Thursday, February 24, 2011
Quote of the Day: Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:
“The place to cure most of the ills of society is in the homes of the people. Building our homes as fortresses of righteousness for protection from the world takes constant labor and diligence. . . .
“In the plan of salvation, all families are precious instruments in the Lord’s hands to help direct His children toward a celestial destination. The righteous molding of an immortal soul is the highest work we can do, and the home is the place to do it. To accomplish this eternal work, we should make our homes gospel centered. When peace and harmony abound, the Holy Spirit will ever be present. The storms of the evil one can be stopped at the very entrance of our homes. . . .
“The Lord’s standards for building a temple apply also to building spiritual strength in our homes: ‘Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God’ ( D&C 88:119 ). Do we heed this counsel from the Lord? Do we do what He asks? We would do well to build our homes according to this plan, or they are destined to fail” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 85; or Ensign, May 1993, 69 ).
“The place to cure most of the ills of society is in the homes of the people. Building our homes as fortresses of righteousness for protection from the world takes constant labor and diligence. . . .
“In the plan of salvation, all families are precious instruments in the Lord’s hands to help direct His children toward a celestial destination. The righteous molding of an immortal soul is the highest work we can do, and the home is the place to do it. To accomplish this eternal work, we should make our homes gospel centered. When peace and harmony abound, the Holy Spirit will ever be present. The storms of the evil one can be stopped at the very entrance of our homes. . . .
“The Lord’s standards for building a temple apply also to building spiritual strength in our homes: ‘Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God’ ( D&C 88:119 ). Do we heed this counsel from the Lord? Do we do what He asks? We would do well to build our homes according to this plan, or they are destined to fail” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 85; or Ensign, May 1993, 69 ).
Thursday, February 17, 2011
LDS Young Women Sing "He Sent His Son"
How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
What does he ask? Live like his Son.
Words: Mabel Jones Gabbott, b. 1910
He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
What does he ask? Live like his Son.
Words: Mabel Jones Gabbott, b. 1910
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Book of Mormon Challenge: 1 Nephi Chapter 3
In this chapter we find Lehi's sons going back to Jerusalem to get the scriptures. It was essential that they have the scriptures with them as they went on their exodus out of Jerusalem so that they could study them and keep the commandments listed in them. In addition to having the word of God through the scriptures, this also gave them a way to preserve their written language for their posterity.
Nephi showed great faith in God when faced with the problem of how to get the scriptures. His brothers were not as faithful, even though an angel of the Lord appeared to them. They feared man more than God. Probably one of the most quoted verses from this chapter is Nephi's response to his father's request that he and his brothers go back to Jerusalem to get the scriptures:
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
This verse is a great reminder to me that God gives us no commandment that we cannot follow. All we need is faith in Him!
Nephi showed great faith in God when faced with the problem of how to get the scriptures. His brothers were not as faithful, even though an angel of the Lord appeared to them. They feared man more than God. Probably one of the most quoted verses from this chapter is Nephi's response to his father's request that he and his brothers go back to Jerusalem to get the scriptures:
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
This verse is a great reminder to me that God gives us no commandment that we cannot follow. All we need is faith in Him!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Truth Restored
RICHARD G. SCOTT
"Truth Restored," , (October 2, 2005)
All around us we see a growing desire for spiritual direction the world over as a result of increasing natural and human-caused disasters. This yearning for spiritual guidance is a consequence of our being children of a divine Heavenly Father. It is understandable that when we face difficulty we turn to our Creator for help. Our loving Heavenly Father knew that deteriorating world conditions, severe personal challenges, and disasters would lead His children to seek His spiritual nourishment. The challenge is how to properly find it.
We lived in the presence of God our Holy Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in a premortal existence. There we gained an understanding of the Father’s plan of salvation and the promise of help when we would be born as mortals on earth. The primary purpose of life was explained. We were told:
“We will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
“And they who keep their first estate [that is to be obedient in the premortal existence] shall be added upon; … and they who keep their second estate [that is, to be obedient during mortal life] shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” 1
Those words express the most fundamental purpose of your being on earth. That purpose is to prove yourself obedient to the commandments of the Lord and thereby grow in understanding, capacity, and every worthy trait. It is to receive every required ordinance and to make and keep every needed covenant. It is to form and nourish a family. This experience includes having periods of trial and happiness, with the objective of returning triumphantly, having met well the challenges and opportunities of mortal life to receive the glorious blessings promised for such obedience.
