Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Quote - No Matter What Your Past Has Been, Your Future is Spotless
This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. It has provided a lot of hope for me. I thought it was fitting to put it on my blog at Easter time since Jesus Christ is the reason our future can be spotless.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Talk - Our Own Personal 9/11 Experiences - "Face the Future with Faith"
When I realized that we’d be speaking on 9/11, at first I felt a little worried. But upon reflection, I saw how perfectly it related to our assigned topic.
I still remember that fateful Tuesday, September 11, 2001 when we first learned about the terrorist attacks. We lived in Northern California and our oldest child, Zach, was in kindergarten. Our alarm clock went off, in radio mode, and as I half consciously went to hit snooze, I heard something about a plane hitting the WTC. I jolted up in bed and turned on the TV. I called my parents and said, “Turn on the news.” My dad asked me what channel and I replied, “Any channel.” My heart sank even further as we learned more and more details about the tragedy and saw the second plane hit. At the time, Thane commuted to work in San Francisco on the BART public transit system, but he stayed home that day because we were afraid the bustling city of San Francisco could be a terrorist target too. When we took Zach to school, all us kindergarten parents stood around and talked about the horror of this event. We were all scared of what might come next. We were in mourning for all those who were suffering, dying, or losing loved ones. We were bound by a collective grief and fear. But I remember the unity I felt with my family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans.
As I was preparing for this talk, a realization came to me. Every one of us have “9/11 experiences” in our own lives. Some of us may have health challenges. Some deal with wayward children. Others deal with divorce, death, unemployment, addictions. The point is, we all have challenges.
When dealing with these personal 9/11 experiences, there is a difference from the day the world stood still for all of us together as we faced a common tragedy. In our personal 9/11 moments, we may feel very alone in our fear and sadness, we may feel embarrassed, abandoned, downtrodden, worried, and scared.
I still remember that fateful Tuesday, September 11, 2001 when we first learned about the terrorist attacks. We lived in Northern California and our oldest child, Zach, was in kindergarten. Our alarm clock went off, in radio mode, and as I half consciously went to hit snooze, I heard something about a plane hitting the WTC. I jolted up in bed and turned on the TV. I called my parents and said, “Turn on the news.” My dad asked me what channel and I replied, “Any channel.” My heart sank even further as we learned more and more details about the tragedy and saw the second plane hit. At the time, Thane commuted to work in San Francisco on the BART public transit system, but he stayed home that day because we were afraid the bustling city of San Francisco could be a terrorist target too. When we took Zach to school, all us kindergarten parents stood around and talked about the horror of this event. We were all scared of what might come next. We were in mourning for all those who were suffering, dying, or losing loved ones. We were bound by a collective grief and fear. But I remember the unity I felt with my family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans.
As I was preparing for this talk, a realization came to me. Every one of us have “9/11 experiences” in our own lives. Some of us may have health challenges. Some deal with wayward children. Others deal with divorce, death, unemployment, addictions. The point is, we all have challenges.
When dealing with these personal 9/11 experiences, there is a difference from the day the world stood still for all of us together as we faced a common tragedy. In our personal 9/11 moments, we may feel very alone in our fear and sadness, we may feel embarrassed, abandoned, downtrodden, worried, and scared.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Quote - Cease and Desist
“There is something in us, at least in too many of us, that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life—either mistakes we ourselves have made or the mistakes of others. That is not good. It is not Christian. It stands in terrible opposition to the grandeur and majesty of the Atonement of Christ. To be tied to earlier mistakes—our own or other people’s—is the worst kind of wallowing in the past from which we are called to cease and desist.”
- Jeffrey R. Holland, BYU Devotional, January 13, 2009
Remember—“Do not judge past behavior with present knowledge.”
Monday, August 22, 2011
One Day at a Time
I've been thinking a lot about living one day at a time. It is so easy to dwell on the past or obsess about the future, neither of which is healthy.
When we dwell on the past, we harm ourselves because it can destroy our hope. Elder Neal A. Maxwell encouraged us to hold on to hope by "not looking back, and refusing to let yesterday hold tomorrow hostage."
Think about Lot's wife in the Bible - she was told not to look back when they were fleeing from Sodom. She did look back and was turned into a pillar of salt. In furthering this analogy, salt is not a living substance. It cannot change or grow. I don't want to be like Lot's wife. If I look at the past and dwell on regrets, I will be like the salt, unchangeable, stagnant and not thriving, albeit spiritually in my case.
When we dwell on the past, we harm ourselves because it can destroy our hope. Elder Neal A. Maxwell encouraged us to hold on to hope by "not looking back, and refusing to let yesterday hold tomorrow hostage."
Think about Lot's wife in the Bible - she was told not to look back when they were fleeing from Sodom. She did look back and was turned into a pillar of salt. In furthering this analogy, salt is not a living substance. It cannot change or grow. I don't want to be like Lot's wife. If I look at the past and dwell on regrets, I will be like the salt, unchangeable, stagnant and not thriving, albeit spiritually in my case.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Talk - "Let Him Do It with Simplicity" Part 2
Here is the talk that my husband gave right after I spoke.
I would like for you to listen for a few words during my talk, and when you hear them, listen to the message, and what they are saying to you. The words are: Plainness, Simplicity, Generosity, Spiritual Fuel.
Orson F. Whitney “A speaker's first duty is to make himself understood, to speak with plainness, and he must also be in earnest, must mean what he says, and say what he means, or he can never impress the hearts of his hearers. If he be sincere, earnest, and plain in his instructions, eloquence will take care of itself. A man is never eloquent when he tries to be. Eloquence comes from being earnest, from having IN OUR hearts a desire to bless the people and feed them with the bread of life. It is my desire, during the few moments I shall stand before you, to speak plainly, to make myself understood, and reach your hearts by the power of the Spirit of God.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1910, p. 59) Nearly 100 years ago… but the gospel is plain and simple and true.
L. Tom Perry’s talk is titled; let him do it with simplicity. In my preparation for this talk, I came across this exact phrase in the New Testament, Romans 12:8: … : he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; … which really, if put in context, could mean “let him give with generosity.”
To me, this provided for an interesting parallel. Let him do it with simplicity. Let him give with generosity. Vs. Let him do it with simplicity. The spiritual benefits of a simplified life. When we’re generous, we’re giving of our excess. If we’re spiritual, we’re living a simplified life. We’re giving away our excess. So generosity and spirituality hold a very strong correlation.
To my boys, I’m always telling them, Boys… follow your mom’s good example, and be kind and giving with what you have. I’m thankful to my wife for the good example she is to them and to me about kindness and giving… Which really means, thanks for being a good spiritual example. So together, as husband and wife, hopefully we can key on each other’s strengths and lead our sons in a more spiritually focused life.
Pam shared some wonderful examples and insights about Thoreau, and what he came away with from his 2 years at Walden Pond. First, food.. Second, clothing. Third, shelter. The final necessity is fuel. The fuel elder Perry chose to discuss was spiritual fuel.
Let me share a personal story… about 6 years ago, I remember a good friend in our CA ward sharing his testimony, and how he and his family had just finished reading the B of M from beginning to end. Shock… impressed… awe… It was about that same time that as a family, we were experiencing some trials, and needed to have a more spiritually focused life. We wanted more spiritual fuel. Part of our dedication was a family goal to read from the B of M each night. Nothing extravagant, just 5 or 10 minutes, usually about a page. For us, we come together for family prayer each night, so right before we pray, we read for a few minutes. I’ve heard it takes 30 days of an activity to form a habit. And we’re living proof that not only can you get some daily scripture study in, but you can make it through the Book of Mormon. At a slow pace, it takes about 2 years. And it’s a great family goal.
So this past month, we’ve been plowing through the Isaiah chapters of 2 Nephi. Pam picked up a good book to add some insight as we read: Isaiah for Dummies. During our reading this wee, I came across this verse in 2 Ne 25:4: Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the aspirit of bprophecy. But I give unto you a cprophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the dplainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in eplainness unto my people, that they may learn.
I’ve never been one who can just take the scriptures and share deep insights. I blame that on the fact that I served a foreign mission. My theory is that when you serve a foreign mission, you spend a lot of effort learning the language and culture. When you serve an English speaking mission, you have time to study and become a real scriptorian. Either that, or you have to teach Seminary for a number of years and simply delve into the scriptures on a daily basis.
That said, every once in a while I slow down enough to really take a verse of scripture and soak in some of its meaning. And this scripture was one of them for me. First about Isaiah: the words of Isaiah…are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy
Nephi had no trouble understanding Isaiah. Likewise, Joseph Smith’s commented about his ease in understanding the book of Revelation. He said, “the book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 290). I would never put me on the same level as a prophet, hence, it’s hard for me to understand these writings, but for them, they had both seen in vision the things that Isaiah and John the Revelator saw.
Nevertheless, this is no excuse for us. The Lord has specifically commanded us to study Isaiah, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah (3 Ne 23:1). We must seek the spirit of prophecy in order to understand Isaiah. The gift of prophecy is one of the gifts of the spirit (1 Cor 12:10). It is through this gift that Isaiah can be understood. We should seek this gift as with the other gifts of the spirit, seek ye earnestly the best gifts (DC 46:8).
Now the real meat of what I pulled from this verse as it relates to our topic today, “let him do it with simplicity.” The end of this verse says: my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn.
I hope this isn’t too much of a stretch, but to me, simplicity is synonymous with plainness. The Lord does not intend to teach us things we cannot understand. Rather, He gives us line upon line, depending on our spiritual preparation, until we understand the mysteries of the kingdom. From 2 Ne 31: 3: For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.
Something that was strongly impressed upon me as a young missionary was the idea of that the gospel is very plain and simple. If we would devote our time and energy to study and practice of the 4th Article of Faith, and living it, I don’t think we would ever stray. QUOTE or SING the 4th Article of Faith.
The Gospel is simple: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Elder Perry mentions the parable of the 10 virgins. If you really want understand this parable, and learn from a prophet, read Spencer W. Kimball’s, Faith Precedes the Miracle. Pages 121-123. Let me share one paragraph from those pages that made me think of, Simplified Life/Spiritual Fuel. “In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.”
Who better to conclude with than Moroni, and his simple promise that every person who humbly and sincerely reads the Book of Mormon may know by revelation that it is true. Read Moroni 10:4 if time permits.
Brothers and Sisters, I bear my testimony:
• That The Gospel is plain and simple.
• That there is joy in a simple lifestyle.
• And that when we focus on the spiritual fuel, and the things we’ve talked about today… We can live eternally as families, and perhaps as a ward family… together with our friends. Like the city of Enoch lifted up.
