All things that get in the way of our spiritual progress must be ready to be removed at any time.
All selfishness must be annihilated entirely.
26.12.10
“Because if this is gonna be a Christian nation that DOESN’T help the poor, either we’ve got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition — and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.”
— Stephen Colbert
— Stephen Colbert
24.12.10
16.12.10
Faith and Humility
There is a team effort between Faith and Humility. You must have both or you won't have either. To be humble you must have faith and to have faith you must be humble.
If you have faith without humility then your faith turns into overconfidence and arrogance. Without faith then your humility turns to doubting yourself and having no confidence.
If you have faith without humility then your faith turns into overconfidence and arrogance. Without faith then your humility turns to doubting yourself and having no confidence.
5.12.10
Holiness of Being
I hope in the future as this blog continues that my knowledge will increase and that my notes become more insightful. As for now, I make do with what I have.
My grammar sucks. Often my wife corrects my omission of better words or punctuation. My work ethic could be much better. I've left many jobs with seemingly great reasons only to find out through time that it was just laziness. I can keep going with this theme of my faults and lacking but the point is I have so much to be damned about me and yet I have so much to give.
Through out my life its been a downhill battle of quick fixes and reactionary feelings to the world around me. This isn't as it should be. Our lives should not be lived on the mercy of the moment but the justice of eternity. We will always be on the mercy of God but mercy gives way to justice when we become lazy and weak, like a boat with no engine is subject to the waves. It is our duty of existence to live up to our potential and as Mormons believe, as we are God once was and as God is, man may become. Perfection of holiness is the aim of God for us and falter as we will, what must never falter is that shared will with God for our holiness of being.
The scriptures say "Be Perfect" continually through out each time the Lord called prophets or even came down in Person Himself. He demands we obey His commands but not by phony proposals of perfection as in the case of Cain whose offering was rejected by the Lord due to the lack of propriety. You can't fake it. You have to truly become the person and not just on the outside. As if a police officer was never off duty, we must be continually devoted to Christ. This doesn't mean every activity has to be centered on Christ, but we must be centered. As Brigham said of dancing and singing that you can do all these activities just as long as we're saints doing them. The Lord desires the best things for us and so we must realize that He knows best and trust that through Him we'll have all we need but if we try to cheat or leave Him out in our pursuits then truly we will not be satisfied and will not be saints.
My grammar sucks. Often my wife corrects my omission of better words or punctuation. My work ethic could be much better. I've left many jobs with seemingly great reasons only to find out through time that it was just laziness. I can keep going with this theme of my faults and lacking but the point is I have so much to be damned about me and yet I have so much to give.
Through out my life its been a downhill battle of quick fixes and reactionary feelings to the world around me. This isn't as it should be. Our lives should not be lived on the mercy of the moment but the justice of eternity. We will always be on the mercy of God but mercy gives way to justice when we become lazy and weak, like a boat with no engine is subject to the waves. It is our duty of existence to live up to our potential and as Mormons believe, as we are God once was and as God is, man may become. Perfection of holiness is the aim of God for us and falter as we will, what must never falter is that shared will with God for our holiness of being.
The scriptures say "Be Perfect" continually through out each time the Lord called prophets or even came down in Person Himself. He demands we obey His commands but not by phony proposals of perfection as in the case of Cain whose offering was rejected by the Lord due to the lack of propriety. You can't fake it. You have to truly become the person and not just on the outside. As if a police officer was never off duty, we must be continually devoted to Christ. This doesn't mean every activity has to be centered on Christ, but we must be centered. As Brigham said of dancing and singing that you can do all these activities just as long as we're saints doing them. The Lord desires the best things for us and so we must realize that He knows best and trust that through Him we'll have all we need but if we try to cheat or leave Him out in our pursuits then truly we will not be satisfied and will not be saints.
28.11.10
Great Teachers
I've learned that the greatest teachers are:
Professor Experience, Dr. Patience, Mrs. Opposition, Sir Failure, and Mr. Lacking.
These teachers give us a chance to learn by application and error. The greatest motivators are Dr. Love and Professor Faith along with Hope.
Professor Experience, Dr. Patience, Mrs. Opposition, Sir Failure, and Mr. Lacking.
These teachers give us a chance to learn by application and error. The greatest motivators are Dr. Love and Professor Faith along with Hope.
27.11.10
For What Sakes?
You know I find myself being distracted a lot. Every article on the current state of the average human experience always mentions how many distractions we have. News, texts, calls, TV, music, Twitter, Facebook, sports, etc. Yep, this is definitely a time with more voices and things to think about than any other time.
Satan is called "The Destroyer" but also I think he is "The Distractor" who uses things to busy us with trivial matters so as to ignore the pivotal. In fact, thats a great definition of sin- making the pivotal trivial and the trivial pivotal. When the vain becomes the highest priority we are in deed in the grasp of Satan.
Its always interesting to see how the double edged sword that is the word of God divides the truth from error. There are significant distinctions that require spiritual pondering and spiritual promptings to understand. I think as we strive to study and learn the Lord makes things known to us where we are off balance and need more prioritizing to His will.
Nowadays I am convinced of the necessity to do a job right, as the old saying says, for sake of doing it at all. I know its easy to write off somethings because it seems pointless or stupid but I know the Lord delights in our best efforts, even if the task at hand holds no impact on the world at large. I'm reminded of those that built the Salt Lake Temple with great detail that might have seemed mundane at the time but held tremendous importance in glorifying the Lord.
I think of the stupid jobs I had that really weren't fabulous or glorious and the shoddy work I did. I know now that they were dumb but what was important was that the Lord expected me to honestly and diligently work hard. By small and simple things does the Lord bring to pass great things and if we are able and skilled then He can better use as as instruments for His will.
Not all work is worth it, but I do think the Lord expects us to not shirk responsibility or to shrug sweating in the brow and we have a great opportunity to work each day for the Lord's sake.
Satan is called "The Destroyer" but also I think he is "The Distractor" who uses things to busy us with trivial matters so as to ignore the pivotal. In fact, thats a great definition of sin- making the pivotal trivial and the trivial pivotal. When the vain becomes the highest priority we are in deed in the grasp of Satan.
Its always interesting to see how the double edged sword that is the word of God divides the truth from error. There are significant distinctions that require spiritual pondering and spiritual promptings to understand. I think as we strive to study and learn the Lord makes things known to us where we are off balance and need more prioritizing to His will.
Nowadays I am convinced of the necessity to do a job right, as the old saying says, for sake of doing it at all. I know its easy to write off somethings because it seems pointless or stupid but I know the Lord delights in our best efforts, even if the task at hand holds no impact on the world at large. I'm reminded of those that built the Salt Lake Temple with great detail that might have seemed mundane at the time but held tremendous importance in glorifying the Lord.
I think of the stupid jobs I had that really weren't fabulous or glorious and the shoddy work I did. I know now that they were dumb but what was important was that the Lord expected me to honestly and diligently work hard. By small and simple things does the Lord bring to pass great things and if we are able and skilled then He can better use as as instruments for His will.
Not all work is worth it, but I do think the Lord expects us to not shirk responsibility or to shrug sweating in the brow and we have a great opportunity to work each day for the Lord's sake.
22.11.10
Opposition
"From Church history we read:" 'Certain residents of Hiram, Ohio, vented their personal feelings with mob action directed against the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon. Stimulated by whiskey and hidden behind blackened faces, a gang of more than two dozen men dragged Joseph from his bed during the night of March 24, 1832. Choking him into submission, they stripped him naked, scratched his skin with their fingernails, tore his hair, then smeared his body with tar and feathers. A vial of nitric acid forced against his teeth splashed on his face; a front tooth was broken. Meanwhile other members of the mob dragged Rigdon by the heels from his home, bumping his head on the frozen ground, which left him delirious for days. The Prophet's friends spent the night removing the tar to help him keep a Sunday morning preaching appointment. He addressed a congregation that included Simonds Ryder, organizer of the mob' (James B. Allen and Glen M. Leonard, The Story of the Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1992, p. 81)."Ryder was a convert who turned away because the Prophet Joseph had misspelled his name, apparently concluding that a prophet was one who had to be a perfect speller."Later, the Saints in Missouri found out in a tragic manner how the armies of the enemy may assemble.. . . "In the midst of all these trials, Joseph said: 'Hell may pour forth its rage like the burning lava of Mount Vesuvius, or of Etna, or of the most terrible of the burning mountains; and yet shall "Mormonism" stand. Water, fire, truth and God are all realities. Truth is "Mormonism." God is the author of it. He is our shield' (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 139)."
-M. Russell Ballard, "Anchored by Faith and Commitment," Ensign, July 1995, 15–16
-M. Russell Ballard, "Anchored by Faith and Commitment," Ensign, July 1995, 15–16
21.11.10
We're All On a Spiritual Downward Escalator
I hate when people go inactive or leave the church. Even though I have done it myself. Perhaps its the whisperings that we hear when we put off going to the gym. A slow leaving of the church is more common than a quick dissent.
We are always growing and going in one direction or another.
Often in the Christian world you'll hear stories of salvation coming from a single prayer of devotion. Which is good but not entirely the recipe for salvation. So many times throughout the scriptures the Lord tells us to keep the commandments and repent of our sins. The Lord makes it clear that He wants all that we can give Him, not just a few breaths of prayer. But, even if a few sincere breaths of prayer is all you can give Him then He'll take it and redeem you.
To gain salvation we have to remember that we are on a downward escalator and must walk up it. If we stop then we slowly go down. If we just take a few steps here and there then we might remain stagnate but eventually will succumb to going down. If we are mindful of our position on the downward escalator then we should not hesitate to see what else we can do to walk up or in other words continually repenting and seeking ways to be more like Christ. Salvation is always 6 inches in front of your face and we have to keep striving to get it. We have to continually be willing to give up something as a sacrifice to the Lord as He may ask for it. For it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23).
We are always growing and going in one direction or another.
Often in the Christian world you'll hear stories of salvation coming from a single prayer of devotion. Which is good but not entirely the recipe for salvation. So many times throughout the scriptures the Lord tells us to keep the commandments and repent of our sins. The Lord makes it clear that He wants all that we can give Him, not just a few breaths of prayer. But, even if a few sincere breaths of prayer is all you can give Him then He'll take it and redeem you.
To gain salvation we have to remember that we are on a downward escalator and must walk up it. If we stop then we slowly go down. If we just take a few steps here and there then we might remain stagnate but eventually will succumb to going down. If we are mindful of our position on the downward escalator then we should not hesitate to see what else we can do to walk up or in other words continually repenting and seeking ways to be more like Christ. Salvation is always 6 inches in front of your face and we have to keep striving to get it. We have to continually be willing to give up something as a sacrifice to the Lord as He may ask for it. For it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23).
20.11.10
Humility is the Way to God
I think having a blog gets exhausting because who really cares what I have to say? And I'm not trying to be pitiful or asking for pity but sometimes you just need to shut up and listen for a while. Not necessarily because you're wrong but because learning requires intimacy with different ideas and concepts, it requires you to realize kicking against the pricks leads to nowhere. The learned proud and the rich proud have the hardest time following counsel from God because they have no reason to doubt themselves or they're way of thinking. Mostly because they choose not to look at the things they could learn from God.
Sometimes I find myself going down a wrong path. Sometimes out of ignorance but either way once on a wrong path it takes humility to return, not justification of defending the poor decision to avoid admitting wrongdoing or foolishness. Once I realize I'm on the wrong path, I choose humility and then I feel peace again and can then return to the path of righteousness.
