tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24564210977424883752024-02-08T06:58:50.855-07:00Discuss it with a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsA discussion forum about life's burning questions.a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-26968690169112816092022-10-01T08:18:00.001-06:002022-10-01T08:18:46.787-06:00Personal Application of True Principles For establishing peace with Guilt-Free Gospel-Living<p>In my usual fashion, I have procrastinated contributing to my blog until I've been asked to speak in church again. Well, that time just came again, so I have another talk to share with you here. I hope it is helpful to someone: </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-405fb006-7fff-9fc4-286e-77a7261b9d3e" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9.4.2022</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personal Application of True Principles</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For establishing peace with Guilt-Free Gospel-Living</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Jennifer Norton-</span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purpose of the topic</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the approaching general conference, my mind has turned to those to whom general conference feels difficult, or even painful. As such, my message this morning is meant not only for those active members who are attending this meeting today, but for those less-active members, former members, or non-members that are affected directly or indirectly by the gospel of Jesus Christ through us as a church and as individuals. I wish to identify why inspired messages can satiate a spiritual hunger for some while leaving others starving for answers. I have pondered much on the source of that pain felt by some that seems to contradict the inspiration and enrichment that hearing from church leaders offers to others. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can the same messages affect individuals so differently, even to the point of division? How can we ensure that we each benefit more fully from the messages being taught, allowing those messages to unite us? These are the question I have set out to answer by my study, and I feel the answers lie in distinguishing the specific </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">responsibilities</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of ecclesiastical leaders from those of individuals. My hope is that, with this knowledge, we will begin celebrating the value in our unique qualities and recognizing the vital and universal importance of our differences to applying true principles to our lives—in essence, by living and allowing others to live the gospel guilt-free. As we learn to utilize them, the resources of the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ are advantageously available to guide us toward this “at-peace” way of living despite our differences, where we are true to ourselves, to each other, and to truth itself. It is when we come to understand the divinely-appointed purpose of our individuality, and to nurture our individual responsibilities, that we really start to grasp that our differences, in their universality of purpose, are in fact what make us the same. I pray that the Spirit will attend each of us as we consider together how to live the guilt-free, gospel-centered life that our Heavenly Parents intend for each of us. </span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Responsibilities of Leaders and Learners</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have the privilege of constant access to the teachings of former and ancient prophets, seers, and revelators as well as additional semi-annual access to hearing the words of </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">latter-day</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> prophets, seers, and revelators. These resources are available to all, both inside and outside the church. In order to take ultimate advantage of these teachings, it is useful to identify the responsibilities of the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teachers</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (prophets, seers, and revelators, such as our general and local leaders) and distinguish them from the personal responsibilities of us individual </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">learners</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. As true witnesses of Christ, combined with providing us with saving ordinances, the primary responsibility of our leadership (including family leadership) is to teach us the fundamental doctrine and principles of the gospel. And, as agents with access to personal revelation, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> primary responsibilities as individuals are to </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> learn the fundamental doctrine and principles so that we may </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">then</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> seek personal revelation of how to specifically </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">apply</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> those principles to our lives. We are immensely blessed with the resources to meet our responsibilities, with the ecclesiastical order of the church structured for leaders to teach the body of the church, and with the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">equally necessary</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> resource of personal revelation, which is structured to individually mold us into the likeness of our Heavenly Parents. The opportunity we each have to receive personal revelation, tailored to our unique qualities, beautifully compliments the truth revealed by those within whose stewardship we reside. Personal and individualized revelation is an incredible gift. President Nelson explained:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today’s technology . . . allows us to use wireless telephones to exchange information rapidly. . . . Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees. It is one of the most marvelous gifts the Lord has offered to mortals.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;">1</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (close quote)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, somehow, in practical terms, some circumstances may lead us to fear or distrust this “marvelous gift,” especially if we perceive that our personal revelation seems to contradict another’s or seems at odds with the revealed truths as they are communicated to us by various appointed teachers. </span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Distinct Responsibilities: Teach correct principles, Govern selves</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I have pondered this subject, the 11</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> article of faith has repeatedly flooded my mind:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;">2</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This article is distinct from the other twelve in that, rather than explaining one of our foundational doctrinal beliefs, it claims (or demands) one of our fundamental inalienable rights and privileges: we CLAIM the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">privilege</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of worshiping according to our OWN conscience and offer that same privilege to EACH OTHER. It’s easy to apply the 11</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> article of faith universally, acknowledging the differences between peoples and cultures and religions. But, I wish to apply it individually. For, we are best served and best serve each other by understanding this passage on an individual level (me and you) rather than simply on a group level (we and they). We </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">each</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> claim this privilege for </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ourselves</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and also allow </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">one another</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (both inside the church and out) to enjoy and benefit from that same privilege. Allowing each other the privilege of personal and individualized worship is the initial step toward healing the separation created by varying (and even contrasting) forms of gospel-living amongst individuals. As a privilege that we claim for ourselves, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">responsible</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for utilizing it. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How we worship is ultimately determined by our personally and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">directly</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> revealed application method, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">through our divinely appointed agency,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the foundational doctrine and principles as taught to us by prophets, seers, and revelators. As such, it is important to never infringe on the worship of other agents by judging their personal worship methods, neither in terms of cultural protocols within the church nor in terms of our own personal worship. In fact, agency is so important to our salvation that we are taught that “next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct your [own] life is one of God’s greatest gifts to you.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;">3</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The role of individual agency in our gospel living was demonstrated when Joseph Smith was asked </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">how he was able to govern so many people, and to preserve such perfect order. . . to which he</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> famously replied that he “[teaches] them correct principles and they govern themselves.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;">4</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Furthermore, this simple response vividly illustrates the distinct responsibilities of church leaders and individual members: for the former to teach correct principles and the latter to govern themselves. Elder David A Bednar explained that “</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">preaching by the spirit</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">learning by faith</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are companion principles that we should strive to understand and apply concurrently and consistently.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;">5</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (close quote) While leaders of the church and of the family are responsible </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">themselves, they are responsible </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> those within their stewardship to teach the doctrine and to present correct principles. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> responsibility, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> responsibility, is to both </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">learn</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> those correct principles that are being taught by leaders (both past and present) </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to govern myself, to govern yourself.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other words, I am expected to worship according to the dictates of my own conscience. Our leaders teach us true principles and the Lord Himself teaches us, directly and individually, how to apply each principle in the unique way that will best contribute to our personal growth. That means, that </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> responsibility is to seek personal revelation from the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Identifying doctrines, principles, and applications</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If our leaders are directed to teach the doctrine and principles of the gospel, and if we are expected to learn this doctrine and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">apply</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> these principles, clearly we must understand what exactly doctrine and principles are, so that we can discern their application. On first glance, it seems obvious that doctrine and principles are distinct from each other. However, on further investigation, it can quickly become very difficult to differentiate between the two. It can also become difficult to separate true fundamental principles from recommended and helpful protocols offered as </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">options</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for how to apply those principles. In his book, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Increase in Learning</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Elder Bednar explains that:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gospel doctrine</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is "a truth of salvation revealed by a loving Heavenly Father. Gospel doctrines are eternal, do not change, and pertain to the progression and exaltation of Heavenly Father's sons and daughters."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A gospel principle</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is "a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">doctrinally-based</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> guideline for the righteous exercise of moral agency."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;"> 6</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elder Bednar explains these unique qualities further, as referenced in an excellent Meridian Magazine article</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;">7</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from which I will borrow heavily for a few minutes here to illustrate this concept:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He goes on to explain that Doctrines answer the question </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Principles help us understand </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and applications tell us </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Doctrines</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> such as the nature of the Godhead, the plan of happiness, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ are foundational, fundamental, and comprehensive. Gospel </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">principles</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[, on the other hand,] flow </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">out of</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> such gospel doctrines, as in, “Given this doctrine, what guidelines can help direct our actions?” According to Elder Bednar:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Principles provide direction. Correct principles always are based upon and arise from doctrines . . . and answer the question of “what?” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> principles can grow out of and be associated with a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">single</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> doctrine . . . [And he follows that up with a clarifying statement:] A principle is </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a behavior or a specific action. Rather, principles provide basic guidelines </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> behavior and action. (pp. 154–155)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Doctrines [such as the nature of the godhead, the atonement of Christ, and the Plan of Salvation] provide a foundation from which to draw important gospel principles. Such principles that Elder Bednar offers as examples include: having faith in Christ, repenting of sins, obeying God, and serving others. Note that these principles are general guidelines for behavior and do not identify specific actions. In other words, Principles respect our agency and our individual circumstance. [And, I would add, that it is therefore our responsibility, as agents, to apply correct principles to our unique circumstances.]</span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elder Bednar goes on to define Applications:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applications are the specific behaviors, action steps, practices, or procedures by which gospel doctrines and principles are enacted in our lives. . . . Applications appropriately can vary according to needs and circumstances. Applications answer the question of how?. [Just as many principles can flow from a single doctrine,] many applications can grow out of and be associated with a single principle. (p. 156) For example, our understanding of the Atonement of Christ (a doctrine) may lead us to desire to serve our neighbor (a principle). There are many ways we could </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">apply</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that principle of service, such as helping out with the kids, mowing the lawn, or spending some quality time in conversation. Any of these might be good, but through [personal revelation], we can be led to know how to individually apply the principle of service to our unique circumstances in order to </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">best</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> serve the needs of those we desire to bless.</span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Distinguishing instruction of principles from that of specific applications</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In terms of learning from our general authorities, it is important to remember that, while there are as many good ways to apply true principles as there are individual lives, prophets (both ancient and latter-day) frequently illustrate and even instruct us in </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">specific</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ways of applying any given gospel principle through stories and descriptions and even specific direction. In our desire to be obedient, we sometimes overlook the differences in our personal responsibility versus the responsibility of those whose stewardship it is to teach us. While learning specific ways to apply gospel principles can be helpful and applicable to the majority, if we forget that it is </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> responsibility to seek direct </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">personal</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> guidance from the Lord on how to apply that instruction, the over-generalization of such specific recommendations can leave us feeling as though the option offered is the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">only</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> appropriate application. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you search the scriptures as well as study the words of latter-day prophets and apostles, you will encounter various stories of how individuals applied fundamental principles of the gospel into their own lives. The variety of examples reflects the variety of the learners. As a unique being, not all illustrated applications may resonate with you, so utilize your personal access to revelation, activate your agency, and ask the Lord what application would be more useful to you personally.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is easy to accept and trust in this process when the individual application of a principle differs from a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recently</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> suggested application, such as our prophet’s recommendation to get vaccinated as founded in the principle of caring for our bodies. But, it is harder to reconcile the personal applications of principles that differ from specific applications that have become imbedded in our culture; such as how an individual wears the garments, or lives the word of wisdom, or applies the law of chastity, or honors the Sabbath. Yet, the personal application of these important principles remains necessarily individualized. So, w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hen listening to the prophet and apostles (past and present in the scriptures or in general conference), instead of focusing on the illustrated application, ask yourself, “what is the underlying principle he/she is trying to teach here?”. Then, once you have clearly and simply identified the principle, ask the Lord how you </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">personally</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> can best apply it, remembering to allow others to do the same. </span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our unique and valuable differences in personal application of true principles</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The beauty of learning from those called to teach is that for every idea that is presented that doesn’t resonate with your personal conscience, there is another idea offered that helps you think in a new way, to expand and develop your personal application of gospel principles. Not every idea presented will be helpful, nor can it be, to every individual learner. If you sincerely seek out personal revelation during these times of instruction, the Lord will open your mind to the specific ideas presented that will touch YOUR heart the most deeply and to the desire and ability to allow others to receive their own revelation. Remember, that while we claim the privilege of worshiping according to the dictates of our own conscience, we also allow ALL men that same privilege, including our church leaders. While leaders have the resources to teach true principles to the group body, only the Lord has the ability to teach the uniquely individualized application of those principles, because we each are unique in our learning and in our circumstance. Thus, personal revelation and a personal relationship with our Heavenly Parents is vitally necessary to our gospel-living and growth. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with each of us to apply each principle in our worship according to our own conscience. </span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to obtain Personal Revelation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, if personal revelation is fundamentally important to our worship, how do we obtain it? As a religious-seeker, Joseph Smith, sought his own personal revelation after the oft-quoted verse of scripture</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;">8</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in James 1:5 promised that he could receive such:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The verses preceding and following this passage, however, add increased insight:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A double minded man is unstable in all his ways</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we read this passage with clear definitions of faith and perfection in mind, we gain further insights:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we work to become “perfect” (or “complete”) as Christ is, we must have </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">patience</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as we seek personal revelation from our Father in Heaven by establishing first a foundation of faith (our “working knowledge”) to build upon. Then, as our faith is tested, we must continue to have patience to see the result and gain the added revelation. Our faith, or current degree of knowledge, works in conjunction with further revelation that we receive. Our learning of gospel doctrine and principles is foundational to our seeking personal revelation in how to apply those principles. What benefit is it to us to ask a question that has no foundation in the knowledge we already have (in our faith)? What benefit is there to asking how to apply a gospel principle, if we have not yet established a working knowledge of that doctrine from which the principle has been derived? We must use our existing knowledge base to know how to apply it in our lives—to know what knowledge to seek—or we will have no basis for interpreting and applying the new information we acquire (or as the scripture puts it, we will be “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed”).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Asking questions in this way—questions that are founded in the truth we have already established for ourselves—is asking “in faith”. If we do not “ask in faith, nothing wavering” (in other words, if we instead just lean to our own understanding), then verses 7&8 tell us that we shall not “receive any thing of the Lord” for “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. But, the process of developing our faith and seeking further knowledge takes time and effort, hence our need for patience as we seek personal revelation. As our patience is rewarded with increased knowledge, we will, in turn, have </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">more</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> patience as we study and apply new principles. In this way, we build upon and establish deeper degrees of faith, or knowledge of truth. And, when all is said and done, we will be perfect (“complete”), even as our Father in Heaven is perfect.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: sub;">9</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to live guilt-free</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because of the considerable effort involved in seeking personal revelation in applying true principles, shirking our responsibility to do so, or passing it onto our leaders, can be an all-to-easy trap to fall into. It is at these times, when we have neglected the responsibility of individualized worship and revelation that we stop living the gospel guilt-free and instead become blinded by judgmentality. Without trusting in our “marvelous gift” of personal revelation, we begin to find fault with ourselves and others: We assign guilt to ourselves when we don’t honor our responsibility. Or, we assign guilt to ourselves when our personal worship looks different from the majority. Or, we assign guilt to ourselves when our worship is derived from our own understanding rather than from the Lord through personal revelation. Or, we assign guilt to our neighbors when their worship is different from ours and we forget to allow them to worship according to their own revelation. Or, we assign guilt to our leaders when we forget to focus on the principle being taught and instead wrestle over the differences in our personally revealed applications and those suggested to us. Or, we assign guilt to the church as a whole when we forget our personal role in applying gospel principles. Satan wants to discourage our personal relationship with the Lord, and uses guilt to trouble us.</span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, we can release ourselves from the detriments of living under the weight of unnecessary and unhelpful guilt.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we take on a deeper responsibility in applying true principles to our own lives, we allow patience to “have her perfect work” by trusting in our Heavenly Parents’ personalized instruction, and that hope fortifies our relationship with Them. Our understandings of true principles become further and further enlightened. Taking on this deeper personal responsibility of God-given individual worship frees us to live the gospel guilt-free, remembering that it is our individual differences that allow us each to live the gospel in the unique way that best helps us to draw closer to our Heavenly Parents. The differences in how we each live the gospel should be celebrated and utilized to their full and intended potential instead of used as justification for assigning some erroneous and useless form of guilt.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please, trust the Lord, trust yourself, trust others, trust that the plan works. Give yourself permission to utilize your agency and worship according to the dictates of your own conscience as prescribed by the Lord through your own personal revelation. And, offer that same permission to each other. Remember, your agency and responsibility, as well as those of others, are both divinely appointed </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> divinely directed, and as such are offered as a means to put off such unnecessary and unhelpful guilt that would divide rather than unite us in our differences. Never forget the sacrifice made to allow you the gift of personal revelation, of using your agency, to apply true principles along your journey to returning to your Heavenly Home. I testify that as we, both as teachers of true principles and appliers of those principles we learn, live up to our responsibilities, worship according to the dictates of our own conscience, and govern ourselves, we will be united in purpose, specifically through our collective differences as we each draw closer to our Heavenly Home. And, I do so, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">References:</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Ask, Seek Knock”, Elder Russel M Nelson, October 2009 General Conference Report</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Articles of Faith”, #11, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, lds.org</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Standards for Youth booklet”, Agency and accountability, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, lds.org</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The Principles of My Gospel”, Elder David A Bednar, April 2021 General Conference Report</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Seek Learning By Faith”, Elder David A Bednar, September 2007 Ensign</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/latterdaysaints/comments/4amg63/how_would_you_explain_the_difference_between_a/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How would you explain the difference between a doctrine and a principle?”, Latter Day Saints questions, reddit.com</span></a></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Discovering the Word of Wisdom: Doctrines, Principles, and Applications”, Jane Birch, Meridian Msgazine, August 2016</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James 1:2-8, Holy Bible, KJV</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Obtaining Personal Revelation by Building Upon our Foundation of Faith”, Jennifer Norton, discussitwithamormon.blogspot.com</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-81851335305381313642019-03-20T12:10:00.000-06:002019-03-24T20:23:28.168-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Developing
hope by coming to personally know God, our Father, through prayer</span></b></span> </div>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
“Trust in the Lord with all thine
heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”<br />
<cite>Proverbs 3:5-6</cite></blockquote>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It would appear that the only way to convince me to find time to make a post is to ask me to write a talk for church. Haha! Between caring for my seven kids, constantly remodeling, and running our veterinary business, it seems a bit tricky to make time for other things. I was not excited to have to find time to write a talk, but I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to do so. I was asked to speak on prayer in the </span>Beacon Hill Ward Sacrament Meeting on 3/10/19. </span></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I didn't reference the above scripture in my talk, but having come across it again since delivering my talk, I felt it fits in nicely. </span></span></span>My talk is as follows:</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I would like to speak today about developing hope by coming to personally
know God, our Father, through prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
pray that this shortened, eight-minute time allotment does not limit my ability
to adequately address this important subject which really deserves greater
attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have, in my gospel study,
tried, over the years, to develop a deeper and more profound understanding of
the fundamental principles of the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I have struggled for some time now to fully comprehend the
