How does Christ's mercy extend to me even though I am a sinner? This question has perplexed me my whole life. The born again Christians seem to believe that they are saved by declaring that they believe in Christ - as if something magical happens and they are able to gain Christ's mercy and salvation merely by confessing or saying that 'I believe'. My early training as a Latter-day Saint, taught me that obedience is where it's at and becoming perfect brings salvation (or exaltation).
So, here's what I believe: Each day as I sincerely strive to remember Jesus Christ, striving to keep the commandments, Christ takes up the slack regarding my imperfections. This quest for completeness or wholeness (perfection) may start at 99% Christ and 1% me. But, I grow from grace to grace, line upon line and each weakness (sin) becomes a strength unto me through His grace. I humbly know that I can't do this by myself. All that I can do is change from day to day, month to month and year to year. As miraculous changes in my character occur, I am humbled and acknowledge that the change has happened only through Christ's grace.
Heavenly Father cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. That's why we have a Mediator! We pray to the Father in Jesus' name because we cannot access the Father except through Christ. If we are sincerely striving to follow our savior, we have access to the Father because Jesus is taking up the slack regarding our failings.
All that we can do is put our trust in God, exercise faith and work on being obedient. God, through the Holy Ghost will order and prioritize our progression back to Him. Using a shotgun approach in perfecting my keeping of each commandment all at the same time has never worked for me. It becomes overwhelming. But, changing little by little each day as the Spirit directs is doable and rewarding. It is rewarding because I am blessed each time I make a little progress. This increases my faith. My God has no desire to overwhelm me.
This is what I believe is meant by being justified by the Spirit. As we do this process consistently over time we finally become just men made perfect. I have a sneaky feeling that during the process we are perfect in Christ and as we change and grow, we through His grace become perfected in Christ. We are then ready to be sanctified by the blood of Christ. We receive the Second Comforter.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
High Priest Group Lesson - January 2011
January 1, 2011 HP Lesson on Personal Growth
I am all about personal growth. I am not very good at it but I believe that we begin to faint when we are not growing spiritual.
I also believe that our personal growth or lack there of manifests itself in every aspect of our life. We are either bored about gospel or excited about it.
[Lec on Faith 6:4a] "Such was, and always will be, the situation of the saints of God, that unless they have an actual knowledge that the course that they are pursuing is according to the will of God, they will grow weary in their minds and faint;"
[A hymn comes to mind regarding the subject of personal growth:
Be Thou Humble, no. 130
1. Be thou humble in thy weakness, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee,
Shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers.
Be thou humble in thy pleading, and the Lord thy God shall bless thee,
Shall bless thee with a sweet and calm assurance that he cares.
2. Be thou humble in thy calling, and the Lord thy God shall teach thee
To serve his children gladly with a pure and gentle love.
Be thou humble in thy longing, and the Lord thy God shall take thee,
Shall take thee home at last to ever dwell with him above.
[I believe that one of the fruits of personal spiritual growth is an increased ability to hear and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.]
[Brothren, be thinking of promptings, you have received in your life and have acted on, and the results of following the prompting]
(rhetorical Q) Do we view our callings as sacred and desire to be instruments in God's hands in the service of others?
Q: Do we view our life on this earth as a sacred time where we continuously strive to develope and maintain our connection with the true VINE?
READ John 15:1 I am the true avine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every abranch in me that beareth not bfruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cpurgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the avine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without bme ye can do nothing.
6 If a man aabide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye aabide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall bask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Do any of you remember what President Webb's talk was about in the first stake conference of 2010? Hint: he talked about learning a language.
What did he say about learning the language of the Holy Ghost? [we need to learn His language, He doesn't learn ours]
But, it all begins with our own desires to exert ourselves spiritually.
Q: What does it mean to you to exert yourselves in a spiritual way?
Common responses: go to temple, read scriptures, pray....
Q: Why do we want to become more spiritual beings?
2 Nephi 9:
2Nephi 9:42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.
43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.
[The answer is having that happiness prepared for the Saints.]
President Henry B Eyring said is the last General Conference, “Whenever darkness fills our minds, we may know that we are not possessed of the Spirit of God. … When we are filled with the Spirit of God we are filled with joy, with peace, and with happiness, no matter what our circumstances may be; for it is a spirit of cheerfulness and of happiness. The Lord has given unto us the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is our privilege to have that Holy Ghost reign within us, so that from morning till night and from night till morning we shall have the joy, the light and the revelation thereof.” 8 . George Q. Cannon, in Brian H. Stuy, comp., Collected Discourses Delivered by President Wilford Woodruff, His Two Counselors, the Twelve Apostles, and Others, 5 vols. (1987–92), 4:137.
Elder Richard Scott said in the October General Conference: "When faith is properly understood and used, it has dramatically far-reaching effects. Such faith can transform an individual’s life from maudlin, common everyday activities to a symphony of joy and happiness. The exercise of faith is vital to Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness. But true faith, faith unto salvation, is centered on the Lord Jesus Christ, faith in His doctrines and teachings, faith in the prophetic guidance of the Lord’s anointed, faith in the capacity to discover hidden characteristics and traits that can transform life. Truly, faith in the Savior is a principle of action and power."
Q: Why do want to become more spiritual? (if necessary) We want to be spiritual beings because it transforms our lives in happy lives.
Read: work out your own salvation in fear and trembling...
Mormon 9:27
O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.
Q: How do we become a spiritual being?
Read: all things added unto you. Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Read: Jacob 2: 18
Jacob 2:18
But abefore ye seek for briches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to ado good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
Q: Why does Jacob recommend that we first obtain a hope in Christ before we seek for riches?
Answer: Because he has reconciled himself to God. He heart has been changed by God.
Q: If we are bored or complacent about the gospel, where does the problem lie? If we just go throught the motions in our callings, especially our hometeaching calling, where do we need to start to remedy the problem?
Q: You know what I find to be invigorating about the gospel? What the Lord is going to tell me to do next.
EXPERIENCES - Brethren, I asked earlier to be thinking about experiences where the Holy Ghost has prompted you to do something. Would any of you like to share at this time?
{Your personal experience here.}
[Back in August, we talking about developing faith. Br Koresleski mentioned that we work on the hardest thing first and that would have the greatest impact.
The process of learning to follow the Spirit and growing spiritually is not supposed to be overwelming. We work on one thing at a time. How do we know what to work on? How do we know what that one thing is that God want us to do or change in our lives? We just ask our Heavenly Father in prayer, believing that we will receive an answer. When we receive the one thing, we don't disregard what we are told to do. God knows better than we do what we need to do. Let God order your spiritual growth.
If we really desire to follow God, the Lord is going to prompt us to do something. We will hear the prompting in various ways: the still small voice, in a dream, as we are meditating, reading the scriptures. The prompting will be small enough that it will be easy to reject at first. But, as we learn the language of the Holy Ghost, we will able to discern the prompting and recognize it. We then with a degree of urgency, perhaps immediately act on the prompting.
I believe that has we grow ourselves spiritual, hand in hand with Christ, we begin to cast off all doubt, we don't question the commandments the Lord gives us (either personally or from the prophets). We let Heavenly Father prioritize what we need to work on.
As we do this, our lives become more vibrant. We begin to feeling God's power flowing through us. Our hope become brighter. We start looking for ways to do our callings with greater zeal. We want to invite the Spirit by preparing. We expect the promptings to come.
Q: Why is important for each us to have the Holy Ghost guide us on a regular basis? Because God has not left us empty handed in the past. We now get it. We want to Spiritual Feast. We don't find it satisfying anymore to just go through the motions.