There is only one way to peace, happiness and everything else of value in this world and its Jesus Christ. We must follow His example and be humble. There is no other way to God but by faith in His righteousness. There are no shortcuts and nothing to be gained by going off the path.
As the prodigal son returned to himself and was humbled, he returned to his father. His brother had been faithful and felt a bit jealous of the celebration of his brother's return, but I'm sure that the prodigal son felt jealous of his brother who had kept the commandments from the beginning and had been blessed all his life for it. This is just a parable but how true it is that if we stray we do not gain, only in humility are we blessed and come closer to our God. We will have trials but the traps by Satan will be avoided if we heed the words of God.
Sometimes I find myself going down a wrong path. Sometimes out of ignorance but either way once on a wrong path it takes humility to return, not justification of defending the poor decision to avoid admitting wrongdoing or foolishness. Once I realize I'm on the wrong path, I choose humility and then I feel peace again and can then return to the path of righteousness.
There is only one way to peace, happiness and everything else of value in this world and its Jesus Christ. We must follow His example and be humble. There is no other way to God but by faith in His righteousness. There are no shortcuts and nothing to be gained by going off the path.
As the prodigal son returned to himself and was humbled, he returned to his father. His brother had been faithful and felt a bit jealous of the celebration of his brother's return, but I'm sure that the prodigal son felt jealous of his brother who had kept the commandments from the beginning and had been blessed all his life for it. This is just a parable but how true it is that if we stray we do not gain, only in humility are we blessed and come closer to our God. We will have trials but the traps by Satan will be avoided if we heed the words of God.
2.11.10
Our ability to choose is awesome but so worthless if we don't choose the right.
Every society in the Book of Mormon was prosperous when they kept the commandments of charity and service to God. Once the people started serving their own gratification, they lost the spirit and society fell into class warfare, pride, greed, and war which lead to death and despair.
This is the way to live in the society that God will truly bless- worship God with all your heart, might, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemies, pray for those that abuse and persecute you.
So, the choice is up to us. Just as those that don't read have no advantage over those that can't, we have no advantage with our agency if we don't choose the right.
This is the way to live in the society that God will truly bless- worship God with all your heart, might, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemies, pray for those that abuse and persecute you.
So, the choice is up to us. Just as those that don't read have no advantage over those that can't, we have no advantage with our agency if we don't choose the right.
28.10.10
Excerpt From President Monson's Talk "Guideposts for Life's Journey"
As we look heavenward, we inevitably learn of our responsibility to reach outward.
To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Service to others is akin to duty—the fulfillment of which brings true joy.
We do not live alone—in our city, our nation, or our world. There is no dividing line between our prosperity and our neighbor’s wretchedness. “Love thy neighbor” is more than a divine truth. It is a pattern for perfection. This truth inspires the familiar charge “Go forth to serve.” Try as some of us may, we cannot escape the influence our lives have upon the lives of others. Ours is the opportunity to build, to lift, to inspire, and indeed to lead.
The New Testament teaches that it is impossible to take a right attitude toward Christ without taking an unselfish attitude toward men. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”6 We may think as we please, but there is no question about what the
Thomas S. Monson 5
Bible teaches. In the New Testament there is no road to the heart of God that does not lead through the heart of man.
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that a true Latter-day Saint
is to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other, or in no church at all, wherever he finds them.
23.10.10
They Are Without God in the World
"All men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness." -Alma 41:11
The great promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that if we believe and obey then we'll be happy. Maybe its hard to believe in that promise during a trial. Job passed through the hardships and were blessed. Job is usually the key example of having trials but all the righteous have to go through hardships. But, just like anything I've been asked to do in the Church, I don't regret it and I'm sure Job doesn't regret going through the trials. Its part of coming to a happier state that we grow and are able to overcome the trials.
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." -Zech. 13:9
"Never be discouraged. If I were sunk in the lowest pits of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top." -Joseph Smith, Jr.
The key to living the gospel and being able to withstand the trials is faith. Without faith we can do nothing that pleases the Lord. Faith without works is dead, but also works without faith are dead. We can't keep the commandments unless we have faith in God and not in ourselves.
Baptists love to quote this scripture in defiance to the emphasis Latter Day Saints put on keeping the commandments- "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). But, there is no conflict of doctrine between the Latter Day Saints and this scripture. Faith must be in God and not of ourselves. We are to have faith in God be the motivation for keeping the commandments. Most of the Christians I've talked to seem to think this scripture lets you off the hook from having to repent or strive for perfection. It doesn't. This scripture proves that faith in God is necessary in our salvation and countless scriptures admonish us to keep the commandments, always seeking to repent of our "carnal" behaviors.
Sometimes we might notice that our faith is in ourselves and not in God when we are keeping the commandments but not happy. I suspect we think we can go through the motions of righteousness and expect a marvelous manifestation that validates our straining for keeping the commandments. Paul said that if we do things without faith then it is counted as evil unto us. We can't offer obedience without faith in Jesus Christ. That was the great mistake in Cain's offering to God. He didn't have faith in Jesus Christ and didn't make his offering in Christ's name and thus his hard work was rejected by God and Cain didn't receive a blessing. What a great lesson for us today! We have to keep the commandments with a pure heart, real intent, and with a faith in Jesus Christ that He will make up for what we lack. We must acknowledge our unworthiness and seek to serve with our whole might, mind, heart and strength. Then we will know when our offerings are acceptable unto the Lord by the Holy Ghost. We will feel happiness. We will have a contrite spirit and broken heart.
Going through the motions is a common problem. Its hard to make church an event if you go every week. Its hard to be impressed by a talk that you've heard a million times. Its hard to care after a while. I'm reminded of Brigham Young's counsel to those that don't feel like praying. He said to just keep trying and stay on your knees praying till you are filled with the Holy Ghost. Why is it hard? Because faith is something we must always seek after. We may have it but if we don't always seek it then it will slowly leave like a spirit leaving a body. The works then will be dead. We must strive to maintain the faith or we'll be without God in the world and we'll be unhappy.
The great promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that if we believe and obey then we'll be happy. Maybe its hard to believe in that promise during a trial. Job passed through the hardships and were blessed. Job is usually the key example of having trials but all the righteous have to go through hardships. But, just like anything I've been asked to do in the Church, I don't regret it and I'm sure Job doesn't regret going through the trials. Its part of coming to a happier state that we grow and are able to overcome the trials.
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." -Zech. 13:9
"Never be discouraged. If I were sunk in the lowest pits of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top." -Joseph Smith, Jr.
The key to living the gospel and being able to withstand the trials is faith. Without faith we can do nothing that pleases the Lord. Faith without works is dead, but also works without faith are dead. We can't keep the commandments unless we have faith in God and not in ourselves.
Baptists love to quote this scripture in defiance to the emphasis Latter Day Saints put on keeping the commandments- "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). But, there is no conflict of doctrine between the Latter Day Saints and this scripture. Faith must be in God and not of ourselves. We are to have faith in God be the motivation for keeping the commandments. Most of the Christians I've talked to seem to think this scripture lets you off the hook from having to repent or strive for perfection. It doesn't. This scripture proves that faith in God is necessary in our salvation and countless scriptures admonish us to keep the commandments, always seeking to repent of our "carnal" behaviors.
Sometimes we might notice that our faith is in ourselves and not in God when we are keeping the commandments but not happy. I suspect we think we can go through the motions of righteousness and expect a marvelous manifestation that validates our straining for keeping the commandments. Paul said that if we do things without faith then it is counted as evil unto us. We can't offer obedience without faith in Jesus Christ. That was the great mistake in Cain's offering to God. He didn't have faith in Jesus Christ and didn't make his offering in Christ's name and thus his hard work was rejected by God and Cain didn't receive a blessing. What a great lesson for us today! We have to keep the commandments with a pure heart, real intent, and with a faith in Jesus Christ that He will make up for what we lack. We must acknowledge our unworthiness and seek to serve with our whole might, mind, heart and strength. Then we will know when our offerings are acceptable unto the Lord by the Holy Ghost. We will feel happiness. We will have a contrite spirit and broken heart.
Going through the motions is a common problem. Its hard to make church an event if you go every week. Its hard to be impressed by a talk that you've heard a million times. Its hard to care after a while. I'm reminded of Brigham Young's counsel to those that don't feel like praying. He said to just keep trying and stay on your knees praying till you are filled with the Holy Ghost. Why is it hard? Because faith is something we must always seek after. We may have it but if we don't always seek it then it will slowly leave like a spirit leaving a body. The works then will be dead. We must strive to maintain the faith or we'll be without God in the world and we'll be unhappy.
21.10.10
16.10.10
Preparing for the Higher Law
“The main purpose of the Doctrine and Covenants, you will find, is to implement the law of consecration....This law, the consummation of the laws of obedience and sacrifice, is the threshold of the celestial kingdom, the last and hardest requirement made of men [and women] in this life."
-Hugh Nibley
I think the LDS church is the only church that has a plan for how to live exactly how God would want us to if we were all converted fully to the Lord in our hearts. It would be Zion. The land of milk and honey and everyone would work but everyone would have. There would be no Haves and Have-nots. All would have and all would be fully nourished both physically and spiritually. This way of living is decidedly outlined in Doctrine and Covenants as well as all the scriptures (if taken to a logical step). In the Book of Mormon, the people are constantly commanded to repent for their pride and love of money. They're told to feed the hungry and clothe the naked with their riches. They're told to impart of their substance to all of God's children, that being the reason for having an abundance (Jacob 2:16-17).
But, the Christian Right in our politics today has hijacked the Christian message and turned it into Ayn Rand's message of "virtuous" selfishness. Many of our brethren in the LDS church are converted to the hatred of immigrants for wanting a better life, persecution of Muslims right to freedom of religion, many of our brethren think healthcare should only be for the rich, and that taxes in general should be done away with despite the need to keep schools and police in effect.
As the Savior said "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." We can't hate our brethren or love them on certain conditions (American, Republican, white, rich, straight, etc.) Its commanded for us to love all men and women. All are worthy of our love. Not just those that think or act the way we do.
Homosexuals have been outraged at our church. We have been under fire for our beliefs and if you ask them they'll say the same thing, that they have been under fire for their beliefs. Both sides see it as one side picking on the other. Thats no excuse for hating them. We must accept all but reject the sin. Mormons have always believed in homosexual tendencies to be out of step with God's will. Its a very complicated issue but the law is clear; its not permitted to act on gay tendencies and its especially not permitted to persecute or make fun of anyone for being different.
Before we can live in the Celestial Kingdom we must live the Celestial laws. But, before we can live that law we must be willing to live the lower laws. We are not commanded to live by the United Order which says that we give all our goods to the Bishop Storehouse and then are allotted certain things depending on our needs. That is not commanded of us. Yet we still have the Law of Consecration which means that we are to give of our time and talent to the building up of the kingdom of God on the Earth. How do we keep this law? By keeping the commandments. Serving what we can, when we can, where we can and however we can. In other words, loving God will all our heart, might, mind and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves. That is what is required of us. The Lord promises that those who keep the commandments will prosper. He will take care of us, if we sacrifice our lives to Him. The word sacrifice means literally “to make sacred,” or “to render sacred.”
Just as the righteous kept the law of Moses before Christ, "they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them." (Alma 15:15). We too must keep the commandments looking forward to the higher law that Christ will reveal to us when we're prepared to keep it. He won't give us something we can't keep and He will keep whatever we give Him.
