In his writings, the apostle John referred to himself as "disciple whom Jesus loved" (see John 21:7). Jesus referred to John as "my beloved" (see 3 Nephi 28:6). I believe that John had a very special and close relationship with Christ. He understood on a very personal level what it means to be loved by Jesus. Because of this relationship, I have chosen to use mostly the writings of John for this particular post. I'll end with a favorite from Paul.
Sometimes we think of love as kind of a fluffy topic, one that is difficult to grasp in a practical worship situation. However, the doctrine of love is profound and straightforward. There are three main things I think we need to understand about love.
First, understand that God loves us, as evidenced by the gift of His Son.
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9).
God loves each of His children, as does Jesus Christ.
"Hereby perceive we the love of Christ, because he laid down his life for us" (JST 1 John 3:16).
Christ loves us with a perfect love. He doesn't wait for us to manifest love to Him--He loves us first.
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).
"We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
Heavenly Father's and Jesus Christ's love defines them. It defines their characters and explains the purpose of every aspect of the Plan of Salvation.
"God is love" (1 John 4:8).
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:13-14).
Second, we show our love for Christ by obeying His commandments.
There is a lot of confusion and dispute about what it means to love God. People define it in a wide variety of ways. However, Jesus Christ was quite specific about how we are to show our love for Him.
"If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
In obeying the commandments, we need to remember first of all that every aspect of God's plan for us is motivated by pure love. The commandments are given as a way to keep us safe and help us progress.
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3).
And there is a specific blessing given to those who obey the commandments. The gift of abiding in Christ's love--always feeling His presence in our lives.
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love" (John 15:10).
The love of a friend can instill confidence in me. It can help me face my fears and find strength. This is so much more true with the love of Christ. He instills us with confidence such that we are able to live successfully in this world and prepare hopefully to return to His presence. Feeling His love is worth the effort to obey His commandments.
Third, love others as Christ has loved us.
As we come to know Christ and feel of His love, He asks us to help others come to feel His love. We do that by loving with a pure, Christlike love.
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God" (1 John 4:7).
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another" (1 John 4:11).
"And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" (1 John 4:21).
We know that Christ has asked us to keep His commandments. If we want to love as He has loved, we need to encourage others to also keep His commandments. Love is not separate from obedience. It is enhanced by righteousness. Christ also loves people who are sinners. We are instructed to do the same. We are commanded to love everyone. It is possible only when we are filled with Christ's love for them.
Conclusion
When I read this next passage, I am sure that there is nothing I want more in this life than to know the love of Christ.
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
"May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-19).
The love of Christ can root and ground us--give us stability in a confusing world. His love surpasses any earthly comparison. It is better than knowledge. It will fill us with the fulness of God.
I know that Jesus Christ lives. I believe in the living reality of a Savior. I know He loves each of us. I know He loves me. I am grateful Heavenly Father sent His Son to earth to live, die, and live again all for our sake. It is such a glorious plan! I wish you all a merry Christmas as we celebrate together the birth of our Lord.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Son of God
This is a great verse of scripture: "Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise" (2 Nephi 2:8).
According to this verse, the only way we can return to the presence of God is through the Holy Messiah. Specifically, we can return because of certain characteristics of Christ: the merits, mercy, and grace. I have learned that the phrase the merits of Christ refers to His heritage. Christ was born of a mortal mother and a Heavenly Father. As such, He had the mortal power to die and the Godly power over death. He could die and also be resurrected. His heritage also permitted Him to atone for us with mercy and grace. His merits come by virtue of His being the Son of God.
Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God. This was prophesied throughout the Old Testament and Book of Mormon.
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).
"And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen
These prophecies were fulfilled.
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
"And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:30-35).
This next scripture explains both the necessity for a Savior and the necessity for that Savior to be the Son of God:
"And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice" (Alma 34:8-10).
Heavenly Father's love for us is so great that He prepared a way for us to return to Him through His Son.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
The doctrine of Christ literally being the Son of God seems basic to those who have been raised in Christian homes. However, it is a doctrine that is attacked and explained away. Even some who try to follow Christ's teachings deny His divinity. Without confidence that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, there is no confidence in His merits to save us. He just wouldn't have what was required. But Christ is the Son of God. Heavenly Father offered His only Son as an infinite and eternal sacrifice for our sins. We can have confidence in His merits, mercy, and grace.
Our Redeemer
As our Savior and Redeemer, Christ suffered for our sins. He suffered temptation. He suffered everything that we have suffered, everything we can imagine suffering. His compassion for us is whole and complete. There is nothing we go through that He has not also endured. He understands with a perfect understanding what it means to be sick, to be sad, to be lonely, to be desperate, to be hurt or abused. And in all this, He offers us healing. We can have hope and healing through the miraculous power of His Atonement for us.
Isaiah said, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4).
Jesus Christ suffered all this for us because of His perfect love. "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old" (Isaiah 63:9).
Even though Christ knew our sufferings through the Spirit, He endured it in the flesh so that His Atonement was complete, fulfilling His role as our Redeemer. From the Book of Mormon, we learn:
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
"Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me" (Alma 7:11-13).
Anyone familiar with our Church's history knows that Joseph Smith suffered incredible and unjust persecution. At a particularly bad point, Joseph prayed and asked God how long he would have to suffer. The response, although kind of long, is so beautiful. Read the whole thing.
"If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
"If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
"The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
"Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not waht man can do, for god shall be with you forever and ever" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:5-9).
In summary, Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. He has redeemed us from hell and from our own sins, if we will repent. He has redeemed us through His sufferings. His suffering included everything that every person on this earth has ever suffered. Because His sufferings were complete, He was able to complete a perfect Atonement on our behalf. It is important for us to understand this. No matter what happens to us in this life--whether as a result of our own sin, someone else's sin, or because of sickness, physical weakness, or anything else--we can be assured that someone else has been there before. Christ's compassion is perfect. We are not alone. He has redeemed us and waits anxious to heal our hearts. I find great peace in this knowledge.
Isaiah said, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4).
Jesus Christ suffered all this for us because of His perfect love. "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old" (Isaiah 63:9).
Even though Christ knew our sufferings through the Spirit, He endured it in the flesh so that His Atonement was complete, fulfilling His role as our Redeemer. From the Book of Mormon, we learn:
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
"Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me" (Alma 7:11-13).
Anyone familiar with our Church's history knows that Joseph Smith suffered incredible and unjust persecution. At a particularly bad point, Joseph prayed and asked God how long he would have to suffer. The response, although kind of long, is so beautiful. Read the whole thing.
"If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
"If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
"The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
"Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not waht man can do, for god shall be with you forever and ever" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:5-9).
In summary, Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. He has redeemed us from hell and from our own sins, if we will repent. He has redeemed us through His sufferings. His suffering included everything that every person on this earth has ever suffered. Because His sufferings were complete, He was able to complete a perfect Atonement on our behalf. It is important for us to understand this. No matter what happens to us in this life--whether as a result of our own sin, someone else's sin, or because of sickness, physical weakness, or anything else--we can be assured that someone else has been there before. Christ's compassion is perfect. We are not alone. He has redeemed us and waits anxious to heal our hearts. I find great peace in this knowledge.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
The Anointed One
According to the Bible Dictionary, Messiah is an "Aramaic word meaning the anointed." The Greek equivalent of Messiah is the Christ. Messiah or Christ is a title referring to the office of the King or High Priest. In Old Testament times, kings were anointed to their office by a prophet and priests were also anointed with oil when they were called to the office of priest.
I know I wrote a little about Christ's role as the King the other day, but today, I want to be a little more specific about His authority. He is the King, the Messiah, the High Priest, the Anointed One. Again, from the Bible Dictionary, I learned that being the Anointed One means "he is the one anointed of the Father to be his personal representative in all things pertaining to the salvation of mankind."
Knowing that Christ is a title clarifies this testimony given by Peter:
"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
"And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16).
It is a testimony that is repeated many times in the New Testament. It is significant that Jesus introduces himself using this title. "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world" (3 Nephi 11:10).
He was the Messiah the people were waiting and looking for. He has the authority from His Father to do all the things He did on the earth. Christ spoke of His anointing by quoting the prophet Isaiah:
"And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
"And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
"And he began to say unto them, This day is this scriptures fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:17-21).
In quoting Isaiah, Christ outlines some of the many things He has been given authority over. Preaching the gospel, healing, redeeming the dead, and performing the Atonement were things Christ did, not just because He was kind and knew they were important, but because He was anointed and given the responsibility, the stewardship, for our salvation.
