Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, August 28, 2009
Busy Week and More to Come
I have been reading my scriptures everyday but I haven't kept up my blog. I apologize. Life is going to get extremely busy for the next two weeks. I am in the last days of this term at school and that means that I have 2 projects and my final portfolio to put together by the 9th of September. So I will most likely be logging on my notes on the Sabbath. But this morning I have a few minutes to put down my thoughts so I will bring things up to date.
I've been reading 2 Nephi 15 (Isaiah 5) and it has taken a great deal of thought and prayer to understand the symbolism of this chapter. I am grateful for my years of teaching seminary and gospel doctrine because the things I learned during those years have returned as I have studied this chapter.
verses 1-2 are filled with symbols that the Savior used when He was teaching those in Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
vineyard = (see vs 7) the house of Israel, therefore, anyone today who have made covenants with the Lord need to pay attention since we are the house of Israel today.
fence/hedge = a means of protection from predators
gathered out stones = cultivating the land in preparation for planting
choicest vine = (see vs 7) men of Judah; today I am thinking the priesthood bearers and those blessed by the priesthood
tower = a means to see danger when it is far away; today it could symbolize the Prophet and General Authorities of the Church
wine press = always associated with the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ and can be associated with the trials and tribulations of mortality that refine our souls
verses 5-6 show the consequences of rejecting the ways of the Lord
hedge removed & breaking of the wall = protection of the Lord is gone
eaten up = disease and predators devour the plants [children of the covenant]
not pruned or digged = the care of the Lord is removed and weeds take over the garden is strangled, today when we choose to ignore the Holy Ghost and/or break our covenants we will loose the care of the Lord in our lives and we are left to ourselves
no rain = water is a basic need of every living thing, the garden will experience great harm when water is withheld for only a short period of time; today without the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost we will loose our way very rapidly in a world that no longer values the ways of the Lord and calls wickedness righteousness.
September 1, 2009 Yes, life has gotten so very busy, the last 9 days of this term are upon me and I have not kept current with this blog. But I have kept current with my reading. Let me finish transcribing my handwritten notes:
2 Nephi 15:7-25 The people of the House of Israel loose blessings and the protection of the Lord because they choose to follow the ways of the world around them. They choose to live to fit into the society that does not believe in the Lord or His ways. We must learn from this example that the consequences of such decisions are dire. Humility and repentance are keys to reconciliation with God.
The Lord lists the sins that causes the people to draw away from Him in verses 18-23: vanity, arrogance, deception (calling evil good and seeing darkness as light), pride, addiction, and oppression/force. The consequence of making these choice is experiencing the anger of the Lord and the destruction of their souls.
Isaiah foretells our time in verses 26-29 when he sees the restoration of the gospel and the Lord's church on the earth. We have now reached the point where the sun truly does not set on the Church. Missionaries are sharing the gospel message throughout the world every hours of the day. It is a remarkable time to live in. And the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled to our blessing or destruction according to the choices we make.
2 Nephi 16 (Isaiah 6) I don't understand this chapter and I am grateful for the chapter heading to direct my attention to the important portions (1) Isaiah sees God, (2) he is forgiven of his sins, (3) he was called as a prophet to teach the people, and (4) we are told that we can perceive the Holy Ghost in our lives by humbly seeking to see with our eyes the hand of the Lord in our lives, hear the whispering of the still small voice, and feel with our heart the converting power of the Spirit. When we do the Lord promises us that He will heal us from the affects of mortality that cause harm to our bodies and spirits.
2 Nephi 17 (Isaiah 7) This chapter relates to war but we can glean important counsel from the Lord to (1) take heed--pay attention, listen carefully to the Lord through the Spirit, our Leaders, and our impressions; (2) be quiet--turn off the world and its influences for a time each day to communicate with Heavenly Father; (3) fear not--trust that the Lord will keep His promises and that man has no power in comparison to Heavenly Father so whatever he may do will not have a lasting impact on our eternal lifes unless we allow it; (4) be not faint hearted--don't give up or give in to the "what if..." of mortality; overcome procrastination, and don't be discouraged while waiting upon the Lord. (5) "if ye will not believe" be aware that the Lord can do nothing in our lives without our faith in the Savior--we must be believing. Finally we must know that the Savior did come to earth (vs 14-16) and He did all that He promised He would do, therefore, He will continue to keep His promises in our lives.
There I am completely caught up. I will be posting again on Sunday because every other minute will be filled until the end of the term.
I've been reading 2 Nephi 15 (Isaiah 5) and it has taken a great deal of thought and prayer to understand the symbolism of this chapter. I am grateful for my years of teaching seminary and gospel doctrine because the things I learned during those years have returned as I have studied this chapter.
verses 1-2 are filled with symbols that the Savior used when He was teaching those in Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
vineyard = (see vs 7) the house of Israel, therefore, anyone today who have made covenants with the Lord need to pay attention since we are the house of Israel today.
fence/hedge = a means of protection from predators
gathered out stones = cultivating the land in preparation for planting
choicest vine = (see vs 7) men of Judah; today I am thinking the priesthood bearers and those blessed by the priesthood
tower = a means to see danger when it is far away; today it could symbolize the Prophet and General Authorities of the Church
wine press = always associated with the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ and can be associated with the trials and tribulations of mortality that refine our souls
verses 5-6 show the consequences of rejecting the ways of the Lord
hedge removed & breaking of the wall = protection of the Lord is gone
eaten up = disease and predators devour the plants [children of the covenant]
not pruned or digged = the care of the Lord is removed and weeds take over the garden is strangled, today when we choose to ignore the Holy Ghost and/or break our covenants we will loose the care of the Lord in our lives and we are left to ourselves
no rain = water is a basic need of every living thing, the garden will experience great harm when water is withheld for only a short period of time; today without the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost we will loose our way very rapidly in a world that no longer values the ways of the Lord and calls wickedness righteousness.
September 1, 2009 Yes, life has gotten so very busy, the last 9 days of this term are upon me and I have not kept current with this blog. But I have kept current with my reading. Let me finish transcribing my handwritten notes:
2 Nephi 15:7-25 The people of the House of Israel loose blessings and the protection of the Lord because they choose to follow the ways of the world around them. They choose to live to fit into the society that does not believe in the Lord or His ways. We must learn from this example that the consequences of such decisions are dire. Humility and repentance are keys to reconciliation with God.