But, this requires that we make ourselves vulnerable to God.
Q: What do you think it mean to be vulnerable? Is our logic the same as God's?
Read about Melchezidek. What did he do? How are we like Melchezidek in our own personal callings?
Conclusion:
As we begin to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, the following quotation from the Lectures on Faith now make sense to us.
What should our new year's resolution be? The gospel and the priesthood are to be lived! Let's not have one foot in the gospel and one foot in skepticism.
Ponder your callings in life. Ask God, what He would have you do. Let the Lord priortize for you. Then, with His grace, He will help you change. But it will be one thing at a time. The Lord will guide you as you spiritually grow.
I am all about personal growth. I am not very good at it but I believe that we begin to faint when we are not growing spiritual.
I also believe that our personal growth or lack there of manifests itself in every aspect of our life. We are either bored about gospel or excited about it.
[Lec on Faith 6:4a] "Such was, and always will be, the situation of the saints of God, that unless they have an actual knowledge that the course that they are pursuing is according to the will of God, they will grow weary in their minds and faint;"
[A hymn comes to mind regarding the subject of personal growth:
Be Thou Humble, no. 130
1. Be thou humble in thy weakness, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee,
Shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers.
Be thou humble in thy pleading, and the Lord thy God shall bless thee,
Shall bless thee with a sweet and calm assurance that he cares.
2. Be thou humble in thy calling, and the Lord thy God shall teach thee
To serve his children gladly with a pure and gentle love.
Be thou humble in thy longing, and the Lord thy God shall take thee,
Shall take thee home at last to ever dwell with him above.
[I believe that one of the fruits of personal spiritual growth is an increased ability to hear and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.]
[Brothren, be thinking of promptings, you have received in your life and have acted on, and the results of following the prompting]
(rhetorical Q) Do we view our callings as sacred and desire to be instruments in God's hands in the service of others?
Q: Do we view our life on this earth as a sacred time where we continuously strive to develope and maintain our connection with the true VINE?
READ John 15:1 I am the true avine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every abranch in me that beareth not bfruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cpurgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the avine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without bme ye can do nothing.
6 If a man aabide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye aabide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall bask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Do any of you remember what President Webb's talk was about in the first stake conference of 2010? Hint: he talked about learning a language.
What did he say about learning the language of the Holy Ghost? [we need to learn His language, He doesn't learn ours]
But, it all begins with our own desires to exert ourselves spiritually.
Q: What does it mean to you to exert yourselves in a spiritual way?
Common responses: go to temple, read scriptures, pray....
Q: Why do we want to become more spiritual beings?
2 Nephi 9:
2Nephi 9:42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.
43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.
[The answer is having that happiness prepared for the Saints.]
President Henry B Eyring said is the last General Conference, “Whenever darkness fills our minds, we may know that we are not possessed of the Spirit of God. … When we are filled with the Spirit of God we are filled with joy, with peace, and with happiness, no matter what our circumstances may be; for it is a spirit of cheerfulness and of happiness. The Lord has given unto us the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is our privilege to have that Holy Ghost reign within us, so that from morning till night and from night till morning we shall have the joy, the light and the revelation thereof.” 8 . George Q. Cannon, in Brian H. Stuy, comp., Collected Discourses Delivered by President Wilford Woodruff, His Two Counselors, the Twelve Apostles, and Others, 5 vols. (1987–92), 4:137.
Elder Richard Scott said in the October General Conference: "When faith is properly understood and used, it has dramatically far-reaching effects. Such faith can transform an individual’s life from maudlin, common everyday activities to a symphony of joy and happiness. The exercise of faith is vital to Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness. But true faith, faith unto salvation, is centered on the Lord Jesus Christ, faith in His doctrines and teachings, faith in the prophetic guidance of the Lord’s anointed, faith in the capacity to discover hidden characteristics and traits that can transform life. Truly, faith in the Savior is a principle of action and power."
Q: Why do want to become more spiritual? (if necessary) We want to be spiritual beings because it transforms our lives in happy lives.
Read: work out your own salvation in fear and trembling...
Mormon 9:27
O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.
Q: How do we become a spiritual being?
Read: all things added unto you. Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Read: Jacob 2: 18
Jacob 2:18
But abefore ye seek for briches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to ado good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
Q: Why does Jacob recommend that we first obtain a hope in Christ before we seek for riches?
Answer: Because he has reconciled himself to God. He heart has been changed by God.
Q: If we are bored or complacent about the gospel, where does the problem lie? If we just go throught the motions in our callings, especially our hometeaching calling, where do we need to start to remedy the problem?
Q: You know what I find to be invigorating about the gospel? What the Lord is going to tell me to do next.
EXPERIENCES - Brethren, I asked earlier to be thinking about experiences where the Holy Ghost has prompted you to do something. Would any of you like to share at this time?
{Your personal experience here.}
[Back in August, we talking about developing faith. Br Koresleski mentioned that we work on the hardest thing first and that would have the greatest impact.
The process of learning to follow the Spirit and growing spiritually is not supposed to be overwelming. We work on one thing at a time. How do we know what to work on? How do we know what that one thing is that God want us to do or change in our lives? We just ask our Heavenly Father in prayer, believing that we will receive an answer. When we receive the one thing, we don't disregard what we are told to do. God knows better than we do what we need to do. Let God order your spiritual growth.
If we really desire to follow God, the Lord is going to prompt us to do something. We will hear the prompting in various ways: the still small voice, in a dream, as we are meditating, reading the scriptures. The prompting will be small enough that it will be easy to reject at first. But, as we learn the language of the Holy Ghost, we will able to discern the prompting and recognize it. We then with a degree of urgency, perhaps immediately act on the prompting.
I believe that has we grow ourselves spiritual, hand in hand with Christ, we begin to cast off all doubt, we don't question the commandments the Lord gives us (either personally or from the prophets). We let Heavenly Father prioritize what we need to work on.
As we do this, our lives become more vibrant. We begin to feeling God's power flowing through us. Our hope become brighter. We start looking for ways to do our callings with greater zeal. We want to invite the Spirit by preparing. We expect the promptings to come.
Q: Why is important for each us to have the Holy Ghost guide us on a regular basis? Because God has not left us empty handed in the past. We now get it. We want to Spiritual Feast. We don't find it satisfying anymore to just go through the motions.
But, this requires that we make ourselves vulnerable to God.
Q: What do you think it mean to be vulnerable? Is our logic the same as God's?
Read about Melchezidek. What did he do? How are we like Melchezidek in our own personal callings?
Conclusion:
As we begin to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, the following quotation from the Lectures on Faith now make sense to us.
What should our new year's resolution be? The gospel and the priesthood are to be lived! Let's not have one foot in the gospel and one foot in skepticism.
Ponder your callings in life. Ask God, what He would have you do. Let the Lord priortize for you. Then, with His grace, He will help you change. But it will be one thing at a time. The Lord will guide you as you spiritually grow.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Are We Willing to Believe?
I have been reading this book called The Second Comforter and encountered a part that I found to be very helpful. It starts on page 74. I hope these passages will inspire you as they have me, to view your world differently.
"How we perceive our challenges determines how we meet them. If we see God as the over riding influence in life's challenges, then we can trust God to help us through them.... It is always a battle between faith and skepticism. Do you see it as a fight between your own willingness to trust God to deliver you, or in merely physical terms. Does God care about your life's dilemmas? Will he help deliver you from your 'Goliaths'? Do you trust Him? Do you believe in Him? Do you believe He is interested and involved in your life? Will you accept the proof of His involvement as His word to you? Do you feel His proofs are not sufficient or substantial enough to have faith in them?
