If the LDS Church had someone to whom we would equate to Superman, it would be Nephi. Not in a literal sense, but still a very cool guy.
Nephi lived in Jerusalem around 600 BC. He left with his father and brothers and eventually came to this continent. He alone is responsible for nearly 20% of what is known as the Book of Mormon, and is the first person of whom we have record writing in it. There are several stories of him doing awesome things, while his older brothers rebelled.
Shortly after the death of his father, Lehi, Nephi shows what I feel is his human side. It is here I wish to share my thoughts on this -psalm- if you will.
And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and profit of my children.
Scriptures are that which testify of Christ (John 5:39). Later in his writings, Nephi states that his soul delights in Christ, so it is natural to assume that his soul would delight in that which testified of him. It is interesting to note as well he was very interested in assuring that his children would have access to these sacred writings as well.
Behold, my soul, delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually the things which I have seen and heard.
Nephi has had powerful dreams of things to come, seen angels on several occasions, had visions of the Son of God, and even spoke face to face with the Holy Ghost. He has had several powerful encounters with spiritual things. But then he writes-
Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my hart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me
This is perhaps where he seems to be most human. I often think that if Nephi of all people feels this way, it must be alright for me to feel this way as well. I think these feelings of inadequacy are part of the human experience. I get the feeling he uses his guilt to motivate him to be better, not for self loathing.
And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the nighttime. And by day I have waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
This guy has seen it all, and done it all. I have had some pretty powerful experiences in my life, but nowhere near the level he has. And despite this, he returns to -
O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited me in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
I love that question! I have seen some amazing stuff, so why do I even listen to the devil? Why do I let him bring me down? Why?
Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
The call to be better! The call to push the adversary aside and move on!
O Lord, with thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road! O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way-but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
What a prayer! I think in everyone's heart lies the same prayer, just never so beautifully spoken. Imagine the power of righteousness that would prevail if we would all seek to employ this in our lives!
He then closes
O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of the flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of the flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm. Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
To have the strength to claim that one will ALWAYS trust in God is awesome. I find it easy to make promises when things are going good, but in the face of adversity, I try to do it all alone.
This has always been one of my favorite passages of scripture. It gives me hope.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Meaning of Life
Why are we here?
Where did I come from?
Where am I going when I die?
Everyone at some point in their life has asked these questions. To answer these questions in any type of depth, the Bible in and of itself is not adequate. I will be using many scriptures and ideas unique to the Restoration of the Gospel.
Let us first examine God's reason for starting this whole mortal life thing. "For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Immortality and Eternal Life, are they one and the same? No, they are not.
Immortality, is simply the ability to live forever, without death. Eternal Life as define by Jesus Christ is "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Eternal life is knowing God, and His Son. To know them, one must live the life they do. So in essence, Eternal Life is immortality and living the life that God now lives. So God's whole point in this creation was to enable His children to eventually live the life he enjoys.
So, where did we come from? The Book of Genesis records the creation of man as coming from the dust and receiving the breath of life. Did we exist before then? Absolutely, we did. We did not exist in bodies of flesh and bone, but as spirits. The Book of Revelation records "And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
Why was there war in heaven? To answer this, we must rely on modern revelation. "And there stood one among them that was like unto God." That one was Jesus Christ. "and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell." Why? Why would we need to leave the presence of God? It is answered in the following verse " And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;"
So this Earth was created as a testing ground to see if we would keep all of God's commandments. It wouldn't be much of a test if we were always in His presence. But then, the reward is explained.
"And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever." Alright, there is a lot said here.
What does it mean to keep your first estate? It simply means progressing enough to be able to come to Earth. Congratulations, the fact you are here reading this means you passed that part! If we keep our second estate, by keeping all of the commandments, we will have glory added upon our heads for ever and ever.
Well, I can honestly say, I have not kept my second estate. I have broken some commandments in my short time here on Earth. You have too. God, in his infinite wisdom, knew this would happen. He knew we would need a redeemer. "And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I , send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him."
So we know two people volunteered to be our Redeemer. God chose Jesus Christ. The second volunteer was angry at not being chosen and led a revolt in Heaven. That is this war. The second was Lucifer, who would later be known as Satan. He and his followers did not keep their first estate, and as such will never receive bodies.
So we have answered two of the three questions. We came from the presence of our Heavenly Father, and we are here to be tested to see if we will keep all of God's commandments.
