony, reunite, or bring to one these infinitely separated beings? The Atonement through Christ's blood. Through his grace, his enabling power helps us progress one small step at a time, and all the while as we make mistakes his Atonement "covers" them (remember from Brad Wilcox that Atonement means to cover).
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins"
This verse teaches a very important and eternal truth in a very simple but profound manner. The topic at hand is how to retain a remission of our sins. Previously King Benjamin discussed the process of being born again and putting of the natural man, but that doesn't mean that we become perfect after the initial change of heart. Consequently, we often get discouraged because we feel like since we are new creatures we should never sin again. However, because of this fallen world, we will always commit sins (the key is not to have a desire to sin though). Therefore, the question is: how do I stay redeemed/guiltless/clean/forgiven/worthy/saved? I love the answer. Notice the parts in bold above. Robert Millet summarizes them quite well in "After all we can do...Grace Works". He says, "acknowledgement of God's greatness and goodness, recognition of our absolute ineptitude without divine assistance, and surrendering to the sobering verity that our spiritual condition is bankrupt without the Atonement- these are the necessary conditions whereby we retain a remission of our sins from day to day." In other words, we must:
1. Remember God's greatness
2. Remember our nothingness
3. Apply the Atonement with Faith
These three essentials really lay out the complete doctrine of redemption. First, God is more perfect and magnificent than we can imagine. He is infinitely high on Jacob's latter to exaltation. Then there is us. Hardly on the bottom rung. What could ever redeem, bring into harmony, reunite, or bring to one these infinitely separated beings? The Atonement through Christ's blood. Through his grace, his enabling power helps us progress one small step at a time, and all the while as we make mistakes his Atonement "covers" them (remember from Brad Wilcox that Atonement means to cover).
Resist speculation
Alma 37:11-"Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me; therefore I shall forbear."
What a great and straightforward message. It is not wise to speculate about things that the Lord has not yet revealed. To do so may cause others to fall astray and it may cause us to lose focus on what the gospel is really about. It takes a lot of spiritual maturity to forbear speaking of things that are not yet fully made known. I know I struggle with this, but I think the key is to be engaged in studying the plain and precious truths of the gospel so we don't have time to speculate. That being said, it also appears that Alma understood that he himself could ponder on these mysteries and speculate to himself. But the point is that we shouldn't speak publicly about this, for instance in a sacrament meeting talk. I believe we can ponder on unrevealed issues as long as we remember that whatever conclusion we may come to needs to be immediately obliterated as soon as the Prophet reveals otherwise.
What a great and straightforward message. It is not wise to speculate about things that the Lord has not yet revealed. To do so may cause others to fall astray and it may cause us to lose focus on what the gospel is really about. It takes a lot of spiritual maturity to forbear speaking of things that are not yet fully made known. I know I struggle with this, but I think the key is to be engaged in studying the plain and precious truths of the gospel so we don't have time to speculate. That being said, it also appears that Alma understood that he himself could ponder on these mysteries and speculate to himself. But the point is that we shouldn't speak publicly about this, for instance in a sacrament meeting talk. I believe we can ponder on unrevealed issues as long as we remember that whatever conclusion we may come to needs to be immediately obliterated as soon as the Prophet reveals otherwise.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Spiritual 180
Alma 36:15- "Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds."
18-"O Jesus, thou son of God, have mercy on me"
22- "Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concources of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there."
What a difference 7 verses can make. Here we see the complete change of heart that can occur through true repentance. Before Alma was forgiven of his sins he didn't even want to imagine being brought to the presence of God. He said that he would have rather ceased to exist. However, after applying the atoning blood of Christ, his pain was converted into joy. At that point, he now longed to be in God's presence. And thus we see that those who have repented of their sins can truly have confidence before God. Even though we still have our weaknesses, as Alma says in verse 3 and 27 "whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." So although sometimes we might do things that make us feel like we would rather "become extinct both soul and body", let's just remember that by applying the Atonement through repentance, we can feel worthy to stand in God's presence both in the Temple and after this life.
18-"O Jesus, thou son of God, have mercy on me"
22- "Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concources of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there."
What a difference 7 verses can make. Here we see the complete change of heart that can occur through true repentance. Before Alma was forgiven of his sins he didn't even want to imagine being brought to the presence of God. He said that he would have rather ceased to exist. However, after applying the atoning blood of Christ, his pain was converted into joy. At that point, he now longed to be in God's presence. And thus we see that those who have repented of their sins can truly have confidence before God. Even though we still have our weaknesses, as Alma says in verse 3 and 27 "whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." So although sometimes we might do things that make us feel like we would rather "become extinct both soul and body", let's just remember that by applying the Atonement through repentance, we can feel worthy to stand in God's presence both in the Temple and after this life.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Rameumptom
Alma 34:26-"ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness."
There are many ways to study the scriptures, and I recently noticed two good examples of why reading from start to finish at a good pace can be a good thing. Although studying by topics, and reading slowly (dissecting everything as you go) have their benefits, sometimes reading in order at a quick speed helps you get a big picture (since sometimes its hard to see the forest through the trees). However, we also have to be careful not to think that the Chapter cutoffs are set in stone and that is where we must start and finish our study sessions. My first example demonstrates this. Just the other day Gordy and I noticed that Alma 32 (one of the greatest chapters on faith) is only 2 chapters after Korihors attack on faith. Even though Alma was addressing a different people, you have to believe that his encounter with Korihor made him feel a great need to strengthen the faith of his people. We might not realize this if we read Chapter 30 and 32 as if they were completely separate. The first quote above is another example. Taken out of context this seems like a good lesson that is simply applicable in any era. However, let's remember who Amulek is talking to. He is teaching the people that were not allowed to pray on top of the Rameumptom in the synagogues that they built. When we remember how public the prayers of the Zoramites were and how they thought they could only pray in their synagogue for everyone else to see, we realize that this verse was a profound lesson for these people.