concept of hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, hope began as an
elusive concept and, with my continued difficulty to grasp it in times of need,
maybe even became in my mind a discouraging one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, I have been seeking to understand how
hope can in fact bring us consolation,<sup>1</sup> gladness<sup>2</sup>, even rejoicing,<sup>3</sup>
as the scriptures say, and to understand what the scriptures mean when they
invite us to hope in the Lord, our God.<sup>4</sup> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In his 2009 Ensign article, “Hope: the misunderstood sister<sup>5</sup>,”
Larry Hiller (of Church Magazines) identifies hope as “expectation based on
experience.” Similarly, as my dad describes it, hope is not “wishful thinking,”
but rather, it is “trust in the Lord.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Experiential
expectation! trust!—not just a desire nor a wish!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These concepts of hope are confirmed in the
scriptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are told in Romans that
experience worketh hope<sup>6</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further,
Jeremiah tells us that “blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose
hope the Lord is”.<sup>7</sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
a few things with which I feel I have some experience on which to develop
expectation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, a significant
portion of my life, in fact more than 1/3 of my life, more than ¾ of my adult
life, has been spent growing, delivering, and nursing my babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it is not surprising that when my sister,
Melinda, mentioned while I was preparing for the birth of my last baby that
hope helps women through labor, my mind immediately latched onto the idea of
understanding hope in terms of child-birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because, for me natural child-birth has been a profoundly spiritual
experience, it seems in my mind an appropriate analogy for conceptualizing
spiritual matters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, please know that
while I hope my reference to natural child-birth can be understood and applied
by all, I am sensitive to the tender reality that it is an experience personal
only to a few.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As for myself, I contemplate about how personal experience with
child-birth transforms with each labor and delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the first baby, a mother has no personal
experience from which to form realistic expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She likely has developed through research an intellectual
knowledge base of what is supposed to happen during labor (kind of like
building faith), but she has no personal experience of labor from which that
knowledge can form a point of reference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Consequently, the incredible amounts of physical pain she endures bring with
them incredible amounts of mental and emotional suffering, as she doesn’t have
the personal experience necessary to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trust</i>
that what is happening is normal;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she
has no <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">expectations</i> of the process
that are founded in personal experience, regardless of her intellectual
understanding of that process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain
is so great that it even overrides reason and knowledge, and without prior
experience it is inevitably accompanied by fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with each subsequent labor, personal
experience is increased and suffering decreased even though the degree of pain
remains extreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mother still
experiences intense physical pain, but after several experiences with labor,
she learns to differentiate that pain from fearful suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She develops the ability to work through the
pain and to even experience joy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i>
the pain rather that suffering through it; because, now she has the personal
experience necessary to provide to her reliable expectations of the process,
removing the fear and replacing it with hope.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The painful experience of child-birth beautifully illustrates and
represents the many painful experiences that we inevitably endure due to living
in a fallen world full of agents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
afflictions are opportunities for growth and are critical parts of mortality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While our loving Father in Heaven, in His
wisdom, does not prevent painful experiences, He does, as Lehi promised Jacob, “consecrate
[our] afflictions for [our] gain”<sup>8</sup> –He eases our suffering in those
painful times by providing hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
how does He provide this hope?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can
we generalize this process of developing hope in child-birth—of replacing fear
with trust by forming expectations based on experience—to all painful
experiences we will endure in mortality?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For, we surely will pass through a vast variety of painful experiences in
this life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the answer lies in
coming to personally know the Lord through continual prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is coming to know Him that establishes our
love for Him, and it is our love for Him that builds our trust, or hope, in
Him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President Eyering has said that
“our hearts cannot be drawn out to a God we do not know . . . . Our hearts can
only be drawn out to a God when they are filled with love for Him and trust in
His goodness. . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we know Him better,
we love Him more.”<sup>9</sup></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our loving Heavenly Father has provided a means by which we can come to
know Him by interacting directly with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Consider the magnitude of this gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Lord entreats us to pray continually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has offered us the ability and opportunity
to commune individually and continually with an Eternal Being, our Supreme
Creator, our Literal God and our Literal Father; and, He, knowing us perfectly,
communicates individually and continually with us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He guides our focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="3l3x">He places questions in our minds so that He can provide answers we
don’t even know we are prepared to receive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He reassures us when we fearfully face mortal challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He expands our mental and physical capacities
when we have exhausted our own abilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He warns us of peril and protects us when hazards are inevitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He speaks to us words of comfort when we feel
hurt or misjudged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He confirms truth to
us when we are in need of validation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
rejoices with us in our accomplishments and our happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gently reminds us of His loving role in
our lives. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We have only to listen and become attune to His voice in our lives to be
blessed by this gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This prayerful
contact with our constant, unchanging, loving Father is what allows us to</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> come to know Him personally as we
pass through mortal experiences with Him at our side, communing with Him
continually by <span class="3l3x">choosing to spend our time interacting with Him</span>
as an integral and involved part of our lives<span class="3l3x">, just as we
would a spouse or a best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
including the Lord in our experiences in this way, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He</i> becomes our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">constant</i>
upon which we can build our real trust and founded expectations</span> despite
the fickle nature of living in a fallen world<span class="3l3x">, thus allowing
Him to play important roles in our mortal experience</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gives us hope by giving us Himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By building this
personal relationship with God the Father through prayer, we allow the Lord
with His pure and unwavering love to <sub>1</sub>guide us as our teacher, <sub>2</sub>to
change us as our creator, <sub>3</sub>and to comfort and sustain us as our
Providing Father—One to which we have constant access!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we learn to allow the Lord to play these
three vital roles of love in our lives, we are given experience from which we
can draw expectations of the true nature of the Father—we are given hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more time we spend including the Lord in
our experiences through prayer, the more attune we become to recognizing His
influence in our lives and the better we come to know Him and His abiding love
for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We begin to see that during
times when we endure intense degrees of pain, as we turn to Him, He guides us
through those trials as our Teacher, molds our character as our creator, and
provides for and comforts us as our Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We learn the futility of pleading for Him to change our experiences and
recognize the wisdom of instead pleading for Him change <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">us</i>;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we cease seeking for Him
to remove our pain and instead seek for Him to provide for us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i> our pain;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we no longer long for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Him</i> to choose our paths, but now trust Him to guide us through the paths
that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i> choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we prayerfully pass through continued life
experiences, allowing Him to play these divine roles, we come to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">expect</i> Him to fill these roles and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trust</i> that He will do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, while we are enduring the pain of
mortality, we can now cast out the fear that accompanies that pain and replace
it with our now experientially founded expectations and trust in the
Lord—replacing, by degrees relative to our pious experience with Him, our
suffering with hope.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I testify that as we come to personally know our Heavenly Father through
prayer, our experiences of suffering from our pain will be replaced with
experiences of hope despite our pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
our Loving Father will not remove the afflictions of a fallen world, He
absolutely will ease the suffering of those afflictions by not allowing us to
pass through them alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen it
time and again in my own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
been provided for by His beloved servants when I thought I had been forsaken, I
have been fortified by His skillful hand when I thought I was broken, and I
have been directed by His guiding omnipotence when I thought I knew the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I am coming to know God
personally, I am learning that rather than changing my circumstances, directing
my opportunities, and removing my discomforts, my wise and purely loving
Heavenly Father is changing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i> my circumstances, directing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">through</i>
my opportunities, and comforting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">amidst</i> life’s discomforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing these things, I can face life’s
difficulties with renewed courage in hope, trusting that I can expect the Lord
to take on these roles and relieve my suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I testify that we can develop enduring hope
by coming to know the true nature of our Father and recognize His reliable
presence in our lives through continual personal prayer. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I share this in the name of His beloved son, Jesus Christ, Amen.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">References</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">D&C 128:21</span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Romans 12:12</span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Proverbs 10:28</span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Psalms 38:15; Psalms
42:11</span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hope:
The Misunderstood Sister</b>,” Larry Hiller, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ensign</i>, June 2009</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Romans 5:4</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jeremiah 17:7</span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 Nephi 2:2</span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Prayer,” </span></b></span><span class="3l3x"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Henry B. Eyering, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">General Conference</i>, October 2001</span></span></div>
a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-83507911461628126152015-12-20T15:44:00.003-07:002015-12-21T12:05:20.674-07:00Christmas TalkSo my husband and I were asked to speak in church today about Christ and Christmas. My friend asked me to post my talk on the blog for your reading pleasure. Haha! Here you go, Christine. :)<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Christmas
Talk 2015</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Last
week, while sitting in sacrament, I was thinking about this week’s Christmas
program and about how amazing it was going to feel to just sit and enjoy the
Christmas program from the audience. This would be the first year I could even remember
not being part of a musical number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then, after sacrament, the bishop asked us if we would speak today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess there’s no rest for the wicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit, I felt a little overwhelmed
when I considered all the final Christmas preparations I had on my last-minute
to-do list to which I would now have to add, prepare a Christmas talk, which to
me is a big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it has remained on
my to-do list and in the back of my mind as I have been marking things off of
my list all week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Each
year at Christmas, my favorite tradition I do with my little family is that I
handwrite a letter to each of my kids and to Cameron (and to our parents) to
put next to their stockings to be read on Christmas morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being several years since I graduated from
school, I don’t hand-write many things any more so this tradition is really
taxing not only on my time but on my hand!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s a lot of letters to write!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, of all our traditions, I love this tradition the most (even though
it requires quite a sacrifice on my part), because it sets the tone immediately
on Christmas morning as everyone begins the day by reading their letters as
they enjoy the treats in their stockings—it is a tone of love and gratitude and
it is a gift I can give to my loved ones that they can keep forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was working on my letters for this year,
I was still contemplating the talk I needed to give and the thought came to me
that I should write a letter to my older brother, Jesus Christ, since He too is
a dear loved-one and it is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His</i>
birthday afterall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, in lieu of a more
traditional format for a talk, I would like to instead share with you my Christmas
letter to Him:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
Dearest Big Brother-</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You
know, you are the only one I get to call my big brother, since I have no
earthly brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sure is nice to
know that I have an older brother to protect me and to be such a good example
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are, by far, the best big
brother a girl could ask for—literally! I want you to know how much I love and
appreciate you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are truly no words
to adequately express the deep love I have for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, I know that you know me perfectly and
that, of all the people in my life, you are the one who truly does understand
the depths of my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So know this: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that I love you beyond measure and earthly
expression.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
year I have been thinking a lot about all you do for me and have been overcome
by the magnitude of your love for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being
that it is Christmas time, I’ve been thinking specifically about your birth and
about child-birth in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
remember when Ben was born?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember how
strong the Spirit was in that hospital room?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do you remember the angels that were there assisting me throughout that
horrible labor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will never forget them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nurses didn’t know how to describe the
Spirit they were feeling but it was so palpable that they couldn’t ignore it
either and every nurse that entered the room commented on the peace they felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was one of the most spiritual moments of
my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for allowing me to
have that undeniable experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
gives me a small glimpse into what it might have felt like the day you were
born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only imagine the strength of
the Spirit in that stable and the numerous concourses of angels that were no
doubt there, helping Mary, your earthly mother through that labor, that literal
labor of love to bring you, love incarnate, into this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Being
that this is your season—Christmas season,—I have all my nativities set up all
over the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are my favorite
Christmas decoration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to see the
various renditions offered by each artist of your birth story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, what I love most of all, is to watch as my
children set up the nativities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love
how every character, every animal, every piece in the nativity is always facing
you, even if that means we cannot see any of their faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It forces me to look at and focus on you too,
on you as a tiny infant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve
been pondering why we celebrate this particular point in your life—your birth—the
time in your life when you were a newborn infant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shared this thought with my sister the
other day and she was telling me about something Elder Nelson had mentioned:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about how it is interesting that Christmas is
a celebration of the only time in your life when you were entirely selfish—as
all infants are and must be—and how you then went on to live an entirely
selfless life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a really
interesting concept to consider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t
help but think about how I too am a selfish infant—a spiritual infant—who must
learn to become entirely selfless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And,
as I pondered that process, I was reminded that it is only made possible
through your grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much for your invaluable and
eternal gift of grace—both your saving power and your enabling power.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve
been thinking about the miraculous and symbolic nature of mortal life—how it
allows us to witness and experience this life cycle that begins in infancy—and about
how much and how naturally we love infants and how we sacrifice all for their
well-being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We not only risk our
physical lives, give our blood, and endure extensive amounts of pain (both physical
and emotional) in order to give these infants mortal life and to love and
sustain them, but we sacrifice our individual desires and identities so that we
can dedicate our entire lives—our time and our intents—to raising those
infants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what your parents did
for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, it’s what you did for me,
isn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You not only gave your life,
and your blood, and endured unimaginable amounts of pain, but also dedicated
your mortal and eternal life to raising me—raising me up to your eternal glory—to
give me, a spiritual infant, eternal life, didn’t you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">An
infant does not have the skills to live and support itself in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An infant’s action cannot save him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am realizing that I too, in my own
infantile state, cannot save myself no matter how hard I try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for your gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for giving your life to me—for using
your Godly heritage to live it perfectly—so that you could give it to me again
in Gethsemane and Golgotha, so as to satisfy the demands of justice allotted to me—to save
me from the fall and from myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank
you for saving me by that saving power of your grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for saving my parents and for
saving my children and for saving my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you for being my protective older brother so that we can all be
together again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thank
you for not only protecting me, but for teaching me and molding me by your
example—for changing me with your enabling power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I hold darling little infants in my
arms, I am reminded of how little they know, of how much growth and development
they have ahead of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I too have so
much to learn, so much growth and development ahead of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been so many times in my life when
I have stumbled, with you always there to catch me and help me try again—to
teach me how to walk through this mortal journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been so many times when I have
been stubborn and thought that I could do it on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sorry for all the times I have pushed
you away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for always staying
nearby—for always being there, ready to help when I realize I can’t do it
alone. There have been so many times when I know I could not have done what was
required of me by my own efforts—that it was your enabling grace that made
those things possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that when
you said, “suffer the little children to come unto me,” you were referring to
me—a little spiritual “child”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
learning to come unto you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am seeing
your handiwork in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I can
always remember that just as Mary’s agency was required to allow you to be born
into mortal life, that it is my own agency that is required to allow you to be
born into my heart, to allow the transformed “me” to be born into my own
eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for changing me
and molding me and transforming me into the person I want to become so that I
will feel at home when I finally return home to you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
dear, sweet brother, you have taught me so many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is truly overwhelming to consider all the
symbols of the season as I contemplate your birth and life and death and
companionship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to thank you for
all the things you are teaching me as I rededicate myself to transforming into
the woman you are molding me to become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love that we celebrate your infancy as we usher in a new year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we usher in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> new year, I hope to also usher in the new being within myself—to
commit afresh to changing by way of your enabling power—to recommit to
transforming from my selfish infantile state into a selfless eternal
being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for teaching me to
honor the Sabbath—for providing a day, set apart, to partake of the sacrament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that the Sabbath ushers in the new
week—a time when I can partake of the sacrament and remember my baptismal
covenants to be reborn, committing again to begin afresh with the new week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I remember you being born on that
Christmas night, so too will I commit to being reborn this Christmas season as
my gift to you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
love you so much and am so grateful to have you in my life,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Your
loving Little Sister</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Brothers
and Sisters, this letter is my testimony of our Savior this Christmas
Season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that he is the true and
literal son of God and that he is our true and literal protective older
brother, not just a nice story passed down through the generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, that it is through his mortal birth and
life that we can gain our own spiritual birth and eternal life, because of His
grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say these things in His name,
amen.</span></div>
a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-13257640705369841432014-03-04T10:48:00.001-07:002014-05-01T10:43:13.226-06:00Everything Happens for a Reason?We were FINALLY done with school! For four years, I had worked three jobs (and had two kids), while my husband was in graduate school, in order to keep our student debt to a minimum and make ends meet. And now, with the weight of school finally lifted, we optimistically set off to start our "new life" as a young family.<br />
<br />
We started a new job, purchased a starter home, and started setting aside 10% of our income every month to build some financial security. I got pregnant with our third son and set out to remodel the house in order to accommodate our growing family. About this time, the young daughter of <a href="http://www.adailyscoop.blogspot.com/">a dear life-long friend</a> tragically drowned. Within weeks, my sister's twin nephews were also taken in a tragic drowning accident. As I mourned for these beloved families, I resolved to be a better mother and appreciate more the precious moments I have with my children while they are "on loan" to me from the Lord. Shortly before our third son was born, we were offered a new job out-of-state and, recognizing that this job would afford us more quality time with our children, and after much fasting and prayer, we decided that taking the job was the right thing for our family. So, in 2009, we faithfully packed up, put our newly remodeled home back on the market, and moved to a new state.<br />
<br />
While this was a good long-term decision for our family, it was also the start of a three-year nightmare: It just so happened that not only had we purchased our home at the peak of the housing market, but this move was perfectly synced with the following housing market crash. We spent three long years trying to sell our house for half the amount we had bought it for and less the money we had put into remodeling. We had decided right off the bat that we would do everything in our power to honor our commitment to our mortgage debt for as long as we were physically able. For two years, we scrimped and saved and went "without" as we watched our entire life-savings run dry, until everything we had was gone. Our house still had not sold. We spent many sleepless nights, and countless tear-filled days, watching interested prospective buyer after buyer fail to obtain a purchase loan. We were lied to repeatedly by the lending banks and offered no viable solutions to our plight, despite the extensive efforts we were making on our part. We were desperately trying to find a way to provide another stable and comfortable home for our family. Then, despite all our sacrifice to stay current on our mortgage payments for a home we had not lived in for two years, we no longer had anything left to give and spent another year helplessly watching our impeccable credit slip away too. We were tired and defeated. Why was the Lord not taking away this trial when we had done everything "right"?<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, we discovered that we were unexpectedly "expecting" another baby that we could neither afford nor accommodate. I felt guilty for feeling overwhelmed by this and that guilt was both enhanced and accompanied (1) by my dear older sister's difficult battle with infertility and (2) by another period of mourning when my tender little sister, who was expecting a baby within days of my own due date, experienced a miscarriage. Why did she miscarry and not me when she was excited about her pregnancy and I was struggling to accept mine? Why didn't my older sister get pregnant instead of me, when we had all been praying for so long for her? I resolved again to appreciate the blessings amidst my trials and was filled with joy when our sweet, beloved baby joined our family. Shortly after he was born, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening bacterial septicemia, which only added to the already overwhelming medical bills and prevented me from being physically capable of keeping up with my duties as a busy wife and mother of four little boys. I was in a deep depression--partly a side-effect of the infection and partly due to the stresses of the difficult saga with our housing crisis. And then, shortly after my medical scare, a sweet, darling friend--an amazing wife and mother of her own beautiful young family--passed away suddenly from a similar bacterial infection: meningitis. How could this be? Why was she taken when she had everything going for her? Why was I still here, when I couldn't even adequately perform my own familial duties anyway?<br />
<br />
I cannot tell you how many times during those three long years (and since) that I heard the phrase, "everything happens for a reason." It seemed to always be offered as a condolence, but somehow, rather than bring me comfort, it brought me only confusion. What about the child whose life is permanently scarred by an abuser?