The Lord lists the sins that causes the people to draw away from Him in verses 18-23: vanity, arrogance, deception (calling evil good and seeing darkness as light), pride, addiction, and oppression/force. The consequence of making these choice is experiencing the anger of the Lord and the destruction of their souls.
Isaiah foretells our time in verses 26-29 when he sees the restoration of the gospel and the Lord's church on the earth. We have now reached the point where the sun truly does not set on the Church. Missionaries are sharing the gospel message throughout the world every hours of the day. It is a remarkable time to live in. And the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled to our blessing or destruction according to the choices we make.
2 Nephi 16 (Isaiah 6) I don't understand this chapter and I am grateful for the chapter heading to direct my attention to the important portions (1) Isaiah sees God, (2) he is forgiven of his sins, (3) he was called as a prophet to teach the people, and (4) we are told that we can perceive the Holy Ghost in our lives by humbly seeking to see with our eyes the hand of the Lord in our lives, hear the whispering of the still small voice, and feel with our heart the converting power of the Spirit. When we do the Lord promises us that He will heal us from the affects of mortality that cause harm to our bodies and spirits.
2 Nephi 17 (Isaiah 7) This chapter relates to war but we can glean important counsel from the Lord to (1) take heed--pay attention, listen carefully to the Lord through the Spirit, our Leaders, and our impressions; (2) be quiet--turn off the world and its influences for a time each day to communicate with Heavenly Father; (3) fear not--trust that the Lord will keep His promises and that man has no power in comparison to Heavenly Father so whatever he may do will not have a lasting impact on our eternal lifes unless we allow it; (4) be not faint hearted--don't give up or give in to the "what if..." of mortality; overcome procrastination, and don't be discouraged while waiting upon the Lord. (5) "if ye will not believe" be aware that the Lord can do nothing in our lives without our faith in the Savior--we must be believing. Finally we must know that the Savior did come to earth (vs 14-16) and He did all that He promised He would do, therefore, He will continue to keep His promises in our lives.
There I am completely caught up. I will be posting again on Sunday because every other minute will be filled until the end of the term.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Its Tuesday Already!
I swear that time is speeding up, can it possibly be Tuesday already? I've been so busy with school, work, my calling that I haven't taken time to record my scripture reading. But before that I am going to post my first Photoshop assignment, it was so much fun. The assignment was to create an image that reflect "cubism". I was going for the feeling of falling apart. What do you think?
Well now for my scripture study. I've entered the "Isaiah Chapters" and rather than skip ahead or ignore I will jot down my impressions, which are in no way presented as an accurate interpretation of Isaiah. For that you will need to help of Heavenly Father by the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Although I've prayed for understanding I know that these impressions are for me and if they help you I am grateful.
2 Nephi 12 (Isaiah 2) Although Isaiah is writing of the conquest of Israel by Babylon there are so many comparisons to be made to our day. I suppose that is why Nephi included it in his records since his records were intended for our day. In this chapter you see the consequences of relying on the arm of "man" and the foolishness of trusting in wealth, social status, and supposed superior education if these things are not used in our lives as intended by the Lord. I find it interesting that both poor and wealthy, uneducated and well educated choose pride over humility. And he consequence of being proud is destruction (see verses 10-22) the Lord is serious about using the blessings He gives us to help and uplift our brothers and sisters around us.
2 Nephi 13 (Isaiah 3) I started to look up footnotes on these scriptures so that I would have a better understanding and perspective. I often forget that Lehi and his family were as familiar with Isaiah as we are with Joseph Smith. In other words the history was more current for them than for us so a review of the footnotes helps put things into perspective.
What I learn from this chapter is the hazard of allowing our everyday lives to become so focused on things of the world that we forget to draw closer to the Savior by doing the "small things" (i.e. prayer, scripture study, service, etc.) I was impressed by verse 5 because our world is so "politically correct" that a majority of people have allowed evil to appear as good and good to appear as evil. Pride is a malady of youth and the elderly, poor and rich, every aspect of our society. The Lord's answer to these maladies is destruction of things temporal and in some cases spiritual. We must be aware that the death of our spirit is just as real as the death of our bodies if we choose to walk away from the Lord. On the other hand the Lord promises to bless and protect those who follow him (see verse10).
It is very interesting to note that the Lord speaks directly to His daughters in verses 16-26 and into the next chapter. When you consider the influence of a woman on her children and the generations that follow it is not surprising that the Lord would address His daughters. In these verses He is not pleased with the choice of His daughters to follow the pride and fashions of the world. They have allowed themselves to become as wicked as the men of their time. The consequences are disease of the body, loss of personal property, and the death of their men in war. That is a high price to pay for following the world.
2 Nephi 14 (Isaiah 4) The destruction of Israel continues but notice the Lord's treatment of those who kept their covenants. Think of Moses and the children of Israel he promises that EVERY house will have His protection and guidance--the cloud of smoke by day and the pillar of fire by night. We have that same promise by learning to hear and obey the voice of the Holy Ghost in our lives. In verses 5-6 the Lord promises protection from the storms of life. I know that we do not entirely escape the storms but we do experience more safety and direction with the Holy Ghost so that we will survive what may cause complete destruction to others.
Well that brings you up to date. I have to get dressed for school and work and so I am off. I look forward to adding to this tomorrow. I love all of you.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Whew! Its Friday and I'm Caught Up!
What a whirlwind of a week. This week I've caught up on my photography assignments and what happens? My camera starts malfunctioning. I still have 2 weeks of assignments to shoot. But my precious daughters are coming to my rescue! What would I do without you? Christy is sending the software CD for the camera she gave me--it is one of the troubleshooting things I've been told to do. Sarah is sending me her Nikon camera body to use, I need to purchase a lens, but it is worth the price to finish my class on time. Thanks girls, you are a rich blessing in my life.
I had a wonderful conversation with Amber this week. She has read my blog and wanted to update me on the wonderful blessings that have come into their life. Talking to her gave me peace and comfort. We discovered that it is as important to share the good that is going on as well as the struggles and trials. I really need to hear both sides because I tend to worry about you when all I hear is about your struggles. Thanks Amber!
We were able to video chat with Dana, Valerie and Kalia. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE technology that allows me to see everyone. It was amazing to see how much Kalia has grown. She is so fun. And it was great to talk with Dana and Valerie. We are excited for their newest addition.