So that the period of mortal testing and growth would yield its greatest benefit, you were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality. Our Father’s pattern for guiding you through mortal life was explained. He would choose from among the most valiant, obedient spirit children prophets and other authorized servants to hold His priesthood, to be taught His truth, and to be guided to disseminate that truth among His children on earth. God would give each child moral agency, the right to choose His counsel or to ignore it. All would be encouraged but not forced to obey. You understood that while you could choose your path on earth, you could not determine the outcome of your choices. That would be decided by eternal law.
Should one live to qualify for all of the richest promised blessings but for reasons beyond his or her control not be able to obtain them on earth, there would be a compensating opportunity in postmortal life. Your memory of premortal life would be kept from you to assure that it would be a valid test, but there would be guidance given to show you how to live. Our Father’s plan for salvation in this life with the opportunity of returning to Him would be called the gospel of Jesus Christ.
From before the Creation of this earth, there was rebellion against our Father’s plan, instigated by a brilliant but evil spirit we know as Lucifer or Satan. He proposed a modification of the requirements. So convincing was his argument that one-third of the Father’s spirit children followed Satan and were cast out. They lost the extraordinary opportunity to grow and the critical advantage of a mortal body.
Our Holy Father, who knows each of His children perfectly, realized that over time many would be tempted, become worldly, and reject the testimony and teachings of His prophets. Spiritual darkness would replace the light of truth in a condition called an apostasy. The period from the introduction of truth to its general loss through sin would be called a dispensation. Prophet after prophet would be chosen in a series of dispensations to keep truth on earth for the faithful despite its distortion or rejection by many.
You learned that the Light of Christ would provide that guidance. It gives light and life to all things. It prompts all individuals throughout the earth to distinguish truth from error, right from wrong. The Light of Christ is not a person. It is a power and influence that comes from God our Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, and, when followed, can lead a person to qualify for the more definitive guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. You were told that transgression would weaken the influence of the Holy Ghost, but it could be restored through proper repentance. You rejoiced to know that the obedient who would receive the proper ordinances with the necessary covenants and remain faithful would inherit celestial glory and live in the presence of the Father and His Son throughout the eternities.
How do we know these truths? How can you confirm their validity? You see around you great confusion regarding the nature of God, His teachings, and the purpose of life. How then does God, our Heavenly Father, guide His children on earth? How does He communicate truth and His will so that faithful, believing children can make the right choices and receive the blessings Heavenly Father wants them to have? I will explain.
From the foundation of this earth, God our Father has consistently followed His plan I have just described. Adam labored to share our Father’s plan with his children and descendants. Many believed and were blessed. But many chose to use their divine gift of moral agency to refuse His teachings and His gospel. The disobedient rejected the truth, distorted the teachings and ordinances, and distanced themselves from God. In time, the light of truth was replaced by spiritual darkness, and the priesthood and the true Church were lost among the people.
Prophets such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses renewed the truth for their dispensation, but in time their efforts were rejected by most. In the meridian of time Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son of God, was born on earth. He restored the truth and ministered with love and compassion. He established His Church again on earth with apostles and prophets. Through intense suffering He fulfilled His Holy Father’s divine commission to become our Savior and Redeemer. He allowed Himself to be crucified. He was resurrected and overcame physical death. His infinite atoning sacrifice is a supernal gift that allows the repentant to be forgiven of sins and qualify for eternal life. But even so the Son of God was rejected by all but a few. His Apostles and Church members were persecuted and many killed. The earth sank into a long and dreadful period of intense spiritual darkness.
The scriptures record that throughout history, on occasions of exceptional importance, God the Father’s voice has been heard. On repeated occasions Jesus Christ has personally appeared to select individuals. Yet there is only one supernal, singular instance of which we have knowledge that God the Father Himself appeared in person. This was done with His precious Holy Son, Jesus Christ, to an audience of one. That one was young Joseph Smith Jr., an extraordinary spirit prepared before the foundation of the earth. He would become the greatest prophet sent to earth. About to come forth was the return of priesthood authority, the complete Restoration of the Church established by the Savior, with additional scripture required for our time provided by continuing revelation from the Savior.
