After looking at blogs that show the merits of the Nephite money systems, I went and did my own analysis. What I found was even more amazing than what I remember reading. In a way, it reinforced my testimony of the divine origin of the Book of Mormon. For a man to come up with a unique (and possibly the best ever devised) monetary system that has very minor overall significance to the book would be ludicrous. Why take the time to think the system through? Unless, it was a known fact by the author that could be easily put forth to enhance the overall understanding of Amulek's legal hearing.
On the blogs I have read, I am told that the Nephite system of 1, 2, 4, and 7 and the Egyption system of 1,2, 4 and 8 are the best for making a purchase since they require the least amount of coins (units of measure) to make any number. For example, to make 14 you would need two 7's in Nephite money, and 8, 4 and 2 in Egyptian money and dime and four pennies in American money. So, it take 2 units of money for Nephites to make the purchase, three units for Egyptians and five units for Americans.
I have run the numbers here for myself. Price is the first column. It represents the amount of money asked for. 'N' is for Nephite, 'E' is for Egyption and 'A' is for American. These columns show how many 'coins' of each monetary system it takes to pay the price in the first column.
Price N E A (NSC)
1 1 1 1 1
2 1 1 2 2
3 2 2 3 2
4 1 1 4 1
5 2 2 1
6 2 2 2
7 1 3 3
8 2 1 3
9 2 2 4
10 3 2 1
11 2 3 2
12 3 2 3
13 3 3 4
Tot 25 25 32
14 2 3 4
15 3 4 2
16 3 2 3
17 4 3 4
18 3 2 5
19 4 3 6
20 4 3 2
21 3 4 3
22 4 4 4
23 3 5 5
24 5 3 6
25 4 4 1
Tot 42 41 47
GTot 67 66 79
Up to 13, the Nephites and Egyptians are neck and neck. The Americans lag behind. Up to 25, if I did my numbers right, the Nephites lag behind the Egyptians by one coin. But, there is more to the story! We aren't using the Nephite small coins here.
So, here's what I found. The units used above are more like dollar bills, two dollar bills, four dollar bills and seven dollar bills. In the text, the author, after showing the denominations, the author starts into the small coinage. Everything is based on a senum of silver which equates to a measure of barley. Let's call a senum a 1 unit. This would make the smaller units as follows:
1.0 = 1 senum
.50 = 1 shibon
.25 = 1 shiblum
.125 = 1 leah
1.5 = 1 antion
So, let's say these were coins (no coins are mentioned in this chapter).
a leah would be take the 1 coin position
a shiblum would take the 2 coin value position (it is twice the value of a leah)
a shiblon would tkae the 4 coin value position (it is four times the value of a leah)
the senum would take the 8 coin value position (it is eight times the value of a leah)
and the antion would take the 12 coin position (it is three times the value of a shiblon)
a seon (of the large coin system) would take the 16 position (it is twice a senum)
a shum would take the the 32 positon (four times a senum)
Because the Nephites added an antion which is three shiblons, they have greated a twelve coin denomonation for making small change. With this new coin, it takes only one coin to pay for something that cost 12 and two coins to get to 13. The Nephite psuedo Egyptian small coin system beats the Egyption regular system by 2 coins!
I have added the Nephite Small Coin (NSC) system to the chart below.
Price N E A (NSC)
1 1 1 1 1
2 1 1 2 2
3 2 2 3 2
4 1 1 4 1
5 2 2 1 2
6 2 2 2 2
7 1 3 3 2
8 2 1 3 1
9 2 2 4 2
10 3 2 1 2
11 2 3 2 3
12 3 2 3 1
13 3 3 4 2
Tot 25 25 32 23
14 2 3 4 2
15 3 4 2 3
16 3 2 3 1
17 4 3 4 2
18 3 2 5 2
19 4 4 6 3
20 4 3 2 2
21 3 4 3 3
22 4 4 4 3
23 3 5 5 4
24 5 3 6 2
25 4 4 1 3
Tot 42 41 47 30
GTot 67 66 79 55
The Nephite Small Coin system far surpasses all past systems by 11 coins! The Nephite system is far better at making change then our American system (by 24 coins).