There are many ways to study the scriptures, and I recently noticed two good examples of why reading from start to finish at a good pace can be a good thing. Although studying by topics, and reading slowly (dissecting everything as you go) have their benefits, sometimes reading in order at a quick speed helps you get a big picture (since sometimes its hard to see the forest through the trees). However, we also have to be careful not to think that the Chapter cutoffs are set in stone and that is where we must start and finish our study sessions. My first example demonstrates this. Just the other day Gordy and I noticed that Alma 32 (one of the greatest chapters on faith) is only 2 chapters after Korihors attack on faith. Even though Alma was addressing a different people, you have to believe that his encounter with Korihor made him feel a great need to strengthen the faith of his people. We might not realize this if we read Chapter 30 and 32 as if they were completely separate. The first quote above is another example. Taken out of context this seems like a good lesson that is simply applicable in any era. However, let's remember who Amulek is talking to. He is teaching the people that were not allowed to pray on top of the Rameumptom in the synagogues that they built. When we remember how public the prayers of the Zoramites were and how they thought they could only pray in their synagogue for everyone else to see, we realize that this verse was a profound lesson for these people.
Monday, July 16, 2012
And so forth
Alma 22:14- "the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth;"
I had never noticed this phrase before, "and so forth". I am not a grammatical punctuation expert, neither do I believe the Book of Mormon is intended to be interpreted according to commas, semicolons and "and"s, so it is hard for me to tell what "and so forth" is referring to. Is it referring to the first clause, namely is it being used in place of things that would follow the Atonement in the course of a discussion of the plan of salvation, such as "the resurrection, final judgment, and eternal kingdoms"? Or is it following the second cause, meaning things that follow faith and repentance, such as "baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end"? I prefer to see it as the latter, because then it is a great example of why we can't just read one verse and think we have an all-inclusive description of the gospel. Lots of people in religions today are confused about the gospel because they read some of Paul's teachings where he only speaks of faith and think that is it. However, we must keep in context all scripture. The same happens among LDS members when we misinterpret D&C 132:26 (fortunately Joseph Fielding Smith clarifies this very well). Maybe we should add this "and so forth" to the end of any verse telling us how to be saved. This might help us avoid gospel hobbies. For example, if we pay our tithing we are promised not to be burned in His coming, which might lead us to believe that tithing is the end all of the gospel. However, I believe it is implied that if we are paying tithing it is because we have faith, are repentant, "and so forth". Likewise, I think Paul's teachings could be a lot clearer if we remembered the "and so forth" of the gospel.
I had never noticed this phrase before, "and so forth". I am not a grammatical punctuation expert, neither do I believe the Book of Mormon is intended to be interpreted according to commas, semicolons and "and"s, so it is hard for me to tell what "and so forth" is referring to. Is it referring to the first clause, namely is it being used in place of things that would follow the Atonement in the course of a discussion of the plan of salvation, such as "the resurrection, final judgment, and eternal kingdoms"? Or is it following the second cause, meaning things that follow faith and repentance, such as "baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end"? I prefer to see it as the latter, because then it is a great example of why we can't just read one verse and think we have an all-inclusive description of the gospel. Lots of people in religions today are confused about the gospel because they read some of Paul's teachings where he only speaks of faith and think that is it. However, we must keep in context all scripture. The same happens among LDS members when we misinterpret D&C 132:26 (fortunately Joseph Fielding Smith clarifies this very well). Maybe we should add this "and so forth" to the end of any verse telling us how to be saved. This might help us avoid gospel hobbies. For example, if we pay our tithing we are promised not to be burned in His coming, which might lead us to believe that tithing is the end all of the gospel. However, I believe it is implied that if we are paying tithing it is because we have faith, are repentant, "and so forth". Likewise, I think Paul's teachings could be a lot clearer if we remembered the "and so forth" of the gospel.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Satan's Playbook
Alma 30
So Korihor gives us an almost all inclusive look into Satan's Playbook. In this Chapter you can find the source of almost every attack made on the church.
1. Your Church has so many rules that you lose your freedom (verse 13 and 27)
2. Your Prophets can't really help you cause no one can see into the future (13)
3. You're just Mormon because your parents are Mormon (14)
4. Until I see proof of the plates or science proves the Book of Mormon, I won't believe it (15)
5. You don't actually feel the Spirit, that is just your mind playing tricks on you (16)
6. God doesn't really have anything to do with this world, it's every man for himself (17)
7. After you die, that's it (so live it up while you are here) (18)
8. Your leaders are using you for your money and time (27)
After all of this, the people of Ammon give us a perfect recipe for how to combat these attacks. Verse 20 says that they were more wise than the Nephites who just let him get away with all this. Instead they took him and bound him (ironic considering he said they were bound). Obviously today we can't take and bind those that speak against the Church, but we don't need to let them be a part of our lives. We don't need to search out all of the anti-Mormons out there and look for trouble. Let's be like the people of Ammon and not even give an ear to those that maliciously and purposefully attack the Church.
So Korihor gives us an almost all inclusive look into Satan's Playbook. In this Chapter you can find the source of almost every attack made on the church.
1. Your Church has so many rules that you lose your freedom (verse 13 and 27)
2. Your Prophets can't really help you cause no one can see into the future (13)
3. You're just Mormon because your parents are Mormon (14)
4. Until I see proof of the plates or science proves the Book of Mormon, I won't believe it (15)
5. You don't actually feel the Spirit, that is just your mind playing tricks on you (16)
6. God doesn't really have anything to do with this world, it's every man for himself (17)
7. After you die, that's it (so live it up while you are here) (18)
8. Your leaders are using you for your money and time (27)
After all of this, the people of Ammon give us a perfect recipe for how to combat these attacks. Verse 20 says that they were more wise than the Nephites who just let him get away with all this. Instead they took him and bound him (ironic considering he said they were bound). Obviously today we can't take and bind those that speak against the Church, but we don't need to let them be a part of our lives. We don't need to search out all of the anti-Mormons out there and look for trouble. Let's be like the people of Ammon and not even give an ear to those that maliciously and purposefully attack the Church.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Careful what you wish for
Alma
29:4- "I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether
it be unto death or unto life"
It appears that the old phrase
"be careful what you wish for, you just might get it" is true.
God truly will grant you whatever you desire. Eventually,
those that desire salvation will be saved. While those that desire death
(through their appetite of evil things) will be spiritually dead (cut off from
God's presence). So don't think that you can have evil desires (such as
angry or lustful thoughts) and ignore them forever. Eventually, if you
don't get rid of your unrighteous desires, they will be realized.
