Lesson on Chirst (Oaks Talk 2011)

Lesson on Christ 3-25-2012  Teachings for our Times, Elder Dallin H Oaks

Learner Readiness

Over the years I have asked myself this question: Do I ever get this feeling that I have the gospel all neatly bound and packaged?   That either I have the answer to all pertinent gospel questions and I just don't think about the those areas that don't conform to my nicely packaged paradigm.  When it comes to the doctrine of Christ there seems to be many levels.  There is the general level but as we go deeper there are more personal levels.

Dallin Oaks touches on aspects of the doctrine of Christ that bids me to go deeper, taking perhaps a more critical look at my life and my current progress back to God --- if I chose to do so.  If I choose to seek.

Learner Involvement and Application

- What has He done for us?
Read A

A - At a stake conference many years ago, I met a woman who said she had been asked to come back to church after many years away but could not think of any reason why she should. To encourage her I said, “When you consider all of the things the Savior has done for us, don’t you have many reasons to come back to church to worship and serve Him?” I was astonished at her reply: “What’s He done for me?” For those who do not understand what our Savior has done for us, I will answer that question in His own words and with my own testimony.


Say: The rest of Elder Oakes' talk are Christ's words and Elder Oakes' own testimony.


My hope today is for each of you to consider what the Savior has done for you, individually.  I also want to discover ways that for each of us to more abundantly feast on our Saviors love.  

- Doing the Will of the Father

Read B

B - Always, Jesus honored the Father and followed Him. Even as a youth He declared to His earthly parents, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). “For I came down from heaven,” He later taught, “not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38; see also John 5:19). And the Savior taught, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6; see also Matthew 11:27).

Q: What does this mean? (no man cometh unto the Father, but by me)?

Read C

C - We return to the Father by doing His will. Jesus taught, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). He explained:

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22–23).

Who then will enter the kingdom of heaven? Not those who merely do wonderful works using the name of the Lord, Jesus taught, but only “he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Say: Let's discuss what the will of the Father for all man.

Q: How could it be possible for a man to prophecy in Christ's name, cast out devils and to many wonderful works and yet not be doing the will of the Father?  How could this be?

Read D, verse 41 only.
Q: How does this verse help us understand, the phrase, "depart from me, I never knew you".

D  2 Nephi 9:41-43  O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

Q: What does it mean to be the keep of the gate?

 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.

Q: How does this verse help us understand, the phrase, "depart from me, I never knew you"?

Q: What is the will of the Father?

 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.

Q: What is hid from who doesn't come unto Christ in the depths of humility?

-The Great Exemplar

Read E

E - Jesus showed us how to do this. Again and again He invited us to follow Him: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Q: Any thoughts on this?

-Focus on Eternal Life

Read F

F   He also challenges us to focus on Him, not on the things of the world. In His great sermon on the bread of life, Jesus explained the contrast between mortal and eternal nourishment. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth,” He said, “but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you” (John 6:27). The Savior taught that He was the Bread of Life, the source of eternal nourishment. Speaking of the mortal nourishment the world offered, including the manna Jehovah had sent to feed the children of Israel in the wilderness, Jesus taught that those who relied on this bread were now dead (see John 6:49). In contrast, the nourishment He offered was “the living bread which came down from heaven,” and, Jesus taught, “if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever” (John 6:51).

Some of His disciples said this was “an hard saying,” and from that time many of His followers “went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:60, 66). Apparently they did not accept His earlier teaching that they should “seek … first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Even today some who profess Christianity are more attracted to the things of the world—the things that sustain life on earth but give no nourishment toward eternal life. For some, His “hard saying” is still a reason not to follow Christ.

Q: What is the hard saying that Jesus said?  (have faith only on Him, focus only on Him)

2 N 31:19 ... Nay, for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of Him  who is mighty to save.

Q: Are these easy sayings for us or hard sayings for us?

-Challenge and Testimony

Read G 

G   Jesus issued the challenge “What think ye of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42). The Apostle Paul challenged the Corinthians to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). All of us should answer these challenges for ourselves. Where is our ultimate loyalty? Are we like the Christians in Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s memorable description who have moved their residence to Zion but still try to keep a second residence in Babylon?¹

There is no middle ground. We are followers of Jesus Christ. Our citizenship is in His Church and His gospel, and we should not use a visa to visit Babylon or act like one of its citizens. We should honor His name, keep His commandments, and “seek not the things of this world but seek … first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, footnote a; from Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 6:38).

