Sometimes in life and often on TV shows (especially Lost) the good guy will make a deal with the bad guy in order to not have the bad guy do something really bad. They think it will be better this way. They think if they don't do what the bad guy says then that really bad thing will be the good guy's fault! Such a false concept. Like those boyfriends that manipulate their girlfriends by saying "if you break up with me, I'll kill myself" so they stay with them cause they don't want to feel responsible for a suicide. How false of an idea!
Those that commit the wickedness are the only ones responsible for the wickedness. The righteous aren't bound to the acts of the wicked in any degree. We don't have to play these games or make these deals. This is a very manipulative act designed to make the righteous disobey God and to shift the responsibility of their unrighteousness to someone else.
Alma and Amulek puts that idea in perspective:
And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.
We don't have to make deals with the devil for the seemingly greater good. Because they'll be judged for their own actions and we'll be judged for ours. We may think "I can't tell this person my hidden secret because it will destroy him/her and then they will do something really crazy" but that is ridiculous because its not up to us what people do with their lives. We have to respect their agency and our own. We have to trust in God and let Him judge them for their own choices.
Its not right for us to be basing our obedience to the commandments on if others will or will not obey. Also, we can't let the weight of their choices be upon ourselves.
If someone is only righteous because we did something bad for them, then they aren't righteous at all and suddenly we aren't righteous either.
If someone said to me "Hold up this bank and kill that guy or I will blow up a school bus" I wouldn't succumb to that demand because I know God would judge the wicked for their own actions and not mine. You can't say at the judgment bar "I only sinned so others wouldn't" because God gave us all free agency to choose for ourselves, good from evil. And, if people choose to do good or evil in any degree it will be to their own exaltation or damnation.
Conclusion: don't make a deal with the devil for what seems like a greater good because its not possible that anything good can come from bringing yourself down.
Showing posts with label agency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agency. Show all posts
14.2.10
27.1.10
Zits of Life
Two ways to resolve a zit.
Pinch it and pop it, scrap it and push it.
Or
Wash it and let it go.
I think the more we can do the latter in all of life's form of zits then we'll be a lot better off.
Pinch it and pop it, scrap it and push it.
Or
Wash it and let it go.
I think the more we can do the latter in all of life's form of zits then we'll be a lot better off.
25.1.10
When to Follow, When to Lead
We have a realm of responsibility. When we try to control things outside of that realm we fall from firm ground. The Alcoholics Anonymous members have a prayer called the Serenity prayer that says:
"God, Give us the grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed, Courage
to change the things which should be changed,
And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."
The distinction of when to follow and when to lead is essential for us to gain so that we may not stretch ourselves too thin or too little. We shouldn't try to control too much and we shouldn't be irresponsible over too little. But the question is how do we know what is within our power and what is not only out of our reach but none of our business?
My wife and I live in an apartment downtown. We had a neighbor move in 2 months after we did. We got along good with him and frequently had chats as we saw him walking his dogs. Then we began to smell smoke in our apartment daily. We told the manager of this and they talked to our neighbor. We also started hearing loud music and yelling from our neighbor after hours and have often been woken up by him in the night. One night we felt it necessary to call the cops. Since then we have had a hard time feeling comfortable in that apartment. He frequently mocks us as he walks by our place and lulls us into arguments about his behavior. We now are trying to get him evicted and/or move away. Right now our management is looking into this and how to best quell the situation. We're very upset.
Now, our responsibility isn't to try and control our neighbor's choices in life. But, we do have a responsibility to make sure that our boundaries are respected. Our neighbor has crossed the line of our privacy. Once he has done that then it is in our responsibility to make sure he follows the rules which are affecting us. He must follow and we must lead. If we were the ones who cause the offense then we must learn to follow the rules. We have taken steps to ensure his irresponsible behavior is dealt with by contacting authorities such as our landlords, the police, and possibly a lawyer. It would be inappropriate and crossing the line for us to reach beyond the laws and take matters into our own hands and try to physically kick him out ourselves. We must follow the laws and policies of the authorities. They must lead and we must follow. We cannot overstep our bounds and think to run the system on the whim of our own personal feelings. That would be out of our realm of responsibility. We must leave it up to the authorities to deal with this by the law and if they fail then we must do what we can to make sure our boundaries aren't disrespected. That might mean moving away or appealing to higher authorities. A church history example of this would be when the saints crossed the plains from the East to settle in the West to escape the persecution. First the saints appealed to the government by the laws of freedom of religion and the right to live safely but we're ignored.
I think an easy answer to the question of when to follow and when to lead would be to follow the Holy Ghost's promptings. Often thats not easy when our thoughts, wants, or feelings cloud our judgment. It is God's realms of responsibility to answer us when we ask with real intent. But, it is our realm of responsibility to not overstep our boundaries in what we are asking. He says "Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you; and if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation” DC 88:64-65.
Often we must pray to God for an answer or help. Often we must act and follow the laws of the land and of God. Often God is giving us a chance to grow by the adversity of dealing with those who overstep their boundaries, offend us, mock, or challenge us. It is our responsibility to return good for evil. It is our opportunity to forgive and have patience. It is our time to follow God and lead our way to Him when all falls against us. We must always follow the Lord. We must always lead ourselves away from the harm of evil.