--or the parents whose child is killed in a car accident? --or the
person who suddenly contracts a terminal illness? What about my sister who had been unable to bear children? What about my friend, whose daughter joined the angels too soon? What about my sister, who did not have the opportunity to carry her baby to term? What about us, who could not get out from under this house and had lost everything trying? What about my beautiful, kind friend, who was taken from her family prematurely? What about her children, her husband, her family? "Everything happens for a reason"? Does that mean things happen "because" God is trying to teach us something--like He intentionally "gives" us particular trials to teach us particular lessons? Or, could it be that God instead uses the things that happen as a means to teach us what we need to learn? To me, the phrase "everything happens for a reason" really begs the question, "why do bad things happen to good people?"<br />
<br />
There are reasons, of course, why "bad things happen to good people" (and "good things happen to 'bad' people" for that matter). One explanation is that we have agency, and, acting as agents, our actions have consequences for good or bad that affect both us and innocent bystanders. Another explanation is that we live in a fallen world that is not perfect and, therefore, prone to suffering. Another is that there is opposition in all things--that we could not appreciate the good if we don't experience the bad. But, why doesn't God intervene? Why does he allow it? Does everything <i>really</i> "happen for a reason"? And, if so, why do some people seem to experience so much more pain and suffering than others? <br />
<br />
In light of the experiences of my loved-ones and of my own over these last few years, I have been contemplating alot about prayer and the degree of intervention God has in our lives. Since that time, we have acquired another home and added a fifth sweet baby boy to our family. And, even though the pain has faded since that particular trial ended (much like you come to forget the degree of pain you <i>really</i> experience during child-birth), I still remember feeling particularly hurt and defeated by the fact that God was "allowing" the trial to continue--that He wasn't taking it away when I had done everything He had asked me to and was doing all in my power to show integrity toward the other parties involved. Why weren't my prayers "being answered"? I have offered countless prayers throughout my life. And, it seems that during those difficult three years I was almost in a constant state of prayer, as I tried to cope with the struggles we were facing and witnessing. And, one major thing I
learned during that time of intense and constant prayer was that at the times when I stopped praying for the trial to be taken away
and instead prayed for the strength to endure, I was able to find
happiness even amidst the difficulties--when I stopped asking for God to change my circumstances and instead asked Him to change me, I was happy.<br />
<br />
I think the way God is most
active in our lives is not so much in changing our circumstances, but more so in changing
"us". He can
use our circumstances to accomplish that change in us, so he doesn't need to rob agency by changing our circumstances. I think that the phrase, "everything happens for a reason," would be more accurately expressed as, "God can create a reason
for everything." When He doesn't remove a trial, it doesn't mean He doesn't love us enough to answer our prayers or even that He is telling us "no". It means that He loves us enough to use the temporal circumstances of a fallen world, full of agents, to change who we are as eternal beings--to make us better and bring us long-lasting happiness. In other words, I don't think God regularly actively changes our circumstances, but that more
often, He affords us our agency and allows the consequences of natural laws to take place, because He knows that, regardless of what happens in our temporal lives here on this earth, He can use our experiences to change "us" instead. And, that is where the real miracle lies. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-10553271505141135972012-06-20T11:15:00.000-06:002012-06-20T11:15:56.723-06:00Repentance—The Second Principle of the Gospel<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I guess I never posted my talk on Repentance that I gave in church last year. Here it is, a year late. Sorry.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Repentance—The Second Principle of the Gospel</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jennifer Earl Norton</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When we were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting, we were informed that the theme for this month is “repentance.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an exciting theme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studying the fundamental and foundational principles of the gospel always brings great insight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many new things to learn about such principles—things that we don’t even realize are left to learn—and there seems always to be a greater depth at which to understand these principles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being that this is not a principle that I have specifically studied before, I must admit that I do not yet understand it in as great a depth as I would like to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, considering that the first talk I gave in this ward was on faith, the first principle of the gospel, it seems only fitting that I give this second talk on repentance, the second principle of the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 1953 book, “Gospel Ideals,” President David O. McKay is quoted saying, “Every principle and ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ is significant and important . . . , but there is none more essential to the salvation of the human family than the divine and eternally operative principle [of] repentance.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, if that doesn’t make studying the principle of “repentance” intriguing, I don’t know what will.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So, what is repentance?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In my personal study, whenever I aim to better understand a particular principle, I always begin first with the definition of the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times I turn to the Bible Dictionary for insight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible Dictionary explains that the Greek translation of the word “repentance” refers to “change” and explains it as a “fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world”—“a turning of the heart and will to God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder Russell M. Nelson of the quorum of the twelve apostles expounds further on this Greek translation in his April 2007 General Conference address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He explains that the Greek verb for “repentance” is “metanoeo”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then breaks down this Greek word, describing each part, with the prefix “meta” meaning “change”, the suffix “nous” meaning “the mind,” and the conjugations of “gnosis” meaning “knowledge”, and “pneuma” meaning “spirit”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understanding repentance in this way, as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i> in the mind and spirit and as a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh view</i> about God, oneself, and the world, lends great insight into the study of this principle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Christ commands us to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">repent</i>, He is commanding us to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i> ourselves and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">turn toward God</i>, gaining a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh view</i> on things both temporal and eternal, not only to demonstrate remorse and restitution for sin.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So, how do we obtain this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i>, this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh view</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we approach the process of repentance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I would suggest that this second principle of the gospel called repentance is the natural result of the first—Faith (the working knowledge obtained and maintained through the observation and application of true principles).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is the key to our becoming like Christ, to developing His pure love; as, the acquisition of knowledge initiates change in all aspects of our lives by simply creating for us a more accurate view of reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This process of becoming like Christ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>is</u> </i>the process of repentance; it is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">changing</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">turning toward God</i>, and gaining a “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh view</i> [on Him], oneself, and the world”.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We had an experience last week that demonstrates how obtaining accurate knowledge results in change in oneself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents were looking after our children while we were in Flagstaff moving our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While away from us, our son, Benjamin, broke his leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the injury occurred, our initial reaction was not one you would expect following a serious injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterall, there were no visible signs of injury and his behavior could easily be explained as a vie for attention disguised in a simple overreaction to a minor injury, as is often the case with homesick children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, once we learned through the x-rays that he had actually suffered a severe break in his tibia, our behavior as parents immediately changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This simple knowledge immediately gave us a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh view</i> on the reality of the situation, giving us penitent hearts and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">changing</i> our behavior toward him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This experience is a simplistic example, but illustrates how<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> the acquisition of knowledge initiates <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i> in all aspects of our lives by simply creating for us a more accurate understanding of reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">So, we can see that developing our faith is the key to initiating <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i> in the mind and spirit and developing a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh view</i>, as repentance is the natural consequence of that acquired knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we learn of and live gospel principles, we are brought to repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly repentance, or change in self, leads us to better understand and live more gospel principles as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly, the first two principles of the gospel, faith and repentance, go hand in hand—faith is necessary for repentance and repentance begets increased faith, creating a cycle that propels us up into the loving arms of our Father in Heaven.</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But, understanding how to bring about repentance does us no good if we don’t understand <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why </i>we should repent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Why must we repent?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alma told his son, Corianton, that this mortal life is a probationary time specifically prepared to allow for us to repent (Alma 42).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would Alma stress the importance of repentance in the purpose of life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would David O. McKay stress the importance of repentance for salvation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would Christ consistently command us to repent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly, repentance is imperative for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, what makes it so important?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it necessary?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If God is the perfect, just God that He is, then eternal law must be perfectly followed and enforced in order to satisfy the demands of justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of Adam’s transgression, we are born into a fallen state, cut off both physically and spiritually from the presence of the Lord and allowed to be tempted, which presents this problem:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if we are fallen, and if we live in a state of sin, then justice can only be satisfied if we are consigned forever to be cut-off from the presence of the Lord (Alma 42).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our violation of eternal law leaves us imperfect and, as Nephi tells us, no unclean thing can remain in God’s presence (1 Nephi 10).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, the violation of eternal law prevents us from dwelling with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, God is our loving and merciful Heavenly Father as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants His children to return to His eternal presence, despite violation of eternal law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what is His solution to this problem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An atonement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Christ’s atonement both pays the debt created by our sins as well as allows Him the ability to judge us righteously and apply mercy appropriately, allowing mercy to satisfy the demands of justice rather than those demands being satisfied by perfection in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because He lived a perfect life, Christ can dwell eternally in the presence of the Lord based on His own merit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He met the demands of justice perfectly in His own life and thus qualifies for that reward outright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, He owes no debt to justice for Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This fact allows His suffering to pay the debt for others instead, as it is not needed for His own salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had He not lived a perfect life, then, as it does us, justice would have claimed Him, preventing his eternal dwelling in the presence of the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, because justice can have no claim on Him due to His perfect life, He chose to suffer in order to pay <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">our</i> debt, allowing Him to become our debtor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because none of us has lived a perfect life, and because He paid the debt for our sins, we will eternally be in His debt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This fact allows Christ the position to distribute mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, through the mercy of our Debtor, the demands of justice are satisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our debtor, It is Christ who will determine in the final judgment if we have undergone enough change (in other words, repented sufficiently) to return to the eternal presence of the Lord, judging us according to our works and restoring good for good and evil for evil.<span style="color: red;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>As Alma describes it in chapter 42, verse 15, “And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(For that matter, the atonement also takes effect in our lives not only as a saving grace, but also as a comforting grace—bringing us comfort and strength amidst our struggles and helping bring about that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change </i>within us).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But, can the grace of God alone save us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it cannot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with an atonement in place, if we do not repent (in other words, if we do not allow Christ’s atonement to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i> us and turn us toward God), then we continue to sin and therefore remain in a fallen and unclean state, unable to allow the atonement to work in our lives and bring us back into the presence of the Lord, since no unclean thing can dwell in His presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot be cleansed from our sins if we choose to remain in our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will not force us to turn toward Him and remain in His presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, if mercy were to save us regardless of repentance, regardless of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i>, then it would rob justice, as both the penitent and the impenitent would receive the same reward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus we see that Christ’s atonement is necessary for our exaltation, but it must be combined with our own accountability as well; j</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ustice will have its demands on us if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i> do not make that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i>—if we do not repent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, even if we do repent and change, it does not take away the fact that we sinned in the first place, creating a debt that must be paid in order to satisfy justice. So, without Christ’s atonement, our own personal change alone cannot allow mercy to satisfy those demands of justice either. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this sense, both we and He account for our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In essence both grace and works are needed to appease the law of justice and gain salvation (2 Nephi 25).</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But, why have a law at all?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterall, Alma tells us in chapter 42, verse 16-18:</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"> <span class="verse">16 </span>Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"> <span class="verse">17 </span>Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"> <span class="verse">18 </span>Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So, why create law and punishment and thus the ability to sin and the need for repentance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not simply live in a state of innocence as did Adam and Eve before the fall, unable to sin and repent, so that we do not have the problem of fallen nature to prevent us from dwelling in God’s presence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Was this not Lucifer’s plan?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like a reasonable plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no wonder that a third of the host of heaven supported this plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, are God’s desires only for us to dwell with him again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are our only desires for our children to have them with us forever?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we not also want them to have all that we have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is with God—He wants us to have all that He has—He wants us to become like Him, to develop the pure love of Christ so that we may experience and bask in the joy associated with that pure love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot do that without <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot do that without gaining a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh view</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot do that without repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is through our experience and change gained in this mortal probation that Christ’s atonement is able to give us the power to become like Him and gain His perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, repentance is necessary for us to receive all that The Father has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without it, there would be no purpose to this mortal life here on earth—we simply could have remained with God as innocent children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, this life gives us the opportunity to repent—the opportunity to undergo <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i> that molds us to become like God and receive all that He hath.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Thus we see the vital importance of repentance in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because repentance is necessary for us to become like God, so is an atonement, so that mercy may claim the penitent from justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we are told in the Bible Dictionary, repentance “is not optional for salvation;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is a commandment of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my prayer that we may take the steps necessary to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">change</i>—that we may apply the first two principles of the gospel in our lives—that we may gain the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">faith</i> necessary for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">repentance</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repentance does not have to be an overwhelming, daunting task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It begins with the small steps necessary for the acquisition of faith, of knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We start line upon line, precept upon precept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us choose one principle (such as prayer, or scripture study, or church attendance, or service, or whatever) and then add to it until we acquire the degree of faith that will facilitate that change within us, bringing about our repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as we consistently seek for greater faith and greater repentance, I testify that we will gain that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fresh view</i> on God, ourselves, and the world that will bring us home to Him again, that we may receive all that He hath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say these things in the name of our Savior, by whom our sins were atoned for, even Jesus Christ, amen.</span></div>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-10260436175306239402011-06-10T10:24:00.000-06:002011-06-10T10:24:56.322-06:00Grace and Works--An Excellent Article<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/magazine/ensignlp.nfo:o:edf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="192" width="144" src="http://lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/magazine/ensignlp.nfo:o:edf.jpg" /></a></div><i>(image from lds.org)</i><br />
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<i>As I've been preparing for a talk I've been asked to give this week in church on repentance (talk to come in a later post), I came across this excellent article. As it applies to the previous "Knowing by the Spirit" discussions, I thought my readers might find it interesting. I sure did. It is a 1981 article by Gerald N. Lund. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!<br />
</i><br />
<b>Salvation: By Grace or by Works?<br />
By Gerald N. Lund<br />
</b><br />
When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned at Philippi, he was asked by a distressed jailer, “What must I do to be saved?”<br />
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Without reference to obedience or repentance or good works that he himself so often spoke of, Paul simply answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:30–31.)<br />
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But in a church that also has many ancient and modern scriptural passages stressing works of righteousness and the importance of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, scriptural passages like Acts 16:31 often give rise to confusion.<br />
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“As far as I’m concerned,” one missionary said to his companion, “when somebody starts quoting Paul on salvation by grace, I just quote James on faith without works being dead (see James 2:17–26) and try to get off the subject as quickly as possible.”<br />
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“Before I joined the Church,” a Sunday School teacher confessed to his class of teenagers, “I quoted the words of Paul to everyone. Now I just kind of steer away from what he said. I know now how important good works are, so I put the emphasis there.”<br />
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It isn’t difficult to understand these reactions. Paul’s ringing defense of salvation by grace and his emphatic denunciation of justification through works of the law seem almost in direct contradiction to our third Article of Faith: “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” [A of F 1:3]<br />
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The problem in understanding Acts 16:31 isn’t that Paul de-emphasizes the atoning sacrifice of the Savior, but rather that he seems to de-emphasize the need for works. What missionary hasn’t been confronted with Paul’s statement to the saints in Rome: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:9). Furthermore, in both Galatians and Romans, he pointedly rejects any idea that justification comes through works of the old law:<br />
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“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16; see also Rom. 3:20, 28).<br />
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Does Paul indeed reject the value of works for the disciple of Christ? Or was he simply reacting to the Jewish Christians who insisted that adherence to the law of Moses was necessary if one were to be saved? And, for us in the latter-days, does Paul’s theological position coincide with that revealed in latter-day scripture?<br />
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<b>Inadequate Explanations</b><br />
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There are two different ways in which Church members typically seek to synthesize Paul’s teachings with Latter-day Saint theology. The first suggests that by “the law” Paul means only the law of Moses. Without a doubt, there is merit in this. There was a tendency among some Jewish Christians to insist that Christianity still required obedience to Mosaic principles such as circumcision, the dietary laws, and the observance of certain festivals. Paul combats that doctrine strongly, saying that no matter how strictly a person kept the law of Moses, it of itself would not bring salvation. The power of salvation comes only through Christ because of his atonement.<br />
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However, to limit Paul’s meaning to the law of Moses alone would not be quite accurate. Paul rejects the adequacy of the Mosaic code in and of itself for salvation, but he makes it broader than that too. For example, in warning the Ephesians about concluding that a man is saved by works, he makes no reference to the law: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourself: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8–9.) So while this explanation is somewhat correct, it does not go far enough.<br />
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The second typical explanation goes something like this: The fall of Adam brought two kinds of death into the world—physical death, which is the separation of body and spirit, and spiritual death, which is separation of man from God. The atonement of Christ overcame physical death through the Resurrection. This is salvation by grace because it comes to all men automatically and does not depend on what kinds of lives they have lived. But, if we wish to overcome spiritual death and enter back into God’s presence, we must be obedient to laws and principles. This is exaltation by works. Thus, according to this explanation, we are saved by grace and exalted by works.<br />