"The law of sacrifice provides an opportunity for us to prove to the Lord that we love Him more than any other thing. As a result, the course sometimes becomes difficult since this is the process of perfection that prepares us for the celestial kingdom to '"dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever"' (D&C 76:62). -Elder M. Russell Ballard
“Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; … it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life”
-Joseph Smith
“Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!”
-Elder Neal A. Maxwell
-Hugh Nibley
I think the LDS church is the only church that has a plan for how to live exactly how God would want us to if we were all converted fully to the Lord in our hearts. It would be Zion. The land of milk and honey and everyone would work but everyone would have. There would be no Haves and Have-nots. All would have and all would be fully nourished both physically and spiritually. This way of living is decidedly outlined in Doctrine and Covenants as well as all the scriptures (if taken to a logical step). In the Book of Mormon, the people are constantly commanded to repent for their pride and love of money. They're told to feed the hungry and clothe the naked with their riches. They're told to impart of their substance to all of God's children, that being the reason for having an abundance (Jacob 2:16-17).
But, the Christian Right in our politics today has hijacked the Christian message and turned it into Ayn Rand's message of "virtuous" selfishness. Many of our brethren in the LDS church are converted to the hatred of immigrants for wanting a better life, persecution of Muslims right to freedom of religion, many of our brethren think healthcare should only be for the rich, and that taxes in general should be done away with despite the need to keep schools and police in effect.
As the Savior said "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." We can't hate our brethren or love them on certain conditions (American, Republican, white, rich, straight, etc.) Its commanded for us to love all men and women. All are worthy of our love. Not just those that think or act the way we do.
Homosexuals have been outraged at our church. We have been under fire for our beliefs and if you ask them they'll say the same thing, that they have been under fire for their beliefs. Both sides see it as one side picking on the other. Thats no excuse for hating them. We must accept all but reject the sin. Mormons have always believed in homosexual tendencies to be out of step with God's will. Its a very complicated issue but the law is clear; its not permitted to act on gay tendencies and its especially not permitted to persecute or make fun of anyone for being different.
Before we can live in the Celestial Kingdom we must live the Celestial laws. But, before we can live that law we must be willing to live the lower laws. We are not commanded to live by the United Order which says that we give all our goods to the Bishop Storehouse and then are allotted certain things depending on our needs. That is not commanded of us. Yet we still have the Law of Consecration which means that we are to give of our time and talent to the building up of the kingdom of God on the Earth. How do we keep this law? By keeping the commandments. Serving what we can, when we can, where we can and however we can. In other words, loving God will all our heart, might, mind and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves. That is what is required of us. The Lord promises that those who keep the commandments will prosper. He will take care of us, if we sacrifice our lives to Him. The word sacrifice means literally “to make sacred,” or “to render sacred.”
Just as the righteous kept the law of Moses before Christ, "they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them." (Alma 15:15). We too must keep the commandments looking forward to the higher law that Christ will reveal to us when we're prepared to keep it. He won't give us something we can't keep and He will keep whatever we give Him.
"The law of sacrifice provides an opportunity for us to prove to the Lord that we love Him more than any other thing. As a result, the course sometimes becomes difficult since this is the process of perfection that prepares us for the celestial kingdom to '"dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever"' (D&C 76:62). -Elder M. Russell Ballard
“Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; … it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life”
-Joseph Smith
“Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!”
-Elder Neal A. Maxwell
8.10.10
Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You
The Savior proposed the "Golden Rule" which has been repeated through out history and is thus- Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
A thing I think is significant of Christianity is the Savior's admonition to "Love your enemies" etc. Usually the world understands that justice means doing unto others as they have done unto you but there is a stipulation in Christianity that says to do good unto those that do bad to you.
Often there are accounts in Mormon history of when the Saints could have retaliated against their oppressors and avenge the injustices upon them. Instead they departed into the wilderness, a common theme in the scriptures. Always the Lord advises his followers to flee from the evil world into the wilderness. The interesting thing is people are asked to leave their comfort zone for the Lord. Abraham wasn't comfortable with having to sacrifice his only son but he was willing. Its not easy to love your enemies. "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..." (Mosiah 3:19).
There is lots of scripture talk of accountability our works. We'll be judged for our works and we get the reward according to our righteousness. Its often discussed in the scriptures of how we must be forgiving because with the judgment we give, we'll receive as well. If you are merciful then the Lord will be merciful to you. Very simple trade offs.
One of the remarkable things I've noticed is that of the state of war veterans. The guys on the front line of war are causing great destruction to enemies and then leave for home (if they don't die) but they can't leave war. Their service is admirable but the effects of the destruction is unquestionable. There are more accounts of suicide than the number of fatalities in the current war in Iraq. Their actions against the enemies are just as destructive on themselves. I don't mean to indict the army but the war itself. War is never free of an enormous amount of pain and death. There comes a time to fight for those that can't defend themselves but we can all do to gain a great amount of peace from not going to war.
Its not just in wars but in any instance of injury or hateful contention caused against another that will cause a great destruction in ourselves. The businessman who cuts the deal but leaves out a lot of people in the cold, the gossiping friend who causes friends to turn against another, the rapist who must look himself in the mirror and see a rapist, etc. The point is, the Golden Rule works both ways, not only should we treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves but we must treat others as if they were ourselves because the damage we do to others is damage to ourselves. We hurt ourselves when we hurt others.
Reminds me of the commandments the Lord gives on sacrificing our lives for the Lord's sake. Its not only for the Lord's sake but its for ours. If we sacrifice our lusts and pride to the Lord, then He will bless us with a fulfillment of the soul and a life eternal. The commandment to give to others is vital to our salvation and a blessing to others, its win-win. Not only do those that are suffering get help but you are blessed by not letting that devil of selfishness tear a hole in your soul and an unquenchable fire in your conscience. You can't cover up your obligations to God with anything but what He requires; a broken heart and contrite spirit, as that is what is needed to change a person from an enemy of God into a Saint through the atonement of Christ.
A thing I think is significant of Christianity is the Savior's admonition to "Love your enemies" etc. Usually the world understands that justice means doing unto others as they have done unto you but there is a stipulation in Christianity that says to do good unto those that do bad to you.
Often there are accounts in Mormon history of when the Saints could have retaliated against their oppressors and avenge the injustices upon them. Instead they departed into the wilderness, a common theme in the scriptures. Always the Lord advises his followers to flee from the evil world into the wilderness. The interesting thing is people are asked to leave their comfort zone for the Lord. Abraham wasn't comfortable with having to sacrifice his only son but he was willing. Its not easy to love your enemies. "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..." (Mosiah 3:19).
There is lots of scripture talk of accountability our works. We'll be judged for our works and we get the reward according to our righteousness. Its often discussed in the scriptures of how we must be forgiving because with the judgment we give, we'll receive as well. If you are merciful then the Lord will be merciful to you. Very simple trade offs.
One of the remarkable things I've noticed is that of the state of war veterans. The guys on the front line of war are causing great destruction to enemies and then leave for home (if they don't die) but they can't leave war. Their service is admirable but the effects of the destruction is unquestionable. There are more accounts of suicide than the number of fatalities in the current war in Iraq. Their actions against the enemies are just as destructive on themselves. I don't mean to indict the army but the war itself. War is never free of an enormous amount of pain and death. There comes a time to fight for those that can't defend themselves but we can all do to gain a great amount of peace from not going to war.
Its not just in wars but in any instance of injury or hateful contention caused against another that will cause a great destruction in ourselves. The businessman who cuts the deal but leaves out a lot of people in the cold, the gossiping friend who causes friends to turn against another, the rapist who must look himself in the mirror and see a rapist, etc. The point is, the Golden Rule works both ways, not only should we treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves but we must treat others as if they were ourselves because the damage we do to others is damage to ourselves. We hurt ourselves when we hurt others.
Reminds me of the commandments the Lord gives on sacrificing our lives for the Lord's sake. Its not only for the Lord's sake but its for ours. If we sacrifice our lusts and pride to the Lord, then He will bless us with a fulfillment of the soul and a life eternal. The commandment to give to others is vital to our salvation and a blessing to others, its win-win. Not only do those that are suffering get help but you are blessed by not letting that devil of selfishness tear a hole in your soul and an unquenchable fire in your conscience. You can't cover up your obligations to God with anything but what He requires; a broken heart and contrite spirit, as that is what is needed to change a person from an enemy of God into a Saint through the atonement of Christ.
27.9.10
Poverty America
I put together this slideshow to illustrate the consequences of when we are greedy. As Michael Douglas said in his role of Gordon Gekko in the movie Wall Street "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good." The way of big business as of late has showed that greed is not good and in fact puts a lot of people in danger and prosperity begins to decline under the outstanding weight of the greedy appetite of the very few at the expense of the very many.
The Lord's warning against the greedy is through out all the scriptures.
"And I will come near to you to judgment; against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, and that turn aside the stranger, and fear not me, saith the Lord of Hosts." (3 Nephi 24:5). The final judgment will see many on the wrong side of that great gulf because of their faith and love for money above God.
As Shakespeare wrote in Henry VIII "Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies." Those that are rich in heavenly riches are eventually found clothed in garments washed in the blood of the lamb and anointed to reign with him in the mansions of the Father. While those that are greedy will die and be left as open game to Satan's power.
We must seek to help those that are along the wayside and be true Christians that do for those what they cannot do for themselves. Whether that means work for the dead or work for those that will die without our help.
You might also notice some shots of war and hurricane Katrina. These are to show that we spend so much on the military and then have nothing to give to our own people. The effects of the wars are also quite long reaching in damages to everyone involved. These things could be avoided if the United States had more Christian values.
26.9.10
Robert D. Hales Devotional
When describing the attributes and opposition that Christ faced he said that the Savior "never took credit". Sure, why would the King of Kings have to worry about credit being due right? Well, like all commandments or attributes of Christ, we are to remember Nephi's prognosis: "And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!" (2 Nephi 31:5).
That subtle "he never took credit" is so profound in application. I find a conversation that turns to an argument to stem from a competitive nature in myself. It speaks volumes to God the amount of credit unsought for by an individual, as it is a sign of control over the natural man's tendency to seek satisfaction of ego and adoration of others. But, Christ said "Why call me good?" to a listener, then when on to say that the only good is God. What humility from the only begotten who was perfectly good!
I think that conference might be too much to take in under examination of the application of all the principles taught. Its quite impressive the fountain of learning and light that is the revealed word of God. Theres always a new way or greater need for the word of God to be applied.
23.9.10
How Important is Keeping the Commandments?
Heres just a few excerpts from the Bible:
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot bjustified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. By this we know that we alove the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into blife, keep the commandments. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. If ye love me, keep my ccommandments. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. And whatsoever we aask, we receive of him, because we keep his ccommandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God. Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Well, the prophets in the scriptures are always going on about it. The prophets of today are always going on about it. Many times the issue of Grace seems to make people think that they're forgiven in their sins and not from their sins. Thats why the Book of Mormon is so helpful in understanding that Grace is given "after all we can do." We are saved and Christ's when we accept His will over ours. If we do that then we are under His protection, He has overcome all sin, so death and hell have no hold on us. He is our shield and our sword against evil. When we turn to Him, He turns to us and breaks the chains of our sins. If we decide to put those chains on again then He will be there when we repent and want them off again. But, if we no longer want Him as our Savior and reject His commandments then we will be left to fend for ourselves against the power of the Destroyer, Satan because we are left vulnerable and unprotected.