"God, Give us the grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed, Courage
to change the things which should be changed,
And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."
The distinction of when to follow and when to lead is essential for us to gain so that we may not stretch ourselves too thin or too little. We shouldn't try to control too much and we shouldn't be irresponsible over too little. But the question is how do we know what is within our power and what is not only out of our reach but none of our business?
My wife and I live in an apartment downtown. We had a neighbor move in 2 months after we did. We got along good with him and frequently had chats as we saw him walking his dogs. Then we began to smell smoke in our apartment daily. We told the manager of this and they talked to our neighbor. We also started hearing loud music and yelling from our neighbor after hours and have often been woken up by him in the night. One night we felt it necessary to call the cops. Since then we have had a hard time feeling comfortable in that apartment. He frequently mocks us as he walks by our place and lulls us into arguments about his behavior. We now are trying to get him evicted and/or move away. Right now our management is looking into this and how to best quell the situation. We're very upset.
Now, our responsibility isn't to try and control our neighbor's choices in life. But, we do have a responsibility to make sure that our boundaries are respected. Our neighbor has crossed the line of our privacy. Once he has done that then it is in our responsibility to make sure he follows the rules which are affecting us. He must follow and we must lead. If we were the ones who cause the offense then we must learn to follow the rules. We have taken steps to ensure his irresponsible behavior is dealt with by contacting authorities such as our landlords, the police, and possibly a lawyer. It would be inappropriate and crossing the line for us to reach beyond the laws and take matters into our own hands and try to physically kick him out ourselves. We must follow the laws and policies of the authorities. They must lead and we must follow. We cannot overstep our bounds and think to run the system on the whim of our own personal feelings. That would be out of our realm of responsibility. We must leave it up to the authorities to deal with this by the law and if they fail then we must do what we can to make sure our boundaries aren't disrespected. That might mean moving away or appealing to higher authorities. A church history example of this would be when the saints crossed the plains from the East to settle in the West to escape the persecution. First the saints appealed to the government by the laws of freedom of religion and the right to live safely but we're ignored.
I think an easy answer to the question of when to follow and when to lead would be to follow the Holy Ghost's promptings. Often thats not easy when our thoughts, wants, or feelings cloud our judgment. It is God's realms of responsibility to answer us when we ask with real intent. But, it is our realm of responsibility to not overstep our boundaries in what we are asking. He says "Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you; and if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation” DC 88:64-65.
Often we must pray to God for an answer or help. Often we must act and follow the laws of the land and of God. Often God is giving us a chance to grow by the adversity of dealing with those who overstep their boundaries, offend us, mock, or challenge us. It is our responsibility to return good for evil. It is our opportunity to forgive and have patience. It is our time to follow God and lead our way to Him when all falls against us. We must always follow the Lord. We must always lead ourselves away from the harm of evil.
20.1.10
Two Wolves
An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life...
He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
One wolf is evil -- he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego.
The other is good---he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."
They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied: "The one you feed".
12.1.10
Do What You Want
Sometimes, I find myself confused over the things I want to do and the things I should do. This might be startling but I honestly believe its better to do the thing you want more than the thing you think you should. Because, you can't do a good thing and have it count with God unless you have real intent. Otherwise its not an accepted offering. Moroni says "except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing" -7:6 and this popular scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-29 says-
For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.
Often I think I should do this or do that and will look for clues but I find that sometimes its just because I'm lazy and don't really care either way but still want to do the right thing. Bu,t "For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."
I knew a lot of missionaries in my mission who didn't want to be there. They didn't believe and were only there to appease either their parents or to just have that self righteous title of being a "Returned Missionary" and I wish we could have returned them. I appreciated that they did something they thought they should but what does it profit anyone to do something without real intent or with secret intents? Its mockery.
Do what you want. Do it with real intent. Don't take the sacrament unless you do it with the proper preparation and mentality for it to actually profit you. Remember it is not by works you are saved but by faith. You could be a great person but if you don't have faith then no amount of good choices will save you or give you God's approval.
Doctrine and Covenants 8: 10- "Without faith you can do nothing."
For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.
Often I think I should do this or do that and will look for clues but I find that sometimes its just because I'm lazy and don't really care either way but still want to do the right thing. Bu,t "For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."
I knew a lot of missionaries in my mission who didn't want to be there. They didn't believe and were only there to appease either their parents or to just have that self righteous title of being a "Returned Missionary" and I wish we could have returned them. I appreciated that they did something they thought they should but what does it profit anyone to do something without real intent or with secret intents? Its mockery.
Do what you want. Do it with real intent. Don't take the sacrament unless you do it with the proper preparation and mentality for it to actually profit you. Remember it is not by works you are saved but by faith. You could be a great person but if you don't have faith then no amount of good choices will save you or give you God's approval.
Doctrine and Covenants 8: 10- "Without faith you can do nothing."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)