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This is an appealing explanation because it seems to provide a logical argument that fits the statements of Paul neatly into it. However, there is a doctrinal error involved here. While the resurrection of the dead is certainly an integral part of the plan of salvation, and is unconditional and independent of men’s works, the term salvation as used in the scriptures does not mean physical resurrection alone. As Elder Bruce R. McConkie has pointed out, salvation is synonymous with exaltation:<br />
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“Salvation in its true and full meaning is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. With few exceptions this is the salvation of which the scriptures speak. It is the salvation which the saints seek.” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, p. 670.)<br />
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Those who are uncomfortable with Paul’s statements about grace and salvation should bear in mind that the same teachings are found in other scripture as well. Nephi, for example, nearly echoes Paul’s words to the Ephesians when he says, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23). And Lehi’s explanation of the Atonement to Jacob is remarkably similar to Paul’s explanation of justification by faith in Romans 3 [Rom. 3], even down to the phrase “by the law no flesh is justified” (see 2 Ne. 2:5). Likewise, the Doctrine and Covenants points out that both justification and sanctification come by grace (see D&C 20:30–31).<br />
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How, then, are the principles of grace and works to be understood in relationship to each other? To come to that understanding we must first look at some related concepts—the concepts of sin and transgression, of justice, and of the Fall.<br />
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<b>Sin, Transgression, and the Law of Justice</b><br />
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The concept of sin rests upon the concept of law. If there were no law, there could be no sin (see 2 Ne. 2:13; Alma 42:17), because “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 Jn. 3:4). However, for purposes of understanding the Atonement better, it might be helpful to draw a distinction between two important variations in how the law may be violated. A person may violate the law in spite of his knowledge of it; that is, he breaks the law deliberately. But others may violate the law because they are unaware of its existence (ignorance) or because they do not have sufficient maturity to understand the implications of it (lack of accountability). For clarification, let us use two terms to delineate the important differences in these two concepts. Any violation of the law that is willful and knowing we shall call “sin.” But any violation that results either from ignorance or lack of accountability we shall call “transgression.” The scriptures do not distinguish between these two terms consistently, but such a distinction may help us understand some important points about the Atonement. For example, it helps us understand why children under the age of accountability cannot sin (see D&C 29:47). Any parent who has observed his children’s behavior knows that they often violate laws of the gospel. They hit brothers and sisters, demonstrate extreme selfishness at times, and can be unmercifully cruel to playmates. But while these are “transgressions” they are not “sins,” because as Mormon points out, children are “not capable of committing sin” (see Moro. 8:8). Much the same is true of those who have reached adulthood but have relatively little or no opportunity to learn the principles of righteousness. They also violate the laws of God, sometimes horribly so, as in the case of many primitive peoples, but they are of necessity judged differently because they do not “sin” in the sense of willing and deliberate rebellion against God. (See Rom. 2:12; D&C 82:3; also Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1938, p. 218.)<br />
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Standing alongside the concepts of sin and transgression is the law of justice, which implies consistency in reward and punishment. In other words, there would be no justice if one person could violate the law and escape its punishment while another was punished for the same act. Elder McConkie points out that “justice demands that a penalty be paid for every violation of the Lord’s laws” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 406). The opposite, or positive side, of that idea is that for every keeping of the Lord’s law there is a reward (see D&C 130:20–21). If these punishments and rewards were not consistent throughout the universe and in all of eternity, justice would be violated. Briefly stated, then, the law of justice is that for every violation of law there is a punishment (ultimately suffering and misery), and for every obedience to the law there is a reward (ultimately joy and peace).<br />
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Also embodied in the concept of justice is the idea that men are punished only for those things of which they themselves are guilty. This would make it unjust to punish one man for another’s sin; likewise, if through ignorance or lack of accountability there is no guilt, it would be unjust to mete out punishment.<br />
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<b>The Fall of Man</b><br />
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Just as the violation of the law has a dual nature (sin and transgression), and the law of justice has a dual nature (reward and punishment), so does the fall of man have a dual nature. The two falls are, as one person termed them, “the fall of Adam” and “the fall of me.”<br />
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When Adam transgressed the commandment given him by the Father in the Garden of Eden, he brought about the fall of man. Because of his transgression, death—both spiritual and temporal—entered the world; as a result, all men are born into a state of existence where they are separated from God and also must suffer physical death. Though these both end up working for our positive benefit, neither is the result of our own actions, but of Adam’s transgression and fall. They come upon us automatically and inescapably. However, “the fall of me” takes place for each of us as we individually sin. We’ll have more to say of this aspect of the Fall later.<br />
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Having discussed sin and transgression, justice, and the Fall, we have now laid enough groundwork to understand one of the important aspects of the atoning sacrifice of the Savior, that part that can be termed the “unconditional” atonement. The first application of the unconditional atonement is to the fall of Adam. We have pointed out that it would be unjust for a person to be punished for violations of the law that he did not commit. So regardless of the kind of life a person has led, the ultimate effects of the fall of Adam that we have been discussing are overcome for every soul that comes to earth. All persons will be resurrected and overcome physical death, and also, all will be brought back into the presence of God by the power of Christ for the period of judgment and the assignment of glory. (See 1 Cor. 15:22; 2 Ne. 9:38) Thus, both physical and spiritual deaths are removed through Christ. However, remaining in the presence of God is a matter relating to the “conditional atonement.”<br />
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Before analyzing that principle, however, there is a second application of the “unconditional” atonement. The “unconditional atonement” applies to those who are guilty of transgression but not sin in the sense we defined these terms. If there was no knowledge or accountability, it would be unjust to mete out punishment. Nevertheless, justice demands payment for every violation of the law, whether the violation be sin or transgression. So, as one example, the atonement of Christ automatically redeems children who die before they reach the age of accountability, and they are brought back into the presence of God. (See D&C 137:10.)<br />
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<b>The Fall of Me</b><br />
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Now let us turn to the second aspect of Christ’s atonement, the “conditional” atonement.<br />
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While all of us were born into a situation where we are separated from God because of Adam (this we shall recognize as a form of spiritual death), we (only those who are accountable, of course) remain in that state because of our own personal fall which results from our own sins. The Doctrine and Covenants clearly points out, however, that we could enter back into God’s presence in this life if we would but purify ourselves from sin—or, in the terms we are using, overcome the effects of our own personal fall. (See D&C 67:10, D&C 88:68; D&C 93:1; see also Ether 3:13.) This purification from sin strongly involves the role of works—works of repentance and obedience are indispensable to the achievement of such a high and holy privilege. Even so, is it really by our works that we are saved from spiritual death? Again Paul and the other prophets indicate no. And to understand this, we must once again look at the law of justice.<br />
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Remembering that every violation of the law demands punishment of suffering, there are only two ways possible to meet the demands of the law of justice. Either one keeps the law perfectly and never gets in debt to the law, or else one must pay the debt of suffering. The law is very exact. Even if it is violated only once, the violator is in its debt and must suffer the consequences. Perhaps this is why James warns, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).<br />
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Now we can see why both Paul and Lehi warn us that no one can be justified by the law: no one (with one exception) has ever kept the law perfectly. Every soul is in debt to the law. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).<br />
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<b>The Need for Grace</b><br />
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In Greek, the word which is translated as grace means “good-will, loving kindness, favor.” In the New Testament usage, the word implies “the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved.” (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, trans. Joseph Henry Thayer, Grand Rapids: Zonderron Publishing House, 1962.)<br />
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In the scriptural sense of the term, it is impossible for a man to be justified (brought back into a proper relationship with God) by his own works, because no one can keep the law perfectly. This was the very mistake that the Pharisees fell into with regard to the Mosaic law. We sometimes smile at their tremendously careful attempts to define the law and what was acceptable to it; but if you hold that a man is brought into the proper relationship with God by his own works alone, then theirs was a logical position to take. If the tiniest infraction of the law puts one’s relationship to God in jeopardy, then one must be extremely careful about any violation. The early rabbis simply carried that idea to its extreme. For example, in the law it said, “Keep the Sabbath day holy.” Very well then, what does that mean in terms of my behavior? Well, for one thing, I mustn’t do any work. All right, but what happens if my house should catch fire on the Sabbath? Is it “work” to take things out and save them from destruction? A ridiculous question?—not if you are seeking justification by the law. And so, with great precision the rabbis enumerated what could and could not be saved. They even defined how much food could be saved, depending on what time of day the fire occurred. If it broke out on Friday evening (the Jewish Sabbath went from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday), one could save enough for three meals; if Saturday morning, two meals; and if Saturday afternoon, only one. (See Mishnayoth [The Oral Law], “Tractate Sabbath,” 16:2.)<br />
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These are the kinds of logical conclusions one is forced to if one seeks justification by the works of the law alone.<br />
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To better see why such attempts are ineffective, let us analyze a parable given by Elder Boyd K. Packer in an April 1977 general conference address (“The Mediator,” Ensign, May 1977, pp. 54–56), in which he refers to the spiritual jeopardy of all those who are born on this earth:<br />
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“There once was a man who wanted something very much. It seemed more important than anything else in his life. In order for him to have his desire, he incurred a great debt.<br />
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“He had been warned about going into that much debt, and particularly about his creditor. But it seemed so important for him to do what he wanted to do and to have what he wanted right now. He was sure he could pay for it later.<br />
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“So he signed a contract. He would pay it off some time along the way. He didn’t worry too much about it, for the due date seemed such a long time away.” (p. 54.)<br />
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Thus, having entered mortality in a state of innocence, man begins to sin and loses his perfect worthiness. He incurs a debt (a burden of sin) which, unless paid in full, will extend into the eternities “the spiritual death, which is separation from the presence of our Heavenly Father” (p. 56).<br />
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Under these circumstances (disregarding the Atonement for the moment), even if he suddenly realized that he had cheated himself of the opportunity to go back to the presence of God and stopped increasing his debt (that is, he stopped committing sin and became obedient), there is still no way that he could ever qualify to return to the Father. Even if he only committed one sin (which is unrealistic, of course, for most of us sin not once but many times), he still could not get back; full payment is the condition for admittance, and there can be no exceptions—justice is perfectly exact. Ceasing to sin merely stops the increase in the burden of debt—it does not generate the means to repay.<br />
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There is, of course, an advantage in keeping the burden of sin (the debt to the law) as small as possible; nevertheless, at the commission of the first sin a person loses his ability to return to God.<br />
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Elder Packer continues:<br />
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“As it always does, the day came, and the contract fell due. The debt had not been fully paid. His creditor appeared and demanded payment in full.”<br />
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The debtor’s dilemma is acute: “‘I cannot pay you, for I have not the power to do so,’ he confessed.<br />
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“‘Then,’ said the creditor, ‘we will exercise the contract, take your possessions, and you shall go to prison.’”<br />
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But the debtor begged, “‘Will you not show mercy?’”<br />
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The creditor replied, “‘Mercy cannot rob justice.’”<br />
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“There they were: One meting out justice, the other pleading for mercy. Neither could prevail except at the expense of the other. …<br />
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“Both laws, it seemed, could not be served. They are two eternal ideals that appear to contradict one another. Is there no way for justice to be fully served, and mercy also?<br />
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“There is a way! … but it takes someone else. And so it happened this time.<br />
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“The debtor had a friend. He came to help. He knew the debtor well. … He wanted to help because he loved him. He stepped between them, faced the creditor, and made his offer: …<br />
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“‘You demand justice. Though he cannot pay you, I will do so. You will have been justly dealt with and can ask no more. …’<br />
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“And so it was that the creditor was paid in full. … The debtor, in turn, had been extended mercy. Both laws stood fulfilled. Because there was a mediator, justice had claimed its full share, and mercy was fully satisfied.” (pp. 54–55.)<br />
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Once the debt was established, then, outside payment had to be introduced from somewhere or the debt would have stood forever. And thus it is that only in the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son, who had no sin, could man be delivered from this sad state.<br />
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<b>Christ—The Source of Unlimited Reserves</b><br />
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The Savior could effect the deliverance for two important reasons. First, he met the demands of the law of justice for himself because he kept the laws of God perfectly. In other words, Christ was justified by his works. He avoided the debt altogether and qualified himself to return to the Father—the only one of all mankind to do so. Secondly, he met the demands of the law for all of the rest of mankind. He himself owed no debt to the law, but he went before it and in essence said: “I am perfect and therefore owe you no suffering. However, I will pay the debt for all mankind. I will undergo suffering that I might pay the price for every transgression and sin ever committed by any man.”<br />
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And so, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ stood before the law and paid the price in suffering for every sin as though he himself had committed them. Such suffering was beyond the power of any mortal man to endure. We can’t understand how he did it, only that he did, and that “through Him mercy can be fully extended to each of us without offending the eternal law of justice” (Packer, p. 56). In terms of our parable, he generated sufficient payment to satisfy the debt of every other man. He met the demands of the law for himself through obedience, and for all others through suffering.<br />
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Alma told his son Corianton that mercy could not rob justice, or else “God would cease to be God” (Alma 42:25). And the merciful love of the Father and the Son did not rob justice of its rightful demands. Rather, it paid justice! Their Love said to Justice, by virtue of the price paid in the Garden, “Here is payment for the wrongs committed. You are paid in full. Now let the captives go free.”<br />
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In one of the most beautiful images in all of scripture, we find the solution to that awful dilemma we all face as sinners. We are standing before the bar as defendants, facing the great judge, God the Father. Our defense attorney—our “Advocate with the Father”—steps forward, not to refute the charges or to hold up a record of good works on our part to counterbalance our guilt, but to plead our case in a different manner:<br />
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“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—<br />
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“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;<br />
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“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” (D&C 45:3–5.)<br />
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Nothing man could do for himself could bring him past that judgment bar successfully without such an Advocate. That is why eternal life is always a gift, and those who receive it do so by “inheritance.” It is interesting to note that the word inherit and its cognate words are used seventy-eight times in the Doctrine and Covenants, while the word earned and its related words are not used once.<br />
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<b>The Conditional Atonement</b><br />
<br />
But the sacrifice which pays the debt and frees us from the results of our own spiritual death, though it comes to us through the grace and goodness of God, is not unconditional. What, then, are the conditions? Very simply stated they are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then repentance, followed by baptism. If one truly moves through those steps—mentally, spiritually, and physically—then he is prepared for the reception of the Holy Ghost. When one is given the gift (there’s that word again) of the Holy Ghost, he has overcome spiritual death to a degree, for he has come into the presence of one member of the Godhead. The Holy Ghost’s role, of course, is to help us continue in the pre-conditions of this part of the Atonement and fully overcome spiritual death by coming back into the presence of the Father and the Son.<br />
<br />
Now with all this in mind, remember that Paul said we are justified through and by faith (see Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:28), which is the first principle of the gospel. In other words, faith is the principle that activates the power of the Atonement in our lives, and we are put back into a proper relationship with God (justification) as faith activates that power. There are marvelous implications in this concept, and perhaps another analogy can help us see more clearly the role faith and works play in achieving salvation:<br />
<br />
We are like a powerhouse on a mighty river. The powerhouse has no power residing in itself; the potential power rests in the energy of the river. When that source of power flows through the generators of the power plant, power is transferred from the river to the power plant and sent out into the homes (lives) of others. So it is with faith. The power to achieve justification does not reside in man. Man requires the power of the atonement of Christ flowing into him. If no power is being generated, one does not—indeed, cannot—turn the generators by hand (justification by works); but rather, an effort is made to remove those things which have blocked the power from flowing into the generators (working righteousness as a result of faith). With this background then, one can understand why the scriptures clearly stress that faith includes works (see James 2:17–26); that is, obedience, commitment, and repentance—these are the works of faith that open up the channels so that the power of the atoning sacrifice of Christ can flow into us, redeem us from sin, and bring us back into the presence of God. Disobedience and wickedness dam those channels. (How literal is the word damnation!) The righteous works in themselves do not save us. The atoning power of God saves us. But our righteous works, activated by our faith in the Savior, are the condition for the operation of that power. Thus, each of us has something to say about whether he will be able to seek the gift and power of the Atonement in his behalf.<br />
<br />
<b>We Are Saved by Grace</b><br />
<br />
In summary then, there is no need to go to extraordinary lengths to apologize for Paul, or try to explain away his statements on salvation by grace. We are saved by grace—saved by Christ’s love from physical and spiritual death; saved by Christ’s love from Adam’s fall and our own; saved from sin and transgression by the grace or gifts of God. The atoning power of God unto salvation is a freely available gift from him—but our works of righteousness are essential to bring the gift into power in our lives. Sin brings alienation from God. The more we sin, the greater the alienation and the more difficult it becomes to effectively tap the power of God, which alone is sufficient to save us from our sins.<br />
<br />
President Joseph Fielding Smith has summarized the relationship between grace and works as follows:<br />
<br />
“So Paul taught these people—who thought that they could be saved by some power that was within them, or by observing the law of Moses—he pointed out to them the fact that if it were not for the mission of Jesus Christ, if it were not for this great atoning sacrifice, they could not be redeemed. And therefore it was by the grace of God that they are saved, not by any work on their part, for they were absolutely helpless. Paul was absolutely right.<br />
<br />
“And on the other hand, James taught just as the Lord taught, just as Paul had taught in other scripture, that it is our duty, of necessity, to labor, to strive in diligence, and faith, keeping the commandments of the Lord, if we would obtain that inheritance which is promised to the faithful. …<br />
<br />
“So it is easy to understand that we must accept the mission of Jesus Christ. We must believe that it is through his grace that we are saved, that he performed for us that labor which we were unable to perform for ourselves, and did for us those things which were essential to our salvation, which were beyond our power; and also that we are under the commandment and the necessity of performing the labors that are required of us as set forth in the commandments known as the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–56, 2:310–11.)<br />
<br />
Thus, we can with Paul fervently exclaim that “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). We should continue to stress the importance of obedience, of repentance, of faith, and strive with all our hearts to demonstrate good works in our lives. But we should never lose sight of the great overriding fact of the grace of God and the wholly central part it plays in our atonement and salvation.<br />
<br />
Moroni, in the closing words of the Book of Mormon, teaches the relationship between the grace of Christ and the need for our righteous efforts. Note how he keeps distinctly clear what it is that perfects us, and yet what must happen in our lives to bring that about.<br />
<br />
“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.<br />
<br />
“And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.” (Moro. 10:32–33.)a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-55547096371097851582010-07-20T17:17:00.004-06:002010-07-25T17:53:20.606-06:00Knowing By the Spirit, Part II—Dear Debbie<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">In response to my post entitled Knowing By the Spirit (which can be viewed <b><a href="http://discussitwithamormon.blogspot.com/2009/11/knowing-by-spirit.html?showComment=1279636958033_AIe9_BH-GtDXkTSORtjVLjn06lI4G-ORTgL_3Rc_uC6wxdj8OFC5U-hgWqbMN1TOSVGv3dIKMt82B0FgE5KX-E_xWxB73I7wS38y4vT-TcFL4r-tpLtIU9JkahLIu_BqPnLaSjp4K7zIdF_Da3BovW_zuE-viPdjCGNtBo0ZX4MC3LB-pCIF0yS0Ui2Pp6t8NDEDpItrbxwFJZLtIFgp8nP26xZkkVg0SecuZb1OFl17WtSmcW8u_DrmvV7LkZI2PFJCcBIeLdAk-3zmf3cPjFnvJR_B1ksq_n2UBVmcnXJ1j1Cp0YdCDk9jXxgwzvWeg-RgT2gLBz418EOplq57yZ2j0V0SBa4Y0AwHt3nD9cClYdGpho1TD8lSzqFNlGaKiXxaRmPCj3Li3X5Q2AIRiMjy3zDKpAqcZr_bzvHkFa8wx07E4WaQcvoFC0Z6_IVG82BBDyEpIU2HWtr3r57UqxC0Shq_W5BMjzbki__6k3UMNUo16Pi1unorfaIa9ejMz40bpg3uZUojlPSPYM7Is_eyTr0KVSa_xHvQ207WjnUiRuw86DNFEKvgY74jNYwqXv4O5Ovt6IEWBCernM-ionbGuQ_PD5EdLVzTvuFA4Qyp6zlNs_tSZhshRhbcbdq5dUlJEOY-zOF8eyHy3JD1wL_rItHIn6DQ--iN1JCsRnpaxe_gp0CIAEYinepvCgTPNXNsE1Wj6zO73JjLebbRR6_D2sDiDGKjyBEWUoPrk5-kxO0w_mH9Vm5Z73jpfjFB1Wc2IblizOaciuCxQhYQAwk52ib6dmv2ihk-U6ugz5aP3tf6_KRFGi-g6OSCYoog4Qe4CMZY1pe4v0D6oLW8ifWWmOJ7BehutxzVWypzlvBIBZnr4mIDTlu2y6NvPw7N3KAG1IuoY44vq4N98iF1CoNaU2LlbVw-cokdyAcSJZtqOioJ5YiMXgdLsBEiHhG8rx20nbhRvy5v8j4fE0_PzxvTDDt5BSCH_7yMbet8Cej83ZxcyrR7-UCwkeZqX00z47oOhbv9dsBaDMQoUtE50uMaaBK_4crb-A#c801744132136708320">here</a></b>), my friend, Debbie, said:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Jen - you said in this post: "Without an atonement, there could be no mercy to satisfy justice, and we would need to pay for our own sins. But, without repentance, the atonement cannot take effect on our salvation. So, although Christ has suffered for our sins, we are still held accountable for our own actions—for our “works” in this life."<br />
<br />
So (correct me if I've interpreted you wrong :) ), <br />
We sin - we create a debt that needs to be paid.<br />