"Faith in a distant and unconcerned God may satisfy some Latter-day Saints. But that is not the God Nephi (or David) believed in. In Nephi's example we find a personal God involved in everyday life. We find a God who will give a challenge to us, and then walk beside us to see we succeed. Nephi is trying to teach us this is the way God operates in all of our lives. He is not distant. He is a part of each of our daily lives. We can ignore Him, or acknowledge Him. But whether we accept or reject His involvement, Nephi's view is that He is present and concerned.
"...You must accept Him as someone who cares enough about you that He will help you accomplish His commandments. You must be willing to accept the forms of communications He uses to facilitate this.
"...No Goliath in your life will destroy you. Rather, God will destroy the Goliaths for you.
"In the end, Goliaths are merely opportunities for you to demonstrate your faith. They will be swept away when they no longer serve any purpose. They are there only temporarily to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate faith.
"Those Goliaths you face are opportunities to see if you will proceed in faith to confront them. They are opportunities and blessings, not difficulties. They are mere illusions; here to test your faith. Face them with faith and with the confidence 'the Lord gives you no commandments save he shall prepare a way for you to accomplish the thing which he hath commanded,' as Nephi would put it. Until you are willing to do this, and actually begin to see life's challenges in this light, you are not ready to proceed further.
"You have to take the proofs, the feelings, the dreams and the insubstantial communications from God and bring them into the physical and material world in which you live. If you are not willing to bring these things from the spiritual into the physical realities by you faith, then the veil will remain in place....
"Nephi has an errand to perform. He accepts that errand faithfully and with confidence the Lord is going to help accomplish it. And he acts in this physical world consistent with faith in the unseen world. That is how we all need to act.
"We all have faith in something. And we act consistent with that faith. Whether faith is in God or in science or in philosophy, we all act consistent with our beliefs. Since that is invariably true, you may as well accept Nephi's view and promise of how things really are and try trusting God in that matter. The alternative is to stay as you are now, and not progress in spiritual matters.
[After multiple failures in getting the plates]..."Nephi's tenacity in approaching his assignment shows that even in dark and discouraging moments he remains committed to the Lord. Nephi's experience demonstrates that trials, setbacks or temporary failure do not mean the Lord has abandoned you. Nor does it mean the Lord has forgotten His promises to you, anymore than this setback meant that to Nephi. D&C 1:38... The upside is the He [the Lord] will not excuse Himself from the commitments made you....if you remain faithful (like Nephi) no difficulty will prevent ultimate success.
"A temporary setback in any Godly undertaking is for your benefit. If you were not given these changes to show faith, then you would fail to develop into the person God wants you to become. ... It requires persistence at almost certain failure. It requires you to look Goliath in the face and say he is God's problem, not yours. Your problem is to persist in faith. The result will occur, however unlikely they may seem at the moment, in the way God has promised.
"Though these things may seem vague and ill-defined or perhaps even chaotic, they are not. As you persist in keeping God's commandments you get an increasingly clear perception. There are concrete and tangible relationships. They are real. Following them will result in anyone, anywhere, from any culture or background, receiving the results.
"One of the necessary experiences through which you must pass is the experience of apparent imminent failure.... You must choose between the apparent failure of faith, and the desire to persist. Facing the end, you must retain hope. This is good for the soul, even though it is painful to endure. You must face the physical dilemmas and difficulties in life while viewing them in their true spiritual setting. You must rend the veil."
I will stop there. The book is awesome! These passages give me hope in my current dilemmas. I have never heard someone speak so plainly about what it means to exercise faith in the unseen in the physical world we live in.
"How we perceive our challenges determines how we meet them. If we see God as the over riding influence in life's challenges, then we can trust God to help us through them.... It is always a battle between faith and skepticism. Do you see it as a fight between your own willingness to trust God to deliver you, or in merely physical terms. Does God care about your life's dilemmas? Will he help deliver you from your 'Goliaths'? Do you trust Him? Do you believe in Him? Do you believe He is interested and involved in your life? Will you accept the proof of His involvement as His word to you? Do you feel His proofs are not sufficient or substantial enough to have faith in them?
"Faith in a distant and unconcerned God may satisfy some Latter-day Saints. But that is not the God Nephi (or David) believed in. In Nephi's example we find a personal God involved in everyday life. We find a God who will give a challenge to us, and then walk beside us to see we succeed. Nephi is trying to teach us this is the way God operates in all of our lives. He is not distant. He is a part of each of our daily lives. We can ignore Him, or acknowledge Him. But whether we accept or reject His involvement, Nephi's view is that He is present and concerned.
"...You must accept Him as someone who cares enough about you that He will help you accomplish His commandments. You must be willing to accept the forms of communications He uses to facilitate this.
"...No Goliath in your life will destroy you. Rather, God will destroy the Goliaths for you.
"In the end, Goliaths are merely opportunities for you to demonstrate your faith. They will be swept away when they no longer serve any purpose. They are there only temporarily to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate faith.
"Those Goliaths you face are opportunities to see if you will proceed in faith to confront them. They are opportunities and blessings, not difficulties. They are mere illusions; here to test your faith. Face them with faith and with the confidence 'the Lord gives you no commandments save he shall prepare a way for you to accomplish the thing which he hath commanded,' as Nephi would put it. Until you are willing to do this, and actually begin to see life's challenges in this light, you are not ready to proceed further.
"You have to take the proofs, the feelings, the dreams and the insubstantial communications from God and bring them into the physical and material world in which you live. If you are not willing to bring these things from the spiritual into the physical realities by you faith, then the veil will remain in place....
"Nephi has an errand to perform. He accepts that errand faithfully and with confidence the Lord is going to help accomplish it. And he acts in this physical world consistent with faith in the unseen world. That is how we all need to act.
"We all have faith in something. And we act consistent with that faith. Whether faith is in God or in science or in philosophy, we all act consistent with our beliefs. Since that is invariably true, you may as well accept Nephi's view and promise of how things really are and try trusting God in that matter. The alternative is to stay as you are now, and not progress in spiritual matters.
[After multiple failures in getting the plates]..."Nephi's tenacity in approaching his assignment shows that even in dark and discouraging moments he remains committed to the Lord. Nephi's experience demonstrates that trials, setbacks or temporary failure do not mean the Lord has abandoned you. Nor does it mean the Lord has forgotten His promises to you, anymore than this setback meant that to Nephi. D&C 1:38... The upside is the He [the Lord] will not excuse Himself from the commitments made you....if you remain faithful (like Nephi) no difficulty will prevent ultimate success.
"A temporary setback in any Godly undertaking is for your benefit. If you were not given these changes to show faith, then you would fail to develop into the person God wants you to become. ... It requires persistence at almost certain failure. It requires you to look Goliath in the face and say he is God's problem, not yours. Your problem is to persist in faith. The result will occur, however unlikely they may seem at the moment, in the way God has promised.
"Though these things may seem vague and ill-defined or perhaps even chaotic, they are not. As you persist in keeping God's commandments you get an increasingly clear perception. There are concrete and tangible relationships. They are real. Following them will result in anyone, anywhere, from any culture or background, receiving the results.
"One of the necessary experiences through which you must pass is the experience of apparent imminent failure.... You must choose between the apparent failure of faith, and the desire to persist. Facing the end, you must retain hope. This is good for the soul, even though it is painful to endure. You must face the physical dilemmas and difficulties in life while viewing them in their true spiritual setting. You must rend the veil."