Our benevolent Father came from His vast creations to this earth to clarify truth, to disperse the intense clouds of spiritual darkness, to establish His true identity, to restore a fulness of truth, and to provide the only way to obtain secure, spiritual guidance. This momentous Restoration began with the Father’s simple phrase “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” 2 There followed a Restoration of truth, priesthood, sacred ordinances, and the true Church, with the Father’s plan of salvation and happiness. When that plan is lived, it will help you overcome every challenge in life. It will help you qualify, through faith and obedience, to have the divine spiritual guidance you need. That support will give you the strength to live as you know you ought to live, no matter how world conditions degrade.
What occasion would be so stupendously important as to warrant this unprecedented visit of God the Father? It was to initiate the “dispensation of the fulness of times” foretold by prophets of the old and new testaments. The time had come for the Father to gather “all things in Christ,” 3 commit all the keys of the kingdom, and restore the knowledge communicated in past dispensations 4 as He established the final dispensation of the gospel for this earth.
Knowing that it would be difficult for many to believe that such a glorious Restoration did occur, the Savior provided a tangible witness to establish the truth of it, namely the Book of Mormon. The way to confirm the reality of the Restoration is described in its pages. Also, He provided additional illuminating scripture needed for our time in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price through Joseph Smith. No wonder so much of Joseph Smith’s ministry is focused on the Savior, His Atonement and doctrine.
While this precious, vital message has been proclaimed across the world, Satan has been most effective in causing people to ignore it or to look in the wrong places for it. The vast majority of Father’s children have not only forgotten their Father in Heaven and the purpose of mortal life, but they rarely even think of Him nor ponder for what purpose they are here in mortality. They have been led to be absorbed by mundane things that distract them from the essential ones. Don’t you make that mistake.
As a servant of Jesus Christ, I testify that what I have described is true. It is not sufficient to have a vague understanding of truth or the reality of the Father and His Son, our Savior. Each of us must come to know who They really are. You must feel how very much They love you. You must trust that as you consistently live the truth the best you can, They will help you realize the purpose of your earth life and strengthen you to qualify for the blessings promised. To be obedient to the commandments of God requires an understanding of them. It necessitates faith in them. That comprehension is best obtained through personal study of doctrine. That is one of the reasons that in July of this year, President Hinckley and his counselors invited all members to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. They promised, “Those who read the Book of Mormon will be blessed with an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a greater resolve to obey His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.” 5 I have tested and proven that promise in my own life and have confirmed its truth. If you have conscientiously obeyed that counsel, you know what I mean. If you have not yet begun, there is still time to have your life enriched by reading the pages of the Book of Mormon. Please do it.
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I solemnly testify that God our Father and Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith brought to pass the Restoration I have described, that the resplendent light of truth and the Church of Jesus Christ are again on earth, that the true nature of God the Father and His Son has been again revealed, and that the proper way to receive spiritual guidance has been clarified. I testify that God’s plan of salvation has been made available to all who will honestly seek it. Embrace it. Live it for your peace and happiness. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
"Truth Restored," , (October 2, 2005)
All around us we see a growing desire for spiritual direction the world over as a result of increasing natural and human-caused disasters. This yearning for spiritual guidance is a consequence of our being children of a divine Heavenly Father. It is understandable that when we face difficulty we turn to our Creator for help. Our loving Heavenly Father knew that deteriorating world conditions, severe personal challenges, and disasters would lead His children to seek His spiritual nourishment. The challenge is how to properly find it.
We lived in the presence of God our Holy Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in a premortal existence. There we gained an understanding of the Father’s plan of salvation and the promise of help when we would be born as mortals on earth. The primary purpose of life was explained. We were told:
“We will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
“And they who keep their first estate [that is to be obedient in the premortal existence] shall be added upon; … and they who keep their second estate [that is, to be obedient during mortal life] shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” 1
Those words express the most fundamental purpose of your being on earth. That purpose is to prove yourself obedient to the commandments of the Lord and thereby grow in understanding, capacity, and every worthy trait. It is to receive every required ordinance and to make and keep every needed covenant. It is to form and nourish a family. This experience includes having periods of trial and happiness, with the objective of returning triumphantly, having met well the challenges and opportunities of mortal life to receive the glorious blessings promised for such obedience.
So that the period of mortal testing and growth would yield its greatest benefit, you were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality. Our Father’s pattern for guiding you through mortal life was explained. He would choose from among the most valiant, obedient spirit children prophets and other authorized servants to hold His priesthood, to be taught His truth, and to be guided to disseminate that truth among His children on earth. God would give each child moral agency, the right to choose His counsel or to ignore it. All would be encouraged but not forced to obey. You understood that while you could choose your path on earth, you could not determine the outcome of your choices. That would be decided by eternal law.