Probably one of the top 10 most quoted scriptures in the LDS church is Helaman 5:12:
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
So much imagery is used in the scriptures to talk about spiritual things in a physical sense. Chains, rocks, bread, water, bodies, temples, paths, darkness, fruit, waves, snakes, doves, etc. The imagery should cause you to think of it in real terms. Thats the point of the scriptures is to have you think of the doctrines of God in real terms by relating to the people or the imagery. It might be confusing at times (Isaiah) but the Lord always is giving symbols and references to very real things and keeping the commandments is one of the few things God never minces words about. The summary of the scriptures might be this:
God created man, man sinned, God called prophets to tell man not to sin, a Savior was sent pay for the sins of man with His own life, God calls prophets to tell man not to sin, man is resurrected and judged based on if he accepted the Savior and repented of his sins, the end.
As I've already talked about, there are blessings to keeping the commandments. Many, many blessings, even unseen blessings. The Lord doesn't give a commandment without the basis on fulfillment of it being a blessing to the recipient. Nothing the Lord would command would be digression. Its all an uplifting, help on the path back to God. All the scriptures testify of God being good and loving, so keeping His commandment shouldn't make us cringe or be angry. We should rejoice on hearing a commandment. We should be thankful that we have the light of the Lord to instruct us. We should mourn that we aren't keeping the commandments more fully and ask God to help us in our weaknesses.
The snakes that bit the Moses' people were sent by God. The people were bitten so as to remember their God and stop going on in foolishness. The way to being healed was simple, all they had to do was look to the snake uplifted on a stick. Some still wouldn't look. They didn't think it would work. Its simplicity was too much. Well, the same is with us today in looking to Christ to be healed. Its very simple. Have faith in Christ and keep the commandments and be healed.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot bjustified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. By this we know that we alove the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into blife, keep the commandments. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. If ye love me, keep my ccommandments. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. And whatsoever we aask, we receive of him, because we keep his ccommandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God. Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Well, the prophets in the scriptures are always going on about it. The prophets of today are always going on about it. Many times the issue of Grace seems to make people think that they're forgiven in their sins and not from their sins. Thats why the Book of Mormon is so helpful in understanding that Grace is given "after all we can do." We are saved and Christ's when we accept His will over ours. If we do that then we are under His protection, He has overcome all sin, so death and hell have no hold on us. He is our shield and our sword against evil. When we turn to Him, He turns to us and breaks the chains of our sins. If we decide to put those chains on again then He will be there when we repent and want them off again. But, if we no longer want Him as our Savior and reject His commandments then we will be left to fend for ourselves against the power of the Destroyer, Satan because we are left vulnerable and unprotected.
Probably one of the top 10 most quoted scriptures in the LDS church is Helaman 5:12:
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
So much imagery is used in the scriptures to talk about spiritual things in a physical sense. Chains, rocks, bread, water, bodies, temples, paths, darkness, fruit, waves, snakes, doves, etc. The imagery should cause you to think of it in real terms. Thats the point of the scriptures is to have you think of the doctrines of God in real terms by relating to the people or the imagery. It might be confusing at times (Isaiah) but the Lord always is giving symbols and references to very real things and keeping the commandments is one of the few things God never minces words about. The summary of the scriptures might be this:
God created man, man sinned, God called prophets to tell man not to sin, a Savior was sent pay for the sins of man with His own life, God calls prophets to tell man not to sin, man is resurrected and judged based on if he accepted the Savior and repented of his sins, the end.
As I've already talked about, there are blessings to keeping the commandments. Many, many blessings, even unseen blessings. The Lord doesn't give a commandment without the basis on fulfillment of it being a blessing to the recipient. Nothing the Lord would command would be digression. Its all an uplifting, help on the path back to God. All the scriptures testify of God being good and loving, so keeping His commandment shouldn't make us cringe or be angry. We should rejoice on hearing a commandment. We should be thankful that we have the light of the Lord to instruct us. We should mourn that we aren't keeping the commandments more fully and ask God to help us in our weaknesses.
The snakes that bit the Moses' people were sent by God. The people were bitten so as to remember their God and stop going on in foolishness. The way to being healed was simple, all they had to do was look to the snake uplifted on a stick. Some still wouldn't look. They didn't think it would work. Its simplicity was too much. Well, the same is with us today in looking to Christ to be healed. Its very simple. Have faith in Christ and keep the commandments and be healed.
18.9.10
Insidious Pride
There arises opportunity for pride in our hearts when we feel helpless or scared. When we feel the need to justify our behavior. When we have nothing else to cover our vulnerabilities we turn to the reflective pride, which we use to bounce off all humility, dependence, forgiveness, admittance of fault, guidance, or any other form of repentance to God.
When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they realized they were naked. They realized that their innocence had been lost and in that moment they were truly human; naked, imperfect, scared and vulnerable. Despite being in such a state, Adam and Eve were repentant and were able to return to that God that dispersed them in their sin.
It is through the Savior's blood that our garments are washed clean. Jesus Christ was sent so that we could utilize His atonement as our cover. He is our way to getting rid of any shame we might feel in the presence of our God, but we must not hide our sin with pride.
Pride covers sin with darkness which makes it grow. Then more pride must be used to cover the ever increasing sin. Whatever part of our lives that we don't consecrate to the Lord will be the most fertile parts for pride to grow, because where the Lord is not, there is darkness. God can't sanctify what we keep from Him.
The insidious pride has many places it creeps in. When we judge the person as being less than or inferior in any way, we are being prideful. Thats not to say to not use discernment with dealing with people. The Lord commanded that we love and pray for our enemies, but not to be completely trusting. Often it was a warning of the pride of the Pharisees or Sadducees or an instruction to not put pearls before swine, meaning- keep the sacred things from getting thrown around in the mud. Don't let your heart be too easily impressionable unto trusting foolishly and being tossed on on the waves from one doctrine to another. Faith in the Lord will help us to remain firm and aware of where the great sin of pride lurks in our hearts.
Remember what King Benjamin said- we're all beggars and man is nothing. Moses seemed to say such a thing as well after viewing the cosmos. Don't get too caught in a short perspective of yourself or your importance. No matter what someone else does, God is judging you on what YOU do with your life.
Its easy to be convenient Christians or buffet Christians that pick and choose which doctrines to partake from. God is not interested in a portion of us, but all. So, He wishes that we give all to Him by repenting of all that is not aligned with His will. "If ye love me, keep my commandments" said the Savior. Theres no getting around the fact that we must be willing to sacrifice our time, talents and efforts to the building of the kingdom of God on the earth. Consecrated lives in the Lord are lives that are filled with opposition but growth, freedom and an abounding love of Christ, "for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).
When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they realized they were naked. They realized that their innocence had been lost and in that moment they were truly human; naked, imperfect, scared and vulnerable. Despite being in such a state, Adam and Eve were repentant and were able to return to that God that dispersed them in their sin.
It is through the Savior's blood that our garments are washed clean. Jesus Christ was sent so that we could utilize His atonement as our cover. He is our way to getting rid of any shame we might feel in the presence of our God, but we must not hide our sin with pride.
Pride covers sin with darkness which makes it grow. Then more pride must be used to cover the ever increasing sin. Whatever part of our lives that we don't consecrate to the Lord will be the most fertile parts for pride to grow, because where the Lord is not, there is darkness. God can't sanctify what we keep from Him.
The insidious pride has many places it creeps in. When we judge the person as being less than or inferior in any way, we are being prideful. Thats not to say to not use discernment with dealing with people. The Lord commanded that we love and pray for our enemies, but not to be completely trusting. Often it was a warning of the pride of the Pharisees or Sadducees or an instruction to not put pearls before swine, meaning- keep the sacred things from getting thrown around in the mud. Don't let your heart be too easily impressionable unto trusting foolishly and being tossed on on the waves from one doctrine to another. Faith in the Lord will help us to remain firm and aware of where the great sin of pride lurks in our hearts.
Remember what King Benjamin said- we're all beggars and man is nothing. Moses seemed to say such a thing as well after viewing the cosmos. Don't get too caught in a short perspective of yourself or your importance. No matter what someone else does, God is judging you on what YOU do with your life.
Its easy to be convenient Christians or buffet Christians that pick and choose which doctrines to partake from. God is not interested in a portion of us, but all. So, He wishes that we give all to Him by repenting of all that is not aligned with His will. "If ye love me, keep my commandments" said the Savior. Theres no getting around the fact that we must be willing to sacrifice our time, talents and efforts to the building of the kingdom of God on the earth. Consecrated lives in the Lord are lives that are filled with opposition but growth, freedom and an abounding love of Christ, "for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).
15.9.10
Insensitivity
"We live in a day when the adversary stresses on every hand the philosophy of instant gratification. We seem to demand instant everything, including instant solutions to our problems. . .It was meant to be that life would be a challenge. To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal."
-Boyd K. Packer
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" -Abraham 3:25
Agency is what separated God's plan of Salvation from Satan's plan. "Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down" -Moses 4:3. Satan's plan was to not have man be endowed with agency so as to avoid having any sin. God's plan was to allow man to sin but also to allow man a way to be cleansed of his sin by his choosing to follow a chosen Savior named Jesus Christ. The Savior said "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever" (Moses 4:2). What applicable approaches to God these are for us! We can either say that God is wrong to let there be any consequential suffering due to our freedoms or we can bear the consequences and say "Thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever."
Heres an excerpt from the talk by Elder Bednar called "And Nothing Shall Offend Them"-
To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else. In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation.
Its the test of our probationary state here in mortality to see how we will use our agency when faced with difficulty brought on by our own choices and the choices of others. If we are so insensitive as to think that our feelings are the only ones that matter, then we forget how much God has sacrificed for us as He watched His perfect Son suffer for our sins. When encountering someone or something offensive to us, we are in a position to be like Christ and suffer it or to let it destroy us. We have a choice of letting a speed bump become an impenetrable brick wall, or to walk over the water.
We must be sensitive to the feelings of others more than so sensitive in our own feelings' validation and justification. A very sensitive and insecure person is quick to become insensitive and hurtful towards another's feelings. A slight slight can be misinterpreted for a slap in the face, when really it was an accident. We must set aside our natural instincts to avenge our egos, with "an eye for an eye" philosophy. In other words, we must forgive the trespasses of others. Because so often the insult is not intended at all. Whether these offenses are intentional or not should not matter in our path of spiritual development. The Lord instructed us quite adamantly in the Sermon on the Mount-
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. …
“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
“And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”
Don't let your hard feelings get in the way of progress. The Lord has always favored the steady heart with deliverance after being bombarded with discomfort, agitation, and temptation. The path to God is not easy or quick but long with many, many obstacles. All of which designed to help us, its all part of the plan from a loving and merciful Heavenly Father. We may question "Why?" but we should not let that lack of understanding get between us and God.
The Lord favors those that trust His will and keep His commandments more that those that need validation or justification for all their troubles. "An angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me." -Moses 5:6
-Boyd K. Packer
"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" -Abraham 3:25
Agency is what separated God's plan of Salvation from Satan's plan. "Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down" -Moses 4:3. Satan's plan was to not have man be endowed with agency so as to avoid having any sin. God's plan was to allow man to sin but also to allow man a way to be cleansed of his sin by his choosing to follow a chosen Savior named Jesus Christ. The Savior said "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever" (Moses 4:2). What applicable approaches to God these are for us! We can either say that God is wrong to let there be any consequential suffering due to our freedoms or we can bear the consequences and say "Thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever."
Heres an excerpt from the talk by Elder Bednar called "And Nothing Shall Offend Them"-
To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else. In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation.
