I love the Internet and all the fascinating things you can learn from the people who post on it.
In this morning's study of the Beatitudee "blessed are the pure in heart," I was lead to a talk given by Spencer W. Kimball entitled Becoming the Pure in Heart. In that talk, he quoted Joseph Smith who said, "the greatest temporal and spiritual blessings which always come from faithfulness and concentrated effort, never attended individual exertion or enterprise." I had never read that quote before and it fascinated me in light of what Obama said several weeks ago - "you didn't build that."
I searched on the Joseph Smith quote and came to this link: A Tale of Two Cities (of God): Bishop Hill and Nauvoo by Myron J. Fodge. In this article, Fodge provides greater context of the quote used by Kimball.
The quote came from a statement by the First Presidency on January 8, 1841.
"The greatest temporal and spiritual blessings which always come from faithfulness and concerted effort, never attended individual exertion or enterprise. The history of all past ages abundantly attests this fact. In addition to all temporal blessings, there is no other way for the Saints to be saved in these last days, [than by the gathering] as the concurrent testimony of all the holy prophets clearly proves, for it is written, 'They shall come from the east, and be gathered from the west; the north shall give up, and the south shall keep not back.' The sons of God shall be gathered from afar, and his daughters from the ends of the earth."
The statement in its entirety, can be found here. This link notes the statement was released January 15, 1841.
The rest of the article by Fodge, is quite fascinating. He describes the two approaches to perfection as demonstrated by the Mormons in Nauvoo and the Janssonists in Bishop Hill.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
The Merciful
Matthew 5:7 reads, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."
Nephi 12:7 reads, "And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
This teaching is as clear as any teaching can be; yet the practice of it can be difficult.
I won't expound on this one too much, other than to point out a recent and popular talk given in the April 2012 general conference.
The Merciful Obtain Mercy by Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
Nephi 12:7 reads, "And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
This teaching is as clear as any teaching can be; yet the practice of it can be difficult.
I won't expound on this one too much, other than to point out a recent and popular talk given in the April 2012 general conference.
The Merciful Obtain Mercy by Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness
Matthew 5:6 reads, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
Nephi 12:6 reads, "And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost."
To me, hungering and thirsting for an object simply means having an intense desire for that object - really wanting it, whatever 'it' is. So, to hunger and thirst after righteousness, means to have an intense desire to be righteous.
And what does rightous mean? It means being upright or moral - being good, honest or fair.
The difference between the Matthew and Nephi versions is interesting. In Matthew, those who desire righteousness are simply filled. While in the Nephi version, they are filled with the Holy Ghost.
The phrase 'filled with the Holy Ghost' reminded me of D&C 121:45-46, which reads, "Let they bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven."
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever."
Now - to go down this trail a bit more - scepters are symbols of power or authority or dominion. Therefore, it seems that if you desire (really desire) righteousness, that you will be filled with the Holy Ghost - He will be your constant companion; always there to advise and guide you. And as He is always there to advise, guide and comfort you, your power and authority will be derived from righteousness and truth. And since your power and authority are founded on righteousness and truth, there will be no need to compel that which is in your kingdom - all things will gravitate to you naturally.
The ultimate lesson to be learned here is to train your desires on righteousness.
Reference Links
wikipedia entry for scepter
wikipedia entry for was (a type of scepter)
Other Worthwhile Reading Material
He Hath Filled the Hungry With Good Things by Jeffry R. Holland
Nourishing the Spirit by Dallin H. Oaks
Spiritual Nutrients by James E. Faust
Nephi 12:6 reads, "And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost."
To me, hungering and thirsting for an object simply means having an intense desire for that object - really wanting it, whatever 'it' is. So, to hunger and thirst after righteousness, means to have an intense desire to be righteous.
And what does rightous mean? It means being upright or moral - being good, honest or fair.
The difference between the Matthew and Nephi versions is interesting. In Matthew, those who desire righteousness are simply filled. While in the Nephi version, they are filled with the Holy Ghost.
The phrase 'filled with the Holy Ghost' reminded me of D&C 121:45-46, which reads, "Let they bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven."
"The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever."
Now - to go down this trail a bit more - scepters are symbols of power or authority or dominion. Therefore, it seems that if you desire (really desire) righteousness, that you will be filled with the Holy Ghost - He will be your constant companion; always there to advise and guide you. And as He is always there to advise, guide and comfort you, your power and authority will be derived from righteousness and truth. And since your power and authority are founded on righteousness and truth, there will be no need to compel that which is in your kingdom - all things will gravitate to you naturally.
The ultimate lesson to be learned here is to train your desires on righteousness.
Reference Links
wikipedia entry for scepter
wikipedia entry for was (a type of scepter)
Other Worthwhile Reading Material
He Hath Filled the Hungry With Good Things by Jeffry R. Holland
Nourishing the Spirit by Dallin H. Oaks
Spiritual Nutrients by James E. Faust
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Meek
Matthew 5:5 reads, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
3 Nephi 12:5 reads, "And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
It was timely that I read and studied this beatitude today. I need much meekness - especially after a 'conversation' I had last night.
Neal A. Maxwell, who relentlessly focused on discipleship throughout his life, dissected the topic of meekness in a talk he gave just over 30 years ago today: Meekness - A Dimension of True Discipleship.
The talk should be read in its entirety - several times. But I will copy a few poignant excerpts into this post.
"if one needs any further persuasion as to how vital this virtue is, Moroni warned, 'none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart.' (Moroni 7:43-44). If we could but believe, really believe, in the reality of that bold but accurate declaration, you and I would find ourselves focusing on the crucial rather than the marginal tasks in life! We would then cease pursuing the lifestyles which, inevitably and irrevocably, are going out of style!"
...
"God, who has seen billions of spirits pass through His plan of salvation, has told us to be meek in order to enhance our enjoyment of life and our mortal education. Will we be meek and listen to Him? Or will we be like the Gardarene swine, that pathetic example of totus porcus - going whole hog after the trends of the moment?"
...
"Since God desired to have us become like Himself, He first had to make us free to learn and to experience; hence, our humility and teachability are premiere determinants of our progress and our happiness. Agency is essential to perfectibility, and meekness is essential to the wise use of agency - and to our recovery when we have misused our agency."
...
"Meekness ... is more than self-restraint; it is the presentation of self in a posture of kindess and gentleness, reflecting certitude, strength, serenity, and a healthy self-esteem and self-control."
...
"Granted, none of us likes, or should like, to be disregarded, to be silenced, to see a flawed argument prevail, or to endure gratuitous discourtesy. But such circumstances seldom constitute that field of action from which meekness calls upon us to retire gracefully. Unfortunately, we usually do battle, unmeekly, over far less justifiable things, such as 'turf.'
...
"there are some things worth being aroused about, as the Book of Mormon says, such as our families, our homes, our liberties, and our sacred religion. (see Alma 43:45.) But if all our anxiety amounts to is our so-called image, it's an image that needs to be displaced anyway, so that we can receive His image in our countenances. (see Alma 5:14)."
...
"the meek are not awestruck by the many frustrations of life; they are more easily mobilized for eternal causes and less easily immobilized by the disappointments of the day."
"Because they make fewer demands of life, the meek are less easily disappointed. They are less concerned with their entitlements than with their assignments."
"When we are truly meek, we are not concerned with being pushed around, but are grateful to be pushed along. When we are truly meek, we do not engage in shoulder-shrugging acceptance but in shoulder-squaring, in order that we might better bear the burdens of life and of our fellow beings."
"Meekness can also help us in coping with the injustices of life - of which there are quite a few. By the way, will not these experiences with mortal injustices generate within us even more adoration of the perfect justice of God - another of His attributes?"
...
"Meekness means less concern over being taken for granted, and more concern over being taken by the hand. Less concern over revising our own plans for us and more concern about adopting His plans for us is another sure sign of meekness."
...
"There are, brothers and sisters, ever so many human situtations in which the only additional time and recognition and space to be made available must come from the meek who will yield - in order to make time and recognition and space available for others. There could be no magnanimity without humility. Meekness is not displayed humility; it is the real thing. True meekness is never proud of itself, never conscious of itself."
...
"The meek use power and authority properly, no doubt because their gentleness and meekness reflect a love unfeigned, a genuine caring. The influence they exercise flows from a deep concern: 'No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion , by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.' (D&C 121:41)"
...
"even if our being meek results in our being abused in this world, we need to remember that we are being fitted for chores in another and better world - one which will be everlasting, not fleeting."
...
"You will see far more examples of those in desperate need of meekness than you will ever see of the truly meek being abused."
...
"Yes, there are real costs associated with meekness. A significant down payment must be made. But it can come from our sufficient supply of pride. We must also be willing to endure the subsequent erosion of the unbecoming ego. Furthermore, our hearts will be broken in order that they might be rebuilt. As Ezekiel said, one's task is to 'make you a new heart and a new spirit.' (Ezekiel 18:31) There is no way that such dismantling, such erosion, such rebuilding can occur without real cost in pain, pride, adjustments, and even some dismay. Yet since we cannot be 'acceptable before God save [we are] meek and lowly in heart' (Moroni 7:44), the reality of that awesome requirement must be heeded! Better to save one's soul than to save one's face."
As I read this talk, and especially toward the end, the only image in my mind was that of the Savior shrinking not before the bitter cup (see D&C 19:18). He was given to drink and he drank ... and did not shrink. He was meek and did His father's will. He took it.
To play a variation on the phrase, just do it, I offer the phrase, just take it. If you are pressed to go a mile, then go two - just take it. If your coat is taken from you, give also your cloke. If you are cursed, hated, abused, judged wrongly, persecuted, condemned, accused, thought ill of, pushed to your wits end ... just take it. Did not Jesus take all of this? Are we not to be perfect, like Jesus?
3 Nephi 12:5 reads, "And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
It was timely that I read and studied this beatitude today. I need much meekness - especially after a 'conversation' I had last night.
Neal A. Maxwell, who relentlessly focused on discipleship throughout his life, dissected the topic of meekness in a talk he gave just over 30 years ago today: Meekness - A Dimension of True Discipleship.
The talk should be read in its entirety - several times. But I will copy a few poignant excerpts into this post.