Read H 

H  Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten and Beloved Son of God. He is our Creator. He is the Light of the World. He is our Savior from sin and death. This is the most important knowledge on earth, and you can know this for yourself, as I know it for myself. The Holy Ghost, who testifies of the Father and the Son and leads us into truth, has revealed these truths to me, and He will reveal them to you. The way is desire and obedience. As to desire, Jesus taught, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). As to obedience, He taught, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). I testify of the truth of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen

Conclusion

Say: Brethren, as I actively seek, I have movement in my life.  But, as I move from grace to grace, weaknesses that I didn't know were so abhorrent to God become awful to me.  Every time this happens, my soul is racked.  As I go through the process of repentance my soul is pained no more.  This process requires exertion on our part.  It also requires looking to our Savior for mercy.  This is all we can do.

2 N 9:18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be fullforever.

D   2 Nephi 9:41-43  O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

 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.

FHE - Lesson on Serpent

Learn Readiness

A.  Have somesome recount the story of brazen serpent
Say:  Alma talked about this brazen serpent.  Q: Do any of you remember where?

Read Alma 33:19

Alma 33: 19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

 20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.

Q: Would you do it?  Why was it difficult for some to simple look?

 21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

Q: What does the serpent on the pole represent?

Q: Who was Alma talking to?  Q: Why did Alma bring up this story? (see verse 1 of Alma 33) (how they should plant the seed, or the word)

Read verse 22 (begin to believe in the Son of God)
Q: Why does Alma what the Zoromites to plant this seed?
Q: What are hoping to healed of by looking to Christ?

Conclusion: Read verse 23

Q: Do any of you have any thoughts or experiences where you have felt the swelling motions in your heart of the seed of Christ which you have planted?
- watching testament movie
- helping someone who was in need
- listening to a powerful testimony 

As we live our lives in Christ we enter into his rest and His peace rests upon us.  Christ's way is simple and easy according to the scriptures.  Q:  Why then is it that for many of us His way seems hard?

Bare your testimony

I N. 17:41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

2 Nephi 25:20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.

 John 3:14 ¶And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Learner Involvement


Learner Application

Lesson on Repentance

Lesson on Repentance.

Create the Outline before class begins.

HP Group both a quorum of action and of learning.  To organize the group to help those in need is very important for our process of sanctification.

A. Introduction - Read a paragraph or two about the Nehor religion

As in the days of Nehor and Korihor, we live in a time not long before the advent of Jesus Christ—in our case, the time of preparation for His Second Coming. And similarly, the message of repentance is often not welcomed. Some profess that if there is a God, He makes no real demands upon us (see Alma 18:5). Others maintain that a loving God forgives all sin based on simple confession, or if there actually is a punishment for sin, “God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 28:8). Others, with Korihor, deny the very existence of Christ and any such thing as sin. Their doctrine is that values, standards, and even truth are all relative. Thus, whatever one feels is right for him or her cannot be judged by others to be wrong or sinful.

On the surface such philosophies seem appealing because they give us license to indulge any appetite or desire without concern for consequences. By using the teachings of Nehor and Korihor, we can rationalize and justify anything. When prophets come crying repentance, it “throws cold water on the party.” But in reality the prophetic call should be received with joy. Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life. Pretending there is no sin does not lessen its burden and pain. Suffering for sin does not by itself change anything for the better. Only repentance leads to the sunlit uplands of a better life. And, of course, only through repentance do we gain access to the atoning grace of Jesus Christ and salvation. 

Refer to the outline on board

1. Teachings of Nehor in our Day.
2. Repentance, Grace and the Atonement
3. Five Aspects of Repentance
1. The invitation to repent is an expression of love.
2. Repentance means striving to change.
3. Repentance means not only abandoning sin but also a committing to obedience.
4. Repentance requires a seriousness of purpose and a willingness to persevere, even through pain
5. Whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgivenes

B. Learner Readiness - {establish that we still need repentance}

Q: Do we as High Priests in the true church of Jesus Christ need the principle of repentance?  I mean, we have been baptized, we have made covenants, we go to church on Sunday and keep certain outward commandments by which we are declared worthy to go to the temple. 

