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.

 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.  

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.

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.