Never Give Up on Anybody
Alma 26:
Here we see a great example of giving people a chance to change-not passing the final judgment on anyone-letting people repent. Ammon and his brothers were mocked when they said that they wanted to teach the Lamanites, because others thought the Lamanites were too prideful, wicked, and violent to be converted. In fact, the people basically said "let's just go wipe them out and be done with them." Sadly, I overheard someone make a very similar comment about people in the Middle East. After a news broadcast showed all the violence going on over there, he remarked "why don't we just nuke the place and get rid of them?" Although now a days it would be politically incorrect and culturally biased (Ammon wasn't worried about that) to say Middle Easterners "delight in the shedding of blood", I would say that the Lamanites probably were no "worse" than they are. The Lamanites were a people than engaged in much violence based on "incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers", i.e. they were fighting over past beliefs, just like what is going on out East. The point is, these missionaries didn't see the Lamanites as bloodthirsty people, they saw them as their brothers who could be saved (like Brother Bartholomew taught me, just because you are covered in mud doesn't mean you are mud). I believe the day will come when missionaries will be allowed to go preach in the Middle East, and they better have the attitude that Ammon and his brothers had and not that which the people had.
23 Now
do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our brethren in the land
of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi, to preach unto our
brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed us to scorn?
24 For
they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the
knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that ye can convince the
Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose
ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning? Now my
brethren, ye remember that this was their language.
25 And
moreover they did say: Let us take up arms against them, that we
destroy them and their iniquity out of the land, lest they overrun us
and destroy us.
26 But
behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness not with the
intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we
might save some few of their souls.
Here we see a great example of giving people a chance to change-not passing the final judgment on anyone-letting people repent. Ammon and his brothers were mocked when they said that they wanted to teach the Lamanites, because others thought the Lamanites were too prideful, wicked, and violent to be converted. In fact, the people basically said "let's just go wipe them out and be done with them." Sadly, I overheard someone make a very similar comment about people in the Middle East. After a news broadcast showed all the violence going on over there, he remarked "why don't we just nuke the place and get rid of them?" Although now a days it would be politically incorrect and culturally biased (Ammon wasn't worried about that) to say Middle Easterners "delight in the shedding of blood", I would say that the Lamanites probably were no "worse" than they are. The Lamanites were a people than engaged in much violence based on "incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers", i.e. they were fighting over past beliefs, just like what is going on out East. The point is, these missionaries didn't see the Lamanites as bloodthirsty people, they saw them as their brothers who could be saved (like Brother Bartholomew taught me, just because you are covered in mud doesn't mean you are mud). I believe the day will come when missionaries will be allowed to go preach in the Middle East, and they better have the attitude that Ammon and his brothers had and not that which the people had.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Jershon-Inheritance
Alma 27:22-"this land Jershon is the land which we will give unto our brethren for an inheritance...inherit the land Jershon"
Just a fun little insight. So in Hebrew, JRSN means "inheritance". So here we see the creative play on words, that the land that the people of Ammon inherited as their inheritance, literally means inheritance.
Just a fun little insight. So in Hebrew, JRSN means "inheritance". So here we see the creative play on words, that the land that the people of Ammon inherited as their inheritance, literally means inheritance.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Royal Humility
Alma 22:2-"[Aaron] bowed himself before the king"
Alma 22: "If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest."
I love how the Book of Mormon missionaries started by converting the kings. They weren't afraid of showing the kings that God is the real King of us all. In this passage Aaron approaches the king respectfully by first bowing to him, which probably helped him not sound presumptious to demand that the king bow before God. Aaron knew that for the king to believe in God, the king needed to first accept that there was one greater than himself. I just love the parallels between a servant bowing to his king and anyone of us bowing before God. God is the most merciful king and if we come to him in humility he will grant unto us more than we can imagine (much more than even king Lamoni or his father offered).
Alma 22: "If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest."
I love how the Book of Mormon missionaries started by converting the kings. They weren't afraid of showing the kings that God is the real King of us all. In this passage Aaron approaches the king respectfully by first bowing to him, which probably helped him not sound presumptious to demand that the king bow before God. Aaron knew that for the king to believe in God, the king needed to first accept that there was one greater than himself. I just love the parallels between a servant bowing to his king and anyone of us bowing before God. God is the most merciful king and if we come to him in humility he will grant unto us more than we can imagine (much more than even king Lamoni or his father offered).
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Addicted...(part 2)
Alma 15:17-"began to humble themselves before God, and began to assemble themselves together at their sanctuaries to worship God before the altar, watching and praying continually, that they might be delivered from Satan"
Here is a quick follow up post from the one below. Here we see those people that believed Alma and Amulek and were thus cast out of Ammonihah. We see that they took Alma's teachings to heart. As they humbled themselves, called upon the Lord (at the altar), watched and prayed continually that they were delivered from Satan. This is in stark contrast with the people of Ammonihah that rejected Alma's teachings. For they "did not believe in the repentance of their sins" (15:15). They probably didn't believe in repentance because they didn't believe they had any sins or, if they did, that they didn't have any need to repent of them. This is because "they were of the profession of Nehor" (15), an anti-Christ that taught "all mankind should be saved at the last day, for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life" (Alma 1:4). This sounds like an extreme (emphasis on extreme) version of "saved by grace", "just accept Him" Christianity that we see today. Still, I remember trying to teach plenty of people on the mission that didn't think they had need for repentance because as soon as they accepted it was impossible for them to sin anymore. A confusion caused by 1 John 3:9 that says "whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin". This is another example of the greatness of the Joseph Smith Inspired Version which reads, "whosoever is born of God doth not continue in sin".
Here is a quick follow up post from the one below. Here we see those people that believed Alma and Amulek and were thus cast out of Ammonihah. We see that they took Alma's teachings to heart. As they humbled themselves, called upon the Lord (at the altar), watched and prayed continually that they were delivered from Satan. This is in stark contrast with the people of Ammonihah that rejected Alma's teachings. For they "did not believe in the repentance of their sins" (15:15). They probably didn't believe in repentance because they didn't believe they had any sins or, if they did, that they didn't have any need to repent of them. This is because "they were of the profession of Nehor" (15), an anti-Christ that taught "all mankind should be saved at the last day, for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life" (Alma 1:4). This sounds like an extreme (emphasis on extreme) version of "saved by grace", "just accept Him" Christianity that we see today. Still, I remember trying to teach plenty of people on the mission that didn't think they had need for repentance because as soon as they accepted it was impossible for them to sin anymore. A confusion caused by 1 John 3:9 that says "whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin". This is another example of the greatness of the Joseph Smith Inspired Version which reads, "whosoever is born of God doth not continue in sin".