I want you to know that I have been reading my scriptures throughout the week, although homework has kept me from updating my blog on a daily basis. So I will try to give you an update on my studies.
2 Nephi 10
vs 2 The bottom line is that people perish because they choose to not believe in the Savior and Heavenly Father's plan of happiness. We know that in the pre-existance we all knew and loved the Savior. We all chose to come to earth to live the plan of happiness, so what happens when we get to earth? I think it is interesting to note that Jacob is talking about people who have been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is not talking about people who have no knowledge of the gospel. So what happened to cause people to choose to not believe? Were they lax in their personal prayers, scripture study, FHE, all the "small" things that we are supposed to do every day to keep us close to the Lord and worthy to have the Spirit with us? Did they try to live on another person's testimony when what they really needed was a testimony of their own? We are not told why, we are only told that they chose to perish because they chose to not have faith and believe the Savior.
vs. 3-6 I think that we condemn the Jews too easily because of the crucifixion of Savior. What we need to consider is why people make the choices they make. We know that there were disciples of the Savior who did not join the mobs to condemn Him. These people mourned His death and were joyful at His resurrection. But there were consequences for those that agreed to His death and joined the leaders who called for His crucifixion. Jacob tells us that they were the most wicked and that no other nation on earth would have crucified their God. I wonder if we take advantage of the principle of repentance and the ordinance of the Sacrament with hearts that understand and yearn for the healing of the atonement as often as we should. If we do not repent aren't we rejecting the Savior's healing power in our lives? What is our personal standing before the Lord? That is the important question.
vs. 7-9 The gathering of the tribes of Israel is rolling along as missionary work is done. Recently I attended a devotional where the speaker was a Mission President in eastern Europe--I don't remember the exact mission. But he spoke of converts in the mission being from at least 8 different tribes of Israel. It was a wondrous thing to listen to because for so long we assumed that everyone who was baptized would be from Ephraim or Manasseh, but that is not the case. All of the tribes of Israel are coming together to fulfill prophecy.
vs 10-12 Great are the promises of the Lord for the land of promise as long as the people have faith in Christ and worship Him. I take comfort in knowing that Lord would have spared even Sodom and Gomorrah if He could have found just 10 righteous people. I am certain that this country has many more righteous followers of Christ and not all of them are members of His church at this time.
vs. 13-17 The Lord's language is very strong here about the future of those who fight against Zion. We often think of Zion as the Church or a geographical location. But here I am thinking that Zion means the pure in heart, or those that are striving to be pure in heart. As our country and our world becomes more and more polarized it is a comfort to know that if I keep my covenants and keep striving to become pure in heart I will have the Lord on my side, come what may.
vs. 18-25 Let us heed the counsel of Jacob to be joyful, lifting up our heads and take advantage of the healing power of the atonement through our faith in the Savior and our continuing repentance. I think of President Hinckley who was the most optimistic person I've ever known. I think President Hinckley was very aware of the state of our world yet he always had an optimistic demeanor. I think that is what faith in the Savior does, it gives peace and hope when all around you may be dark. We need only to look to the Savior and be at peace through whatever trials may come our way.
2 Nephi 11
Nephi bears his testimony. We know that he and his brother, Jacob, saw the Savior. Nephi tells us that he loves the scriptures, especially the words of Isaiah, and will liken them to his people. We are told to liken the scriptures to ourselves, can we do it with Isaiah?
2 Nephi 12 (Isaiah 2)
This chapter starts out by talking about people in our time and divides them into two groups. The first are those who delight in following the Savior. They are drawn to the Temple to be taught the things of the Lord. It is interesting that Isaiah only devotes a sentence or two to these people. The rest of the chapter describes the people who get caught up in the riches and pride of the world. Isaiah is clearly warning them of the foolishness of thinking that man is as powerful or knowledgeable as God. It is so easy to be drawn away from the Lord as we focus on the stresses of living in a temporary mortal world. We are told that real and eternal wealth lies in the hands of the Lord and He is willing to share all of it with us IF we choose to follow Him.
Okay, that should bring my blog up to date. May the Lord bless and keep all of you safely in His hands. I pray that you will keenly feel of His great love for each of you and yours, especially this Sunday as you partake of the Sacrament. I KNOW what it is like to try to seek the Spirit when you have little ones--but be patient the Lord knows your heart and He will bless you and your little ones.
I love all of you!
I had a wonderful conversation with Amber this week. She has read my blog and wanted to update me on the wonderful blessings that have come into their life. Talking to her gave me peace and comfort. We discovered that it is as important to share the good that is going on as well as the struggles and trials. I really need to hear both sides because I tend to worry about you when all I hear is about your struggles. Thanks Amber!
We were able to video chat with Dana, Valerie and Kalia. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE technology that allows me to see everyone. It was amazing to see how much Kalia has grown. She is so fun. And it was great to talk with Dana and Valerie. We are excited for their newest addition.
I want you to know that I have been reading my scriptures throughout the week, although homework has kept me from updating my blog on a daily basis. So I will try to give you an update on my studies.
2 Nephi 10
vs 2 The bottom line is that people perish because they choose to not believe in the Savior and Heavenly Father's plan of happiness. We know that in the pre-existance we all knew and loved the Savior. We all chose to come to earth to live the plan of happiness, so what happens when we get to earth? I think it is interesting to note that Jacob is talking about people who have been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is not talking about people who have no knowledge of the gospel. So what happened to cause people to choose to not believe? Were they lax in their personal prayers, scripture study, FHE, all the "small" things that we are supposed to do every day to keep us close to the Lord and worthy to have the Spirit with us? Did they try to live on another person's testimony when what they really needed was a testimony of their own? We are not told why, we are only told that they chose to perish because they chose to not have faith and believe the Savior.
vs. 3-6 I think that we condemn the Jews too easily because of the crucifixion of Savior. What we need to consider is why people make the choices they make. We know that there were disciples of the Savior who did not join the mobs to condemn Him. These people mourned His death and were joyful at His resurrection. But there were consequences for those that agreed to His death and joined the leaders who called for His crucifixion. Jacob tells us that they were the most wicked and that no other nation on earth would have crucified their God. I wonder if we take advantage of the principle of repentance and the ordinance of the Sacrament with hearts that understand and yearn for the healing of the atonement as often as we should. If we do not repent aren't we rejecting the Savior's healing power in our lives? What is our personal standing before the Lord? That is the important question.