Should one live to qualify for all of the richest promised blessings but for reasons beyond his or her control not be able to obtain them on earth, there would be a compensating opportunity in postmortal life. Your memory of premortal life would be kept from you to assure that it would be a valid test, but there would be guidance given to show you how to live. Our Father’s plan for salvation in this life with the opportunity of returning to Him would be called the gospel of Jesus Christ.
From before the Creation of this earth, there was rebellion against our Father’s plan, instigated by a brilliant but evil spirit we know as Lucifer or Satan. He proposed a modification of the requirements. So convincing was his argument that one-third of the Father’s spirit children followed Satan and were cast out. They lost the extraordinary opportunity to grow and the critical advantage of a mortal body.
Our Holy Father, who knows each of His children perfectly, realized that over time many would be tempted, become worldly, and reject the testimony and teachings of His prophets. Spiritual darkness would replace the light of truth in a condition called an apostasy. The period from the introduction of truth to its general loss through sin would be called a dispensation. Prophet after prophet would be chosen in a series of dispensations to keep truth on earth for the faithful despite its distortion or rejection by many.
You learned that the Light of Christ would provide that guidance. It gives light and life to all things. It prompts all individuals throughout the earth to distinguish truth from error, right from wrong. The Light of Christ is not a person. It is a power and influence that comes from God our Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, and, when followed, can lead a person to qualify for the more definitive guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. You were told that transgression would weaken the influence of the Holy Ghost, but it could be restored through proper repentance. You rejoiced to know that the obedient who would receive the proper ordinances with the necessary covenants and remain faithful would inherit celestial glory and live in the presence of the Father and His Son throughout the eternities.
How do we know these truths? How can you confirm their validity? You see around you great confusion regarding the nature of God, His teachings, and the purpose of life. How then does God, our Heavenly Father, guide His children on earth? How does He communicate truth and His will so that faithful, believing children can make the right choices and receive the blessings Heavenly Father wants them to have? I will explain.
From the foundation of this earth, God our Father has consistently followed His plan I have just described. Adam labored to share our Father’s plan with his children and descendants. Many believed and were blessed. But many chose to use their divine gift of moral agency to refuse His teachings and His gospel. The disobedient rejected the truth, distorted the teachings and ordinances, and distanced themselves from God. In time, the light of truth was replaced by spiritual darkness, and the priesthood and the true Church were lost among the people.
Prophets such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses renewed the truth for their dispensation, but in time their efforts were rejected by most. In the meridian of time Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son of God, was born on earth. He restored the truth and ministered with love and compassion. He established His Church again on earth with apostles and prophets. Through intense suffering He fulfilled His Holy Father’s divine commission to become our Savior and Redeemer. He allowed Himself to be crucified. He was resurrected and overcame physical death. His infinite atoning sacrifice is a supernal gift that allows the repentant to be forgiven of sins and qualify for eternal life. But even so the Son of God was rejected by all but a few. His Apostles and Church members were persecuted and many killed. The earth sank into a long and dreadful period of intense spiritual darkness.
The scriptures record that throughout history, on occasions of exceptional importance, God the Father’s voice has been heard. On repeated occasions Jesus Christ has personally appeared to select individuals. Yet there is only one supernal, singular instance of which we have knowledge that God the Father Himself appeared in person. This was done with His precious Holy Son, Jesus Christ, to an audience of one. That one was young Joseph Smith Jr., an extraordinary spirit prepared before the foundation of the earth. He would become the greatest prophet sent to earth. About to come forth was the return of priesthood authority, the complete Restoration of the Church established by the Savior, with additional scripture required for our time provided by continuing revelation from the Savior.
Our benevolent Father came from His vast creations to this earth to clarify truth, to disperse the intense clouds of spiritual darkness, to establish His true identity, to restore a fulness of truth, and to provide the only way to obtain secure, spiritual guidance. This momentous Restoration began with the Father’s simple phrase “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” 2 There followed a Restoration of truth, priesthood, sacred ordinances, and the true Church, with the Father’s plan of salvation and happiness. When that plan is lived, it will help you overcome every challenge in life. It will help you qualify, through faith and obedience, to have the divine spiritual guidance you need. That support will give you the strength to live as you know you ought to live, no matter how world conditions degrade.