Friday, June 15, 2012
Addicted above what you can bear
1 Corinthians 10:13- "who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able"
Alma 13:28- "But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear."
For a long time I struggled to see how 1 Corinthians 10:13 was true when you think of people with serious addictions or appetites that they can not control. I would think of drug addicts, alcoholics, pornography addicts, and sex addicts of any type. I would wonder how it was possible that they weren't be tempted above that which they were able to bear. All of the failed drug rehabs, alcoholic anonymous, and quit smoking patches seem to show that you can be tempted above what ye are able. So what gives?
Then I came across Alma 13:28, which clearly states that its not a free ride to overcome temptation. The "that" is the crucial conjunction; there are some prerequisites before 1 Corinthians 10:13 is applicable. First, humble yourself before the Lord. Someone that just wants to quit (fill in the blank with whatever addiction) but doesn't admit that what they have been doing is a sin, will never have the Lords help to quit. Then you must call on his name. You have to repent and admit to him that you need his help desperately. Watch has many interpretations, I prefer for this application that you have to watch your back. You've got to be smart, avoid areas or friends that will draw you back to your addiction. "Watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words and your deeds" (Mosiah 4:30). And then you have to pray continually. Its not enough to pray once saying you want to quit and then forgetting God in the matter. You have to pray every day for strength to overcome the addiction, don't let it sneak back in. If you have done all these things, then the Lord will make sure the Adversary isn't allowed to tempt you above what you can bear. That doesn't mean that you won't sin again or that you won't fall back into this addiction. You can still have relapses. But it won't be because Satan tempted you more than you can bear, it will be because you lowered your guard and took off the armor of God for a moment. But that's when you have to remember this promise, and keep applying it over and over.
So why the discrepancy in the two verses? The audience. Although the people in Corinth were very lascivious and had much cause for rebuke, Paul still addressed his epistle to the Church. So his message was more, "don't blame God for your sins, you are members and know the doctrine, he hasn't let you be tempted more than you can bear, you let yourselves." While Alma was preaching to the people of Ammonihah who were a very wicked group as well, these people were not trying to live the gospel and thus he had to teach them repentance from the ground up. As they said to him when he first arrived "we are not of thy church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions" (Alma 8:11). This makes it clear why one would exclude this explanation while in the other it was necessary.
Alma 13:28- "But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear."
For a long time I struggled to see how 1 Corinthians 10:13 was true when you think of people with serious addictions or appetites that they can not control. I would think of drug addicts, alcoholics, pornography addicts, and sex addicts of any type. I would wonder how it was possible that they weren't be tempted above that which they were able to bear. All of the failed drug rehabs, alcoholic anonymous, and quit smoking patches seem to show that you can be tempted above what ye are able. So what gives?
Then I came across Alma 13:28, which clearly states that its not a free ride to overcome temptation. The "that" is the crucial conjunction; there are some prerequisites before 1 Corinthians 10:13 is applicable. First, humble yourself before the Lord. Someone that just wants to quit (fill in the blank with whatever addiction) but doesn't admit that what they have been doing is a sin, will never have the Lords help to quit. Then you must call on his name. You have to repent and admit to him that you need his help desperately. Watch has many interpretations, I prefer for this application that you have to watch your back. You've got to be smart, avoid areas or friends that will draw you back to your addiction. "Watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words and your deeds" (Mosiah 4:30). And then you have to pray continually. Its not enough to pray once saying you want to quit and then forgetting God in the matter. You have to pray every day for strength to overcome the addiction, don't let it sneak back in. If you have done all these things, then the Lord will make sure the Adversary isn't allowed to tempt you above what you can bear. That doesn't mean that you won't sin again or that you won't fall back into this addiction. You can still have relapses. But it won't be because Satan tempted you more than you can bear, it will be because you lowered your guard and took off the armor of God for a moment. But that's when you have to remember this promise, and keep applying it over and over.
So why the discrepancy in the two verses? The audience. Although the people in Corinth were very lascivious and had much cause for rebuke, Paul still addressed his epistle to the Church. So his message was more, "don't blame God for your sins, you are members and know the doctrine, he hasn't let you be tempted more than you can bear, you let yourselves." While Alma was preaching to the people of Ammonihah who were a very wicked group as well, these people were not trying to live the gospel and thus he had to teach them repentance from the ground up. As they said to him when he first arrived "we are not of thy church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions" (Alma 8:11). This makes it clear why one would exclude this explanation while in the other it was necessary.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Condemned by Works
Alma 12:14: "For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us."
It is important to note that the chapter heading adds that we will also be judged of our beliefs. Also crucial to understand is that this will be the case only "if we have hardened our hearts against the word" (verse 13).
Too often in the Church we think that if we are: reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, paying our tithing, keeping the Word of Wisdom, going to Church, and serving others, that those works will save us. In no part of the scriptures or modern revelation has anyone said, "keep the Sabbath day and you will be saved." Instead they say, "for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming." The negative verbiage being the key difference, if we are tithed we will avoid being condemned but the act of tithing alone will not prepare us for exaltation (even terrestrial beings will not be burned at his coming). So why are we taught to do all these works? Because if we aren't full of good works, then we must be full of bad works (too many scriptures to cite them all: Matthew 12:35, Matthew 7:17, Moroni 7:11, Matthew 6:24, Luke 11:23). For example, one of the key steps in breaking an addiction is filling our lives with good things so at first we don't have time for the bad and then eventually we don't have a desire for the bad. Righteous works have more to do with learning to love the Lord through obedience and then becoming a saint through the Atonement by repentance (Mosiah 3:19). Furthermore, Alma says "the plan of redemption is made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works" (verse 30). So in order for us to know the mysteries of God (such as those in the temple, which are essential for exaltation) we must have holy works. On the contrary, if we harden our hearts against what the prophets of all ages have taught us (namely repent and keep the commandments), then our words, works, beliefs and thoughts will condemn us. "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37) So let us be full of good works not so we can brag but rather so we aren't full of evil works.
It is important to note that the chapter heading adds that we will also be judged of our beliefs. Also crucial to understand is that this will be the case only "if we have hardened our hearts against the word" (verse 13).