And to my testimony, I add that of Elder L. Tom Perry in his closing paragraph:
“In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. May we comply with the inspired counsel and direction the Lord has given us in the great plan of happiness. May we be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate this mortal journey. May we prepare ourselves to accomplish the ultimate purpose of this mortal test—to return and live with our Heavenly Father—is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
I would like for you to listen for a few words during my talk, and when you hear them, listen to the message, and what they are saying to you. The words are: Plainness, Simplicity, Generosity, Spiritual Fuel.
Orson F. Whitney “A speaker's first duty is to make himself understood, to speak with plainness, and he must also be in earnest, must mean what he says, and say what he means, or he can never impress the hearts of his hearers. If he be sincere, earnest, and plain in his instructions, eloquence will take care of itself. A man is never eloquent when he tries to be. Eloquence comes from being earnest, from having IN OUR hearts a desire to bless the people and feed them with the bread of life. It is my desire, during the few moments I shall stand before you, to speak plainly, to make myself understood, and reach your hearts by the power of the Spirit of God.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1910, p. 59) Nearly 100 years ago… but the gospel is plain and simple and true.
L. Tom Perry’s talk is titled; let him do it with simplicity. In my preparation for this talk, I came across this exact phrase in the New Testament, Romans 12:8: … : he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; … which really, if put in context, could mean “let him give with generosity.”
To me, this provided for an interesting parallel. Let him do it with simplicity. Let him give with generosity. Vs. Let him do it with simplicity. The spiritual benefits of a simplified life. When we’re generous, we’re giving of our excess. If we’re spiritual, we’re living a simplified life. We’re giving away our excess. So generosity and spirituality hold a very strong correlation.
To my boys, I’m always telling them, Boys… follow your mom’s good example, and be kind and giving with what you have. I’m thankful to my wife for the good example she is to them and to me about kindness and giving… Which really means, thanks for being a good spiritual example. So together, as husband and wife, hopefully we can key on each other’s strengths and lead our sons in a more spiritually focused life.
Pam shared some wonderful examples and insights about Thoreau, and what he came away with from his 2 years at Walden Pond. First, food.. Second, clothing. Third, shelter. The final necessity is fuel. The fuel elder Perry chose to discuss was spiritual fuel.
Let me share a personal story… about 6 years ago, I remember a good friend in our CA ward sharing his testimony, and how he and his family had just finished reading the B of M from beginning to end. Shock… impressed… awe… It was about that same time that as a family, we were experiencing some trials, and needed to have a more spiritually focused life. We wanted more spiritual fuel. Part of our dedication was a family goal to read from the B of M each night. Nothing extravagant, just 5 or 10 minutes, usually about a page. For us, we come together for family prayer each night, so right before we pray, we read for a few minutes. I’ve heard it takes 30 days of an activity to form a habit. And we’re living proof that not only can you get some daily scripture study in, but you can make it through the Book of Mormon. At a slow pace, it takes about 2 years. And it’s a great family goal.
So this past month, we’ve been plowing through the Isaiah chapters of 2 Nephi. Pam picked up a good book to add some insight as we read: Isaiah for Dummies. During our reading this wee, I came across this verse in 2 Ne 25:4: Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the aspirit of bprophecy. But I give unto you a cprophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the dplainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in eplainness unto my people, that they may learn.
I’ve never been one who can just take the scriptures and share deep insights. I blame that on the fact that I served a foreign mission. My theory is that when you serve a foreign mission, you spend a lot of effort learning the language and culture. When you serve an English speaking mission, you have time to study and become a real scriptorian. Either that, or you have to teach Seminary for a number of years and simply delve into the scriptures on a daily basis.
That said, every once in a while I slow down enough to really take a verse of scripture and soak in some of its meaning. And this scripture was one of them for me. First about Isaiah: the words of Isaiah…are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy
Nephi had no trouble understanding Isaiah. Likewise, Joseph Smith’s commented about his ease in understanding the book of Revelation. He said, “the book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 290). I would never put me on the same level as a prophet, hence, it’s hard for me to understand these writings, but for them, they had both seen in vision the things that Isaiah and John the Revelator saw.
Nevertheless, this is no excuse for us. The Lord has specifically commanded us to study Isaiah, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah (3 Ne 23:1). We must seek the spirit of prophecy in order to understand Isaiah. The gift of prophecy is one of the gifts of the spirit (1 Cor 12:10). It is through this gift that Isaiah can be understood. We should seek this gift as with the other gifts of the spirit, seek ye earnestly the best gifts (DC 46:8).
Now the real meat of what I pulled from this verse as it relates to our topic today, “let him do it with simplicity.” The end of this verse says: my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn.
I hope this isn’t too much of a stretch, but to me, simplicity is synonymous with plainness. The Lord does not intend to teach us things we cannot understand. Rather, He gives us line upon line, depending on our spiritual preparation, until we understand the mysteries of the kingdom. From 2 Ne 31: 3: For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.
Something that was strongly impressed upon me as a young missionary was the idea of that the gospel is very plain and simple. If we would devote our time and energy to study and practice of the 4th Article of Faith, and living it, I don’t think we would ever stray. QUOTE or SING the 4th Article of Faith.
The Gospel is simple: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Elder Perry mentions the parable of the 10 virgins. If you really want understand this parable, and learn from a prophet, read Spencer W. Kimball’s, Faith Precedes the Miracle. Pages 121-123. Let me share one paragraph from those pages that made me think of, Simplified Life/Spiritual Fuel. “In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.”
Who better to conclude with than Moroni, and his simple promise that every person who humbly and sincerely reads the Book of Mormon may know by revelation that it is true. Read Moroni 10:4 if time permits.
Brothers and Sisters, I bear my testimony:
• That The Gospel is plain and simple.
• That there is joy in a simple lifestyle.
• And that when we focus on the spiritual fuel, and the things we’ve talked about today… We can live eternally as families, and perhaps as a ward family… together with our friends. Like the city of Enoch lifted up.
And to my testimony, I add that of Elder L. Tom Perry in his closing paragraph:
“In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. May we comply with the inspired counsel and direction the Lord has given us in the great plan of happiness. May we be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate this mortal journey. May we prepare ourselves to accomplish the ultimate purpose of this mortal test—to return and live with our Heavenly Father—is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday School - Book of Mormon Lesson 35
Book of Mormon Lesson #35: “Repent and Return Unto the Lord”
Helaman 13-16
1. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Helaman 13:3 – whatsoever things should come into his heart] This phrase is an appropriate description of the spirit of revelation. The Lord told Oliver Cowdery that he would be told things in his mind and in his heart (D&C 8:2), while Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were directed by the Lord to lift up their voices and “speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts.” With this direction came the promise that they would not be confounded. Such was the nature of the revelation Joseph Smith had that led him to the Sacred Grove. Describing the feelings that he experienced when he read James 1:5, he said “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again.” (JS-H 1:12). Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, pp. 399-400.
2. Ezra Taft Benson: [Helaman 13:11] Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great willpower and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance. … True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior. Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 71.
3. Wilford Woodruff: [Helaman 13:8 – withdrawal of the Holy Ghost] Joseph Smith visited me a great deal after his death, and taught me many important principles. … Among other things, he told me to get the Spirit of God; that all of us needed it. … He said, “I want you to teach the people to get the Spirit of God. You cannot build up the Kingdom of God without that.” … But how is it with the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost does not leave me if I do my duty. It does not leave any man who does his duty. Deseret News, 7 Nov. 1896.
4. LeGrand Richards: The gift of the Holy Ghost is as important to man as sunshine and water are to the plants. You take them away, and the plants would die. You take the Holy Ghost out of this Church, and this Church would not be any different than any other church. General Conference, October 1979.
5. Dallin H. Oaks: A newly baptized member told me what she felt when she received that gift [of the Holy Ghost]. … She recalled, “I felt the influence of the Holy Ghost settle upon me with greater intensity than I had ever felt before. He was like an old friend who had guided me in the past but now had come to stay.” … A member once asked me why he felt so good about the talks and music in a sacrament meeting, while a guest he had invited that day apparently experienced no such feeling. This is but one illustration of the contrast between one who has the gift of the Holy Ghost and is in tune with his promptings and one who has not and is not. … A family having daily prayers and seeking to keep the commandments of God and honor his name and speak lovingly to one another will have a spiritual feeling in their home that will be discernable to all who enter it. I know this, because I have felt the presence or absence of that feeling in many LDS homes. It is important to remember that the illumination and revelation that come to an individual as a result of the gift of the Holy Ghost do not come suddenly or without seeking. President Spencer W. Kimball taught that the Holy Ghost “comes a little at a time as you merit it. And as your life is in harmony, you gradually receive the Holy Ghost in a great measure”. The blessings available through the gift of the Holy Ghost are conditioned upon worthiness. General Conference, October 1996.
6. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Helaman 13:27-28] False prophets say what the people want to hear. Their counsel is colored by their constituency, their warnings watered down by the demands of the audience. Paul warned of a day when wicked people would “not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves” the kind of teachers and preachers and prophets who tickle the ears, false witnesses who crave acceptance and popularity more than righteousness. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 405.
7. Boyd K. Packer: [Helaman 13:37 – encircled about by angels of the devil] Satan, with his angels, will try to capture your thoughts and control what you do. If he can, he will corrupt anything that is good. To him the Internet is just that – a net to ensnare you into a wicked addiction with pornography. Unhappiness will follow. Gen. Conference, Oct. 2003.
8. David O. McKay: Your weakest point will be the point at which the devil tries to tempt you. … Resist him and you will gain in strength. He will tempt you in another point. Resist him and he becomes weaker and you become stronger, until you can say, no matter what your surroundings may be, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8). … You are in the midst of temptation, but you, as Christ on the Mount of Temptation, can rise above it. Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, pp. 84-86.
9. Bruce R. McConkie: [Helaman 14:8 – believe on the Son of God] Belief brings salvation and belief brings damnation. Men are saved or damned, depending upon what they believe. If they believe in Christ and his saving truths, they are heirs of salvation. If they believe in a false system of salvation, they will be damned. It is one thing to worship the living Lord and quite another to worship dead deities that have been graven by art and man’s device. New Witness, p. 23.
10. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Helaman 14:11-12] Samuel here sets forth at least four dimensions to his prophetic call, four reasons why he has been sent to prophesy to the Nephites: (1) that the wicked Nephites might know of the judgments of God which should surely come upon the unrepentant; (2) that the Nephites might know the “conditions of repentance”; (3) that Samuel might testify of the divine sonship of Jesus Christ; and (4) that the Nephites might know of the signs of the Lord’s coming to the earth. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 411.