I will stop there. The book is awesome! These passages give me hope in my current dilemmas. I have never heard someone speak so plainly about what it means to exercise faith in the unseen in the physical world we live in.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Faith and Demons
I have been thinking lately about my approach to faith and hope. Three things come to mind: the faith of Nephi, mellowing out, and the movie, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
First, the faith of Nephi, shows that many times God does not come through for a person that is exercising faith until after the tribulation has occurred. Nephi also demonstrates his faith by his steadiness. He has a firm hope, trusting in his
God, that their is a promised land to inherit.
Second, I believe that staying calm and mellowing out is a demonstration of faith.
Third, in the movie, 'A Beautiful Mind', the main character has to first become aware of and then master his demons. His demons were mental apparitions of individuals that feed his various fears.
So, how do these things help me with my life? At times, the Lord reveals to me what I need to do in advance, counseling me to take a specific action. This might be considered an errand of the Lord. Other times (or during the errand), the Lord doesn't give any direction (counsel or deliverance)until after the crisis has occurred. This is what is meant by the scriptures stating that miracles don't occur until after the trial of our faith. I may want to be guided and inspired so smooth sailing will always occur but this is not scriptural. So, what demonstrates that I have faith? That I can remain steady, calm and believing up to and during the 'fire'. Of course, keeping the commandments is a given.
But, how does one stay calm when things aren't going well? How does one not go into despair (unbelief, hopelessness)? Everyone has their own 'demons' that immediately manifest themselves when the going gets rough. Like in the movie, these mental demons can overwhelm us. The man in the movie has to first become aware of their existence and then learn to keep them at bay. He mastered the ability to keep them at a distance rather than letting them control him and his life. In the same way, we too must become aware of our personal demons (weaknesses, emotional states, etc.) and learn to keep them at bay. As we practice (exercising faith and maintaining hope) we eventually become masters at it.
But my tribulation is truly despairing! There is no way out of it! What you are really saying is that God really doesn't exist and cannot help you is this particular case. Your case is special. God helps other but not me. But the truth is that you haven't been granted to gift of seeing your demons. You believe that your particular demons are just part of your personality. They came upon you so fast, when the affliction or trial occurred, that you didn't even recognize what just happened. You believed in the demon (depression, fear, foreboding, paranoia, injustness, shame, jealousy, envying, coveting, anxiety, hatred, rage, apathy, judging, mocking, pride, self-condemnation, etc.) and gave it room in your inn and let it take up its abode inside of you.
Keeping your demons (negative emotions) from overwhelming you takes practice. It may require you to stop what you are doing and immediately reaffirm your faith in God, that the feelings that you are having are neither permanent nor useful. They may seem very real but they serve no useful purpose. My goal is learn to be aware of them coming upon me, keep them at bay, and give them no heed. All they will do is hinder your progress. Nephi had to leave his brothers outside the walls because they were complaining that the errand couldn't be done. We need to put despair and unbelief aside also. When Nephi and his brother were returning home with Ishmael and his family, Nephi wasn't delivered until after he was tied up and left to die. The Lord was testing and growing Nephi's faith by bringing him to the brink. This happens over and over where Nephi keeps the faith, stays calm, trusts in the Lord and stays optimistice (hopes all things).
Where do we start on our journey? The first step is just to believe. Believe you are worthy. Believe that God is aware of your problem. Believe that He will help. Believe that He will at times take to all the way to the edge to see if you will be steadfast in your faith in Him. Believe that faith preceeds the miracle. Be aware that the miracle that was waiting for you will not appear unless your faith is strong enough and that you will probably never realize what the miracle was if you fall into despair and unbelief.
So, stay calm, be believing, trust in God and wait on the Lord!
First, the faith of Nephi, shows that many times God does not come through for a person that is exercising faith until after the tribulation has occurred. Nephi also demonstrates his faith by his steadiness. He has a firm hope, trusting in his
God, that their is a promised land to inherit.
Second, I believe that staying calm and mellowing out is a demonstration of faith.
Third, in the movie, 'A Beautiful Mind', the main character has to first become aware of and then master his demons. His demons were mental apparitions of individuals that feed his various fears.
So, how do these things help me with my life? At times, the Lord reveals to me what I need to do in advance, counseling me to take a specific action. This might be considered an errand of the Lord. Other times (or during the errand), the Lord doesn't give any direction (counsel or deliverance)until after the crisis has occurred. This is what is meant by the scriptures stating that miracles don't occur until after the trial of our faith. I may want to be guided and inspired so smooth sailing will always occur but this is not scriptural. So, what demonstrates that I have faith? That I can remain steady, calm and believing up to and during the 'fire'. Of course, keeping the commandments is a given.
But, how does one stay calm when things aren't going well? How does one not go into despair (unbelief, hopelessness)? Everyone has their own 'demons' that immediately manifest themselves when the going gets rough. Like in the movie, these mental demons can overwhelm us. The man in the movie has to first become aware of their existence and then learn to keep them at bay. He mastered the ability to keep them at a distance rather than letting them control him and his life. In the same way, we too must become aware of our personal demons (weaknesses, emotional states, etc.) and learn to keep them at bay. As we practice (exercising faith and maintaining hope) we eventually become masters at it.
But my tribulation is truly despairing! There is no way out of it! What you are really saying is that God really doesn't exist and cannot help you is this particular case. Your case is special. God helps other but not me. But the truth is that you haven't been granted to gift of seeing your demons. You believe that your particular demons are just part of your personality. They came upon you so fast, when the affliction or trial occurred, that you didn't even recognize what just happened. You believed in the demon (depression, fear, foreboding, paranoia, injustness, shame, jealousy, envying, coveting, anxiety, hatred, rage, apathy, judging, mocking, pride, self-condemnation, etc.) and gave it room in your inn and let it take up its abode inside of you.
Keeping your demons (negative emotions) from overwhelming you takes practice. It may require you to stop what you are doing and immediately reaffirm your faith in God, that the feelings that you are having are neither permanent nor useful. They may seem very real but they serve no useful purpose. My goal is learn to be aware of them coming upon me, keep them at bay, and give them no heed. All they will do is hinder your progress. Nephi had to leave his brothers outside the walls because they were complaining that the errand couldn't be done. We need to put despair and unbelief aside also. When Nephi and his brother were returning home with Ishmael and his family, Nephi wasn't delivered until after he was tied up and left to die. The Lord was testing and growing Nephi's faith by bringing him to the brink. This happens over and over where Nephi keeps the faith, stays calm, trusts in the Lord and stays optimistice (hopes all things).
Where do we start on our journey? The first step is just to believe. Believe you are worthy. Believe that God is aware of your problem. Believe that He will help. Believe that He will at times take to all the way to the edge to see if you will be steadfast in your faith in Him. Believe that faith preceeds the miracle. Be aware that the miracle that was waiting for you will not appear unless your faith is strong enough and that you will probably never realize what the miracle was if you fall into despair and unbelief.
So, stay calm, be believing, trust in God and wait on the Lord!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wirthlin on Consecration
Joseph B Wirthlin in the following article makes it very clear that we tend to keep on spending and spending rather than thinking about our covenant to consecrate. He said the following in an article in the Nov 1990 Ensign:
Another temptation to detour us is placing improper emphasis on the obtaining of material possessions. For example, we may build a beautiful, spacious home that is far larger than we need. We may spend far too much to decorate, furnish, and landscape it. And even if we are blessed enough to afford such luxury, we may be misdirecting resources that could be better used to build the kingdom of God or to feed and clothe our needy brothers and sisters.