In our church, priesthood authority and keys are vital to understanding how the church is organized and how it functions. Everything we do, we do through the proper priesthood channels. We do this in our church because it is God's way. He called and anointed His Son to perform the mission of the Savior.
I know this is a very basic explanation of a very important principle of the gospel. I know there is a lot more to it than what I've written tonight. I also know that Jesus is the Christ. He is the Chosen, the Anointed One. He received His authority from God the Father. And I know that His authority makes all the difference.
I know I wrote a little about Christ's role as the King the other day, but today, I want to be a little more specific about His authority. He is the King, the Messiah, the High Priest, the Anointed One. Again, from the Bible Dictionary, I learned that being the Anointed One means "he is the one anointed of the Father to be his personal representative in all things pertaining to the salvation of mankind."
Knowing that Christ is a title clarifies this testimony given by Peter:
"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
"And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16).
It is a testimony that is repeated many times in the New Testament. It is significant that Jesus introduces himself using this title. "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world" (3 Nephi 11:10).
He was the Messiah the people were waiting and looking for. He has the authority from His Father to do all the things He did on the earth. Christ spoke of His anointing by quoting the prophet Isaiah:
"And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
"And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
"And he began to say unto them, This day is this scriptures fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:17-21).
In quoting Isaiah, Christ outlines some of the many things He has been given authority over. Preaching the gospel, healing, redeeming the dead, and performing the Atonement were things Christ did, not just because He was kind and knew they were important, but because He was anointed and given the responsibility, the stewardship, for our salvation.
In our church, priesthood authority and keys are vital to understanding how the church is organized and how it functions. Everything we do, we do through the proper priesthood channels. We do this in our church because it is God's way. He called and anointed His Son to perform the mission of the Savior.
I know this is a very basic explanation of a very important principle of the gospel. I know there is a lot more to it than what I've written tonight. I also know that Jesus is the Christ. He is the Chosen, the Anointed One. He received His authority from God the Father. And I know that His authority makes all the difference.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Master Teacher
Writing about Christ's role as a teacher should fill volumes. I only have a little blog. So, I will only point out a couple of important things I've noticed about His teaching. I'm not going to talk about His actual teachings in this blentry, but rather the methods He used while teaching. While Christ was on the earth, every word He said and everything He did became a teaching moment. They were learning experiences for any willing to listen.
While Christ was among the Nephites, He asked them to go home for the night. He said, "Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again" (3 Nephi 17:3).
The principle of teaching here is that learning is active. The Savior expected the people to continue to think and ponder on the things which He had taught. He expected them to pray for further understanding. He expected them to prepare themselves to be taught again. He expects the same of us. We need to be active learners in order to receive what the Master Teacher has to give us.
The Jews questioned how Jesus learned all He preached. "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me" (John 7:16).
In His teaching, Christ always spoke the doctrine of Heavenly Father. He often quoted the words of the prophets--prophets who had written the revelations they received from Christ. I think this is a vital principle for us to understand if we are to teach anybody. True teaching involves true doctrine--not just opinion or analysis. When we follow Christ's example and base our teaching on the doctrines of the gospel, learning takes place. We are so blessed to have easy access to the words of Christ in the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon. We should be anxious to search the scriptures to learn of Him.
Again among the Nephites, Christ taught from the writings of many different prophets. "And now it came to pass that when Jesus had expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should teach the things which he had expounded unto them" (3 Nephi 23:14).
This has long been one of my favorite scriptures to understand how to be a good teacher. Christ "expounded all the scriptures in one." He explained the scriptures--not as separate points of doctrine, but as all part of the same plan. There is so much to learn when we study the gospel. It's important to find how each aspect, each principle, relates together. When we learn that way, it deepens our understanding of individual principles and also of the glory of God's plan of happiness for us. As a master teacher, Jesus Christ expounded the scriptures in one to strengthen the individual testimonies of His disciples.
After Christ was resurrected, He appeared to two of His disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. He taught them. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24: 27).
After this, the eyes of the disciples were opened and they finally knew who it was who had been teaching them. "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures" (Luke 24:32).
When Jesus Christ taught, He taught with power and the Holy Ghost entered the hearts of His listeners to testify to them of His divinity. When we are taught, the Holy Ghost is present. It is the role of the Holy Ghost to testify of Christ.
It is my privilege to have been blessed with many, many good teachers. The best of these teachers follows the principles that are consistent with Christ's teaching: they expect active learners; they teach true doctrine from the words of the prophets; they explain the scripture as a part of a whole, not as if it stands alone; and, they invite the Holy Ghost to be present to testify of Jesus Christ. Because I have felt the Holy Ghost burn within my own heart, I have a testimony of the reality of the Savior. I look forward to some day sitting in His presence and learning from Him.
While Christ was among the Nephites, He asked them to go home for the night. He said, "Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again" (3 Nephi 17:3).
The principle of teaching here is that learning is active. The Savior expected the people to continue to think and ponder on the things which He had taught. He expected them to pray for further understanding. He expected them to prepare themselves to be taught again. He expects the same of us. We need to be active learners in order to receive what the Master Teacher has to give us.
The Jews questioned how Jesus learned all He preached. "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me" (John 7:16).
In His teaching, Christ always spoke the doctrine of Heavenly Father. He often quoted the words of the prophets--prophets who had written the revelations they received from Christ. I think this is a vital principle for us to understand if we are to teach anybody. True teaching involves true doctrine--not just opinion or analysis. When we follow Christ's example and base our teaching on the doctrines of the gospel, learning takes place. We are so blessed to have easy access to the words of Christ in the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon. We should be anxious to search the scriptures to learn of Him.
Again among the Nephites, Christ taught from the writings of many different prophets. "And now it came to pass that when Jesus had expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should teach the things which he had expounded unto them" (3 Nephi 23:14).
This has long been one of my favorite scriptures to understand how to be a good teacher. Christ "expounded all the scriptures in one." He explained the scriptures--not as separate points of doctrine, but as all part of the same plan. There is so much to learn when we study the gospel. It's important to find how each aspect, each principle, relates together. When we learn that way, it deepens our understanding of individual principles and also of the glory of God's plan of happiness for us. As a master teacher, Jesus Christ expounded the scriptures in one to strengthen the individual testimonies of His disciples.
After Christ was resurrected, He appeared to two of His disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. He taught them. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24: 27).
After this, the eyes of the disciples were opened and they finally knew who it was who had been teaching them. "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures" (Luke 24:32).
When Jesus Christ taught, He taught with power and the Holy Ghost entered the hearts of His listeners to testify to them of His divinity. When we are taught, the Holy Ghost is present. It is the role of the Holy Ghost to testify of Christ.
It is my privilege to have been blessed with many, many good teachers. The best of these teachers follows the principles that are consistent with Christ's teaching: they expect active learners; they teach true doctrine from the words of the prophets; they explain the scripture as a part of a whole, not as if it stands alone; and, they invite the Holy Ghost to be present to testify of Jesus Christ. Because I have felt the Holy Ghost burn within my own heart, I have a testimony of the reality of the Savior. I look forward to some day sitting in His presence and learning from Him.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The Power to Heal
There are so many stories in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon of Jesus Christ healing the sick and afflicted. I chose one to share on the blog tonight. I'll have to condense it a little. But you should probably read the whole story in John 9. I'm going to share my thoughts about the principles we can learn from this story.
"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
"And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
"Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (John 9:1-3).
This short conversation teaches us some very important principles. First, physical afflictions do not come as a consequence of sin. Physical challenges are part of the purpose of mortality. They are a way to help us progress as children of God. The second is that physical afflictions are given that the works of God can be made manifest. In other words, sometimes we suffer so that we (or others) can learn of the miraculous healing power of the Lord. However, sometimes the works of God are made manifest in other ways, as those around the afflicted person learn to serve and allow God to work through them on behalf of the person who is sick.
"When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
"And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam... He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing" (John 9:6-7).
Jesus Christ could have laid his hands on the head of this man and healed him through the power of the priesthood. He did that many times during His ministry. However, in this instance, He chose to require the man to do a little work. The same is true for us. We sometimes find help through modern medicine, exercise, diet, etc. That doesn't change the fact that the Lord is the source of our healing. He works through means to perform His miracles in our lives.
"The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
"Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he" (John 9:8-9).
"They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind" (John 9:13).
"Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day" (John 9:16).
"But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
"And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
"His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
"But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself" (John 9:18-21).