So what happens after we die? "Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." We are taken home to God, and we are judged, this is not the Final Judgment, but it is a judgment of sorts. "the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care and sorrow...then it shall come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil-...these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil."
So, the righteous are received into a state of rest, and the wicked will suffer for their iniquities and sins. Both groups will remain in this state until the Resurrection. "The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame." This resurrection will happen to everyone, good, bad and ugly. After this, comes the Final Judgment and all men are given their eternal reward.
The apostle Paul talks about different kinds of resurrected bodies "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. "
Just as there are the three different glories listed above, the sun, the moon and the stars, so are the kingdoms to which we are assigned upon final judgement.
In one of the most glorious visions given to man, Joseph Smith was able to see each of the 3 kingdoms. To those that inherit Celestial Glory
"They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he as has given-that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true...The shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever."
Those inheriting Terrestrial Glory "They who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel among unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men."
And finally those that inherit the Telestial Glory " These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus... These are they who are thrust down to hell." But somehow he states "the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding" It is still a Kingdom of Glory that surpasses anything here on Earth.
In describing the Celestial Glory, it was mentioned that one need to be baptized. In talking about the Terrestrial Glory, it mentioned the Son of God visiting them in prison.
Only recently have we become a truly global society. A person living in India in the 12th Century would not have had the chance to hear the name Jesus Christ, let alone have faith in Him, and be baptized as required, how could a loving God damn that man without even giving him a chance?
Peter writes "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the Spirit." This is talking about Christ being dead in the flesh, but quickened (old English for alive) in the Spirit, so the interim between His death and resurrection. "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison." And later he writes "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. " So these men are dead in the flesh, but alive in the spirit. Again, between their deaths and eventual resurrection.
So we know that they are having the gospel preached, but what about the required baptism? A different apostle, Paul wrote about an ordinance called Baptism for the Dead. He was writing to a group that believed in Jesus, but not the Resurrection, so he asks the question "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" Basically, he only mentions the ordinance, but does so by saying, why do we baptize ourselves for the dead if there isn't a resurrection?
Joseph Smith greatly clarifies this by explaining that through the sealing power of the Priesthood, the power to bind in earth and heaven, we can act as agents on behalf of the dead and be baptized for them. This ordinance is done in LDS temples world wide. Faithful members are allowed to go and be baptized on behalf of the deceased ancestors. Thus, God can be Just and Merciful to all of his children.
What of little children who died without this saving ordinance? Can a loving God damn an otherwise innocent child? No. "And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven."
Where did I come from?
Where am I going when I die?
Everyone at some point in their life has asked these questions. To answer these questions in any type of depth, the Bible in and of itself is not adequate. I will be using many scriptures and ideas unique to the Restoration of the Gospel.
Let us first examine God's reason for starting this whole mortal life thing. "For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Immortality and Eternal Life, are they one and the same? No, they are not.
Immortality, is simply the ability to live forever, without death. Eternal Life as define by Jesus Christ is "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Eternal life is knowing God, and His Son. To know them, one must live the life they do. So in essence, Eternal Life is immortality and living the life that God now lives. So God's whole point in this creation was to enable His children to eventually live the life he enjoys.
So, where did we come from? The Book of Genesis records the creation of man as coming from the dust and receiving the breath of life. Did we exist before then? Absolutely, we did. We did not exist in bodies of flesh and bone, but as spirits. The Book of Revelation records "And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
Why was there war in heaven? To answer this, we must rely on modern revelation. "And there stood one among them that was like unto God." That one was Jesus Christ. "and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell." Why? Why would we need to leave the presence of God? It is answered in the following verse " And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;"
So this Earth was created as a testing ground to see if we would keep all of God's commandments. It wouldn't be much of a test if we were always in His presence. But then, the reward is explained.
"And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever." Alright, there is a lot said here.
What does it mean to keep your first estate? It simply means progressing enough to be able to come to Earth. Congratulations, the fact you are here reading this means you passed that part! If we keep our second estate, by keeping all of the commandments, we will have glory added upon our heads for ever and ever.
Well, I can honestly say, I have not kept my second estate. I have broken some commandments in my short time here on Earth. You have too. God, in his infinite wisdom, knew this would happen. He knew we would need a redeemer. "And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I , send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him."