What occasion would be so stupendously important as to warrant this unprecedented visit of God the Father? It was to initiate the “dispensation of the fulness of times” foretold by prophets of the old and new testaments. The time had come for the Father to gather “all things in Christ,” 3 commit all the keys of the kingdom, and restore the knowledge communicated in past dispensations 4 as He established the final dispensation of the gospel for this earth.
Knowing that it would be difficult for many to believe that such a glorious Restoration did occur, the Savior provided a tangible witness to establish the truth of it, namely the Book of Mormon. The way to confirm the reality of the Restoration is described in its pages. Also, He provided additional illuminating scripture needed for our time in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price through Joseph Smith. No wonder so much of Joseph Smith’s ministry is focused on the Savior, His Atonement and doctrine.
While this precious, vital message has been proclaimed across the world, Satan has been most effective in causing people to ignore it or to look in the wrong places for it. The vast majority of Father’s children have not only forgotten their Father in Heaven and the purpose of mortal life, but they rarely even think of Him nor ponder for what purpose they are here in mortality. They have been led to be absorbed by mundane things that distract them from the essential ones. Don’t you make that mistake.
As a servant of Jesus Christ, I testify that what I have described is true. It is not sufficient to have a vague understanding of truth or the reality of the Father and His Son, our Savior. Each of us must come to know who They really are. You must feel how very much They love you. You must trust that as you consistently live the truth the best you can, They will help you realize the purpose of your earth life and strengthen you to qualify for the blessings promised. To be obedient to the commandments of God requires an understanding of them. It necessitates faith in them. That comprehension is best obtained through personal study of doctrine. That is one of the reasons that in July of this year, President Hinckley and his counselors invited all members to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. They promised, “Those who read the Book of Mormon will be blessed with an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a greater resolve to obey His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.” 5 I have tested and proven that promise in my own life and have confirmed its truth. If you have conscientiously obeyed that counsel, you know what I mean. If you have not yet begun, there is still time to have your life enriched by reading the pages of the Book of Mormon. Please do it.
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I solemnly testify that God our Father and Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith brought to pass the Restoration I have described, that the resplendent light of truth and the Church of Jesus Christ are again on earth, that the true nature of God the Father and His Son has been again revealed, and that the proper way to receive spiritual guidance has been clarified. I testify that God’s plan of salvation has been made available to all who will honestly seek it. Embrace it. Live it for your peace and happiness. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Obeying the Commandments with Exactness
(This is a talk that I gave in church today :)
At the end of December in 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation that a temple was to be built in Kirtland, Ohio. This revelation Is found in Doctrine and Covenants section 88. This was a very difficult time for the saints. And they didn’t have the subscriptions needed to pay for the building of the temple. On June 1, 1833, Joseph Smith received the revelation in section 95 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord said to the saints
“1Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you—
2Wherefore, ye must needs be chastened and stand rebuked before my face;
3For ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment in all things, that I have given unto you concerning the building of mine house;
If we do a quick calculation here, we can see that only about 6 months had passed since the first revelation was given, but the Lord felt need to chastise the saints. He wanted them to be able to receive the temple ordinances in the short time available to them.
President Joseph Fielding Smith, who was then President of the Quorum of the Twelve:
“Four days after the Lord had rebuked the brethren for their neglect, without waiting for subscriptions, the brethren went to work on the Temple. Elder George A. Smith, a recent convert, hauled the first load of stone for the Temple. Hyrum Smith and Reynolds Cahoon commenced digging the trench for the walls, and they finished the same with their own hands” ( Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:407).
How promptly do we obey the commands of the Lord?
I have a show that I like to watch that is about people who hoard things in their home. Usually these people have boxes of stuff stacked clear to their ceiling, and have little pathways through which they navigate their way around the house. The host of the show works with them to teach them how to get rid of their junk, and to learn skills to keep from hoarding in the future. One of the tools that he teaches them is to avoid the mindset of “Later”. A hoarder might have a stack of cards and letters, and in their mind they might say, “Someday I’m going to put those in a scrapbook.” Or they might have a box of odds and ends and say, “One of these days I’m going to sort through that box”, but instead they lay it aside and it stacks up with the rest of the junk. Some of the things they save for later in case they might need them. Many people, myself included, save clothing for the Later day when we might have lost weight, and need a smaller size! And so the term “later” becomes the enemy of the hoarder, and the junk stacks high to the ceiling.
