“Land of promise” is always a metaphor in the scriptures for exaltation. Prospering materially and temporally is good, but it is not the point of mortality. Spiritual prosperity is what we are after, and exaltation in the celestial kingdom – the true land of promise – is our eternal goal.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
First Nephi 2:20
And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.
“Land of promise” is always a metaphor in the scriptures for exaltation. Prospering materially and temporally is good, but it is not the point of mortality. Spiritual prosperity is what we are after, and exaltation in the celestial kingdom – the true land of promise – is our eternal goal.
“Land of promise” is always a metaphor in the scriptures for exaltation. Prospering materially and temporally is good, but it is not the point of mortality. Spiritual prosperity is what we are after, and exaltation in the celestial kingdom – the true land of promise – is our eternal goal.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
First Nephi 2:18-19
But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart.
Being the good brother and faithful witness that Nephi was by nature, he tried to bear his testimony and share his spiritual experiences with his other brothers, just as he had done with his brother Sam. Unlike Sam, however, who accepted Nephi’s testimony, Laman and Lemuel rejected him. Nephi’s experience prepared Joseph Smith for the experiences that would shortly come into his life as he began to share his message from the Lord. A few would accept his witness and others would reject him. We can expect the same in our own lives. As every missionary can attest, some will listen, but many will not. That does not mean, however, that we should stop trying.
It is interesting that the Lord came to Nephi not when Nephi was praying for himself, but when he was praying for his wayward brothers. Praying for others is an essential element of our prayer life and our spiritual development.
Being the good brother and faithful witness that Nephi was by nature, he tried to bear his testimony and share his spiritual experiences with his other brothers, just as he had done with his brother Sam. Unlike Sam, however, who accepted Nephi’s testimony, Laman and Lemuel rejected him. Nephi’s experience prepared Joseph Smith for the experiences that would shortly come into his life as he began to share his message from the Lord. A few would accept his witness and others would reject him. We can expect the same in our own lives. As every missionary can attest, some will listen, but many will not. That does not mean, however, that we should stop trying.
It is interesting that the Lord came to Nephi not when Nephi was praying for himself, but when he was praying for his wayward brothers. Praying for others is an essential element of our prayer life and our spiritual development.
Monday, August 29, 2016
First Nephi 2:17
And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words.
Once we have had an experience with the Spirit, we naturally want to share it with others. That can be a scary proposition, for we could experience rejection and even ridicule. Nephi, however, was a good brother, and he overcame whatever natural trepidation he may have had in telling his brother about his experiences. How relieved Nephi must have been when Sam accepted his testimony! At last he had someone with whom he could share his deepest and most sacred feelings. We all need to associate with others who believe as we do. For this very purpose the Lord has organized us into families and provided the organization of the Church. We come together in our families and our congregations to bolster and strengthen each other. Faith is a marvelous gift, and a place to share that faith is also a gift of God.
Once we have had an experience with the Spirit, we naturally want to share it with others. That can be a scary proposition, for we could experience rejection and even ridicule. Nephi, however, was a good brother, and he overcame whatever natural trepidation he may have had in telling his brother about his experiences. How relieved Nephi must have been when Sam accepted his testimony! At last he had someone with whom he could share his deepest and most sacred feelings. We all need to associate with others who believe as we do. For this very purpose the Lord has organized us into families and provided the organization of the Church. We come together in our families and our congregations to bolster and strengthen each other. Faith is a marvelous gift, and a place to share that faith is also a gift of God.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
First Nephi 2:16
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.
A believing heart is a gift. As Alma taught, we begin with just a desire to believe. If we ask God in faith to help us believe, he is quick to answer such a prayer.
A believing heart is a gift. As Alma taught, we begin with just a desire to believe. If we ask God in faith to help us believe, he is quick to answer such a prayer.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
First Nephi 2:14
And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them.
When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we can act and speak with power. To be filled with the Holy Ghost sounds like the Spirit does something to us, as if he pours himself into us. In a sense, that is true. The Holy Ghost does work upon our hearts and souls and burns away the dross of the natural man like a refiner's fire. The initial action, however, is not his but ours. He does not split us open and jump inside. Rather, we open ourselves to the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, which is already present in the world and surrounds us every minute.