So we know two people volunteered to be our Redeemer. God chose Jesus Christ. The second volunteer was angry at not being chosen and led a revolt in Heaven. That is this war. The second was Lucifer, who would later be known as Satan. He and his followers did not keep their first estate, and as such will never receive bodies.
So we have answered two of the three questions. We came from the presence of our Heavenly Father, and we are here to be tested to see if we will keep all of God's commandments.
So what happens after we die? "Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." We are taken home to God, and we are judged, this is not the Final Judgment, but it is a judgment of sorts. "the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care and sorrow...then it shall come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil-...these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil."
So, the righteous are received into a state of rest, and the wicked will suffer for their iniquities and sins. Both groups will remain in this state until the Resurrection. "The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame." This resurrection will happen to everyone, good, bad and ugly. After this, comes the Final Judgment and all men are given their eternal reward.
The apostle Paul talks about different kinds of resurrected bodies "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. "
Just as there are the three different glories listed above, the sun, the moon and the stars, so are the kingdoms to which we are assigned upon final judgement.
In one of the most glorious visions given to man, Joseph Smith was able to see each of the 3 kingdoms. To those that inherit Celestial Glory
"They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he as has given-that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true...The shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever."
Those inheriting Terrestrial Glory "They who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel among unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men."
And finally those that inherit the Telestial Glory " These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus... These are they who are thrust down to hell." But somehow he states "the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding" It is still a Kingdom of Glory that surpasses anything here on Earth.
In describing the Celestial Glory, it was mentioned that one need to be baptized. In talking about the Terrestrial Glory, it mentioned the Son of God visiting them in prison.
Only recently have we become a truly global society. A person living in India in the 12th Century would not have had the chance to hear the name Jesus Christ, let alone have faith in Him, and be baptized as required, how could a loving God damn that man without even giving him a chance?
Peter writes "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the Spirit." This is talking about Christ being dead in the flesh, but quickened (old English for alive) in the Spirit, so the interim between His death and resurrection. "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison." And later he writes "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. " So these men are dead in the flesh, but alive in the spirit. Again, between their deaths and eventual resurrection.
So we know that they are having the gospel preached, but what about the required baptism? A different apostle, Paul wrote about an ordinance called Baptism for the Dead. He was writing to a group that believed in Jesus, but not the Resurrection, so he asks the question "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" Basically, he only mentions the ordinance, but does so by saying, why do we baptize ourselves for the dead if there isn't a resurrection?
Joseph Smith greatly clarifies this by explaining that through the sealing power of the Priesthood, the power to bind in earth and heaven, we can act as agents on behalf of the dead and be baptized for them. This ordinance is done in LDS temples world wide. Faithful members are allowed to go and be baptized on behalf of the deceased ancestors. Thus, God can be Just and Merciful to all of his children.
What of little children who died without this saving ordinance? Can a loving God damn an otherwise innocent child? No. "And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven."
Friday, April 15, 2011
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why do bad things happen to good people? Short answer, I don't know.
Long answer, I really believe one has to examine each on a case by case basis to understand why certain things happen. Is it to teach? Promote faith? Punish? The result of someone else using their agency? There simply is no one good answer.
Take for example, the recent earthquakes in Japan. That earthquake affected so many millions of lives, that one cannot simply throw out a blanket statement as "God was punishing them for XYZ" because there were many, many good and innocent people affected by this disaster. Could God simply have been trying to teach all of humanity a lesson? Perhaps. I will not pretend to even guess the real reason.
So could God have done this, or other things like Hurricane Katrina, or something on a far more personal scale such as making you forget where you placed your car keys the night before, simply because He wants you to remember Him? Is it because of ego? I would submit that ego is the last thing on his mind, rather, we need to remember Him for our benefit. When we remember God, we tend to love our fellow man more, we tend to be more friendly, we tend to do more good.
I have noticed this same pattern in my own life. Things will being going great, everything going my way, and suddenly I don't pray with the same intensity. Why? Because in my limited vision, I don't feel that need. I have everything I could possibly want and need. Because of this, I separate myself spiritually from His presence, I forget from whom everything I have came, and I start to feel like maybe He owes me. I continue on this path until something happens that makes me suddenly realize I NEED HELP. So I pray with intensity. God in his goodness sees I have changed, and grants me prosperity again. Lather, rinse and repeat.
That is one reason bad things may happen to good people.