Jacob, the Book of Mormon prophet, warned us, “Do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.” (2 Ne. 9:51.) And in even stronger words, he said:
“Because some of you have obtained more abundantly than … your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.
“And now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God justifieth you in this thing? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. But he condemneth you. …
“Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other.” (Jacob 2:13–14, 21.)
Pride and vanity, the opposites of humility, can destroy our spiritual health as surely as a debilitating disease can destroy our physical health.
The Savior taught clearly the proper value of worldly possessions in his conversation with the rich young ruler who asked what more was required to have eternal life; he had kept all the commandments from his youth. He asked the Master what he still lacked. Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and come and follow Him. But the man went away sorrowing, for he loved his possessions. (See Matt. 19:16–22.) How many of us would pass this test?
Many of us have made sacred covenants to live the laws of sacrifice and consecration. But when the Lord blesses us with riches and affluence, we may give little thought to how we should use these blessings to help build up his church.
Another temptation to detour us is placing improper emphasis on the obtaining of material possessions. For example, we may build a beautiful, spacious home that is far larger than we need. We may spend far too much to decorate, furnish, and landscape it. And even if we are blessed enough to afford such luxury, we may be misdirecting resources that could be better used to build the kingdom of God or to feed and clothe our needy brothers and sisters.
Jacob, the Book of Mormon prophet, warned us, “Do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.” (2 Ne. 9:51.) And in even stronger words, he said:
“Because some of you have obtained more abundantly than … your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.
“And now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God justifieth you in this thing? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. But he condemneth you. …
“Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other.” (Jacob 2:13–14, 21.)
Pride and vanity, the opposites of humility, can destroy our spiritual health as surely as a debilitating disease can destroy our physical health.
The Savior taught clearly the proper value of worldly possessions in his conversation with the rich young ruler who asked what more was required to have eternal life; he had kept all the commandments from his youth. He asked the Master what he still lacked. Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and come and follow Him. But the man went away sorrowing, for he loved his possessions. (See Matt. 19:16–22.) How many of us would pass this test?
Many of us have made sacred covenants to live the laws of sacrifice and consecration. But when the Lord blesses us with riches and affluence, we may give little thought to how we should use these blessings to help build up his church.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Ed Week Consecration Notes (raw)
I missed the first day. We receive and give by consecration. Acquistion is very dominant in our culture.
D&C 42 would be the strategy and D&C 51 would be the tactics.
We need to awaken! Consecration makes sense. We offer the rest to others. This is called surplus.
Wants and needs in 1832 edition of Webster's Dictionary are more like our needs in these days. Personal tastes are okay.
D&C 59 - The Lord has aesethics - gladden the heart and please the eye.
D&C 42:32 - We are to have sufficient for himself and his family.
D&C 48:4 - Putting aside for retirement okay. Must be obtained in righteousness and saved in righteousness. After one has enough it becomes surplus. Saving for the the future is part of the plan. Idler will not eat the bread of the working man. D&C 104 talks about going into debt just this once.
D&C 42:35 - Purposes of the Law of C.
v. 55 - We decide what is more than we need.
The Lord's storehouse is the time, talents, resources of the Latter Day Saints!
D&C 51 - Implemntation of the Law of C.
People are free agents with their stewardships. No one tells you what to do. You are not to be micro managed.
D&C 52 - talks about deeds to Titus Billings and deeds from Titus Billings. Most property was deeded to the Bishop and deeded right back to same person. Billings said, "I want to spend and be spent in the cause of my blessed masters."
Three legs of the Law of C.
1. Free will, free agency
2. Stewardship, owner one moment and the Lord's the next moment. Nothing changes.
3. ?
Thursday
The United Firm (order)
No one will ever make you live the Law of C. It is beyond the culture in which we live. You account to God for you stewardship.
History of the Church 1:364-365 - JS to Partridge.
You can opt in or our. It always will be this way. What do you do with circumventors?
D&C 85 - Those who don't obey....
D&C 42 and D&C 51 - keep track of the people who choose to live the law of the Lord.
Pres. Hinckley speaking to Salem, UT members: "what do you think you're doing living in these homes?
We should ask ourselves, how will we explain it to God (the use of our stewardship)?
D&C 70 - "Literary firm",just a corporation to bind the scriptures and sale them.
v. 1 men (touble & benefits to the men)
v. 7 more than needful - then give it to the storehouse.
v. 10 none are exempt
D&C 72 - 2nd Bishop - Newell K Whitney - he has assets, a big thriving store.
he is an excellent manager, can handle properties, loves God, without guile, business sense, never exploits others. JS didn't have all these. JS was weak in temporal things. We need the same type of people in our day.
D&c 78:9 Call for a meeting. Ohio and Missouri about economics.
The manuscripts were purposefully ofuscated. Like any business, they don't want everyone to know about the churches liabilities. The Whitney store were the assets and the Misouri land to be purchase were the liabilities and the literary firm. The assets were to be funneled to the church's liabilities.
D&C 82:11 a group of men are named to belong to a united firm or order. It was a corporation that was created to amass assets. 1832-1834 - United Firm (Order).
D&C 104:4 - the covenant was broken. Using the Lord's assets (Whitney) to fund the Lord's liablities (Partrige in MI). It was a beautiful idea. It is happening today.
v.13-v.19 - the three legs of the Law of Consecration:
1. Steward - the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness there of. He uses Mine and my to show this.
2. Agency. Voluntary consecration of those who have. Agency is given to the steward.
3. Accountability
v. 16 the ancedent 'it' - must be done in the Lord's way.
v.18 - the idea is counter cultural. its 'mine'. This idea that it is mine is rejected by King Benjamin and by the Lord.
Luke 16:23 - Lazarus and Dives
D&C 104 - Dives was used when first written down. Dives mean riches or rich man. Early christians gave the rich man a name. JS later changed it 'the wicked'. But 104 does tie to the story of Lazurus and the rich man.
You don't end the law of C. In order to be part of the Celestial Kingdom, one must live the law. The United Order ended but not Consecration.
D&C 105:34 - suspends the moving to Missouri. this doesn't suspend the law of Consecration. The Lord doesn't give laws that the Saints can't keep.
Wilford Woodruff on consecration.
- nothing changed hands
-outward forms don't change. The attitude or heard changes.
-everything is the Lord's
-to become a lawful heir of the Kingdom of God, we live this law.
Friday
Amply supplied and then one returns the surplus to the church.
Titing - We pay first and then we are blessed.
1838 - Missouri - JS moves
D&C 119 - 'all their surplus' (this is consecration)
v.3 - This is the beginning
v.4 - 'tithed' after paying surplus properties
v.5 - After that, you pay 10%
This is a standing law forever
v.5 - surplus + tithing
v.6 - IF....don't keep covenants, Zion won't be a land of Zion unto you.
Do the IFs... When will Zion be established? Just as soon as we are ready to live the law of Consecration.
Impass - we think going to Zion is going the MI, but the Lord says 'whenever the Saints want it".
Introduction to D&C 119
The introduction blurred the line between Consecration and the United Order. The United Firm was a very specifice group of elders. D&C 42 is for all saints. D&C 82 is the United Order. D&C 104 nullifies the United Order.
"many' - who is the writer talking about?
Introduction is not accurate. 104 only nullfied the United Order, not the law of consecration.
Read the book,"Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants" by Steven Harper
"instead" = bad sentence. D&C 119 is not instead of D&C 42. D&C 82 is a handful of men accordingto the Lord.
