In the Church we talk a lot about things you should and shouldn't do. In the world, we are bombarded with messages about what to buy, what to think, what to do, how to sleep, what to eat etc. However deafening the messages may seem there is a still small voice we all must adhere to.
When Elijah was fleeing for his life from the wicked Phoenician princess Jezebel, the Lord directed him to a high mountain, where he had a most unusual experience. As Elijah stood upon the mount before the Lord, he felt “a great and strong wind … ; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kgs. 19:11–12).
We often think an all powerful God must only speak through natural disasters or great plagues or wars etc. but as all powerful He is, He knows that we are all individuals and He will not take away our right to choose. So, the war for our hearts is the one He is fighting and even though there may be missionaries all over the globe or loud preachers or strong political pressures, He talks to us through a "still, small voice." He is sensitive to our hearts.
When the resurrected Christ visited His people in the Americas -
it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come. (3 Nephi 11:15).
He says, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” (Rev. 3:20.) He is a gentle, patient, and loving Person who comes to each of us individually, "one by one". He won't take away our right to choose, whether its to listen and open the door or to not. He won't break down the door or yell to make Himself known. This still small voice is heard through the ears of our spirit. Its found in our hearts of hearts.
This power to choose is known as agency. "Men have power to be agents unto themselves."- D&C 58: 28. It might be a hard thing to realize because we're constantly being asked to live one way or another. But, this is probably the most empowering message we can learn if we wish to be happy- men have power to be agents unto themselves. Sometimes we forget it and get caught up in something that can potentially hurt others. We must be careful how we use our agency for with the use of this power we will be judged before God. I'm always impressed to think of this scripture from the Savior when I think of God's judgment-
Matthew 25:33-40
And he shall set the sheep on his aright hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his aright hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
So, it is imperative that we use our agency with sensitivity to the Spirit of the Lord. For the Spirit of the Lord teaches us that we must "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit ... and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)
The Spirit is full of Love for others. If we are sensitive to the Lord we will be sensitive to others. This is a HUGE part of being a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although, He spoke with authority it was always with love. I know that everything God does is out of love for us for He has said "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. " (Moses 1:39). He works for us. His whole purpose is to make sure we're happy and delivered from the bondage of Satan. I say if the Lord does it, then we must do it. If He is forgiving so should we be forgiving. If He loves unconditionally then so should we. That is what being a Mormon and a true follower of God is all about. If we do not the things of God then we are not of God and won't be with God. I love Heavenly Father and I know that He loves us and will do anything to make sure we are happy and free. This is the purpose of this blog and my life, to follow God and be like Him as much as I can. I know anyone who does this will find a multitude of wisdom, freedom, hope, love, and purpose.
There is a great quote by Joseph Smith that says "If my life is of no value to my friends, then it is of no value to me." He said this right before his martyrdom when persecution against the Mormons was at a peak and it was hard to find loyal friends. He didn't abandon them or the church and was killed by a mob for his testimony of the divinity of the church and book of Mormon. He truly gave his life for his friends.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
26.10.09
20.10.09
that they may be humble
Some people might argue that some commandments are harder than others. But its just depends on who you ask.
When I was a preaching the gospel as a missionary in San Diego, I quickly realized that every person is capable of having doubts in any area. Whether it would be just not seeing a need for the Book of Mormon or just not liking some of the other members. We all have a weaknesses.
One of my favorite scriptures-
Ether 12:27
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
I know that if we turn our lives over to God, He will manifest Himself to us. The hard part though is that we will often see the folly of our ways. Does He show us our weaknesses to make us feel condemned or chastised? Is God just a big bully thats constantly throwing metaphorical pebbles down on us from His cloud? No. He isn't a bully. He is a loving, caring, perfect person.
Then why show us our weaknesses? I hope you were paying attention to that scripture. "That they may be humble" He says.
Humility is essential to living like God. If we are not humble then we cannot receive the word of God for we will be offended by it and by God. We will cover our weaknesses in a cloak of our pride in an effort to excuse ourselves from having to change them.
So again which is the hardest commandment of all? The one you're not following. You can avoid every harmful thing but if you don't remember to be humble then thats your weakness.
When I was a preaching the gospel as a missionary in San Diego, I quickly realized that every person is capable of having doubts in any area. Whether it would be just not seeing a need for the Book of Mormon or just not liking some of the other members. We all have a weaknesses.