The next several verses show that neighbors, Pharisees, and other Jews had trouble understanding how the man received sight. They first suggested that it was a different man who just looked like the blind man. And then they dismissed the miracle to focus on the faults they found (i.e. that the healing took place on the Sabbath) and thus, declare the man and his healer to be sinners. And then they questioned whether he had ever been blind. They even questioned his parents. His parents avoided answering the questions in order to distance themselves from Jesus Christ, who was controversial. When miracles take place in our own lives, we can be sure that others who are not close to the situation will do whatever they can to explain away the miraculous. We need to be careful to recognize miracles, acknowledge them, and always express gratitude.
"...and when [Jesus] had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
"He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
"And Jesus said unto him, Thou has both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
"And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him" (John 9:35-38).
This man knew that the miracle of sight was brought to him through the power of God, and by no other way. When he was taught who the Son of God is, he immediately believed. It is through belief on Jesus Christ that the best miracles occur in our lives: the healing of our souls. We are made whole through our faith and through Christ's power to heal.
I have witnessed in my own life the healing power of Jesus Christ. I am especially touched by the simple faith of my children who ask God to help them feel better, and then when they do, simply say, "Well, I prayed." Jesus Christ truely heals us. He still performs miracles in the lives of those who love Him.
"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
"And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
"Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (John 9:1-3).
This short conversation teaches us some very important principles. First, physical afflictions do not come as a consequence of sin. Physical challenges are part of the purpose of mortality. They are a way to help us progress as children of God. The second is that physical afflictions are given that the works of God can be made manifest. In other words, sometimes we suffer so that we (or others) can learn of the miraculous healing power of the Lord. However, sometimes the works of God are made manifest in other ways, as those around the afflicted person learn to serve and allow God to work through them on behalf of the person who is sick.
"When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
"And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam... He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing" (John 9:6-7).
Jesus Christ could have laid his hands on the head of this man and healed him through the power of the priesthood. He did that many times during His ministry. However, in this instance, He chose to require the man to do a little work. The same is true for us. We sometimes find help through modern medicine, exercise, diet, etc. That doesn't change the fact that the Lord is the source of our healing. He works through means to perform His miracles in our lives.
"The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
"Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he" (John 9:8-9).
"They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind" (John 9:13).
"Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day" (John 9:16).
"But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
"And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
"His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
"But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself" (John 9:18-21).
The next several verses show that neighbors, Pharisees, and other Jews had trouble understanding how the man received sight. They first suggested that it was a different man who just looked like the blind man. And then they dismissed the miracle to focus on the faults they found (i.e. that the healing took place on the Sabbath) and thus, declare the man and his healer to be sinners. And then they questioned whether he had ever been blind. They even questioned his parents. His parents avoided answering the questions in order to distance themselves from Jesus Christ, who was controversial. When miracles take place in our own lives, we can be sure that others who are not close to the situation will do whatever they can to explain away the miraculous. We need to be careful to recognize miracles, acknowledge them, and always express gratitude.
"...and when [Jesus] had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
"He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
"And Jesus said unto him, Thou has both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
"And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him" (John 9:35-38).
This man knew that the miracle of sight was brought to him through the power of God, and by no other way. When he was taught who the Son of God is, he immediately believed. It is through belief on Jesus Christ that the best miracles occur in our lives: the healing of our souls. We are made whole through our faith and through Christ's power to heal.
I have witnessed in my own life the healing power of Jesus Christ. I am especially touched by the simple faith of my children who ask God to help them feel better, and then when they do, simply say, "Well, I prayed." Jesus Christ truely heals us. He still performs miracles in the lives of those who love Him.
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Way
This is the third time I have quoted this verse this month. Maybe it will be the last time. But maybe not. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Jesus Christ is the way. He provides the way to return to Heavenly Father and He provides the way to live now. I think there are at least two ways Christ can be considered the Way. The first is that He is the means to heaven and the second is that He is our Exemplar.
The Way: the Means
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9).
"And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh" (Mosiah 5:8).
There are so many paths we choose from in this life. A lot of different ways to go. But there is only one Way to return to Heaven. It is only through Jesus Christ, the Savior, that we can be forgiven of our sins, redeemed, and given eternal life. He provides the only way.
The Way: the Exemplar
Jesus Christ invites all of us to come, follow Him. To follow Him means to follow His example, to try our best to live as He did. Of course we can't do that perfectly. But we can continue to repent, rely on the Savior, and improve our lives with His help. He expects us to follow His example.
"For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15).
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
"And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved" (2 Nephi 31:16).
Christ provides for us a perfect example. I like how Peter says we should follow in His steps. I know that means footsteps, but it brought to my mind incremental steps. We progress little by little, enduring the best we can, and relying wholly on the Savior. We can work diligently to do as He did when He was on the earth. Reading the scriptures and praying help us to come to know Jesus Christ personally. Then we can understand more completely what He would have us do every single day.
We can pray, as the psalmist did, "Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths" (Psalms 25:4).
Jesus Christ is the way. He provides the way to return to Heavenly Father and He provides the way to live now. I think there are at least two ways Christ can be considered the Way. The first is that He is the means to heaven and the second is that He is our Exemplar.
The Way: the Means
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9).
"And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh" (Mosiah 5:8).
There are so many paths we choose from in this life. A lot of different ways to go. But there is only one Way to return to Heaven. It is only through Jesus Christ, the Savior, that we can be forgiven of our sins, redeemed, and given eternal life. He provides the only way.
The Way: the Exemplar
Jesus Christ invites all of us to come, follow Him. To follow Him means to follow His example, to try our best to live as He did. Of course we can't do that perfectly. But we can continue to repent, rely on the Savior, and improve our lives with His help. He expects us to follow His example.
"For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15).
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
"And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved" (2 Nephi 31:16).
Christ provides for us a perfect example. I like how Peter says we should follow in His steps. I know that means footsteps, but it brought to my mind incremental steps. We progress little by little, enduring the best we can, and relying wholly on the Savior. We can work diligently to do as He did when He was on the earth. Reading the scriptures and praying help us to come to know Jesus Christ personally. Then we can understand more completely what He would have us do every single day.
We can pray, as the psalmist did, "Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths" (Psalms 25:4).
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Temptations of Christ
I didn't have a good title for this post. I wanted to write about the temptations of Christ, but I don't know which of Christ's many titles I could best associate with His resisting all temptations. The word I want to use is Succorer (which is, in fact, a real word), but it's a weird word and very hard to say aloud.
I'm going to do something else a little different. Thus far in writing these posts, I have only quoted scripture and not other quotes. I could try to explain the thoughts in my head today without using outside sources, but I'd just end up paraphrasing what someone else said so much better. This is from C.S. Lewis:
"A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. ... You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means--the only complete realist" (Mere Christianity, bk. III, chap. II, para. 7, pp. 124-125).
Once in a discussion about the temptations of Christ, I heard someone say that He wasn't really tempted. She thought that if we believed Christ was tempted to sin, it would somehow diminish His holiness. There is a fundamental mistake in this argument because temptation isn't a sin. I'll say that again. Really, I'll type it again. Temptation is not sin. We are all tempted. Sin starts when we dwell on or act on our temptations. We all have weakness. If we were given a Savior who, because He was the Son of God, was unable to comprehend what it was like to truly be tempted, we wouldn't be able to turn to Him as a compassionate Savior. Fortunately, Jesus Christ understands perfectly, much better than we do, what temptation really means.
Before Christ was born, it was prophesied, "And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer..." (Mosiah 3:7).
Even the temptations He suffered were more than man could endure. What gave Him the power to fulfill the Atonement was that He never yielded. "He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:22).
The reason Christ was allowed to suffer was for our benefit. "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
The word succor means to give help, relief, or aid. It is so important for each of us to understand that Christ knows exactly what we are suffering. Just because we have a difficult, pressing temptation doesn't mean that we can become an exception to the commandments. We might think that our temptations are different from those of the other people we know. They may be, but that still doesn't make us an exception to the expectations given to us by Jesus Christ. Our temptations are not different than what Jesus suffered--although your temptations are only a small part. Because we suffer temptation, we need to rely even more on the Savior. Every step of the way through this life we can rely on His aid. And we can always trust that He understands how we feel.
In this next verse, high priest refers to Jesus Christ:
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Our relationship with Jesus Christ is deepened when we understand that He can feel the power of our weaknesses and infirmities. He's been there. And because we know that, we can feel emboldened to approach Him seeking His mercy and grace. We need Him. I need Him.
