A New Challenge

In Sunday School this year we are studying the New Testament.  Paula Beatty, our teacher, challenged us today to read the New Testament in 100 days and then continue studying it in more depth throughout the rest of the year.

Today's reading is Matthew 1-3.  It discussed the birth of Jesus, the visitation of the Wise Men, the prompting of the Spirit to Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to avoid his being killed at the hand of Herod, and then moves to the ministry of John the Baptist.

I am especially touched by verses 13-17 of chapter 3,

13 "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.


14  "But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?


15  "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.


16  "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17  "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

John the Baptist was humble, yet obedient.  Jesus was without sin, yet went to be baptized "to fulfil all righteousness" -- to be obedient and to set an example for us.  When this was complete, the heavens truly rejoiced!
 
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Here are a couple other Scripture verses that touched me today...
 
"And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land"  -- Ezekiel 37:21
 
Another witness of the coming gathering of Israel.


"And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants."  -- Alma 35:9


Even in the face of criticism and threats, the people of Ammon administered to the outcasts from another territory and freely gave to meet their needs.

Some of My Favorite Verses

Here are some verses I enjoyed reading today, first from Alma 34,

4 "Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.

5  "And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ.

8  "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.

15  "And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

17  "Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your afaith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;


18  "Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is amighty to save.

19  "Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

27  "Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

28  "And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.

32  "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."

Verse 28 seems to tie in with where I am reading in Ezekiel 34,

6  "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

7 "Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;

8 "As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock"

The Institute Old Testament study guide, on page 282, notes in its discussion of these verses that "President Spencer W. Kimball, in a priesthood session of general conference, charged the present shepherds—priesthood leaders—of the kingdom to be concerned about the welfare of the flock:


'As we read and study the scriptures, we are made conscious of the fact that the Savior has always been concerned about the welfare of the members of his flock, both individually and collectively. It is about that principle of caring for and ministering to the needs of the Church membership in these troubled days that I desire to speak to you brethren tonight.

'...Home teachers are to help watch over the flock. Even though they don’t counsel as bishops and branch presidents do, home teachers can render much appropriate and preventive help under the direction of the quorum leaders and bishoprics. ...We all need to be touched and nurtured by the Spirit, and effective teaching is one of the most important ways this can happen.' (In Conference Report, Oct. 1980, p. 67; see also Ensign, Nov. 1980, pp. 45–46 .) "

Prayer is our lifeline to God.  I know we need to have prayerful thoughts in our hearts always.  And we also need to thank God for his blessings, particularly the blessing of prayer, through regular service and thoughfulness towards our fellow men.  We learn so much from each other, which in turn is one more blessing from God!

Abraham Lincoln and The Power of Prayer

I have the following quote framed where I see it every day ...

"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go." - Abraham Lincoln


I picture Mr. Lincoln facing amazing opposition throughout his life, and especially in leading the country through one of its toughest times ever.  I love to visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and ponder that thought.  It is a touching experience to go to Gettysburg, see what is there, and read "Four score and seven years ago ..." What a masterful speech, exactly what was needed, when it was needed.

It is humbling to realize that much of Mr. Lincoln's strength to do these things ... came from prayer.

I truly believe the power of prayer is available to all of us.  I thought of this again when reading this morning.  I was reminded that the Lord is merciful and hears our prayers-when facing enemies,when at work,when at home,in our closets,anywhere,anytime! See Alma 33:3-11

We've just finished another year that was tough for almost every one of us.  Certainly it was tough for me.  For a few years now, the thought seems to have been ... it can't get any worse, next year has to be better.  I have that thought again now, and I am thinking positive thoughts about 2011.

I am a believer in prayer.  It has blessed me many times in the past.  And I am driven to my knees now by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to go, and that a merciful God wants to bless me in prayer.

Will you join me?

Mighty Prayer

I have been thinking for some time now about how I could pray better, specifically how I could feel the Spirit more and know better how to really communicate in prayer.  In studying Alma 8 today, I found this related quote by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008), of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ, that has helped answer my question,

"“May I ask you today to consider the effectiveness of

your prayers? How close do you feel to your Heavenly

Father? Do you feel that your prayers are answered? Do

you feel that the time you spend in prayer enriches and

uplifts your soul? Is there room for improvement?

“There are many reasons our prayers lack power.

Sometimes they become routine. Our prayers become

hollow when we say similar words in similar ways

over and over so often that the words become more

of a recitation than a communication. This is what the

Savior described as ‘vain repetitions’ (Matthew 6:7).

Such prayers, He said, will not be heard. . . .

“Do your prayers at times sound and feel the same?

Have you ever said a prayer mechanically, the words

pouring forth as though cut from a machine? Do you

sometimes bore yourself as you pray?

“Prayers that do not demand much of your thought

will hardly merit much attention from our Heavenly

Father. When you find yourself getting into a routine

with your prayers, step back and think. Meditate for a

while on the things for which you really are grateful”

(“Improving Our Prayers,” in Brigham Young University

2002–2003 Speeches [2003], 160)."

I have highlighted the last two sentences in yellow because I especially want to remember Elder Wirthlin's advice on the importance of meditating on the things we are really grateful for.

Testimony through Song

I am on the road and was looking online this morning to find an opportunity to watch "Music and the Spoken Word", the weekly broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I found this link to some wonderful videos that I deeply enjoyed.