vs. 7-9 The gathering of the tribes of Israel is rolling along as missionary work is done. Recently I attended a devotional where the speaker was a Mission President in eastern Europe--I don't remember the exact mission. But he spoke of converts in the mission being from at least 8 different tribes of Israel. It was a wondrous thing to listen to because for so long we assumed that everyone who was baptized would be from Ephraim or Manasseh, but that is not the case. All of the tribes of Israel are coming together to fulfill prophecy.
vs 10-12 Great are the promises of the Lord for the land of promise as long as the people have faith in Christ and worship Him. I take comfort in knowing that Lord would have spared even Sodom and Gomorrah if He could have found just 10 righteous people. I am certain that this country has many more righteous followers of Christ and not all of them are members of His church at this time.
vs. 13-17 The Lord's language is very strong here about the future of those who fight against Zion. We often think of Zion as the Church or a geographical location. But here I am thinking that Zion means the pure in heart, or those that are striving to be pure in heart. As our country and our world becomes more and more polarized it is a comfort to know that if I keep my covenants and keep striving to become pure in heart I will have the Lord on my side, come what may.
vs. 18-25 Let us heed the counsel of Jacob to be joyful, lifting up our heads and take advantage of the healing power of the atonement through our faith in the Savior and our continuing repentance. I think of President Hinckley who was the most optimistic person I've ever known. I think President Hinckley was very aware of the state of our world yet he always had an optimistic demeanor. I think that is what faith in the Savior does, it gives peace and hope when all around you may be dark. We need only to look to the Savior and be at peace through whatever trials may come our way.
2 Nephi 11
Nephi bears his testimony. We know that he and his brother, Jacob, saw the Savior. Nephi tells us that he loves the scriptures, especially the words of Isaiah, and will liken them to his people. We are told to liken the scriptures to ourselves, can we do it with Isaiah?
2 Nephi 12 (Isaiah 2)
This chapter starts out by talking about people in our time and divides them into two groups. The first are those who delight in following the Savior. They are drawn to the Temple to be taught the things of the Lord. It is interesting that Isaiah only devotes a sentence or two to these people. The rest of the chapter describes the people who get caught up in the riches and pride of the world. Isaiah is clearly warning them of the foolishness of thinking that man is as powerful or knowledgeable as God. It is so easy to be drawn away from the Lord as we focus on the stresses of living in a temporary mortal world. We are told that real and eternal wealth lies in the hands of the Lord and He is willing to share all of it with us IF we choose to follow Him.
Okay, that should bring my blog up to date. May the Lord bless and keep all of you safely in His hands. I pray that you will keenly feel of His great love for each of you and yours, especially this Sunday as you partake of the Sacrament. I KNOW what it is like to try to seek the Spirit when you have little ones--but be patient the Lord knows your heart and He will bless you and your little ones.
I love all of you!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday Scripture: II Nephi 9:25-52
Today I cut and pasted the scripture from www.lds.org and I made notes between the scripture. Usually I read and handwrite my thoughts in my journal before putting it on my blog, but this morning Lee distracted me with a project he had to finish for school so I used my computer later in the day. I know it is late but I wanted to make certain that I posted my blog today.
25 Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.
26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.
27 But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!
It is comforting to know that I am not held accountable for obedience to an eternal law that has not been given to me; especially since I have such difficulty keeping the laws which the Lord has already given me. At the same time I am held accountable for the laws that we have been given. I think the day may come when the Lord will show me every instance where He provided the path for my successful obedience, but I rejected His help. On that day I will not be able to rationalize our disobedience, it will be so obvious that I deserve the consequences of my choices.
28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
Learned: (1) having much knowledge; scholarly; erudite: learned professors; (2) connected or involved with the pursuit of knowledge, esp. of a scholarly nature: a learned journal; (3) of or showing learning or knowledge; well-informed: learned in the ways of the world; (4) acquired by experience, study, etc.: learned behavior. (www.dictionary.reference.com )
Wise: having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion. (www.dictionary.reference.com )
Wisdom: the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight. (www.dictionary.reference.com )
We are commanded to seek knowledge and wisdom at the same time: (D & C 88:118 “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
Can you see the trap set by the adversary—our pride in our education is the stumbling block. In other words, a strength may become a weakness if we give into our pride.
The warning verses of wo:
30 But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also.
Wo (woe): (1) grievous distress, affliction, or trouble: His woe was almost beyond description; (2) an affliction: She suffered a fall, among her other woes(www.dictionary.reference.com )
Do you see how verse 30 is a description of the contention in our country today? So many people have lost their jobs; many have lost homes and are living on the street. And people who have resources to provide for the needs of these poor people are jealously guarding their wealth instead of having compassion on those who cannot feed or shelter their families. When I read the scriptures carefully it appears that there are few things that brings the anger of the Lord quicker than not sharing our wealth and taking care of the poor.
31 And wo unto the deaf that will not hear; for they shall perish.
32 Wo unto the blind that will not see; for they shall perish also.
Do you see the phrase “that will not”? This phrase denotes a conscious refusal to hear the voice of the Lord or see the hand of the Lord in their lives or the lives of others around them. No wonder the Lord is warning that He will not let such actions go unpunished. As mortal parents we are frustrated and angered by our children who willfully ignore us, can we expect less from the Lord?
33 Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day.
Another term for “uncircumcised” may be “not converted”. To be converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ suggests a humble willingness to do whatsoever the Lord commands. If our hearts are not converted then it is easier to break the covenants we have made with the Lord and not keep His commandments. This verse tells us that we will have a perfect knowledge of our stubbornness and that knowledge will smite [to strike or hit hard; to afflict or attack with deadly or disastrous effect (www.dictionary.reference.com )] The Lord is not using gentle language in these verses. It is essential that we know exactly what we are doing and the consequences of our choices.
34 Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.
I don’t see any degree or level of lies here that the Lord will allow. There are no “white” lies, no “little” lies, nothing that says it is okay to lie to save the feelings of another person. There is nothing that says it is okay to give an impression that is false. No any statement or action that is not truth is a lie and the consequence is not being able to enter into the presence of the Lord, for no unclean thing can enter His presence. I think that this is a commandment that is greatly abused in our world and one that is too easy to disobey. I hope to refine my life so that this sin is abhorrent in my life.
35 Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die.