Its the test of our probationary state here in mortality to see how we will use our agency when faced with difficulty brought on by our own choices and the choices of others. If we are so insensitive as to think that our feelings are the only ones that matter, then we forget how much God has sacrificed for us as He watched His perfect Son suffer for our sins. When encountering someone or something offensive to us, we are in a position to be like Christ and suffer it or to let it destroy us. We have a choice of letting a speed bump become an impenetrable brick wall, or to walk over the water.
We must be sensitive to the feelings of others more than so sensitive in our own feelings' validation and justification. A very sensitive and insecure person is quick to become insensitive and hurtful towards another's feelings. A slight slight can be misinterpreted for a slap in the face, when really it was an accident. We must set aside our natural instincts to avenge our egos, with "an eye for an eye" philosophy. In other words, we must forgive the trespasses of others. Because so often the insult is not intended at all. Whether these offenses are intentional or not should not matter in our path of spiritual development. The Lord instructed us quite adamantly in the Sermon on the Mount-
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. …
“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
“And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”
Don't let your hard feelings get in the way of progress. The Lord has always favored the steady heart with deliverance after being bombarded with discomfort, agitation, and temptation. The path to God is not easy or quick but long with many, many obstacles. All of which designed to help us, its all part of the plan from a loving and merciful Heavenly Father. We may question "Why?" but we should not let that lack of understanding get between us and God.
The Lord favors those that trust His will and keep His commandments more that those that need validation or justification for all their troubles. "An angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me." -Moses 5:6
11.9.10
The Way to Happiness
As cliche and probably used more than any other phrase in the study of human existence, I am impressed by the misuse of what is the word "Happiness" by the world's use of it. Oprah has a new "favorite thing" that she tells everyone to buy. McDonalds has a new way of "rewarding yourself" with every variation on a grand scale manufactured form of unhealthy yet affordable food like substance. Apple Computers sets out to recreate our lives with a handheld device which is supposed to make our life easier and in turn better. The world of consumption is not slow to remember that we are constantly seeking satisfaction in every way possible and is quick to answer that hunger.
Amos 8:11
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD"
The Lord is also aware of our constant nourishment. In fact, Jesus told us He knows what we need of before we even ask Him in prayer. If God can answer our prayers and give us what we need, why then are we unhappy? Is it simply we don't ask? Are we, as forewarned to not do, asking what we shouldn't? Are we just ignorant to what will make us happy?
The Lord has given us a case by case instruction manual for happiness. To spoil the surprise the answer is to keep the commandments and come unto Christ. But to be a bit more thorough lets examine a few places where happiness is mentioned in the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
Consider the King Benjamin talk and response from the people- in it he is telling them of how they're nothing and worthless in their fallen state and that God is so merciful, wise, and patient toward them even to the point of sending a Savior (Mosiah 4:5-6). He then tells them to repent and humble themselves before God in all the sincerity of their hearts. The people so moved with the Spirit do so and what is the outcome?
Mosiah 4:20- And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
John 13:17-
"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
So, humility, sincerity, diligence in keeping the commandments, and seeking forgiveness from God is the way to happiness. Other examples include 4th Nephi where the people were not lifted up in pride and had the love of God in their hearts and were exceedingly happy.
The Savior knows we want to be happy which is why He showed us the way to live and the way to salvation- His life. The state of those that keep the commandments with full purpose of heart are blessed and happy as the scriptures show. Wickedness never was happiness.
The Adversary is always trying to fill that role of our god by filling our need for happiness with things that cannot satisfy. He strives to make us lovers of ourselves to override the love of God. As any narcissist could testify- its shallow, loveless, lonely, and awful to only care about yourself. This temptation to care about ourselves more than others or to fill our lives with meaningless self satisfaction can only lead to being completely unhappy. If you conquered the world and had everything at your disposal, you'd want to conquer the universe. There is no end to selfishness, it is an unquenchable fire that will torment our souls as long as we give into it.
On the other hand, gratitude gives us peace and love for the moment. Christ said he was living waters which will satisfy us eternally. Giving up our selfish, self aggrandizing, self will make us happy because we then can take on the name of Christ and He will live in us and our joy will be exceedingly great because we'll be at one with God. Atonement.
Humility to God equals happiness. Love for God with all our heart, might, mind and strength equals happiness. Love for others as ourselves equals happiness. Realizing our nothingness is nothing short of difficult but definitely easier to do when we contemplate the grand goodness of God and his matchless power.
We can't be happy unless we do what is right with an eye single to the glory of God.
Amos 8:11
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD"
The Lord is also aware of our constant nourishment. In fact, Jesus told us He knows what we need of before we even ask Him in prayer. If God can answer our prayers and give us what we need, why then are we unhappy? Is it simply we don't ask? Are we, as forewarned to not do, asking what we shouldn't? Are we just ignorant to what will make us happy?
The Lord has given us a case by case instruction manual for happiness. To spoil the surprise the answer is to keep the commandments and come unto Christ. But to be a bit more thorough lets examine a few places where happiness is mentioned in the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
Consider the King Benjamin talk and response from the people- in it he is telling them of how they're nothing and worthless in their fallen state and that God is so merciful, wise, and patient toward them even to the point of sending a Savior (Mosiah 4:5-6). He then tells them to repent and humble themselves before God in all the sincerity of their hearts. The people so moved with the Spirit do so and what is the outcome?
Mosiah 4:20- And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
John 13:17-
"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
So, humility, sincerity, diligence in keeping the commandments, and seeking forgiveness from God is the way to happiness. Other examples include 4th Nephi where the people were not lifted up in pride and had the love of God in their hearts and were exceedingly happy.
The Savior knows we want to be happy which is why He showed us the way to live and the way to salvation- His life. The state of those that keep the commandments with full purpose of heart are blessed and happy as the scriptures show. Wickedness never was happiness.
The Adversary is always trying to fill that role of our god by filling our need for happiness with things that cannot satisfy. He strives to make us lovers of ourselves to override the love of God. As any narcissist could testify- its shallow, loveless, lonely, and awful to only care about yourself. This temptation to care about ourselves more than others or to fill our lives with meaningless self satisfaction can only lead to being completely unhappy. If you conquered the world and had everything at your disposal, you'd want to conquer the universe. There is no end to selfishness, it is an unquenchable fire that will torment our souls as long as we give into it.
On the other hand, gratitude gives us peace and love for the moment. Christ said he was living waters which will satisfy us eternally. Giving up our selfish, self aggrandizing, self will make us happy because we then can take on the name of Christ and He will live in us and our joy will be exceedingly great because we'll be at one with God. Atonement.
Humility to God equals happiness. Love for God with all our heart, might, mind and strength equals happiness. Love for others as ourselves equals happiness. Realizing our nothingness is nothing short of difficult but definitely easier to do when we contemplate the grand goodness of God and his matchless power.
We can't be happy unless we do what is right with an eye single to the glory of God.
29.8.10
Procedures and Growth
As a Mormon, I go through a lot; ordinances, temptations, meetings, anti-Mormon teachings, etc. Lately, it seems that the most growth doesn't come from going through anything but growing through (excuse the pun) anything.
I was sealed to my wife almost two years ago at the Salt Lake City Temple. At the time I knew I loved her but I find that I love her more all the time and especially when I stop to think about her. I went through the procedure of getting married but the growth of the marriage keeps going.
There are countless things we could all "grow through" (joining the Marines, taking courses in college, raising children, or learning another language). I'm reminded of Nephi who was not sure what all the things meant that the Spirit was teaching, but relied on his knowledge that "God loveth his children". I also think of all the writers in the Book of Mormon who said that things were written for a "wise purpose" in God. We don't always know the outcome or reason for all the things we go through in procedures, but afterward we may look back and see the great things the Lord has done because of our faith and willingness to go forward on the path. By small and simple things does the Lord bring to pass great things.
My wife and I have recently been playing a lot of Skip-Bo after getting schooled by my Grandma. In the game there is a lot of side activity meaning it doesn't get you any closer to winning, but is sort of fun in and of itself. In fact, you might be able to go the whole game and participate every time its your turn, but still not get any closer to winning. The reason I bring this up isn't to discuss the pitfalls of pride in competition but that in life there are tons of things we can do as "side activity" which makes us feel like we're really playing the game but in fact we're not getting anywhere. As we go through the procedures, its important to seek out why the Lord has given us what He has and to utilize our time in striving to grow to match the expectations of the Lord.
I was called to serve a mission of preaching and baptizing in the San Diego, California mission. This was a great work that required me to grow after going through the procedures of being called, set apart and having a black badge with my name on it. While I looked the part and was even commissioned by the church, I still hadn't lived up to the calling. I knew it was the right thing to go through but I still had to grow in order for it to not just be "side activity" and a waste of time. While serving there were lots of chances to grow but just as many chances to waste time.
All the procedures (callings, temptations, ordinances, experiences) in the church are designed to help us develop ourselves in the gospel of Jesus Christ, a means for us to utilize in our goal of growing to be like and get closer to Jesus Christ. There are tons of things we can do to make us feel like we're getting accomplishing something, but looking back we should see what was vanity and what wasn't.
Granted not everything we do has to be of deep import or a growing experience but we should make sure that the trivial things are not over crowding the pivotal things. Watching an inappropriate movie, worrying about fashion or spending tons of money on eating out- are examples of things that could take away from the greater purpose of our lives.
The Lord gives a great parable of stewards who were given talents to make use of and then their Lord would return an ask them to give an account for their use of talents. The ones who were found favor in the Lord were the ones that utilized their time wisely by making use of their gifts to the point of doubling what they had been given. The steward that did not find favor did not utilize his gift and was met with sore reproach from the Lord, who told him that he should have been more faithful. The procedure was the giving of the talents and the growth was using them.
I know the Lord doesn't give us procedures save for the chance to grow and make the most of it. The priesthood holder must be kept worthy to use such a power, the mother must be worthy of taking care of God's children, the steward must make good use of the gift or these things will be a waste and be good for nothing except "to be burned", as scripture tells us.
I was sealed to my wife almost two years ago at the Salt Lake City Temple. At the time I knew I loved her but I find that I love her more all the time and especially when I stop to think about her. I went through the procedure of getting married but the growth of the marriage keeps going.
There are countless things we could all "grow through" (joining the Marines, taking courses in college, raising children, or learning another language). I'm reminded of Nephi who was not sure what all the things meant that the Spirit was teaching, but relied on his knowledge that "God loveth his children". I also think of all the writers in the Book of Mormon who said that things were written for a "wise purpose" in God. We don't always know the outcome or reason for all the things we go through in procedures, but afterward we may look back and see the great things the Lord has done because of our faith and willingness to go forward on the path. By small and simple things does the Lord bring to pass great things.
My wife and I have recently been playing a lot of Skip-Bo after getting schooled by my Grandma. In the game there is a lot of side activity meaning it doesn't get you any closer to winning, but is sort of fun in and of itself. In fact, you might be able to go the whole game and participate every time its your turn, but still not get any closer to winning. The reason I bring this up isn't to discuss the pitfalls of pride in competition but that in life there are tons of things we can do as "side activity" which makes us feel like we're really playing the game but in fact we're not getting anywhere. As we go through the procedures, its important to seek out why the Lord has given us what He has and to utilize our time in striving to grow to match the expectations of the Lord.