Too often in the Church we think that if we are: reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, paying our tithing, keeping the Word of Wisdom, going to Church, and serving others, that those works will save us. In no part of the scriptures or modern revelation has anyone said, "keep the Sabbath day and you will be saved." Instead they say, "for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming." The negative verbiage being the key difference, if we are tithed we will avoid being condemned but the act of tithing alone will not prepare us for exaltation (even terrestrial beings will not be burned at his coming). So why are we taught to do all these works? Because if we aren't full of good works, then we must be full of bad works (too many scriptures to cite them all: Matthew 12:35, Matthew 7:17, Moroni 7:11, Matthew 6:24, Luke 11:23). For example, one of the key steps in breaking an addiction is filling our lives with good things so at first we don't have time for the bad and then eventually we don't have a desire for the bad. Righteous works have more to do with learning to love the Lord through obedience and then becoming a saint through the Atonement by repentance (Mosiah 3:19). Furthermore, Alma says "the plan of redemption is made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works" (verse 30). So in order for us to know the mysteries of God (such as those in the temple, which are essential for exaltation) we must have holy works. On the contrary, if we harden our hearts against what the prophets of all ages have taught us (namely repent and keep the commandments), then our words, works, beliefs and thoughts will condemn us. "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37) So let us be full of good works not so we can brag but rather so we aren't full of evil works.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Receiving the Prophet in our Homes
Alma 8:20 "I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art a holy prophet of God, and I know that thou wilt be a blessing unto me and my house."
In this verse, Amulek is receiving Alma into his home because the people of Ammonihah want to kill him. The testimony that Amulek bears is one that we should all feel capable to express towards our Latter-day Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. For "I am a Mormon, and I know that President Monson is a holy prophet of God, and I know that his teachings will be a blessing unto me and my house." May we all receive his teachings into our homes and into our hearts by studying the most recent conference talks and by allowing our home teachers to share his messages.
In this verse, Amulek is receiving Alma into his home because the people of Ammonihah want to kill him. The testimony that Amulek bears is one that we should all feel capable to express towards our Latter-day Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. For "I am a Mormon, and I know that President Monson is a holy prophet of God, and I know that his teachings will be a blessing unto me and my house." May we all receive his teachings into our homes and into our hearts by studying the most recent conference talks and by allowing our home teachers to share his messages.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
"We agree"
So with graduation I was surprised to see a few anti-Mormons about Provo. Sometimes when I see anti-Mormon people out displaying their signs that say things like "Only Christ can save" or "Saved by Grace", etc, I want to say to them "yes, that is true, we agree." I personally think that anti-Mormon people do some good since they do help us to remember these things that we believe and everybody needs a reminder, no matter the source. I don't think I have ever read a sign from an anti that was actually preaching false doctrine. However, there is a strong synergistic message behind what they are saying by the fact that they are using the symbol of the cross or a biblical scripture (thinking that this somehow shows that it comes from their beliefs and not ours). If their objective is just to remind us that Christ is "the way, the light and the truth", why can't they use our own scriptures that say the same thing? I would appreciate their message a lot more if they respected our cannon of scripture and quoted Mosiah 3:17 that says "there shall be no other name giver nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ." (This post requires some reading through the lines, because obviously I understand that their message is rarely-if ever- that of teaching but more of bashing, but I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they do want to do some good).
Moreover
Mosiah 2:40-41 "Awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression. And MOREOVER, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God."
Verse 41 has always been one of my favorite verses, but this last time reading through I realized the importance of one word that I don't think I ever noticed before. Moreover. In the previous verses king Benjamin had just elaborated on the awful condition of hell and how horrible our guilt will be if we don't repent. However, he doesn't leave us at that. He recognizes that fear of punishment is not the most elevated form of motivation. I believe this is why the Lord has never given an elaborated description of outer darkness. Although he has explained a lot about it, he also said in D&C 76:45-46 "and the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man". This obviously shows that it is not essential for our salvation to have a complete knowledge of damnation. Instead, the Lord delights in focusing on the positive and the beautiful. "Moreover" he would rather we focus our minds on the blessed and happy state of the Celestial Kingdom (of which he has given a grand revelation). I think we could all learn a lot from this lesson. Although it does serve some good to see that "wickedness never was happiness", we need to focus even more on the fact that righteousness is happiness. In other words, let us focus on the glorious blessings the Lord has promised us and not get discouraged by all the evil that surrounds us.
Verse 41 has always been one of my favorite verses, but this last time reading through I realized the importance of one word that I don't think I ever noticed before. Moreover. In the previous verses king Benjamin had just elaborated on the awful condition of hell and how horrible our guilt will be if we don't repent. However, he doesn't leave us at that. He recognizes that fear of punishment is not the most elevated form of motivation. I believe this is why the Lord has never given an elaborated description of outer darkness. Although he has explained a lot about it, he also said in D&C 76:45-46 "and the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man". This obviously shows that it is not essential for our salvation to have a complete knowledge of damnation. Instead, the Lord delights in focusing on the positive and the beautiful. "Moreover" he would rather we focus our minds on the blessed and happy state of the Celestial Kingdom (of which he has given a grand revelation). I think we could all learn a lot from this lesson. Although it does serve some good to see that "wickedness never was happiness", we need to focus even more on the fact that righteousness is happiness. In other words, let us focus on the glorious blessings the Lord has promised us and not get discouraged by all the evil that surrounds us.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Priesthood Humility
George Albert Smith-"The authority of our Heavenly Father is upon the earth for blessing of mankind, not to make those who receive that authority arrogant, but to make them humble; not to make those who have received special privileges feel that they are greater than others, but to make us humble in our souls, prayerful in our hearts, and considerate of all men in all that we do, and thus exemplify by upright lives that which our Heavenly Father desires us to teach."
I found it profound to think about how the greatest power that God has given to man is intended to humble us. That is a very unique concept to the world. When someone is honored by receiving a prize or an award it is primarily for them to be acknowledged. However, in the priesthood, one receives this honor in order to serve others and to realize that they are only a servant in the hands of their Heavenly Father.
Matthew 23:11-"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
Let us be careful and remember why we have been given the Priesthood. The Lord picked a fisherman to be his chief apostle in the meridian of time and a farm-boy to be his prophet in this dispensation. So the fact that he has chosen us to receive the Priesthood does not mean that we are the most skilled that he could find, but that we are hopefully the most humble. Possessing the Priesthood should remind us of how weak we would be without the Savior.