As I watched this show, I wondered how many of us are affected by the “later syndrome” with regards to the commandments. What commandments are we putting off obeying until some day in the future? “I’ll pay my tithing as soon as I am in a situation where I can make more money.” “As soon as my kids are older, it will be easier to have family home evening.” “I’ll buy my food storage when I get a bigger house to store it.” One of the things taught to the hoarders in that television show is that if we are always thinking about what we are going to do in the future, we aren’t living in the present. It’s a good reminder that eternity isn’t some far off goal that we strive for. Now is eternity. We are living in our eternity now. And how we live now will determine where we live in the eternities.
We’ve been studying the Doctrine and Covenants and church history this year in seminary, and so I had a chance to once again read section 76, that speaks about the three degrees of glory, and who shall inhabit them. I will plainly confess that reading this section was a strong reminder to me that I need to strictly keep the commandments.
Here is a description found in section 76 of the kind of people who will make it to the Celestial kingdom:
50And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51They 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 has given—
52That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53And 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.
62These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
69These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. DC 76:50-53, 62,69
As I read those words, I wonder if I am doing what is necessary to receive the blessings promised to these people who will inherit the Celestial kingdom.
Now let me read about the people who will inherit the Terrestrial kingdom, focusing mainly on the verses that I think pertain most to people who have been baptized, and are members of the church today.
75These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
79These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God. (DC 76:75,79)
I was reminded of the story of the stripling warriors. And in particular I was reminded of a word, that I haven’t found anywhere else in the scriptures. Let me read to you what the Book of Mormon records about these young men, and see if you can guess the word that I was thinking of.
Alma 57:21
Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.
These young men were protected in war, partly because of their faith in God, but also, according to this scripture, because they performed every word of command with “Exactness”. The word “Exactness” in this situation, means, that there is no deviation from the command. They obeyed the commands strictly. That is a great example for us to follow. How many of us obey the commandments with “exactness”?
There have been a lot of words mentioned in these scriptures that all have the same kind of meaning. The word EXACTNESS, the word, “Just”, and the word, “Valiant”. They all denote a high standard of worthiness and obedience. We do have a high standard to keep, but the Lord promises to bless us if we are obedient. In fact, there are many blessings that the scriptures tell us about that we get in return for keeping the commandments. Read what the Lord tells us about the blessings promised if we keep the following commandments:
Word of Wisdom (law of health):
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen. DC 89: 18-21
Sabbath Day Observance:
9And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
16Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, DC 59:9,16
Honor Your Parents;
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12
TITHING:
10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:10,11
With so many blessings promised to us, why don’t we obey? Maybe we need to learn discipline over our lives. Maybe we are waiting until “later”. Whatever the reason, if we don’t obey the commandments, we won’t receive the blessings. In Doctrine and covenants 82:10 we read:
10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise. DC 82:10
On the flip side, listen to this verse from section 41:1
1Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me;…”
God delights in blessing us. Have you ever had a gift that you were excited to give to someone else, one that made you so happy to think about how much they would enjoy it? God delights to bless us, but those blessings are predicated upon our obedience.
Let us all be more valiant in the testimony of Jesus, and in keeping the commandments. Let us strive to obey all of the commands with exactness, so that at that last day we can be part of that group of just men made perfect through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
At the end of December in 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation that a temple was to be built in Kirtland, Ohio. This revelation Is found in Doctrine and Covenants section 88. This was a very difficult time for the saints. And they didn’t have the subscriptions needed to pay for the building of the temple. On June 1, 1833, Joseph Smith received the revelation in section 95 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord said to the saints
“1Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you—
2Wherefore, ye must needs be chastened and stand rebuked before my face;
3For ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment in all things, that I have given unto you concerning the building of mine house;
If we do a quick calculation here, we can see that only about 6 months had passed since the first revelation was given, but the Lord felt need to chastise the saints. He wanted them to be able to receive the temple ordinances in the short time available to them.
President Joseph Fielding Smith, who was then President of the Quorum of the Twelve:
“Four days after the Lord had rebuked the brethren for their neglect, without waiting for subscriptions, the brethren went to work on the Temple. Elder George A. Smith, a recent convert, hauled the first load of stone for the Temple. Hyrum Smith and Reynolds Cahoon commenced digging the trench for the walls, and they finished the same with their own hands” ( Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:407).
How promptly do we obey the commands of the Lord?