11. David O. McKay: I ask tonight that every father in the Church see to it that in all sincerity he impress his children with the reality of the existence of God and with the reality that God will guide and protect his children. You carry that responsibility. … That the prayer night and morning should be offered up in sincerity; that the children daily would realize that we desire in our home the presence of God. If we can invite the Savior there, we may know that the angels will be not only willing but eager to protect our boys and girls. … Parents, if you do not do anything else, kneel down in the morning with your children. I know your mornings are usually busy, … but have some time when you can kneel and invite God into your home. Prayer is a potent force. Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, pp. 274-76.
12. Harold B. Lee: Now the only safety we have as members of this Church is to do exactly what the Lord said. … We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet. … There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if it came from the mouth of the Lord himself, … “the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory” (D&C 21:6). General Conference, April 1970.
Next week: 3 Nephi 1-7 “On the Morrow Come I Into the World”
Helaman 13-16
1. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Helaman 13:3 – whatsoever things should come into his heart] This phrase is an appropriate description of the spirit of revelation. The Lord told Oliver Cowdery that he would be told things in his mind and in his heart (D&C 8:2), while Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were directed by the Lord to lift up their voices and “speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts.” With this direction came the promise that they would not be confounded. Such was the nature of the revelation Joseph Smith had that led him to the Sacred Grove. Describing the feelings that he experienced when he read James 1:5, he said “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again.” (JS-H 1:12). Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, pp. 399-400.
2. Ezra Taft Benson: [Helaman 13:11] Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great willpower and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance. … True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior. Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 71.
3. Wilford Woodruff: [Helaman 13:8 – withdrawal of the Holy Ghost] Joseph Smith visited me a great deal after his death, and taught me many important principles. … Among other things, he told me to get the Spirit of God; that all of us needed it. … He said, “I want you to teach the people to get the Spirit of God. You cannot build up the Kingdom of God without that.” … But how is it with the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost does not leave me if I do my duty. It does not leave any man who does his duty. Deseret News, 7 Nov. 1896.
4. LeGrand Richards: The gift of the Holy Ghost is as important to man as sunshine and water are to the plants. You take them away, and the plants would die. You take the Holy Ghost out of this Church, and this Church would not be any different than any other church. General Conference, October 1979.
5. Dallin H. Oaks: A newly baptized member told me what she felt when she received that gift [of the Holy Ghost]. … She recalled, “I felt the influence of the Holy Ghost settle upon me with greater intensity than I had ever felt before. He was like an old friend who had guided me in the past but now had come to stay.” … A member once asked me why he felt so good about the talks and music in a sacrament meeting, while a guest he had invited that day apparently experienced no such feeling. This is but one illustration of the contrast between one who has the gift of the Holy Ghost and is in tune with his promptings and one who has not and is not. … A family having daily prayers and seeking to keep the commandments of God and honor his name and speak lovingly to one another will have a spiritual feeling in their home that will be discernable to all who enter it. I know this, because I have felt the presence or absence of that feeling in many LDS homes. It is important to remember that the illumination and revelation that come to an individual as a result of the gift of the Holy Ghost do not come suddenly or without seeking. President Spencer W. Kimball taught that the Holy Ghost “comes a little at a time as you merit it. And as your life is in harmony, you gradually receive the Holy Ghost in a great measure”. The blessings available through the gift of the Holy Ghost are conditioned upon worthiness. General Conference, October 1996.
6. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Helaman 13:27-28] False prophets say what the people want to hear. Their counsel is colored by their constituency, their warnings watered down by the demands of the audience. Paul warned of a day when wicked people would “not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves” the kind of teachers and preachers and prophets who tickle the ears, false witnesses who crave acceptance and popularity more than righteousness. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 405.
7. Boyd K. Packer: [Helaman 13:37 – encircled about by angels of the devil] Satan, with his angels, will try to capture your thoughts and control what you do. If he can, he will corrupt anything that is good. To him the Internet is just that – a net to ensnare you into a wicked addiction with pornography. Unhappiness will follow. Gen. Conference, Oct. 2003.
8. David O. McKay: Your weakest point will be the point at which the devil tries to tempt you. … Resist him and you will gain in strength. He will tempt you in another point. Resist him and he becomes weaker and you become stronger, until you can say, no matter what your surroundings may be, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8). … You are in the midst of temptation, but you, as Christ on the Mount of Temptation, can rise above it. Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, pp. 84-86.
9. Bruce R. McConkie: [Helaman 14:8 – believe on the Son of God] Belief brings salvation and belief brings damnation. Men are saved or damned, depending upon what they believe. If they believe in Christ and his saving truths, they are heirs of salvation. If they believe in a false system of salvation, they will be damned. It is one thing to worship the living Lord and quite another to worship dead deities that have been graven by art and man’s device. New Witness, p. 23.
10. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Helaman 14:11-12] Samuel here sets forth at least four dimensions to his prophetic call, four reasons why he has been sent to prophesy to the Nephites: (1) that the wicked Nephites might know of the judgments of God which should surely come upon the unrepentant; (2) that the Nephites might know the “conditions of repentance”; (3) that Samuel might testify of the divine sonship of Jesus Christ; and (4) that the Nephites might know of the signs of the Lord’s coming to the earth. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 411.
11. David O. McKay: I ask tonight that every father in the Church see to it that in all sincerity he impress his children with the reality of the existence of God and with the reality that God will guide and protect his children. You carry that responsibility. … That the prayer night and morning should be offered up in sincerity; that the children daily would realize that we desire in our home the presence of God. If we can invite the Savior there, we may know that the angels will be not only willing but eager to protect our boys and girls. … Parents, if you do not do anything else, kneel down in the morning with your children. I know your mornings are usually busy, … but have some time when you can kneel and invite God into your home. Prayer is a potent force. Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, pp. 274-76.
12. Harold B. Lee: Now the only safety we have as members of this Church is to do exactly what the Lord said. … We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet. … There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if it came from the mouth of the Lord himself, … “the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory” (D&C 21:6). General Conference, April 1970.
Next week: 3 Nephi 1-7 “On the Morrow Come I Into the World”
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Blessed are the Pure in Heart
Here is a talk by President Hinckley from the New Era magazine, July 1999. I used this article in a lesson that I taught the Young Women.
Words of the Prophet: Blessed Are the Pure in Heart by President Gordon B. Hinckley
My young friends, “Be not faithless, but believing”—in virtue, in goodness, in decency, in purity, in that which the Lord has declared He would have for His children, virtue. It is old-fashioned. It may appear out-of-date. It does not square up with a lot of thinking and teaching, but it is true.
There is nothing lovelier, there is nothing sweeter, there is nothing finer, there is nothing more ennobling, there is nothing more beautiful in all the world than virtue in young men and women. God has designed that it should be so. “Be not faithless, but believing.” And in the light of that belief, and in the light of that faith, practice discipline (from Brigham Young University Speeches, Jan. 3, 1962, 5).
Blessed are the pure in heart
Youth is the seedtime for the future flowering of family life. To hope for peace and love and gladness out of promiscuity is to hope for that which will never come. To wish for freedom out of immorality is to wish for something that cannot be. Said the Savior, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34).
Is there a valid case for virtue? It is the only way to freedom from regret. The peace of conscience which flows therefrom is the only personal peace that is not counterfeit.
And beyond all of this is the unfailing promise of God to those who walk in virtue. Declared Jesus of Nazareth, speaking on the mountain, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). That is a covenant, made by Him who has the power to fulfill (from Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 66).
Lure of immorality
I am going to speak plainly. We hear much these days of teenage sexual misbehavior. There is too much of it among our own youth.
Those who indulge in illegitimate sexual activity, as we define that in the doctrines and standards of this Church—and I think no one misunderstands what I mean when I say that—do irreparable damage to themselves and rob the one with whom they are involved of that which can never be restored. There is nothing clever about this kind of so-called conquest. It carries with it no laurels, no victories, no enduring satisfaction. It brings only shame, sorrow, and regret. Those who so indulge cheat themselves and rob another. In so doing, they affront their Father in Heaven, for they are children of God.
I know that this is strong language, plainly spoken. But I feel the trends of our times call for strong language and plain words (from Ensign, Nov. 1983, 45).
Let virtue be your cornerstone
In April of 1942, the First Presidency of the Church issued a message that has the tone of scripture. I commend it to you:
“To the youth of the Church … above all we plead with you to live clean, for the unclean life leads only to suffering, misery, and woe physically—and spiritually it is the path to destruction. How glorious and near to the angels is youth that is clean; this youth has joy unspeakable here and eternal happiness hereafter” (Improvement Era, 45:273).
You of marvelous promise, you young men and women of great ability, do not mock God. Do not flout his law. Let virtue be a cornerstone on which to build your lives (from Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 116).
Pornography
I would just like to say a word about pornography. It is a growing, vile, and evil thing. It is on our motion picture screens, it comes into the homes of the people on television receivers, it is on newsstands, it reaches out in other ways to entrap and beguile and destroy those who are enticed to partake of it. I am satisfied, my brethren and sisters, that no Latter-day Saint can with impunity afford to witness or read or partake of this growing evil in any way. God help us and bless us with the self-discipline to resist and abstain and flee from, if necessary, this pernicious and growing thing which would destroy us (from Ensign, Nov. 1982, 76).
Control thoughts to control actions
Mental control must be stronger than physical appetites or desires of the flesh. As thoughts are brought into complete harmony with revealed truth, actions will then become appropriate.
The timeless proverb is as true now as when it was first spoken: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).
Each of us, with discipline and effort, has the capacity to control his thoughts and his actions. This is part of the process of developing spiritual, physical, and emotional maturity (from Ensign, May 1987, 48).
Repentance and forgiveness
If there be any here who have so sinned, there is repentance and there is forgiveness, provided there is “godly sorrow” (2 Cor. 7:10). All is not lost. Each of you has a bishop, who has been ordained and set apart under the authority of the holy priesthood and who, in the exercise of his office, is entitled to the inspiration of the Lord. He is a man of experience, he is a man of understanding, he is a man who carries in his heart a love for the youth of his ward. He is a servant of God who understands his obligation of confidentiality and who will help you with your problem. Do not be afraid to talk with him (from Ensign, Nov. 1983, 45).
Prove your strength
For your own sakes, for your happiness now and in all the years to come, and for the happiness of the generations who come after you, avoid sexual transgression as you would a plague.
Prove your strength, show your independence, by saying no when enticement from peers comes your way. Your own strength will add strength to those who are weak. Your own example will give determination to others (from Ensign, May 1987, 48).