I found it profound to think about how the greatest power that God has given to man is intended to humble us. That is a very unique concept to the world. When someone is honored by receiving a prize or an award it is primarily for them to be acknowledged. However, in the priesthood, one receives this honor in order to serve others and to realize that they are only a servant in the hands of their Heavenly Father.
Matthew 23:11-"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
Let us be careful and remember why we have been given the Priesthood. The Lord picked a fisherman to be his chief apostle in the meridian of time and a farm-boy to be his prophet in this dispensation. So the fact that he has chosen us to receive the Priesthood does not mean that we are the most skilled that he could find, but that we are hopefully the most humble. Possessing the Priesthood should remind us of how weak we would be without the Savior.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
I Love Erica Lynne (Part 2)
So 6 months ago I wrote a post about how much I love Erica and why it's an essential part of the gospel to love your wife. Today I just wanted to reiterate that with a few reasons why I love Erica.
- I love that she lets me act silly
- I love that she helps me be my best
- I love her because she respects herself as a daughter of God
- I love her because she desires to return to the temple often
- I love her because she is an example to me of a righteous disciple
- I love her because she encourages me to read the Daughters of My Kingdom book and to vote
- I love her because she understands how important my mission was for me, and went back with me and makes things out of my mission ties to help me remember
- I love her because she plays Quirkle with me...even though she always wins :-( but hopefully not tonight ;-0
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Every Worthy Male
The following Blog is in direct response to a statement given by Brother Bott to the Washington Post about why Blacks weren't allowed to have the Priesthood.
In my first semester back from the mission I took a Pearl of Great Price class that I really enjoyed. As part of that class we were required to write a 10 page research paper, which turned out to be one of the more important papers for me personally that I ever wrote. I choose to write mine on "Blacks and the Priesthood." I thought this was a pretty simple paper to write in connection with the Pearl of Great Price, since Cain was cursed in the book of Moses (don't stop reading now). I wrote my entire paper and was done with two weeks to spare, so I presented it to my professor for feedback. What he told me really surprised me. He told me that he would tare up my paper and give me an F if I turned it in like I had written it. He told me to go back and find a deeper explanation than the one I had given. Now the reasoning I had given was the exact same that Brother Bott gave to the Washington Post. Namely, that Blacks didn't get the Priesthood because they were descendants of Cain and were cursed. Although this stance has some appealing support from peculiar scriptures and it was taught throughout the Church for nearly 150 years, it is not supported by the Church. I learned this through rigorous study as I tried to open my eyes to the possibility that there could be a different reasoning. Finally I was able to conclude that it really is not known what the origin of the ban was, but that we can be sure that it is better to not rekindle any feelings of racism.
So needless to say, I was grateful for that experience when I heard of the Church's response to Brother Bott's comments. Their response was reaffirming of what I had learned:
"The positions attributed to BYU professor Randy Bott in a recent Washington Post article absolutely do not represent the teachings and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU faculty members do not speak for the Church. It is unfortunate that the Church was not given a chance to respond to what others said.
The Church’s position is clear—we believe all people are God’s children and are equal in His eyes and in the Church. We do not tolerate racism in any form.
For a time in the Church there was a restriction on the priesthood for male members of African descent. It is not known precisely why, how, or when this restriction began in the Church but what is clear is that it ended decades ago. Some have attempted to explain the reason for this restriction but these attempts should be viewed as speculation and opinion, not doctrine. The Church is not bound by speculation or opinions given with limited understanding.
We condemn racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church."
In my first semester back from the mission I took a Pearl of Great Price class that I really enjoyed. As part of that class we were required to write a 10 page research paper, which turned out to be one of the more important papers for me personally that I ever wrote. I choose to write mine on "Blacks and the Priesthood." I thought this was a pretty simple paper to write in connection with the Pearl of Great Price, since Cain was cursed in the book of Moses (don't stop reading now). I wrote my entire paper and was done with two weeks to spare, so I presented it to my professor for feedback. What he told me really surprised me. He told me that he would tare up my paper and give me an F if I turned it in like I had written it. He told me to go back and find a deeper explanation than the one I had given. Now the reasoning I had given was the exact same that Brother Bott gave to the Washington Post. Namely, that Blacks didn't get the Priesthood because they were descendants of Cain and were cursed. Although this stance has some appealing support from peculiar scriptures and it was taught throughout the Church for nearly 150 years, it is not supported by the Church. I learned this through rigorous study as I tried to open my eyes to the possibility that there could be a different reasoning. Finally I was able to conclude that it really is not known what the origin of the ban was, but that we can be sure that it is better to not rekindle any feelings of racism.
So needless to say, I was grateful for that experience when I heard of the Church's response to Brother Bott's comments. Their response was reaffirming of what I had learned:
"The positions attributed to BYU professor Randy Bott in a recent Washington Post article absolutely do not represent the teachings and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU faculty members do not speak for the Church. It is unfortunate that the Church was not given a chance to respond to what others said.
The Church’s position is clear—we believe all people are God’s children and are equal in His eyes and in the Church. We do not tolerate racism in any form.
For a time in the Church there was a restriction on the priesthood for male members of African descent. It is not known precisely why, how, or when this restriction began in the Church but what is clear is that it ended decades ago. Some have attempted to explain the reason for this restriction but these attempts should be viewed as speculation and opinion, not doctrine. The Church is not bound by speculation or opinions given with limited understanding.
We condemn racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church."
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Prophets as a Pattern
D&C 52:14 "And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations—"
This verse was kind of the theme this week in stake conference. In summary, that Satan is real and he is trying to make us feel inadequate like him, but that God has given us a pattern in all things to protect us from deceit. This is a typical message that doesn't sound like anything new, but Elder Koelliker made a connection I had never thought of for this verse. He said that "prophets are one of the patterns the Lord has given us to follow." I started to think and realized that prophets really do help us not be deceived and how they really do give us a pattern or example to follow. Then today in family scripture study we read the following passage:
Enos 1: 22 And there were exceedingly many prophets among us. And the people were a stiffnecked people, hard to understand.