The one I struggle most with is kids, especially young kids that are still innocent. Reading of the tragedies bad parents cause just makes me lose all hope that we are worth saving on some days.
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Quite the strong message coming from the Prince of Peace. But these would be examples of bad things happening as a result of someone using their agency.
But what about when good people, especially young children, get sick? What could be the reason behind that? Is it to help the parents find God? Maybe. Is it that the child is too precious they are to be spared the pains of mortality? Maybe. I think this one case where there is no blanket feel good answer. One simply has to trust that God does have a plan, and in some way, this plays a part in the bigger picture. While I hope that I never, ever, have to watch my one of my children go through something like cancer, or some other horrible disease, my heart goes out to those that do.
Perhaps, one of the most eye opening statements from God
"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if you be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
While not always apparent, God does love us, always and forever. Try to find that in each difficult time.
Long answer, I really believe one has to examine each on a case by case basis to understand why certain things happen. Is it to teach? Promote faith? Punish? The result of someone else using their agency? There simply is no one good answer.
Take for example, the recent earthquakes in Japan. That earthquake affected so many millions of lives, that one cannot simply throw out a blanket statement as "God was punishing them for XYZ" because there were many, many good and innocent people affected by this disaster. Could God simply have been trying to teach all of humanity a lesson? Perhaps. I will not pretend to even guess the real reason.
One of His prophets wrote "Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him."So could God have done this, or other things like Hurricane Katrina, or something on a far more personal scale such as making you forget where you placed your car keys the night before, simply because He wants you to remember Him? Is it because of ego? I would submit that ego is the last thing on his mind, rather, we need to remember Him for our benefit. When we remember God, we tend to love our fellow man more, we tend to be more friendly, we tend to do more good.
I have noticed this same pattern in my own life. Things will being going great, everything going my way, and suddenly I don't pray with the same intensity. Why? Because in my limited vision, I don't feel that need. I have everything I could possibly want and need. Because of this, I separate myself spiritually from His presence, I forget from whom everything I have came, and I start to feel like maybe He owes me. I continue on this path until something happens that makes me suddenly realize I NEED HELP. So I pray with intensity. God in his goodness sees I have changed, and grants me prosperity again. Lather, rinse and repeat.
That is one reason bad things may happen to good people.
The one I struggle most with is kids, especially young kids that are still innocent. Reading of the tragedies bad parents cause just makes me lose all hope that we are worth saving on some days.
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Quite the strong message coming from the Prince of Peace. But these would be examples of bad things happening as a result of someone using their agency.
But what about when good people, especially young children, get sick? What could be the reason behind that? Is it to help the parents find God? Maybe. Is it that the child is too precious they are to be spared the pains of mortality? Maybe. I think this one case where there is no blanket feel good answer. One simply has to trust that God does have a plan, and in some way, this plays a part in the bigger picture. While I hope that I never, ever, have to watch my one of my children go through something like cancer, or some other horrible disease, my heart goes out to those that do.
Perhaps, one of the most eye opening statements from God
"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if you be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
While not always apparent, God does love us, always and forever. Try to find that in each difficult time.
Monday, April 11, 2011
A truly unique blessing
First and foremost, a temple is considered to be House of the Lord in a very literal sense. We believe these building to be the holiest places in the entire planet. Church houses do not enjoy this distinction.
Within these temples very sacred ordinances are performed. However, I wish to focus on one, and one only in this opportunity. The sealing ordinance.
In few instances, the Lord has trusted man with the power to bind in heaven as they have on Earth. One instance was Peter, the apostle.
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
This power has been God's most guarded power given to man, and is only given to those that have earned His highest trust.
This power was restored to man through the Prophet Joseph Smith on April 3rd 1836 by the prophet Elijah of the Old Testament. With this power, we are able to marry a man and a woman not only for this life, but for all time and eternity. With this power, the relationship of parent and child can continue forever past the grave. The family can literally be a forever family.
When a pastor marries someone, the last words of the ceremony are "until death do you part", there is a bill of divorce built into the deal. However, in the temple, we are married for this life, and if we are faithful to our covenants, for all eternity hereafter.
What greater blessing is there?
Sunday, April 10, 2011
A Specific Message From God for Today
Let me make my standard hypocrisy statement. I am not perfect, and what I am writing about today is certainly no exception. But if perfection were the standard we were all held to before trying to help one another...we wouldn't get anywhere.