"if one needs any further persuasion as to how vital this virtue is, Moroni warned, 'none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart.' (Moroni 7:43-44). If we could but believe, really believe, in the reality of that bold but accurate declaration, you and I would find ourselves focusing on the crucial rather than the marginal tasks in life! We would then cease pursuing the lifestyles which, inevitably and irrevocably, are going out of style!"
...
"God, who has seen billions of spirits pass through His plan of salvation, has told us to be meek in order to enhance our enjoyment of life and our mortal education. Will we be meek and listen to Him? Or will we be like the Gardarene swine, that pathetic example of totus porcus - going whole hog after the trends of the moment?"
...
"Since God desired to have us become like Himself, He first had to make us free to learn and to experience; hence, our humility and teachability are premiere determinants of our progress and our happiness. Agency is essential to perfectibility, and meekness is essential to the wise use of agency - and to our recovery when we have misused our agency."
...
"Meekness ... is more than self-restraint; it is the presentation of self in a posture of kindess and gentleness, reflecting certitude, strength, serenity, and a healthy self-esteem and self-control."
...
"Granted, none of us likes, or should like, to be disregarded, to be silenced, to see a flawed argument prevail, or to endure gratuitous discourtesy. But such circumstances seldom constitute that field of action from which meekness calls upon us to retire gracefully. Unfortunately, we usually do battle, unmeekly, over far less justifiable things, such as 'turf.'
...
"there are some things worth being aroused about, as the Book of Mormon says, such as our families, our homes, our liberties, and our sacred religion. (see Alma 43:45.) But if all our anxiety amounts to is our so-called image, it's an image that needs to be displaced anyway, so that we can receive His image in our countenances. (see Alma 5:14)."
...
"the meek are not awestruck by the many frustrations of life; they are more easily mobilized for eternal causes and less easily immobilized by the disappointments of the day."
"Because they make fewer demands of life, the meek are less easily disappointed. They are less concerned with their entitlements than with their assignments."
"When we are truly meek, we are not concerned with being pushed around, but are grateful to be pushed along. When we are truly meek, we do not engage in shoulder-shrugging acceptance but in shoulder-squaring, in order that we might better bear the burdens of life and of our fellow beings."
"Meekness can also help us in coping with the injustices of life - of which there are quite a few. By the way, will not these experiences with mortal injustices generate within us even more adoration of the perfect justice of God - another of His attributes?"
...
"Meekness means less concern over being taken for granted, and more concern over being taken by the hand. Less concern over revising our own plans for us and more concern about adopting His plans for us is another sure sign of meekness."
...
"There are, brothers and sisters, ever so many human situtations in which the only additional time and recognition and space to be made available must come from the meek who will yield - in order to make time and recognition and space available for others. There could be no magnanimity without humility. Meekness is not displayed humility; it is the real thing. True meekness is never proud of itself, never conscious of itself."
...
"The meek use power and authority properly, no doubt because their gentleness and meekness reflect a love unfeigned, a genuine caring. The influence they exercise flows from a deep concern: 'No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion , by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.' (D&C 121:41)"
...
"even if our being meek results in our being abused in this world, we need to remember that we are being fitted for chores in another and better world - one which will be everlasting, not fleeting."
...
"You will see far more examples of those in desperate need of meekness than you will ever see of the truly meek being abused."
...
"Yes, there are real costs associated with meekness. A significant down payment must be made. But it can come from our sufficient supply of pride. We must also be willing to endure the subsequent erosion of the unbecoming ego. Furthermore, our hearts will be broken in order that they might be rebuilt. As Ezekiel said, one's task is to 'make you a new heart and a new spirit.' (Ezekiel 18:31) There is no way that such dismantling, such erosion, such rebuilding can occur without real cost in pain, pride, adjustments, and even some dismay. Yet since we cannot be 'acceptable before God save [we are] meek and lowly in heart' (Moroni 7:44), the reality of that awesome requirement must be heeded! Better to save one's soul than to save one's face."
As I read this talk, and especially toward the end, the only image in my mind was that of the Savior shrinking not before the bitter cup (see D&C 19:18). He was given to drink and he drank ... and did not shrink. He was meek and did His father's will. He took it.
To play a variation on the phrase, just do it, I offer the phrase, just take it. If you are pressed to go a mile, then go two - just take it. If your coat is taken from you, give also your cloke. If you are cursed, hated, abused, judged wrongly, persecuted, condemned, accused, thought ill of, pushed to your wits end ... just take it. Did not Jesus take all of this? Are we not to be perfect, like Jesus?
Thursday, September 06, 2012
On the Brink of a New Era of Prosperity Enabling Wider Sharing of the Gospel
In talking to my dad last week, our conversation, as often is the case, shifted to politics and the economy. I told him my blunt opinion: that if the current policies and direction of the country are reversed and that if the energy industry is allowed to fully pursue the abundance of resources in America, that virtually all our current national problems would be solved (see recent NYTimes article on this subject. The sentiment of the article is not unique; this opinion has been stated many times in many places.)
He responded by saying something very interesting. He mentioned that my niece recently attended a YSA conference in California and that Elder Ballard talked about how one of the greatest challenges facing the youth today will be dealing with prosperity. Elder Ballard also said that this new prosperity will help further spread the gospel throughout the world.
I found a video of this talk on youtube ... click this link to jump right to the point where he begins to discuss, at length, the topic of prosperity and the gospel.
"America's New Energy Reality" by Daniel Yergin
He responded by saying something very interesting. He mentioned that my niece recently attended a YSA conference in California and that Elder Ballard talked about how one of the greatest challenges facing the youth today will be dealing with prosperity. Elder Ballard also said that this new prosperity will help further spread the gospel throughout the world.
I found a video of this talk on youtube ... click this link to jump right to the point where he begins to discuss, at length, the topic of prosperity and the gospel.
"America's New Energy Reality" by Daniel Yergin
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Those Who Mourn
Matthew 5:4 reads, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
3 Nephi 12:4 reads, "And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."
When I read that beatitude, I tend to think of it as a comforting statement. It seemingly seems to say, "I know you're in pain, but soon, you will find comfort." It is almost a statement of reassurance to the one mourning.
But let's take a step back and look at the underlying premise of that statement.
For one to mourn, one first has to have had a desire or deep love for something. Then, the object on which that love or desire is placed must be removed from the one desiring or loving. Once the separation takes place and a void is left, then comes the mourning.
Is Jesus really saying, that those who are in mourning, they will find comfort in Him? Does Christ fill the void? I think the answer is: yes!
Whatever was lost; whatever void is in our life, Christ can fill it; Christ can comfort us.
If we mourn the death of someone close to us, Christ can comfort us.
If we mourn a lost or wayward child or loved one, Christ can comfort us - He can also rescue the wayward child!
If we "mourn" the loss of a habit we are trying to break, Christ can comfort us - He can fill the void left by the removal of addictions. He can even heal the scars.
If we "mourn" our sins, Christ can and will comfort us.
And not only when we have lost something and are mourning can we find comfort, but we are also to mourn with those that mourn.
Mourning with those that mourn essentially means we have charity for them ... that we place ourself in their shoes and feel their mourning.
We are to mourn.
We are to seek Christ to comfort us.
We are to mourn with others that mourn.
We are to be Christ-like and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.
Related scriptures:
Mosiah 18:8-9
3 Nephi 12:4 reads, "And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."
When I read that beatitude, I tend to think of it as a comforting statement. It seemingly seems to say, "I know you're in pain, but soon, you will find comfort." It is almost a statement of reassurance to the one mourning.
But let's take a step back and look at the underlying premise of that statement.
For one to mourn, one first has to have had a desire or deep love for something. Then, the object on which that love or desire is placed must be removed from the one desiring or loving. Once the separation takes place and a void is left, then comes the mourning.
Is Jesus really saying, that those who are in mourning, they will find comfort in Him? Does Christ fill the void? I think the answer is: yes!
Whatever was lost; whatever void is in our life, Christ can fill it; Christ can comfort us.
If we mourn the death of someone close to us, Christ can comfort us.
If we mourn a lost or wayward child or loved one, Christ can comfort us - He can also rescue the wayward child!
If we "mourn" the loss of a habit we are trying to break, Christ can comfort us - He can fill the void left by the removal of addictions. He can even heal the scars.
If we "mourn" our sins, Christ can and will comfort us.
And not only when we have lost something and are mourning can we find comfort, but we are also to mourn with those that mourn.
Mourning with those that mourn essentially means we have charity for them ... that we place ourself in their shoes and feel their mourning.
We are to mourn.
We are to seek Christ to comfort us.
We are to mourn with others that mourn.
We are to be Christ-like and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.
Related scriptures:
Mosiah 18:8-9
Monday, August 27, 2012
Poor In Spirit
Recently, I've been deeply impressed to minimize the breadth of my scripture study to two things: reading the Book of Mormon and studying the New Testament.
To help with my studying of the New Testament, I decided to delve deep and truly learn and understand what the Savior taught. Too often I have brushed over the words and have not internalized what has been taught.
As I learn and internalize, I will post my notes to this blog.
By the way, the complete Sermon on the Mount is up at biblevideos.org. I watched all four parts this morning and was deeply moved by the production.
Matthew 5:3, Luke 6:20 and 3 Nephi 12:3 all discuss the topic of the "poor in spirit"
Matthew 5:3 reads, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Luke 6:20 reads, "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of heaven."
3 Nephi 12:3 reads, "Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
If one were poor in wealth or money, that would mean that person does not have much money - they experience some degree of poverty in which their needs are not met or their needs are barely met. They do not have much or any money in their account.
Therefore to be poor in spirit would seem to mean that ones spiritual needs are not met or are barely being met. They do not have any or they have very little spiritual assests. Spiritually speaking, they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. In which case, if they "come unto [Jesus]" and follow his teachings, they will inheirit the kingdom of heaven.
In the October 1974 conference, Elder O. Leslie Stone gave a talk on The Beatitudes and had this to say, "What is meant by 'poor in spirit'? Is it not humility, which renders us teachable and eager to learn? They who feel themselves spiritually poor approach God, asking him to supply their needs. They who have faith in him, learn his laws and try diligently to obey him. They thus become eligible for the great blessings he has promised, including salvation, exaltation, and eternal life, which are the greatest of all the gifts of God."