I'm going to do something else a little different. Thus far in writing these posts, I have only quoted scripture and not other quotes. I could try to explain the thoughts in my head today without using outside sources, but I'd just end up paraphrasing what someone else said so much better. This is from C.S. Lewis:
"A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. ... You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means--the only complete realist" (Mere Christianity, bk. III, chap. II, para. 7, pp. 124-125).
Once in a discussion about the temptations of Christ, I heard someone say that He wasn't really tempted. She thought that if we believed Christ was tempted to sin, it would somehow diminish His holiness. There is a fundamental mistake in this argument because temptation isn't a sin. I'll say that again. Really, I'll type it again. Temptation is not sin. We are all tempted. Sin starts when we dwell on or act on our temptations. We all have weakness. If we were given a Savior who, because He was the Son of God, was unable to comprehend what it was like to truly be tempted, we wouldn't be able to turn to Him as a compassionate Savior. Fortunately, Jesus Christ understands perfectly, much better than we do, what temptation really means.
Before Christ was born, it was prophesied, "And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer..." (Mosiah 3:7).
Even the temptations He suffered were more than man could endure. What gave Him the power to fulfill the Atonement was that He never yielded. "He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:22).
The reason Christ was allowed to suffer was for our benefit. "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
The word succor means to give help, relief, or aid. It is so important for each of us to understand that Christ knows exactly what we are suffering. Just because we have a difficult, pressing temptation doesn't mean that we can become an exception to the commandments. We might think that our temptations are different from those of the other people we know. They may be, but that still doesn't make us an exception to the expectations given to us by Jesus Christ. Our temptations are not different than what Jesus suffered--although your temptations are only a small part. Because we suffer temptation, we need to rely even more on the Savior. Every step of the way through this life we can rely on His aid. And we can always trust that He understands how we feel.
In this next verse, high priest refers to Jesus Christ:
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Our relationship with Jesus Christ is deepened when we understand that He can feel the power of our weaknesses and infirmities. He's been there. And because we know that, we can feel emboldened to approach Him seeking His mercy and grace. We need Him. I need Him.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
King of kings
We have kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates that we are subject to while we are on this earth. We enjoy great freedoms in this land, but we still have to abide by the laws created by human beings--humans who are typically doing the very best they can. When Christ comes again, those who have power in this world will recognize that they are nothing in comparison with the King of kings.
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).
"And this shall be the sound of his trump...for every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, while they hear the sound of the trump, saying: Fear God, and give glory to him who sitteth upon the throne, forever and ever" (Doctrine and Coveants 88:104).
Because Christ is a perfect being, He is a perfect King and His rule will be perfect. We can experience part of that in this life as we obey His commandments. The Lord, who loves us, blesses us with commandments so we can know how to act before Him. As the Lord was telling His righteous saints the ways He would bless them, He said, "And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me" (Doctrine and Covenants 59:4).
Obeying Jesus Christ's commandments is a blessing to us because He is a righteous king. When we really learn to love the Lord, obeying and serving Him becomes a pleasure, not a burden. There are certain commandments I have obeyed from my youth, thanks to the teachings of my parents. The older I get, the more I understand how these commandments are blessings. I don't have to wait for a blessing to come; the blessing is found in the obeying.
Jesus Christ is mighty and glorious. He truly is a King beyond anyone who has ever held any degree of power on this earth. I look forward to His return.
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).
"And this shall be the sound of his trump...for every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, while they hear the sound of the trump, saying: Fear God, and give glory to him who sitteth upon the throne, forever and ever" (Doctrine and Coveants 88:104).
Because Christ is a perfect being, He is a perfect King and His rule will be perfect. We can experience part of that in this life as we obey His commandments. The Lord, who loves us, blesses us with commandments so we can know how to act before Him. As the Lord was telling His righteous saints the ways He would bless them, He said, "And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me" (Doctrine and Covenants 59:4).
Obeying Jesus Christ's commandments is a blessing to us because He is a righteous king. When we really learn to love the Lord, obeying and serving Him becomes a pleasure, not a burden. There are certain commandments I have obeyed from my youth, thanks to the teachings of my parents. The older I get, the more I understand how these commandments are blessings. I don't have to wait for a blessing to come; the blessing is found in the obeying.
Jesus Christ is mighty and glorious. He truly is a King beyond anyone who has ever held any degree of power on this earth. I look forward to His return.
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Song of Redeeming Love
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2).
I read this last night and it hit me: The Lord is my song. My Song. What a fitting title for Jesus Christ especially at Christmas time when we celebrate His birth through song. I sing when my heart is joyful. I think that when the scriptures refer to the Song of the Lord, they are referring to the joy we feel when we are close to Him and recognize His goodness. When we feel God's forgiveness, it is difficult to hold our emotions inside. Sometimes, the best way to express our joy in His redemptive power is through song.
After the angel announced the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ to the shepherds, Luke tells us, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:13-14).
I believe that the angels of heaven were filled to overflowing with joy that the prophecies had been fulfilled and the Messiah had been born. Their songs filled the heavens that holy night.
I love this psalm, which in itself is a song: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord" (Psalms 40:1-3).
The process described here is one that each of us experiences. We cry and reach out to the Lord and He hears us. He redeems us from hell and sets us on a true path. It is then that He puts a new song, a song of praise, in our mouths. He becomes the song of our hearts. The great challenge is to keep the new song alive in our hearts.
"And now behold, I say unto you, my bretheren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (Alma 5:26).
I know I've gone through times when my joy in the mercy of the Lord is overwhelming. And there are other times when I don't feel like singing. There are things I can do to keep His song, to keep Him, in my heart.
The Lord said, "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads" (Doctrine and Covenants 25:12).
Because I play the piano, I am often (very often) asked to accompany during our various church meetings. When I was younger, this could sometimes get a little monotonous. But through playing the hymns I have felt my testimony of Jesus Christ strengthened. Music is powerful. It is a way to pray, to rejoice, and to express our gratitude for a loving Savior. I believe that to feel the Song of Redeeming Love in our hearts is to feel the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives.
I read this last night and it hit me: The Lord is my song. My Song. What a fitting title for Jesus Christ especially at Christmas time when we celebrate His birth through song. I sing when my heart is joyful. I think that when the scriptures refer to the Song of the Lord, they are referring to the joy we feel when we are close to Him and recognize His goodness. When we feel God's forgiveness, it is difficult to hold our emotions inside. Sometimes, the best way to express our joy in His redemptive power is through song.
After the angel announced the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ to the shepherds, Luke tells us, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:13-14).
I believe that the angels of heaven were filled to overflowing with joy that the prophecies had been fulfilled and the Messiah had been born. Their songs filled the heavens that holy night.
I love this psalm, which in itself is a song: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord" (Psalms 40:1-3).
The process described here is one that each of us experiences. We cry and reach out to the Lord and He hears us. He redeems us from hell and sets us on a true path. It is then that He puts a new song, a song of praise, in our mouths. He becomes the song of our hearts. The great challenge is to keep the new song alive in our hearts.
"And now behold, I say unto you, my bretheren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (Alma 5:26).
I know I've gone through times when my joy in the mercy of the Lord is overwhelming. And there are other times when I don't feel like singing. There are things I can do to keep His song, to keep Him, in my heart.
The Lord said, "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads" (Doctrine and Covenants 25:12).
Because I play the piano, I am often (very often) asked to accompany during our various church meetings. When I was younger, this could sometimes get a little monotonous. But through playing the hymns I have felt my testimony of Jesus Christ strengthened. Music is powerful. It is a way to pray, to rejoice, and to express our gratitude for a loving Savior. I believe that to feel the Song of Redeeming Love in our hearts is to feel the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Righteous Judge
Isaiah spoke reassuringly when he said, "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us" (Isaiah 33:22).
The word judge has some very negative connotations in our world. We usually associate it with a person who is intolerant of differences, who is exclusive, who is self-righteous. We are taught not to judge each other--and the reason is clear: "for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:17).
We don't know enough about anyone else to deliver judgment upon them. There are things we can discern about people: whether or not they are a positive influence on our children, for example. But true judgment is the Lord's. Because judge has negative connotation, sometimes we might not reflect often enough on the title that is part of Christ's mission and part of His character. He is our Judge. As I studied about Christ as our judge tonight, I found that most scriptures referring to His role as our judge are rejoicing:
"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.
"Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
"Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth.
"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; and his mercy endureth for ever.
"And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise" (1 Chronicles 16:31-35).