36 Wo unto them who commit whoredoms, for they shall be thrust down to hell.
Our entertainment culture glorifies the murderer and those that break the law of chastity in so many venues—visual and audio. If we allow ourselves and our children to become immersed in such entertainment then we become desensitized to the breaking of the commandments to not kill and to be chaste. I think we assume we are immune and that we would never break these commandments, but can we be so certain if we allow our sensitivity to the Spirit to deteriorate?
37 Yea, wo unto those that worship idols, for the devil of all devils delighteth in them.
When I think of idols my mind envisions “Indiana Jones” scenarios of far away places of ancient cultures who had statues of gold and precious jewels. But I doubt that this is the meaning of this scripture. I think an idol is anything or anyone who takes the place of the Lord in our lives—work, education, entertainment, people, etc.
38 And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins.
39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.
We are warned to not procrastinate the day of our repentance; see Alma 34:33-35 (33) And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. (34) Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. (35) For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.
40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.
I do find that when I am hard-headed and insist on doing things my way then I can be more easily offended and I draw away from Heavenly Father trying to find any loophole to justify my negative behavior. However, when I am trying to live closer to the Spirit although I most likely do things wrong from time to time I am comforted by the Spirit and I know that I am capable of repentance and drawing closer to Heavenly Father.
41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.
Sometimes I think the narrower the choices the easier it is to make a good choice. When I watch the young students trying to narrow down their focus while trying to find a major I see the frustration in their eyes because there are simply too many choices. Isn’t it a blessing that we really only have two choices in mortality—either we follow the Savior or we don’t. It really is just that simple.
42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.
43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.
Okay, so how can the Lord unconditionally love each of Heavenly Father’s children and “dispise” some at the same time? I think it is the choice of the person, the action, the mind-set that leads a person away from the Savior that is despised, not necessarily the person.
44 O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation that he view me with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my soul, and that I stand with brightness before him, and am crid of your blood.
Leaders will be held accountable for their stewardship over another person. But not just leaders, all callings that affect another person is a stewardship that has the associated accountability. As is true of our position in a family, this is possibly the most sacred stewardship—to be trusted with a child of God to teach and to train so that they will desire to know and become like Jesus Christ.
45 O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation.
46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery.
Today is the day of preparation to meet the Savior because yesterday is gone and tomorrow has not yet arrived. A friend of mine said “The Second Coming is when you die.” I thought about that because she is right—we will meet the Savior when we die and it really does not matter if it is when He returns to this earth or if it is when we pass from mortality I really do not want to be ashamed or afraid at that moment. I want to be joyful and filled with His love.
47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?
48 Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin.
49 Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God.
50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
I should make this a plaque and put it where I can see it often to remind me that there is a priority to the way I use the blessings I am given by Heavenly Father. How often I’ve bought something only to forget about it soon after I get it home. That money would have been better used to bless someone’s life than to be wasted. I need to improve so much in this area of my life.
52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.
53 And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of Israel.
54 And now, my brethren, I would speak unto you more; but on the morrow I will declare unto you the remainder of my words. Amen.
Today I cut and pasted the scripture from www.lds.org and I made notes between the scripture. Usually I read and handwrite my thoughts in my journal before putting it on my blog, but this morning Lee distracted me with a project he had to finish for school so I used my computer later in the day. I know it is late but I wanted to make certain that I posted my blog today.
25 Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.
26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.
27 But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!
It is comforting to know that I am not held accountable for obedience to an eternal law that has not been given to me; especially since I have such difficulty keeping the laws which the Lord has already given me. At the same time I am held accountable for the laws that we have been given. I think the day may come when the Lord will show me every instance where He provided the path for my successful obedience, but I rejected His help. On that day I will not be able to rationalize our disobedience, it will be so obvious that I deserve the consequences of my choices.
28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
Learned: (1) having much knowledge; scholarly; erudite: learned professors; (2) connected or involved with the pursuit of knowledge, esp. of a scholarly nature: a learned journal; (3) of or showing learning or knowledge; well-informed: learned in the ways of the world; (4) acquired by experience, study, etc.: learned behavior. (www.dictionary.reference.com )
Wise: having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion. (www.dictionary.reference.com )
Wisdom: the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight. (www.dictionary.reference.com )
We are commanded to seek knowledge and wisdom at the same time: (D & C 88:118 “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
Can you see the trap set by the adversary—our pride in our education is the stumbling block. In other words, a strength may become a weakness if we give into our pride.
The warning verses of wo:
30 But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also.
Wo (woe): (1) grievous distress, affliction, or trouble: His woe was almost beyond description; (2) an affliction: She suffered a fall, among her other woes(www.dictionary.reference.com )
Do you see how verse 30 is a description of the contention in our country today? So many people have lost their jobs; many have lost homes and are living on the street. And people who have resources to provide for the needs of these poor people are jealously guarding their wealth instead of having compassion on those who cannot feed or shelter their families. When I read the scriptures carefully it appears that there are few things that brings the anger of the Lord quicker than not sharing our wealth and taking care of the poor.
31 And wo unto the deaf that will not hear; for they shall perish.
32 Wo unto the blind that will not see; for they shall perish also.
Do you see the phrase “that will not”? This phrase denotes a conscious refusal to hear the voice of the Lord or see the hand of the Lord in their lives or the lives of others around them. No wonder the Lord is warning that He will not let such actions go unpunished. As mortal parents we are frustrated and angered by our children who willfully ignore us, can we expect less from the Lord?
33 Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day.
Another term for “uncircumcised” may be “not converted”. To be converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ suggests a humble willingness to do whatsoever the Lord commands. If our hearts are not converted then it is easier to break the covenants we have made with the Lord and not keep His commandments. This verse tells us that we will have a perfect knowledge of our stubbornness and that knowledge will smite [to strike or hit hard; to afflict or attack with deadly or disastrous effect (www.dictionary.reference.com )] The Lord is not using gentle language in these verses. It is essential that we know exactly what we are doing and the consequences of our choices.
34 Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.
I don’t see any degree or level of lies here that the Lord will allow. There are no “white” lies, no “little” lies, nothing that says it is okay to lie to save the feelings of another person. There is nothing that says it is okay to give an impression that is false. No any statement or action that is not truth is a lie and the consequence is not being able to enter into the presence of the Lord, for no unclean thing can enter His presence. I think that this is a commandment that is greatly abused in our world and one that is too easy to disobey. I hope to refine my life so that this sin is abhorrent in my life.
