A More Determined Discipleship

I received a portion of this article from my bishop this morning, and felt inspired to study the entire thing. So here goes my study....

  Click here for the Talk

First of all, before reading this article, I think it fitting to see the date... It was given 30 years and 9 days ago. And yet it almost seems tailor made for our situation now...

The first point I find interesting is this...

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21.)" 

Elder Maxwell uses 1 Kings as an example ... and I love this story.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to gather all those who oppose the prophets and have a "duel" like they did here.  But the truth is that the people probably still wouldn't believe.

Another point I liked about this talk was this -

President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had “never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ! 

Just in talking with people, and seeing comments on facebook, I realize that this truly is a hard doctrine for some. But it is wise and true doctrine that we must follow. 

It reminds me of a talk by President Benson back in Feb of 1980... Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet

It is one I like to read over and over again. 

The next point I found interesting, especially in the wake of the Prop 8 "riots" was this...

If people, however, are not permitted to advocate, to assert, and to bring to bear, in every legitimate way, the opinions and views they hold which grow out of their religious convictions, what manner of men and women would we be?

... And if our governments and schools were to fail us, would we be able to fall back upon and rely upon the institution of the family, when so many secular movements seek to shred it?

It may well be that as our time comes to “suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41), some of that special stress will grow out of that portion of discipleship which involves citizenship.

This verse from Acts 5 is a goal of mine... here the apostles were beaten for holding true to their convictions and standing firm in  their testimonies... and yet ...they departed from the presence of the council, ^arejoicing that they were counted worthy to ^bsuffer ^cshame for his ^dname.  (42) And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and ^apreach Jesus Christ.

Would I leave from a situation like that "rejoicing" to be counted worthy to suffer shame... and would I go again and "cease not" to teach and preach of Jesus Christ...

To finish off my post of this study (because work is over) I will end with this...

If the challenge of the secular church becomes very real, let us, as in all other relationships, be principled but pleasant. Let us be perceptive without being pompous. Let us have integrity and not write checks with our tongues which our conduct cannot cash.

Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel.

There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself.

Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, “summer is nigh” (Matt. 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!

I miss the eloquence of Elder Maxwell... And I love his council... 

Its a great talk and it is time for a More Determined Discipleship... Happy studying...

Plans...

I know I haven't posted in a while... partly because I got busy, and partly because I was embarrassed that I hadn't studied... but now is the time to repent.

I'm writing this post from the car on the way home from our weekend trip to Overton, NV... We went to see my brother-in-law's baptism. It was a wonderful trip with lots of family, and it was a beautiful baptism.

My post tonight, however, is not about the ordinance of baptism. It's about a previous promise to post my thoughts on planning!

As Peach and I drive, I like to ask him lots of questions. I don't really like the silence, and I think it's a great time to talk because there really aren't that many distractions. Mostly, I like to ask him about our future together, what he would like to accomplish, and what are PLANS are...
It reminds me of the closing line of one of my favorite movies, "Dan in Real Life"... at the end of an article Dan writes about plans... he says "Instead of telling our young people to plan ahead, we should tell them to plan to be surprised".
I have found that that's about how it goes. We can make our plans, but the Lord has a plan for us... and sometimes, no matter how much we want something, or how hard we've worked for it, our plans go out the window. The beauty of this though is that the Lord's plans are always far better than anything we could have imagined or accomplished alone.

Anyway, to continue with my study on plans... I find the best chapter to encourage planning is Abraham Chapter 4.
When I was in high school, I always just read this chapter as a good scripture about the creation. But then on my mission, we were taught this chapter as we were learning about the importance of plans. Right in the "chapter summary"...
The Gods plan the creation of the earth and all life thereon—Their plans for the six days of creation are set forth.
It makes it worth it to ask such questions as... Do I plan that effectively? Is planning that important in my life? and How can I plan better?

The thing I like the most about these plans is the order... they put first things first.
That's something we can learn from. What is my highest priority each day? What is the first thing I dedicate my time to?

The second thing I notice about these plans is the faith they have that everything will work out as stated... and as we know... they did.
I learn from that the need to include the Spirit in my plan making... Each night I should plan out the next day so that I ensure that my time is used properly. I ought to pray before I plan so that the spirit can guide me. This way, I can be a better instrument in the Lord's hands as well. If there is someone in the ward that needs help, I am more inclined to receive the inspiration and have the time to help if I include the Spirit.

