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.'"
Thursday, July 26, 2012
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).
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