In this passage, the people rejoiced at the thought that the Lord Jesus Christ was coming to judge the earth. They rejoiced for at least two reasons: 1. They knew the character of Christ and trusted Him to judge righteously; 2. They were confident in their standing before the Lord. I believe confidence in the Lord's presence comes through knowing Him, repenting, keeping His commandments, and keeping our covenants.
Christ's character
We remember that the Lord's judgment doesn't only mean a punishment for sin; it means that the righteous will be rewarded for their faith and faithfulness. His justice is balanced by His mercy. They are not opposite characteristics. They unite together in a Perfect Being to bring us a righteous judgment.
"So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth" (Psalms 58:11).
To be completely fair, honest, and just, the Lord will reward every righteous act, just as He will punish every unrepentant sin. We know that the Lord loves us with a perfect love. This doesn't mean that He can look away from our sins. To do so would not be to love us perfectly. It would not be just. "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (Doctrine and Covenants 1:31).
Jesus Christ cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, but when we come to Him with a repentant heart, and do our best to obey His commandments, He will "freely forgive" (Mosiah 26:22).
This is why those who know Christ, who believe, follow, obey, and love Him, rejoice to know that He will be our righteous Judge. Think of it: our Advocate, the Good Shepherd, our Savior and Redeemer will be the One we will meet at the judgment. This can give us great hope and confidence in our future.
Confident in our standing before the Lord
The Lord's promises are sure. That means that if He has promised us blessings, He will bless us according to the promise. Because we know this about His character, we can know that if we do certain things, we can be confident in our standing before the Lord. Christ described His role as our Judge this way:
"And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.
"And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father" (3 Nephi 27:16-17).
A fair, holy, and loving judgment will come to every person who has ever lived. If we have done our best to serve those in need and follow the Savior, we can approach the judgment with confidence.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
If we do our best in this life, we will look forward to meeting our Savior and be able to say with Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).
The word judge has some very negative connotations in our world. We usually associate it with a person who is intolerant of differences, who is exclusive, who is self-righteous. We are taught not to judge each other--and the reason is clear: "for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:17).
We don't know enough about anyone else to deliver judgment upon them. There are things we can discern about people: whether or not they are a positive influence on our children, for example. But true judgment is the Lord's. Because judge has negative connotation, sometimes we might not reflect often enough on the title that is part of Christ's mission and part of His character. He is our Judge. As I studied about Christ as our judge tonight, I found that most scriptures referring to His role as our judge are rejoicing:
"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.
"Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
"Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth.
"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; and his mercy endureth for ever.
"And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise" (1 Chronicles 16:31-35).
In this passage, the people rejoiced at the thought that the Lord Jesus Christ was coming to judge the earth. They rejoiced for at least two reasons: 1. They knew the character of Christ and trusted Him to judge righteously; 2. They were confident in their standing before the Lord. I believe confidence in the Lord's presence comes through knowing Him, repenting, keeping His commandments, and keeping our covenants.
Christ's character
We remember that the Lord's judgment doesn't only mean a punishment for sin; it means that the righteous will be rewarded for their faith and faithfulness. His justice is balanced by His mercy. They are not opposite characteristics. They unite together in a Perfect Being to bring us a righteous judgment.
"So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth" (Psalms 58:11).
To be completely fair, honest, and just, the Lord will reward every righteous act, just as He will punish every unrepentant sin. We know that the Lord loves us with a perfect love. This doesn't mean that He can look away from our sins. To do so would not be to love us perfectly. It would not be just. "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (Doctrine and Covenants 1:31).
Jesus Christ cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, but when we come to Him with a repentant heart, and do our best to obey His commandments, He will "freely forgive" (Mosiah 26:22).
This is why those who know Christ, who believe, follow, obey, and love Him, rejoice to know that He will be our righteous Judge. Think of it: our Advocate, the Good Shepherd, our Savior and Redeemer will be the One we will meet at the judgment. This can give us great hope and confidence in our future.
Confident in our standing before the Lord
The Lord's promises are sure. That means that if He has promised us blessings, He will bless us according to the promise. Because we know this about His character, we can know that if we do certain things, we can be confident in our standing before the Lord. Christ described His role as our Judge this way:
"And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.
"And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father" (3 Nephi 27:16-17).
A fair, holy, and loving judgment will come to every person who has ever lived. If we have done our best to serve those in need and follow the Savior, we can approach the judgment with confidence.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
If we do our best in this life, we will look forward to meeting our Savior and be able to say with Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The Word of God
In Revelation, John described Jesus Christ: "and his name is called The Word of God." (Revelation 19:13)
What an interesting title. I've always found it interesting. At another time, John wrote, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost" (1 John 5:7).
The Word. Why is Jesus Christ called the Word? "Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation" (D&C 93:8).
He is the Word because He is the messenger of salvation, and "the messenger of the covenant" (Malachi 3:1).
I like that word messenger. Messengers deliver words. And in this case, the Messenger is the Word. At one point, many of Christ's followers decided His words were too hard to follow, so they turned away."From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.
"Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
"And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." (John 6:66-69).
Peter recognized that the Word had the words of eternal life. He chose to follow Christ and listen to His message of salvation. Sometimes, the message of the covenant requires hard things of us. This is one reason that some people will turn away. However, when we recognize Christ's mission as the messenger of salvation, the One who can teach us what we need to know and do to be saved, then we become willing to do all that is required. Where else could we go? Jesus Christ has the words of eternal life.
So, through our covenants and our obedience to the commandments, we demonstrate that we have accepted Christ's words. And, thus we show that we have accepted the Word. It's not just about what we demonstrate with our actions, of course. It's about what is in our hearts. I love what Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart" (2 Corinthians 3:3).
From my understanding, these people had internalized the doctrines of Christ into their hearts. They didn't need an epistle written commending them to all men, because they had become that commendation. They lived according to the words of eternal life that had been taught to them. On the other hand, there was a group of people in the Book of Mormon who were taught by the prophet Abinadi. These people claimed to be priests of God, but they lived sinful lives. Abinadi said to them, "And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts" (Mosiah 13:11).
As I think about having the word of God written in my heart, it is a very personal, introspective quest. It is not something I can tell about another person. In the Old Testament, God promised His people:
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33).
So, let's put this all together: Christ is the Word. He is the Messenger of Salvation. He is the Messenger of the Covenant. When we strive to follow Christ, the covenant becomes written in our hearts. That means that Christ is written in our hearts. He becomes a part of who we are. And our hearts are changed through faith in His words. This is a long process, a long quest.
There was a righteous group of people who accepted the covenants of Jesus Christ and were blessed because of it. They were the people of King Benjamin.
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
"I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts,..that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you" (Mosiah 5:7, 12).
I have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that only through Him can I learn what I need to do to return to Him. I am grateful for the covenants I have made. My covenants make me safe. As I keep them, I know I can become closer to Jesus Christ and that He can write His name and His words in my heart. It's a process I want to have happen to me.
What an interesting title. I've always found it interesting. At another time, John wrote, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost" (1 John 5:7).
The Word. Why is Jesus Christ called the Word? "Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation" (D&C 93:8).
He is the Word because He is the messenger of salvation, and "the messenger of the covenant" (Malachi 3:1).
I like that word messenger. Messengers deliver words. And in this case, the Messenger is the Word. At one point, many of Christ's followers decided His words were too hard to follow, so they turned away."From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.
"Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
"And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." (John 6:66-69).
Peter recognized that the Word had the words of eternal life. He chose to follow Christ and listen to His message of salvation. Sometimes, the message of the covenant requires hard things of us. This is one reason that some people will turn away. However, when we recognize Christ's mission as the messenger of salvation, the One who can teach us what we need to know and do to be saved, then we become willing to do all that is required. Where else could we go? Jesus Christ has the words of eternal life.
So, through our covenants and our obedience to the commandments, we demonstrate that we have accepted Christ's words. And, thus we show that we have accepted the Word. It's not just about what we demonstrate with our actions, of course. It's about what is in our hearts. I love what Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart" (2 Corinthians 3:3).
From my understanding, these people had internalized the doctrines of Christ into their hearts. They didn't need an epistle written commending them to all men, because they had become that commendation. They lived according to the words of eternal life that had been taught to them. On the other hand, there was a group of people in the Book of Mormon who were taught by the prophet Abinadi. These people claimed to be priests of God, but they lived sinful lives. Abinadi said to them, "And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts" (Mosiah 13:11).
As I think about having the word of God written in my heart, it is a very personal, introspective quest. It is not something I can tell about another person. In the Old Testament, God promised His people:
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33).