I have a show that I like to watch that is about people who hoard things in their home. Usually these people have boxes of stuff stacked clear to their ceiling, and have little pathways through which they navigate their way around the house. The host of the show works with them to teach them how to get rid of their junk, and to learn skills to keep from hoarding in the future. One of the tools that he teaches them is to avoid the mindset of “Later”. A hoarder might have a stack of cards and letters, and in their mind they might say, “Someday I’m going to put those in a scrapbook.” Or they might have a box of odds and ends and say, “One of these days I’m going to sort through that box”, but instead they lay it aside and it stacks up with the rest of the junk. Some of the things they save for later in case they might need them. Many people, myself included, save clothing for the Later day when we might have lost weight, and need a smaller size! And so the term “later” becomes the enemy of the hoarder, and the junk stacks high to the ceiling.
As I watched this show, I wondered how many of us are affected by the “later syndrome” with regards to the commandments. What commandments are we putting off obeying until some day in the future? “I’ll pay my tithing as soon as I am in a situation where I can make more money.” “As soon as my kids are older, it will be easier to have family home evening.” “I’ll buy my food storage when I get a bigger house to store it.” One of the things taught to the hoarders in that television show is that if we are always thinking about what we are going to do in the future, we aren’t living in the present. It’s a good reminder that eternity isn’t some far off goal that we strive for. Now is eternity. We are living in our eternity now. And how we live now will determine where we live in the eternities.
We’ve been studying the Doctrine and Covenants and church history this year in seminary, and so I had a chance to once again read section 76, that speaks about the three degrees of glory, and who shall inhabit them. I will plainly confess that reading this section was a strong reminder to me that I need to strictly keep the commandments.
Here is a description found in section 76 of the kind of people who will make it to the Celestial kingdom:
50And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51They 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 has given—
52That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53And 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.
62These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
69These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. DC 76:50-53, 62,69
As I read those words, I wonder if I am doing what is necessary to receive the blessings promised to these people who will inherit the Celestial kingdom.
Now let me read about the people who will inherit the Terrestrial kingdom, focusing mainly on the verses that I think pertain most to people who have been baptized, and are members of the church today.
75These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
79These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God. (DC 76:75,79)
I was reminded of the story of the stripling warriors. And in particular I was reminded of a word, that I haven’t found anywhere else in the scriptures. Let me read to you what the Book of Mormon records about these young men, and see if you can guess the word that I was thinking of.
Alma 57:21
Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.
These young men were protected in war, partly because of their faith in God, but also, according to this scripture, because they performed every word of command with “Exactness”. The word “Exactness” in this situation, means, that there is no deviation from the command. They obeyed the commands strictly. That is a great example for us to follow. How many of us obey the commandments with “exactness”?
There have been a lot of words mentioned in these scriptures that all have the same kind of meaning. The word EXACTNESS, the word, “Just”, and the word, “Valiant”. They all denote a high standard of worthiness and obedience. We do have a high standard to keep, but the Lord promises to bless us if we are obedient. In fact, there are many blessings that the scriptures tell us about that we get in return for keeping the commandments. Read what the Lord tells us about the blessings promised if we keep the following commandments:
Word of Wisdom (law of health):
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen. DC 89: 18-21
Sabbath Day Observance:
9And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
16Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, DC 59:9,16
Honor Your Parents;
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12
TITHING:
10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:10,11
With so many blessings promised to us, why don’t we obey? Maybe we need to learn discipline over our lives. Maybe we are waiting until “later”. Whatever the reason, if we don’t obey the commandments, we won’t receive the blessings. In Doctrine and covenants 82:10 we read:
10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise. DC 82:10
On the flip side, listen to this verse from section 41:1
1Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me;…”
God delights in blessing us. Have you ever had a gift that you were excited to give to someone else, one that made you so happy to think about how much they would enjoy it? God delights to bless us, but those blessings are predicated upon our obedience.
Let us all be more valiant in the testimony of Jesus, and in keeping the commandments. Let us strive to obey all of the commands with exactness, so that at that last day we can be part of that group of just men made perfect through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Book of Mormon Challenge: 1 Nephi Chapter 2
Nephi teaches a great principle in this chapter; that when the prophet teaches us, we can pray to know that what he has told us is true. Nephi prayed and received a confirmation from God that his father's visions were true, and that they should leave Jerusalem. His brothers did not pray for this confirmation, and murmured against their father. We can follow this same principle today to gain our own confirmation that what the living prophet today is telling us is what God wants for us. Laman and Lemuel could have avoided a lot of turmoil had they only turned to God with their questions!
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