'own free will' in D&C 42. The Lord will never force us to live the law of C.
Feb 9,1831 - The Lord has commanded us.
President Hinckley in General Conference: "The law of Consecration not rescinded, never was"
JS- "Let them judge themselves regarding what is surplus property"
"When will we be willing to keep the covenants will Zion be a Zion unto you"
Why haven't the prophets told us" They have to their great frustration.
"We can do as much as we want" - Marion G Romney
Nibley, Approaching Zion, p. 390, p. 173.
"Observe the Law, what is there to stop me?"
Clark V. Johnson - Doctrine of Exaltation, p. 112
If you ask what is the minimum, you don't get it. We should as ourselves, what is all that I have to offer? The Lord is not asking you to take a vow of poverty but we will have to explain our actions to Him.
The change is a change of heart - willing and obedient. The Lord is measuring the heart.
consecrate is to make sacred. JS told the saints in Iowa not to consecrate. What he meant was to that they had been kicked out, exterminated and needed to regroup and put in your crops as soon as they could. They were to go back to work.
Some people use what JS said to these saints as proof that the law of consecration was rescinded. But this is a lie.
To some the law of C. is difficult. This is because of our human nature. We live in a consumer culture and the culture is repressive. Read Maxwell in April 2002 Conference.
D&C 42 would be the strategy and D&C 51 would be the tactics.
We need to awaken! Consecration makes sense. We offer the rest to others. This is called surplus.
Wants and needs in 1832 edition of Webster's Dictionary are more like our needs in these days. Personal tastes are okay.
D&C 59 - The Lord has aesethics - gladden the heart and please the eye.
D&C 42:32 - We are to have sufficient for himself and his family.
D&C 48:4 - Putting aside for retirement okay. Must be obtained in righteousness and saved in righteousness. After one has enough it becomes surplus. Saving for the the future is part of the plan. Idler will not eat the bread of the working man. D&C 104 talks about going into debt just this once.
D&C 42:35 - Purposes of the Law of C.
v. 55 - We decide what is more than we need.
The Lord's storehouse is the time, talents, resources of the Latter Day Saints!
D&C 51 - Implemntation of the Law of C.
People are free agents with their stewardships. No one tells you what to do. You are not to be micro managed.
D&C 52 - talks about deeds to Titus Billings and deeds from Titus Billings. Most property was deeded to the Bishop and deeded right back to same person. Billings said, "I want to spend and be spent in the cause of my blessed masters."
Three legs of the Law of C.
1. Free will, free agency
2. Stewardship, owner one moment and the Lord's the next moment. Nothing changes.
3. ?
Thursday
The United Firm (order)
No one will ever make you live the Law of C. It is beyond the culture in which we live. You account to God for you stewardship.
History of the Church 1:364-365 - JS to Partridge.
You can opt in or our. It always will be this way. What do you do with circumventors?
D&C 85 - Those who don't obey....
D&C 42 and D&C 51 - keep track of the people who choose to live the law of the Lord.
Pres. Hinckley speaking to Salem, UT members: "what do you think you're doing living in these homes?
We should ask ourselves, how will we explain it to God (the use of our stewardship)?
D&C 70 - "Literary firm",just a corporation to bind the scriptures and sale them.
v. 1 men (touble & benefits to the men)
v. 7 more than needful - then give it to the storehouse.
v. 10 none are exempt
D&C 72 - 2nd Bishop - Newell K Whitney - he has assets, a big thriving store.
he is an excellent manager, can handle properties, loves God, without guile, business sense, never exploits others. JS didn't have all these. JS was weak in temporal things. We need the same type of people in our day.
D&c 78:9 Call for a meeting. Ohio and Missouri about economics.
The manuscripts were purposefully ofuscated. Like any business, they don't want everyone to know about the churches liabilities. The Whitney store were the assets and the Misouri land to be purchase were the liabilities and the literary firm. The assets were to be funneled to the church's liabilities.
D&C 82:11 a group of men are named to belong to a united firm or order. It was a corporation that was created to amass assets. 1832-1834 - United Firm (Order).
D&C 104:4 - the covenant was broken. Using the Lord's assets (Whitney) to fund the Lord's liablities (Partrige in MI). It was a beautiful idea. It is happening today.
v.13-v.19 - the three legs of the Law of Consecration:
1. Steward - the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness there of. He uses Mine and my to show this.
2. Agency. Voluntary consecration of those who have. Agency is given to the steward.
3. Accountability
v. 16 the ancedent 'it' - must be done in the Lord's way.
v.18 - the idea is counter cultural. its 'mine'. This idea that it is mine is rejected by King Benjamin and by the Lord.
Luke 16:23 - Lazarus and Dives
D&C 104 - Dives was used when first written down. Dives mean riches or rich man. Early christians gave the rich man a name. JS later changed it 'the wicked'. But 104 does tie to the story of Lazurus and the rich man.
You don't end the law of C. In order to be part of the Celestial Kingdom, one must live the law. The United Order ended but not Consecration.
D&C 105:34 - suspends the moving to Missouri. this doesn't suspend the law of Consecration. The Lord doesn't give laws that the Saints can't keep.
Wilford Woodruff on consecration.
- nothing changed hands
-outward forms don't change. The attitude or heard changes.
-everything is the Lord's
-to become a lawful heir of the Kingdom of God, we live this law.
Friday
Amply supplied and then one returns the surplus to the church.
Titing - We pay first and then we are blessed.
1838 - Missouri - JS moves
D&C 119 - 'all their surplus' (this is consecration)
v.3 - This is the beginning
v.4 - 'tithed' after paying surplus properties
v.5 - After that, you pay 10%
This is a standing law forever
v.5 - surplus + tithing
v.6 - IF....don't keep covenants, Zion won't be a land of Zion unto you.
Do the IFs... When will Zion be established? Just as soon as we are ready to live the law of Consecration.
Impass - we think going to Zion is going the MI, but the Lord says 'whenever the Saints want it".
Introduction to D&C 119
The introduction blurred the line between Consecration and the United Order. The United Firm was a very specifice group of elders. D&C 42 is for all saints. D&C 82 is the United Order. D&C 104 nullifies the United Order.
"many' - who is the writer talking about?
Introduction is not accurate. 104 only nullfied the United Order, not the law of consecration.
Read the book,"Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants" by Steven Harper
"instead" = bad sentence. D&C 119 is not instead of D&C 42. D&C 82 is a handful of men accordingto the Lord.
'own free will' in D&C 42. The Lord will never force us to live the law of C.
Feb 9,1831 - The Lord has commanded us.
President Hinckley in General Conference: "The law of Consecration not rescinded, never was"
JS- "Let them judge themselves regarding what is surplus property"
"When will we be willing to keep the covenants will Zion be a Zion unto you"
Why haven't the prophets told us" They have to their great frustration.
"We can do as much as we want" - Marion G Romney
Nibley, Approaching Zion, p. 390, p. 173.
"Observe the Law, what is there to stop me?"
Clark V. Johnson - Doctrine of Exaltation, p. 112
If you ask what is the minimum, you don't get it. We should as ourselves, what is all that I have to offer? The Lord is not asking you to take a vow of poverty but we will have to explain our actions to Him.
The change is a change of heart - willing and obedient. The Lord is measuring the heart.
consecrate is to make sacred. JS told the saints in Iowa not to consecrate. What he meant was to that they had been kicked out, exterminated and needed to regroup and put in your crops as soon as they could. They were to go back to work.