The light is everywhere present, but we, like wearing a black hood at noonday, do not allow ourselves to see it. We lift the hood ever so slightly, and for a brief moment some light comes in. The small amount of light may hurt our eyes because they are not adjusted to it yet, and we may drop the hood again because we are uncomfortable. The light outside, however, does not diminish.
Others who do not wear hoods tell us how marvelous the light is and how much better life is when we can see the light all the time. From time to time we lift the hood a little higher for a little longer. Our eyes begin to adjust, and we start to see the possibilities. When we get tired of living in the dark, we finally remove the hood and look around at the beautiful world the way it was meant to be seen, not shrouded in self-imposed darkness, but illuminated with brilliant light. The light of the sun never changed. What changed was our desire to invite the light in and remove the obstacle that kept the light out.
When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, the Spirit does not suddenly show up on our doorstep. Like the sun, his influence has surrounded us all along, looking for the slightest crack in the hood we have pulled tightly over our hearts to keep him out. To the degree that we lift the hood of sin, pride, stubbornness, rebellion, and self-will, the light of the Spirit naturally pours in, anxious to fill the void. The only thing that keeps us from being filled with the Holy Ghost all the time is us. God never withholds His Spirit, but we withhold it when we do not let it in.
Just as sunlight is the ultimate source of all power on the earth, the influence of the Holy Ghost is the source of all true power in our lives. The Holy Ghost IS power. We cannot receive an increase in the presence of God's Spirit in our lives and not receive an increase in power. Like a chain reaction, when we let a little of the Spirit into our lives, we receive power to open ourselves further to let even more of the Spirit in, which brings more power to let even more Spirit in, until eventually we reach the logical and inevitable conclusion that we are filled. This is our intended outcome, the state that God wants all His children to achieve. His whole plan is set up to enable and encourage us to reach this state. It is not reserved for a chosen few. The fact that only a few choose to reach this goal does not mean that God would withhold this magnificent blessing from anyone who chooses to live a life that qualifies for it. The Holy Ghost is a gift from God that is just waiting for us to receive.
The power of the Holy Ghost first works on us and then works in us and through us to reach others. We are like lumps of charcoal. At first we are dark, cold, and lifeless. If we stay close enough to the light of the Spirit, a spark warms and then ignites a small corner of our lump. If we don't extinguish it, the heat will spread through us until we glow brightly. By ourselves our glowing heat cannot do much. But if we touch another lump of charcoal, we can ignite it and start the process in him. The purpose of the power of God is first to ignite us and then to enable us to ignite others. The more power we have, the better we become and the more we can help others. We are on this earth first to receive salvation for ourselves and then to help others receive it. Anything else we may do or accomplish in life is secondary to these two objectives.
One additional note: Confounded is not the same as converted. When we teach, we have to be careful not to simply confound our learners. We must lead them to conversion. Lehi was a great man and a good father, but he pushed his sons when they repeatedly rebelled and complained. Lehi was human, and he had human impatience. Isn't it nice to know that even great men are still human? It gives me hope.
When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, we can act and speak with power. To be filled with the Holy Ghost sounds like the Spirit does something to us, as if he pours himself into us. In a sense, that is true. The Holy Ghost does work upon our hearts and souls and burns away the dross of the natural man like a refiner's fire. The initial action, however, is not his but ours. He does not split us open and jump inside. Rather, we open ourselves to the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, which is already present in the world and surrounds us every minute.
The light is everywhere present, but we, like wearing a black hood at noonday, do not allow ourselves to see it. We lift the hood ever so slightly, and for a brief moment some light comes in. The small amount of light may hurt our eyes because they are not adjusted to it yet, and we may drop the hood again because we are uncomfortable. The light outside, however, does not diminish.
Others who do not wear hoods tell us how marvelous the light is and how much better life is when we can see the light all the time. From time to time we lift the hood a little higher for a little longer. Our eyes begin to adjust, and we start to see the possibilities. When we get tired of living in the dark, we finally remove the hood and look around at the beautiful world the way it was meant to be seen, not shrouded in self-imposed darkness, but illuminated with brilliant light. The light of the sun never changed. What changed was our desire to invite the light in and remove the obstacle that kept the light out.
When we are filled with the Holy Ghost, the Spirit does not suddenly show up on our doorstep. Like the sun, his influence has surrounded us all along, looking for the slightest crack in the hood we have pulled tightly over our hearts to keep him out. To the degree that we lift the hood of sin, pride, stubbornness, rebellion, and self-will, the light of the Spirit naturally pours in, anxious to fill the void. The only thing that keeps us from being filled with the Holy Ghost all the time is us. God never withholds His Spirit, but we withhold it when we do not let it in.