So, there's my (partial) analysis of the Nephite small denomonation monetary system.
By the way, when Zeesrom offers Amulek six onties, he was offering him 42 measures of barley, perhaps (depending of the size of a measure of barley) a month's labor or for a common man (if a measure of barley can feed a man for a day). If it feeds him for one meal, than Amulek was offered enough food for eight days.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Established in the Ways of Righteousness (draft)
After Alma cleanses the church in the city of Zarahemla, he goes east across the river Sidon to the newly established city of Gideon. He tells the members in Gideon that he had ... great hopes...that [they] were found blameless... and were not in the awful dilemma that [their] brethren in were in at Zarahemla. Alma then expressed his joy that the [members of] church in Zarahemla ... are established again in the way of his [God's] righteousness. (Alma 7:3-4)
Alma contrasts the 'awful diilemma' in verse 3 with 'the way of his righteousness' in verse 4. What is God's righteousness to Alma? Alma tells what righteousness is not in the following verses. From these verses it also easy to interpret what it means to be established in the way of God's righteousness. Alma says that their brethren in Zarahemla were ... in a state of of so much unbelief... and trusts the the Gideon brethren are not in the same state. This state of unbelief caused the church in Zarahemla to be lifted up in the pride of their hearts, have their hearts set on riches and the vain things of the world, to worship idols. (Alma 7:6) Alma is trusting that Gideon brethren are not involved in same thing but that they are worshipping the living God and look forward for the remission of their sins with an everlasting faith in that which is to come. (v.6)
When our hearts are right our desires are right. When we have received a sufficient hope in Christ, our hearts change and we desire to do good. Those with these desires are then organized so that goodness is optimized. This united goodness comes from the righteous desires of each individual member. When this happens, something special happens. God pours out his blessing upon that organzed group of people.
Alma contrasts the 'awful diilemma' in verse 3 with 'the way of his righteousness' in verse 4. What is God's righteousness to Alma? Alma tells what righteousness is not in the following verses. From these verses it also easy to interpret what it means to be established in the way of God's righteousness. Alma says that their brethren in Zarahemla were ... in a state of of so much unbelief... and trusts the the Gideon brethren are not in the same state. This state of unbelief caused the church in Zarahemla to be lifted up in the pride of their hearts, have their hearts set on riches and the vain things of the world, to worship idols. (Alma 7:6) Alma is trusting that Gideon brethren are not involved in same thing but that they are worshipping the living God and look forward for the remission of their sins with an everlasting faith in that which is to come. (v.6)
When our hearts are right our desires are right. When we have received a sufficient hope in Christ, our hearts change and we desire to do good. Those with these desires are then organized so that goodness is optimized. This united goodness comes from the righteous desires of each individual member. When this happens, something special happens. God pours out his blessing upon that organzed group of people.
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Order of the Church
In Alma 8:1 Alma states that he 'established the order of the church' in the land of Gideon 'as he had done before in the land of Zarahemla.' I believe that this phrase has a specific meaning. I even wonder if there are multiple orders of a church. Alma's order of the church is based on what his father established a generation earlier. The order is based on the teachings of earlier prophets such as Jacob and King Benjamin. This order has a few identifiers: Believing that Christ will come and atone for their sins, practicing humility as well as other personal character traits, giving to the poor and needy with a requirement of giving one's surplus substance with equality as the end in mind, showing one's faith by reviling not when presecuted, using one's substance in such a way that its use doesn
t mock other, thus walking uprightly before God.
t mock other, thus walking uprightly before God.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
(Draft) The Impossible Line - Believing without Doubt
Although there are many degrees of christian discipleship, there is a standard set forth in the Book of Mormon. When a person arrives at this standard, he has rent the veil of unbelief. So, where is the line between unbelief and faith, doubting and believing? I believe that as I apply myself himself in the development of gospel principles I lessen my unbelief and increase in faith. My doubt begins to dissipate and I become more and more steady in my faith. At some point I will rend the veil of unbelief.