One of my favorite scriptures-
Ether 12:27
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
I know that if we turn our lives over to God, He will manifest Himself to us. The hard part though is that we will often see the folly of our ways. Does He show us our weaknesses to make us feel condemned or chastised? Is God just a big bully thats constantly throwing metaphorical pebbles down on us from His cloud? No. He isn't a bully. He is a loving, caring, perfect person.
Then why show us our weaknesses? I hope you were paying attention to that scripture. "That they may be humble" He says.
Humility is essential to living like God. If we are not humble then we cannot receive the word of God for we will be offended by it and by God. We will cover our weaknesses in a cloak of our pride in an effort to excuse ourselves from having to change them.
So again which is the hardest commandment of all? The one you're not following. You can avoid every harmful thing but if you don't remember to be humble then thats your weakness.
9.10.09
Victims Cause Contentions
If you've ever heard the stories of those on Judge Judy or those that need marriage counseling or those that just fight you will quickly realize that both sides feel they are the victims. Its my thought that only those that have a victim mentality will cause contentions.
Christ spoke out against contentions-
3 Nephi 11:29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
The Savior came to earth to unite us with Him and His Father. That was His divine mission and purpose for living, dying, and resurrecting. A common word for this is Atonement. At-one-ment.
John 17:20-21
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
There are so many scriptures to illustrate the point of God wanting us to be united and at one even as He is with His Christ. To do this we must be forgiving, humble, loving, giving, etc. Which means not submitting to our natural reactions of revenge, hate, jealousy, and any other secondary inferior emotions.
Here is a good scripture for that too-
Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Now, we see that the Gospel is an open invitation to let go of your fear, doubt, hate, pride and smallness of soul for something stronger and open. When we are feeling wronged we must remember that a perfect man walked the earth and was condemned and trampled under our feet. We must remember that He went below everything to rise above all His enemies. He is the Savior and we must be like Him to be with Him and be at one.
One more scripture-
Isaiah 53
Christ spoke out against contentions-
3 Nephi 11:29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
The Savior came to earth to unite us with Him and His Father. That was His divine mission and purpose for living, dying, and resurrecting. A common word for this is Atonement. At-one-ment.
John 17:20-21
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
There are so many scriptures to illustrate the point of God wanting us to be united and at one even as He is with His Christ. To do this we must be forgiving, humble, loving, giving, etc. Which means not submitting to our natural reactions of revenge, hate, jealousy, and any other secondary inferior emotions.
Here is a good scripture for that too-
Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Now, we see that the Gospel is an open invitation to let go of your fear, doubt, hate, pride and smallness of soul for something stronger and open. When we are feeling wronged we must remember that a perfect man walked the earth and was condemned and trampled under our feet. We must remember that He went below everything to rise above all His enemies. He is the Savior and we must be like Him to be with Him and be at one.
One more scripture-
Isaiah 53
1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
In conclusion-
We are not victims to anything but our pride, our selfishness, our hate. When we act out on others we are hurting ourselves, because we are the ones committing the sin. When others act out on us we are not victims if we forgive, if we love, if we give, if we are humble, if we are Christ like and at one with Him.
Be not a victim.
5.10.09
All Abuse of Power is Sin and All Sin is an Abuse of Power
From what I could understand from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, all abuse of power is a sin and all sin is an abuse of power or wasting of an opportunity to lift others up.
Agency is our right to choose, our ability to choose, our ability to learn and grow and it is powerful. When we abuse any God given power we are in danger of destruction to the soul.
Think about it- a computer is powerful but you can use it to gamble, waste time, and look at inappropriate media but it doesn't have to be used for those, in fact you can make a really cool blog with it. Another example is our body. We have this amazing gift of life in a body that grows and heals by itself. Its a gift. But, we can damage it with drugs or by committing fornication or pierce it leaving holes.
I believe if you look at any commandment you will see the Lord trying to help us use our power and not abuse it.
Agency is our right to choose, our ability to choose, our ability to learn and grow and it is powerful. When we abuse any God given power we are in danger of destruction to the soul.
Think about it- a computer is powerful but you can use it to gamble, waste time, and look at inappropriate media but it doesn't have to be used for those, in fact you can make a really cool blog with it. Another example is our body. We have this amazing gift of life in a body that grows and heals by itself. Its a gift. But, we can damage it with drugs or by committing fornication or pierce it leaving holes.
I believe if you look at any commandment you will see the Lord trying to help us use our power and not abuse it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)