I also like what the NIV Bible footnote as to say about what poor in spirit means, "poor in spirit, In contrast to the spiritually proud and self-sufficient."
To be poor in spirit means to be:
humble
contrite
meek
teachable
dependant on God and Jesus
submissive
Related scriptures:
Mosiah 3:19
Mosiah 4:11
Helaman 3:35
To help with my studying of the New Testament, I decided to delve deep and truly learn and understand what the Savior taught. Too often I have brushed over the words and have not internalized what has been taught.
As I learn and internalize, I will post my notes to this blog.
By the way, the complete Sermon on the Mount is up at biblevideos.org. I watched all four parts this morning and was deeply moved by the production.
Matthew 5:3, Luke 6:20 and 3 Nephi 12:3 all discuss the topic of the "poor in spirit"
Matthew 5:3 reads, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Luke 6:20 reads, "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of heaven."
3 Nephi 12:3 reads, "Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
If one were poor in wealth or money, that would mean that person does not have much money - they experience some degree of poverty in which their needs are not met or their needs are barely met. They do not have much or any money in their account.
Therefore to be poor in spirit would seem to mean that ones spiritual needs are not met or are barely being met. They do not have any or they have very little spiritual assests. Spiritually speaking, they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. In which case, if they "come unto [Jesus]" and follow his teachings, they will inheirit the kingdom of heaven.
In the October 1974 conference, Elder O. Leslie Stone gave a talk on The Beatitudes and had this to say, "What is meant by 'poor in spirit'? Is it not humility, which renders us teachable and eager to learn? They who feel themselves spiritually poor approach God, asking him to supply their needs. They who have faith in him, learn his laws and try diligently to obey him. They thus become eligible for the great blessings he has promised, including salvation, exaltation, and eternal life, which are the greatest of all the gifts of God."
I also like what the NIV Bible footnote as to say about what poor in spirit means, "poor in spirit, In contrast to the spiritually proud and self-sufficient."
To be poor in spirit means to be:
humble
contrite
meek
teachable
dependant on God and Jesus
submissive
Related scriptures:
Mosiah 3:19
Mosiah 4:11
Helaman 3:35
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Engaging, Capacity to Act and Feeling Love for Others
This selection comes from this talk.
6. We need always to make allowance in the kingdom for the fact that this is a divine church full of imperfect people! Indeed, “the net gathereth of every kind.” For instance, some members among us have an unfortunate and exclusionary condescension toward others, while other members have a quiet certitude that causes them to assert their testimonies humbly because the Spirit has witnessed to them; they witness to others to maintain their integrity; they tell others the truth of salvational things “as they were, as they are, and as they shall become.” These two kinds of members read the same scriptures, but one disengages, Jonah-like, almost with delight, while the other will not leave his post in “Nineveh” so long as there are any souls to be saved. Probably the differing response is rooted in the differing capacity to love. The presence of absolute truth or apocalyptic insights in one who lacks the capacity to love is likely to produce some behavioral anomalies. Love leads us into—not away from—Nineveh: into the fray, just as Jesus was involved with mankind, for as G. K. Chesterton observed, He carried his five wounds in the front of the fray.
Some want involvement without giving themselves. Some want the wonders of religion without the work—there is no way. Others want the thrills of theology without the hard doctrines—there is no way! When we are serious about change, it is “not enough to merely leave Egypt: one must also travel to the Promised Land!”
commentary: the above speaks of commitment and engaging others. you either engage in service and the cause of helping others, or you don't. the gospel is about action. and what causes you to act? keep on reading.
7. We must make place for the gospel and the Church more generously in our lives if we are to grow in our capacity to both feel and to act. Education, the media, and what we know from the scriptures have enlarged our circles of concern and feeling. But within each of our circles of concern, there is a much smaller circle of competency, and it needs to grow too.
C. S. Lewis observed, “The more often a man feels without acting, the less often he will be able to act, and in the long run, the less often he will be able to feel.” In countless ways the Church not only enlarges our circles of concern, but it also helps us to carry out the concerns we have. Significantly, Nephi, Paul, and Moroni—cultures and centuries apart—each observed that individuals and whole cultures can, by sin, reach a point where they are past feeling. Ironically, lasciviousness, which exploits sensuous feelings, results finally in a loss of a capacity to feel. In our own society the sad consequences of too much exulting in feeling—of sex divorced from love, and the emptiness of emotion without principle—will wash over us for generations. In the declining society of Moroni’s time, citizens were described as being without order, without mercy, without civilization, and past feeling after they had “lost their love, one towards another. …” (Moro. 9:5.)
commentary: love brings about wanting and desire. love and desire should spur us to action. but when we disassociate love and action, we begin to lose the capacity to feel. when we don't feel, we don't care, when we don't care, we don't act and when we don't act evil triumphs.
8. We must be more quick to realize the enormous implications of the doctrine of immortality and how our knowledge of that reality will set us apart in this era. One can’t help but admire the cosmic heroism of those decent people who persist in goodness in spite of their agnosticism, but we still should see others differently because of this doctrine. Ours is no mere biological brotherhood with life as a brief encounter, but ours is a brotherhood that is fashioned in the realization that relationships will persist a million years from now, and more. Where we do not so relate to each other, we diminish the credibility of our commitment to this doctrine in the eyes of others. For a peculiar people, our friendships should be peculiarly rich.
commentary: to me, the above really hits home and answers the question - why the gospel? if mankind is to become immortal, do we want immortal evil or immortal goodness running the universe?
In summary, we see the world, life, and death differently. This is not a random, mutant planet with people who will be enveloped in nothingness; it is a special place, a planet with a purpose, for, as Isaiah observed, the Lord created it to be inhabited. (See Isa. 45:18.)
We are all stewards, and we ought to approach this planet and its resources as carefully as Adam dressed the Garden. In seeking to establish dominion over the earth, it ought to be a righteous dominion. Still, this earth is not a place we need to be so reluctant to leave. As G. K. Chesterton wrote, Christian courage rests on a love of life that may need to take the form of a willingness to die; it is not the willingness to die that reflects a disdain or disaffection for life.
Without immortality there can be no real and lasting meaning to life. Jesus has not only immunized us against the lasting sting of the grave, but his teachings can also help us not to “look upon death with any degree of terror.” (Alma 27:28.) The same Jesus promised us, through one of his prophets, that if we could live according to his word, we would have, in this life, a knowledge of what is “just and true and render every man his due” (justice and discernment); we would live peaceably with others (peacefulness); we would rear our families without fighting and quarreling, teaching them to love one another (the capacity to love learned in happy homes); and we would care for the needy (a program for poverty). (See Mosiah 4.) In a sense, while others have the slogans, we have the solutions that, if applied, will carry us to “a state of happiness which hath no end.” (Morm. 7:7.)
6. We need always to make allowance in the kingdom for the fact that this is a divine church full of imperfect people! Indeed, “the net gathereth of every kind.” For instance, some members among us have an unfortunate and exclusionary condescension toward others, while other members have a quiet certitude that causes them to assert their testimonies humbly because the Spirit has witnessed to them; they witness to others to maintain their integrity; they tell others the truth of salvational things “as they were, as they are, and as they shall become.” These two kinds of members read the same scriptures, but one disengages, Jonah-like, almost with delight, while the other will not leave his post in “Nineveh” so long as there are any souls to be saved. Probably the differing response is rooted in the differing capacity to love. The presence of absolute truth or apocalyptic insights in one who lacks the capacity to love is likely to produce some behavioral anomalies. Love leads us into—not away from—Nineveh: into the fray, just as Jesus was involved with mankind, for as G. K. Chesterton observed, He carried his five wounds in the front of the fray.
Some want involvement without giving themselves. Some want the wonders of religion without the work—there is no way. Others want the thrills of theology without the hard doctrines—there is no way! When we are serious about change, it is “not enough to merely leave Egypt: one must also travel to the Promised Land!”
commentary: the above speaks of commitment and engaging others. you either engage in service and the cause of helping others, or you don't. the gospel is about action. and what causes you to act? keep on reading.
7. We must make place for the gospel and the Church more generously in our lives if we are to grow in our capacity to both feel and to act. Education, the media, and what we know from the scriptures have enlarged our circles of concern and feeling. But within each of our circles of concern, there is a much smaller circle of competency, and it needs to grow too.
C. S. Lewis observed, “The more often a man feels without acting, the less often he will be able to act, and in the long run, the less often he will be able to feel.” In countless ways the Church not only enlarges our circles of concern, but it also helps us to carry out the concerns we have. Significantly, Nephi, Paul, and Moroni—cultures and centuries apart—each observed that individuals and whole cultures can, by sin, reach a point where they are past feeling. Ironically, lasciviousness, which exploits sensuous feelings, results finally in a loss of a capacity to feel. In our own society the sad consequences of too much exulting in feeling—of sex divorced from love, and the emptiness of emotion without principle—will wash over us for generations. In the declining society of Moroni’s time, citizens were described as being without order, without mercy, without civilization, and past feeling after they had “lost their love, one towards another. …” (Moro. 9:5.)
commentary: love brings about wanting and desire. love and desire should spur us to action. but when we disassociate love and action, we begin to lose the capacity to feel. when we don't feel, we don't care, when we don't care, we don't act and when we don't act evil triumphs.
8. We must be more quick to realize the enormous implications of the doctrine of immortality and how our knowledge of that reality will set us apart in this era. One can’t help but admire the cosmic heroism of those decent people who persist in goodness in spite of their agnosticism, but we still should see others differently because of this doctrine. Ours is no mere biological brotherhood with life as a brief encounter, but ours is a brotherhood that is fashioned in the realization that relationships will persist a million years from now, and more. Where we do not so relate to each other, we diminish the credibility of our commitment to this doctrine in the eyes of others. For a peculiar people, our friendships should be peculiarly rich.
commentary: to me, the above really hits home and answers the question - why the gospel? if mankind is to become immortal, do we want immortal evil or immortal goodness running the universe?