I know that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ did indeed appear to Joseph Smith, and that they directed Joseph to restore in our days the church Christ established when He lived on the earth. The video I have posted here is one of those from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir webpage, and is an especially touching tribute to the prophet Joseph Smith.

I hope you will enjoy it as I do.

 

Inner Beauty

I have long believed that the outer beauty of youth dims with time like a fading flower if it is not fed from within.  Correspondingly, I have also observed that some who may not have been blessed with as much outer beauty early in life gradually blossom over a long life as a reflection of the charity within.

I have been studying Alma 5 the past few days.  This morning I picked up on verses 14 and 19 which both make reference to ...

• Have you spiritually been born of God?
• Have you received this mighty change in your hearts?
• Have you received his image in your countenances?

I also found this interesting quote from Elder Theodore M. Burton (1907-89), a former Assistant to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, observing that those who follow God appear more like Him,

“If we truly accept God in our lives and live in accordance with his commandments, God will work a mighty change in our appearance and we will begin to appear more like our Heavenly Father, in whose image we have been created. Could it be this appearance we recognize when we meet men and women who are trying to live close to the Lord?” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 151; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, 114).

I smiled when I read this.

My Soul Was Racked, But I Am Snatched And My Soul Is Pained No More

I mentioned last Friday in my daily blog (Keep Dad Alive - Musings of A Passionately Smiling Tortoise) a favorite scripture of mine, Mosiah 27:29, which I have paraphrased in the title of this post.

I finished my current reading of Mosiah yesterday and am about to continue with Alma.  This morning I decided to dig a little deeper into chapters 25-29 of Mosiah before moving on by referring to the Book of Mormon Institute Manual, chapter 22, which is devoted to that portion of Mosiah.

I was richly rewarded and understand a little better the process of repentance, the deep joy that repentance brings, and particularly the vital importance of developing a personal relationship with the Savior, including how that is an essential part of repentance.

In this reading, I discovered the First Presidency message for October 1989.  It is written by President Ezra Taft Benson and titled "A Mighty Change of Heart", on page 2 of the Ensign magazine of that month.

I highly recommend the entire article, and wish to point out a portion that the Institute Manual notes as well:

"Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples of the power to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the Atonement can reach even those deepest in despair. “But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said ‘were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.’ (3 Ne. 9:20; italics added.)”

I have a growing testimony that this is how it works for me, and I imagine that you will find the same thing to be true for you as you ponder it. 

Let me return to the story of the investigator I quoted on Friday.  The experience I had with him the day he shared Mosiah 27:29 with me is one that I will always cherish.  It became a defining moment in my life, something I am sure the young man (he was a similar age to me) did not realize.  He quoted it to me in response to my question, how have you enjoyed your reading in the Book of Mormon?  He told me that reading in the Book of Mormon had made a similar profound influence in his life to the feelings Alma expressed in that verse.  Oh the joy in my heart as the Spirit filled the room and he, my companion, and I rejoiced together.

I do not know what lasting influence that experience had on my new friend.  That is my purpose in mentioning this in the context of day by day moving closer to the Lord, "little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment."  I have gradually come to realize that this is one of the meanings of building a life and a testimony "line upon line, precept upon precept". 

Each of us decides every morning if we are going to put the Lord first in our lives that day. Am I going to feast on the scriptures today?  Will I ponder and pray today?  Will I be charitable today in the way the Savior and His disciple Moroni taught today?  Will I be repentant today?  Will I keep the commandments today? 

I cannot do it without His help.  I will have shortcomings that day that even with His help, I will need to continually confess to Him and repent of. 

It is my testimony that by choosing each morning to live that day that way, and honestly striving to do it, that you will not notice an immediate change, but you will become more sensitive to the tender mercies of the Lord as they bless you daily, and you will have moments when you realize just what this relationship you are building with the Lord really means to you.

You will also notice how much you miss this when you are too busy to do this one day.  Once you feel this sweet Spirit in your life, you will need it daily, just as you need air, water, and food daily.  Oh how you miss it at those times you don't have it.

I lost touch with my friend in Ilford a short time later.  I suspect he was looking for the major miracle every day, and when faced with the realities of daily living, lost the miracle he had felt.  We went to his home for another discussion one evening and found the copy of the Book of Mormon we had given him carefully wrapped to protect it from the English weather with a note that began "to the two young men of the Mormon faith".  I received many such letters on my mission.  They tore at my heart in a way I cannot imagine a Dear John letter ever would (in fairness I don't know, there were girls who wrote to me on my mission, and that gradually diminished over two years. I left no girl at home that ever would have been in a position to write me a Dear John.  I did have companions that received those letters and I tried to comfort them in their time of devastation).  I can tell you that the several mile walk back to our flat that night was especially long and sad.

There has been a lot of living since that day in 1973.  I hope my friend has found the opportunity to rekindle the faith he briefly felt when I knew him, and has discovered the lasting joy embracing the Gospel brings.  I can tell you that I appreciated feeling the Spirit through him, and that I learned many important lessons from that experience.

Mosiah and President Benson helped me to remember those lessons today.  Thank you for reading my testimony of them,  I hope you feel the Spirit as a result and that you choose to act on it, day by day.