I was called to serve a mission of preaching and baptizing in the San Diego, California mission. This was a great work that required me to grow after going through the procedures of being called, set apart and having a black badge with my name on it. While I looked the part and was even commissioned by the church, I still hadn't lived up to the calling. I knew it was the right thing to go through but I still had to grow in order for it to not just be "side activity" and a waste of time. While serving there were lots of chances to grow but just as many chances to waste time.
All the procedures (callings, temptations, ordinances, experiences) in the church are designed to help us develop ourselves in the gospel of Jesus Christ, a means for us to utilize in our goal of growing to be like and get closer to Jesus Christ. There are tons of things we can do to make us feel like we're getting accomplishing something, but looking back we should see what was vanity and what wasn't.
Granted not everything we do has to be of deep import or a growing experience but we should make sure that the trivial things are not over crowding the pivotal things. Watching an inappropriate movie, worrying about fashion or spending tons of money on eating out- are examples of things that could take away from the greater purpose of our lives.
The Lord gives a great parable of stewards who were given talents to make use of and then their Lord would return an ask them to give an account for their use of talents. The ones who were found favor in the Lord were the ones that utilized their time wisely by making use of their gifts to the point of doubling what they had been given. The steward that did not find favor did not utilize his gift and was met with sore reproach from the Lord, who told him that he should have been more faithful. The procedure was the giving of the talents and the growth was using them.
I know the Lord doesn't give us procedures save for the chance to grow and make the most of it. The priesthood holder must be kept worthy to use such a power, the mother must be worthy of taking care of God's children, the steward must make good use of the gift or these things will be a waste and be good for nothing except "to be burned", as scripture tells us.
23.8.10
Accusations and Forgiveness
Everybody sides with the victim. Every convincing argument makes the "good side" to be as victims of the evil, cunning, manipulating "bad side". This tactic takes away the humanity of the other side. How easy do we forget that we're all children of divine heritage?
Every great speaker makes one side great and one side bad. Perhaps too often we get caught up in the rhetoric and forget to discern the sin from the sinner and end up dismissing both. Perhaps in our minds we can see the error of their ways, but does that justify us in becoming as Satan the Great Accuser, who seeks to make a case against us to God? No.
Scriptures say that evil will destroy the evil, making it very clear that those that dig a pit for their neighbor, will fall into that pit themselves. Likewise, if you seek to bring others down, then you'll just bring yourself down. The most detailed and voluminous of a case we make against others will not make us any more righteous or good in God's eyes. Holding on to those offenses is like holding onto cinder blocks under water. We're only justified/freed/saved by the the one on one relationship we strive to have with God.
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior is constantly admonishing His listeners to be truly faithful to God for God's sake, letting all else (popularity, wealth, status, vanity) fall where it may. The Savior said to forgive and if we don't forgive then we aren't forgiven ourselves. Makes me conclude that the process for our forgiveness is that of not having bad feelings toward others cloud our desires and thus forgiveness would be of no value because the sin remains. We are forgiven as we forgive, as we obey, as we love and if we hold on to the offenses in our hearts then we cannot be forgiven fully because our hearts are not given fully to the Lord.
Satan is constantly dangling temptations to gossip or murmur about the weaknesses or foolishness of others. Often he tries to implement a sense of unfairness and entitlement to our minds that makes it easier for us to justify bringing others down. The opportunities to fall into these traps are always lingering and in turn the opportunity to ignore them and do something edifying or productive are just as present. When others wrong us, we're not okay to wrong them back. Thats the "eye for eye, tooth for a tooth" mentality that the Savior also mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount as being done away with, and that "whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire" (Matthew 5:22).
We can avoid these falls by seeking to serve others, to build them up, to love them and that means forgiving them the offenses toward us. By doing this we can be perfect in God's eyes, we'll see others as God does, with love and hope. God doesn't help those that help themselves but loves/helps those that love/help others.
Every great speaker makes one side great and one side bad. Perhaps too often we get caught up in the rhetoric and forget to discern the sin from the sinner and end up dismissing both. Perhaps in our minds we can see the error of their ways, but does that justify us in becoming as Satan the Great Accuser, who seeks to make a case against us to God? No.
Scriptures say that evil will destroy the evil, making it very clear that those that dig a pit for their neighbor, will fall into that pit themselves. Likewise, if you seek to bring others down, then you'll just bring yourself down. The most detailed and voluminous of a case we make against others will not make us any more righteous or good in God's eyes. Holding on to those offenses is like holding onto cinder blocks under water. We're only justified/freed/saved by the the one on one relationship we strive to have with God.
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior is constantly admonishing His listeners to be truly faithful to God for God's sake, letting all else (popularity, wealth, status, vanity) fall where it may. The Savior said to forgive and if we don't forgive then we aren't forgiven ourselves. Makes me conclude that the process for our forgiveness is that of not having bad feelings toward others cloud our desires and thus forgiveness would be of no value because the sin remains. We are forgiven as we forgive, as we obey, as we love and if we hold on to the offenses in our hearts then we cannot be forgiven fully because our hearts are not given fully to the Lord.
Satan is constantly dangling temptations to gossip or murmur about the weaknesses or foolishness of others. Often he tries to implement a sense of unfairness and entitlement to our minds that makes it easier for us to justify bringing others down. The opportunities to fall into these traps are always lingering and in turn the opportunity to ignore them and do something edifying or productive are just as present. When others wrong us, we're not okay to wrong them back. Thats the "eye for eye, tooth for a tooth" mentality that the Savior also mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount as being done away with, and that "whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire" (Matthew 5:22).
We can avoid these falls by seeking to serve others, to build them up, to love them and that means forgiving them the offenses toward us. By doing this we can be perfect in God's eyes, we'll see others as God does, with love and hope. God doesn't help those that help themselves but loves/helps those that love/help others.
21.8.10
True Way to Abundance
"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."
Of all the themes in the scriptures, I think this one is one of the most impressive concepts. This theme has always been there because man has always been plagued by the idea of security through money or status. In the material world, we see with material eyes, the things that seem most important; materials for status.
As we see in Alma 22, there was a haughty king who was taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and had the plan of salvation expounded unto him:
"And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy."
Is there any other way to receive all that the Father has than to give Him all that we have?
Another interesting example of this concept of giving up in order to have was given by Christ-
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one apearl of great price, went and sold ball that he had, and bought it." Matthew 13:45-46
I'm all for having an abundance of great things and living a great standard of living. But, I know there are limits to many of our wants that are put through the eye of the needle that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The promise through out the scriptures is that the Lord will give you ALL that you want if you give God ALL that you are. Thats the test. We must sacrifice our will for the will of God, thats the purpose of our being here and the way to prepare to return to God.
Giving of our abundance is easy. In fact, I find that to be the way I most commonly give. I'll see a homeless person and give them whatever spare change I can spare but when I get paid I don't purposely seek the poor and afflicted. Its something that we should all set aside time to purposely seek, to help those who are in need and not just wait for them to come to us, seeking the crumbs that fall from our table. Its very challenging because you never know when you might need the money, but the Lord once told an Apostle to go and catch a fish which would have a coin in its mouth. I think the Lord knows our needs more than we trust. But, trust is the only way to gain an abundance of blessings from God. Without faith then no miracles can be wrought.
I think the Lord wants us to help others in need because 1) we realize others have it worse and we become more grateful, humble and thus not so victimized by our entitlement issues. 2) Other people do need help and when we help then we are then in the service of God because we become as the angels. 3) We realize that money and and possessions aren't what makes a life happy. 4) We clean out our petty wants to be given greater wants, a change of heart from love of money to a love of God (see 4th Nephi). 5) Once we give the Lord our hearts then He can give us everything He has.
So, we learn, grow, strengthen, and love more by giving up those things that get in the way. An abundance of materials always gets in the way to spiritual abundance. Remember Christ is "the way".
Of all the themes in the scriptures, I think this one is one of the most impressive concepts. This theme has always been there because man has always been plagued by the idea of security through money or status. In the material world, we see with material eyes, the things that seem most important; materials for status.
As we see in Alma 22, there was a haughty king who was taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and had the plan of salvation expounded unto him:
"And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy."
Is there any other way to receive all that the Father has than to give Him all that we have?
Another interesting example of this concept of giving up in order to have was given by Christ-
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one apearl of great price, went and sold ball that he had, and bought it." Matthew 13:45-46
I'm all for having an abundance of great things and living a great standard of living. But, I know there are limits to many of our wants that are put through the eye of the needle that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The promise through out the scriptures is that the Lord will give you ALL that you want if you give God ALL that you are. Thats the test. We must sacrifice our will for the will of God, thats the purpose of our being here and the way to prepare to return to God.
Giving of our abundance is easy. In fact, I find that to be the way I most commonly give. I'll see a homeless person and give them whatever spare change I can spare but when I get paid I don't purposely seek the poor and afflicted. Its something that we should all set aside time to purposely seek, to help those who are in need and not just wait for them to come to us, seeking the crumbs that fall from our table. Its very challenging because you never know when you might need the money, but the Lord once told an Apostle to go and catch a fish which would have a coin in its mouth. I think the Lord knows our needs more than we trust. But, trust is the only way to gain an abundance of blessings from God. Without faith then no miracles can be wrought.
I think the Lord wants us to help others in need because 1) we realize others have it worse and we become more grateful, humble and thus not so victimized by our entitlement issues. 2) Other people do need help and when we help then we are then in the service of God because we become as the angels. 3) We realize that money and and possessions aren't what makes a life happy. 4) We clean out our petty wants to be given greater wants, a change of heart from love of money to a love of God (see 4th Nephi). 5) Once we give the Lord our hearts then He can give us everything He has.
So, we learn, grow, strengthen, and love more by giving up those things that get in the way. An abundance of materials always gets in the way to spiritual abundance. Remember Christ is "the way".
19.8.10
Wise Reasons to Keep the Commandments
Lets look at reasons why its wise to keep the commandments. The Lord and all the prophets always seemed to say that its just foolish not to be obedient and oft it appears their frustration with people would come out- "O be wise; what can I say more?", "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?", "Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling..."
Many times from reading the scriptures I can feel the displeasure of the prophets for having to rebuke people. They don't want to but they're driven to because of how stupid and perverse the people have become. So, lets remember why its important to keep the commandments so as to not incur the chastisement and frustration of the Lord through those prophets.
These are a few blessings and reasons to keep the commandments that I can think of but certainly there are more-
Happiness in this life and never ending in the next-
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
Many times from reading the scriptures I can feel the displeasure of the prophets for having to rebuke people. They don't want to but they're driven to because of how stupid and perverse the people have become. So, lets remember why its important to keep the commandments so as to not incur the chastisement and frustration of the Lord through those prophets.
These are a few blessings and reasons to keep the commandments that I can think of but certainly there are more-
Happiness in this life and never ending in the next-
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
-Mosiah 2:41
This scripture shows that the whole point of these commandments is to be happy and as it says in Alma 41 that "wickedness was never happiness." Well, the question is then why are so many wicked if its makes us miserable? There is a difference between Happiness and Pleasure. Satan is always counterfeiting God and gives you a substitute for the real thing and thus tempts us with idea that pleasures will make us happy. As it says in 2 Timothy of the people in the last days - "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"
Prosperity
"And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you."
This scripture shows that the whole point of these commandments is to be happy and as it says in Alma 41 that "wickedness was never happiness." Well, the question is then why are so many wicked if its makes us miserable? There is a difference between Happiness and Pleasure. Satan is always counterfeiting God and gives you a substitute for the real thing and thus tempts us with idea that pleasures will make us happy. As it says in 2 Timothy of the people in the last days - "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"
Prosperity
"And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you."