35 Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die.
36 Wo unto them who commit whoredoms, for they shall be thrust down to hell.
Our entertainment culture glorifies the murderer and those that break the law of chastity in so many venues—visual and audio. If we allow ourselves and our children to become immersed in such entertainment then we become desensitized to the breaking of the commandments to not kill and to be chaste. I think we assume we are immune and that we would never break these commandments, but can we be so certain if we allow our sensitivity to the Spirit to deteriorate?
37 Yea, wo unto those that worship idols, for the devil of all devils delighteth in them.
When I think of idols my mind envisions “Indiana Jones” scenarios of far away places of ancient cultures who had statues of gold and precious jewels. But I doubt that this is the meaning of this scripture. I think an idol is anything or anyone who takes the place of the Lord in our lives—work, education, entertainment, people, etc.
38 And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins.
39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.
We are warned to not procrastinate the day of our repentance; see Alma 34:33-35 (33) And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. (34) Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. (35) For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.
40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.
I do find that when I am hard-headed and insist on doing things my way then I can be more easily offended and I draw away from Heavenly Father trying to find any loophole to justify my negative behavior. However, when I am trying to live closer to the Spirit although I most likely do things wrong from time to time I am comforted by the Spirit and I know that I am capable of repentance and drawing closer to Heavenly Father.
41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.
Sometimes I think the narrower the choices the easier it is to make a good choice. When I watch the young students trying to narrow down their focus while trying to find a major I see the frustration in their eyes because there are simply too many choices. Isn’t it a blessing that we really only have two choices in mortality—either we follow the Savior or we don’t. It really is just that simple.
42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.
43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.
Okay, so how can the Lord unconditionally love each of Heavenly Father’s children and “dispise” some at the same time? I think it is the choice of the person, the action, the mind-set that leads a person away from the Savior that is despised, not necessarily the person.
44 O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation that he view me with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my soul, and that I stand with brightness before him, and am crid of your blood.
Leaders will be held accountable for their stewardship over another person. But not just leaders, all callings that affect another person is a stewardship that has the associated accountability. As is true of our position in a family, this is possibly the most sacred stewardship—to be trusted with a child of God to teach and to train so that they will desire to know and become like Jesus Christ.
45 O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation.
46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery.
Today is the day of preparation to meet the Savior because yesterday is gone and tomorrow has not yet arrived. A friend of mine said “The Second Coming is when you die.” I thought about that because she is right—we will meet the Savior when we die and it really does not matter if it is when He returns to this earth or if it is when we pass from mortality I really do not want to be ashamed or afraid at that moment. I want to be joyful and filled with His love.
47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?
48 Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin.
49 Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God.
50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
I should make this a plaque and put it where I can see it often to remind me that there is a priority to the way I use the blessings I am given by Heavenly Father. How often I’ve bought something only to forget about it soon after I get it home. That money would have been better used to bless someone’s life than to be wasted. I need to improve so much in this area of my life.
52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.
53 And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of Israel.
54 And now, my brethren, I would speak unto you more; but on the morrow I will declare unto you the remainder of my words. Amen.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday Meditations
Yesterday I attended the baptism of one of my CTR 8 students. Mykle, a handsome, talkative, and joyful young man invited me to his baptism. It was one of the most powerful, spiritual experiences I have had for awhile. I think that I was able to feel the Spirit of the Lord in such a profound way because of my daily personal prayer and scripture study during the week. I also think that my heart has been so drawn out in prayer on behalf of my own children that the Lord saw fit to touch the eyes of my understanding through watching Mykle and his family. Let me share with you some of my thoughts and impressions.
First of all Mykle's maternal grandfather gave the talk on baptism. It was not the usual talk that we often hear, instead he started by describing the baptism of the Savior then he related how the members of his family were converted and baptised each in turn down to Mykle's baptism. As he began with Mykle's great-uncle John, the family's first baptised member of the Church, my thoughts turned to my grandparents and their affect on my life as they taught me the gospel over the course of five short summers. And as each of Mykle's family members were remembered I thought of corresponding members of my family who have made covenants with the Lord at baptism. Although I and my children are currently the only active members of my earthly family I realized that had it not been for my grandparents I and my children would most likely be in a very different circumstance in our lives without the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Next Mykle's mother spoke about the Holy Ghost and how the Lord blessed us with ears to hear the still small voice of the Spirit, mouths to invite the companionship of the Spirit in prayer, and hearts to feel the Spirit in our lives. She had Mykle's quilt that was obviously very special to him and she told him that his quilt was also known as a comforter that kept him warm and feeling safe and secure. In that way the Spirit is called the Comforter and brings us feelings of peace, love, and direction from Heavenly Father when we invite him into our lives.
Mykle's father baptized and confirmed him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I did not hear the blessing because Mykle's father is a humble, soft-spoken man but I felt the power the Spirit testify to me that the blessing was for Mykle and it was not important that I hear the words so I paid closer attention to the Spirit. And I searched my memory for my own baptism day and I could not find the memory. Instead I found memories of times that the Savior blessed my life, of circumstances that led to my conversion of heart and mind to the truth of the gospel, and the growth I've experienced since my conversion.
Over the past few weeks I've felt that if I were still on the mainland it would be easier to share what I have learned from the Lord so that my children, who are facing the trials of mortality, might benefit from my faith and prayers. I've so much I want to share, but very often I feel like what I have to share would not be received. I know that advice not sought is not appreciated. However, there have been days over the last few weeks where I have felt like Lehi and I've wanted to exhort my children to repentance and diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord with all the feelings of a tender parent.
One of the hardest things about being a parent is being confined to the sidelines to watch your adult children make choices that will cause suffering for themselves and their families all the while knowing that my love and concern would be misunderstood as meddling. Instead, I seek the Lord's wisdom for only He knows the hearts, minds, and souls of my children. He knows how to reach them when I do not. I marvel at His tremendous love, patience, and mercy. I do not understand how He endures the heart-breaking moments of watching His children make choices that will lead to eternally being cast out of His presence--never to see them, hug them, kiss them, laugh with them, talk to them, and be with them again--all because they choose to reject His wisdom and love. I know my heart would absolutely break into small pieces if my children would choose to reject me and never what to be with me again. How does Heavenly Father resist the temptation to simply gather His children into the safety of His loving arms away from the grasp of the adversary who would destroy them? Why do we so easily get distracted by the cares and concerns of the world around us and forget to draw upon the powers of heaven to provide for us that which is essential and necessary? Why do we trust men, wealth, fame, vanity to provide the happiness that only comes from a clear conscience before the Lord?
