Decreasing

It’s the beginning of a missionary discussion and the investigator asks a golden question: Art thou sent from God? I don’t know how he withstood the temptation to shout out Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. But he avoids that attention. Instead, he entirely deflects the question, de-emphasizing his special role as an ordained minister of Christ and discussing their common human experience of learning and doing God’s will. Christ similarly deflects attention garnered by miraculous healings, focusing attention on the healed rather than Himself as the Healer: Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole.

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Eating and Salvation

It starts in the Garden of Eden: I began in a similar state of innocence. And at some point, I decided to exercise autonomy to seek happiness separate from God’s happiness, as Adam did. I partook of my own Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in this way, determined to learn for myself. When I come to myself, I realize God’s happiness is the only true happiness, and must be restored from rebellion (evil) to willful submission (good) before partaking of the Tree of Life. In this probationary interim, I am given a new food: a paschal lamb reappointed in communion, symbols of Living Bread and Living Waters, bread crumbs leading back to Heaven.

In this way, I taste and know of the goodness of Jesus, in preparation for partaking of the Tree of Life, which is most precious, sweet above all that is sweet, and pure above all that is pure; whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. And ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Halloween Scriptures

Inspired by the way that Reformist Martyrs made the Bible the most interesting of books, I read my children a Halloween story from the New Testament.

It’s about a man who lives alone in a graveyard, howling day and night, and walking about with broken chains dangling from cut, scarred, and bleeding arms and legs: more frightening than Jacob Marley because he is alive.

Jesus and disciples arrive by boat and this almost-zombie comes running desperately at Jesus shouting “Leave me alone!” And although there were probably disciples with Him who would have liked nothing more, Jesus looks at this man’s heart and moves to heal his tormented existence without introduction or flinching. In a bargain, Christ exchanges a herd of swine for this single man’s sanity: only to be rebuked by townspeople, who preferred the pigs.

Christ challenges me similarly: what am I willing to give up to let a brother come back? Pristine scent in Sunday meetings? Easy home teaching to active members? Minimal weight of church service? Lectures on the mysteries of God rather than statements of well-worn gospel truths? Recognition for serving a full-time mission and marrying in the temple? Am I willing to stand with the prodigal and be counted one of them, a beggar invited to the Lord’s table?

Like the prodigal’s brother, I must vigilantly defend myself from that which I may prefer to a returned prodigal, or be eaten by jealousy as Christ pours out His abundance in celebration.

Balance

The Lord balances honesty with privacy: He always says the truth, but there are some things—notably weaknesses—that He withholds to protect His children from being overwhelmed.

Atonement

The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs. --Joseph Smith

Smoke

That which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually.

God hath created all things, both things to act and things to be acted upon.

God gave unto man that he should act.

Maybe part of that action is deciding that things will remind, invite, and entice me to do good.

When I see a cigarette, I usually frown judgmentally, berate the person mentally, and prepare to hold my breath as I pass. But smoke is also used in the scriptures to represent the prayers of the people ascending to heaven. By deciding to think/act with this as my motivation, I can confess His hand in all things, and reach out in charity rather than condemnation.

For with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Word of Wisdom

Inasmuch as any man drinketh wine among you, behold it is not good, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. (D&C 89: 5,7)

Both “washing of your bodies” and “offer up your sacraments” are ordinances. 

This is a call to consecration, not just to prohibition; commitment to expend goods in bringing others to God rather than in self-indulgence.

Ten Virgins

“The oil of spiritual preparedness cannot be shared” in a way that depletes the giver’s supply, “lest there be not enough for us and you.”

“When you give someone money or food, you will have less. However, when you share your testimony, it strengthens and increases for both the bearer and the hearer.”

By sharing spirituality, “neither shall the cruse of oil fail.”

Nature of God

"Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive; and, at the same time, is more terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of His punishments, and more ready to detect every false way, than we are apt to suppose Him to be."—Joseph Smith

Shield of Faith

I understood the shield of faith this morning in a new way – since faith is action, the shield is generated by my righteous actions. I envision it materializing around me as I move. The Lord will protect me if I engage in battle, but if I stand still my protection evaporates.

Ephesians 6:16 (D&C 27:17) 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

2 Nephi 25:26

I will speak of the glory of thy kingdom all the day long—thy infinite goodness, thy wondrous works, thy righteousness, and thy power—that we may be glad with the great reason of rejoicing, that the exceedingly great joy of Christ may be more abundant, that we may look forward to the day when his glory shall be revealed.

Thou hast appointed prophets to preach of thee with exceedingly great care, according to the Spirit, through which we ourselves have great views of that which is to come.

May I labor diligently to teach plainly, as I sit in my house and as I walk by the way, morning and night; and write to persuade brethren and children alike to believe in Christ, that his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life may rest in our minds forever; that we may be reconciled to God. 

“Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Italics added) [Matt. 11:28–30]

Come to me and learn how to be meek and lowly in heart like I am, because that is the only way to enter into challenges, persecutions, afflictions, and feel rested at the same time; You will continue to go through these things, but I will teach you how to endure them with humility, and so they will become easy and light. That is the way I endured all things.

Cheering

We are encompassed by so great a cloud of witnesses—all these veterans cheering us on.

I can become better as I learn to cheer for every person that I see.

Have ye inquired of the Lord?

The Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.

This statement is a more apt description of my spirituality than I would like to admit. When I face a difficulty, it is not my first reflex to pray to my Father in Heaven who seeth in secret for help in overcoming my inner turmoil. 

For professional advice, for parenting advice, for understanding my place in the world and what I should do with what He has given me: for all of these things, I will inquire of the Lord, recognizing His ability to counsel right in all things.

Multiply and replenish, not multiply and deplete.

Salvation is Learning to Accept Rebuke

Come to God and my deeds will be reproved; God will show me my weakness. Stand steady; don’t faint when rebuked. When I am wrong, may I promptly admit it. Watch His light pierce ignorance, deception, selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. Receive the light; let it fill me; let it grow brighter and brighter. Humility will allow the Lord to change my weaknesses to strengths.

John 3: 16-17

God, who is rich in mercy, who is willing to have all men to be saved, even when we were dead in sins, sent his Son into the world to bless you. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, that the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, while we were yet sinners, to be the propitiation for our sins.

He shall come to redeem his people, turning away every one of you from your iniquities, and he shall take upon him their transgressions, unto a remission of sins. God did call on men that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

For his great love wherewith he loved us, Christ died for us. Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that whosoever believeth on him, and will repent and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, and harden not your hearts, might live through him.

God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we should be saved— having claim on mercy through His Only Begotten Son, and enter into His rest; a place prepared for the children of men. God will raise him up at the last day, having raised up his Son Jesus: quickening us together with Christ.

Listen to him who is pleading your cause, saying: spare these my brethren that they may come unto me, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.

Herein is love.

Forgiveness Talk

Forgiveness is not an attractive virtue.pdf - 271k View Download

Lost

A coin is still a coin, even if it is lost, and still merits finding.

A sheep is still a sheep, even if it is lost, and still merits finding.

A son is still a son, even if he is lost, and still merits finding.

Widow's Mites

See the widow’s mites as a type of Christ: the Father has an abundance of children, but Only One without sin, whom He gave for us.