-Mosiah 2:22
Can you feel the apparentness of King Benjamin's tone which feels like he's saying "All you have to do is keep the commandments, is that so hard? You'll prosper! Don't you want to prosper? Then just keep the commandments, thats it!"
This blessing is not to be confused with just the material gains. The Lord has a different definition of Prosperity than just money. The Lord in his Sermon on the Mount told his disciples to consider the lilies and the sparrows and how they're taken care of, so why wouldn't God take care of them, too? Repeatedly the faithful are commanded to leave their world of comfort and possessions and to head out into the unknown, relying solely on the Lord. The rich young ruler couldn't give up his possessions to follow the Lord, but Lehi could and he was blessed. It was this confusion of materialism versus the Lord providing that caused King Noah to suppose he was righteous, because he was rich. What a grave error! "How hardly shall a rich man enter into the kingdom of God" said the Savior. Prosperity is spiritual progress and as it said in that last scripture of the blessed state of those that keep the commandments that they're blessed both spiritual and temporal. So, the Lord takes care of you for keeping the commandments, but doesn't give you money just for money's sake, but gives you what you need.
Freedom from Sin and Hell
"And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell."
Can you feel the apparentness of King Benjamin's tone which feels like he's saying "All you have to do is keep the commandments, is that so hard? You'll prosper! Don't you want to prosper? Then just keep the commandments, thats it!"
This blessing is not to be confused with just the material gains. The Lord has a different definition of Prosperity than just money. The Lord in his Sermon on the Mount told his disciples to consider the lilies and the sparrows and how they're taken care of, so why wouldn't God take care of them, too? Repeatedly the faithful are commanded to leave their world of comfort and possessions and to head out into the unknown, relying solely on the Lord. The rich young ruler couldn't give up his possessions to follow the Lord, but Lehi could and he was blessed. It was this confusion of materialism versus the Lord providing that caused King Noah to suppose he was righteous, because he was rich. What a grave error! "How hardly shall a rich man enter into the kingdom of God" said the Savior. Prosperity is spiritual progress and as it said in that last scripture of the blessed state of those that keep the commandments that they're blessed both spiritual and temporal. So, the Lord takes care of you for keeping the commandments, but doesn't give you money just for money's sake, but gives you what you need.
Freedom from Sin and Hell
"And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell."
-Alma 12:11
The Lord is all about freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom from death, freedom from the worldly things (materialism and pride), freedom from Satan. He said "the truth shall make you free" and it says of those that are righteous- "They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death" (Mosiah 15:23). When we sin we serve sin and when we repent we serve God. God is the only way that we can be freed from the demands of justice that we are subject to by breaking the law or being wicked. Through Jesus Christ we can put the bonds of our sin on Him and he will pay for them so that God can be merciful and just.
All the times that we see in the Book of Mormon where the people were going down the path of sin and forgetting the source of their blessings, they fell into bondage to either the Lamanites or to just sin in general. They sought to make their pleasures their happiness and started to worship false gods which can only subject followers into chains of hell. No other god can give us freedom from our sinful nature and desires than the God of the scriptures. He molds us to have a change of heart so that we have no more have a "disposition to do evil" but to keep the commandments because our souls are freed from the devils we invite and we feel His mercy, as Enos experienced after pleading with the Lord.
Knowledge
"And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full."
The Lord is all about freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom from death, freedom from the worldly things (materialism and pride), freedom from Satan. He said "the truth shall make you free" and it says of those that are righteous- "They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death" (Mosiah 15:23). When we sin we serve sin and when we repent we serve God. God is the only way that we can be freed from the demands of justice that we are subject to by breaking the law or being wicked. Through Jesus Christ we can put the bonds of our sin on Him and he will pay for them so that God can be merciful and just.
All the times that we see in the Book of Mormon where the people were going down the path of sin and forgetting the source of their blessings, they fell into bondage to either the Lamanites or to just sin in general. They sought to make their pleasures their happiness and started to worship false gods which can only subject followers into chains of hell. No other god can give us freedom from our sinful nature and desires than the God of the scriptures. He molds us to have a change of heart so that we have no more have a "disposition to do evil" but to keep the commandments because our souls are freed from the devils we invite and we feel His mercy, as Enos experienced after pleading with the Lord.
Knowledge
"And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full."
-Alma 12:10
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
-Proverbs 1:7
"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."
-Doctrine and Covenants 93:36
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
-Moroni 10:5
"We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker, and is caught up to dwell with him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same." -Joseph Smith
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
-Proverbs 1:7
"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."
-Doctrine and Covenants 93:36
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
-Moroni 10:5
"We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker, and is caught up to dwell with him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same." -Joseph Smith
15.8.10
12.8.10
Beware: False Gods of Prosperity
You can say we are vampires that feed off of each other or you could say that we are supporting others and lifting others up. Christ taught that in order to be lifted up we must lift up others.
The love for anything more than God leads to bondage to that thing. The things you own end up owning you by your love for them. The rich young ruler was sad to hear that the way to perfection would be to give up all his possessions and give them to the poor because he loved his possessions more than the poor. It was his shrine to himself as many who buy the big house or the nice car, its their own temple unto themselves and use these things as a way to worship themselves but they're in bondage to these false gods. Peace doesn't come in having an abundance of things, but in having an abundance of lack of need for material or vain things. Some teach that peace comes in having an abundance of things and thus no need for anything or anyone else. If you have money why do you need Christ? Isn't prosperity/property the whole matter of life?
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."- Luke 12:15
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and call these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with ausury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The love for anything more than God leads to bondage to that thing. The things you own end up owning you by your love for them. The rich young ruler was sad to hear that the way to perfection would be to give up all his possessions and give them to the poor because he loved his possessions more than the poor. It was his shrine to himself as many who buy the big house or the nice car, its their own temple unto themselves and use these things as a way to worship themselves but they're in bondage to these false gods. Peace doesn't come in having an abundance of things, but in having an abundance of lack of need for material or vain things. Some teach that peace comes in having an abundance of things and thus no need for anything or anyone else. If you have money why do you need Christ? Isn't prosperity/property the whole matter of life?
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."- Luke 12:15
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and call these things shall be added unto you.
Those that don't believe in God have no case for lack of seeking as much prosperity as possible for their well being, but those that believe in God must take the steps in faith towards the unknown path of sacrifice, and love for others before they find themselves well off and prosperous. Christ is the Savior and commands that we don't worry about such things as clothes and food, but that we just have faith in God and seek the kingdom of God and all else will be added. One of the biggest wrongs we can commit to do is thinking that God won't take care of us as well as our money or work or worldly objects can.
We are all weak. We are all beggars. We all rely on something or someone for our survival, but our salvation comes only when we rely on Christ for all that we need. If we rely on anything else then we are in the bonds of iniquity and doomed to being subject to the demands of Satan.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
This is why the Savior said that its easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. Because you can't idolize your riches or talents and suppose they can save you or make you whole. Only Christ can save you and reunite you to God's presence.
The Book of Mormon is one long story with example after example of the dangers of pride and faith in worldly things. The people always fell into worshiping their prosperity rather than the author of their prosperity. The praised the fruit while chopping down the tree.
There are many today that say that gold is the only sure way to have continuous value. That the economy is the sign of a developed country, but how successful are we when we can invent technology that keeps us up to date on what celebrities or politicians are doing, while we ignore the people who are dying and starving in the streets? Whats more worth our time and focus in God's eyes than the betterment and love for His children?
Many times those that do not give to the poor justify themselves by saying "Oh they made themselves that way" or they attack others that ask them to give by saying "Oh they just want my stuff for themselves, they don't care about others so why should I?" But that is exactly the kind of talk that makes up the Antichrists in the Book of Mormon and the philosophy that all the prophets and Christ warned against.
When we have stores with clothes that are manufactured by the abused poor in other countries we are supporting injustices. When we buy the expensive things we don't need, we are neglecting those that are in need. When we have for ourselves and give not to others then we are glutting ourselves and robbing God. Wherein have we robbed Him? In tithes and offerings.
We cannot be saved without saving others and we cannot be prosperous without prospering others because what we're given is for the benefit of others. God will hold us accountable asking what we did with what He gave us and if we reply that we held onto it for ourselves then it will be as the slothful servant in this parable-
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with ausury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For unto everyone that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath- this means that those with charity or who gave their hearts and lives received more charity for their offering, but those that didn't give of their time, talents and love, for the kingdom of God, it was taken away what little they had. If you hold onto your love and don't give it away, then it will perish and be taken away. Whatever you give away and sacrifice to the Lord will be multiplied. If you protect your heart and keep yourself in bondage to those things of material worth, or if you only love yourself then you'll have those things taken away- you'll hate yourself and your material things will break or decay over time.
The only worth and joy we have is that which is in our giving to others, our love for others is the greatest investment we can make because it always has a return value. There is no risk to the faithful followers of Christ. But if we don't have faith then we will fear and it will be too risky for us to put ourselves out there.
We must give or we'll lose what we have anyway. We must humble ourselves or we'll be compelled to be humble. We must choose to be like Christ if we wish to have power and freedom of the soul. If we deny Christ, deny the poor and afflicted, then we are stuck with the false gods of our own hands. Only through Christ can we really prosper in the things that really matter- God's children, charity, faith, hope and freedom.
Ayn's Failure- The Dismantling of an Anti Christian Philosopher part 2
My compromise with Ayn is two fold. 1) She has some good points that what is true and what is wrong cannot be distorted just because someone wants them to be. As we know from the Book of Mormon- "wickedness never was happiness". 2) She also brings up great ideas on not using force to get your way. She completely respects man's ability to choose and think for himself.
Okay but besides these two good and valid points here is where her Objectivist philosophy fails- it objectifies people. In Atlas Shrugged she reasons that we should treat people as we do any other objects for use or to throw away (934, 942). Granted that Christ taught that if the salt loses its flavor then wherein is it good but to be thrown out, but thats where the distinction is very apparent between Christ's teachings and Ayn's. Christ taught that people are more than the objects in life and we should value the lives of others the same or even more than our own. Ayn teaches that no man should live for the sake of another man.
Okay but besides these two good and valid points here is where her Objectivist philosophy fails- it objectifies people. In Atlas Shrugged she reasons that we should treat people as we do any other objects for use or to throw away (934, 942). Granted that Christ taught that if the salt loses its flavor then wherein is it good but to be thrown out, but thats where the distinction is very apparent between Christ's teachings and Ayn's. Christ taught that people are more than the objects in life and we should value the lives of others the same or even more than our own. Ayn teaches that no man should live for the sake of another man.
9.8.10
Repetitions that Aren't Vain
Sometimes the lesson at Church, or the scriptures, or the talks at General Conference are pretty repetitive. Lest you think these things be vain repetitions here are two reasons for this-
1. Having repetition helps us see the truth of something from many different perspectives which helps us understand it more fully.
2. Having repetition helps us to solidify what we already know so that we can apply it better.
If we were all faithful and responsible for all the things we already know to be right and good then our righteousness would increase dramatically. We'd have the Spirit's guidance more fully and we'd be given new things to understand. As Isaiah says "line by line, here a little and there a little."
Its not possible though for us to be perfectly responsible for all the things we already know to be right and good. Unless, we strive to with our faith in Jesus Christ and not our own strength. In the Sermon on the Mount the Savior said "Be ye perfect" and we know from the Prophet Nephi that God will not give us a commandment save He prepares a way for us to accomplish it. So, what is the way? Jesus Christ is the Way. He makes up for our lacking by our faith in Him.