This verse was kind of the theme this week in stake conference. In summary, that Satan is real and he is trying to make us feel inadequate like him, but that God has given us a pattern in all things to protect us from deceit. This is a typical message that doesn't sound like anything new, but Elder Koelliker made a connection I had never thought of for this verse. He said that "prophets are one of the patterns the Lord has given us to follow." I started to think and realized that prophets really do help us not be deceived and how they really do give us a pattern or example to follow. Then today in family scripture study we read the following passage:
Enos 1: 22 And there were exceedingly many prophets among us. And the people were a stiffnecked people, hard to understand.
23 And there was nothing save it was exceeding harshness, preaching and prophesying of wars, and contentions, and destructions, and continually reminding them of death, and the duration of eternity, and the judgments and the power of God, and all these things—stirring them up continually to keep them in the fear of the Lord. I say there was nothing short of these things, and exceedingly great plainness of speech, would keep them from going down speedily to destruction. And after this manner do I write concerning them.
Before, I thought of this verse as only referring to the Lamanites and didn't pay much attention to it. However, this verse took on new meaning as I realized that it is very applicable to us. We too live in a day of many prophets (true prophets) that give us an example so that we are not deceived into following the philosophies of men. But let us not be as stiffnecked and hard to understand that the only hope for us is to strike fear into our hearts. Following because of fear (when it is meant in the literal sense of trembling) is not as uplifting as following because of love.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Importance of the One
3 Nephi 11:15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
This weekend the Elder's Quorum had a BBQ and the weather was perfect. Unfortunately, we were very low in numbers. Those of us that were there were basically only those that were in leadership positions. So judging this activity quickly I said to myself that it was somewhat of a failure. There was, however, one member of the quorum that was there that doesn't always make it to Priesthood and that probably doesn't know many of the Elders. That was confirmed by the fact that he asked each of my Presidency members their names. It was about this time that I realized how much importance there is in the one. Although the gospel is intended for families, it is also very personal and individual. I realized that although it was sad that we didn't have more Elders come, it was by no means a failure. It is all worth it to help even one person feel more of the Saviors love.
D&C 18:10 "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;" 15 "bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"
I was thinking about this as I partook of the sacrament today. I felt impressed by the fact that we each individually partake of the emblems. Since the sacrament represents Christ's body and Atonement, it truly shows that it is a personal Atonement that although it covers all of us it also covers each of us individually. I think it is for this reason that we don't just have a priest up front that partakes for the whole congregation and why we should respect everyone's right to have an intimate moment as they partake. It is by this reverence for the Atonement that we can feel what the Nephites felt in 3 Nephi 11.
This weekend the Elder's Quorum had a BBQ and the weather was perfect. Unfortunately, we were very low in numbers. Those of us that were there were basically only those that were in leadership positions. So judging this activity quickly I said to myself that it was somewhat of a failure. There was, however, one member of the quorum that was there that doesn't always make it to Priesthood and that probably doesn't know many of the Elders. That was confirmed by the fact that he asked each of my Presidency members their names. It was about this time that I realized how much importance there is in the one. Although the gospel is intended for families, it is also very personal and individual. I realized that although it was sad that we didn't have more Elders come, it was by no means a failure. It is all worth it to help even one person feel more of the Saviors love.
D&C 18:10 "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;" 15 "bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"
I was thinking about this as I partook of the sacrament today. I felt impressed by the fact that we each individually partake of the emblems. Since the sacrament represents Christ's body and Atonement, it truly shows that it is a personal Atonement that although it covers all of us it also covers each of us individually. I think it is for this reason that we don't just have a priest up front that partakes for the whole congregation and why we should respect everyone's right to have an intimate moment as they partake. It is by this reverence for the Atonement that we can feel what the Nephites felt in 3 Nephi 11.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Parable of the Talents (Churches)
Matthew 25:29 "from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."
The parable of the talents has some clear applications, but I wanted to take this true and clear principle and apply it in a different context. I feel like the parable of the talents can be applied to the different degrees of light and truth that we find amongst the different churches and religions. The one that had the most talents (5) had the most required of him ("where much is given much is required"), this is likened unto a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been given all the talents (doctrines, covenants, and tokens) necessary for exaltation. One can easily extrapolate from this parable that if the servant who received five talents had squandered them, the master would have taken them from him and his condemnation would have been even worse than the one that hid his one talent. Next, the man with two talents is likened unto a good honest man of a non-LDS Christian religion that sees great worth in the truths (talents) he has received. However, instead of being complacent with the two talents and saying "I have enough, I don't need more truth", he applied what the Lord had given him and discovered more. This man realized that having accepted the Lord and believing the Bible to be the word of God (the most common two talents people in non-LDS Christian churches possess) was just the beginning. Too often good people of other faiths take offense because we offer them more to add upon the truths they already have, but that is in direct defiance of the principle taught in the parable of the talents. The Lord gives us something because he intends us to multiple it! The Lord didn't give us the Bible to shut up the heavens! He didn't send his Son so that we didn't need anymore commandments! He gave us those as a starting block (two talents) so that we would multiply them and realize how much more He has in store for us. Unfortunately, the servant with one talent is the prime example of someone not recognizing what the Lord wants them to do with what he has given them. These type of men are found all over the world. Priestcrafts fall most often in this category. They don't want to lose that one talent they have, they don't want to have to abandon their ministry that is making them a living just to accept the further lights and truths the restoration provides. Sadly, from them will be taken even the one thing they have (their congregation). Remember though that this servant was not destined to hide his one talent. Just as Sydney Rigdon brought an entire congregation with him into the Church, so any preacher with his one talent could decide that further truth is more important than being afraid to lose his one possession.