In summary, we see the world, life, and death differently. This is not a random, mutant planet with people who will be enveloped in nothingness; it is a special place, a planet with a purpose, for, as Isaiah observed, the Lord created it to be inhabited. (See Isa. 45:18.)
We are all stewards, and we ought to approach this planet and its resources as carefully as Adam dressed the Garden. In seeking to establish dominion over the earth, it ought to be a righteous dominion. Still, this earth is not a place we need to be so reluctant to leave. As G. K. Chesterton wrote, Christian courage rests on a love of life that may need to take the form of a willingness to die; it is not the willingness to die that reflects a disdain or disaffection for life.
Without immortality there can be no real and lasting meaning to life. Jesus has not only immunized us against the lasting sting of the grave, but his teachings can also help us not to “look upon death with any degree of terror.” (Alma 27:28.) The same Jesus promised us, through one of his prophets, that if we could live according to his word, we would have, in this life, a knowledge of what is “just and true and render every man his due” (justice and discernment); we would live peaceably with others (peacefulness); we would rear our families without fighting and quarreling, teaching them to love one another (the capacity to love learned in happy homes); and we would care for the needy (a program for poverty). (See Mosiah 4.) In a sense, while others have the slogans, we have the solutions that, if applied, will carry us to “a state of happiness which hath no end.” (Morm. 7:7.)
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
"A Cup of Maxwell" Series
I can't remember when it was - maybe when I was a recently returned full-time missionary - but I had this desire to read and study all the talks by Neal A. Maxwell. The way he articulates the gospel clicks with me can causes introspection.
And so I decided to start a study series call A Cup of Maxwell in which as I read all his talks, I will copy some of the most thought and action provoking passages.
Now, all his talks deserve to be read in their entirety, and therefore, I invite the reader to click on this link or this link.
Let me kick off this series from one of his first talks ... one that I read today.
Referring to the gosple, he closed this talk with: With such a great message, can we afford not to be articulate in our homes and wherever we are? Passivity and inarticulateness about this “marvelous work and a wonder” can diminish the faith of others, for as Austin Farrer observed, “Though argument does not create belief, the lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced, but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it nourishes a climate in which belief may flourish.”
This is the main reason to read his talks: he articulates the "why" of the gospel so well ... and in the above quote, he articulates why we need to be able to articulate the why so well.
And so I decided to start a study series call A Cup of Maxwell in which as I read all his talks, I will copy some of the most thought and action provoking passages.
Now, all his talks deserve to be read in their entirety, and therefore, I invite the reader to click on this link or this link.
Let me kick off this series from one of his first talks ... one that I read today.
Referring to the gosple, he closed this talk with: With such a great message, can we afford not to be articulate in our homes and wherever we are? Passivity and inarticulateness about this “marvelous work and a wonder” can diminish the faith of others, for as Austin Farrer observed, “Though argument does not create belief, the lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced, but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it nourishes a climate in which belief may flourish.”
This is the main reason to read his talks: he articulates the "why" of the gospel so well ... and in the above quote, he articulates why we need to be able to articulate the why so well.
Friday, July 06, 2012
LDS Study Notebook and Ideas for Use
Jill and I upgraded our cell phones this week. She went from a text phone to a smart phone and I upgraded to a bigger smart phone. So, I've been playing w/ my new phone for the last few days.
Yesterday, I started tinkering w/ the Gospel Library app. I set it up to synch w/ my LDS account. As I was playing around w/ it to see how it works, an idea came to me: why not put all my scripture highlights into my virtual LDS "Study Notebook"? I could also put a link, at the beginning of each chapter, to the respective Book of Mormon Inspection post (from my other blog). So, as I read the Book of Mormon yesterday, I copied the highlighted parts from my physical copy to my smart phone and then synched it w/ my virtual "Study Notebook". Unfortunately, a lot of the LDS web content was down yesterday - they must have had an outage or were performing some upgrades (more likely the former).
So, this morning I logged on to my LDS account, went to my "Study Notebook" and checked to see if my annotations were synched - they were.
Then another idea came to me: when our kids are adults or maybe when they enter seminary, I could share my virtual "Study Notebook" w/ them so they could see all the highlighted parts of my set of scriptures, along w/ the annotations I made. Together w/ this and all my other blogs, they would have a spring board for their own study of the scriptures.
Yesterday, I started tinkering w/ the Gospel Library app. I set it up to synch w/ my LDS account. As I was playing around w/ it to see how it works, an idea came to me: why not put all my scripture highlights into my virtual LDS "Study Notebook"? I could also put a link, at the beginning of each chapter, to the respective Book of Mormon Inspection post (from my other blog). So, as I read the Book of Mormon yesterday, I copied the highlighted parts from my physical copy to my smart phone and then synched it w/ my virtual "Study Notebook". Unfortunately, a lot of the LDS web content was down yesterday - they must have had an outage or were performing some upgrades (more likely the former).
So, this morning I logged on to my LDS account, went to my "Study Notebook" and checked to see if my annotations were synched - they were.
Then another idea came to me: when our kids are adults or maybe when they enter seminary, I could share my virtual "Study Notebook" w/ them so they could see all the highlighted parts of my set of scriptures, along w/ the annotations I made. Together w/ this and all my other blogs, they would have a spring board for their own study of the scriptures.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
June 3 Fast & Testimony Meeting - Wayward Children
Today's meeting was unusual and wonderful. It all started when everyone began to realize that there was no bread for the sacrament. Usually, someone will bring an extra loaf as backup, but today, even the backup plan failed. So after the sacrament song, the 1st counselor got up and cracked a joke about how someone told him he needs to spice up the meeting more. He announced that we'd proceed with the testimonies and then have the last 10 minutes for administration of the sacrament.
He then proceeded to bear his testimony about what he was fasting for that day - a wayward child. It was a tender testimony and you could feel the anguish of his soul. His testimony set the theme of the meeting - everyone seemed to make a remark about a wayward child.
As is usually the case when my heart beats extremely rapidly, I felt prompted to get up and bear my testimony. Thoughts of my parents fasting and praying for my older brother entered my heart and I felt I should share my insights into the topic of wayward children.
As I bore my testimony, I was reminded of those quotes by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and President Packer. I know those quotes had brought much peace and comfort to my parents. I talked a bit about those quotes and the struggle my parents have had with my older brother. Being the youngest in the family, I had a unique insight to their struggle. Every prayer and every fast in our home always included a plea for my older brother. I then bore my testimony of the sealing power of the Priesthood and why temple marriage is so important.
Below are the quotes I referred to above. You can find all of the quotes in the September 2002 Ensign.
“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught a more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God” (Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110).
Brigham Young said, “Let the father and mother, who are members of this Church and Kingdom, take a righteous course, and strive with all their might never to do a wrong, but to do good all their lives; if they have one child or one hundred children, if they conduct themselves towards them as they should, binding them to the Lord by their faith and prayers, I care not where those children go, they are bound up to their parents by an everlasting tie, and no power of earth or hell can separate them from their parents in eternity; they will return again to the fountain from whence they sprang” (quoted in Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:90–91).
Lorenzo Snow said, “If you succeed in passing through these trials and afflictions and receive a resurrection, you will, by the power of the Priesthood, work and labor, as the Son of God has, until you get all your sons and daughters in the path of exaltation and glory. This is just as sure as that the sun rose this morning over yonder mountains. Therefore, mourn not because all your sons and daughters do not follow in the path that you have marked out to them, or give heed to your counsels. Inasmuch as we succeed in securing eternal glory, and stand as saviors, and as kings and priests to our God, we will save our posterity” (in Collected Discourses, comp. Brian H. Stuy, 5 vols. [1987–92], 3:364).
President Packer said, “The measure of our success as parents … will not rest solely on how our children turn out. That judgment would be just only if we could raise our families in a perfectly moral environment, and that now is not possible.
“It is not uncommon for responsible parents to lose one of their children, for a time, to influences over which they have no control. They agonize over rebellious sons or daughters. They are puzzled over why they are so helpless when they have tried so hard to do what they should.
“It is my conviction that those wicked influences one day will be overruled. …
“We cannot overemphasize the value of temple marriage, the binding ties of the sealing ordinance, and the standards of worthiness required of them. When parents keep the covenants they have made at the altar of the temple, their children will be forever bound to them” (“Our Moral Environment,” Ensign, May 1992, 68).
The last testimony of the meeting was from one of the members of the Stake Presdidency who lives in our ward. He read a scripture from the Book of Mormon in the context of wayward children.
In 2 Nephi 10:2, it reads, "For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer."
It was a very emotional meeting and everyone's hearts were tender and they bore their testimonies. It will be a testimony meeting I will not forget.
He then proceeded to bear his testimony about what he was fasting for that day - a wayward child. It was a tender testimony and you could feel the anguish of his soul. His testimony set the theme of the meeting - everyone seemed to make a remark about a wayward child.
As is usually the case when my heart beats extremely rapidly, I felt prompted to get up and bear my testimony. Thoughts of my parents fasting and praying for my older brother entered my heart and I felt I should share my insights into the topic of wayward children.
As I bore my testimony, I was reminded of those quotes by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and President Packer. I know those quotes had brought much peace and comfort to my parents. I talked a bit about those quotes and the struggle my parents have had with my older brother. Being the youngest in the family, I had a unique insight to their struggle. Every prayer and every fast in our home always included a plea for my older brother. I then bore my testimony of the sealing power of the Priesthood and why temple marriage is so important.
Below are the quotes I referred to above. You can find all of the quotes in the September 2002 Ensign.
“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught a more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God” (Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110).
Brigham Young said, “Let the father and mother, who are members of this Church and Kingdom, take a righteous course, and strive with all their might never to do a wrong, but to do good all their lives; if they have one child or one hundred children, if they conduct themselves towards them as they should, binding them to the Lord by their faith and prayers, I care not where those children go, they are bound up to their parents by an everlasting tie, and no power of earth or hell can separate them from their parents in eternity; they will return again to the fountain from whence they sprang” (quoted in Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:90–91).