And so, with the desires of a tender parent I counsel my children to evaluate their standing before the Lord and repent when and where necessary. Believe Him and trust the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ to make you as clean as the day of your baptism. Trust the Savior to make every mortal experience count for good in your life. Think of a time when the power of the priesthood of God has laid hands on your head and you felt that power to bless, to heal, to comfort, to direct, to ordain, and to allow you to feel the love of the Savior for you. Remember that the Savior heals every illness, every wounded heart and spirit, every broken body, and will raise the dead. In response to our faith and prayers we can be healed in body, mind, and spirit because whomever or whatever the Lord puts His hands on lives--be that a person or a family they will live. Of this I have no doubt, for I am alive today because of the blessings of the Savior. My heart has been healed because of the blessings of the Savior. My mind is at peace because of the blessings of the Savior.
To those of you who have rationalized not attending your Church meetings I want to caution you. I want you to understand that when you reject the opportunity to take the sacrament with prayerful preparation by repenting [turning your heart to God] and thinking deeply about the power of the atonement to cleanse you, strengthen you, and change you, then you reject the Savior. And when you reject the Savior you reject your potential to have an eternal family. Can you image your life without your family for eternity? It is a dear price to pay in exchange for satisfying your mortal appetites and passions. Ask yourself if the sacrifice of your family is the price you are willing to pay in order to live by your own limited wisdom. I watched a few minutes of "City of Angels" last night and one line of the dialog works very well in what I am attempting to say: "Some things are true whether you believe them or not". You are free to not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. You are free to not believe that the Savior can heal your soul, forgive your sins, and fill you with eternal life. You are free to not believe that your family can be eternal only if you keep your covenants. You are free to not believe that attending the temple is necessary for your eternal progression. But you are not free to set the consequences of your disbelief, your lack of faith, and if you persist in such a path the consequence is an eternal loss of your family. I can think of nothing that will cause greater pain and suffering at the end of mortality than that.
So I call you to repentance and greater faith the Lord Jesus Christ if that is needed in your life. I urge you to read the article in the August 2009 edition of the Ensign by Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi (he sealed Lee and I) "Opening the Heavens" and follow his counsel to:
1. Get out of bed early
2. Exercise for a few minutes
3. Wash your body [shave if male]
4. Dress for the day
5. Go to a quiet place where no one and nothing can interrupt you
6. Kneel, subdue your spirit before Heavenly Father, and call upon Him. Talk to Him in reverent prayer.
7. Wait for His holy inspiration, pondering the scriptures or a recent general conference talk and think about the specific problems you face.
Elder Kikuchi's promise is that if you do this and immerse yourself in the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, for a few minutes every day you will experience feelings of joy and you will receive strength to overcome your trials and weaknesses. You will come to know the Savior and Heavenly Father in ways not open to you otherwise, the heavens will open to you in whatever glorious ways your Father in Heaven has prepared for you. That you may receive these blessings is my prayer.
Love,
Mom
First of all Mykle's maternal grandfather gave the talk on baptism. It was not the usual talk that we often hear, instead he started by describing the baptism of the Savior then he related how the members of his family were converted and baptised each in turn down to Mykle's baptism. As he began with Mykle's great-uncle John, the family's first baptised member of the Church, my thoughts turned to my grandparents and their affect on my life as they taught me the gospel over the course of five short summers. And as each of Mykle's family members were remembered I thought of corresponding members of my family who have made covenants with the Lord at baptism. Although I and my children are currently the only active members of my earthly family I realized that had it not been for my grandparents I and my children would most likely be in a very different circumstance in our lives without the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Next Mykle's mother spoke about the Holy Ghost and how the Lord blessed us with ears to hear the still small voice of the Spirit, mouths to invite the companionship of the Spirit in prayer, and hearts to feel the Spirit in our lives. She had Mykle's quilt that was obviously very special to him and she told him that his quilt was also known as a comforter that kept him warm and feeling safe and secure. In that way the Spirit is called the Comforter and brings us feelings of peace, love, and direction from Heavenly Father when we invite him into our lives.
Mykle's father baptized and confirmed him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I did not hear the blessing because Mykle's father is a humble, soft-spoken man but I felt the power the Spirit testify to me that the blessing was for Mykle and it was not important that I hear the words so I paid closer attention to the Spirit. And I searched my memory for my own baptism day and I could not find the memory. Instead I found memories of times that the Savior blessed my life, of circumstances that led to my conversion of heart and mind to the truth of the gospel, and the growth I've experienced since my conversion.
Over the past few weeks I've felt that if I were still on the mainland it would be easier to share what I have learned from the Lord so that my children, who are facing the trials of mortality, might benefit from my faith and prayers. I've so much I want to share, but very often I feel like what I have to share would not be received. I know that advice not sought is not appreciated. However, there have been days over the last few weeks where I have felt like Lehi and I've wanted to exhort my children to repentance and diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord with all the feelings of a tender parent.
One of the hardest things about being a parent is being confined to the sidelines to watch your adult children make choices that will cause suffering for themselves and their families all the while knowing that my love and concern would be misunderstood as meddling. Instead, I seek the Lord's wisdom for only He knows the hearts, minds, and souls of my children. He knows how to reach them when I do not. I marvel at His tremendous love, patience, and mercy. I do not understand how He endures the heart-breaking moments of watching His children make choices that will lead to eternally being cast out of His presence--never to see them, hug them, kiss them, laugh with them, talk to them, and be with them again--all because they choose to reject His wisdom and love. I know my heart would absolutely break into small pieces if my children would choose to reject me and never what to be with me again. How does Heavenly Father resist the temptation to simply gather His children into the safety of His loving arms away from the grasp of the adversary who would destroy them? Why do we so easily get distracted by the cares and concerns of the world around us and forget to draw upon the powers of heaven to provide for us that which is essential and necessary? Why do we trust men, wealth, fame, vanity to provide the happiness that only comes from a clear conscience before the Lord?