I understand from my study that the sermon on the mount is a good test as to whether one is approaching or has already crossed the line into true discipleship. When I read the Sermon on the Mount, I ask myself whether or not I do the things commanded by the Lord. If so, do I do them with the right heart? Do I even agree with the Lord's philosophy? Does it even make sense?
Here are some of the things that I have discovered.
God prioritises and orders our personal growth.
1. As you ask for what you need to work on, he gives you something to do.
Attributes of a Believer. A true believer is working on the following.
Revile not
Giving freely of one's substance
Keep the commandments
The Dividing Line between Unbelieve and Believing.
1. Use Ether 4 verses about have a broken heart and contrite spirit.
2. There seems to be an attitude that all I have is God's.
3. Casting off all fear. The natural man fears letting go. What if I let go of all my sins and attitudes?
4. Faith seems to be tied to believing that if God said so, you ought to do it. For example, the natural man knows it is illogical to not fight back when we are malligned. But the gospel requires us to revile not when we are mocked or persecuted. We measure or spiritual development by the way we respond to negative things in our lives. These things can be thoughts, emotions or behavior. When we notice that we still responding as a natural man would, this is when we look to God and ask for His grace to overcome the weakness.
5. The dividing line of unbelief and belief. On the one side we fear changing. On the other side we abhor sin and feel a deep hope and love.
I understand from my study that the sermon on the mount is a good test as to whether one is approaching or has already crossed the line into true discipleship. When I read the Sermon on the Mount, I ask myself whether or not I do the things commanded by the Lord. If so, do I do them with the right heart? Do I even agree with the Lord's philosophy? Does it even make sense?
Here are some of the things that I have discovered.
God prioritises and orders our personal growth.
1. As you ask for what you need to work on, he gives you something to do.
Attributes of a Believer. A true believer is working on the following.
Revile not
Giving freely of one's substance
Keep the commandments
The Dividing Line between Unbelieve and Believing.
1. Use Ether 4 verses about have a broken heart and contrite spirit.
2. There seems to be an attitude that all I have is God's.
3. Casting off all fear. The natural man fears letting go. What if I let go of all my sins and attitudes?
4. Faith seems to be tied to believing that if God said so, you ought to do it. For example, the natural man knows it is illogical to not fight back when we are malligned. But the gospel requires us to revile not when we are mocked or persecuted. We measure or spiritual development by the way we respond to negative things in our lives. These things can be thoughts, emotions or behavior. When we notice that we still responding as a natural man would, this is when we look to God and ask for His grace to overcome the weakness.
5. The dividing line of unbelief and belief. On the one side we fear changing. On the other side we abhor sin and feel a deep hope and love.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Financial Mormonism
I coined a new phase: financial Mormonism. This is where our American cultural has penetrated into the lives of members to such a degree that a belief develops that the richer you are the more blessed you are. It also is presented to the youth as the end all for the beautiful life. Since the humble follower of Christ goal isn't presented very clearly in the classrooms of the church, a replacement goal is modeled. The more financially set you are the more you are following the gospel. This isn't true and never has been. It may be true that a humble follower of Christ can be financially well off but it isn't true that well off Mormons are humble followers of Christ. What has caused this goal replacement? It is what we have been modeled for a 100 years. If there were many individuals (and I have met a few) modeling the life of a true believer, we would be seeing those ways more frequently and would be able discern it. We would hear their testimonies and feel their power. We would watch their actions want to be like them. Signs and miracles follow them that believe. The other group in the dingy just doesn't have as much respect as the large group in the ship. Of course, many of us are trying to climb the rungs of the ladder and are not stopping. More and more are rending the veil of unbelief and relying wholly on Christ's merits. I don't want to stop at financial Mormonism or Pharisaical Mormonism or zealot Mormonism or new age Mormonism. They all exist in the church. I want to become a true believer by word and action.
Monday, February 28, 2011
How does Christ's mercy extend to me even though I am a sinner?
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.
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.
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.
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