So, let's put this all together: Christ is the Word. He is the Messenger of Salvation. He is the Messenger of the Covenant. When we strive to follow Christ, the covenant becomes written in our hearts. That means that Christ is written in our hearts. He becomes a part of who we are. And our hearts are changed through faith in His words. This is a long process, a long quest.
There was a righteous group of people who accepted the covenants of Jesus Christ and were blessed because of it. They were the people of King Benjamin.
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
"I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts,..that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you" (Mosiah 5:7, 12).
I have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that only through Him can I learn what I need to do to return to Him. I am grateful for the covenants I have made. My covenants make me safe. As I keep them, I know I can become closer to Jesus Christ and that He can write His name and His words in my heart. It's a process I want to have happen to me.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Good Shepherd
I have seen sheep. I have seen many sheep. But most of what I know about taking care of sheep, I have learned from the scriptures. Throughout the scriptures, there are references to Jesus Christ as our shepherd, or the Good Shepherd. By reading these passages, I have determined certain characteristics that a shepherd must have. I'm pretty sure that not all shepherds have these characteristics, but what matters to me is that the Good Shepherd does.
A caretaker
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalms 23:1)
One who is very gentle and tender
"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." (Isaiah 40:11)
A protector and guide
"For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
"As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
"And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
"I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
"I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
"I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick:" (Ezekiel 34:11-16)
One who is inclusive, welcoming, and inviting
"For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Peter 2:25)
"Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ." (Alma 5:38)
"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16)
A shepherd is familiar with each of his sheep
"And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture." (1 Nephi 22:25)
One who loves with a perfect love
"I am the good sheperd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:14-15)
When I read these passages, I feel safe. I feel loved and protected. I feel known of God.
A caretaker
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalms 23:1)
One who is very gentle and tender
"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." (Isaiah 40:11)
A protector and guide
"For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
"As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
"And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
"I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
"I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
"I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick:" (Ezekiel 34:11-16)
One who is inclusive, welcoming, and inviting
"For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Peter 2:25)
"Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ." (Alma 5:38)
"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16)
A shepherd is familiar with each of his sheep
"And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture." (1 Nephi 22:25)
One who loves with a perfect love
"I am the good sheperd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:14-15)
When I read these passages, I feel safe. I feel loved and protected. I feel known of God.
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Savior of the World
The Savior of the World--this particular title of Jesus Christ encompasses the whole purpose of the Plan of Salvation, our purpose in this life, and what we can hope to attain in the next life. I have resisted writing this entry because I cannot do even a little justice to this topic in a blog entry. But I can't avoid the most obvious title of the Lord.
Chris has been performing a new song lately. It's not one he wrote; it was written by Jon McLaughlin. It's called, "We All Need Saving." It's a beautiful song and the message really touches my heart. Every single one of us needs saving.
Savior is defined as "a person who saves, rescues, or delivers." Last night, I was feeling completely burdened and overwhelmed with all of my responsibilities. I wrote to my brother complaining a little (maybe a lot). My brother always has a listening ear. He wrote back and offered to take away one of my burdens by doing it for me. His email also reminded me to turn to Christ and let go of my worldly burdens. In some ways, it was a simple thing, but for me, last night, it was a tremendous thing that my brother did. He delivered or saved me from a burden.
I think each of us has experienced having a friend or relative save us from some sort of disaster. No matter how strong and capable we are, we all need saving at one time or another. And when it comes to the matters of eternity, we all need a Savior. There is not one person who can save himself. Gratefully, and as part of God's eternal plan, we have a Savior.
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 John 4:14).
When the Baby Jesus was born, the angel announced it to the shepherds. "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).
This is the best news. It's no wonder the angel used the words "great joy." Every person, no matter when or where they lived on the earth, has sinned. We all need saving.
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
"Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
"That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).
Another prophet described our universal, but individual, need for a Savior this way: "Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made" (Alma 34:8-9).
I had a teacher who described God as both infinite and intimate. He meant that while God is the God of the whole universe, He is also my Father and I can have a very personal relationship with Him. This is how I view the role of Jesus Christ as our Savior--both infinite and intimate. The infinite scope of His power to save is found in the glory and eternal honor given to Him.
"And this according to the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory, both now and forever. Amen" (D&C 20:4).
"Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior. Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out. His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand. From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:1).
Christ's Atonement is infinite and eternal. And His glory as our Savior is also infinite and eternal. On the other hand, however big the universe, the Savior's purpose is found in atoning for and saving the individual. And, as followers of Christ everywhere will testify, this power to save is awesome and wonderful. Heavenly Father was motivated by love when He sent His Son to earth for us. Jesus Christ was motivated by love when He fulfilled the Atonement on our behalf.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Any who wish to partake of Christ's saving power are welcome. "...and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile" (2 Nephi 26:33).
We recognize Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. I recognize Him as my personal Savior. I recognize my need for Him, my complete dependence on Him, and that only Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has power to save me from my sins, according to my faith and repentance. This is a personal and powerful relationship. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world--a world in desperate need of saving.
Chris has been performing a new song lately. It's not one he wrote; it was written by Jon McLaughlin. It's called, "We All Need Saving." It's a beautiful song and the message really touches my heart. Every single one of us needs saving.
Savior is defined as "a person who saves, rescues, or delivers." Last night, I was feeling completely burdened and overwhelmed with all of my responsibilities. I wrote to my brother complaining a little (maybe a lot). My brother always has a listening ear. He wrote back and offered to take away one of my burdens by doing it for me. His email also reminded me to turn to Christ and let go of my worldly burdens. In some ways, it was a simple thing, but for me, last night, it was a tremendous thing that my brother did. He delivered or saved me from a burden.
I think each of us has experienced having a friend or relative save us from some sort of disaster. No matter how strong and capable we are, we all need saving at one time or another. And when it comes to the matters of eternity, we all need a Savior. There is not one person who can save himself. Gratefully, and as part of God's eternal plan, we have a Savior.
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 John 4:14).
When the Baby Jesus was born, the angel announced it to the shepherds. "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).
This is the best news. It's no wonder the angel used the words "great joy." Every person, no matter when or where they lived on the earth, has sinned. We all need saving.
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
"Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
"That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).
Another prophet described our universal, but individual, need for a Savior this way: "Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made" (Alma 34:8-9).
I had a teacher who described God as both infinite and intimate. He meant that while God is the God of the whole universe, He is also my Father and I can have a very personal relationship with Him. This is how I view the role of Jesus Christ as our Savior--both infinite and intimate. The infinite scope of His power to save is found in the glory and eternal honor given to Him.
"And this according to the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory, both now and forever. Amen" (D&C 20:4).
"Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior. Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out. His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand. From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:1).
Christ's Atonement is infinite and eternal. And His glory as our Savior is also infinite and eternal. On the other hand, however big the universe, the Savior's purpose is found in atoning for and saving the individual. And, as followers of Christ everywhere will testify, this power to save is awesome and wonderful. Heavenly Father was motivated by love when He sent His Son to earth for us. Jesus Christ was motivated by love when He fulfilled the Atonement on our behalf.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Any who wish to partake of Christ's saving power are welcome. "...and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile" (2 Nephi 26:33).
We recognize Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. I recognize Him as my personal Savior. I recognize my need for Him, my complete dependence on Him, and that only Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has power to save me from my sins, according to my faith and repentance. This is a personal and powerful relationship. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world--a world in desperate need of saving.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The Resurrection and the Life
Jesus made a declaration about His identity and His purpose on this earth when he said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
As I have thought about it, I believe that Christ is "the life" through virtue of His resurrection. While He was on the earth, Jesus taught His followers about His mission.
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).
I have heard it said that the most glorious words in all the scriptures are these: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen" (Luke 24:5-6).
Jesus Christ was truly resurrected! He rose from the dead and thus, completed His work. I believe in the very literal resurrection. A word that is often used in conjuction with resurrection is victory. That's such a powerful word.
Isaiah prophesied, "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces" (Isaiah 25:8).
Another prophet, Abinadi, similarly taught, "But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death" (Mosiah 16:8-9).
Because of Christ's victory, we have hope, light, and comfort. Knowledge of the Resurrection eases our pain and stills our troubled souls. When we really think about, this is one of the greatest reasons to rejoice!
From Peter, we read, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
Don't you love the combination of words: lively hope? Hope--not dreamlike wishing--but real, lively (living) hope. A beautiful explanation of hope is given by the prophet Mormon: "And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise" (Moroni 7:41).