Lorenzo Snow said, “If you succeed in passing through these trials and afflictions and receive a resurrection, you will, by the power of the Priesthood, work and labor, as the Son of God has, until you get all your sons and daughters in the path of exaltation and glory. This is just as sure as that the sun rose this morning over yonder mountains. Therefore, mourn not because all your sons and daughters do not follow in the path that you have marked out to them, or give heed to your counsels. Inasmuch as we succeed in securing eternal glory, and stand as saviors, and as kings and priests to our God, we will save our posterity” (in Collected Discourses, comp. Brian H. Stuy, 5 vols. [1987–92], 3:364).
President Packer said, “The measure of our success as parents … will not rest solely on how our children turn out. That judgment would be just only if we could raise our families in a perfectly moral environment, and that now is not possible.
“It is not uncommon for responsible parents to lose one of their children, for a time, to influences over which they have no control. They agonize over rebellious sons or daughters. They are puzzled over why they are so helpless when they have tried so hard to do what they should.
“It is my conviction that those wicked influences one day will be overruled. …
“We cannot overemphasize the value of temple marriage, the binding ties of the sealing ordinance, and the standards of worthiness required of them. When parents keep the covenants they have made at the altar of the temple, their children will be forever bound to them” (“Our Moral Environment,” Ensign, May 1992, 68).
The last testimony of the meeting was from one of the members of the Stake Presdidency who lives in our ward. He read a scripture from the Book of Mormon in the context of wayward children.
In 2 Nephi 10:2, it reads, "For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer."
It was a very emotional meeting and everyone's hearts were tender and they bore their testimonies. It will be a testimony meeting I will not forget.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Recap of April 2012 Conference
My wife and I were talking about whether we should force the kids to watch GC all day Saturday or not. My point is that if you watch everything at once, you just don't get everything. So we decided not to sit through all 10 hours at once. Rather, we are going to watch one or two talks each Sunday as a family and then discuss the talk. We did watch conference on Sunday though.
One other thought - I think I've successfully stayed awake through an entire GC once or twice in my life. It is nearly impossible for me to sit in my living room and listen to talk after talk after talk and stay awake and alert. I love that I can listen to or watch and read along the weeks after GC is over. I get so much more out of the talks this way.
So BIG KUDOS to the Church IT guys!! If tithing money is spent on this technology, then I think it is very well-spent!
President Thomas S. Monson - As We Gather Once Again
why we meet: strengthen, encouragement, comfort, build faith, to learn
if changes need to be made in your life, may you find the courage to do so
oppose evil whereever it is found
be instructed and be inspired
be filled with the Lord's spirit
President Boyd K. Packer - And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
the ultimate end of all activity in the Church is to see husband and wife with their family happy at home.
too often, someone comes to me and says, "President Packer, wouldn't it be nice if ..." I usually stop them and say, "No" because I suspect what follows will be a new activity or program that is going to add the burden of time or financial means on the family."
personal application: what can i do, as scout leader, to promote family time?
the goal of scouts, according to this talk, would be to help fathers spend meaningful time with their sons - to provide opportunities to let fathers and sons learn and grow together.
if scouting becomes a burden, then it would seems it has failed the mission of "supporting the family"
if we get all the eagles scouts in the world, but no real fathers, we've accomplished nothing.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks - Sacrifice
Mormon Pioneers example of sacrifices
Husband left wife and family to serve a mission
Symbols of our Christian faith (Mormons) is our daily sacrifice
Home teaching and visiting teaching
full-time missionaries (time spent to save money, actual time serving, family sacrifices time they are not with their child)
converts' sacrifices: loss of family temple service: time spent to save money to be sealed with family in temple
President Henry B. Eyring - Mountains to Climb
there are giant opportunies (challenges) to be met.
give me this mountain; give me these challenges and adversities he prayed for a challenge
1) god heard his prayer and answered it
2) he learned that a great blessing could come from adversity
repent have faith that the way through trials is the balm of gilead
foundation for faith = personal integrity (consistently choosing the right) curing that faith takes time and patience and experience
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - The Laborers in the Vineyard
do not covet, do not pout or tear others down; do not demean others to improve yourself
do not throw away your good fortune in protest of the perceived injustice - accept the good fortune (mercy from God) and rejoice in the mercy He gives to "late" repenters.
don't dwell on old issues or grievences (of self, of neighbor or even the Church)
simply accept the Atonement of Christ, don't dwell on anything else, enjoy the fellowship of the labor
accept mercy and be merciful
personal thoughts: the key premise in this parable, in my mind, is that there is a shortage of work for the laborers. Laborers are standing around, waiting for work. The need the work or else they don't feed their families. Anything to do for work would be great - and it doesn't matter when they get the work - they will take it first thing in the morning and work all day or take the job in the late afternoon and get something rather than nothing. so how does this apply to our life today? perhaps it can be said there is a shortage of "good fortune" in the world - just like there was a shortage of jobs to be done in the parable. so, if someone is blessed with abundance from the time they were born until the time they die, that person should be grateful and thank God for what they've been blessed with. That person should also learn not to be envious when good fortune comes to those who receive it later in life. If they are envious of another's good fortune, despite having good fortune their entire life, they choose to experience ill feelings toward another person who has received good fortune! As Elder Holland puts it, they drink a quart of pickle juice every time someone else receives good fortune, rather than pondering their own good fortune.
another thought: similarly to what I stated above, we can envision a person who was "born in the Church", who was faithful all his life - who went to Church, Boy Scouts, service projects, received the Priesthood - was a Deacon, Teacher, Priest, became an Elder; served a difficult mission - maybe not even baptizing a single convert; returned honorably, married in the temple; started family and continued serving faithfully day after day - week after week for his whole life.
Meanwhile, his younger brother chose the opposite all his days, indulged in all his desires rather than being obedient and serving others. He ate, drank and was merry all the days of his life. Then, when he reached the end of his rope, he found he was not happy. He decided to clean up his life - it was a difficult process back into the fold.
Now they both die and are both granted eternal life - the reward of living in the presence of God for eternity. Does the faithful brother act like the other son who is not the prodigal son? Does he refuse eternal life because his "unfaithful" brother receives it? Or does he act like the father and rejoice in the mercy of Christ?
Elder Robert D. Hales - Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple, and the Sacrifice in Service
prepare to worthily take the sacrament before coming to sacrament meeting; leave the daily work and recreation behind; do not think of worldly thoughts or concerns. then ponder the Atonement; ponder the sacrifice of Christ
sing the sacrament hymn; listen to the sacrament prayers; partake of the emblems
seek forgiveness of sins and shortcomings of previous week; make specific commitments for the coming week.
search from the scriptures
live the gospel standards
obtain a temple recommend
gain a testimony of God, Christ, the Holy Ghost, the Atonement, Joseph Smith, the Restoration
sustain leaders; be kind, stand as a witness of Christ, attend Church meetings, honor covenants, be a good parent, be virtuous
assist the youth to prepare for lifelong service
learn to work; live within your means; avoid debt, save money now so that we can give full-time service later in our lives; to be able to lift others.
Elder Quentin L. Cook - In Tune with the Music of Faith
a great divide between those who love, worship and feel accountable to God and those who do not
destroyers of faith: pride, vanity & foolishness
love the Lord; love His gospel; continually try to live and share His message - especially with your families.
be in harmony with the promptings of the Spirit
observe religion in your home
strive to be a disciple of Christ
with regard to his paragraph that starts out "We recognize how busy you are" From that paragraph, I hear "if you are serving; don't feel guilty for not serving enough"
don't judge others
rescue those who have "fallen away"
avoid being judgemental about conduct that is foolish or unwise, but is not sinful
be an example in action, not just words (as a parent to your children)
read and gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon
Elder Richard G. Scott - How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life
revelation = crisp, clear and essential communication from the Holy Ghost
inspiration = series of promptings that guide us step by step toward a worthy goal
we are supposed to ask the Lord to receive revelation
fast, pray for finding scriptures that will be helpful with the answer for the question, read those scriptures, ponder, pray, write down what the Lord would have you do, pray again
don't let daily activities distract us from the spirit
Elder David A. Bednar - The Powers of Heaven
distinguishing feature of the church is priesthood (the authority of god delegated to man on earth to act in all things for the salvation of mankind)
be active in priesthood service - promote the cause of righteousness in the earth
by not doing your duties, you break your priesthood covenant
be righteous; faithful; obedient; diligent; worthy; willing to serve
lift souls, teach, testify, bless, council, advance the work of salvation
take the lead in scripture study, family prayer, fhe - be a strong leader - preside - protect
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - The Why of Priesthood Service
the why of priesthood service is to motivate others; to awaken their spirit; to inspire action
be enthusiastic about the gospel as you teach others.
let the fire of your testimony bring light and warmth and joy to the hearts of those you teach
priesthood service is to provide a vision of what it means to establish the kingdom of god on earth
building the kingdom of god on earth means building personal testimonies and strengthening families
priesthood service helps us prioritize between good, better, best - it helps us stay focused on the most important things
the most important things are: increase our love for god and our fellowmen, invigorate marriages, strengthen families and build the kingdom of god on earth
how we specifically decide on our priorities: study the scriptures, heed the prophets, hold serious and dedicated prayer
act before being acted upon; the value of an idea is in using it
President Henry B. Eyring - Families Under Covenant
four things you can do as a priesthood father to lift and lead your family home again to heaven
1. gain & keep a sure witness that the keys of the priesthood are with us & held by the president of the church - pray for that every day.
2. love your wife
3. enlist the entire family to love each other
4. discipline when needed - d&c 121:41-44
President Thomas S. Monson - Willing and Worthy to Serve
various definitions of priesthood ...
1. joseph smith - priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with god from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years.
2. wilford woodruff - the holy priesthood is the channel through which god communicates and deals with man upon the earth; and the heavenly messengers that have visited the earth to communicate with man are men who held and honored the priesthood while in the flesh; and everythign that god has caused to be done for the salvation of man, from the coming of man upon the earth to the redemption of the world, has been and will be by virtue of the everlasting priesthood.
3. joseph f. smith - the priesthood is the power of god delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family, in the name of the father and the son and the holy ghost, and act legitimately; not assuming that authority, nor borrowing it from generations that are dead and gone, but authority that has been given in this day in which we live by ministering angels and spirits from above, direct from the presense of almighty god.