And so, with the desires of a tender parent I counsel my children to evaluate their standing before the Lord and repent when and where necessary. Believe Him and trust the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ to make you as clean as the day of your baptism. Trust the Savior to make every mortal experience count for good in your life. Think of a time when the power of the priesthood of God has laid hands on your head and you felt that power to bless, to heal, to comfort, to direct, to ordain, and to allow you to feel the love of the Savior for you. Remember that the Savior heals every illness, every wounded heart and spirit, every broken body, and will raise the dead. In response to our faith and prayers we can be healed in body, mind, and spirit because whomever or whatever the Lord puts His hands on lives--be that a person or a family they will live. Of this I have no doubt, for I am alive today because of the blessings of the Savior. My heart has been healed because of the blessings of the Savior. My mind is at peace because of the blessings of the Savior.
To those of you who have rationalized not attending your Church meetings I want to caution you. I want you to understand that when you reject the opportunity to take the sacrament with prayerful preparation by repenting [turning your heart to God] and thinking deeply about the power of the atonement to cleanse you, strengthen you, and change you, then you reject the Savior. And when you reject the Savior you reject your potential to have an eternal family. Can you image your life without your family for eternity? It is a dear price to pay in exchange for satisfying your mortal appetites and passions. Ask yourself if the sacrifice of your family is the price you are willing to pay in order to live by your own limited wisdom. I watched a few minutes of "City of Angels" last night and one line of the dialog works very well in what I am attempting to say: "Some things are true whether you believe them or not". You are free to not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. You are free to not believe that the Savior can heal your soul, forgive your sins, and fill you with eternal life. You are free to not believe that your family can be eternal only if you keep your covenants. You are free to not believe that attending the temple is necessary for your eternal progression. But you are not free to set the consequences of your disbelief, your lack of faith, and if you persist in such a path the consequence is an eternal loss of your family. I can think of nothing that will cause greater pain and suffering at the end of mortality than that.
So I call you to repentance and greater faith the Lord Jesus Christ if that is needed in your life. I urge you to read the article in the August 2009 edition of the Ensign by Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi (he sealed Lee and I) "Opening the Heavens" and follow his counsel to:
1. Get out of bed early
2. Exercise for a few minutes
3. Wash your body [shave if male]
4. Dress for the day
5. Go to a quiet place where no one and nothing can interrupt you
6. Kneel, subdue your spirit before Heavenly Father, and call upon Him. Talk to Him in reverent prayer.
7. Wait for His holy inspiration, pondering the scriptures or a recent general conference talk and think about the specific problems you face.
Elder Kikuchi's promise is that if you do this and immerse yourself in the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, for a few minutes every day you will experience feelings of joy and you will receive strength to overcome your trials and weaknesses. You will come to know the Savior and Heavenly Father in ways not open to you otherwise, the heavens will open to you in whatever glorious ways your Father in Heaven has prepared for you. That you may receive these blessings is my prayer.
Love,
Mom
Friday, August 14, 2009
Scripture: 2 Nephi 9:15-24
I allowed myself to get distracted yesterday and I did not get my scripture reading into my day. A lesson to learn here, that no matter how out of the ordinary my day may need to go I need to stick to my early morning routine and read my scriptures before the rest of the day takes over. At least this morning I am reading, so here are my impressions.
2 Nephi 9:15-25 These scriptures lay out the very clear eternal consequences of the mortal choices made by each one of us. Only we are able to go to the Savior and be cleansed from our sins, strengthened against our weaknesses, and given the help we need to endure mortal trials and afflictions. Through Him we will find peace and joy in this life and in the life to come. I know this, yet at times I feel like Nephi when he describes having an awareness of his mortal tendency to sin. And I also know that if I would allow myself I could wallow in those feelings of inadequacy and imperfection thereby giving the adversary an advantage over me. But I chose to trust my Savior's atonement. I want to have a deeper, more personal, understanding of how the atonement can work in my life to successfully return home to my Father in Heaven. I do not want to be cast out and have to live eternity with those who are miserable knowing that it was their mortal decision to walk away from the Lord simply because they were too focused on the selfish desires of this world. I pray that the shiny things of the world will no longer distract me and I will learn to master my appetites and passions so that I will walk in greater obedience to the Lord.
One thought about "enduring to the end" this phrase seems to bring a visual image of a nearly exhausted traveler who has only the minimal amount of strength left to end his/her journey. But what if I change my impression, my visual image to that of a well trained athelete who can end his/her journey with energy to spare? Isn't this a more positive image? I think that the Lord has taken the trials in my life and used them to stregthen me. I want to become stronger in my testimony, more willing to serve, develop my ability to hear and obey the Spirit, to do all things that will enable me to become more like my Savior. I want to be that well trained athelete instead of the weary traveler. If only I can remember from day to day the purpose of my mortal journey, then I will have faith that the Savior will continue to take my experiences and stregthen me for what is to come.
2 Nephi 9:15-25 These scriptures lay out the very clear eternal consequences of the mortal choices made by each one of us. Only we are able to go to the Savior and be cleansed from our sins, strengthened against our weaknesses, and given the help we need to endure mortal trials and afflictions. Through Him we will find peace and joy in this life and in the life to come. I know this, yet at times I feel like Nephi when he describes having an awareness of his mortal tendency to sin. And I also know that if I would allow myself I could wallow in those feelings of inadequacy and imperfection thereby giving the adversary an advantage over me. But I chose to trust my Savior's atonement. I want to have a deeper, more personal, understanding of how the atonement can work in my life to successfully return home to my Father in Heaven. I do not want to be cast out and have to live eternity with those who are miserable knowing that it was their mortal decision to walk away from the Lord simply because they were too focused on the selfish desires of this world. I pray that the shiny things of the world will no longer distract me and I will learn to master my appetites and passions so that I will walk in greater obedience to the Lord.
One thought about "enduring to the end" this phrase seems to bring a visual image of a nearly exhausted traveler who has only the minimal amount of strength left to end his/her journey. But what if I change my impression, my visual image to that of a well trained athelete who can end his/her journey with energy to spare? Isn't this a more positive image? I think that the Lord has taken the trials in my life and used them to stregthen me. I want to become stronger in my testimony, more willing to serve, develop my ability to hear and obey the Spirit, to do all things that will enable me to become more like my Savior. I want to be that well trained athelete instead of the weary traveler. If only I can remember from day to day the purpose of my mortal journey, then I will have faith that the Savior will continue to take my experiences and stregthen me for what is to come.
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