The parable of the talents has some clear applications, but I wanted to take this true and clear principle and apply it in a different context. I feel like the parable of the talents can be applied to the different degrees of light and truth that we find amongst the different churches and religions. The one that had the most talents (5) had the most required of him ("where much is given much is required"), this is likened unto a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been given all the talents (doctrines, covenants, and tokens) necessary for exaltation. One can easily extrapolate from this parable that if the servant who received five talents had squandered them, the master would have taken them from him and his condemnation would have been even worse than the one that hid his one talent. Next, the man with two talents is likened unto a good honest man of a non-LDS Christian religion that sees great worth in the truths (talents) he has received. However, instead of being complacent with the two talents and saying "I have enough, I don't need more truth", he applied what the Lord had given him and discovered more. This man realized that having accepted the Lord and believing the Bible to be the word of God (the most common two talents people in non-LDS Christian churches possess) was just the beginning. Too often good people of other faiths take offense because we offer them more to add upon the truths they already have, but that is in direct defiance of the principle taught in the parable of the talents. The Lord gives us something because he intends us to multiple it! The Lord didn't give us the Bible to shut up the heavens! He didn't send his Son so that we didn't need anymore commandments! He gave us those as a starting block (two talents) so that we would multiply them and realize how much more He has in store for us. Unfortunately, the servant with one talent is the prime example of someone not recognizing what the Lord wants them to do with what he has given them. These type of men are found all over the world. Priestcrafts fall most often in this category. They don't want to lose that one talent they have, they don't want to have to abandon their ministry that is making them a living just to accept the further lights and truths the restoration provides. Sadly, from them will be taken even the one thing they have (their congregation). Remember though that this servant was not destined to hide his one talent. Just as Sydney Rigdon brought an entire congregation with him into the Church, so any preacher with his one talent could decide that further truth is more important than being afraid to lose his one possession.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Advantage in the World to Come
D&C 130: 19 "And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his dilligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."
This scripture has gained a much more immediate meaning to me over the last few weeks. I have experienced a temporal application of this eternal principle which has strengthened my belief in the truth of this doctrine. Currently I am taking a math class that seems to be in a different language. The subject matter is one that I should have learned years ago. However, my freshman year I never understood this area of math and really slacked off. I thought that it never was going to matter, and in all my Chemical Engineering classes it hadn't mattered for 6 years. But now that I am preparing for graduate school, everything is coming full circle. I feel like I am at a significant disadvantage because I never learned what the professor takes for basic knowledge. But who do I have to blame but myself? I thought that I could hide from my past and that it would never catch up to me. I thought that 2 years of a faithful mission would allow me to ignore my previous mistakes. On a very temporal and small scale I am learning now why it is that we should strive to learn eternal truths in this life rather than in the next. The learning curve is steep and I miss out on the more important lessons because I still haven't mastered the basics. If we want to be exalted we will have to learn how to love our enemies, either now or in the eternities. It's better to get a head start now, so that we can focus on our eternal progression afterward.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
One with the Lord
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
2 Nephi 4:34 "I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
So the last few days I've felt completed overwhelmed as I realize that there is no way that I can do all the things I need to this semester. As I brainstormed ways that I might be able to manage surviving this semester, my solutions always followed the lines of "I can..." or "I will...". No matter how could the proposition sounded, this solutions never calmed my nerves. Instead they probably added to them as I realized how much I would have to do. It wasn't until fasting about this problem and feeling the Spirit during testimony meeting that the answer came. The Spirit told me something I had always preached but in a way I had never thought of before. "Trust in the Lord and not in myself." "All things are possible through Christ." Although I have heard these principles numerous times, usually by the time they get to my brain I interpret them as "I've gotta work hard and pray every once in a while so God knows I want his help." As I knelt and prayed to break my fast this time, I found myself repeatedly saying, "I can do this if you help me" but every time I said that I realized that in my mind I still felt like the entire burden was upon me. Although the principle was true, (there is nothing wrong with looking it as God helping you) it just wasn't sinking into my Spirit that way. I tried saying that phrase at least three times in my prayer, but each time my whole soul rejected it. It wasn't until I said, "we can do this" that my heart was at ease. It was that perspective that made my burden seem light. It's not me and God separately working. I'm not the day shift with him as the night shift. We are one, and we can do this. Of all the times in my life, I need now more than ever to be unified with God. I know that Christ can accomplish anything and it would be stupid of me to have him sitting on the bench and playing 1 on 5.
My biggest challenge this semester will be managing my time and trying to accomplish all that I feel I need to. Erica and I were discussing how the Savior knows everything we can ever go through because of the Atonement. But when it comes to my dilemma, the Savior not only experienced that vicariously, but of all the people that ever lived upon the face of the earth he understood what it felt like to not think there was enough time in the world to accomplish all he needed to. Just think about it. Because of Jewish custom he wasn't allowed to start his ministry until he was 30 years old and he knew that he would only leave a few years. In three years he had to: restore the truth, organize the Church, be a light to the world, prepare for the Atonement and atone for our sins (to name a few). If I truly am one with the Lord, "greater works than these shall we do" (John 14:12).
2 Nephi 4:34 "I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
So the last few days I've felt completed overwhelmed as I realize that there is no way that I can do all the things I need to this semester. As I brainstormed ways that I might be able to manage surviving this semester, my solutions always followed the lines of "I can..." or "I will...". No matter how could the proposition sounded, this solutions never calmed my nerves. Instead they probably added to them as I realized how much I would have to do. It wasn't until fasting about this problem and feeling the Spirit during testimony meeting that the answer came. The Spirit told me something I had always preached but in a way I had never thought of before. "Trust in the Lord and not in myself." "All things are possible through Christ." Although I have heard these principles numerous times, usually by the time they get to my brain I interpret them as "I've gotta work hard and pray every once in a while so God knows I want his help." As I knelt and prayed to break my fast this time, I found myself repeatedly saying, "I can do this if you help me" but every time I said that I realized that in my mind I still felt like the entire burden was upon me. Although the principle was true, (there is nothing wrong with looking it as God helping you) it just wasn't sinking into my Spirit that way. I tried saying that phrase at least three times in my prayer, but each time my whole soul rejected it. It wasn't until I said, "we can do this" that my heart was at ease. It was that perspective that made my burden seem light. It's not me and God separately working. I'm not the day shift with him as the night shift. We are one, and we can do this. Of all the times in my life, I need now more than ever to be unified with God. I know that Christ can accomplish anything and it would be stupid of me to have him sitting on the bench and playing 1 on 5.
My biggest challenge this semester will be managing my time and trying to accomplish all that I feel I need to. Erica and I were discussing how the Savior knows everything we can ever go through because of the Atonement. But when it comes to my dilemma, the Savior not only experienced that vicariously, but of all the people that ever lived upon the face of the earth he understood what it felt like to not think there was enough time in the world to accomplish all he needed to. Just think about it. Because of Jewish custom he wasn't allowed to start his ministry until he was 30 years old and he knew that he would only leave a few years. In three years he had to: restore the truth, organize the Church, be a light to the world, prepare for the Atonement and atone for our sins (to name a few). If I truly am one with the Lord, "greater works than these shall we do" (John 14:12).
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