4. john taylor - it is the governmant of god, whether on the earth or in the heavens, for it is by that power, agency, or principle that all things are governed on the earth and in the heavens, and by that power that all things are upheald and sustained. it governs all things - it directs all things - it sustains all things - and has to do with all things that god and truth are associated with.
stories of examples of priesthood service - soldier blessing injured soldier on beach; saving his life. writing letters of encouragement to servicemen
there are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspirt and souls to save
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - The Merciful Obtain Mercy
required to forgive all men - including ourselves
stop hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges or wanting to cause harm
love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
be kind
forgive
talk peacefully with others
do good unto all men
people will be people; learn to rise above the fray, forgive and forget. this talk had a very similar feel as elder holland's talk
Elder Russell M. Nelson - Thanks Be to God
gives thanks to god
be mindful of the various gifts from god ...
the world, the universe, his son jesus christ, our bodies, the resurrection, spiritual gifts, gospel gifts
Elder D. Todd Christofferson - The Doctrine of Christ
believe in christ; be baptized
President Thomas S. Monson - The Race of Life
personal thoughts: how often do you ask yourself: if you know you are going to die tomorrow ... in a week ... in a month ... in a year; how does that change your current priorities?
endure to the end
we have the power to (and must) think, reason and achieve
pray; listen to the holy ghost, search the scriptures; heed the prophets
Elder L. Tom Perry - The Power of Deliverance
both the people of limhi and the people of alma were delivered
both suffered
limhi's people chose to fight; alma's people chose to pray
what do you need to be delivered from?
which way is your "door" facing? to the world or to the alter of god?
Elder M. Russell Ballard - That the Lost May be Found
our liahona/gps is the holy ghost - the promptings of the holy ghost
new york times: "the share of children born to unmarried women has crossed a threshold: more than half of births to american women under 30 occur outside of marriage"
the most important cause in our lifetime is our family
prioritize - put everything you do outside the home in subjection to and in support of what happens inside your home.
organize - your personal life to provide time for prayer, scripture study and family activities
teach your childen to work and give them responsibilities
marriage first, then family
read family proclamation often, understand it, follow it.
Elder Neil L. Andersen - What Thinks Christ of Me?
pay attention to who and what christ labels in the scriptures ... see 3rd paragraph in this talk
love christ, trust christ, believe christ, follow christ and you will feel his love and approval
President Thomas S. Monson - As We Close This Conference
pray always
fill your homes with love and the spirit of the lord
love your family
settle disagreements
do god's will, serve him, serve others
ponder the words you've heard from this conference
Monday, May 14, 2012
Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman
I have to admit, my testimony has gone through several phases since that first reading of the book. I started reading it for a second time in January of 2012 - this time reading it more in depth and considering the words of Bushman.
Below, I've written about a few things that have stuck out to me, that I consider significant for my own testimony. In some cases, I expound a bit more. For other parts, I just state things as they are.
The First Vision
Joseph received the "First Vision" in the early part of 1820. There are many accounts of the vision. Bushman talks of two main accounts; the one in 1832 and the one in 1838.
It is interesting to note, that we never really know if Joseph told his parents and family of the "First Vision". As Bushman notes in the book, many of the early converts were drawn to the religion because of the restoration gifts of God and the idea of gathering Zion before the coming of Christ. The "First Vision" did not play into their conversion, unlike today's introduction of the Church to investigators.
In the 1832 account, the emphasis was on receiving forgiveness of sins. The "pillar of light" was present and it was "the Lord" who he saw and spoke with.
In 1835 and subsequent versions, more details emerged - the dark power that kept him from speaking; that he heard sounds of walking. In these other versions, he saw two personages and they both spoke to him. In the 1838 version, he made it clear the two personages were God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. In 1835 and 1838 versions, emphasis was placed on the lack of truth in other churches.
Another thing that Bushman notes about the First Vision as well as other visions, is that Joseph was very slow to say anything about them to other people. In fact, Moroni had to command him to tell his father about his visit from Moroni. The vision in the Kirtland temple is another example ... see below for more info on this. In a podcast, Bushman thinks that perhaps the reason Joseph was slow to share these experiences was because of the culture. There were many people proclaiming visions, but that they may have been seen as "kooks" and Joseph did not want to be seen as in the same vein as these people.
I've often thought about this. We are taught that "sacred experiences" are indeed sacred and should usually not be shared with others. It's the whole "pearls before the swine" idea. But we, as a Church today, are OK with sharing the First Vision and other visions of the prophet. We are comfortable with Lehi's and Nephi's vision; with Alma's visitation from an angel; with Enos' experience; with Paul's conversion and on and on and on. But why are we reluctant to speak of experiences that are happening today - right now? Why are we taught not to share those experiences? Would we quickly discount others' spiritual experiences? Would we react the same way the Methodist minister did when Joseph told him? Is that why we don't share them? If that is the case, then it's the lack of faith on the hearer's part, while, perhaps, others who would hear it would be edified.
The Book of Mormon
The traditional story of how the Book of Mormon was translated is Joseph putting on the breastplate and Urim and Thummim, casting his gaze onto the plates and seeing the reformed Egyptian turn into English words. Furthermore, it would seem that Joseph just knew to "put on" the breastplate and spectacles and begin the translation - but this was not so. As Bushman states on page 63, "Developing a method took time."
The whole process is not really known. But we do know that he copied characters; had them sent to scholars to translate and to verify. There is also this passage from Bushman: "Neither Joseph nor Oliver explained how translation worked, but Joseph did not pretend to look at the 'reformed Egyptian' words, the language on the plates, according to the book's own description. The plates lay covered on the table, while Joseph's head was in a hat looking at the seerstone which by this time had replaced the interpreters. The varying explanations of the perplexing process fall roughly into two categories: composition and transcription. The first holds that Joseph was the author of the book. He composed it out of knowledge and imaginings collected in his own mind, perhaps aided by inspiration. He had stuffed his head with ideas for sermons, Christian doctrine, biblical language, multiple characters, stories of adventure, social criticism, theories of Indian origins, ideas about Mesoamerican civilization, and many other matters. During translation, he composed it all into a narrative dictated over the space of three months in Harmony and Fayette."
Bushman describes the 'composition' method, but I'm not going to quote that here. I will quote what he wrote about 'transcription.'
"The transcription theory has Joseph Smith 'seeing' the Book of Mormon text in the seerstone or the Urim and Thummim. He saw the words in the stone as he had seen lost objects or treasure and dictated them to his secretary. The eyewitnesses who described translation, Joseph Knight, Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer, who was in the house during the last weeks of translation, understood translation as transcription. Referring to the seerstone as a Urim and Thummim, Knight said: 'Now the way he translated was he put the urim and thummim into his hat and Darkned his Eyes then he would take a sentance and it would apper in Brite Roman Letters. Then he would tell the writer and he would write it. Then that would go away the next sentance would Come and so on.'"
"Joseph himself said almost nothing about his method but implied transcription when he said that 'the Lord had prepared spectacles for to read the Book.' Close scrutiny of the original manuscript (by a believing scholar) seems to support transcription. Judging from the way Cowdery wrote down the words, Joseph saw twenty to thirty words at a time, dictated them, and then waited for the next twenty to appear. Difficult names (Zenoch, Amalickiah) were spelled out. By any measure, transcription was a miraculous process, calling for a huge leap of faith to believe, yet, paradoxically, it is more in harmony with the young Joseph of the historical record than is composition. Transcription theory gives us a Joseph with a miraculous gift that evolved naturally out of his earlier treasure-seeking. The boy who gazed into stones and saw treasure grew up to become a translator who looked into a stone and saw words."
A word about the seerstone (or seer stone as found on lds.org). The image of Joseph putting his head into his hat to see his seerstone is not a common image in the Church. I've never even seen an image of Joseph using the Urim & Thummim and breastplate. Rather, the image that does come to mind is Joseph gazing on the plates (sans seerstone or U&T) while Oliver sits across the table writing. But the fact that a stone Joseph found in 1822 was being used in the translation of the Book of Mormon is an interesting one. Bushman talks about this in his book - the theory is that Joseph learned of the Gospel in the context of the treasure and magic culture that existed at that time.
Comparing my childhood/teenage view of the translation of the Book of Mormon with this new (to me), more accurate description of the translation is interesting. In my mind, the two views are vastly different. My childhood view is simple and very clean. The reality view is more enticing. But my fundamental question is this: why, as a child, did I have to be taught the clean version of the story? If anything, it would have been far easier to believe as a child, the story of Joseph finding a stone while digging a well and then using that stone to translate the Book of Mormon. Perhaps the "clean" version is told so as not to distract the learner with the idea that there are seerstones just laying around the earth - rather the focus should be on the work of God. That's just a thought. But to finish that thought - why would the Church jump to that conclusion? Is it because others found a seerstone too? And to prevent others from from finding a using a seerstone (a true one or a false one)? I don't know. But the fact remains - the version I was taught was not the whole truth and this is not an isolated example - it's a pattern.D&C 110 is an important section in the scriptures and Church History. As a seminary student, I was taught (or at least I viewed it as being taught) that during the dedication of the Kirtland temple, Joseph and Oliver saw Jesus Christ "standing on the breast work of the pulpit before them, and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber: his eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was like the pure snow, his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun, and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the Voice of Jehovah, saying I am the first and the last, I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain. I am your Advocate with the Father." They also saw Moses, Elias and Elijah, who in turn delivered keys to Joseph and Oliver. In my mind, I saw them stepping behind a veil, while the rest of the congregation waited for them. After being visited, they return to the congregation to tell them the marvelous experience ... but they don't.
Bushman informs us the "vision was not included in editions of the Doctrine and Covenants published during Joseph's lifetime, and no manuscript copies exist save Warren Cowdery's and the one Willard Richards copied into Joseph's history for the Church newspaper in 1843. Joseph never mentioned the event in his other writings. There is no evidence he told the Kirtland Saints."
"The episode behind the veil is mysteriously suspended at the end of the diary without comment or explanation, as if Joseph was stilled by the event." Bushman goes on to say that the formal revelations the Saints were used to receiving from Joseph seem to stop and that he was receiving "incommunicable revelations" the Saints "could not bear."