Stay on the Lord’s side
Of course you are to socialize, to date, to have fun of a wholesome kind in a hundred ways. But there is a line which you must not cross. It is the line that separates personal cleanliness from sin. I need not get clinical in telling you where that line is. You know. You have been told again and again. You have a conscience within you. Stay on the Lord’s side of the line (from Ensign, May 1996, 48).
Words of the Prophet: Blessed Are the Pure in Heart by President Gordon B. Hinckley
My young friends, “Be not faithless, but believing”—in virtue, in goodness, in decency, in purity, in that which the Lord has declared He would have for His children, virtue. It is old-fashioned. It may appear out-of-date. It does not square up with a lot of thinking and teaching, but it is true.
There is nothing lovelier, there is nothing sweeter, there is nothing finer, there is nothing more ennobling, there is nothing more beautiful in all the world than virtue in young men and women. God has designed that it should be so. “Be not faithless, but believing.” And in the light of that belief, and in the light of that faith, practice discipline (from Brigham Young University Speeches, Jan. 3, 1962, 5).
Blessed are the pure in heart
Youth is the seedtime for the future flowering of family life. To hope for peace and love and gladness out of promiscuity is to hope for that which will never come. To wish for freedom out of immorality is to wish for something that cannot be. Said the Savior, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34).
Is there a valid case for virtue? It is the only way to freedom from regret. The peace of conscience which flows therefrom is the only personal peace that is not counterfeit.
And beyond all of this is the unfailing promise of God to those who walk in virtue. Declared Jesus of Nazareth, speaking on the mountain, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). That is a covenant, made by Him who has the power to fulfill (from Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 66).
Lure of immorality
I am going to speak plainly. We hear much these days of teenage sexual misbehavior. There is too much of it among our own youth.
Those who indulge in illegitimate sexual activity, as we define that in the doctrines and standards of this Church—and I think no one misunderstands what I mean when I say that—do irreparable damage to themselves and rob the one with whom they are involved of that which can never be restored. There is nothing clever about this kind of so-called conquest. It carries with it no laurels, no victories, no enduring satisfaction. It brings only shame, sorrow, and regret. Those who so indulge cheat themselves and rob another. In so doing, they affront their Father in Heaven, for they are children of God.
I know that this is strong language, plainly spoken. But I feel the trends of our times call for strong language and plain words (from Ensign, Nov. 1983, 45).
Let virtue be your cornerstone
In April of 1942, the First Presidency of the Church issued a message that has the tone of scripture. I commend it to you:
“To the youth of the Church … above all we plead with you to live clean, for the unclean life leads only to suffering, misery, and woe physically—and spiritually it is the path to destruction. How glorious and near to the angels is youth that is clean; this youth has joy unspeakable here and eternal happiness hereafter” (Improvement Era, 45:273).
You of marvelous promise, you young men and women of great ability, do not mock God. Do not flout his law. Let virtue be a cornerstone on which to build your lives (from Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 116).
Pornography
I would just like to say a word about pornography. It is a growing, vile, and evil thing. It is on our motion picture screens, it comes into the homes of the people on television receivers, it is on newsstands, it reaches out in other ways to entrap and beguile and destroy those who are enticed to partake of it. I am satisfied, my brethren and sisters, that no Latter-day Saint can with impunity afford to witness or read or partake of this growing evil in any way. God help us and bless us with the self-discipline to resist and abstain and flee from, if necessary, this pernicious and growing thing which would destroy us (from Ensign, Nov. 1982, 76).
Control thoughts to control actions
Mental control must be stronger than physical appetites or desires of the flesh. As thoughts are brought into complete harmony with revealed truth, actions will then become appropriate.
The timeless proverb is as true now as when it was first spoken: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).
Each of us, with discipline and effort, has the capacity to control his thoughts and his actions. This is part of the process of developing spiritual, physical, and emotional maturity (from Ensign, May 1987, 48).
Repentance and forgiveness
If there be any here who have so sinned, there is repentance and there is forgiveness, provided there is “godly sorrow” (2 Cor. 7:10). All is not lost. Each of you has a bishop, who has been ordained and set apart under the authority of the holy priesthood and who, in the exercise of his office, is entitled to the inspiration of the Lord. He is a man of experience, he is a man of understanding, he is a man who carries in his heart a love for the youth of his ward. He is a servant of God who understands his obligation of confidentiality and who will help you with your problem. Do not be afraid to talk with him (from Ensign, Nov. 1983, 45).
Prove your strength
For your own sakes, for your happiness now and in all the years to come, and for the happiness of the generations who come after you, avoid sexual transgression as you would a plague.
Prove your strength, show your independence, by saying no when enticement from peers comes your way. Your own strength will add strength to those who are weak. Your own example will give determination to others (from Ensign, May 1987, 48).
Stay on the Lord’s side
Of course you are to socialize, to date, to have fun of a wholesome kind in a hundred ways. But there is a line which you must not cross. It is the line that separates personal cleanliness from sin. I need not get clinical in telling you where that line is. You know. You have been told again and again. You have a conscience within you. Stay on the Lord’s side of the line (from Ensign, May 1996, 48).
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Sunday School - Book of Mormon Lesson 29
Book of Mormon Lesson #29: “Give Ear to My Words”
Alma 36-39
1. Spencer W. Kimball: When we come to recognize our sin sincerely and without reservations, we are ready to follow such processes as will rid us of sin’s effects. … Young Alma was so deep in his sin that it was most difficult for him to humble himself toward repentance, but when his experience broke down his resistance, softened his rebellion and overcame his stubbornness, he began to see himself in his true light and appraise his situation as it really was. His heart was softened. His repentance was being born. Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 157, 159.
2. Jeffrey R. Holland: Repentance is a very painful process. … No one should think that the gift of forgiveness is fully realized without significant effort on the part of the forgiven. No one should be foolish enough to sin willingly or wantonly, thinking forgiveness is easily available. Repentance of necessity involves suffering and sorrow. Anyone who thinks otherwise has not read the life of the young Alma, nor tried to personally repent. In the process of repentance we are granted just a taste of the suffering we would endure if we failed to turn away from evil. That pain, though only momentary for the repentant, is the most bitter of cups. No man or woman should be foolish enough to think it can be sipped, even briefly, without consequence. The Book of Mormon: It Begins With a Family, pp. 195-96.
3. Joseph Smith: [Alma 36:14 – I had murdered many of his children] None but fools will trifle with the souls of men. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 137.
4. Richard G. Scott: Of all the necessary steps to repentance, I testify that the most critically important is for you to have a conviction that forgiveness comes because of the Redeemer. It is essential to know that only on His terms can you be forgiven. Witness Alma’s declaration [in Alma 36:18]. That means you trust him and you trust his teachings. Satan would have you believe that serious transgression cannot be entirely overcome. The Savior gave His life so that the effects of all transgression can be put behind us, save the shedding of innocent blood and the denial of the Holy Ghost. Gen. Conference, April 1995.
5. Jack Christensen & K. Bassett: [Alma 36:17] During this time of suffering, Alma’s mind turned to the words of his father: “I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy … concerning … Jesus Christ”. Upon crying out to the Savior, he stated, “I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more”. … [N]otice the role of the father in the process of spiritual growth. The Savior removed Alma’s pain and stain of sin, but the words of the elder Alma led his son to the fruits of Gethsemane. The quality of spiritual example and instruction by parents illuminated the strait and narrow path for many of those who have become our heroes in the Book of Mormon. Life Lessons From the Book of Mormon, pp. 79-80.
6. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: True repentance requires that we surrender the memory of the sin, not in the sense that we are without the knowledge that we once transgressed but rather in the sense that we have laid down the burden, that our confidence might now wax strong in the presence of the Lord. If Alma was without any memory whatsoever of his sin, he could not have given this recitation to Helaman. We must retain sufficient memory of the pain to avoid a repetition of the suffering. Still, as we grow in the things of the Spirit, that which is forgiven is to be forgotten. It is not true repentance when we cling to a sensuous memory in whose mental replaying we find delight. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, pp. 265-66.
7. Ezra Taft Benson: We must be cautious, as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. Ensign, Oct. 1989, p. 5.
8. Robert L. Millet: The Spirit of God sanctifies – it cleanses and purges filth and dross out of the human soul as though by fire. The Spirit does far more, however, than remove uncleanness. It also fills. It fills one with a holy element, with a sacred presence that motivates the person to a godly walk and goodly works. Life in Christ, pp. 98-99.
9. M. Russell Ballard: [Alma 37:6 – small and simple things] We observe vast, sweeping world events, however, we must remember that the purposes of the Lord in our personal lives generally are fulfilled through the small and simple things, and not the momentous and spectacular. Gen. Conference, April 1990.
10. Boyd K. Packer: You can put down in your little black book, that if you will not be loyal in the small things, you will not be loyal in the large things. If you will not respond to the so-called insignificant or menial tasks which need to be performed in the Church and Kingdom, there will be no opportunity for serving in the so-called greater challenges. A man who says he will sustain the President of the Church or the General Authorities, but cannot sustain his own bishop, is deceiving himself. The man who will not sustain the bishop of his ward and the president of his stake will not sustain the President of the Church. Follow the Brethren, BYU Speeches of the Year, 1965.
11. G. Reynolds & J. Sjodahl: [Alma 37:23 – Gazelem] Gazelem is a name given to a servant of God. The word appears to have its root in Gaz – a stone, and Aleim – a name of God as a revelator, or the interposer in the affairs of men. If this suggestion is correct, its roots admirably agree with its apparent meaning – a seer. Liahona – This interesting word is Hebrew with an Egyptian ending. It is the name which Lehi gave to the ball or director he found outside his tent. … L is a Hebrew preposition meaning “to” and sometimes used to express the possessive case. Iah is a Hebrew abbreviated form of “Jehovah,” common in Hebrew names. On is the Hebrew name of the Egyptian “City of the sun.” … L-iah-on means, therefore, literally, “To God is Light;” or, “Of God is Light.” That is to say, God gives light, as does the Sun. The final a reminds us that the Egyptian form of the Hebrew name On is Annu, and this seems to be the form Lehi used. Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, pp. 162, 178.
12. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Alma 37:33 – to withstand every temptation of the devil] We do not come to resist evil and forsake wickedness through merely gritting our teeth and exercising constant willpower. To be sure, we must do all in our power to hold tightly to the iron rod, but the power to overcome is in and through Jesus Christ. To have faith in Jesus Christ is to trust in him and rely on his holy arm. It is to acknowledge our weakness, our mortality, our frailty, our utter inability to withstand temptations and conquer sin on our own. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 280.