Q: Do we need repentance?

Q: What do we need to repent of?

- sins of character

- internal sins

- sins contrary to the Law of the Gospel

Q:  What kind of sins are these?  Name some of them?

[look at Moroni 7, the attributes of charity;  look at Alma 7 for more attributes; Sermon on the Mount]

Q:  Is it possible to correct these things?  How is it possible?  What is required?

Q: Have we established that we still need repentance?

C: Learner Involvement

Say: Well, let's learn about repentance, but as we do so, be thinking about how each principle applies in your life right now.  I once met a good latter day saint sister that told me that she had nothing to pray to God for.  Her prayers were short.  I she was talking, I immediately thought of a dozen things that I need help with.

Section 2 - Repentance, Grace and the Atonement

Work through the Elder Christopherson quote line by line

'B' Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration.


'C' Repentance exists as an option only because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is His infinite sacrifice that “bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance” (Alma 34:15). Repentance is the necessary condition, and the grace of Christ is the power by which “mercy can satisfy the demands of justice” (Alma 34:16). Our witness is this:

“We know that justification [or forgiveness of sins] through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true;

“And we know also, that sanctification [or purification from the effects of sin] through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength” 
Section 3 - Five Aspects of Repentance

(1) The invitation to repent is an expression of love.

Read D: "If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another and to ourselves." 


Q: What does it mean to demand repentance of ourselves?

(2) Repentance means striving to change.

Read E: It would mock the Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part. Rather, we seek His grace to complement and reward our most diligent efforts.


Q: What does it mean to seek His grace to complement our most diligent efforts?


Q: What does it mean to seek His grace to reward our most diligent efforts?


Read F: Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome. Surely the Lord smiles upon one who desires to come to judgment worthily, who resolutely labors day by day to replace weakness with strength.
 Q: Do any of you have experiences praying for time and opportunity to work, strive and overcome?



Q: what happens when we pray for time and opportunity?  What are we wanting? (We want that particular sin to no longer have affect in our lives)
Example of February 2.  Everything was going wrong.  I recognized it and choose not get all worked up.


I prayed for opportunity the night before.  This a minor example but it will suffice.


1. Out to lunch with Daughter, having major problems with roommates.  Just listened with patience.
2. Foot needs an operation
3. 6:15, no answer from my wife regarding going to the temple that night.
4. Wife calls at 6:45 saying she want to go.  I am driving and turn around.  We get to the temple late.  I make a choice not to be bothered.
5. Forgot may cell phone.  But found after driving all the way back to the temple.
6. T-mobile example 



Q: What does it mean to labor day by day to replace weaknesses with strengths?


Q: Why would we want to do this?


Q: After we have the outward manifestations of repentance down in our lives what do we begin to work on?



Read G: Real repentance, real change may require repeated attempts, but there is something refining and holy in such striving.

I have come to the conclusion that whatever sins or weaknesses that we continue to repeat and have not overcome will require more assistance and grace than previously realized or understood.  What changes to do we need to make in our personal plan to discontinue our recidivisim?


(3) Repentance means not only abandoning sin but also a committing to obedience

Read H - For our turning to the Lord to be complete, it must include nothing less than a covenant of obedience to Him. We often speak of this covenant as the baptismal covenant since it is witnessed by being baptized in water… Without this covenant, repentance remains incomplete and the remission of sins unattained.

(4) Repentance requires a seriousness of purpose and a willingness to persevere, even through pain

I - Attempts to create a list of specific steps of repentance may be helpful to some, but it may also lead to a mechanical, check-off-the-boxes approach with no real feeling or change. True repentance is not superficial. The Lord gives two overarching requirements: “By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:43).

(5) Whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness

 President Boyd K. Packer provided this analogy:

“In April of 1847, Brigham Young led the first company of pioneers out of Winter Quarters. At that same time, 1,600 miles [2,575 km] to the west the pathetic survivors of the Donner Party straggled down the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains into the Sacramento Valley.

“They had spent the ferocious winter trapped in the snowdrifts below the summit. That any survived the days and weeks and months of starvation and indescribable suffering is almost beyond belief.