When the multitude that followed Christ were hungry (and probably tired) the disciples told the Savior that it might be a good idea to send them home to eat. The Savior then just said to bring Him what little food they had. So, they brought five loaves and two fish. The Savior then blessed it and multiplied it for the multitude. They were all filled. The lessons here are many. What I gather from this story-
1. Those that follow Christ are always filled.
2. That which you bring to Christ will be multiplied for you to give to others.
3. The Lord will always make up for your lacking if you're faithful to Him
4. Christ wants everyone to have sufficient for their needs but we only can if we follow Him.
5. Christ will give you more than you can give Him.
6. Living the Gospel means leaving the comforts of home, believing the Lord will provide.
7. Christ nourishes our spirits as well as our bodies.
8. Anything is possible with faith in the Lord.
There could be more principles from this one example. I know that if we take all the talks, lessons, and scriptures that we have from church to heart, then our 5 loaves and 2 fishes will be multiplied and we'll have an abundance of great things to know and do in our lives to be more like Jesus Christ.
6.8.10
Ayn's Failure- The Dismantling of an Anti Christian Philosopher part 1
I am really quite fascinated by this woman named Ayn Rand, well not so much her but her followers. How in the world can they see her as anything but the philosophy of men thats not even mingled with scripture? She preaches her philosophy by spiting on the face of those that follow Christ's example. I'll be conducting a debate between Ayn Rand and the Prophets.
Ayn's Failure-
A being who does not know automatically what is true or false, cannot know automatically what is right or wrong, what is good for him or evil. Yet he needs that knowledge in order to live. What, then, are the right goals for man to pursue? What are the values his survival requires? And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why man needs a code of ethics.
Moroni's Rebuttal-
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
By the Holy Ghost ye shall know the truth of all things.
Ayn's Failure
Objectivist ethics holds man's life as the standard of value - and his own life as the ethical purpose of every individual man. Its three cardinal values are: Reason, Purpose, Self-Esteem, with their three corresponding virtues: Rationality, Productiveness, Pride. Productive work is the central purpose of a rational man's life. Reason is the source and pride is the result.
Ammon's Rebuttal
But Ammon said unto him: I do not aboast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
Ayn's Failure
The virtue of Rationality means the recognition and acceptance of Reason as one's only source of knowledge, one's only judge of values and one's only guide to action.
Nephi's Rebuttal
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.
Ayn's Failure
The basic social principle of the Objectivist ethics is that just as life is an end in itself, so every living human being is an end in himself, not the means to the ends or the welfare of others - that man must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself.
Christ's Rebuttal
This is my commandment, That ye alove one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
To be continued.
Ayn's Failure-
A being who does not know automatically what is true or false, cannot know automatically what is right or wrong, what is good for him or evil. Yet he needs that knowledge in order to live. What, then, are the right goals for man to pursue? What are the values his survival requires? And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why man needs a code of ethics.
Moroni's Rebuttal-
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
By the Holy Ghost ye shall know the truth of all things.
Ayn's Failure
Objectivist ethics holds man's life as the standard of value - and his own life as the ethical purpose of every individual man. Its three cardinal values are: Reason, Purpose, Self-Esteem, with their three corresponding virtues: Rationality, Productiveness, Pride. Productive work is the central purpose of a rational man's life. Reason is the source and pride is the result.
Ammon's Rebuttal
But Ammon said unto him: I do not aboast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
Ayn's Failure
The virtue of Rationality means the recognition and acceptance of Reason as one's only source of knowledge, one's only judge of values and one's only guide to action.
Nephi's Rebuttal
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.
Ayn's Failure
The basic social principle of the Objectivist ethics is that just as life is an end in itself, so every living human being is an end in himself, not the means to the ends or the welfare of others - that man must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself.
Christ's Rebuttal
This is my commandment, That ye alove one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
To be continued.
5.8.10
"Thus Ends Mormonism"
The critics of the church have one thing they always overlook: the church is based on revelation and thus the "gaits of hell shall not prevail against it."
3.8.10
Questions to Ask One's Self as a Latter Day Saint
Am I prepared to meet God?
Could I sacrifice more to the Lord?
Am I holding a grudge against someone?
Do I look at others as brothers and sisters or do I seem them as obstacles or objects to use or mock?
Do I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and afflicted, and give to the poor?
How often do I pray specifically and sincerely about one of my weaknesses?
Am I grateful for the gifts God has given me by using them to bless others?
Am I more filled with the Spirit today than I was a few weeks ago or years ago?
Am I ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in any way?
Do I take strength and comfort in the atonement of Jesus Christ?
Am I quick to anger or judgment?
Am I aware of my responsibilities and do I do them?
Could I sacrifice more to the Lord?
Am I holding a grudge against someone?
Do I look at others as brothers and sisters or do I seem them as obstacles or objects to use or mock?
Do I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and afflicted, and give to the poor?
How often do I pray specifically and sincerely about one of my weaknesses?
Am I grateful for the gifts God has given me by using them to bless others?
Am I more filled with the Spirit today than I was a few weeks ago or years ago?
Am I ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in any way?
Do I take strength and comfort in the atonement of Jesus Christ?
Am I quick to anger or judgment?
Am I aware of my responsibilities and do I do them?
Do I do my family history and submit to the temple the names of people that haven't received their ordinances?
Do I remember what was taught at church last Sunday and am I trying to apply it to my life?
Do I seek to follow the Prophet's counsel?
Do I seek uplifting media?
Do I read the scriptures everyday?
Do I have Family Home Evening?
Do I love going to the temple?
Am I helping lift one's burden or burdening someone?
Do I know whats important to those that are important to me?
Do I remember what was taught at church last Sunday and am I trying to apply it to my life?
Do I seek to follow the Prophet's counsel?
Do I seek uplifting media?
Do I read the scriptures everyday?
Do I have Family Home Evening?
Do I love going to the temple?
Am I helping lift one's burden or burdening someone?
Do I know whats important to those that are important to me?
2.8.10
What is a Saint?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the name of the church. "Saints" is in the title and so its good to know what that even means. I went through Mosiah 4 and the Sermon on the Mount for the initial descriptions of being a Saint or Christian. Then I got a pretty decent list and added to it based on other scriptures I had found. There are plenty more scriptures on the subject than whats listed here and there are some that are just links to more scriptures.
Attributes:
Actions:
Attributes:
- Submissive
Mosiah 3:19, Alma 7:23
- Meek
Mosiah 3:19, Matthew 5:5
- Humble
Mosiah 3:19, Doctrine and Covenants 12:
- Patient
Mosiah 3:19
- Full of love
Mosiah 3:19, Matthew 5:44 - Temperate in all things
Doctrine and Covenants 12:8
- Willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict
Mosiah 3:19, Luke 22:42, 2 Corinthians 7:4, Romans 5:3
- Pure in heart, real intent
Matthew 5:8, 1 Peter 1:22, Doctrine and Covenants 97:21, Moroni 7:6, 2 Nephi 31:13
- Grateful
- Wise, Intelligent, Educated
2 Chronicles 1:11, Mosiah 29:10, Jacob 6:12, 2 Nephi 9:29, Doctrine and Covenants 93:36, Doctrine and Covenants 131:6 - Diligent
Doctrine and Covenants 136:27
- Giving
Matthew 5:42, Jacob 2:17-19, Alma 34:27-28, Mosiah 4:16-25
- Forgiving
Matthew 5:7
- Faithful
1 Nephi 4:1, Matthew 9:29
- Obedient
Mosiah 4:30
- Kind
Moroni 7:45
- Easily entreated
Alma 7:23, Helaman 7:7
- Truthful and honest
Moroni 7:45, Roman 13:13, Hebrews 13:18, Alma 27:27
- Sober
Alma 53:21, Alma 38:15, Titus 2:12
- Not angry or contentious but a peacemaker
Matthew 5:22, Roman 2:8, 4 Nephi 1:2, 3 Nephi 11:29, Matthew 5:9, Mosiah 29:10
- Has good cheer- optimistic
Matthew 14:27, Acts 23:11, Doctrine and Covenants 61:36, Doctrine and Covenants 68:6
- Not sensual, carnal, or lustful
Matthew 5:28, Romans 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:22, Mosiah 3:19
- Hard working
Mosiah 2:14, Alma 1:3, Doctrine and Covenants 124:44
- Not worldly- materialistic
Alma 1:27, Alma 5:53, 4 Nephi 1:24, Helaman 13:20-23
- Not ashamed of the Lord
Roman 5:5, 2 Timothy 1:8, 12, Luke 9:26, Roman 1:16, 1 Peter 4:16
Actions:
- Obeys commandments
Mosiah 2:22, Mosiah 4:30
- Serves others
Mosiah 2:17
- Forgives others
Matthew 5:7
- Thinks no evil
Moroni 7:45, Psalm 23:7
- Remembers Christ
Alma 62:50, Deuteronomy 7:18, Psalm 77:11, 2 Nephi 5:25
- Helps those in need, imparts to the poor
Jacob 2:17-19, Alma 34:27-28, Mosiah 4:16-25, Mosiah 18:9, Alma 34:28, Luke 18:22
- Consecrates performance and actions unto the Lord
Exodus 32:29, 2 Nephi 32:9
- Offers broken heart and contrite spirit to Christ
3 Nephi 9:20, Doctrine and Covenants 56:18, Psalms 51:17, 2 Nephi 2:7
- Doesn’t shirk responsibilities
All the called and chosen in the scriptures gave up their lives for the Lord
- Glories in God, exalts not himself, remembers his own nothingness and God’s goodness
Doctrine and Covenants 4:5, Alma 26:11, Doctrine and Covenants 112:3, Mosiah 4:5, 11, Helaman 12:7-8
- Hopeth all things
Moroni 7:45, 1 Corinthians 13:7
- Believeth all things
Moroni 7:45, 1 Corinthians 13:7
- Endureth all things
Moroni 7:45, 1 Corinthians 13:7, Alma 14:9-14
- Rejoiceth in Truth
Moroni 7:45, 1 Nephi 16:20, Acts 2:41, John 10:4-5, 27
- Doesn't envy
Moroni 7:45, Exodus 20:17
- Prays for guidance and understanding from God
Matthew 7:7, James 1:5, Moroni 10:3-5, Alma 34:17-28, Enos, all the saints in the scriptures sought counsel and inspiration from God
- Follows the spiritual promptings of revelation
The stories of Moses leading the people out of Egypt, Joseph Smith's first vision, Lehi's inspiration to leave Jerusalem, all the righteous people in the scriptures learned by revelation from God
- Does not use force
Doctrine and Covenants 121:37, Matthew 5:38-39
- Seeks not his own
Moroni 7:45
- Loves God with all his heart, might, mind and strength and others as himself
Matthew 22:37, 39
- Studies the scriptures- feasts upon the word
Alma 14:1, Alma 17:2, 3 Nephi 10:14, John 5:30, Acts 17:11, Matthew 4:4
- Testifies of Christ
Mosiah 18:9
- Seeks not for riches or vain things of the world
Matthew 6:19, Alma 5:53, Alma 1:16, Alma 39:14
- Takes no thought of food and shelter and clothes knowing that God provides
Matthew 6:25-33
- Concerned with today rather than the worries of tomorrow
Matthew 6:34
- Cares not for power or popularity
Matthew 6:2-6, Alma 60:28, :36, Ether 8:15-16, :22-23, 3 Nephi 6:15, Alma 43:8, Alma 1:3
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