13. Robert L. Millet: [Alma 37:44 – it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ] His way, the gospel way, is easy for those who pursue it with singlemindedness. It is more difficult for those who embark on the Christian cause with hesitation or reservation. Those who have charted their course and pointed themselves toward the abundant life in Christ have their challenges, their difficulties, like anyone else. They meet these roadblocks, however, with courage and perspective, with a quiet confidence born of the Spirit. Such individuals have no difficulty living the gospel. It is not hard. It is not burdensome. An Eye Single to the Glory of God, p. 4.
14. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: Living the gospel and giving heed to the word of Christ are only difficult as we seek to hold on to the trappings of Babylon and pay attention to the enticements of its municipals. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 283.
15. Joseph F. Smith: [Alma 39:5] We desire with holy zeal to emphasize the enormity of sexual sins. Though often regarded as insignificant by those not knowing the will of God, they are in his eyes an abomination; and if we are to remain his favored people, they must be shunned as the gates of hell. The evil results of these sins are so patent in vice, crime, misery and disease that it would appear that all, young and old, must perceive and sense them. They are destroying the world. If we are to be preserved we must abhor them, shun them, not practice the least of them, for they weaken and enervate, they kill man spiritually, they make him unfit for the company of the righteous and the presence of God. Gospel Doctrine, pp. 275-76.
16. Joseph F. Smith: There are at least three dangers that threaten the Church within. … They are flattery of prominent men in the world, false educational ideas, and sexual impurity. But the third subject mentioned – personal purity – is of perhaps greater importance than either of the other two. We believe in one standard of morality for men and women. If purity of life is neglected, all other dangers set in upon us like the rivers of water when the floodgates are opened. Gospel Doctrine, p. 313.
Next week: Alma 40-42 “The Great Plan of Happiness”
Alma 36-39
1. Spencer W. Kimball: When we come to recognize our sin sincerely and without reservations, we are ready to follow such processes as will rid us of sin’s effects. … Young Alma was so deep in his sin that it was most difficult for him to humble himself toward repentance, but when his experience broke down his resistance, softened his rebellion and overcame his stubbornness, he began to see himself in his true light and appraise his situation as it really was. His heart was softened. His repentance was being born. Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 157, 159.
2. Jeffrey R. Holland: Repentance is a very painful process. … No one should think that the gift of forgiveness is fully realized without significant effort on the part of the forgiven. No one should be foolish enough to sin willingly or wantonly, thinking forgiveness is easily available. Repentance of necessity involves suffering and sorrow. Anyone who thinks otherwise has not read the life of the young Alma, nor tried to personally repent. In the process of repentance we are granted just a taste of the suffering we would endure if we failed to turn away from evil. That pain, though only momentary for the repentant, is the most bitter of cups. No man or woman should be foolish enough to think it can be sipped, even briefly, without consequence. The Book of Mormon: It Begins With a Family, pp. 195-96.
3. Joseph Smith: [Alma 36:14 – I had murdered many of his children] None but fools will trifle with the souls of men. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 137.
4. Richard G. Scott: Of all the necessary steps to repentance, I testify that the most critically important is for you to have a conviction that forgiveness comes because of the Redeemer. It is essential to know that only on His terms can you be forgiven. Witness Alma’s declaration [in Alma 36:18]. That means you trust him and you trust his teachings. Satan would have you believe that serious transgression cannot be entirely overcome. The Savior gave His life so that the effects of all transgression can be put behind us, save the shedding of innocent blood and the denial of the Holy Ghost. Gen. Conference, April 1995.
5. Jack Christensen & K. Bassett: [Alma 36:17] During this time of suffering, Alma’s mind turned to the words of his father: “I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy … concerning … Jesus Christ”. Upon crying out to the Savior, he stated, “I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more”. … [N]otice the role of the father in the process of spiritual growth. The Savior removed Alma’s pain and stain of sin, but the words of the elder Alma led his son to the fruits of Gethsemane. The quality of spiritual example and instruction by parents illuminated the strait and narrow path for many of those who have become our heroes in the Book of Mormon. Life Lessons From the Book of Mormon, pp. 79-80.
6. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: True repentance requires that we surrender the memory of the sin, not in the sense that we are without the knowledge that we once transgressed but rather in the sense that we have laid down the burden, that our confidence might now wax strong in the presence of the Lord. If Alma was without any memory whatsoever of his sin, he could not have given this recitation to Helaman. We must retain sufficient memory of the pain to avoid a repetition of the suffering. Still, as we grow in the things of the Spirit, that which is forgiven is to be forgotten. It is not true repentance when we cling to a sensuous memory in whose mental replaying we find delight. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, pp. 265-66.
7. Ezra Taft Benson: We must be cautious, as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. Ensign, Oct. 1989, p. 5.
8. Robert L. Millet: The Spirit of God sanctifies – it cleanses and purges filth and dross out of the human soul as though by fire. The Spirit does far more, however, than remove uncleanness. It also fills. It fills one with a holy element, with a sacred presence that motivates the person to a godly walk and goodly works. Life in Christ, pp. 98-99.
9. M. Russell Ballard: [Alma 37:6 – small and simple things] We observe vast, sweeping world events, however, we must remember that the purposes of the Lord in our personal lives generally are fulfilled through the small and simple things, and not the momentous and spectacular. Gen. Conference, April 1990.
10. Boyd K. Packer: You can put down in your little black book, that if you will not be loyal in the small things, you will not be loyal in the large things. If you will not respond to the so-called insignificant or menial tasks which need to be performed in the Church and Kingdom, there will be no opportunity for serving in the so-called greater challenges. A man who says he will sustain the President of the Church or the General Authorities, but cannot sustain his own bishop, is deceiving himself. The man who will not sustain the bishop of his ward and the president of his stake will not sustain the President of the Church. Follow the Brethren, BYU Speeches of the Year, 1965.
11. G. Reynolds & J. Sjodahl: [Alma 37:23 – Gazelem] Gazelem is a name given to a servant of God. The word appears to have its root in Gaz – a stone, and Aleim – a name of God as a revelator, or the interposer in the affairs of men. If this suggestion is correct, its roots admirably agree with its apparent meaning – a seer. Liahona – This interesting word is Hebrew with an Egyptian ending. It is the name which Lehi gave to the ball or director he found outside his tent. … L is a Hebrew preposition meaning “to” and sometimes used to express the possessive case. Iah is a Hebrew abbreviated form of “Jehovah,” common in Hebrew names. On is the Hebrew name of the Egyptian “City of the sun.” … L-iah-on means, therefore, literally, “To God is Light;” or, “Of God is Light.” That is to say, God gives light, as does the Sun. The final a reminds us that the Egyptian form of the Hebrew name On is Annu, and this seems to be the form Lehi used. Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, pp. 162, 178.
12. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Alma 37:33 – to withstand every temptation of the devil] We do not come to resist evil and forsake wickedness through merely gritting our teeth and exercising constant willpower. To be sure, we must do all in our power to hold tightly to the iron rod, but the power to overcome is in and through Jesus Christ. To have faith in Jesus Christ is to trust in him and rely on his holy arm. It is to acknowledge our weakness, our mortality, our frailty, our utter inability to withstand temptations and conquer sin on our own. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 280.
13. Robert L. Millet: [Alma 37:44 – it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ] His way, the gospel way, is easy for those who pursue it with singlemindedness. It is more difficult for those who embark on the Christian cause with hesitation or reservation. Those who have charted their course and pointed themselves toward the abundant life in Christ have their challenges, their difficulties, like anyone else. They meet these roadblocks, however, with courage and perspective, with a quiet confidence born of the Spirit. Such individuals have no difficulty living the gospel. It is not hard. It is not burdensome. An Eye Single to the Glory of God, p. 4.
14. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: Living the gospel and giving heed to the word of Christ are only difficult as we seek to hold on to the trappings of Babylon and pay attention to the enticements of its municipals. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 283.
15. Joseph F. Smith: [Alma 39:5] We desire with holy zeal to emphasize the enormity of sexual sins. Though often regarded as insignificant by those not knowing the will of God, they are in his eyes an abomination; and if we are to remain his favored people, they must be shunned as the gates of hell. The evil results of these sins are so patent in vice, crime, misery and disease that it would appear that all, young and old, must perceive and sense them. They are destroying the world. If we are to be preserved we must abhor them, shun them, not practice the least of them, for they weaken and enervate, they kill man spiritually, they make him unfit for the company of the righteous and the presence of God. Gospel Doctrine, pp. 275-76.
16. Joseph F. Smith: There are at least three dangers that threaten the Church within. … They are flattery of prominent men in the world, false educational ideas, and sexual impurity. But the third subject mentioned – personal purity – is of perhaps greater importance than either of the other two. We believe in one standard of morality for men and women. If purity of life is neglected, all other dangers set in upon us like the rivers of water when the floodgates are opened. Gospel Doctrine, p. 313.
Next week: Alma 40-42 “The Great Plan of Happiness”
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Talk - Forgiveness
Forgiveness Talk –
I was asked to talk about Forgiveness today. I decided that there were 3 aspects that I would like to concentrate on –
1) Seeking forgiveness for our mistakes and sins
2) Forgiving ourselves
3) Forgiving others
Seeking forgiveness for our mistakes
Something we all share is our need to repent and be forgiven on a very regular basis. Each of us has come to earth to receive a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize our divine nature and destiny. We all make mistakes and have weaknesses and trials and adversity. That is why we are here – to learn and grow from these experiences.
I want to share two of my favorite scriptures:
Mosiah 3:19 – “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”
2 Nephi 9:39 – “O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.”
As I have pondered these scriptures, I realize that left to my own devices, I am a natural man, with carnal nature. Carnal is defined in the dictionary as “earthly or temporal.” This means that each of us should be actively trying to put off the natural man and our desire to seek after earthly things, and instead be willing and desirous to become like a little child and concentrate on our spiritual growth. In my mind, sometimes I feel like in the eternal realm I am like a stubborn teenager by nature distracted by things of the world and I have to make a real effort to be humble and submissive like a little child and to concentrate on what matters most (no offense to the great teens here!).
When I think of Nephi, I imagine a man who was strong and righteous. It is hard to imagine that he ever struggled in his own soul. But in 2 Nephi 4 he exclaims “O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily best me.” Even Nephi struggles with being a “natural man.” This is a great example to me. Temptations will always abound, but with the Lord as our teammate, we can learn to resist them.