This was something new to me. Again, I viewed this revelation of Joseph and Oliver seeing Christ in the Kirtland temple as something grand - a bulwark of doctrine for the Saints. But they never knew this vision happened until seven years later. In fact, the sole purpose of building the temple was so that the Saints could receive their endowment - to see and know Christ personally. Meetings occurred in the temple from January to April - many outpourings of the Spirit occurred, but not as many saw the face of God as was hoped. Bushman writes, "Not many saw the face of God or the Savior, but enough had been given to say that the endowment was now theirs. As one brother wrote later, 'Some brethren expressed themselves as being disappointed at not receiving more and greater manifestations of the power of God, but for our part, we had found the pearl of great price, and our soul was happy and contented, and we rejoiced in the Lord.' Joseph told the quorums 'that I had now completed the organization of the church and we had passed through all the necessary ceremonies, that I had given them all the instruction they needed.' Now they needed to 'build up the kingdom of God." (pp. 318-19). And then, when Joseph and Oliver thought the endowment was essentially over, they see the greatest of all the visions - Jesus Christ ... and then they don't say a word. Maybe, as Bushman alludes, more was revealed than the Saints were ready for and this is why they didn't say anything at the time.
Zion
I don't have anything specific to say about Zion. I've always held the same belief and opinion about Zion and the book just reaffirmed my opinion. Namely - that the Saints kept having to give up on it over and over again. Almost from the start of the church, they had a dream of Zion. And whenever they tried to establish it, they failed. All the knowledge that was given to the Saints has stayed with us. But perhaps the single most important thing to them was establishing Zion - and that was the one thing they could not get and keep. Now, Zion is not so much a central place for the Saints to live in, rather it's a watered-down Region-Stake-Ward concept. It's palatable, but not necessarily satisfying.
Word of Wisdom
Just some minor observations abot the WoW as I read the book.
The WoW was given in February 1833. I've always been taught that the WoW at the time it was give was just that - a word for the wise, but not necessarily a commandment. It was later codified by the Saints living in Utah, along with the interpretations of what "hot drinks" meant.
In first few months of 1838, Oliver was accused of "various infractions of the Word of Wisdom ... Cowdery admitted to drinking tea three times a day for his health, and the Whitmers contended tea and coffee were not covered by the revelation." It would seem the WoW had some force back then.
Another passage from when Joseph was in Nauvoo: "Through the late fall and winter of 1843 and 1844, Joseph and Emma's relationship broke down only once. During Sunday dinner on November 5, Joseph became ill, rushed to the door, and vomited so violently that he dislocated his jaw. 'Every symptom of poison,' Richards noted in Joseph's diary. That night at the prayer meeting, Richards wrote in code that Joseph and Emma did not dress in the usual special clothing, a sign they were too much at odds to participate. The next day, Richards wrote that Joseph was 'busy with domestic concerns.' Years later, in the anti-Emma atmosphere of Utah, Brigham Young spoke of a meeting where Joseph accused his wife of slipping poison into his coffee. Brigham interpreted Emma's refusal to answer as an admission of guilt." Bushman later goes on to say the accusation was "unfounded" and that Joseph was prone to violent vomiting and that he had dislocated his jaw before. But in all this, what caught my attention was Joseph drinking coffee in 1843.
At time of his leg operation, he would not drink a strong drink. But later, there were numerous times when he drank wine. In fact, during the Nauvoo chapters of the book, I was surprised at how many parties and social dinners they had at the mansion. Wine seemed to be served often at these parties. Perhaps there was a fundamental difference, in peoples' minds, between strong drink and mere wine.
Polygamy
This seems like such a burned-over topic in Church History. But the key thing that I learned from Bushman's book was that the original teaching of "Celestial" marriage was marrying multiple "spiritual" wives and that in order to obtain the highest kingdom, a man must enter into this new and everlasting covenant. This teaching has since shifted from polygamy to mean one man marrying one woman in the temple for time and eternity.
Other things to note on this topic ... Bushman alludes that this doctrine began around the time of the dedication of the Kirtland temple. It was never openly taught. This doctrine was always taught in secret. Joseph denied it publicly. Emma hated the doctrine and the thought of polygamy - Joseph was stuck between eternal damnation (for not practicing it) and his wrathful wife (who he loved dearly).
I see the practicality of most doctrines. But I don't see it for polygamy. Yeah, there's Jacob 2, but I don't think there was a great need to "raise seed" back in 1836-88. Maybe it was for the point of "restoring all things", but if that was the case, wouldn't it have been sufficient to introduce it; perform it once and call it good until it was actually needed?
King Follet Discourse
Every missionary wanted a copy of the King Follett Sermon. When I worked in the copy center at the MTC my freshman year at BYU, we had copies of it on standby to sell to missionaries. I don't know if my memory is accurate or not, but I seem to remember we could not sell copies of the sermon anymore at one point.
As Bushman notes, it was the doctrine of polygamy and multiple gods that essentially got Joseph killed. It was just too much for people in that day. But the feeling I got from reading Bushman was that this was major, major doctrine for the 20,000 Saints assembled on April 7, 1844. But to this day, the sermon remains absent from the D&C.
One of his last quotes
About a week after the King Follett discourse, Joseph gave his final public sermon on June 16, 1844. From Bushman's book: "Joseph new his leaps would terrify less intrepid souls. 'I despise the idea of be scared to death,' he said upon completing his proof of God the Father having a father. 'When things that are great are passed over with[ou]t. even a thot I want to see all in all its bearings & hug it to my bosom.' Then came a sentence that captured his spirit perfectly: 'I never hear[d] of a man being d[amne]d for bel[ievin]g too much but they are d[amne]d for unbel[ief].' A few minutes later he stopped talking. The sky was pouring rain."
And that seems to sum it up - Joseph brought a lot of ideas into the world. The final few ideas cost him his life, but the fact remains that we have those ideas because of Joseph's desire to believe and gain knowledge from God.
Final Thoughts
Rough Stone Rolling is a fantastic book. For someone who was raised in the Chruch and was taught all the wonderful things about Joseph Smith and Church History and never taught a thing about the "dark secrets" of the Church, reading this book was a bit like reading the journal of someone you look up to ... and when you read it, you realize they really aren't the person you perceived them to be. You realize they are human - just like you - they have faults, sins and short-comings. There is a bit of a let-down. But then you realize no one is perfect except Christ.
If anything, you should feel confident that if the Lord approves of and loves Joseph, then he also loves us! Joseph and the church were in debt. They broke the law of the land. They didn't always keep the commandments. They were forced to make tough Adam/Eve/Fruit and Nephi/Laban/Thou-shalt-not-kill choices. When all was said and done, Joseph just wanted to do what the Lord wanted him to do. And if we can say that all we did was what the Lord wanted us to do, then despite all our faults and short-comings, we can feel confident in the Lord's love and approval for us.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Quote on Temptation
I came across the C.S. Lewis quote on temptation years ago. In yesterday's Elder's Quorum lesson, I heard the quote again. This time it came from Elder Tad Callister's book The Infinite Atonement.
Here's the quote:
No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means - the only complete realist.
Here's the quote:
No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means - the only complete realist.
Friday, May 04, 2012
"Like" Stats on Apostles' Talks April 2012
from most facebook 'likes' to least:
6500+ holland: the laborers in the vineyard
5400+ uchtdorf: merciful obtain mercy
2200+ eyring: mountains to climb
1400+ scott: how to obtain revelation
951 monson: race of life
796 anderson: what thinks christ of me
683 packer: little child shall lead them
610 oaks: sacrifice
572 ballard: that the lost may be found
363 nelson: thanks be to god
264 bednar: powers of heaven (priesthood session)
239 christofferson: doctrine of christ
231 monson: as we gather once again
214 eyring: families under covenant (priesthood session)
191 hales: coming to ourselves
176 monson: willing and worthy to serve (priesthood session)
148 cook: in tune with the music of faith
147 uchtdorf: why priesthood service (priesthood session)
122 perry: power of deliverance
79 monson: as we close
elder holland having the most likes is no surprise. his talks are regularly amazing and inspiring. after you watch his talk, you feel uplifted. as you read his talks, you really have something to think about and chew on.
president uchtdorf's talk on mercy is interesting. he's fairly "popular" and liked overall. my parents, when they were serving in prague, had the chance to listen to him and work with him. they've always raved about him. does the mercy topic strike a chord with members? are we really looking for mercy and forgiveness from others? are others judging us to harshly? the beginning of his talks seems to indicate this is a big problem among the members. and thinking about this a bit more, holland's talk seems to hit on the same subject as uchtdorf's talk - just in a different light.
president eyring's talk was about overcoming adversity ... i can see why this talk is popular. and the same goes for elder scott's talk on revelation. in fact, that was the talk i was reading and listening to again and as i was reading it, i noticed how much i liked it. then i noted how many others 'liked'; and that prompted me to make the comparison.
anyway, it's an interesting view into general conference.
6500+ holland: the laborers in the vineyard
5400+ uchtdorf: merciful obtain mercy
2200+ eyring: mountains to climb
1400+ scott: how to obtain revelation
951 monson: race of life
796 anderson: what thinks christ of me
683 packer: little child shall lead them
610 oaks: sacrifice
572 ballard: that the lost may be found
363 nelson: thanks be to god
264 bednar: powers of heaven (priesthood session)
239 christofferson: doctrine of christ
231 monson: as we gather once again
214 eyring: families under covenant (priesthood session)
191 hales: coming to ourselves
176 monson: willing and worthy to serve (priesthood session)
148 cook: in tune with the music of faith
147 uchtdorf: why priesthood service (priesthood session)
122 perry: power of deliverance
79 monson: as we close
elder holland having the most likes is no surprise. his talks are regularly amazing and inspiring. after you watch his talk, you feel uplifted. as you read his talks, you really have something to think about and chew on.
president uchtdorf's talk on mercy is interesting. he's fairly "popular" and liked overall. my parents, when they were serving in prague, had the chance to listen to him and work with him. they've always raved about him. does the mercy topic strike a chord with members? are we really looking for mercy and forgiveness from others? are others judging us to harshly? the beginning of his talks seems to indicate this is a big problem among the members. and thinking about this a bit more, holland's talk seems to hit on the same subject as uchtdorf's talk - just in a different light.
president eyring's talk was about overcoming adversity ... i can see why this talk is popular. and the same goes for elder scott's talk on revelation. in fact, that was the talk i was reading and listening to again and as i was reading it, i noticed how much i liked it. then i noted how many others 'liked'; and that prompted me to make the comparison.
anyway, it's an interesting view into general conference.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
"Like" Stats on Apostles' Talks October 2011
following up from the previous post; here are the stats from october 2011
6700+ uchtdorf: you matter to him
3500+ scott: power of scripture
3200+ packer: counsel to youth
2800+ ballard: importance of a name
2400+ monson: stand in holy places
2200+ hales: waiting upon the lord ...