Faith, hope, and charity. The three virtues that go together. And hope comes by our belief that we will be resurrected. Through Jesus Christ's resurrection, the way was provided for each person who has ever lived on this earth to also be resurrected.
"And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound" (Mormon 9:13).
Or said more simply by Paul: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).
When we understand that Christ's resurrection was real and literal, we begin to have hope for ourselves and our loved ones. And that particular hope leads us to a better way of life.
"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" (Ether 12:4).
Several years ago, a friend asked me a question about a particular scripture. The question did not have an easy answer. It had to do with the Resurrection. So, I spent about three months studying every scripture I could find and as many of the writings from Latter-day prophets as I could get my hands on. (This was before the internet and other fancy computer programs made this sort of thing easy.) Everything I read was on the subject of the Resurrection. I learned so much. It was one of those times when I didn't even know how much I didn't know. But now I know more than I knew then. I can say with full confidence that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ really happened. I am confident that we will all be resurrected. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our Redeemer for this beautiful gift of mercy and grace. Hope for our eternal future is a beautiful gift.
As I have thought about it, I believe that Christ is "the life" through virtue of His resurrection. While He was on the earth, Jesus taught His followers about His mission.
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).
I have heard it said that the most glorious words in all the scriptures are these: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen" (Luke 24:5-6).
Jesus Christ was truly resurrected! He rose from the dead and thus, completed His work. I believe in the very literal resurrection. A word that is often used in conjuction with resurrection is victory. That's such a powerful word.
Isaiah prophesied, "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces" (Isaiah 25:8).
Another prophet, Abinadi, similarly taught, "But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death" (Mosiah 16:8-9).
Because of Christ's victory, we have hope, light, and comfort. Knowledge of the Resurrection eases our pain and stills our troubled souls. When we really think about, this is one of the greatest reasons to rejoice!
From Peter, we read, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
Don't you love the combination of words: lively hope? Hope--not dreamlike wishing--but real, lively (living) hope. A beautiful explanation of hope is given by the prophet Mormon: "And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise" (Moroni 7:41).
Faith, hope, and charity. The three virtues that go together. And hope comes by our belief that we will be resurrected. Through Jesus Christ's resurrection, the way was provided for each person who has ever lived on this earth to also be resurrected.
"And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound" (Mormon 9:13).
Or said more simply by Paul: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).
When we understand that Christ's resurrection was real and literal, we begin to have hope for ourselves and our loved ones. And that particular hope leads us to a better way of life.
"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" (Ether 12:4).
Several years ago, a friend asked me a question about a particular scripture. The question did not have an easy answer. It had to do with the Resurrection. So, I spent about three months studying every scripture I could find and as many of the writings from Latter-day prophets as I could get my hands on. (This was before the internet and other fancy computer programs made this sort of thing easy.) Everything I read was on the subject of the Resurrection. I learned so much. It was one of those times when I didn't even know how much I didn't know. But now I know more than I knew then. I can say with full confidence that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ really happened. I am confident that we will all be resurrected. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our Redeemer for this beautiful gift of mercy and grace. Hope for our eternal future is a beautiful gift.
The Creator
"And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary" (Mosiah 3:8).
I believe that Jesus Christ created the world and everything in it under the direction of His Father. How glorious are His creations!
"Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein" (Isaiah 42:5).
Knowing that Jesus Christ created the earth changes the way I view the world around me. It causes me to have more respect for plants, animals, and even rocks. I want to recognize my stewardship as a caretaker to Christ's great creations. But more than that, knowing that we are God's creations changes the way I view the people in this world.
"Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?" (2 Nephi 29:7).
"And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. and all flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him forever" (Jacob 2:21).
We are precious in His sight, for we are His. He remembers and knows each one of us. Each person on this earth is precious in His sight. And each person on this earth ought to be precious to me.
When a prophet of old was asked for a sign to prove the existence of God, he replied, "Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:44).
As I have seen and studied the glory of His creations, my testimony of Him has been shaped and strengthened. I love my Lord Jesus Christ.
I love wildflowers. I also like flowers that were planted in gardens. I took these pictures of various wildflowers in the mountains of northern Utah. I have so many more. The variety of flowers I find when I go hiking amazes me. I am not an avid hiker, I just go on casual walks in the mountains. And I usually go within a half hour drive of my house. With that in mind, it amazes me even more that I can find such a variety of flowers. We live in a desert climate. Honestly, compared to other places on the earth, there shouldn't be much to see. And yet, God has blessed us with beautiful things all around us.
"Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart" (Doctrine and Covenants 59:18).
That is one of my favorite scriptures. Lately, I may or may not have been writing that a lot of scriptures are my favorite. It's because my favorite scripture depends on the subject. I love to study the earth, its physical history, and the way it continues to change. The whole world is AMAZING! There's nothing, including weather patterns, that I don't find awe-inspiring. I chose one little tiny part of the earth--flowers--to show the incredible diversity and beauty that Jesus Christ has given us both for our use and also to "please the eye and to gladden the heart."
In speaking of Jesus Christ, the prophet Joseph Smith wrote, "That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:24).
And the Apostle Paul wrote, "[God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:2; see also verse 1).
I believe that Jesus Christ created the world and everything in it under the direction of His Father. How glorious are His creations!
"Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein" (Isaiah 42:5).
Knowing that Jesus Christ created the earth changes the way I view the world around me. It causes me to have more respect for plants, animals, and even rocks. I want to recognize my stewardship as a caretaker to Christ's great creations. But more than that, knowing that we are God's creations changes the way I view the people in this world.
"Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?" (2 Nephi 29:7).
"And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. and all flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him forever" (Jacob 2:21).
We are precious in His sight, for we are His. He remembers and knows each one of us. Each person on this earth is precious in His sight. And each person on this earth ought to be precious to me.
When a prophet of old was asked for a sign to prove the existence of God, he replied, "Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:44).
As I have seen and studied the glory of His creations, my testimony of Him has been shaped and strengthened. I love my Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Prince of Peace
Is there anyone who can read Isaiah 9:6 and not break into song? If there is anyone out there, it's not me. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Oh, so much in that verse. But today, I want to talk about the Prince of Peace. We live in a world of turmoil, stress, and conflict. There is much that can weigh me down. In our quest for peace--peace in our families, peace in our communities, and peace in the world--we need to remember the True Source of real peace.
What is peace?
Sometimes we lose sight of the true source of peace because we are defining peace by worldly terms. The Lord told His disciples: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
The Prince of Peace can give us peace even in a world filled with turmoil: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
If we're seeking peace as the world defines it, we will be limited in what we receive: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).
No matter what is going on around us in the world, the peace of the Lord can exist in our hearts.
How do we find peace?
And now, the steps to find the peace we seek. As with all "steps" in the gospel, these aren't things we can check off a list, but rather different ways to improve our relationship with the Savior. They aren't listed in any particular order.
The first is to simply come to know Him: "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee" (Job 22:21).
The second, have faith and hope through Him: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
The third, rid ourselves of evil and sinful desires through the Atonement of the Lord: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).
The fourth is to allow Christ in, and always be grateful: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, ...and be ye thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
The fifth is to be nice and create peace with others in your life: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace" (James 3:18).
What promises are given to those who seek peace?
Some of the promises given to those who seek the Prince of Peace include less confusion and inner-turmoil. "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Other promises include the presence of the Holy Ghost bringing love and joy: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith" (Galatians 5:22).
This last promise is important to remember. The rewards of righteous living are not only reserved for the next life. We can enjoy them now and have great hope for the future: "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come" (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23).
Peace is something I've greatly desired in my life. I find peace in my family and in my personal worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can truly say that I have felt His peace in my life, offering me stability and optimism when there may be no worldly reason to feel any peace.
Oh, so much in that verse. But today, I want to talk about the Prince of Peace. We live in a world of turmoil, stress, and conflict. There is much that can weigh me down. In our quest for peace--peace in our families, peace in our communities, and peace in the world--we need to remember the True Source of real peace.
What is peace?
Sometimes we lose sight of the true source of peace because we are defining peace by worldly terms. The Lord told His disciples: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
The Prince of Peace can give us peace even in a world filled with turmoil: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
If we're seeking peace as the world defines it, we will be limited in what we receive: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).
No matter what is going on around us in the world, the peace of the Lord can exist in our hearts.
How do we find peace?
And now, the steps to find the peace we seek. As with all "steps" in the gospel, these aren't things we can check off a list, but rather different ways to improve our relationship with the Savior. They aren't listed in any particular order.