Just as sunlight is the ultimate source of all power on the earth, the influence of the Holy Ghost is the source of all true power in our lives. The Holy Ghost IS power. We cannot receive an increase in the presence of God's Spirit in our lives and not receive an increase in power. Like a chain reaction, when we let a little of the Spirit into our lives, we receive power to open ourselves further to let even more of the Spirit in, which brings more power to let even more Spirit in, until eventually we reach the logical and inevitable conclusion that we are filled. This is our intended outcome, the state that God wants all His children to achieve. His whole plan is set up to enable and encourage us to reach this state. It is not reserved for a chosen few. The fact that only a few choose to reach this goal does not mean that God would withhold this magnificent blessing from anyone who chooses to live a life that qualifies for it. The Holy Ghost is a gift from God that is just waiting for us to receive.
The power of the Holy Ghost first works on us and then works in us and through us to reach others. We are like lumps of charcoal. At first we are dark, cold, and lifeless. If we stay close enough to the light of the Spirit, a spark warms and then ignites a small corner of our lump. If we don't extinguish it, the heat will spread through us until we glow brightly. By ourselves our glowing heat cannot do much. But if we touch another lump of charcoal, we can ignite it and start the process in him. The purpose of the power of God is first to ignite us and then to enable us to ignite others. The more power we have, the better we become and the more we can help others. We are on this earth first to receive salvation for ourselves and then to help others receive it. Anything else we may do or accomplish in life is secondary to these two objectives.
One additional note: Confounded is not the same as converted. When we teach, we have to be careful not to simply confound our learners. We must lead them to conversion. Lehi was a great man and a good father, but he pushed his sons when they repeatedly rebelled and complained. Lehi was human, and he had human impatience. Isn't it nice to know that even great men are still human? It gives me hope.
Friday, August 26, 2016
First Nephi 2:13
Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.
If we put our trust in worldly power, we will be disappointed, for there will always be someone bigger and stronger and more powerful. Only God is guaranteed to be stronger than everyone else.
If we put our trust in worldly power, we will be disappointed, for there will always be someone bigger and stronger and more powerful. Only God is guaranteed to be stronger than everyone else.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
First Nephi 2:12
And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.
If we are to avoid the mistakes of Laman and Lemuel, we must understand the dealings of God. The church, the scriptures, and the Holy Ghost teach us of God's dealings. If we don't know God, we will find ourselves fighting against him.
If we are to avoid the mistakes of Laman and Lemuel, we must understand the dealings of God. The church, the scriptures, and the Holy Ghost teach us of God's dealings. If we don't know God, we will find ourselves fighting against him.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
First Nephi 2:11
Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart.
Those who focus on worldly wealth feel they will perish without the trappings of the world. They believe their life is in their things. Without their things they have no worth and no purpose. Satan tells us that we can buy anything in this world with money. God says we don't need money for the most important things in life.
Those who focus on worldly wealth feel they will perish without the trappings of the world. They believe their life is in their things. Without their things they have no worth and no purpose. Satan tells us that we can buy anything in this world with money. God says we don't need money for the most important things in life.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Book of Mormon, First Nephi 1:14-15
And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish! And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him.
This is the doctrine of Christ and the gospel of hope. Christ will ultimately save those who come to Him and follow Him and believe in Him. Though we deserve to perish forever in outer darkness, Christ will snatch us from our deserved fate and rescue us from our sins and shortcomings and bring us into His presence. We do not trust in ourselves, but we trust in Him who is mighty to save. He saves us from eternal death, not because we have earned it, but simply because He loves us. Christ's sole purpose in His magnificent life is to bring God's children into immortality and eternal life with Him. He has done, and will do, everything in His infinite power to accomplish His goal. All we have to do is choose to let Him do it for us. We just have to choose Christ and stop fighting Him, and He will set the Atonement to work in our lives, pour out His spirit upon us, teach us and tutor us, refine us through challenges and trials, and then bring us home. He does all the work, and we just have to submit, do our best, and be grateful.