2100+ anderson: children
2000+ monson: dare to stand alone (priesthood)
1800+ holland: we are all enlisted (priesthood)
1200+ oaks: teachings of jesus
1000+ cook: the songs they could not sing
974 christofferson: divine gift of repentance
763 perry: perfect love ...
733 bednar: hearts of children ...
673 eyring: a witness
474 uchtdorf: providing in the lord's way (priesthood)
418 monson: as we meet again
382 nelson: covenants
214 eyring: preparation in the priesthood (priesthood)
172 monson: until we meet again
i'll have to revisit the april 2012 stats in about five months to see how they've changed. i noticed that there are, overall, a lot more likes in the october 2011 general conference.
again, president uchtdorf is very popular. scott is also up high on the list as well.
6700+ uchtdorf: you matter to him
3500+ scott: power of scripture
3200+ packer: counsel to youth
2800+ ballard: importance of a name
2400+ monson: stand in holy places
2200+ hales: waiting upon the lord ...
2100+ anderson: children
2000+ monson: dare to stand alone (priesthood)
1800+ holland: we are all enlisted (priesthood)
1200+ oaks: teachings of jesus
1000+ cook: the songs they could not sing
974 christofferson: divine gift of repentance
763 perry: perfect love ...
733 bednar: hearts of children ...
673 eyring: a witness
474 uchtdorf: providing in the lord's way (priesthood)
418 monson: as we meet again
382 nelson: covenants
214 eyring: preparation in the priesthood (priesthood)
172 monson: until we meet again
i'll have to revisit the april 2012 stats in about five months to see how they've changed. i noticed that there are, overall, a lot more likes in the october 2011 general conference.
again, president uchtdorf is very popular. scott is also up high on the list as well.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The Other Daily Quotes on Desire
Yesterday I wrote about one quote I read or recite daily. There are four other quotes that I try to review on a daily basis. I wanted to share those as well. I've already shared a couple of them in a previous post on the topic of desire. But I'll share them again here.
"Desire denotes a real longing or craving. Hence righteous desires are much more than passive preferences or fleeting feelings. Of course our genes, circumstances, and environments matter very much, and they shape us significantly. Yet there remains an inner zone in which we are sovereign, unless we abdicate. In this zone lies the essence of our individuality and our personal accountability. Therefore, what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity." -Neal A. Maxwell
"Righteous desires need to be relentless, therefore, because, said President Brigham Young, 'the men and women, who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom, will find that they must battle every day.' Therefore, true Christian soldiers are more than weekend warriors." - Neal A. Maxwell
"When we have a vision of what we can become, our desire and our power to act increase enormously." If our righteous desires are sufficiently intense, they will motivate us to cut and carve ourselves free from addictions and other sinful pressures and priorities that prevent our eternal progress. We should remember that righteous desires cannot be superficial, impulsive, or temporary. They must be heartfelt, unwavering, and permanent. So motivated, we will seek for that condition described by the Prophet Joseph Smith, where we have 'overcome the evils of [our lives] and lost every desire for sin.' That is a very personal decision." - Dallin H. Oaks
"And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers." - Abraham. 1:2
"Desire denotes a real longing or craving. Hence righteous desires are much more than passive preferences or fleeting feelings. Of course our genes, circumstances, and environments matter very much, and they shape us significantly. Yet there remains an inner zone in which we are sovereign, unless we abdicate. In this zone lies the essence of our individuality and our personal accountability. Therefore, what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity." -Neal A. Maxwell
"Righteous desires need to be relentless, therefore, because, said President Brigham Young, 'the men and women, who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom, will find that they must battle every day.' Therefore, true Christian soldiers are more than weekend warriors." - Neal A. Maxwell
"When we have a vision of what we can become, our desire and our power to act increase enormously." If our righteous desires are sufficiently intense, they will motivate us to cut and carve ourselves free from addictions and other sinful pressures and priorities that prevent our eternal progress. We should remember that righteous desires cannot be superficial, impulsive, or temporary. They must be heartfelt, unwavering, and permanent. So motivated, we will seek for that condition described by the Prophet Joseph Smith, where we have 'overcome the evils of [our lives] and lost every desire for sin.' That is a very personal decision." - Dallin H. Oaks
"And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers." - Abraham. 1:2
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sacrifice, Desire and What's Most Important in Life
Sacrifice & Desire
A few years ago, I came accross an article while searching LDS.org and found a reference to a book by James Allen. The book was entitled after the Proverb: As a Man Thinketh.
You can read that entire book and many other books by James Allen by referencing the link to the James Allen Library.
Much of the book As a Man Thinketh is very quotable. But there is one quote that I read and recite almost every day.
It goes: "The man who shrinks from self-crucifixion can never accomplish the object upon which his heart is set ... the sole and supreme use of suffering is to purify; to burn out all that is useless and impure."
The world is full of distractions and attractions. If we are not careful, we can be easily led astray from our real goals - our deepest desires - what's most important to us in life. If we are not careful, useless and impure things can creep into our lives. If they already have, then we must shift our focus and then maintain our focus on our desires. It takes commitment and sacrifice. To shed our lives of useless and impure things will take sacrifice, but we will be the happier for it as we purify ourselves and maintain focus on what's most important.
What's Most Important
The author of a blog I read recently wrote a post entitled On Remembering What's Most Important. His post was spot on.
Last year, I spent several months thinking about what is most important to me in my life. I wanted to think about and document what I want my life to be. I used a mind map (Mind Manager) to brain storm and then refine my thoughts. Next, I created a scorecard in Excel to track my daily, weekly and monthly performance. With these two tools, along with my weekly journal, I keep a sufficient focus on the things that are most imporant to me.
As is often the case, when I see myself beginning to drift from the path, I simply review my mind map and scorecard more regularly and my course is corrected.
The mind map has since morphed into my "to do" list, but it still has retained the core of my desires in life. But now, all the big, medium and daily goals are tracked. I read another blogger's post about this "to do" list (link here) which is based on Personal Kanban.
In the spirit of sharing, I wanted to pass along these nuggets and lessons I've learned over the past year. They have been extremely helpful for me and I've seen a large improvment in my life and search for happiness.
A few years ago, I came accross an article while searching LDS.org and found a reference to a book by James Allen. The book was entitled after the Proverb: As a Man Thinketh.
You can read that entire book and many other books by James Allen by referencing the link to the James Allen Library.
Much of the book As a Man Thinketh is very quotable. But there is one quote that I read and recite almost every day.
It goes: "The man who shrinks from self-crucifixion can never accomplish the object upon which his heart is set ... the sole and supreme use of suffering is to purify; to burn out all that is useless and impure."
The world is full of distractions and attractions. If we are not careful, we can be easily led astray from our real goals - our deepest desires - what's most important to us in life. If we are not careful, useless and impure things can creep into our lives. If they already have, then we must shift our focus and then maintain our focus on our desires. It takes commitment and sacrifice. To shed our lives of useless and impure things will take sacrifice, but we will be the happier for it as we purify ourselves and maintain focus on what's most important.
What's Most Important
The author of a blog I read recently wrote a post entitled On Remembering What's Most Important. His post was spot on.
Last year, I spent several months thinking about what is most important to me in my life. I wanted to think about and document what I want my life to be. I used a mind map (Mind Manager) to brain storm and then refine my thoughts. Next, I created a scorecard in Excel to track my daily, weekly and monthly performance. With these two tools, along with my weekly journal, I keep a sufficient focus on the things that are most imporant to me.
As is often the case, when I see myself beginning to drift from the path, I simply review my mind map and scorecard more regularly and my course is corrected.
The mind map has since morphed into my "to do" list, but it still has retained the core of my desires in life. But now, all the big, medium and daily goals are tracked. I read another blogger's post about this "to do" list (link here) which is based on Personal Kanban.
In the spirit of sharing, I wanted to pass along these nuggets and lessons I've learned over the past year. They have been extremely helpful for me and I've seen a large improvment in my life and search for happiness.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I have heard in many Sunday School and seminary lessons about how this life is so short compared to eternity. When we think of roughly 70 or 80 years of life on this earth compared to the eternities, we quickly begin to grasp how short and how important this life is. Our afflictions then become light and are mere moments in the eternal scheme of things.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I have heard in many Sunday School and seminary lessons about how this life is so short compared to eternity. When we think of roughly 70 or 80 years of life on this earth compared to the eternities, we quickly begin to grasp how short and how important this life is. Our afflictions then become light and are mere moments in the eternal scheme of things.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Immortality & Eternal Life
There is a very small article in the November 2006 New Era by David B. Haight.
It discusses the difference between immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39).
Bringing to pass immortality is essentially a work of creation.
Immortality is about quantity. Eternal life is about quality.
To use a metaphor, immortality is how long the dinner lasts. Eternal life is what is on the menu and who is with us at the table.
Eternal life is the culmination of existence.
If immortality is God's work, then eternal life is God's glory. However, eternal life does not come automatically. We must purge our hearts of evil and fill them with the desire to do good continually. [God] desires each of us to partake of this greatest of all gifts: eternal life.
It discusses the difference between immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39).
Bringing to pass immortality is essentially a work of creation.
Immortality is about quantity. Eternal life is about quality.
To use a metaphor, immortality is how long the dinner lasts. Eternal life is what is on the menu and who is with us at the table.
Eternal life is the culmination of existence.
If immortality is God's work, then eternal life is God's glory. However, eternal life does not come automatically. We must purge our hearts of evil and fill them with the desire to do good continually. [God] desires each of us to partake of this greatest of all gifts: eternal life.
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