The third thing I notice is the reliability of the Lord. He does what he says he will do. The earth was created... in order. We were given the opportunity to come to the earth, to gain bodies, and to have this terrestrial experience in order that we might be tested and return to our Heavenly Father. Am I as reliable? Do I follow through?

I think the last verse sums up well these three points
And the Gods said: We will do everything that we have said, (Point No. 3) and organize them (Point No. 1); and behold, they shall be very obedient. (Point No. 2) And it came to pass that it was from evening until morning they called night; and it came to pass that it was from morning until evening that they called day; and they numbered the asixth time.

Anyway... it is worth studying...
We're home now, so I need to unload the car... and get planning for tomorrow!

Studies from Genesis

We've been reading from Genesis the past few days, which made me think back to a talk referenced by my mission president. It's entitled "Altar, Tent, Well"by A. Theodore Tuttle. 

He speaks of Isaac, and the talk is based on a verse from Genesis 26:25 -

25 And he builded an ^aaltar there, and called upon the ^bname of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.

He makes the connection from this verse that the Altar is our worship, the Tent is our home, and the Well is our work. 

I invite anyone interested to read it. It's amazing how even though this talk was given in 1973 it still applies today, especially regarding the family. 

 

I'll just share one quote I enjoyed from the talk...

“But the full glory of motherhood is not yet reached when her child comes forth into this world of trial. … She feeds not only, but clothes it. She cares for it by day and watches over it by night. … She gently leads its faltering steps, till it walks alone. …  

“Thus to the full stature of manhood and womanhood, mother guides, … instructs, directs … the soul for which she built the earthly home, in its march onward to exaltation. God gives the soul its destiny, but mother leads it along the way. (Immortality and Eternal Life [Melchizedek Priesthood Course of Study, 1969–70], vol. 2, pp. 24–28.) 

What a blessing it is to be a mother. And what a blessing it is to know what my role is in this life.

I Love the GEE

GEE is "la Guia para el Estudio de las Escrituras" and it includes a lot of information that is not included in the English Bible Dictionary/Index.
I've been pondering on the connection between water, blood and spirit... trying to understand the connection between the three a little better. When I looked up the words in the GEE, here's what it says... (This is also found on www.lds.org under Guide to the Scriptures... I just found that out!)
Water =As water is essential to sustain physical life, the Savior and his teachings (living water) are essential for eternal life.
Blood =Regarded by the ancient Israelites and many cultures today as the seat of life or vital energy of all flesh
Spirit =A spirit can live without a physical body, but the physical body cannot live without the spirit (James 2: 26)

The commonality with each of these things is their vitality for mortal life. We would not exist without any one of these items.... Both physically and spiritually.
Spiritually we need;
Water = baptism. "Baptism by water and the Spirit is necessary before a person can enter the celestial kingdom"
Blood = The Atonement. The atoning power of a sacrifice was in the blood because the blood was regarded as essential to life. Jesus Christ’s atoning blood cleanses the repentant from sin (1 Jn. 1: 7).
Spirit = The Holy Ghost AND our personal spirit. The Holy Ghost is essential as expressed above about baptism. Our personal spirit because... In the resurrection, the spirit is reunited with the same physical body of flesh and bone it possessed as a mortal, with two major differences: they will never be separated again, and the physical body will be immortal and perfected (Alma 11: 45; D&C 138: 16-17). But as we also know, from Alma 34:34 the spirit is the same... we won't "magically" change when we die... we are alive now so that we can learn and develop our spirits to be as our Father in Heaven.

Just some interesting thoughts...
Then from our study this evening, in Abraham 5 in verse 5, it wasn't until they added Water that man could be formed.

I will post more of my thoughts from last nights study later. Abraham 4... the focus of that study is the fact that all that took place in Abraham 4 was a planning session! Do I plan that effectively... More to come!

A week of studies

I haven't posted in a while, but I promise, I have studied. Peach is taking an Old Testament class this semester, which is great because I really don't know the Old Testament like I should. It also gives me an opportunity to study the Pearl of Great Price as well as the Joseph Smith Translations. It is such a blessing to have modern revelation.