The first is to simply come to know Him: "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee" (Job 22:21).
The second, have faith and hope through Him: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
The third, rid ourselves of evil and sinful desires through the Atonement of the Lord: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).
The fourth is to allow Christ in, and always be grateful: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, ...and be ye thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
The fifth is to be nice and create peace with others in your life: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace" (James 3:18).
What promises are given to those who seek peace?
Some of the promises given to those who seek the Prince of Peace include less confusion and inner-turmoil. "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Other promises include the presence of the Holy Ghost bringing love and joy: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith" (Galatians 5:22).
This last promise is important to remember. The rewards of righteous living are not only reserved for the next life. We can enjoy them now and have great hope for the future: "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come" (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23).
Peace is something I've greatly desired in my life. I find peace in my family and in my personal worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can truly say that I have felt His peace in my life, offering me stability and optimism when there may be no worldly reason to feel any peace.
The True Vine
Tonight I'm going to use an analogy from the Gospel of John. I'll quote a verse and they say a little something about it.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman" (John 15:1).
Like the husbandman of a vineyard, Heavenly Father is the steward of His children. He cultivates, nourishes, and assists everything in the vineyard to reach its potential. Jesus Christ is the true vine--the heart and soul of the vineyard.
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).
Each of us, as the followers of Christ, are compared to branches. Our fruit is our good works that we do as a result of our conversion. And those who are not bearing fruit are taken away. But even those who do bear fruit have a need to be purged, or cleansed, so that they can become even better. This is another example of coming to Christ and then becoming better through Christ.
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3).
I think this refers to becoming spiritually clean through the Atonement of our Lord.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" (John 15:4).
I found this definition for abide: "to remain, continue, stay." We are instructed to remain, continue, and stay with Christ. And the beautiful promise is that He will remain, continue, and stay with us. Becoming a disciple of Christ requires consistency and commitment. I believe this is what is meant by being faithful.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).
This verse is my favorite one. We are reminded that we can only bring forth fruit if we are abiding in the vine, Jesus Christ. I really like the words, "for without me ye can do nothing." I have proven that to myself time and time again. I think my life would be easier if I just remembered and quit trying to be independent.
I'll end tonight with another invitation. This one seems to me to be more of a plea. "Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God?" (1 Ne 15:15).
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman" (John 15:1).
Like the husbandman of a vineyard, Heavenly Father is the steward of His children. He cultivates, nourishes, and assists everything in the vineyard to reach its potential. Jesus Christ is the true vine--the heart and soul of the vineyard.
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).
Each of us, as the followers of Christ, are compared to branches. Our fruit is our good works that we do as a result of our conversion. And those who are not bearing fruit are taken away. But even those who do bear fruit have a need to be purged, or cleansed, so that they can become even better. This is another example of coming to Christ and then becoming better through Christ.
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3).
I think this refers to becoming spiritually clean through the Atonement of our Lord.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" (John 15:4).
I found this definition for abide: "to remain, continue, stay." We are instructed to remain, continue, and stay with Christ. And the beautiful promise is that He will remain, continue, and stay with us. Becoming a disciple of Christ requires consistency and commitment. I believe this is what is meant by being faithful.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).
This verse is my favorite one. We are reminded that we can only bring forth fruit if we are abiding in the vine, Jesus Christ. I really like the words, "for without me ye can do nothing." I have proven that to myself time and time again. I think my life would be easier if I just remembered and quit trying to be independent.
I'll end tonight with another invitation. This one seems to me to be more of a plea. "Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God?" (1 Ne 15:15).
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Rock of our Salvation
I grew up in the Rocky Mountains. They seem firm, steadfast, and immovable. They are beautiful and majestic. I know I just posted this picture a couple weeks ago, but I love it. It's how my world looks when I do the dishes. (It's the view out the kitchen window.) This is probably the reason I take so long to wash dishes. This and the fact that I take a long time to do everything.
The faithful have always viewed the Savior as their rock, their foundation. The Psalmist wrote:
"And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer" (Psalms 78:35).
"But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge" (Psalms 94:22).
And Nephi wrote:
"...therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God" (2 Nephi 4:35).
Each of these passages demonstrates to me that the writer understood where his strength came from. The solidarity of the Savior in our lives protects us from all the different things that try to destroy, depress, or tempt us.
Helaman taught his sons, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).
When we build our life upon Jesus Christ, the promise is that we cannot fall. That's powerful. It's empowering. But it's also humbling, since the power is not ours. We always need to remember the source of our strength. When Jesus Christ was on the earth, he taught the importance of building a solid, sure foundation:
"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
"But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great" (Luke 6:47-49).
Isn't that powerful imagery? I think that this short parable would be a good idea for a song. The teaching is simple, yet profound: we can build our life on Jesus Christ--coming to Him, hearing His sayings, and doing them--and we can not be shaken. Or we can build on a weak foundation, and no matter how great the building, the ruin will be great.
This last scripture is also a Psalm. I thought it is particularly relevant at Christmas time.
"O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation" (Psalms 95:1).
The faithful have always viewed the Savior as their rock, their foundation. The Psalmist wrote:
"And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer" (Psalms 78:35).
"But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge" (Psalms 94:22).
And Nephi wrote:
"...therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God" (2 Nephi 4:35).
Each of these passages demonstrates to me that the writer understood where his strength came from. The solidarity of the Savior in our lives protects us from all the different things that try to destroy, depress, or tempt us.
Helaman taught his sons, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).
When we build our life upon Jesus Christ, the promise is that we cannot fall. That's powerful. It's empowering. But it's also humbling, since the power is not ours. We always need to remember the source of our strength. When Jesus Christ was on the earth, he taught the importance of building a solid, sure foundation:
"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
"But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great" (Luke 6:47-49).
Isn't that powerful imagery? I think that this short parable would be a good idea for a song. The teaching is simple, yet profound: we can build our life on Jesus Christ--coming to Him, hearing His sayings, and doing them--and we can not be shaken. Or we can build on a weak foundation, and no matter how great the building, the ruin will be great.
This last scripture is also a Psalm. I thought it is particularly relevant at Christmas time.
"O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation" (Psalms 95:1).
Monday, December 5, 2011
Living Water
Water. I think about water sometimes. We live in a time and a place where we get crystal-clear, fresh, clean, cold water right in our homes. And if we want hot water, we get hot water. Access to clean water makes a difference in whether a community will survive and prosper or be overcome with diseases. I believe access to clean water is one of the greatest blessings we have and one that is easy to take for granted. We're just so used to good water. The water we use to wash our cars is safer and cleaner than the water most people in this world (including in history) have had available to drink. I really love water. So, it's a great thing that water is used throughout the scriptures as a symbol for the Lord.
Jesus approached a well and asked a woman to give him a drink. They had a really beautiful conversation. Jesus taught her about the living water.
"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:13-14).
As with the promise of the bread of life, the promise of living water is eternal. I think we all know what it is to thirst. It is so easy to get dehydrated. There's a simple comparison to things spritual: It is easy to get thirsty and even dehydrated. The solution is easy: drink.
Through Isaiah, the Lord gave us this invitation: "Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters" (2 Nephi 9:50).
When we come to the Savior, accept His sacrifice for us, and choose to live righteously, we are filled with the Holy Ghost and our thirst is quenched.
I find great peace and enlightenment in the promises of God for our future. In Revelation, John wrote about what Christ's disciples would experience during the Millenium: "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Revelation 7:16-17).
Isn't that beautiful? Doesn't it fill your heart with hope and peace? It does mine. The amazing thing is that we can begin to partake of the Living Water right now.
Jesus approached a well and asked a woman to give him a drink. They had a really beautiful conversation. Jesus taught her about the living water.
"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:13-14).
As with the promise of the bread of life, the promise of living water is eternal. I think we all know what it is to thirst. It is so easy to get dehydrated. There's a simple comparison to things spritual: It is easy to get thirsty and even dehydrated. The solution is easy: drink.
Through Isaiah, the Lord gave us this invitation: "Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters" (2 Nephi 9:50).
When we come to the Savior, accept His sacrifice for us, and choose to live righteously, we are filled with the Holy Ghost and our thirst is quenched.
I find great peace and enlightenment in the promises of God for our future. In Revelation, John wrote about what Christ's disciples would experience during the Millenium: "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Revelation 7:16-17).
Isn't that beautiful? Doesn't it fill your heart with hope and peace? It does mine. The amazing thing is that we can begin to partake of the Living Water right now.
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