What is scripture? Jesus commanded "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are which testify of me."
Here, Jesus teaches two very important things. First of all, the job of Scripture is to testify of Christ. Testify of His mission, His divinity, and most importantly, of His redeeming power! Secondly, he is correcting a prevelant idea at the time, and sadly still persists to this day. The words in the Scriptures will not save a man, but rather their job is to direct the man to Who will save him.
Therefore, the purpose of every Prophet and Apostle, (the distinction between the two is almost non existant, and for the rest of this blog entry they will be treated as the same), the writers of these Scriptures, is to testify of Christ and lead us to Him. From the time of Adam, these men wrote of their experiences with God, and of the teachings He had revealed to them. At the time of Jesus, what the Jews called scripture, is more or less known as the Old Testament today. What the Apostles wrote after the death of Jesus up until around 90 AD is known as the New Testament.
And suddenly, Prophets and Apostles stopped writing scripture? Why is that? For 4000 years God had revealed His will to men, and did so shortly after the death of Christ, but why stop? Did He? Or did we just stop listening?
Shift gears just a little here. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one pastor." Who are these other sheep?
Shift gears again, and time for a history lesson. 600 B.C. Jersusalem is being invaded. The Lord commands a man, Lehi to take his family into the wilderness, and promises to lead them to a promised land. Over the course of nearly 10 years, he leads them in the wilderness, and eventually to construct a ship and leads them to this continent.
Over the course of 1000 years these people build a civilization. They write their dealings with God, teachings of the promised Savior, and record his visit here, to his "other sheep".
These writings would later become known as the Book of Mormon.
What is so special about this Book? Isn't the Bible enough?
I will be first to admit I love the Bible. It has a record of Christ's mortal ministry and some of the most precious teachings ever given to man. A look through history will show that the fact we even have a Bible, in any form, is a miracle. Through the several book burnings in the first few centuries A.D, to uninspired men choosing what was canon and not, through several thousand years of history and the changes that come with that, what we have now cannot possibly be what the early saints had two thousand years ago.
The Book of Mormon was untouched by mortal hands from 421 AD to when Joseph Smith received the record to translate it in 1827. It serves as ANOTHER Testament that Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of God, the Savior of the World. What true believer in Christ would not want more of Him? Where there are literally thousands of different points of view on the Bible, when paired with the Book of Mormon, those points of view are limited to one.
The Book of Mormon is proof positive that God has not stopped talking to man, rather man stopped listening to God. This Book is what convinced me that Jesus is the Way to God. This Book is what taught me why I need a Savior, and how He wants me to live. This Book has brought be closer to Jesus than any other book, or teaching of man. This Book is what convinced me to put a hold on everything in my life for two years so I could share its glorious message. This Book is literally the reason I have the life I have now. Without this Book, I would not have my wife nor my children. I would not have the promised blessings of being with my family forever, if it weren't for this Book.
How do I know this book is of God, and not some device of man? As Jesus taught "by their fruits ye shall know them." The fruit this book has wrought in my life is undeniable. I invite any and all who are within the sound of my voice to read this book, ponder its message and test it in your own life. The power is real.
As I stated above. This book was buried in 421 AD and was not removed until 1827. Those who wrote this book, did not do so for them, but for us. God inspired them with the message we would need in our day and time. When Paul was writing his letters, he was not writing to us, but to the people of his time, we are only fortunate to have those letters today.
God still talks to us through living Prophets and Apostles to give us instruction for our time, our circumstances. He has never stopped loving us.
What is scripture? Jesus commanded "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are which testify of me."
Here, Jesus teaches two very important things. First of all, the job of Scripture is to testify of Christ. Testify of His mission, His divinity, and most importantly, of His redeeming power! Secondly, he is correcting a prevelant idea at the time, and sadly still persists to this day. The words in the Scriptures will not save a man, but rather their job is to direct the man to Who will save him.
Therefore, the purpose of every Prophet and Apostle, (the distinction between the two is almost non existant, and for the rest of this blog entry they will be treated as the same), the writers of these Scriptures, is to testify of Christ and lead us to Him. From the time of Adam, these men wrote of their experiences with God, and of the teachings He had revealed to them. At the time of Jesus, what the Jews called scripture, is more or less known as the Old Testament today. What the Apostles wrote after the death of Jesus up until around 90 AD is known as the New Testament.
