So,
this is the reason behind there being no blog post. Instead I decided to
type up and e-mail you all spiritual thoughts I wrote down in my little thought
book. This is supposed to take the place
of this week's blog. I hope you (and everyone else that reads it enjoys
it). I'm not sure how often I will do this in the future. I hope you enjoy it.
Excerpts from the Book of 1000 and 1 Testimonies
The missionary effort is a wonderful one. It is
filled with trials to overcome and progress, sacrifices to be restored
ten-fold, and tears one hundred-fold, lessons to be learned, good habits to
develop, principles to practice, messages to share, faith to find, testimonies
to give, and two years of life to live. The work is always bountiful, although
the results not always so. Endless opportunities open to obtain better
hope, closer kindness, caring charity, or introduce the Lord's saving grace to
a spiritual sibling in need. Any member,
missionary or non, may strive as we bring people unto repentance, unto prayer,
unto the waters of baptism, unto the congregation of our local ward or branch,
unto great understanding and exceeding joy, unto endless love, and unto Christ
and eternal life; the greatest of all the gifts of God.
One part of the Sacrament that I fear is often
neglected is what the bread and water represent. His body (the bread) was
given and resurrected so that we too can overcome the first death; the physical
grave. His blood (the water) was shed as an endless, infinite atonement
to open all the doors of Heaven and redeem us from the second death; the
spiritual hell. In the weekly Sacramental Prayers we covenant to always
remember "and witness” of these things. Jesus Christ is real.
He is the LORD and through him we can be saved.
"I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord my God,
to do less or more." (Numbers 22:18). While the previous words were
said by Balaam who was later punished, cursed, called a soothsayer, and killed,
the words are still so true. Since the beginnings of mankind, the Lord
has spoken to his children, to us. He has revealed thousands of miracles
and commandments that have been recorded and thousands that have not. The
greatest and most famous of these are known as the scriptures. In these
holy texts are written all manner of commandments concerning what we should or
should not do. Each of us, having learned of the Lord's basic doctrines
and having embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ, has a knowledge of what the
Lord our Savior has commanded and requires at our hands. We know of their
importance and that we should "do no less", lest we should disappoint
our Heavenly Father with our lack of diligence or obedience, and stand guilty
before him at the last day. At the same time, "we cannot do
more" than the Lord has commanded. One thing that has often amazed
me is the exceeding inclusiveness of the gospel. The latter-day prophet
Brigham Young described the phenomenon by saying that the Church embraces any
truth, where ever it is found. When truths and light are found, whether
it be from prophets, members, or other outside organizations, the gospel
includes it and the Church lays claim to it. "If there is anything
virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these
things." With such a clear, yet deep gospel, is it any wonder that
we would be unable to go beyond the words of God, doing anything less or more?
There is a saying used in olden times, especially in
The Pearl of Great Price and in the Old Testament that has stood out to me and
that recently I have come to love: "Here am I". It may
appear strange at first that this is most often used in response to a question.
When the LORD calls out from the burning bush saying, "Moses,
Moses", the ancient prophet answers, "Here am I".
Likewise, Samuel gives the same response while living in the Tabernacle.
Even our beloved Savior in the premortal existence when asked "Who
shall I send?" replied "Here am I. Send me." My favorite recording of that short phrase is
one of the very first times we read it, in Genesis 22. While climbing to
the place where Isaac would soon be sacrificed he calls out, "My
Father" to which Abraham answers "Here am I, my son". On
this occasion there is a footnote to offer an alternate, more clarifying
interpretation. It reads, "Yes, my son". Think about that. The duality of
"Here am I" announcing our presence, whether physical or mental,
accompanied by "Yes" verifying our understanding and willingness. Each of us, along with anyone else who has
ever drawn breath, has had dozens, to hundreds, to thousands of questions posed
to them on quite the regular basis. Among the most important of these are
those related to a more eternal nature. Be it a question in a Sunday
School Lesson, a question from a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, or even a
family member about the Book of Mormon, where we came from, or what happens
after death. One of the most important questions is the one that
prophets, the scriptures, and most significant of all, our Heavenly Father asks
us each day: “Will you keep and live the commandments?" When asked any of these questions, are you
there? Do you stop any temporary distractions, give them your undivided
attention, and reply "Here am I"? Do you give them a giant
"Yes!" as you respond with pure, unrestrained testimony answering
with all the energy of your soul and the penetrating power of the Holy Ghost? I would challenge all of you to decide within
yourselves and to make the resolve to hold this answer in your heart the next
time a situation or question arises. I would ask you to awake, arise, and
respond as our Savior by saying "Here am I."
"Therefore, it came to pass that they assembled
themselves together in bodies throughout the land, to cast in their voices
concerning who should be their judges, to judge them according to the law which
had been given them; and they were exceedingly rejoiced because of the liberty
which had been granted unto them." This verse, written within the
Book of Mosiah describes the Nephites' feelings of joy towards their judges and
liberty. Comparable to the laws and society of the Nephites, we have many
similar freedoms both temporal and spiritual in which we can and should
rejoice. We
do not have the same government and system of judges of the ancient Americans;
however we are equally blessed in our leaders. Regarding civil and
political society, we, like the Nephites, vote and elect our leader, the
President, by common consent. Within the governments of the Church, we
have various presidencies, bishops, stake presidents, general authorities, and
apostles who have been elected by God to be our leaders. What a blessing
that is, that our leaders are not chosen by "the height of their
statures", but instead by the Lord, who "seeth not as man seeth, but
looketh on the heart." Ultimately the greatest and most important
judgement we will face will be that final judgement after the resurrection, of
which God Himself will be the judge. Who could be better? Or who
could we be more blessed as having for our judge? Just as this verse in the Book of Mormon
relates to the rich blessings of our judges, it also connects to the grand
gifts of freedom and liberty which we have received. Today our land is
praised for the various forms and wide degrees of freedom it provides and that
laws that exist ever protecting that freedom; freedom to vote, freedom of the
press, freedom of assembly, and one I'm sure we all appreciate, freedom of
religion. It was this freedom that allowed the Church to be restored and
come forth in divine glory nearly two centuries ago. It is this freedom
that continues to allow it to grow. Likewise,
as we experience all manner of physical freedom, we are blessed with spiritual
liberty as well. The supreme Atonement of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ,
makes it possible for us to repent and saves us from spiritual death and sets
us free from the bonds of sin. We are given commandments to protect us
from the wily traps and snares of the devil. Yet, we don't have a Law of
Moses restricting how many steps we may take or how we must sacrifice. Even
salvation, which we know can only be obtained by and through Jesus Christ and
baptism in his name, still allows us great degrees of freedom, as we can keep
his commandments by loving one another, offering forgiveness to our
trespassers, caring for someone in need, or sharing and teaching those around
us. We have so much liberty to be thankful for. We have blessings
in judges and freedom, like the Nephites, to rejoice in. Let us then
rejoice in the gifts and in the divine giver of the gifts, our loving Heavenly Father.
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