Nephi begs, “O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?” Nephi was pleading for a change of heart. This can only be accomplished by allowing the Lord to change us It is important that we are willing to have our hearts softened and that we recognize that we do not have the power to resist temptations on our own. If we could do it on our own, we would have no need for a Savior.
Many of us have probably seen the picture of “Christ Knocking at the Door.” This picture was painted by Holman Hunt who was trying to make an image of the following scripture in the Book of Revelation (chapter 3 verse 20)
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
The artist was showing the picture to a friend and the friend noted that there was one thing wrong with the picture – the door on which Jesus knocks has no handle. Mr. Hunt responded, “That is not a mistake. You see, this is the door to the human heart. It can only be opened from the inside.” This is so true! Jesus may stand and knock, but each of us decides whether to open. The Lord will not force us to take action. He knows exactly what we need and is just waiting for us to ask Him for guidance and help. He doesn’t want to interfere with our own agency though. We must each take our own initiative and have the desire to repent and take steps toward receiving forgiveness and to try to live the commandments.
President Benson once said “God changes men from the inside out.” We need to be willing to have a change of heart and to correct things in our lives that are contrary to the Lord’s way. We need to humbly ask for His guidance all the time.
I read the following quote in the book “The Miracle of Forgiveness.”
“A fellow who is planning to reform is one step behind. He ought to quit planning and get on with the job. Today is the day.”
Often people may feel that they have fallen so far that there is no hope for them.
A wise bishop once said – “Satan is the sneakiest opponent you’ll ever face and he doesn’t play fair!” He wants us to feel hopeless and bad about ourselves. The Lord doesn’t expect us to be perfect in a day. He wants us to have hope throughout the whole repentance process slow as it may be.
“Men do not suddenly become righteous any more than a tiny acorn suddenly becomes an oak.”
I love this analogy that I received from one of the Priesthood leaders. When you are trying to repent and make adjustments in your life, it is like flying an airplane. The most important factor is the direction your airplane’s nose is tilted, upward or downward. As long as you are tilted upward, you are on the right path. Don’t be so worried about being perfect that you try to change your direction from a downward path to going straight up in the air. You will eventually crash the plane. Just concentrate on keeping the airplane headed the right direction and you will continue to progress and improve your life.
True repentance isn’t just turning away from sin. It involves turning to God. I imagine it like this. As we repent we get rid of the sins we are holding inside that were taking up space. When the sins and bad habits are removed, there is an empty space left. It is important to fill that empty space up with spiritual things like prayer, scripture study, good books, activity in the church, uplifting friendships, etc. so that the sins don’t sneak back in.
President Benson said “If you will put God first in your life, everything else will either fall into its proper place or drop out of your life entirely.” He also said “Our love of the Lord must govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.”
There are many great examples in the scriptures of men who have received forgiveness from the Lord. Two of my favorites are Alma and Enos.
Alma the Younger was so rebellious and fought against the Lord. Alma the Younger’s father, Alma prayed for him to come to a knowledge of the truth. Alma was visited by an angel and fell to the earth as if he were dead for three days. During this time he said he “racked with eternal torment for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.” He continued “Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.” I am sure many of us can relate to this feeling. Then Alma remembered that he had heard his dad talk about “one Jesus Christ” who would atone for the sins of the world. Alma’s mind caught hold upon this thought and he cried within his heart “O Jesus, thou Son or God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.” Then the scripture goes on to say “And now, behold, when I thought of this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea my soul was filled with joy as exceeding was my pain!” Alma didn’t become this perfect person instantly, but he had a true change of heart and started down a new path.
Enos is another of my favorites. The whole book of Enos is less than 3 pages, but it is powerful. Enos had been taught about eternal life and the joy of righteousness by his father, but he was rebellious. He writes “I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I had a remission of my sins.” Enos went to the forests to hunt. His soul hungered which I take to mean that his soul had unrest. He prayed all day and night for his own soul and then a voice came to him saying “Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.” Then Enos showed his strong testimony of the Atonement by saying “And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.” Then the Lord tells Enos that his faith had made him whole. I have faith that each of us can also be made whole through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
The Lord also said in Mosiah 26:30 – “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.”
These stories show me that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do indeed keep their promises (like we are learning in Primary this year).
When I was a freshman in college my grandma sent me a letter in which she told me to remember the scripture, “Wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10). This stuck in my mind as I lived away from home for the first time and was around kids who were making poor choices with their new freedom away from home. I came to realize that repenting of our sins brings happiness and peace and that indulging in wickedness brings grief and turmoil. When I have quiet moments to think and reflect, I know in my soul if my life is what I want it to be or if I need to make changes in areas. When I am weighed down with something I ask the Lord promptly for forgiveness so I can have peace again in my own soul. (Peace Barometer)
Forgiving ourselves
Turn the corner – Once we have had a change of heart and are working the steps of repentance and are willing to let the Lord help us, it is important to look forward, not backward. Sheri Dew gave a great talk when I went to Time Out for Women last month with my mom. She likened having a change of heart to turning a corner. Once we have turned a corner, we need to keep looking forward and walking down the street. If we continue to walk back to the corner and peek around it, dwelling on how we were and the mistakes we’ve made, then we do not progress and move forward. It was a really good image to me and as I reflect on my mistakes each day and repent, I try to remember to truly turn the corner and to realize that the Lord is helping me walk down the right path.
Lots of us hold on to guilt even after we have prayed for forgiveness. What is the purpose of guilt? – Guilt is meant to be a warning signal to us – like the smoke alarm in our home. One quick “beep” of its piercing influence is all Heavenly Father meant us to have to bear. In my opinion, if I continue to harbor guilt it is almost a form of blasphemy. It is as if I would be saying that I do not accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Satan is author of unhealthy guilt. He wants you to feel hopeless, alone, unforgiven. The Lord has promised us that we are not alone. We can be forgiven, no matter to what depths we have fallen.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
This applies to everyone! What a burden taken off our backs when we realize we can completely be clean again. Heavenly Father and our Savior want us to feel hopeful and peaceful. The adversary wants us to feel hopeless and impure.
Forgiving others
I must need lots of work in this area because I keep re-learning this lesson over and over again. When I feel I am wronged I get an intense anger inside that I tend to dwell on if left to myself. I am very conscious of this weakness in myself and am constantly asking the Lord to help me in these situations. You cannot feel the spirit and feel angry simultaneously.
A story that reminds me of the importance of forgiving quickly is this one:
A woman was patiently waiting in the mall parking lot for a parking spot with her blinker on. Someone else drove up at the last minute and stole her parking spot and then proceeded to obliviously and happily go on with their shopping. The wronged party continued to stew and fume and damage herself by holding on to the anger for the rest of the day. I made the decision that I do not want to be the person who holds on to anger and who damages herself.
The Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “To be wronged or robbed is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
Losing the parking spot was not a big deal, but the damage from the continued anger was in this story. Most of us will have situations that will be far more challenging than just losing a parking spot, but the same principles apply.
One common misconception is that in order to forgive someone who has wronged you the offender must first apologize and humble himself before you. But we must forgive the offender regardless of his attitude. President Joseph F. Smith said “It is extremely hurtful for any man holding the gift of the Holy Ghost to harbor a spirit of envy or malice, or retaliations or intolerance toward or against his fellow man. We ought to say in our hearts, ‘Let God judge between me and thee, but for me, I will forgive.’”
I was loading the dishwasher this week and dropped a little child’s sippy cup insert from the top tray. I went to look for it on the bottom shelf and could not see it. I looked and looked and could not find it. I decided to try looking at it from another angle, took a step around to the other side and saw it immediately. This reminded me of forgiveness. Oftentimes when we are involved in a disagreement or have contention with someone, we only look at the situation from our perspective. If we can just take a step and imagine how the other person might perceive the situation, then that will be a good step toward resolving things and restoring harmony. When we strive to have charity and empathy, it is almost impossible to be unforgiving. I only wish I could have the perspective the Lord has.
In closing I want to bear testimony to you that I know each of us can be forgiven of all of our sins. Ours is a gospel of HOPE, not of hopelessness. The Lord understands us and loves us and wants to help us in all the areas of our lives. With the Lord’s help we can also learn to forgive ourselves and forgive others. He has not left us alone and he will help us every step of the way through this process.
I was asked to talk about Forgiveness today. I decided that there were 3 aspects that I would like to concentrate on –
1) Seeking forgiveness for our mistakes and sins
2) Forgiving ourselves
3) Forgiving others
Seeking forgiveness for our mistakes
Something we all share is our need to repent and be forgiven on a very regular basis. Each of us has come to earth to receive a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize our divine nature and destiny. We all make mistakes and have weaknesses and trials and adversity. That is why we are here – to learn and grow from these experiences.
I want to share two of my favorite scriptures:
Mosiah 3:19 – “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”
2 Nephi 9:39 – “O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.”
As I have pondered these scriptures, I realize that left to my own devices, I am a natural man, with carnal nature. Carnal is defined in the dictionary as “earthly or temporal.” This means that each of us should be actively trying to put off the natural man and our desire to seek after earthly things, and instead be willing and desirous to become like a little child and concentrate on our spiritual growth. In my mind, sometimes I feel like in the eternal realm I am like a stubborn teenager by nature distracted by things of the world and I have to make a real effort to be humble and submissive like a little child and to concentrate on what matters most (no offense to the great teens here!).
When I think of Nephi, I imagine a man who was strong and righteous. It is hard to imagine that he ever struggled in his own soul. But in 2 Nephi 4 he exclaims “O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily best me.” Even Nephi struggles with being a “natural man.” This is a great example to me. Temptations will always abound, but with the Lord as our teammate, we can learn to resist them.
Nephi begs, “O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?” Nephi was pleading for a change of heart. This can only be accomplished by allowing the Lord to change us It is important that we are willing to have our hearts softened and that we recognize that we do not have the power to resist temptations on our own. If we could do it on our own, we would have no need for a Savior.
Many of us have probably seen the picture of “Christ Knocking at the Door.” This picture was painted by Holman Hunt who was trying to make an image of the following scripture in the Book of Revelation (chapter 3 verse 20)
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
The artist was showing the picture to a friend and the friend noted that there was one thing wrong with the picture – the door on which Jesus knocks has no handle. Mr. Hunt responded, “That is not a mistake. You see, this is the door to the human heart. It can only be opened from the inside.” This is so true! Jesus may stand and knock, but each of us decides whether to open. The Lord will not force us to take action. He knows exactly what we need and is just waiting for us to ask Him for guidance and help. He doesn’t want to interfere with our own agency though. We must each take our own initiative and have the desire to repent and take steps toward receiving forgiveness and to try to live the commandments.