Some people use what JS said to these saints as proof that the law of consecration was rescinded. But this is a lie.
To some the law of C. is difficult. This is because of our human nature. We live in a consumer culture and the culture is repressive. Read Maxwell in April 2002 Conference.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Fasting
I am trying to understand fasting and how to fast with real intent. I seem to get so hungry that I think I don't fast correctly.
(Robert L. Simpson, Ensign, March 2010, reprint Oct 1967) The law of the fast is a perfect law, and we cannot begin to approach perfection until we decide to make it a part of our lives.
One of the most neglected and yet most needed laws for this troubled generation in a modern world of acceleration and distraction is the law of the fast. Fasting and praying have been referred to almost as a singular function from the earliest times. Adam’s generation fasted and prayed, as did Moses on Sinai ([see] Deuteronomy 9:9–11). …
… Following the Master’s visit … to the Western Hemisphere, the people were told to continue in “fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord” (4 Nephi 1:12). So complete and sincere were the people in obeying His commandments “that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus” (4 Nephi 1:13). Wouldn’t it be thrilling to enjoy such a condition today!
Satisfaction Comes with Obedience
… Have you ever noticed how satisfying it is way deep inside each time you are obedient to Heavenly Father’s desires? There can be no equal to the peace of mind that always comes as the reward for obedience to truth.
The world needs self-discipline. You can find it in fasting and prayer. Our generation is sick for lack of self-control. Fasting and prayer help to instill this virtue.
The world’s future depends upon an urgent return to family unity. Fasting and prayer will help to guarantee it. Each person has greater need for divine guidance. There is no better way. We all have need to overcome the powers of the adversary. His influence is incompatible with fasting and prayer. …
Competent medical authorities tell us that our bodies benefit by an occasional fasting period. That is blessing number one and perhaps the least important. Second, we contribute the money saved from missing the meals as a fast offering to the bishop for the poor and the needy. And third, we reap a particular spiritual benefit that can come to us in no other way. It is a sanctification of the soul for us today just as it was for some choice people who lived 2,000 years ago. I quote briefly from the Book of Mormon: “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35). Wouldn’t you like this to happen to you? It can, you know!
Did you notice it said that those who do this have their souls filled with “joy and consolation”? You see, the world in general thinks that fasting is a time for “sackcloth and ashes,” a time to carry a look of sorrow, as one to be pitied. On the contrary, the Lord admonishes:
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
“That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:16–18).
… I join my testimony with Alma of old when he declared:
“Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
“Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit” (Alma 5:45–46).
Elder Wirthlin (July 2001) says the following:
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members are encouraged to fast whenever their faith needs special fortification and to fast regularly once each month on fast day. On that day, we go without eating or drinking for two consecutive meals, commune with our Heavenly Father, and contribute a fast offering to help the poor. The offering should be at least equal to the value of the food that would have been eaten. Typically, the first Sunday of each month is designated as fast Sunday. On that day, members who are physically able are encouraged to fast, pray, bear witness to the truthfulness of the gospel, and pay a generous fast offering.
We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.
Fasting and prayer can help develop within us courage and confidence. It can strengthen our character and build self-restraint and discipline. Often when we fast, our righteous prayers and petitions have greater power. Testimonies grow. We mature spiritually and emotionally and sanctify our souls. Each time we fast, we gain a little more control over our worldly appetites and passions.
(Ezra Taft Benson): "I don’t mean just missing one meal, then eating twice as much the next meal. I mean really fasting, and praying during that period. It will do more to give you the real spirit of {who you really are} your office and calling and permit the Spirit to operate through you than anything I know.”
And so long as the saints will all live to this principle with glad hearts and cheerful countenances they will always have an abundance.” 5
Book of Mormon prophets taught the law of the fast: “Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.”
(the four sons of Mosiah): They shared the secret of their success. They “searched the scriptures” and “they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting.” What was the result? “They had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.”
When we fast, brethren and sisters, we feel hunger. And for a short time, we literally put ourselves in the position of the hungry and the needy. As we do so, we have greater understanding of the deprivations they might feel. When we give to the bishop an offering to relieve the suffering of others, we not only do something sublime for others, but we do something wonderful for ourselves as well. King Benjamin taught that as we give of our substance to the poor, we retain “a remission of [our] sins from day to day."
Listen to the rich blessings prophesied for those who live the law of the fast: “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. … The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, … and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
The purpose of our fast may be a very personal one. Fasting can help us overcome personal flaws and sins. It can help us overcome our weaknesses—help them become strengths. Fasting can help us become more humble, less prideful, less selfish, and more concerned about the needs of others. It can help us see more clearly our own mistakes and weaknesses and help us be less prone to criticize others. Or our fast may have a focus on a family challenge. A family fast might help increase love and appreciation among family members and reduce the amount of contention in the family, or we might fast as a couple to strengthen our marriage bonds. A purpose of our fast as priesthood holders might be to seek the Lord’s guidance in our callings, as President Hinckley has demonstrated, or we might fast with our home teaching companion to know how to help one of our families.
Throughout the scriptures the term fasting is usually combined with prayer. “Ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth” is the Lord’s counsel (D&C 88:76). Fasting without prayer is just going hungry for 24 hours. But fasting combined with prayer brings increased spiritual power.
When the disciples were unable to cure a boy who was possessed of an evil spirit, they asked the Savior, “Why could not we cast him out?” Jesus responded, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:19, 21).
In addition to a beginning and ending prayer, we should seek the Lord often in personal prayer throughout the fast.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6).
If we fast and pray with the purpose of repenting of sins and overcoming personal weaknesses, [loosing the bands of wicked traditions], [loosing the bands of emotional and mental inhibitions caused the wickedness of others], [undoing the feeling of being yoked down by our own emotional and mental barriers caused by sexual, physical, emotional abuse of others during our formative years], [being released from oppressive acts inflicted upon us], surely we are seeking to “loose the bands of wickedness” in our lives.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6).
If we fast and pray with the purpose of repenting of sins and overcoming personal weaknesses, surely we are seeking to “loose the bands of wickedness” in our lives.
The Lord continues describing the proper fast:
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” (Isa. 58:7).
It is truly a wonderful thing that through our fast offerings today we can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe the naked.
If we fast properly the Lord promises:
“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; …
“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. …
“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity [fulfill my mission in life], and thy darkness be as the noonday:
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, … and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not[walk my life in peace and happiness]” (Isa. 58:8–11).
It is my prayer that we can improve our fasts so that we can enjoy these beautiful promised blessings. It is my testimony that as we “draw near” to the Lord through our fasting and prayer, He will “draw near” to us (see D&C 88:63). I testify that He lives, that He loves us, and that He wants to draw near to us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
It is a sanctification of the soul for us today just as it was for some choice people who lived 2,000 years ago. I quote briefly from the Book of Mormon: “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35). Wouldn’t you like this to happen to you? It can, you know!
Did you notice it said that those who do this have their souls filled with “joy and consolation”? You see, the world in general thinks that fasting is a time for “sackcloth and ashes,” a time to carry a look of sorrow, as one to be pitied. On the contrary, the Lord admonishes:
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
“That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:16–18).
Now, we turn to the most important part of this great law. So far we have only discussed those areas that bless us. The real joy comes with the blessing of the poor and the needy. For it is in the fulfillment of this wonderful Christlike act that we practice “pure religion and undefiled” spoken of by James [see James 1:27]. Can you think of a better or more perfect Christian function than “pure religion and undefiled”? I can’t.
The Lord, speaking through Moses, observed:
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
“But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him” (Deuteronomy 15:7–8).