This is the doctrine of Christ and the gospel of hope. Christ will ultimately save those who come to Him and follow Him and believe in Him. Though we deserve to perish forever in outer darkness, Christ will snatch us from our deserved fate and rescue us from our sins and shortcomings and bring us into His presence. We do not trust in ourselves, but we trust in Him who is mighty to save. He saves us from eternal death, not because we have earned it, but simply because He loves us. Christ's sole purpose in His magnificent life is to bring God's children into immortality and eternal life with Him. He has done, and will do, everything in His infinite power to accomplish His goal. All we have to do is choose to let Him do it for us. We just have to choose Christ and stop fighting Him, and He will set the Atonement to work in our lives, pour out His spirit upon us, teach us and tutor us, refine us through challenges and trials, and then bring us home. He does all the work, and we just have to submit, do our best, and be grateful.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Book of Mormon, First Nephi 1:14
And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!
God's power is over every person on earth. No one is beyond His reach or outside the pale of His influence. Though many may ignore Him, deny Him, or even fight against Him, they never overcome Him. They can do nothing that He does not permit them to do. Pilate claimed the power to crucify Jesus, but the Master taught him the truth, that the only power he had was power permitted him by God to fulfill the plan of the atonement.
We can have faith that God uses His power to benefit us in goodness and mercy. His very nature is goodness and mercy. Unlike the inconsistent nature of mortal man, God's nature is consistent and unchanging. He does not have to fight against the natural man. Therefore, all that He does is good and merciful. He cannot be any other way. We can therefore trust that every use of His power is a demonstration of His goodness and mercy.
Our finite minds may not comprehend how some of His actions are for our good and extend mercy to us. Of course, not everything that happens in our lives is initiated by God. He has granted us agency and sufficient power to exercise that agency meaningfully. Many choose to exercise their agency in ways that harm others, either accidentally or intentionally. We often suffer because of the agency of others or even because of our own poor use of agency. Because God is good, He lets us have agency, but because He is merciful, he has provided a Savior for us, whose atonement will heal all the damage done by sin and stupidity.
His power is over all, and so is His goodness and mercy. No one will miss out on any glorious blessing that he is willing to receive because God lacks the power to grant that blessing. If we miss blessings, it will be only because we choose to turn our backs on those blessings, but not because God cannot grant them.
God's power is over every person on earth. No one is beyond His reach or outside the pale of His influence. Though many may ignore Him, deny Him, or even fight against Him, they never overcome Him. They can do nothing that He does not permit them to do. Pilate claimed the power to crucify Jesus, but the Master taught him the truth, that the only power he had was power permitted him by God to fulfill the plan of the atonement.
We can have faith that God uses His power to benefit us in goodness and mercy. His very nature is goodness and mercy. Unlike the inconsistent nature of mortal man, God's nature is consistent and unchanging. He does not have to fight against the natural man. Therefore, all that He does is good and merciful. He cannot be any other way. We can therefore trust that every use of His power is a demonstration of His goodness and mercy.
Our finite minds may not comprehend how some of His actions are for our good and extend mercy to us. Of course, not everything that happens in our lives is initiated by God. He has granted us agency and sufficient power to exercise that agency meaningfully. Many choose to exercise their agency in ways that harm others, either accidentally or intentionally. We often suffer because of the agency of others or even because of our own poor use of agency. Because God is good, He lets us have agency, but because He is merciful, he has provided a Savior for us, whose atonement will heal all the damage done by sin and stupidity.
His power is over all, and so is His goodness and mercy. No one will miss out on any glorious blessing that he is willing to receive because God lacks the power to grant that blessing. If we miss blessings, it will be only because we choose to turn our backs on those blessings, but not because God cannot grant them.
Book of Mormon, First Nephi 1:14
And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!
God's power is over every person on earth. No one is beyond His reach or outside the pale of His influence. Though many may ignore Him, deny Him, or even fight against Him, they never overcome Him. They can do nothing that He does not permit them to do. Pilate claimed the power to crucify Jesus, but the Master taught him the truth, that the only power he had was power permitted him by God to fulfill the plan of the atonement.
We can have faith that God uses His power to benefit us in goodness and mercy. His very nature is goodness and mercy. Unlike the inconsistent nature of mortal man, God's nature is consistent and unchanging. He does not have to fight against the natural man. Therefore, all that He does is good and merciful. He cannot be any other way. We can therefore trust that every use of His power is a demonstration of His goodness and mercy.