And suddenly, Prophets and Apostles stopped writing scripture? Why is that? For 4000 years God had revealed His will to men, and did so shortly after the death of Christ, but why stop? Did He? Or did we just stop listening?
Shift gears just a little here. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one pastor." Who are these other sheep?
Shift gears again, and time for a history lesson. 600 B.C. Jersusalem is being invaded. The Lord commands a man, Lehi to take his family into the wilderness, and promises to lead them to a promised land. Over the course of nearly 10 years, he leads them in the wilderness, and eventually to construct a ship and leads them to this continent.
Over the course of 1000 years these people build a civilization. They write their dealings with God, teachings of the promised Savior, and record his visit here, to his "other sheep".
These writings would later become known as the Book of Mormon.
What is so special about this Book? Isn't the Bible enough?
I will be first to admit I love the Bible. It has a record of Christ's mortal ministry and some of the most precious teachings ever given to man. A look through history will show that the fact we even have a Bible, in any form, is a miracle. Through the several book burnings in the first few centuries A.D, to uninspired men choosing what was canon and not, through several thousand years of history and the changes that come with that, what we have now cannot possibly be what the early saints had two thousand years ago.
The Book of Mormon was untouched by mortal hands from 421 AD to when Joseph Smith received the record to translate it in 1827. It serves as ANOTHER Testament that Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of God, the Savior of the World. What true believer in Christ would not want more of Him? Where there are literally thousands of different points of view on the Bible, when paired with the Book of Mormon, those points of view are limited to one.
The Book of Mormon is proof positive that God has not stopped talking to man, rather man stopped listening to God. This Book is what convinced me that Jesus is the Way to God. This Book is what taught me why I need a Savior, and how He wants me to live. This Book has brought be closer to Jesus than any other book, or teaching of man. This Book is what convinced me to put a hold on everything in my life for two years so I could share its glorious message. This Book is literally the reason I have the life I have now. Without this Book, I would not have my wife nor my children. I would not have the promised blessings of being with my family forever, if it weren't for this Book.
How do I know this book is of God, and not some device of man? As Jesus taught "by their fruits ye shall know them." The fruit this book has wrought in my life is undeniable. I invite any and all who are within the sound of my voice to read this book, ponder its message and test it in your own life. The power is real.
As I stated above. This book was buried in 421 AD and was not removed until 1827. Those who wrote this book, did not do so for them, but for us. God inspired them with the message we would need in our day and time. When Paul was writing his letters, he was not writing to us, but to the people of his time, we are only fortunate to have those letters today.
God still talks to us through living Prophets and Apostles to give us instruction for our time, our circumstances. He has never stopped loving us.
A Most Important Message
The Bible has two fascinating stories that I believe really drive home the message of the Gospel. The two examples are separated by 1000 years, and they are not told in any relation to each other.
The message is "It does not matter who you WERE, or what you HAVE DONE, but it matters who you ARE and what you DO."
The first story is that of King David. The lowly shepherd that was chosen to be King over Israel but the LORD. When he was a youth he slayed the mighty Goliath by placing his faith in the Lord. He was able to learn the ways of the Royal Court, and formed a great friendship with Jonathon, son of King Saul. Their story of friendship is one of the greatest in written history. As King he united all of Israel, and began to gather the materials needed to build the Temple at Jerusalem. Every endeavor he sought he was successful. He was a man after the Heart of the Lord.
But he committed a grievous sin in sending the husband of Bathsheba to the front lines with the intent of having him killed so he could be with her. For this, he lost is station with the Lord. We know from modern revelation, and the psalms that eventually he will be redeemed, but he will not be exalted.
The second story is that of Saul, or Paul. Shortly after the death of Christ, this man was a Pharisee, and had a very keen desire to help squash this new movement of believers in Jesus. In fact, he was known to hold the coat of the people stoning Christians so they could more easily perform their tasks. He was well known as being an enemy of Christ. He played a part in the stoning of Stephen the Apostle.
Not through anything he had earned, but in the Grace of God, he beheld a vision of Jesus Christ. This literally transformed him to the point he changed his name from Saul to Paul. He would become one of the biggest preachers of Christ's name, and as fortune would have it, he is one of the principle writers of what we would later know as the New Testament.
We have a story of a man who was nearly perfect who fell from Grace and the story of a man who couldn't kill Christians fast enough but was able to be saved. Why? What was the difference?