As Peach and I read through Genesis and Moses and Abraham, it amazes me to see how perfect the Plan of Salvation really is!

Here's a snipit from a few of my studies.

Moses 6-8
In Moses 6 Adam learns the Plan of Salvation and is Baptized. I found a new favorite set of verses in 59 and 60.
59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the ^aspirit, which I have made, and so became of ^bdust a living soul, even so ye must be ^cborn again into the kingdom of heaven, of ^dwater, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and ^eenjoy the ^fwords of ^geternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal ^hglory;

60 For by the ^awater ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are ^bjustified, and by the ^cblood ye are ^dsanctified; (Definition)

I have never studied these three together... Water, Blood, and The Spirit. The link for Spirit in 59 leads to 1 John 5:8
This will be a great study. I'll post my findings as I learn more!

Also, a good study to learn more about the Plan of Salvation is from The Joseph Smith Manual
Chapter 17.

I will post my thoughts on this later.

3rd Nephi Chapter 27

Here goes my first study~

I opened my scriptures to 3rd Nephi 27.

1 And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were ^aunited in ^bmighty prayer and ^cfasting.

- UNITED then leads to
D&C 29: 6 And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ^aask in ^bfaith, being ^cunited in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.

and to D&C 84:1

1 A ^arevelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they ^bunited their hearts and ^clifted their voices on high.


Whenever people "unite" their hearts in earnest prayer, the Lord will answer. The Disciples were praying to know a name by which to call the church that Christ had established with them in the Americas. He "showed himself unto them" and answered their prayer.

5 ...For by this name shall ye be called at the last day
8 And how be it ^amy ^bchurch save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.
9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel...

SO that's the ticket. It is Christ's church IF it is built upon His gospel - that's an important point. There are so many churches in the world today, all claiming to be churches of Christ. So what is the difference between those churches and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? It's authority.... it's revelation... it's the fact that the WHOLE gospel had to be restored to the earth in it's entirety. Other churches teach truth. They bring good into the world. I don't deny that. The difference is that it is not the WHOLE truth. During the time of the Apostasy many of the "plain and precious" truths were lost. The Priesthood was also removed from the Earth and if the Priesthood was removed, so was the authority to act in the name of God. That is why there was a NEED for a RESTORATION.

Continuing in 3rd Nephi 27... Verses 13-22 sum up the Plan of our Heavenly Father.

Then in verse 25 - out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be ^ajudged, for by them shall their ^bworks be known unto men.

This is interesting... the books that have been written and shall be written we will be judged. How important is it that we study the scriptures? From them, we will be judged.
A side note - Linking to the beginning thoughts on UNITED hearts. I find it interesting that the only reason we have the Book of Mormon today was because the prophets were UNITED in their desires and prayers to have the records preserved.
Enos: 15 Wherefore, I knowing that the Lord God was able to ^apreserve our records, I cried unto him continually, for he had said unto me: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it.
Mormon: 11 And they were handed down from king Benjamin, from generation to generation until they have fallen into ^amy hands. And I, Mormon, pray to God that they may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved; for there are great things written upon them, out of which ^bmy people and their brethren shall be ^cjudged at the great and last day, according to the word of God which is written.

For more on being judged from the words, follow the cross references... like 11c. And for more study about how the Book of Mormon was to come forth and the importance of the Book of Mormon I like these following chapters:
2 Nephi 27

2 Nephi 29

I love the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful that the records were preserved that we have them now. We have such an amazing opportunity to learn from these great Prophets and people of the past. And yet, all too often I set aside my scriptures to watch TV or to surf the Internet. Hopefully as intended, this blog will help me stay motivated to learn from the scriptures. I know the Book of Mormon is true. And the most amazing thing to me is that ANYONE can know... I love that! The Book of Mormon comes with a promise... and it does not fail!

Moroni 10:
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how ^amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ^bponder it in your ^chearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the ^gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things.

Lately I have been lacking in my gospel study. In order to motivate myself to have a more effective study, I decided to create a blog where I can post the thoughts or impressions I have as I study.
I also invite comments and questions to my posts. If you have a question regarding a gospel topic you do not have a full understanding of or a question about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, let me know, and together we can search for the answers.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and His true church has been restored to the earth. What an amazing time to live and learn!