President Benson once said “God changes men from the inside out.” We need to be willing to have a change of heart and to correct things in our lives that are contrary to the Lord’s way. We need to humbly ask for His guidance all the time.
I read the following quote in the book “The Miracle of Forgiveness.”
“A fellow who is planning to reform is one step behind. He ought to quit planning and get on with the job. Today is the day.”
Often people may feel that they have fallen so far that there is no hope for them.
A wise bishop once said – “Satan is the sneakiest opponent you’ll ever face and he doesn’t play fair!” He wants us to feel hopeless and bad about ourselves. The Lord doesn’t expect us to be perfect in a day. He wants us to have hope throughout the whole repentance process slow as it may be.
“Men do not suddenly become righteous any more than a tiny acorn suddenly becomes an oak.”
I love this analogy that I received from one of the Priesthood leaders. When you are trying to repent and make adjustments in your life, it is like flying an airplane. The most important factor is the direction your airplane’s nose is tilted, upward or downward. As long as you are tilted upward, you are on the right path. Don’t be so worried about being perfect that you try to change your direction from a downward path to going straight up in the air. You will eventually crash the plane. Just concentrate on keeping the airplane headed the right direction and you will continue to progress and improve your life.
True repentance isn’t just turning away from sin. It involves turning to God. I imagine it like this. As we repent we get rid of the sins we are holding inside that were taking up space. When the sins and bad habits are removed, there is an empty space left. It is important to fill that empty space up with spiritual things like prayer, scripture study, good books, activity in the church, uplifting friendships, etc. so that the sins don’t sneak back in.
President Benson said “If you will put God first in your life, everything else will either fall into its proper place or drop out of your life entirely.” He also said “Our love of the Lord must govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.”
There are many great examples in the scriptures of men who have received forgiveness from the Lord. Two of my favorites are Alma and Enos.
Alma the Younger was so rebellious and fought against the Lord. Alma the Younger’s father, Alma prayed for him to come to a knowledge of the truth. Alma was visited by an angel and fell to the earth as if he were dead for three days. During this time he said he “racked with eternal torment for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.” He continued “Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.” I am sure many of us can relate to this feeling. Then Alma remembered that he had heard his dad talk about “one Jesus Christ” who would atone for the sins of the world. Alma’s mind caught hold upon this thought and he cried within his heart “O Jesus, thou Son or God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.” Then the scripture goes on to say “And now, behold, when I thought of this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea my soul was filled with joy as exceeding was my pain!” Alma didn’t become this perfect person instantly, but he had a true change of heart and started down a new path.
Enos is another of my favorites. The whole book of Enos is less than 3 pages, but it is powerful. Enos had been taught about eternal life and the joy of righteousness by his father, but he was rebellious. He writes “I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I had a remission of my sins.” Enos went to the forests to hunt. His soul hungered which I take to mean that his soul had unrest. He prayed all day and night for his own soul and then a voice came to him saying “Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.” Then Enos showed his strong testimony of the Atonement by saying “And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.” Then the Lord tells Enos that his faith had made him whole. I have faith that each of us can also be made whole through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
The Lord also said in Mosiah 26:30 – “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.”
These stories show me that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do indeed keep their promises (like we are learning in Primary this year).
When I was a freshman in college my grandma sent me a letter in which she told me to remember the scripture, “Wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10). This stuck in my mind as I lived away from home for the first time and was around kids who were making poor choices with their new freedom away from home. I came to realize that repenting of our sins brings happiness and peace and that indulging in wickedness brings grief and turmoil. When I have quiet moments to think and reflect, I know in my soul if my life is what I want it to be or if I need to make changes in areas. When I am weighed down with something I ask the Lord promptly for forgiveness so I can have peace again in my own soul. (Peace Barometer)
Forgiving ourselves
Turn the corner – Once we have had a change of heart and are working the steps of repentance and are willing to let the Lord help us, it is important to look forward, not backward. Sheri Dew gave a great talk when I went to Time Out for Women last month with my mom. She likened having a change of heart to turning a corner. Once we have turned a corner, we need to keep looking forward and walking down the street. If we continue to walk back to the corner and peek around it, dwelling on how we were and the mistakes we’ve made, then we do not progress and move forward. It was a really good image to me and as I reflect on my mistakes each day and repent, I try to remember to truly turn the corner and to realize that the Lord is helping me walk down the right path.
Lots of us hold on to guilt even after we have prayed for forgiveness. What is the purpose of guilt? – Guilt is meant to be a warning signal to us – like the smoke alarm in our home. One quick “beep” of its piercing influence is all Heavenly Father meant us to have to bear. In my opinion, if I continue to harbor guilt it is almost a form of blasphemy. It is as if I would be saying that I do not accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Satan is author of unhealthy guilt. He wants you to feel hopeless, alone, unforgiven. The Lord has promised us that we are not alone. We can be forgiven, no matter to what depths we have fallen.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
This applies to everyone! What a burden taken off our backs when we realize we can completely be clean again. Heavenly Father and our Savior want us to feel hopeful and peaceful. The adversary wants us to feel hopeless and impure.
Forgiving others
I must need lots of work in this area because I keep re-learning this lesson over and over again. When I feel I am wronged I get an intense anger inside that I tend to dwell on if left to myself. I am very conscious of this weakness in myself and am constantly asking the Lord to help me in these situations. You cannot feel the spirit and feel angry simultaneously.
A story that reminds me of the importance of forgiving quickly is this one:
A woman was patiently waiting in the mall parking lot for a parking spot with her blinker on. Someone else drove up at the last minute and stole her parking spot and then proceeded to obliviously and happily go on with their shopping. The wronged party continued to stew and fume and damage herself by holding on to the anger for the rest of the day. I made the decision that I do not want to be the person who holds on to anger and who damages herself.
The Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “To be wronged or robbed is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
Losing the parking spot was not a big deal, but the damage from the continued anger was in this story. Most of us will have situations that will be far more challenging than just losing a parking spot, but the same principles apply.
One common misconception is that in order to forgive someone who has wronged you the offender must first apologize and humble himself before you. But we must forgive the offender regardless of his attitude. President Joseph F. Smith said “It is extremely hurtful for any man holding the gift of the Holy Ghost to harbor a spirit of envy or malice, or retaliations or intolerance toward or against his fellow man. We ought to say in our hearts, ‘Let God judge between me and thee, but for me, I will forgive.’”
I was loading the dishwasher this week and dropped a little child’s sippy cup insert from the top tray. I went to look for it on the bottom shelf and could not see it. I looked and looked and could not find it. I decided to try looking at it from another angle, took a step around to the other side and saw it immediately. This reminded me of forgiveness. Oftentimes when we are involved in a disagreement or have contention with someone, we only look at the situation from our perspective. If we can just take a step and imagine how the other person might perceive the situation, then that will be a good step toward resolving things and restoring harmony. When we strive to have charity and empathy, it is almost impossible to be unforgiving. I only wish I could have the perspective the Lord has.
In closing I want to bear testimony to you that I know each of us can be forgiven of all of our sins. Ours is a gospel of HOPE, not of hopelessness. The Lord understands us and loves us and wants to help us in all the areas of our lives. With the Lord’s help we can also learn to forgive ourselves and forgive others. He has not left us alone and he will help us every step of the way through this process.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Sunday School - Book of Mormon Lesson 20
Book of Mormon Lesson #20: “My Soul Is Pained No More”
Mosiah 25-28, Alma 36
1. Bruce R. McConkie: [Mosiah 26:1-2 – the rising generation did not believe] It is one thing to teach ethical principles, quite another to proclaim the great doctrinal verities, which are the foundation of true Christianity and out of which eternal salvation comes. True it is that salvation is limited to those in whose souls the ethical principles abound, but true it is also that Christian ethics, in the full and saving sense, automatically become a part of the lives of those who first believe Christian doctrines. It is only when gospel ethics are tied to gospel doctrines that they rest on a sure and enduring foundation and gain full operation in the lives of the saints. A New Witness, pp. 699-700.
2. Ezra Taft Benson: Seeking the applause of the world, we like to be honored by the men the world honors. But therein lies real danger, for ofttimes, in order to receive those honors, we must join forces with and follow those same devilish influences and policies which brought some of those men to positions of prominence. … Today we are being plagued within by the flattery of prominent men in the world. General Conference, Oct. 1964.
3. Jeffrey R. Holland: Perhaps no anguish of the human spirit matches the anguish of a mother or father who fears for the soul of a child. … [But] parents can never give up hoping or caring or believing. Surely they can never give up praying. At times prayer may be the only course of action remaining – but it is the most powerful of them all. Ensign, March 1977.
4. Joseph Smith: Repentance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression and daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 148.
5. Spencer W. Kimball: He who will not forgive others breaks down the bridge over which he himself must travel. This is a truth taught by the Lord in the parable of the unmerciful servant [Matt. 18] who demanded to be forgiven but was merciless to one who asked forgiveness of him. Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 269.
6. Ed J. Pinegar & Richard J. Allen: The Lord answers the prayers of the people according to their faith. Therefore an angel is sent to convince Alma of the power and authority of God. We can have the blessings of God in our lives as we exercise our faith through prayer. Alma changes after this experience. Laman and Lemuel do not change after their angelic visitations. Agency is supreme – everyone can choose to obey or disobey. Let us realize the angels (messengers of God) can be in the form of mortals as well as from beyond the veil. President Thomas S. Monson has taught us that in our eternal roles and duties within the Church we can be inspired to be an answer to someone’s prayer. He said, “As we love the Lord, as we love our neighbor, we discover that our Heavenly Father will answer the prayers of others through our ministry.” Commentaries and Insights on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 455.
7. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: Our first scriptural reference to gall, a bitter and poisonous herb, is found in Deuteronomy 29:18, where it is used as a metaphor to describe the spiritual state of those who turn from the God of Israel to embrace idolatry. The phrase Moses used was “gall and wormwood.” Wormwood also was a plant with a bitter taste. The doctrine being taught by Alma’s comment is that to leave righteousness and truth to embrace wickedness and falsehood embitters and poisons the soul toward those covenants that have been abandoned. Thus it is to be expected that those leaving the Church to satiate carnal appetites will not be able to remain neutral toward it but rather will be characterized by a bitter and poisonous spirit. Alma was a classic example of this sequence and here [in Mosiah 27:29] announces that he has been freed from this spirit of bitterness. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 308.