Jesus taught a parable of two sons. Their father had asked them to come help him in the field, one said I will and never showed. The other said no, but later changed his mind and arrived to help his father. Which one will receive salvation?
I find these stories to be of hope and a warning. It does not matter what one has done in their life. Jesus can change you, transform you, make you perfect in Him. But once he has done so, and you reject Him, it will be better that you had never known Him.
The message is "It does not matter who you WERE, or what you HAVE DONE, but it matters who you ARE and what you DO."
The first story is that of King David. The lowly shepherd that was chosen to be King over Israel but the LORD. When he was a youth he slayed the mighty Goliath by placing his faith in the Lord. He was able to learn the ways of the Royal Court, and formed a great friendship with Jonathon, son of King Saul. Their story of friendship is one of the greatest in written history. As King he united all of Israel, and began to gather the materials needed to build the Temple at Jerusalem. Every endeavor he sought he was successful. He was a man after the Heart of the Lord.
But he committed a grievous sin in sending the husband of Bathsheba to the front lines with the intent of having him killed so he could be with her. For this, he lost is station with the Lord. We know from modern revelation, and the psalms that eventually he will be redeemed, but he will not be exalted.
The second story is that of Saul, or Paul. Shortly after the death of Christ, this man was a Pharisee, and had a very keen desire to help squash this new movement of believers in Jesus. In fact, he was known to hold the coat of the people stoning Christians so they could more easily perform their tasks. He was well known as being an enemy of Christ. He played a part in the stoning of Stephen the Apostle.
Not through anything he had earned, but in the Grace of God, he beheld a vision of Jesus Christ. This literally transformed him to the point he changed his name from Saul to Paul. He would become one of the biggest preachers of Christ's name, and as fortune would have it, he is one of the principle writers of what we would later know as the New Testament.
We have a story of a man who was nearly perfect who fell from Grace and the story of a man who couldn't kill Christians fast enough but was able to be saved. Why? What was the difference?
Jesus taught a parable of two sons. Their father had asked them to come help him in the field, one said I will and never showed. The other said no, but later changed his mind and arrived to help his father. Which one will receive salvation?
I find these stories to be of hope and a warning. It does not matter what one has done in their life. Jesus can change you, transform you, make you perfect in Him. But once he has done so, and you reject Him, it will be better that you had never known Him.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Letter to Congressmen
Honorable Mr. Chaffetz,
I am Staff Sergeant Darrel Ross, a Soldier in the United States Army.
I write this with fear as to how I am to feed my 3 young children (4, 3 and 2 years of age) and my wife if the Government shuts down. I understand that I will be given back pay when the new budget is passed, but when that is unknown. Backpay in May or June will not feed my kids in April, nor will it allow me to make my mortgage, provide them with water and electricity.
I understand that both parties are interested in blaming the other for the current situation. I beg you to move past blame and provide a solution. The welfare of my family is literally in the hands of 536 people, all of whom are Constitutionally guaranteed their salary, on time.
I understand that you advocate cuts in spending. While I admire this goal, I have to ask, is debating about whether or not NPR gets funding, or Planned Parenthood worth me having to explain to my 4 year old why her Father cannot provide for her? Would you be willing to do that for me?
Please understand that if my pay is in anyway delayed, I will hold you personally accountable at the ballot box in 2012. I will ensure that as many people as I can possibly reach and get a hold of do the same.
I am Staff Sergeant Darrel Ross, a Soldier in the United States Army.
I write this with fear as to how I am to feed my 3 young children (4, 3 and 2 years of age) and my wife if the Government shuts down. I understand that I will be given back pay when the new budget is passed, but when that is unknown. Backpay in May or June will not feed my kids in April, nor will it allow me to make my mortgage, provide them with water and electricity.
I understand that both parties are interested in blaming the other for the current situation. I beg you to move past blame and provide a solution. The welfare of my family is literally in the hands of 536 people, all of whom are Constitutionally guaranteed their salary, on time.
I understand that you advocate cuts in spending. While I admire this goal, I have to ask, is debating about whether or not NPR gets funding, or Planned Parenthood worth me having to explain to my 4 year old why her Father cannot provide for her? Would you be willing to do that for me?
Please understand that if my pay is in anyway delayed, I will hold you personally accountable at the ballot box in 2012. I will ensure that as many people as I can possibly reach and get a hold of do the same.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)