Christ suffers for our sins - He pays our debt. <br />
We repent - we accept Christ's payment of our debt - the atonement takes effect in our salvation.<br />
<br />
So at this point our 'account' is zero - since Christ paid our debts. But you still say that we have to account for our sins? How so, if our account balance is zero because of the Saviors' atonement?<br />
<br />
Another point you made earlier in this post was in reference to the scientific method. In this method, as you stated, we start with a truth. And in science a truth is an indisputable, solid, unchanging factor. It is unsettling to me that the 'truth' you are basing everything else off of is a 'warm feeling' or 'burning of the bosom', etc. This is definitely something that is disputable. For example, many people feel good ('warm') about a lot of things that aren't true. In fact, people have died for things they felt good about, but weren't absolute truth. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And I most definitely love your point about absolute truth. Truth is truth, it doesn't change in regards to what we believe, or what we think.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">The Atonement and Accountability<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Thank you, Debbie, for continuing this discussion. Let me first address the atonement and our accountability as I understand it. But, before I do so, I would like to point out that there is so much depth to the atonement and how it applies to our lives that I couldn’t possibly do it justice in a single post. It is so much more than simply paying a debt for our sins (for example, it brings us resurrection, regardless of sin). So, I will try not to stray too much from the question at hand, though some additional insight on the atonement may be necessary to answer your question satisfactorily. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">I believe that I am understanding your question, and I think it stems in large part from a matter of semantics. I would not say that you have “interpreted [me] wrong” per se, but more accurately “interpreted my explanation incompletely.” I think the breakdown has oversimplified the atonement and how it works. While simple explanation can be a good building block in coming to understand a concept, there is always more depth to clarify any understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">While Christ’s atonement does pay the debt created by our sins, it also allows Him the ability to judge us righteously and apply mercy appropriately. (For that matter, it also takes effect in our lives not only as a saving grace, but also as a comforting grace—bringing us comfort amidst our trials.) Furthermore, while repentance does, indeed, include “[accepting] Christ’s payment of our debt,” it is also so much more than that. Repentance also involves a change in one’s self. It is not simply stating that we have sinned and that we would like Christ’s atonement to make up for it. If we do not change, we continue to sin. And, if we continue to sin, we will not be able to live in the presence of the Lord. (For that matter, if we continue to sin, we would not want to live in the presence of the Lord. We would be more comfortable living with those like ourselves, which in itself I see as merciful. But that’s a discussion for another time.) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">So, if we have not “changed”, our account is not “zero”, even though the Savior has performed the atonement. We are accountable for our sins, meaning that justice will have its demands on us if “we” do not make that change. It is not Christ’s atonement alone that accounts for our sins, but also our own change within (of course, the atonement can also assist us in that change). Similarly, even if we do change, it does not take away the fact that we sinned in the first place. So, without Christ’s atonement, our own personal change, alone, cannot allow mercy to satisfy those demands of justice either. So, in this sense, both we and He account for our sins. I hope that answers your question. Please let me know if you need any more clarification.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">The Scientific Method and the Confirming Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Now, I would like to address your questions regarding the scientific method. As you described it, “in science a truth is an indisputable, solid, unchanging factor.” Yes, that is true in respect to the ultimate knowledge we are trying to obtain. Like I said, truth is truth. But in science, and in faith, we are always <i>approaching</i> that whole truth. We are applying bits of truth that we have acquired to discover more truth. However, the reason “it is unsettling to [you] that the 'truth' [you believe I am] basing everything else off of is a 'warm feeling' or 'burning of the bosom', etc” is simply because you have misunderstood my explanation of where spiritual confirmation comes into play. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Truth is acquired by applying those truths we have already come to know. We use a bit of truth to develop a hypothesis upon which to perform a study. Whether the study refutes or supports that hypothesis determines what additional bit of truth we acquire. It is at that point, that one can turn to the Spirit to confirm that new understanding (of course, the spirit can also guide us in the formation of hypotheses that will help lead to greater amounts of knowledge, if we so desire). The confirming spirit of the Holy Ghost is simply additional evidence—added to that which we have already acquired through the scientific process. Like I said in the last post on Knowing by the Spirit, it is like a teacher confirming that your work is correct. Your work may be correct, whether or not a teacher confirms it, but that confirmation gives you that additional evidence, and brings efficiency to the learning process. And, likewise, the direction of the teacher throughout the process can also improve learning efficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Additionally, our recognition of that Spiritual confirmation is dependent not only on whether or not it is present, but also on whether or not we have developed the skills to recognize it accurately and differentiate it from the desires of our own heart. As you say, “many people feel good ('warm') about a lot of things that aren't true.” I would point out that the “warm feeling,” or “burning bosom,” or however one describes a confirming spirit or spiritual prompting, is not simply feeling good (or even “warm”) about something—it is so much more than that. A person can feel “good” about a thing, simply because they desire it. But, as we come to recognize how the spirit speaks to us individually (as it is unique for each individual—some even physically hear a voice), then we gain a greater ability to accurately recognize it for what it is. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">The way I explained it in the footnotes of the last “Knowing by the Spirit” post was that “as we receive and heed promptings, we become better able to recognize them, more attune to them, just as a musician becomes more attune to his instrument the more he plays it.” A musician may recognize what instrument they are hearing/playing, but not yet be able to distinguish the note or appreciate the tone that is being played on that instrument. That ability comes through experience for many (and is a God-given gift for others—just as is recognition of the Spirit and its promptings and confirmations). Even the great prophet, Samuel, did not recognize the voice of the Lord when he first heard it. He supposed it to be the voice of his master, Eli, as he had never before heard the voice of the Lord. But, with the initial direction of Eli, and through personal experience, he learned to distinguish and identify that voice, later becoming that great prophet. Interestingly enough, your unsettled feeling with regard to truth and a “warm feeling” could be, in itself, another example of knowing by the spirit. You did not understand how “everything” could be based off a warm feeling and the spirit gave you an “unsettling” feeling to confirm to your mind that the way you had understood the concept was not correct.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">I hope this helps, Debbie. This day has been crazy and I didn’t have a lot of time to write. But, I hope I was able to communicate clearly, nonetheless. Please let me know if you have anything else to add to the discussion or any more questions. Hope things are going well for you. We miss you guys!<o:p></o:p></span></div>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-78309672527069787222010-07-18T20:28:00.001-06:002010-07-18T20:31:12.526-06:00Seven Years of Famine--Applying the scriptures to our lives Part III was reading in Genesis today about Joseph. I read about his brothers selling him into Egypt, and about Potipher's wife falsely accusing him of forcing himself on her, and about his time in prison. I continued to read about how he interpreted dreams for his fellow prisoners and how, when the Pharaoh had dreams that no one could interpret for him, he called upon Joseph to interpret his dreams. Pharaoh describes his two dreams, in the one the seven fatfleshed kine are devoured by the seven thinfleshed kine, and in the other, the seven withered ears of corn devour the seven full and good ears. Joseph interprets the dreams, explaining that the land will see seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He instructs the Pharaoh to spend the seven years of plenty preparing a storehouse to allow for provisions during the seven years of famine. After which, Pharaoh makes him ruler over all of Egypt. Of course, during the famine, Joseph's brothers come to buy grain from the Pharaoh's storehouse. At which point, Joseph provides for them, even returning them their own money and giving them even more. Finally, he reveals to them his identity and they rejoice in their reunion.<br />
<br />
Oh, the many marvelous lessons there are in these few chapters. As I read this account, my first thought was about how we pass through times in life of spiritual plenty and famine. And how we need to spend our times of spiritual plenty, filling our souls with spiritual food so that we might withstand the times of spiritual famine, when they come.<br />
<br />
I thought also about the character and trials of Joseph. Here is a man, whose own brothers plotted his murder and then sold him into slavery. Does he live in bitterness? Does he curse God for not stopping this from happening? No! He lives the law of the Lord in such grandeur that he gains favor in the sight of his master, Potipher, and is given dominion over all that Potipher has. Then, again, Joseph is betrayed. This time by Potipher's wife and consequently thrown into prison. Again, does he live in bitterness? No! He serves his fellow prisoners and even gains favor of the prison guard and is given reign over the prison. By serving his fellow prisoners as an interpreter of dreams, he is made known unto the Pharaoh. And, then, again gains favor and is given dominion over the entire kingdom. Then, does he seek revenge, in his powerful position, against Potipher's wife or against his brothers? Does he even withhold anything from them? No! He gives his brothers all they ask for and even returns their money unto them and goes on to give them a place to live in Egypt where they will be better provided for! And, after revieling to his brethren his identity, when his brothers cry at his feet begging forgiveness for what they did to him, he not only shows forgiveness, but tells them that it was the Lord's plan:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life". </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As I reflected on Joseph's character, it occurred to me that any circumstances of life can be made a blessing by the Lord, if we but choose to live as He has taught us. We can choose to face our trials and think "woe is me" for having to endure them. Or, we can choose to really "endure" them well--to serve those around us, no matter whom they may be. And, if we do so, we will be blessed. Perhaps not in the way we might want (Joseph's trials were not taken from him), but in ways far greater (Joseph was able to use his trials to save the lives of likely thousands of people as well as gain dominion over the kingdom). Joseph truly was a wise steward--a wise steward of the land, a wise steward of his family, a wise steward of his time, a wise steward of his agency, a wise steward of his circumstances, a wise steward of his knowledge . . . . I hope that I can become a wise steward like unto Joseph, so that I might endure and provide during the seven years of famine I face in my life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-67394373057490550522010-06-26T08:28:00.000-06:002010-06-26T08:28:44.450-06:00Ever a Student--Applying the Scriptures to our LivesLong after we graduate from college, we remain students. We spend our whole lives learning. And, we can participate in one of the greatest courses, if we but allow the lord to be our teacher and the scriptures to be our textbooks. One of the most wonderful and marvelous things about scripture is its applicability to our lives. As we read about those who have gone before, we can learn from their experiences. It is a gift for which I am most grateful. I would like to share an experience I had this morning. <br />
<br />
We are still struggling to make ends meet while trying to sell our home. It has been one of the more difficult trials of our life at this point. Well, this morning, I was reading about the Brother of Jared and his friends and family as they crossed the great sea. I was struck with the passage that explained how the Brother of Jared praised the Lord throughout the entire journey. I found this to be really remarkable and a great lesson for me right now in my life.<br />
<br />
The scriptures talk about the Brother of Jared praising the Lord after they first explain the mountainous waves that continually buried them deep in the sea. Here he is, going through a significantly difficult trial--perhaps one of the most difficult in his life. They are being tossed about by the sea; they are being buried completely down in the waters of the ocean. They are bearing children whilst at sea. This is no easy voyage. Yet, the Brother of Jared spends it praising the Lord. He does not spend it complaining to the Lord. He does not spend it pleading with the Lord to take it away or make it stop. In fact, before the voyage even began, the Brother of Jared did not even ask the Lord to prevent it; but rather, he asked the Lord forr help so that he might better endure it.<br />
<br />
How many times have I cried and complained to the Lord before and during this trial in my life, asking Him first to prevent it, and then to take it away or end it? Yet, despite my spiritual immaturity, the Lord in His mercy has given me the blessings and tools to better endure it. Just as he taught the Brother of Jared how to build those unusual vessels that would be water tight and withstand the violence of the sea, so has He given me the gospel and taught me the eternal principles that have been allowing me to withstand this difficult trial in my life. And, just as the Lord touched the stones for the Brother of Jared to give light to the vessels, so that they may not have to cross the ocean in darkness, He too has miraculously sustained us financially and otherwise throughout this difficult time in our lilves so that what could have been a very dark time has been an enlightening one. And, just as the Lord helped the vessels resurface each time they were buried in the depths of the sea, so has He brought us glimmers of hope through potential buyers, each time have felt that all hope is lost and we are about to drown. And, although these buyers have not purchased our home and ended this trial for us, just as the Lord's resurfacing of the vessels did not end that most difficult voyage for them, I know that our voyage, like that of the Jared and his brother, will one day end, and that we will be the better for having passed through it.<br />
<br />
I am so grateful for the scriptures and the lessons they are teaching me and comfort they are giving me amidst my trials. They are such a blessing in my life.a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-77891418232878204022010-05-27T15:36:00.000-06:002010-05-27T15:36:47.853-06:00Eternal Families—Temple Sealings: The Discussion Continues<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In response to my last post on Eternal Families—Temple Sealings,<br />
Anonymous said...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>I guess that leaves me wondering.... In the end isn't EVERYBODY sealed to EVERYBODY? We are all "brothers and sisters" and if we go back far enough we are all related because we are ALL sons and daughters of one Heavenly Father and Mother right?<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Most children marry and have their own family in their life. Why is is necessary to be sealed to parents and children throughout every genteration when it all boils down to who your spouse is? That is the one true person that you are with. Parents have each other and chilren leave you to choose their own spouse.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>So to me, that is a lot to keep track of when eventually the "temple work" of all is done once deceased, and the rules change anyway based on the circumstances of the situation.<br />
I know that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me. I am a good person, obey the commandments, and care for my fellow man. But in the end, do I believe that my loving Father in Heaven will keep me from my family because we are not technically "sealed"?! No. I don't.</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear Annonymous-<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thank you so much for sharing your insights. I too have had these very same thoughts as I have contemplated sealings and their purpose. And, discussions such as these are the very reason I have this blog. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You are absolutely correct. The ultimate goal is for us all to be sealed to one another as one big eternal family, as we are "ALL sons and daughters of one Heavenly Father and Mother." And, like you said, your spouse is the person for whom you have the most responsibility and with whom you become "one". <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Why [then] is it necessary to be sealed to parents and children throughout every generation when it all boils down to who your spouse is?" In my mind, this question stems from viewing sealings as simply a binding or union between individuals. But, sealings are so much more than that. They involve responsibility for and covenants made between individuals and with the Lord (as well as promised blessings from the Lord). Therefore, there is, indeed, great meaning and purpose to sealings between spouses as well as between parents and children. The covenants one makes when sealed bring eternal blessings and also are a form of true Christlike Charity (i.e., love of Christ) that allow us to truly live as an eternal family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So, why are we sealed on earth, when we can be sealed after death by living proxies who attend the temple? This is an excellent question. Again, if a sealing was simply a "bond", I guess it wouldn't make any difference. But, since a sealing involves eternal, committed covenants and numerous blessings, why would we not want to be sealed now and enjoy those blessings during this, our mortal life? Also, I feel that making sealing covenants and commitments at the time of marriage (or as soon as we are worthy to do so), strengthens marital and parental relationships. It's like everything of value in this life: the more we put into it, the more we value it (and vice versa). When I am sealed to my husband and children, I am committing myself to them and their well-being for eternity, not just for this mortal life. Because sealings require eternal covenants from those involved, even those performed by proxy for those who are deceased are not binding without those individuals accepting and committing to those covenants themselves (the same is true for all ordinances performed in the temple by proxy for the dead—those for whom the ordinances are performed can choose whether or not to accept them—they still have their agency).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As for the "rules [changing] anyway based on the circumstances of the situation" (I assume you are referring to whether or not a sealing cancelation is granted. Please correct me if I am misunderstanding):<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I, personally, wouldn't phrase it as that the "rules change" for each circumstance. It seems to me more accurate to say that the outcome varies depending on the circumstances. Ultimately, the outcome is based entirely on the agency of those involved, not just with regard to whether or not two people are sealed or have their sealing canceled, but with regard to the blessings they are entitled too. For example, if a couple is sealed, and then one spouse abuses and abandons the other, then, even if the couple never requested that their sealing being canceled, the abuser/abandoner would no longer be entitled to the blessings associated to that sealing (without fully repenting) as that individual has voided such blessings by shirking their responsibility. However, the innocent spouse (and children) would still be entitled to all their blessings if they continue to hold true to their covenants. Does that make sense?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Finally, as you said, you ARE "a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves [you]." That knowledge alone brings so many blessings in this life, where it is so easy to feel lost or alone. Our Father in Heaven loves us ALL, even those who may not even consider themselves good, those who have made the worst of mistakes, etc. His love is unconditional and eternal. He is pleased when we make correct choices and follow His commandments; but, that is not because of pride or an authority complex. He is pleased because He loves us as dearly and deeply as any parent could love and wants us to be happy. This is why He has provided commandments for us--He knows that abiding by the commandments will give us that never-ending, enduring happiness that He so desperately wants for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our Father in Heaven is ready and willing to give us all that He has. And, He has prepared the way to make it possible for us to obtain that and achieve incomprehensible joy if we choose too. So, you are right, in the end, would a loving Father in Heaven prevent us from being with our eternal family based on a technicality? NO! In fact, I strongly believe even if there are those who die without being sealed, and of whom records are never found to perform those ordinances by proxy, that the Lord has a way for them to receive those saving ordinances. The Lord would never keep you from your family. His ultimate goal is to bring us back home to Him. Only WE have the power to keep us from our families. We, like our Father in Heaven, must abide by natural, eternal laws. If we refuse to commit to/care for/love our family, we will be unable to be with them (in essence, we would be exercising our agency and choosing not to be with them). Like I mentioned above, even those who have passed on and for whom ordinances are performed by proxy have to accept those ordinances for them to be in effect. It all comes down to the choice of the individual. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I hope that I have addressed all your questions fully and that this has been helpful in some way. Please let me know if you have any more questions. Thank you again for participating in the discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-43901972200286764302010-05-25T14:00:00.003-06:002010-05-25T14:29:17.383-06:00Eternal Families—Temple Sealings<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>What does being “sealed” mean? If a couple is sealed in the temple, along with their children, what happens if they divorce? Can people who have been married in the temple and later divorced get remarried in the temple? If a couple is sealed in the temple and one parent or the other passes on to eternity and the other parent re-marries and has children with the new spouse, what happens then? Is the new family sealed together also? If everyone lives on earth as they should and they all are united with Heavenly Father, what happens with the "mixed" family?<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">These are all questions that readers have asked with regard to eternal families and temple sealings. In a world full of “mixed families”, it is only natural that these questions should arise when trying to understand the sealing ordinance performed in the LDS church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). These questions also stem from viewing sealings as simply being eternally bound to one another. While a sealing is, indeed, a binding both on earth and for eternity of two individuals, it is so much more than that. So, beyond the logistics or protocol of who can be sealed to whom, understanding the purpose of the sacred sealing ordinance is so much more enlightening. Therefore, I will begin by addressing the first question—<i>What does being sealed mean—</i>and explaining the sealing ordinance and the teachings upon which it is founded. So this is how I see it . . . .</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>What does being sealed mean?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we do not feel that life ends with death of the mortal body. We see mortal life as a very small speck of time along the continuum of eternal life. The choices we make here, in this mortal life, are based on our understanding of eternal life before and after this mortal life. In other words, we are eternal beings, living eternal lives, not just mortal ones. So, when we make decisions with regard to family (e.g., marriage, child-bearing, etc.), we view those as eternal commitments, not just mortal ones. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">We also value accountability, responsibility, and commitment. We accept that we are agents, and that Christ’s atoning sacrifice allows us to be such. So, when we are married in the temple (i.e., sealed to our spouse), we are covenanting to both be committed to and to take responsibility for that person not only for this life, but for eternity. The same is true when we are sealed to our children, or bear children under the covenant (i.e., bearing of children to parents that have already been sealed to each other): we are covenanting to be responsible for those children not only for this life, but for eternity. Consequently, the idea of just giving up on a marriage or on one’s children, because it’s “too hard” or because there are “other things one wants instead” is not viewed as acceptable behavior. As such, a sealing cancelation is not taken lightly and can be difficult to obtain and requires the consent of both parties involved as well as approval from the leaders of the church. Couples are always encouraged to work to salvage their marriage whenever possible.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Because we view families in this way, sealings transcend death. For example, if a sealed couple bears children under the covenant, and the mother dies in child-birth, her mothering responsibilities toward her children have not ended. By being sealed to those children, she has covenanted to accept an eternal responsibility for rearing those children. I (as well as likely many other Mormons) believe that this is one way in which guardian angels come into play. The deceased can continue to watch over, protect, and guide those to whom they have been sealed or have been given a particular responsibility or stewardship. Similarly, if a child, who has been sealed to his/her parents, dies prematurely, that does not end his/her parents’ responsibility to rear that child. LDS parents of deceased children understand that despite the death of their child’s mortal body, that child continues to live and remains a part of their family, continuing to be the responsibility of those parents. (You may visit the blog of my friend, Stephanie, to see how she and her husband have continued to raise their sweet daughter, Camille, who died two years ago at about 14 months of age, and how Camille continues to watch over her family from beyond the veil at <a href="http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/">http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/</a>).