“Among them was fifteen-year-old John Breen. On the night of April 24 he walked into Johnson’s Ranch. Years later John wrote:

“‘It was long after dark when we got to Johnson’s Ranch, so the first time I saw it was early in the morning. The weather was fine, the ground was covered with green grass, the birds were singing from the tops of the trees, and the journey was over. I could scarcely believe that I was alive.

“‘The scene that I saw that morning seems to be photographed on my mind. Most of the incidents are gone from memory, but I can always see the camp near Johnson’s Ranch.’”

Said President Packer: “At first I was very puzzled by his statement that ‘most of the incidents are gone from memory.’ How could long months of incredible suffering and sorrow ever be gone from his mind? How could that brutal dark winter be replaced with one brilliant morning?

“On further reflection I decided it was not puzzling at all. I have seen something similar happen to people I have known. I have seen some who have spent a long winter of guilt and spiritual starvation emerge into the morning of forgiveness. When morning came, they learned this:

“‘Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more’ [D&C 58:42].”⁴

Conclusion


The divine gift of repentance is the key to happiness here and hereafter


Other ideas:

Alma 38:13 Do not ^apray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom.

 14 Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are ^abetter than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my ^bunworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times.

Q: Is there an underlying attitude that Alma is teaching Shiblon to have?

Q: Are we unworthy before God or worthy?

Q: If we are worthy before God, why does Alma tell his returned missionary son to pray this way?

Other Questions if there is time Divine forgiveness and healing flow quite naturally to such a soul, for indeed “virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; [and] mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own” (D&C 88:40).

Q: Why does divine forgiveness and healing flow quite naturally to person who striving to make real change, attempting repeatedly after each failure?


Q: Can mercy and healing flow to us who are long time members of the church?  Do we need this or are we perfect?


Q: Is there an underlying attitude humble follower of Christ possesses?

What is Wickedness According to Alma?

As I read the Book of Mormon over and over again, I come up with new insights. Today, I was reading Alma 6. Here, in verse 3, we are told that those who did not repent of their wickedness were blotted out and not numbered among the righteous. Here's the verse in full:

And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the church that did not
repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—I mean those who
were lifted up in the pride of their hearts—the same were rejected, and their
names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the
righteous.

I asked myself, how does Alma define wickedness? What is his criteria? I went back a chapter and found where Alma was using the word 'wicked' or 'wickedness'.  Alma tells the people in Alma 5:56-57 the following:

And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent.

And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things; and behold, their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people;

This particular group of members of the church in Zarahemla were behaving so bad that Alma chose to use the above words!  What in particular were some of these members doing that Alma called wicked? Do the scriptures actually say anything specific? I went back a few verses in Alma 5 to find out. Alma does get specific! Here's verses 53 - 55:

And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?

Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance—

Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?

In verse 53, Alma asks the members whether they, after explaining their sins, will continue to avoid the issues at hand. As they 'lay aside these things', they 'trample the Holy One under their feet'. This must mean that there are certain things that a believer cannot do - things that are so contrary to true discipleship, that if you do them it's as if you trample the Holy One under your feet!  He then outlines what trampling the Holy One means:

1. Puffed up in the pride of your hearts
2. Wearing costly apparel
3. Setting their hearts on the vain things of the world
4. Setting their hearts on their riches
5. Supposing that they are better one than another
6. Persecuting their brethren (who humble themselves and walk after the holy order of God).

In item 6 of the outline above, Alma introduces another group of members.  The contrast is stark and real. This other group of members are bringing forth works which are meet for repentance.  They have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  They have caught the vision of what it means to be a saint.  The 'wicked' group can't grasp this happiness.  It looks foolish to them and they fight against it (persecute their brethren).

7. Turning their backs upon the poor, the needy and withholding their substance from them.

Alma calls these things 'persisting in your wickedness' in verse 56.  Is there a message for our day as members of Christ's true church.  I'll let you decide.