Our finite minds may not comprehend how some of His actions are for our good and extend mercy to us. Of course, not everything that happens in our lives is initiated by God. He has granted us agency and sufficient power to exercise that agency meaningfully. Many choose to exercise their agency in ways that harm others, either accidentally or intentionally. We often suffer because of the agency of others or even because of our own poor use of agency. Because God is good, He lets us have agency, but because He is merciful, he has provided a Savior for us, whose atonement will heal all the damage done by sin and stupidity.
His power is over all, and so is His goodness and mercy. No one will miss out on any glorious blessing that he is willing to receive because God lacks the power to grant that blessing. If we miss blessings, it will be only because we choose to turn our backs on those blessings, but not because God cannot grant them.
God's power is over every person on earth. No one is beyond His reach or outside the pale of His influence. Though many may ignore Him, deny Him, or even fight against Him, they never overcome Him. They can do nothing that He does not permit them to do. Pilate claimed the power to crucify Jesus, but the Master taught him the truth, that the only power he had was power permitted him by God to fulfill the plan of the atonement.
We can have faith that God uses His power to benefit us in goodness and mercy. His very nature is goodness and mercy. Unlike the inconsistent nature of mortal man, God's nature is consistent and unchanging. He does not have to fight against the natural man. Therefore, all that He does is good and merciful. He cannot be any other way. We can therefore trust that every use of His power is a demonstration of His goodness and mercy.
Our finite minds may not comprehend how some of His actions are for our good and extend mercy to us. Of course, not everything that happens in our lives is initiated by God. He has granted us agency and sufficient power to exercise that agency meaningfully. Many choose to exercise their agency in ways that harm others, either accidentally or intentionally. We often suffer because of the agency of others or even because of our own poor use of agency. Because God is good, He lets us have agency, but because He is merciful, he has provided a Savior for us, whose atonement will heal all the damage done by sin and stupidity.
His power is over all, and so is His goodness and mercy. No one will miss out on any glorious blessing that he is willing to receive because God lacks the power to grant that blessing. If we miss blessings, it will be only because we choose to turn our backs on those blessings, but not because God cannot grant them.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Flood the Earth - One Drop At A Time
In 1988 President Ezra Taft Benson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked the members of the church to "flood the earth" with the Book of Mormon. He said at the October General Conference of the church: "The time is long overdue for a massive flooding of the earth with the Book of Mormon for the many reasons which the Lord has given. In this age of the electronic media and the mass distribution of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way."
Recall that in 1988 the Internet was in its infancy. The World Wide Web had not yet made its appearance. Smartphones were not yet invented. How far we have come in the technology that President Benson envisioned for flooding the earth.
The commandment to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon has never been rescinded. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I need to do more with the technological gifts at my disposal to keep this commandment.
Now, I am not so naive as to think that I am going to flood the Internet with the Book of Mormon. But I can add my drop. As the old saying goes, if we each add a drop, pretty soon we'll have an ocean.
So here is my drop. I am going to post a verse from the Book of Mormon every day in my blog, along with a short comment. I invite anyone who wants to join your drops to mine to do three things:
Working together, our individual drops can become a drizzle, and then a stream, and pretty soon we'll have a river that becomes a flood. If a cute kitten video can get a gazillion hits in a day, surely the word of God can go viral if we all lend a hand.
Recall that in 1988 the Internet was in its infancy. The World Wide Web had not yet made its appearance. Smartphones were not yet invented. How far we have come in the technology that President Benson envisioned for flooding the earth.
The commandment to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon has never been rescinded. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I need to do more with the technological gifts at my disposal to keep this commandment.
Now, I am not so naive as to think that I am going to flood the Internet with the Book of Mormon. But I can add my drop. As the old saying goes, if we each add a drop, pretty soon we'll have an ocean.
So here is my drop. I am going to post a verse from the Book of Mormon every day in my blog, along with a short comment. I invite anyone who wants to join your drops to mine to do three things:
- Follow my blog so I know you are with me.
- Share my blog on your Facebook page and invite your web of friends to join us.
- Use your Facebook page to share your own Book of Mormon verses and encourage others to share.
Working together, our individual drops can become a drizzle, and then a stream, and pretty soon we'll have a river that becomes a flood. If a cute kitten video can get a gazillion hits in a day, surely the word of God can go viral if we all lend a hand.
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