</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In addition to a sealing binding people together eternally, and in addition to a sealing being a covenant between people to take responsibility for one another, a sealing is also a covenant with the Lord, that with it brings blessings with regard to exaltation promised by the Lord. Part of the reason that we call this ordinance being “sealed” is because it refers to the fact that the Lord is putting His seal or stamp of approval upon the covenant you are making (see the article I reference below). Children born in the covenant or sealed to their parents are entitled to those promised blessings even if their parents divorce.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">So, now that we better understand what the sealing is and why it is performed, let’s address the questions of how the sealing “works” after divorce or death of a spouse/parent:</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>DIVORCED<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>If a couple is sealed in the temple, along with their children, what happens if they divorce? Can people who have been married in the temple and later divorced get remarried in the temple?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">If a couple is sealed in the temple, have children, and then later obtain a civil divorce, they remain sealed to one another and their children remain sealed to both parents. If the couple no longer wants to be sealed to one another, they can request a sealing cancelation from the church. Such a cancellation requires consent from both the husband and the wife as well as approval from the leaders of the church. If granted, the couple will no longer be sealed to one another, but their children will remain sealed to both their parents. If either of the parents remarry, they can, with approval, be sealed to their new spouse. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>WIDOWED<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i> If a couple is sealed in the temple and one parent or the other passes on to eternity and the other parent re-marries and has children with the new spouse, what happens then? Is the new family sealed together also? If everyone lives on earth as they should and they all are united with Heavenly Father, what happens with the "mixed" family?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I started answering this question and it got very confusing to read, because I was trying to be gender-neutral, as the question is written. So, to make this easier to read, I am going to respond to it as though the mother of the first marriage died: </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">If a mother dies, the couple will remain sealed to each other and to their children. If the father remarries and is sealed to his new wife, and if they have more children of their own, those children will be sealed to their parents as well. Additionally, because the new wife is sealed to her husband, and the husband is already sealed to his children from his first marriage, there is no need for the new wife to be directly sealed to the children from the first marriage, as she is taking on the responsibility of helping rear her husband’s children by being sealed to him (you could say, that in this sense, the new wife is sealed to her husband’s children through her sealing to their father who, in turn, is sealed to the children). This, however, does not take away or void the children’s natural mother’s responsibility associated with her sealing to her children and husband.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>OTHER MIXED FAMILYL SCENARIOS<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>Although these other scenarios were not addressed in questions from readers, I thought I would address them, in case any of you may be wondering about them: What about sealings for adopted children or other children with additional living parents that are not members of the church?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Children who have been legally adopted can be sealed to their adoptive parents and enjoy all the blessings that they would have received, had they been born under the covenant. Additionally, if a mother/father has a child with someone who is not a member of the church and later marries and is sealed to someone else, that child can, if he/she desires to and with the permission of the natural parent, be sealed to his/her parents that are sealed to each other.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">While these different scenarios give a general idea of how specific sealing situations may generally be handled, it is important to note that every sealing is assessed individually and approved/denied according to the individual circumstances of that particular situation and the choices of those who are involved. Such a sacred ordinance could not, and should not, be approached otherwise. Understanding that a sealing is a covenant that involves responsibility, commitment, and promised blessings brings to light the fact that who you are sealed to is not as important as the covenants you make with and receive from the Lord and the individuals to whom you are sealed. Anyway, I hope that this helps clarify understanding of the sealing ordinance and its purpose and how it is applied in specific scenarios. There is a wonderful article on sealings <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=950e605ff590c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">here</a> for your reference with even more specific information on the covenants and promises involved in sealings. It also addresses how sealings affect people individually and collectively. Please let me know if you have any more questions or comments.</div>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-62670725006702604452010-03-22T10:03:00.002-06:002010-04-20T10:09:11.182-06:00More Thoughts on FaithI was thinking this morning some more about faith, and about how most of our knowledge in every subject is faith. Specifically I was thinking about our working knowledge of the earth and it's orbit. We knew LONG before we had the technology to enter space that the earth was round, that it rotated on it's axis and that it, along with other planets rotated around the sun. We knew this by observations that supported this theory (eg., we observed gravitational pull, we observed that we could travel between continents by East or West navigation, we observed and mapped the sky throughout time, we observed the "rise" and "fall" of the sun, we observed the change in seasons and the patterns of the oceans throughout all parts of the world). In other words, we have a working knowledge of the solar system and how it functions. Our knowledge was built upon our observation and experimentation of our educated hypothesis (what I like to call "hope").<br />
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Once we developed the technology to travel into space, we were able to covert our faith of the solar system and it's orbits, etc. (our "working knowledge of the solar system) into a perfect knowledge of certain principles. For example, we were able to confirm that the world was, in fact, round and that it rotates upon an axis, as we could now observe the earth from a new perspective (from outer space).<br />
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However, did we feel that before we could observe the earth from space (before we had a "perfect knowledge" of its shape) that we only "believed" that the earth was round? No. We "knew" that the earth was round, even though we had not yet traveled into space to see it with our own eyes. Why? Because we already had the working knowledge of its shape based upon our observations of and experimentation upon true principles that supported that theory, just as we do in all aspects of science. In other words, we had already developed a firm "faith" that the earth was round.<br />
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It seems that very little "knowledge" we obtain through science is what we would call a "perfect knowledge". Almost all we "know" is "faith" based on true principles. If we are able to consistently support our hypotheses (our "hope") and unable to disprove them, then we accept them as truth. It is through this faith-based approach to knowledge that scientists throughout history have discovered the natural laws that govern our earth and universe.<br />
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Our knowledge of pretty much all principles is a "working knowledge": there is always more to learn, a greater depth at which to understand. There are things that we "know" about our solar system, our universe, other universes, stars, etc. even though we have not yet developed the technology to travel outside our own solar system. Eventually we will be able to "perfect" that knowledge, but at this point, it is still a working knowledge (still "faith"). It can still be understood in greater depths. Knowledge of gospel principles and eternal truth are no different. It is faith-based: it is a working knowledge that can continuously be understood at greater and greater depths until it becomes a "perfect" knowledge. Finally, both religious and scientific knowledge can be revealed and confirmed to us through the Spirit through impressions, enlightenment of the mind, burning in the bosom, visions, dreams, etc. Perhaps this is part of the reason that so many scientists acknowledge that there is a God. Anyway, I was just thinking about these things this morning and thought I would share. What do you think?a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-2786620218187891012010-03-04T10:32:00.002-07:002010-04-20T10:09:56.664-06:00A Real Life MiracleMy mom always says that the Lord's math is different than our math. It's an interesting concept to me particularly, because I LOVE math. I have always been very good at math and enjoy doing it. Well, needless to say, I keep VERY meticulous track of our finances. I created an excell spreadsheet that helps me balance my finances and into which I enter every single purchase we make and all money we put into our bank account as well as any interest earned. It allows me to daily keep track of how much money we have available at any given moment. It allows me to easily see how much I spend on groceries or utilities or insurance or whatever category I may be interested in. It automatically deducts money to be put into savings so that I don't spend that money. It really just makes my life easier and helps us keep a budget, avoid debt, and build savings. Well, one of the most useful things my program does is that it allows me to easily see how much we have spent and how much we have earned in any given month. I can also find the average daily balance for any given period of time.<br />
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Well, this last year has been very trying financially for us. Despite our frugality, our expenses have been heavy. Right after having our third baby at Christmastime, we gave up a secure job with good pay, despite the uncertain real estate market, and moved our family to a different state, taking a new job with a $15,000 paycut. Why did we do this? Well, we decided that quality of life is more important than money. It was a huge leap of faith. The new job offers a far better work environment and we have been much happier as a result. But, having moved so quickly, and in such difficult economic times, we have been unable to sell our house. It has sat on the market for a year now. On our old salary, we were easily able to make our mortgage payment, but, on our current lower salary, covering our high mortgage payment as well as the costs of running both homes has been leaving us strapped for cash.<br />
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While doing our taxes this year, I took an in depth look at both our expenses and our income throughout this past year, and what did I discover? The Lord's math is different than our math. We have witnessed a true miracle. For 9 of the past 13 months, our expenses have exceeded our income, totaling $1272.01 of excess expenses over the past year. We have just barely maintained an average daily balance of $8 throughout the last year, and on many months, the average daily balance has been a negative number. In fact, in January of last year, our average daily balance was $-6.96. That means we started the year off in the hole. And yet, although we started the year out in the hole and have spent $1272.01 more than we have earned, we have somehow not run out of money!<br />
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We have been able to meet all of our financial obligations and have not defaulted on our mortgage or education loan payments. Even more, we have been able to maintain the $1000 minimum balance in our bank account to avoid excess fees! And to top it off, we were somehow able to contribute and extra $251.10 to our education loans this month. That totals <b>a real life $2530.07 miracle</b>! Really it's worth even more than that, as we have not had to declare bankruptcy, we have not lost our home to foreclosure, we have not even had to short sale our home! When you consider the value of the home, you could perhaps even call this a $315,000 miracle or even simply a miracle of personal credit and integrity.<br />
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I have a testimony of <a href="http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/the-commandments/live-the-law-of-tithing"><b>tithing</b></a>. We have always, even throughout this past year, payed a full 10% tithe plus an additional <a href="http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/the-commandments/observe-the-law-of-the-fast"><b>fast offering</b></a> each month and donated to the <a href="http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/membership-in-christ-s-church/humanitarian-aid-and-welfare"><b>humanitarian fund</b></a> for Haiti relief. I believe that this $2530.07 miracle is a direct result of our contributions. With this kind of blessing, who can afford NOT to pay tithing and share with those less fortunate? Miracles DO happen and today I am grateful that the Lord's math is different than our math.a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-3010179317795388462010-03-01T10:58:00.001-07:002010-03-01T14:39:33.739-07:00Aquiring a TestimonyMy friend recently gave a fireside to the youth in our church about how to obtain a testimony (a knowledge of eternal truths). As a lawyer, she likened it to the courtroom--very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed her presentation. If you are interested, you may read her post <b><a href="http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/2010/03/testimony-fireside.html">here</a></b> on her blog. Enjoy!a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-61418972540846248502010-01-28T14:22:00.003-07:002010-02-02T11:21:39.492-07:00A Testiment to Visiting Teaching<b><b>In our church, we are all asked to accept assignments to visit members of our ward (our congregation) on a regular basis--at least once per month. The men are arranged in pairs (as companions called <a href="http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/search-results?vgnextoid=ade8c2826b130110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&locale=0&pageNumber=1&maxResults=20&bucket=AllMormonorgContent&query=home+teaching+program">"home teachers"</a>) to visit families and the women are also arranged in pairs (as companions called <a href="http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/search-results?vgnextoid=ade8c2826b130110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&locale=0&pageNumber=1&maxResults=20&bucket=AllMormonorgContent&query=home+teaching+program">"visiting teachers"</a>) to visit other women. These companionships allow us to fellowship one another and to all have friends who can help us when we are in need as well as friends that we can serve. We study gospel principles together, help each other with temporal needs, socialize and enjoy each others' company, etc. It is a great program that allows everyone to be looked after. <br />
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Well, although, several times a month, we may informally visit with those to whom we have been assigned, we make an effort to do so formally as well, by arranging a time to visit with them in their homes or any other predetermined place. In theory, this formality ensures that no one gets forgotten. In reality, we sometimes fall short of making our visits every month. And, often, visiting teaching may be one of those things you squeeze in at the end of the month in your rush to accomplish all the things you have on your to-do list. But, despite our human imperfections, the programs work remarkably well, and I do, personally, strive to formally visit my visiting teachees (as I like to call them) in their homes at least every month (even though I also visit informally with them regularly).<br />
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Well, this month, early on in the month, I kept feeling impressed to do my visiting teach right away and not procrastinate to the end of the month. As this was a month when I had arranged for my companion to do the scheduling and myself to prepare a lesson, I brushed the impression aside a couple times, knowing that scheduling the visits was something I should rely on her for. But the impression came again so I called up my companion and suggested that we schedule the visits soon. She said she was about to call me and say the same thing to me. So she arranged the visits for a few days later.<br />
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When the day came to visit our first friend, I arrived at her home before my companion arrived. As she welcomed me into her home and I sat down in her family room,I could distinctly smell natural gas. For some reason, I have always been particularly sensitive to this smell and often smell it when no one else can. I will smell it even if someone just started the stove a few minutes ago. Well, being aware of my personal hypersensitivity to the smell, and being concerned about not wanting to hurt her feelings, I resolved not to say anything about the smell. But, as quickly as I made the resolution I felt impressed to mention the smell anyway. I was about to brush the thought aside again when another thought came to mind that this could be a matter of the safety of her and her family. So, in as polite a way as I could muster, I mentioned that I could kind of smell some natural gas and wondered if maybe she had left her stove on or something. She told me that no, the stove was not on, but that she had been noticing the smell off and on for a while now. But, when she would mention it to her husband, he could not smell it and told her not to worry about it. I could tell that she felt a little embarrassed, as she explained that she tried lighting a candle to mask the smell, so, to spare her feelings, I quickly changed the subject. I felt bad for having brought it up, but still knew, deep down, that it was the right thing to do.<br />
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Well, it just so happens that this friend is also a cub-scout leader with me. And, that afternoon, she came to my house to meet with the scouts for den meeting. She arrived before the boys, so we sat and chatted while we waited. She told me that since I had mentioned the smell, she thought that she better call the gas company. They came out immediately and found 3 gas leaks in her house as well as inadequate ventilation for their furnace. The serviceman explained to her that, with her son's bedroom in the basement and right next to the furnace, this was very dangerous and could asphyxiate her son (which of course was a very emotional realization for her, as she came to see the danger her son had been in). He immediately shut down all the gas in her house until the leaks and ventilation issue could be repaired. <br />
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As soon as she told me this, it occurred to me that her family has been sick ALOT lately. she then went on to mention that many of her children, this son who sleeps in the basement, especially, had been complaining about headaches lately. I told her that headaches are a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning. She said that the serviceman told her the same thing. I asked her if she had any CO detectors in her house and told her that she needed one in her son's room (as CO is heavier than air and settles in the basement) as well as all around her house. She told me that she used to have one, but that it kept going off so they took out the batteries and had not bee using it (I can't help but suspect that it was going off because it was, in fact, detecting CO). Anyway, she said that she called her husband and he immediately rushed home from work to take care of everything.<br />
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Well, it also just so happens that her husband is also home teaching companions with my husband. Later in the week, they went home teaching together. As they visited with one of their families, the husband mentioned that they had found some gas leaks in their home and that if I had not mentioned the smell to his wife, they never would have known about the leaks. He said that they have now repaired everything and have placed several CO detectors around their house. <br />
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I felt so grateful at that moment that I had followed the promptings of the Spirit and mentioned the smell, even though I was afraid to bring it up. Who knows what would have happened to their family if I had not done my visiting teaching this month, or even if I had not listened to the Spirit and had waited until the end of the month to get it done. I am grateful for the promptings of a loving Father in Heaven and for the implementation of His plan of Visiting Teaching that allows his children to be watched over by one another. I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to be an instrument in His hands. This has been a testament to me of the importance of the Visiting and Home Teaching programs.</b></b>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-70421146811673547922009-11-22T10:04:00.009-07:002009-11-22T10:48:49.644-07:00Knowing By the Spirit<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> 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{mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">In today’s post, I would like to address a question asked by one of my anonymous readers:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">Anonymous said... <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >I have heard many Mormons make the comment about the Book of Mormon: "I have read parts of this book and prayed to God if it was true and I received a warm feeling in my heart that it was. I now know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God." They sound so sure of themselves from the little that they have read. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >So my question is. Can you or any other Mormon who may read this say with that same firmness and assurety "I know that I am going to be in Heaven with God for eternity without a shadow of a doubt I know I will be there with him." <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >I know alot of Mormons who say I hope so, or if I have lived a good enough life I will. I have yet to meet one who can answer with an assured "Yes I will go to Heaven to be with God forever."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Why is that?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">Dear Anonymous-<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">I would like to respond to your comments/questions in sections, addressing first the comment you started out with and then the question you finished with.<span style=""> </span>And, as I do so, please bear with me, as I will be discussing principles that you may not have directly addressed, but that I feel apply to the discussion.<span style=""> </span>Please feel free to ask for clarification or to share any of your thoughts on any part of this discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style=""><span style="">
<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style=""><span style="">Acquiring a Knowledge of any Truth<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">I would first like to address your initial comment about those of our faith knowing the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.<span style=""> </span>I too know many people who have acquired for themselves a knowledge of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.<span style=""> </span>Those who have read “parts of this book”, as you put it, can, indeed receive personal revelation as to the truthfulness of those parts of the Book of Mormon (see my post on personal revelation <a href="http://discussitwithamormon.blogspot.com/2009/10/obtaining-personal-revelation-by.html"><i style="">here</i></a>).<span style=""> </span>Through rules of deduction, one could then conclude that if “parts” of the Book of Mormon are true, then it would logically suffice to say that the entire book is true.<span style=""> </span>However, I think it important to point out that we should be reading the entire book in order to assess if the entire book be true.<span style=""> </span>In fact, as with any book, the more times you read it, the better you come to understand its principles.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">In a similar vein, obtaining a personal witness of the truthfulness of a book can be applied to any book, not just to books of scripture.<span style=""> </span>I personally want to always be seeking truth.<span style=""> </span>In my mind, truth is truth.<span style=""> </span>All knowledge, whether traditionally viewed as secular or spiritual is, in my mind, all spiritual.<span style=""> </span>To me, there is no distinction.<span style=""> </span>Either something is true or it is not.<span style=""> </span>And, in my mind, all truth has depth to it.<span style=""> </span>In other words, all truth can be studied and appreciated in deeper and deeper degrees of understanding as we seek more truth by applying that which we have already acquired.<span style=""> </span>In other words, we build upon our working knowledge—this is what we call faith and it applies to principles traditionally seen as spiritual as well as those traditionally seen as secular (see my post on faith <a href="http://discussitwithamormon.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-understanding-of-faith.html"><i style="">here</i></a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">So, as we study and search for truth, how do we filter through all the information out there to determine what is truth, what is partial truth, and what is falsehood?<span style=""> </span>To me, one who thinks with an empirical mind, the scientific process is a great approach.<span style=""> </span>We start with some truth we have already acquired, and use it to develop a hypothesis (an expected outcome).<span style=""> </span>Then we apply the bit of information we are trying to understand to that hypothesis to see what happens.<span style=""> </span>If our hypothesis is consistently confirmed, we assume that information to be truth.<span style=""> </span>If our hypothesis is refuted, we accept that we have misunderstood the information and start the process over with a new hypothesis.<span style=""> </span>This can be done with any principle, including those found in the Book of Mormon.<span style=""> </span>We can apply them to our lives and see if they work.<span style=""> </span>This is an organized way of approaching questions that appeals to my mind.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">But, in the scientific community, it is said that a principle is never “proven”, only confirmed or disproven.<span style=""> </span>So, in order to “prove” to myself if a principle is true, I like to combine this scientific approach with personal revelation (knowing by the Spirit)—this is the personal witness which you described as a “warm feeling”.<span style=""> </span>It also has been described in many other ways including a “burning of the bosom”, a “quiet voice”, “a still small voice”, a “wave” over or through the body, as well as many other descriptions.<span style=""> </span>In my mind, this kind of personal witness is additional empirical evidence to that discovered through the scientific process.<span style=""> </span>It is a physical response—tactile evidence.<span style=""> </span>I can use the knowledge I acquire through the scientific method to explain many things in logical language, but the spiritual witness I receive confirms those principles to me.<span style=""> </span>Does that make sense?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">It’s almost like when you are in school and your teacher gives you a problem to solve.<span style=""> </span>You work through the problem and reason out the solution, then you ask your teacher for confirmation that your solution is correct.<span style=""> </span>You teacher either confirms or refutes your answer.<span style=""> </span>The “teacher” that provides us this “warm feeling” is what we call the “Holy Ghost”, also referred to as the “Holy Spirit”, “The Comforter”, as well as other names.<span style=""> </span>He is quite literally a teacher to us.<span style=""> </span>He confirms truth to us by giving us a personal witness through a physical response such as feeling a “warm feeling” or hearing a “still small voice”.<span style=""> </span>(See *** at the end of this post for a side note on additional ways the Holy Ghost works in our lives.)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style=""><span style="">