I changed my mind.  The message is obviously the same for our day.  One problem (that is really hard for us to see) is that when we are puffed up in pride we don't think we are (see Alma 26:21).  When we can afford really nice things (costly apparel being the metaphor), we don't think twice about how it effects our discipleship.  Are we laying aside the temporal doctrine of Christ?  When our goal is to obtain riches and get the things of the world, do we do it for the right reasons (see Jacob 2:19)?  If we have riches, do we quietly or not so quietly believe that somehow we are better than those who are struggling?  When these things are brought to our attention do we resist, discounting the person telling us of the doctrinal inconsistency that we might be living?  The resisters of the past would say 'away with him!  He has a devil!'  Do we inadvertently withhold our substance the poor and needy by having so much debt that we can barely give or by diverting our funds into whatever (investments or toys) so its as if we are turning our backs upon them, walking by them and noticing them not (see Mormon 8:39)?  Could we be mocking the poor just by 'adorning ourselves with costly apparel (again, a metaphor)'?  As we 'lay these things aside' do we 'trample' the Savior under our feet?  To 'lay these things aside' means to not want to think about them.  It means to avoid these weightier matters and focus on other lighter things.

These are questions I have mostly for myself.  It takes time for me to shift my thinking to Book of Mormon thinking.  It feels like I am going against everything I was modeled and taught.   I remind myself that ways of God are considered foolish to the natural man (see Alma 26:21)  and that gives me courage to persist in practicing my discipleship. The promise is happiness (see 2 Nephi 9: 42-43).

Devil's Dilemma: Socialism vs. Capitalism

I think there are more than two general choices (unbridled capitalism on the one side and forced redistribution of wealth and government ownership of key industries on the other side).  What is the third and fourth choice?  Putting that aside, I agree that teaching children something different is the answer.  But, that is based on the choice society makes.  Right now we teach children(mostly through our modeling but by instruction) that they are on their own, if you can compete well you, individually will win,  the greater the  genius, the greater individual financial rewards, the greater personal management, the greater individual financial rewards, the more strength and physical skill, the greater individual rewards, etc., etc.  If we could teach the children(as a new choice) that each person's individual prosperity (based on his or her talents) should be used to benefit the village or society as a whole, a collaborative yet hard working society could be created.  But, I haven't decide if the lure of self-interest can be replaced by good desires for one's fellowman.  That is the question.  But, if it was taught and modeled from a child's youth could it work?

Dad

-----Original Message-----

From: JAMES NEPHI NELSON [mailto:j.n.nelson@utah.edu]

Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 3:07 PM

To: Nelson, Scott R.

Subject: RE: Interesting Article

Yeah, I have been seeing a lot of statistics about the distance between the classes is increasing.  CEOs are making more money while the normal grunt employees are making less and less.   I think this is going to become a bigger and bigger problem if it continues.  Distribution of wealth problem should be solved by the wealthy trickling down their money but in this day they are keeping it to themselves, probably because they are scared of losing it in this economy. 

The solution I think can go either way, which would either be head towards socialism or keep to the capitalism roots.  The in between our country is currently in isn't working.   I am not sure what is better, and I personally would rather go for the more capitalism approach, with small government and minimum regulation to the private sector.  But I do not think this will work for the future.  The problem comes down to as one of my professors put it, "being born in the cage of capitalism."  So socialism may be the escape for the next generation but this transition has to happen slowly starting with shaping children with how socialism works.

The answer to your original question is that people are willing to pay more.  Price=how much the customer is willing to pay

James

________________________________________

From: Nelson, Scott R. [srnelson@visionbankcard.net]

Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 3:54 PM

To: JAMES NEPHI NELSON

Subject: RE: Interesting Article

Isn't it interesting that a high priced car in 1963 was only $47,000 in 2010 dollars.  But now a high priced car is in the 70's or higher.  Have cars gotten more expensive or are we just willing to pay more?

Dad

-----Original Message-----

From: JAMES NEPHI NELSON [mailto:j.n.nelson@utah.edu]

Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 12:34 PM

To: Nelson, Scott R.

Subject: RE: Interesting Article

Interesting, but what is the actual cause.  The article is making a correlation between if you have morals then you have money.  Could is be that if you have money then you have morals.  Or even morals and money are caused by a third unknown variable.  I expect the third variable to be education, which the article did briefly mentioned.

James

________________________________________

From: Nelson, Scott R. [srnelson@visionbankcard.net]

Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 10:08 AM

To: Karen Nelson; steven.nelson@aggiemail.usu.edu; JAMES NEPHI NELSON; nelsonjonathanscott@gmail.com; nelson.saralogan@gmail.com

Subject: Interesting Article

It seems like a good set of values is found in the upper 20% of society.  A very interesting article.

Scott

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/opinion/brooks-the-great-divorce.html?src=me&ref=general