Then He goes on to promise him who gives: “The Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto” (Deuteronomy 15:10). He concludes: “Therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land” (Deuteronomy 15:11). …
(Robert L. Simpson, Ensign, March 2010, reprint Oct 1967) The law of the fast is a perfect law, and we cannot begin to approach perfection until we decide to make it a part of our lives.
One of the most neglected and yet most needed laws for this troubled generation in a modern world of acceleration and distraction is the law of the fast. Fasting and praying have been referred to almost as a singular function from the earliest times. Adam’s generation fasted and prayed, as did Moses on Sinai ([see] Deuteronomy 9:9–11). …
… Following the Master’s visit … to the Western Hemisphere, the people were told to continue in “fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord” (4 Nephi 1:12). So complete and sincere were the people in obeying His commandments “that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus” (4 Nephi 1:13). Wouldn’t it be thrilling to enjoy such a condition today!
Satisfaction Comes with Obedience
… Have you ever noticed how satisfying it is way deep inside each time you are obedient to Heavenly Father’s desires? There can be no equal to the peace of mind that always comes as the reward for obedience to truth.
The world needs self-discipline. You can find it in fasting and prayer. Our generation is sick for lack of self-control. Fasting and prayer help to instill this virtue.
The world’s future depends upon an urgent return to family unity. Fasting and prayer will help to guarantee it. Each person has greater need for divine guidance. There is no better way. We all have need to overcome the powers of the adversary. His influence is incompatible with fasting and prayer. …
Competent medical authorities tell us that our bodies benefit by an occasional fasting period. That is blessing number one and perhaps the least important. Second, we contribute the money saved from missing the meals as a fast offering to the bishop for the poor and the needy. And third, we reap a particular spiritual benefit that can come to us in no other way. It is a sanctification of the soul for us today just as it was for some choice people who lived 2,000 years ago. I quote briefly from the Book of Mormon: “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35). Wouldn’t you like this to happen to you? It can, you know!
Did you notice it said that those who do this have their souls filled with “joy and consolation”? You see, the world in general thinks that fasting is a time for “sackcloth and ashes,” a time to carry a look of sorrow, as one to be pitied. On the contrary, the Lord admonishes:
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
“That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:16–18).
… I join my testimony with Alma of old when he declared:
“Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
“Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit” (Alma 5:45–46).
Elder Wirthlin (July 2001) says the following:
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members are encouraged to fast whenever their faith needs special fortification and to fast regularly once each month on fast day. On that day, we go without eating or drinking for two consecutive meals, commune with our Heavenly Father, and contribute a fast offering to help the poor. The offering should be at least equal to the value of the food that would have been eaten. Typically, the first Sunday of each month is designated as fast Sunday. On that day, members who are physically able are encouraged to fast, pray, bear witness to the truthfulness of the gospel, and pay a generous fast offering.
We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.
Fasting and prayer can help develop within us courage and confidence. It can strengthen our character and build self-restraint and discipline. Often when we fast, our righteous prayers and petitions have greater power. Testimonies grow. We mature spiritually and emotionally and sanctify our souls. Each time we fast, we gain a little more control over our worldly appetites and passions.
(Ezra Taft Benson): "I don’t mean just missing one meal, then eating twice as much the next meal. I mean really fasting, and praying during that period. It will do more to give you the real spirit of {who you really are} your office and calling and permit the Spirit to operate through you than anything I know.”
And so long as the saints will all live to this principle with glad hearts and cheerful countenances they will always have an abundance.” 5
Book of Mormon prophets taught the law of the fast: “Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.”
(the four sons of Mosiah): They shared the secret of their success. They “searched the scriptures” and “they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting.” What was the result? “They had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.”
When we fast, brethren and sisters, we feel hunger. And for a short time, we literally put ourselves in the position of the hungry and the needy. As we do so, we have greater understanding of the deprivations they might feel. When we give to the bishop an offering to relieve the suffering of others, we not only do something sublime for others, but we do something wonderful for ourselves as well. King Benjamin taught that as we give of our substance to the poor, we retain “a remission of [our] sins from day to day."
Listen to the rich blessings prophesied for those who live the law of the fast: “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. … The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, … and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
The purpose of our fast may be a very personal one. Fasting can help us overcome personal flaws and sins. It can help us overcome our weaknesses—help them become strengths. Fasting can help us become more humble, less prideful, less selfish, and more concerned about the needs of others. It can help us see more clearly our own mistakes and weaknesses and help us be less prone to criticize others. Or our fast may have a focus on a family challenge. A family fast might help increase love and appreciation among family members and reduce the amount of contention in the family, or we might fast as a couple to strengthen our marriage bonds. A purpose of our fast as priesthood holders might be to seek the Lord’s guidance in our callings, as President Hinckley has demonstrated, or we might fast with our home teaching companion to know how to help one of our families.
Throughout the scriptures the term fasting is usually combined with prayer. “Ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth” is the Lord’s counsel (D&C 88:76). Fasting without prayer is just going hungry for 24 hours. But fasting combined with prayer brings increased spiritual power.
When the disciples were unable to cure a boy who was possessed of an evil spirit, they asked the Savior, “Why could not we cast him out?” Jesus responded, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:19, 21).
In addition to a beginning and ending prayer, we should seek the Lord often in personal prayer throughout the fast.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6).
If we fast and pray with the purpose of repenting of sins and overcoming personal weaknesses, [loosing the bands of wicked traditions], [loosing the bands of emotional and mental inhibitions caused the wickedness of others], [undoing the feeling of being yoked down by our own emotional and mental barriers caused by sexual, physical, emotional abuse of others during our formative years], [being released from oppressive acts inflicted upon us], surely we are seeking to “loose the bands of wickedness” in our lives.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6).
If we fast and pray with the purpose of repenting of sins and overcoming personal weaknesses, surely we are seeking to “loose the bands of wickedness” in our lives.
The Lord continues describing the proper fast:
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” (Isa. 58:7).
It is truly a wonderful thing that through our fast offerings today we can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe the naked.
If we fast properly the Lord promises:
“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; …
“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. …
“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity [fulfill my mission in life], and thy darkness be as the noonday:
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, … and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not[walk my life in peace and happiness]” (Isa. 58:8–11).
It is my prayer that we can improve our fasts so that we can enjoy these beautiful promised blessings. It is my testimony that as we “draw near” to the Lord through our fasting and prayer, He will “draw near” to us (see D&C 88:63). I testify that He lives, that He loves us, and that He wants to draw near to us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
It is a sanctification of the soul for us today just as it was for some choice people who lived 2,000 years ago. I quote briefly from the Book of Mormon: “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35). Wouldn’t you like this to happen to you? It can, you know!
Did you notice it said that those who do this have their souls filled with “joy and consolation”? You see, the world in general thinks that fasting is a time for “sackcloth and ashes,” a time to carry a look of sorrow, as one to be pitied. On the contrary, the Lord admonishes:
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
“That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:16–18).
Now, we turn to the most important part of this great law. So far we have only discussed those areas that bless us. The real joy comes with the blessing of the poor and the needy. For it is in the fulfillment of this wonderful Christlike act that we practice “pure religion and undefiled” spoken of by James [see James 1:27]. Can you think of a better or more perfect Christian function than “pure religion and undefiled”? I can’t.
The Lord, speaking through Moses, observed:
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
“But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him” (Deuteronomy 15:7–8).
Then He goes on to promise him who gives: “The Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto” (Deuteronomy 15:10). He concludes: “Therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land” (Deuteronomy 15:11). …
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