<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style=""><span style="">Can I Say That I “Know” I Will Live with my Father in Heaven for Eternity?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">Now that we have addressed why people can say that they “know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God” and be so sure of that statement, let’s address the next part of your question:<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Can I “</span><span style="">say with that same firmness and assurety ‘I know that I am going to be in Heaven with God for eternity without a shadow of a doubt I know I will be there with him.’" My initial reaction to this question was one of understanding for the responses you have received from other Mormon acquaintances.<span style=""> </span>However, <i style="">when I take a moment to really ponder and consider your question in my own life, and how I really feel about it, deep down inside myself, at this time I am assured that I WILL return and live with my Father in Heaven for eternity.<span style=""> </span>In fact, I feel it so strongly, that it feels like a part of my core soul.</i><span style=""> </span>I believe that part of my feeling this way is due to the fact that the Lord is already such a large part of my life.<span style=""> </span>I converse with Him consistently throughout each day, as I face the difficulties and triumphs of life.<span style=""> </span>I seek His guidance when I am unsteady, I seek His comfort when I am suffering, I seek His comfort for those suffering around me, and I express to Him my most sincere gratitude for the blessing He is always bestowing upon me and those with whom I am acquainted.<span style=""> </span>I do not share these things to boast, for I commune with Him daily because I need His influence in my life.<span style=""> </span>But rather, I simply share them to help reveal to you what my day-to-day life is like.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">In addition to the role my Father in Heaven plays in my life, His Son, Jesus Christ also plays a huge part in my life.<span style=""> </span>I consistently see the workings of Christ’s atonement in my life.<span style=""> </span>I recognize my imperfections and diligently work to improve and allow the Savior’s atonement to take root in my life.<span style=""> </span>And, finally, I strive always to keep the Holy Ghost as my constant companion.<span style=""> </span>I feel the very raw sensation when His presence withdraws from me, when I am in circumstances that would drive Him away.<span style=""> </span>With all three members of the Godhead being such a core part of my existence now, I cannot imagine being without my Father in Heaven in the eternities and, because I am always striving to live as He would have me live even though I am imperfect, at this point in time, <i style="">I can say that I do know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I will return to live with Him in the eternities</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style=""><span style="">
<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style=""><span style="">What do Mormons Mean when They Respond to your Question that They “Hope So”?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">But, let me now return to my initial reaction to your comment, so that you might better understand the foundation of the responses you have received by the Mormons you have asked this question of in the past, such as “I hope so” or “if I have lived a good enough life I will”.<span style=""> </span>Obviously, I don’t know these individuals personally, but their responses stem from the principles of agency, choice, and accountability as taught by passages from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon; and these principles directly relate to the interplay of grace, works, and mercy.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">In the book of 2<sup>nd</sup> Nephi, found in the Book of Mormon, chapter 31, versus 17-20, Nephi, an ancient prophet, is teaching his people:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="">“<span style="color: rgb(166, 166, 166);">17</span><span style=""> </span>Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter.<span style=""> </span>For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: rgb(166, 166, 166);">18</span><span style=""><span style=""> </span>And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and of the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: rgb(166, 166, 166);">19</span><span style=""> And now my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?<span style=""> </span>Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: rgb(166, 166, 166);">20</span><span style=""> <span style=""> </span>Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.<span style=""> </span>Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father; Ye shall have eternal life.”</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">In the Bible, the books of Psalms and Proverbs teach us<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: rgb(166, 166, 166);">Proverbs 31:30-31</span><span style=""> . . . a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. <span style=""> </span>Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: rgb(166, 166, 166);">Proverbs 24:12</span><span style=""> . . . and he that keepeth thy soul . . . shall not he render to every man according to his works?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: rgb(166, 166, 166);">Pslams 62:12</span><span style=""> Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="">These sacred scriptures teach us that it is not enough to repent and be baptized.<span style=""> </span>We must continue to “</span><span style="">press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ, and endure to the end” in order to obtain eternal life with our Father in Heaven.<span style=""> </span>Our “works” in this life combined with the atonement of Christ and His mercy toward us as well as God’s grace, work together to satisfy the demands of justice that determine whether or not we qualify for eternal life with our Father in Heaven.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">Our Father in Heaven sacrificed His first born Son, Jesus Christ, who has atoned for our sins, so that our agency and imperfections in this life would not prevent us the opportunity to return to Him in the eternities. Our agency, allows us to become more like God, as we learn to make correct choices based on true principles. Because we are quite literally “children” of our Heavenly Father, we are still learning and we make mistakes along the way. This is why an atonement was necessary. Without an atonement, there could be no mercy to satisfy justice, and we would need to pay for our own sins. But, without repentance, the atonement cannot take effect on our salvation. So, although Christ has suffered for <i>our</i> sins, we are still held accountable for our own actions—for our “works” in this life. Of course, the interaction of all these principles has so much depth that it really should be a post of its own.</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="">So, when Mormons say they “hope” they will return to live with God for eternity or that they will “if they have lived a good enough life”, they are simply expressing their understanding that living with God for eternity is conditional upon their own choices and actions, not that they don’t actually “expect” to live with God for eternity.<span style=""> </span>This, however, does <i style="">not</i> take away from the fact that the atonement, mercy, and grace all also play crucial parts in our salvation.<span style=""> </span>They are all part of our Father’s Plan of Salvation for us that allows us the agency necessary for our</span><span style=""> growth and learning in this life.<span style=""> </span>For, without growth, what would be the purpose of our life here on earth?<span style=""> </span>So, we see that the above responses to your question are not a condition of despair, but one of hope.<span style=""> </span>Those individuals know that they, themselves, have agency in the matter.<span style=""> </span>Our loving Father in Heaven wants us to return to Him and has prepared a way for us to do so, but He will not force us to, if we choose not to.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>I know that this information is rooted in many principles that should be discussed in further detail, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you with too much information.<span style=""> </span>Please feel free to ask any questions about any topic I have addressed today (or in past posts).<span style=""> </span>I hope that I have answered your questions completely.<span style=""> </span>Please let me know if I have not.<span style=""> </span>Thank you for initiating this discussion.</span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:9;">
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:9;"><span style="font-size:85%;">*** In addition to confirming truth, this kind of physical evidence can also guide and direct you to act when you otherwise would not have, due to your limited knowledge.</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">For example, someone you may know may be in need of your service or assistance, but you may be completely unaware of that person’s need.</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The Spirit can put thoughts in your mind that you should help that person in some given way, just as your teacher may initially tell you how to solve a problem, before leaving you to solve</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">more on your own.</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">This personal witness may be the only evidence you have of that person’s need.</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">This has happened to me many times throughout my life.</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The Spirit tells me I need to call a certain friend, or stop by someone’s house or drop off dinner, or offer to babysit, whatever.</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">And, when I act on those feelings, that person tells me something to the effect of, “I was just praying for the Lord to help me figure out how to get dinner on the table today” or “I was so depressed and your call helped me realize someone loves me” or “I am so sick, the Lord must have sent you here to help.”</span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">As we receive and heed these promptings, we become better able to recognize them, more attune to them, just as a musician becomes more attune to his instrument the more he plays it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-10382484049541441762009-11-19T14:55:00.007-07:002009-11-22T10:59:08.622-07:00The Love of GodIn this post I wanted to share a talk given by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf in our latest General Conference Address. I love Elder Uchtdorf for his ability to always focus on the "basics" of the gospel, which, in my mind are where the real meat is. I feel that the most basic, core principles of the gospel are also the depth of the gospel. They are the principles from which we gain greater and greater degrees of understanding as we seek knowledge. I love focusing on our core beliefs, and consequently so enjoy the talks given by Elder Uchtdorf. I love how his title for this talk, "The Love of God", is a play on words as it means not only the love of God for us (His love for us), but the love of God that we have (our love for Him). Really, what is the most fundamental principle of knowledge of any kind? Similarly, what is the most fundamental principle of happiness? Love. From love springs all knowledge and all happiness. The more I study, the more I understand this principle. Anyway, I wanted to share his talk with you. You can read it below, or go to the talk directly by clicking <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=400d56627ab94210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD"><i>here</i>.</a> Enjoy!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Love of God</span></span><br />
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;">Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Love of God,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 21–24</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship.</span><br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lds.org/images/Magazines/global/UchtdorfDF_06.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 192px;" src="http://lds.org/images/Magazines/global/UchtdorfDF_06.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continually growing and becoming better known throughout the world. Although there will always be those who stereotype the Church and its members in a negative way, most people think of us as honest, helpful, and hardworking. Some have images of clean-cut missionaries, loving families, and friendly neighbors who don’t smoke or drink. We might also be known as a people who attend church every Sunday for three hours, in a place where everyone is a brother or a sister, where the children sing songs about streams that talk, trees that produce popcorn, and children who want to become sunbeams.<br />
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Brothers and sisters, of all the things we want to be known for, are there attributes above all others that should define us as members of His Church, even as disciples of Jesus Christ? Since our last general conference six months ago, I have pondered this and similar questions. Today I would like to share with you some thoughts and impressions that have come as a result of that inquiry. The first question is:<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">How Do We Become True Disciples of Jesus Christ?</span><br />
The Savior Himself provided the answer with this profound declaration: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”1 This is the essence of what it means to be a true disciple: those who receive Christ Jesus walk with Him.2<br />
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But this may present a problem for some because there are so many “shoulds” and “should nots” that merely keeping track of them can be a challenge. Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles—many coming from uninspired sources—complicate matters further, diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. One person’s good idea—something that may work for him or her—takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of “good ideas.”<br />
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This was one of the Savior’s criticisms of the religious “experts” of His day, whom He chastised for attending to the hundreds of minor details of the law while neglecting the weightier matters.3<br />
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So how do we stay aligned with these weightier matters? Is there a constant compass that can help us prioritize our lives, thoughts, and actions?<br />
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Once again the Savior revealed the way. When asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” He said. “This is the first and great commandment.”4 Coupled with the second great commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves5—we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord’s Church on both sides of the veil.<br />
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Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.<br />
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When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why Should We Love God?</span><br />
God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration.<br />
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No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!<br />
For what we love determines what we seek.<br />
What we seek determines what we think and do.<br />
What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become.<br />
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We are created in the image of our heavenly parents; we are God’s spirit children. Therefore, we have a vast capacity for love—it is part of our spiritual heritage. What and how we love not only defines us as individuals; it also defines us as a church. Love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ.<br />
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Since the beginning of time, love has been the source of both the highest bliss and the heaviest burdens. At the heart of misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things.<br />
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And the greatest of all good things is God.<br />
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Our Father in Heaven has given us, His children, much more than any mortal mind can comprehend. Under His direction the Great Jehovah created this wondrous world we live in. God the Father watches over us, fills our hearts with breathtaking joy, brightens our darkest hours with blessed peace, distills upon our minds precious truths, shepherds us through times of distress, rejoices when we rejoice, and answers our righteous petitions.<br />
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He offers to His children the promise of a glorious and infinite existence and has provided a way for us to progress in knowledge and glory until we receive a fulness of joy. He has promised us all that He has.<br />
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If all that is not enough reason to love our Heavenly Father, perhaps we can learn from the words of the Apostle John, who said, “We love him, because he first loved us.”6<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why Does Heavenly Father Love Us?</span><br />
Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you.7<br />
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God does not look on the outward appearance.8 I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.<br />
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He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.<br />
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What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us.9<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">How Can We Increase Our Love of God?</span><br />
Since “God is love,”10 the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love.11 But because a veil separates this mortality from our heavenly home, we must seek in the Spirit that which is imperceptible to mortal eyes.<br />
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Heaven may seem distant at times, but the scriptures offer hope: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”12<br />
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However, seeking God with all our hearts implies much more than simply offering a prayer or pronouncing a few words inviting God into our lives. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”13 We can make a great production of saying that we know God. We can proclaim publicly that we love Him. Nevertheless, if we don’t obey Him, all is in vain, for “he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”14<br />
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We increase our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God’s word. His pure love directs and encourages us to become more pure and holy. It inspires us to walk in righteousness—not out of fear or obligation but out of an earnest desire to become even more like Him because we love Him. By doing so, we can become “born again … [and] cleansed by blood, even the blood of [the] Only Begotten; that [we] might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory.”15<br />
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My dear brothers and sisters, don’t get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don’t feel downcast or despair if you don’t feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible—and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">How Can We Hear the Father’s Voice?</span><br />
As you reach out to your Heavenly Father, as you pray to Him in the name of Christ, He will answer you. He speaks to us everywhere.<br />
As you read God’s word recorded in the scriptures, listen for His voice.<br />
During this general conference and later as you study the words spoken here, listen for His voice.<br />
As you visit the temple and attend Church meetings, listen for His voice.<br />
Listen for the voice of the Father in the bounties and beauties of nature, in the gentle whisperings of the Spirit.<br />
In your daily interactions with others, in the words of a hymn, in the laughter of a child, listen for His voice.<br />
If you listen for the voice of the Father, He will lead you on a course that will allow you to experience the pure love of Christ.<br />
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As we draw near to Heavenly Father, we become more holy. And as we become more holy, we will overcome disbelief and our souls will be filled with His blessed light. As we align our lives with this supernal light, it leads us out of darkness and toward greater light. This greater light leads to the unspeakable ministerings of the Holy Spirit, and the veil between heaven and earth can become thin.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why Is Love the Great Commandment?</span><br />
Heavenly Father’s love for His children is the core message of the plan of happiness, which plan is made active through the Atonement of Jesus Christ—the greatest expression of love the world has ever known.16<br />
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How clearly the Savior spoke when He said that every other commandment hangs upon the principle of love.17 If we do not neglect the great laws—if we truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our fellowman with all our heart, soul, and mind—all else will fall into place.<br />
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The divine love of God turns ordinary acts into extraordinary service. Divine love is the motive that transports simple words into sacred scripture. Divine love is the factor that transforms reluctant compliance with God’s commandments into blessed dedication and consecration.<br />
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Love is the guiding light that illuminates the disciple’s path and fills our daily walk with life, meaning, and wonder.<br />
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Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship.<br />
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Love is the way of the disciple.<br />
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I testify that God is in His heaven. He lives. He knows and loves you. He is mindful of you. He hears your prayers and knows the desires of your heart. He is filled with infinite love for you.<br />
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Let me conclude as I began, my dear brothers and sisters: what attribute should define us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?<br />
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Let us be known as a people who love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and who love our neighbor as ourselves. When we understand and practice these two great commandments in our families, in our wards and branches, in our nations, and in our daily lives, we will begin to understand what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus the Christ. Of this I testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.<br />
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<span style="font-size:78%;">Notes<br />
1. John 14:15.<br />
2. See Colossians 2:6.<br />
3. See Matthew 23:23.<br />
4. Matthew 22:37, 38.<br />
5. See Matthew 22:39.<br />
6. 1 John 4:19.<br />
7. See Isaiah 54:10; Jeremiah 31:3.<br />
8. See 1 Samuel 16:7.<br />
9. See D&C 88:63.<br />
10. 1 John 4:8.<br />
11. See Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:7, 16.<br />
12. Jeremiah 29:13.<br />
13. 1 John 5:3; see also 2 John 1:6.<br />
14. 1 John 2:4; see also Isaiah 29:13.<br />
15. Moses 6:59.<br />
16. See John 15:13.<br />
17. See Matthew 22:40.<br />