8. D. Parry, D. Peterson, & J. Welch: Apocalyptic imagery is not missing from the Book of Mormon, though it is not nearly as prominent as one would expect if the book had actually been composed in the world of Joseph Smith, because this was the one kind of doctrine that did have popular reception – the apocalyptic destruction. End-of-the-world sects were very common in Joseph Smith’s time …. The Book of Mormon avoids this image. The fire and smoke of hell, and other apocalyptic images, are clearly stated to be types, rather than realities, as is the monster death and hell. … Typical is the phrase of Alma: “I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God” (Mosiah 27:29). Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon, p. 484.
9. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Alma 36:9 – “If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed”] This is not a threat on Alma’s mortal life but a solemn warning relative to the eternal welfare of his soul. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 263.
10. Harold B. Lee: Conversion must mean more than just being a “card-carrying” member of the Church with a tithing receipt, a membership card, a temple recommend, etc. It means to overcome the tendencies to criticize and to strive continually to improve inward weaknesses and not merely the outward appearances. Ensign, June 1971.
11. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: True repentance requires that we surrender the memory of the sin, not in the sense that we are without the knowledge that we once transgressed but rather in the sense that we have laid down the burden, that our confidence might now wax strong in the presence of the Lord. … We must retain sufficient memory of the pain to avoid a repetition of the suffering. Still, as we grow in the things of the Spirit, that which is forgiven is to be forgotten. It is not true repentance when we cling to a sensuous memory in whose mental replaying we find delight. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, pp. 265-66.
12. Dennis L. Largey: Although the appearance of the angel led the youths to reverse directions spiritually, Alma observed that his final, true conversion came only after he had “fasted and prayed many days” (Alma 5:46), a clarification of the relationship between miraculous events and genuine conversion. Book of Mormon Reference Companion, p. 37.
13. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Alma 36:21 – bitter pains] What, then, of those who accept Jesus as the Christ and allow his infinite and eternal sacrifice to stand in the stead of the suffering just described? Are such excused from all suffering? Contrary to much in the Christian world tradition, the answer is no. True repentance, which centers in faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice, still requires sufficient suffering on the part of those desiring to repent to make them one in mind and soul with the Savior. The blessings of salvation, though freely given, cannot be wholly undeserved. In all things we must unite our best effort with him who sacrificed all. The testimony of holy writ is that without suffering there is no repentance. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 267.
14. Ezra Taft Benson: [Alma’s conversion] We must be cautious, as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing that they are building a Godlike life. Ensign, October 1989.
15. Joseph Fielding Smith: [Reflecting on his own baptism] The feeling that came upon me was that of pure peace, of love, and of light. I felt in my soul that if I had sinned – and surely I was not without sin – that it had been forgiven me; that I was indeed cleansed from sin; my heart was touched, and I felt that I would not injure the smallest insect beneath my feet. I felt as if I wanted to do good everywhere to everybody and to everything. I felt a newness of life, a newness of desire to do that which was right. There was not one particle of desire for evil left in my soul. Gospel Doctrine, p. 96.
16. Robert L. Millet: The Spirit of God sanctifies – it cleanses and purges filth and dross out of the human soul as though by fire. The Spirit does far more, however, than remove uncleanliness. It also fills. It fills one with a holy element, with a sacred presence that motivates the person to a godly walk and goodly works. … Indeed,, they are freer than free, because they have given themselves up to the Lord and his purposes. They choose to do good, but their choices are motivated by the Spirit of the Lord. Life in Christ, pp. 98-99.
17. L. Tom Perry: After conversion comes the desire to share – not so much out of a sense of duty, even though that responsibility falls on the priesthood, but out of a sincere love and appreciation for that which has been received. When such a “pearl of great price” comes into our lives, we cannot be content just to admire it by ourselves. It must be shared! General Conference, April 1984.
Next week: Mosiah 29, Alma 1-4 “Alma … Did Judge Righteous Judgments”
Mosiah 25-28, Alma 36
1. Bruce R. McConkie: [Mosiah 26:1-2 – the rising generation did not believe] It is one thing to teach ethical principles, quite another to proclaim the great doctrinal verities, which are the foundation of true Christianity and out of which eternal salvation comes. True it is that salvation is limited to those in whose souls the ethical principles abound, but true it is also that Christian ethics, in the full and saving sense, automatically become a part of the lives of those who first believe Christian doctrines. It is only when gospel ethics are tied to gospel doctrines that they rest on a sure and enduring foundation and gain full operation in the lives of the saints. A New Witness, pp. 699-700.
2. Ezra Taft Benson: Seeking the applause of the world, we like to be honored by the men the world honors. But therein lies real danger, for ofttimes, in order to receive those honors, we must join forces with and follow those same devilish influences and policies which brought some of those men to positions of prominence. … Today we are being plagued within by the flattery of prominent men in the world. General Conference, Oct. 1964.
3. Jeffrey R. Holland: Perhaps no anguish of the human spirit matches the anguish of a mother or father who fears for the soul of a child. … [But] parents can never give up hoping or caring or believing. Surely they can never give up praying. At times prayer may be the only course of action remaining – but it is the most powerful of them all. Ensign, March 1977.
4. Joseph Smith: Repentance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression and daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 148.
5. Spencer W. Kimball: He who will not forgive others breaks down the bridge over which he himself must travel. This is a truth taught by the Lord in the parable of the unmerciful servant [Matt. 18] who demanded to be forgiven but was merciless to one who asked forgiveness of him. Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 269.
6. Ed J. Pinegar & Richard J. Allen: The Lord answers the prayers of the people according to their faith. Therefore an angel is sent to convince Alma of the power and authority of God. We can have the blessings of God in our lives as we exercise our faith through prayer. Alma changes after this experience. Laman and Lemuel do not change after their angelic visitations. Agency is supreme – everyone can choose to obey or disobey. Let us realize the angels (messengers of God) can be in the form of mortals as well as from beyond the veil. President Thomas S. Monson has taught us that in our eternal roles and duties within the Church we can be inspired to be an answer to someone’s prayer. He said, “As we love the Lord, as we love our neighbor, we discover that our Heavenly Father will answer the prayers of others through our ministry.” Commentaries and Insights on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 455.
7. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: Our first scriptural reference to gall, a bitter and poisonous herb, is found in Deuteronomy 29:18, where it is used as a metaphor to describe the spiritual state of those who turn from the God of Israel to embrace idolatry. The phrase Moses used was “gall and wormwood.” Wormwood also was a plant with a bitter taste. The doctrine being taught by Alma’s comment is that to leave righteousness and truth to embrace wickedness and falsehood embitters and poisons the soul toward those covenants that have been abandoned. Thus it is to be expected that those leaving the Church to satiate carnal appetites will not be able to remain neutral toward it but rather will be characterized by a bitter and poisonous spirit. Alma was a classic example of this sequence and here [in Mosiah 27:29] announces that he has been freed from this spirit of bitterness. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 308.
8. D. Parry, D. Peterson, & J. Welch: Apocalyptic imagery is not missing from the Book of Mormon, though it is not nearly as prominent as one would expect if the book had actually been composed in the world of Joseph Smith, because this was the one kind of doctrine that did have popular reception – the apocalyptic destruction. End-of-the-world sects were very common in Joseph Smith’s time …. The Book of Mormon avoids this image. The fire and smoke of hell, and other apocalyptic images, are clearly stated to be types, rather than realities, as is the monster death and hell. … Typical is the phrase of Alma: “I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God” (Mosiah 27:29). Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon, p. 484.
9. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Alma 36:9 – “If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed”] This is not a threat on Alma’s mortal life but a solemn warning relative to the eternal welfare of his soul. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 263.
10. Harold B. Lee: Conversion must mean more than just being a “card-carrying” member of the Church with a tithing receipt, a membership card, a temple recommend, etc. It means to overcome the tendencies to criticize and to strive continually to improve inward weaknesses and not merely the outward appearances. Ensign, June 1971.
11. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: True repentance requires that we surrender the memory of the sin, not in the sense that we are without the knowledge that we once transgressed but rather in the sense that we have laid down the burden, that our confidence might now wax strong in the presence of the Lord. … We must retain sufficient memory of the pain to avoid a repetition of the suffering. Still, as we grow in the things of the Spirit, that which is forgiven is to be forgotten. It is not true repentance when we cling to a sensuous memory in whose mental replaying we find delight. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, pp. 265-66.
12. Dennis L. Largey: Although the appearance of the angel led the youths to reverse directions spiritually, Alma observed that his final, true conversion came only after he had “fasted and prayed many days” (Alma 5:46), a clarification of the relationship between miraculous events and genuine conversion. Book of Mormon Reference Companion, p. 37.
13. Joseph Fielding McConkie & Robert Millet: [Alma 36:21 – bitter pains] What, then, of those who accept Jesus as the Christ and allow his infinite and eternal sacrifice to stand in the stead of the suffering just described? Are such excused from all suffering? Contrary to much in the Christian world tradition, the answer is no. True repentance, which centers in faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice, still requires sufficient suffering on the part of those desiring to repent to make them one in mind and soul with the Savior. The blessings of salvation, though freely given, cannot be wholly undeserved. In all things we must unite our best effort with him who sacrificed all. The testimony of holy writ is that without suffering there is no repentance. Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p. 267.
14. Ezra Taft Benson: [Alma’s conversion] We must be cautious, as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing that they are building a Godlike life. Ensign, October 1989.
15. Joseph Fielding Smith: [Reflecting on his own baptism] The feeling that came upon me was that of pure peace, of love, and of light. I felt in my soul that if I had sinned – and surely I was not without sin – that it had been forgiven me; that I was indeed cleansed from sin; my heart was touched, and I felt that I would not injure the smallest insect beneath my feet. I felt as if I wanted to do good everywhere to everybody and to everything. I felt a newness of life, a newness of desire to do that which was right. There was not one particle of desire for evil left in my soul. Gospel Doctrine, p. 96.
16. Robert L. Millet: The Spirit of God sanctifies – it cleanses and purges filth and dross out of the human soul as though by fire. The Spirit does far more, however, than remove uncleanliness. It also fills. It fills one with a holy element, with a sacred presence that motivates the person to a godly walk and goodly works. … Indeed,, they are freer than free, because they have given themselves up to the Lord and his purposes. They choose to do good, but their choices are motivated by the Spirit of the Lord. Life in Christ, pp. 98-99.
17. L. Tom Perry: After conversion comes the desire to share – not so much out of a sense of duty, even though that responsibility falls on the priesthood, but out of a sincere love and appreciation for that which has been received. When such a “pearl of great price” comes into our lives, we cannot be content just to admire it by ourselves. It must be shared! General Conference, April 1984.
Next week: Mosiah 29, Alma 1-4 “Alma … Did Judge Righteous Judgments”
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