</span>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-46869883939680078142009-10-28T11:27:00.001-06:002009-10-28T11:28:05.447-06:00Understanding Charity<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> 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Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">One of my favorite passages of scripture is found in Moroni (a book in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ that supplements the bible).<span style=""> </span>It is found in Chapter 7, versus 45-48 which read:</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">45</span> <span style=""> </span>And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth<span style=""> </span>not in iniquity but rejoiceth in truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">46</span><span style=""> </span>Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.<span style=""> </span>Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">47</span><span style=""> </span>But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">48</span><span style=""> </span>Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.<span style=""> </span>Amen.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">There is so much to say about this passage.<span style=""> </span>There is so much to learn from it.<span style=""> </span>I have studied it for several years now and am still learning.<span style=""> </span>But, for now, I will suffice by addressing the first thing I learned: <b style="">that charity is the pure love of Christ</b> as we are told in verse 47.<span style=""> </span>It is not simply service—it is so much more.<span style=""> </span>So, if charity is the pure love of Christ, then we should be able to substitute Christ’s name in for the word charity in this passage so that it reads:</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">45</span> <span style=""> </span>And Christ suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not his own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth<span style=""> </span>not in iniquity but rejoiceth in truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">46</span><span style=""> </span>Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not Christ, ye are nothing, for Christ never faileth.<span style=""> </span>Wherefore, cleave unto Christ, Who is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">47</span><span style=""> </span>But Christ has the pure love of Christ, and He endureth forever; and whoso is possessed of Him at the last day, it shall be well with him.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">48</span><span style=""> </span>Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.<span style=""> </span>Amen.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Reading the passage in this way helps us to understand the true nature of Christ.<span style=""> </span>And, are we not commanded to work to develop charity, or to become like Christ?<span style=""> </span>I believe that this is our ultimate, life-long quest—one that even takes a life-time (or more) to accomplish.<span style=""> </span>Therefore, if we replace “charity” or “Christ” with our own name, we will have a VERY clear picture of where we fall short and what areas we need to work on:</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">45</span> <span style=""> </span>And I suffereth long, and am kind, and envieth not, and am not puffed up, seeketh not my own, am not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth<span style=""> </span>not in iniquity but rejoiceth in truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">46</span><span style=""> </span>Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have me not, ye are nothing, for I never faileth.<span style=""> </span>Wherefore, cleave unto me, who is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">47</span><span style=""> </span>But I have the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is possessed of me at the last day, it shall be well with him.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: gray;">48</span><span style=""> </span>Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.<span style=""> </span>Amen.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">When I read it in this way, it really amplifies my own imperfections.<span style=""> </span>This helps me to focus on the areas I need to work on and better develop, but most of all, it helps me to love and appreciate the Savior in my life even more.<span style=""> </span>For, how could I become perfect if I could not be perfected (completed) by Him?<span style=""> </span>I am so grateful for the atonement of Christ and His unconditional love for me.</p> a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-33374853826265918632009-10-27T12:53:00.006-06:002009-11-22T11:03:49.422-07:00Obtaining Personal Revelation by Building Upon our Foundation of Faith<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">In response to a comment made by a good friend on yesterday’s post, I have been pondering throughout the night some of the universal truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ—something, as she put it, that all members of the church would agree upon. While the gospel is based on universal, foundational principles, the practical effect of those principles in our lives is entirely dependent upon our individual understanding and application of them in everyday life. So, while I hope to discuss such foundational doctrine as Christ, God, the Holy Ghost, faith, repentance, hope, charity, etc., it seems to me that the universal doctrine that ties all of these applications together is personal revelation. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe (and I can say that I personally know for myself) that we can each, in fact, individually receive personal revelation from our Father in Heaven as we seek to obtain truth in our lives.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Joseph Smith, the prophet who restored the gospel to the earth in the latter days, was a religious seeker who desired to know what church to join. As a young boy, he sought knowledge after reading a bible scripture in the first chapter of James that promised that he could, in fact, receive his own personal revelation:<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: grey;">5</span></i> If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The verses preceding and following this verse, however, add increased insight:<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: grey;">2</span></i> My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: grey;">3</span></i> Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: grey;">4</span></i> But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: grey;">5</span></i> If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: grey;">6</span></i> But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: grey;">7</span></i> For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: grey;">8</span></i> A double minded man is unstable in all his ways<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">As I read this scripture this morning, I read it with the definitions of faith and perfection in mind (as described in my talk on faith--you can see <a href="http://discussitwithamormon.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-understanding-of-faith.html"><i>here</i></a>). This gave me new insight into this passage:<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">As we work to become “perfect” or “complete/entire” as Christ is, we must have patience as we seek personal revelation from our Father in Heaven by establishing first a foundation of faith, our “working knowledge,” before building upon it. Then, as our faith is tested, we must continue to have patience to see the result. Our faith, or current degree of knowledge, works in conjunction with revelation that we receive. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">What benefit is it to us to ask a question that has no foundation in the knowledge we already have (our faith)? What benefit would it be to a scientist to attempt to understand photosynthesis without first understanding the properties of the sun and the plant? How could a mathematician create an algorithm if he does not understand mathematical language? Or for that matter, how could he even read an algorithm, let alone create one? He could not. Attempting to do so would only create confusion. How then should we approach personal revelation about questions of eternal significance? We must use our existing knowledge base to know what questions to ask, what hypotheses to form—to know what knowledge to seek next—or we will have no basis for interpreting the new information we acquire (or as the scripture puts it, we will be “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed”). <br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Asking questions in this way—questions that are founded in the truth we have already established for ourselves—is asking “in faith”. If we do not “ask in faith, nothing wavering”, as verse 6 puts it, then verses 7&8 tells us that we shall not “receive any thing of the Lord” for “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. The Lord is our Father. He loves us and wants what is best for us—He wants what will allow us to return home to Him. If we have not established a foundation to build upon, why then would the Lord help us build upon no foundation? It would be to no avail, but rather, perhaps even detrimental to our learning, just as trying to understand an algorithm without a knowledge of mathematical language would cause confusion. He certainly would hope to help us build that foundation first, so that He might succeed as He opens more truth to us. So, let’s have patience as we seek personal revelation. Let’s put in the work necessary to have a strong foundation before we attempt to build; for the wise man buildeth upon a rock, while the foolish man builds upon the sand. And, let’s continue in our patience as we seek more knowledge.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Similarly, once we have asked a question, we must, at that point have the patience to receive the answer. If we were to conduct a study on the effect of a new drug, we would not administer the drug one day, and determine the next whether it had treated the symptom. We would allow sufficient time for the drug to interact with the chemical makeup of the body before determining the drug’s effectiveness. We would be patient and wait for the results. So we must do with our faith—our working knowledge. As we study new principles, we must apply them to our everyday lives, then have patience as we watch to determine if and how they have affected our lives. We must have the patience necessary to allow our faith to be tested, just as we would have patience necessary to allow a drug to be properly tested. And, as we witness the benefit of patience allowing our understanding to develop, we will, in turn, have more patience as we study new principles. In this way we build upon and establish deeper degrees of faith, or knowledge of truth. And, when all is said and done, we will be perfect (“complete”), even as our Father in Heaven is perfect.<br />
</div>a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456421097742488375.post-53374642827197097292009-10-26T12:31:00.002-06:002009-10-27T09:07:06.560-06:00What is Faith, Really?--How I have come to understand Faith.<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJennifer%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> 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margin-left:.25in; text-indent:-.25in;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Faith—The First Principle of the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">-Jennifer Earl Norton</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Throughout my life, I have many times heard reference to the bible scripture, Matthew 17:20, where Jesus tells his disciples, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To me, this scripture has always been a troublesome one.<span style=""> </span>As a young child, I tried using the pure faith of a child to move a mountain, but it did not work.<span style=""> </span>I knew that the Savior only spoke truths, yet I could not see this scripture come to pass in my life.<span style=""> </span>As I have grown older, this scripture is one that has continued to come to my mind and demand my ponderance.<span style=""> </span>I have heard many explanations of what it means.<span style=""> </span>One such explanation compares the minute size of the mustard seed to our faith, suggesting that if we can obtain but a small amount of faith, then nothing will be impossible to us.<span style=""> </span>This explanation has left me increasingly perplexed as I have known, with certainty, that I do, indeed, have at least a small amount of faith, yet I continue to be unable to move mountains.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What then could this scripture possibly mean?<span style=""> </span>From my search to answer this particular question have sprung two more very important questions:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="">1.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What is faith?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="">2.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Once I understand what the phrase “faith as a grain of mustard seed” actually means, how can I apply it to my life?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I will address the first here:<span style=""> </span>What is faith?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Alma 32:21 explains “faith is not to have <u>perfect</u> knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”<span style=""> </span>Verse 26 continues “Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a <u>perfect</u> knowledge—even so it is with my words.<span style=""> </span>Ye cannot know of their surety <u>at first</u>, unto <u>perfection</u>, any more than faith is a <u>perfect</u> knowledge.”<span style=""> </span>As I have pondered this scripture, I have realized that it describes faith by explaining what it is NOT.<span style=""> </span>Therefore, if faith is NOT a <i style="">perfect knowledge</i>, I must understand what a <i style="">perfect knowledge</i> is, in order to understand what it is NOT.<span style=""> </span>So, what is a “<u>perfect</u> knowledge”?<span style=""> </span>Elder Russell M. Nelson, from the quorum of the twelve apostles gave the following description of the word “perfect” in his November 1995 Ensign article entitled “Perfection Pending.”<span style=""> </span>He states:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In Matt. 5:48, the term perfect was translated from the Greek teleios, which means “complete.”<span style=""> </span>Teleios is an adjective derived from the noun telos, which means “end.”<span style=""> </span>The infinitive form of the verb is teleiono, which means “to reach a distant end, to be fully developed, to consummate, or to finish.”<span style=""> </span>End qoute.<span style=""> </span></span><i style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 86</span></i><i style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Understanding the Greek translation of “perfect” to mean “complete” or “fully developed,” it follows that “faith is not to have a [‘complete’] knowledge”—not to have a ‘fully developed’ knowledge.<span style=""> </span>If faith is not to have a <i style="">complete </i>or <i style="">fully developed</i> knowledge, than it must be to have an <i style="">incomplete</i> or <i style="">underdeveloped</i> knowledge.<span style=""> </span>However, it is, in fact, a measure of knowledge.<span style=""> </span>What kind of knowledge is it? Let me suggest a very useful definition of faith that has opened, for me, a whole new understanding of the scriptures:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt;">FAITH is to have a <i style="">working</i> knowledge acquired through the application and observation of true principles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Or, another description of FAITH could be a <b style=""><i style="">growing</i> knowledge acquired through the application and observation of true principles.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now, with this new understanding of faith, we can address the second question:<span style=""> </span>What does the phrase “faith as a grain of mustard seed” actually mean, and how does it apply to my life?<span style=""> </span>What does Christ mean when he tells us, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you”?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rather than comparing our faith only to the <i style="">size </i>of a mustard seed, let us compare our faith to the <i style="">growth </i>of a mustard seed.<span style=""> </span>Christ describes this growth in Matthew 13:32.<span style=""> </span>He explains that the mustard seed is “the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”<span style=""> </span>Like the mustard seed, our faith will begin as a very small, limited, amount of knowledge that, in itself, does little for us.<span style=""> </span>In fact, the seed is eaten by birds just as a very small, limited amount of knowledge can be easily quenched by adversity.<span style=""> </span>But, if continually nourished and cared for, the “least of all seeds” will grow to thousands times it’s size and strength to become “the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”<span style=""> </span>So it is with faith.<span style=""> </span>As our faith, or knowledge, is continually nourished, it grows and strengthens.<span style=""> </span>In fact, it becomes strong enough for others to temporarily “perch” on.<span style=""> </span>In other words, our faith, our<i style=""> working </i>or<i style=""> growing </i>knowledge, if built upon, can become a “<i style="">perfect</i> knowledge,” a <i style="">complete</i> knowledge, like that of our Father in Heaven, making “nothing . . . impossible unto [us].”<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How do we obtain and maintain faith?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Once we understand what faith is, we must come to understand how to obtain, maintain, and build upon our faith.<span style=""> </span>How do we obtain faith in this life?<span style=""> </span>How do we build up our faith—build upon our working knowledge—until it becomes a perfect knowledge?<span style=""> </span>The answers lie in the scriptures.<span style=""> </span>The scriptures compare faith and its acquisition to experimentation.<span style=""> </span>Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “the <i style="">substance</i> of things hoped for, the <i style="">evidence</i> of things not seen”—<i style="">subtance, evidence!</i> of things <i style="">hoped</i> for.<span style=""> </span>The Topical guide likens “hope” to “expectation”.<span style=""> </span>Substituting this word into Hebrews 11:1 we read “faith is the <i style="">substance</i> of things [<i style="">expected</i>], the <i style="">evidence</i> of things not seen.”<span style=""> </span>Is this not the same as the knowledge we acquire in all subjects, through the scientific process?<span style=""> </span>We obtain evidence by applying an experiment to our hypothesis—to our <i style="">expectation</i>.<span style=""> </span>Similarly, Alma 32 challenges us to “experiment” upon the word.<span style=""> </span>Verses 27-34 read:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more that desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.<span style=""> </span>Now, we will compare the word unto a seed.<span style=""> </span>Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.<span style=""> </span>Now behold, would not this increase your faith?<span style=""> </span>I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.<span style=""> </span>But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow.<span style=""> </span>And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith?<span style=""> </span>Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.<span style=""> </span>And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed?<span style=""> </span>I say unto you, Yea; for every good seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.<span style=""> </span>Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.<span style=""> </span>And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.<span style=""> </span>And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your soul, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thus we see that we can acquire faith (or, our <i style="">working</i> knowledge) in the same way that we acquire any knowledge here on the earth.<span style=""> </span>We start with hope: <span style=""> </span>a seed, (i.e., a question—a hypothesis, an expectation).<span style=""> </span>Then we put that seed, that hypothesis, to the test.<span style=""> </span>If it is a good seed, a true principle, it will “begin to swell within our breasts,” “enlarge our souls,” and “enlighten our understandings”.<span style=""> </span>In other words, our experiment will show that our hypothesis was correct.<span style=""> </span>It, therefore, increases our faith—it increases our knowledge.<span style=""> </span>As the true principle is applied to our lives, we see how it works and come to understand the truth of that principle.<span style=""> </span>In other words, we confirm our hypothesis and gain a portion of truth, and our “mind doth begin to expand”.<span style=""> </span>Conversely, if the seed is bad, we see that it does not grow, it does not work, and we “cast it away”.<span style=""> </span>We refute our hypothesis, deeming it untrue, gaining a knowledge of its falsehood.<span style=""> </span>As we acquire knowledge in this way, we use each bit of knowledge to make more hypotheses, to develop more hope, expectations or seeds, to experiment upon.<span style=""> </span>This allows us to gain a deeper and deeper understanding of eternal truths (i.e., it allows us to increase our faith).<span style=""> </span>Each degree of knowledge we obtain is necessary to help us understand the next, deeper degree of knowledge.<span style=""> </span>If we never learned algebra, we would never comprehend calculus.<span style=""> </span>We build upon our knowledge as we spiritually grow older, like a child builds upon his knowledge as he grows older and progresses through school.<span style=""> </span>Faith is developed ‘line upon line”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">However, as with all knowledge we obtain, we can lose a measure of our faith if we do not continue to seek to more fully develop it.<span style=""> </span>After we graduate from school, if we do not continue to study and apply the information we learned there, then that knowledge is lost from our memory.<span style=""> </span>For example, as I entered college, I could speak Spanish almost fluently.<span style=""> </span>But, now most of it has been lost from my memory.<span style=""> </span>Why?<span style=""> </span>Because I have not continued to study and apply it.<span style=""> </span>So it is with faith.<span style=""> </span>If we become lazy or complacent, and stop studying, searching for, and applying our faith, then it withdraws from us, and we cannot build upon or grow from it.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Why do we need faith?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Understanding what faith is and its potential as we obtain, maintain, and build upon it is useless if we do not also understand why it is needed or desired—why it is important for us to seek out knowledge, to develop our faith.<span style=""> </span>Without understanding its importance, we will have no desire to incorporate faith into our lives, deeming our understanding of this principle obsolete.<span style=""> </span>If our ultimate goal is to become like Christ, to develop His pure love, or charity, the development of our faith will bring us to that goal.<span style=""> </span>FAITH is the <i style="">key</i> to our metamorphosis.<span style=""> </span>I would like to share a true story about Steven R. Covey as written in his book “6 Events.”<span style=""> </span>He tells of an experience he had when riding the New York City Subway one Sunday morning.<span style=""> </span>He relates:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“It was a fairly quiet ride until a father and his children entered our subway car.<span style=""> </span>The children seemed completely undisciplined and unruly, and they violated the whole spirit of that calm, Sabbath morning.<span style=""> </span>They were running around, jumping up and down, pulling people’s newspapers down, and even purposefully bumping into people.<span style=""> </span>The father sat right next to me, put his head down, and didn’t even try to control them.<span style=""> </span>After waiting several minutes to see if he was going to do something about them, I turned to him and said, ‘Sir, don’t you think you could handle your children a little better?<span style=""> </span>They are upsetting a lot of people.’<span style=""> </span>He looked up as if he had just become aware of the problem, and then he said, ‘Oh, I know.<span style=""> </span>I’m sorry.<span style=""> </span>We have come from the hospital where my wife just died.<span style=""> </span>I guess the kids don’t quite know how to take it, and, frankly, I don’t either.’ . . . I suddenly desired with all my heart to help that family.<span style=""> </span>Why? Because I now had a different map of the same reality—a map that was more accurate.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From this experience, we see that the amount of knowledge that Stephen Covey had of that particular situation dictated his behavior.<span style=""> </span>Without the knowledge of the mother’s death, Stephen Covey felt upset with the man and his children.<span style=""> </span>At that point, he certainly could have <i style="">chosen</i> to be nice and helpful to the man, but it would have required a considerable amount of effort to overcome his prejudgment of the situation and genuinely try to be helpful and loving.<span style=""> </span>However, once he gained the knowledge of the death of the children’s mother, the man’s wife, he instantly <i style="">wanted</i> to help.<span style=""> </span>There was no need for effort.<span style=""> </span>It was a <i style="">natural</i> reaction to the circumstances.<span style=""> </span>He, as he described it, had a “paradigm shift,” meaning, he saw the situation in a new light or, as he put it, “had a <i style="">different</i> map of the <i style="">same</i> reality—a map that was more <i style="">accurate</i>.”<span style=""> </span>How do <i style="">we</i> obtain a more accurate map of the same reality?<span style=""> </span>We increase our knowledge, we develop our faith.<span style=""> </span>Faith makes following the commandments and living and abiding by true principles almost automatic.<span style=""> </span>It simplifies life and allows us to naturally live the way our Father in Heaven would have us live.<span style=""> </span>The more knowledge we obtain (or in other words, the more we build upon the <i style="">working knowledge</i> we call faith), the more we naturally become like Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many times, throughout my life, I have come home from church meetings feeling a <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">rejuvenation and a renewed desire and motivation to “start doing <i style="">everything</i> right”.<span style=""> </span>I think,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am going to study my scriptures for 15 minutes every day.<span style=""> </span>I am going to pray morning and night and with every meal.<span style=""> </span>I am going to treat everyone with kindness and patience.<span style=""> </span>I am going to drop everything when I see someone in need of service. <span style=""> </span>I am going to exercise regularly and prepare and eat healthy meals.<span style=""> </span>I am going to write in my journal weekly.<span style=""> </span>I’m going to attend the temple monthly.<span style=""> </span>I am going to update my food storage, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">These goals don’t seem too lofty on Sabbath evenings, after I have spent the day pondering eternal truths and discussing with my ward family the reasons for our lives here on earth.<span style=""> </span>But, when the mundane tasks of life return on Monday, and the children prod and persist and try my patience, and the doctor’s office is telling me to pay bills that the insurance company has promised to cover, and the plumbing springs a leak, and so on, these goals seem to fall by the wayside, leaving me feeling helpless and overwhelmed.<span style=""> </span>Then, when I prepare for the Sabbath, and my thoughts and goals from the previous week return to mind, I realize that I have, once again, failed at the most important goals of life.<span style=""> </span>I feel discouraged and want to give up.<span style=""> </span>Then, after a calm, meditative Sabbath, I once again, return home from my church meetings ready to “start doing everything right” and excited for the changes I am going to make in my life.<span style=""> </span>Perhaps I succeed at one or two of my goals that week, or even for a few weeks, but then the stresses of daily activities envelop me once again, and my goals dissipate into the whirling bustle of life.<span style=""> </span>The cycle seems to repeat itself over and over until I feel so overwhelmed that I feel I can take it no longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This vicious cycle is one that many of us find ourselves in.<span style=""> </span>It becomes discouraging and we feel like we want to give up.<span style=""> </span>Why is it not effective?<span style=""> </span>Because we are trying to run “faster than we have strength” (as warned against in Mosiah 4:27 and D&C 10:4).<span style=""> </span>How do we break the cycle?<span style=""> </span>We create a better map of the same reality.<span style=""> </span>We increase our working knowledge, our faith.<span style="color: red;"><span style=""> </span></span>Rather than overwhelming ourselves by trying to run faster than we have strength—by trying to “do everything right” at once, let us first start with a single task.<span style=""> </span>Let us work to increase our faith—to increase our knowledge of truth.<span style=""> </span>Then, like Steven Covey on the subway, we will be creating for ourselves a more accurate map of the same reality.<span style=""> </span>We will do what is right with ease, as a natural consequence of our knowledge of eternal truths.<span style=""> </span>We will naturally become more like Christ.<span style=""> </span>Faith, therefore, is directly related to developing charity, the pure love of Christ—as we increase our faith, we become more like Christ.<span style=""> </span>If faith, or knowledge, makes living true principles easier, then it’s no wonder that faith is the first principle of the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is my prayer that we will go a step further than just “believing” or just “hoping” the gospel is true.<span style=""> </span>That we will plant that seed and focus our efforts on increasing our knowledge of true principles, so that we may <i style="">discover </i>and <i style="">know</i> for ourselves that the gospel <i style="">is</i> true.<span style=""> </span>That we will apply our faith throughout our lives to beget more faith and become more like Christ.<span style=""> </span>That through our search for knowledge and truth we will create for ourselves a “more accurate map” of our reality, allowing us to more naturally abide by gospel principles.<span style=""> </span>That we will increase our knowledge of—our faith in—our Father in Heaven.<span style=""> </span>So, that when times in our lives come, where our knowledge is limited, we can trust in the Lord that we will be guided and directed, for we will know Him as He is, and know His divine nature and power and unconditional love for us.<span style=""> </span>That we will nurture our faith like a mustard seed, developing perfect faith, a complete knowledge.<span style=""> </span>And, that as we do this, our actions and behavior will be dictated by the eternal truths that we come to understand, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p> a.k.a. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607434530421232102noreply@blogger.com6