Strengthening the Family and the Church through the Priesthood

Today, I started watching the 2013 Worldwide Leadership Training, Strengthening the Family and the Church though the Priesthood, that Elder Ballard talked about in his General Conference talk. There are some really powerful and inspiring videos, and I really recommend the content. I especially liked the First Presidency Message. President Eyring has previously given one of my favorite messages about family, so I was excited to hear his remarks.

President Eyring begins by talking about how the priesthood is a gift of authority from God given to us for the blessing of all of God’s children. I love the idea that priesthood is not an exclusive thing only given for the benefit of some. Instead, it is given to worthy brethren in order to allow them to bless everyone.

President Eyring reminds us that the priesthood authority can and should become Priesthood power if we are righteous. Recently, I have been thinking a bit about this concept. In the temple, there is a portion where the women covenant to be obedient to their husbands ‘as’ they are obedient to the commands of God. I realized that as a new husband, I have a great responsibility to be a righteous example that my wife can follow. I can not lead based on authority, but must lead through kindness and long-suffering. That is the only way that I can truly be worthy of the amazing priesthood authority I have been given.  If we fail to be righteous, our authority will be a twisted form of authority that can be used for unrighteous dominion. Satan has this twisted and distorted form of priesthood….He uses his ‘authority’ to destroy and to compel. That is not the way of a priesthood holder of God.

Elder Eyring emphasizes that God is infinitely wise, kind and patient. He knows the challenges we will face in his service and will help them face those challenges as he would. Jesus Christ set for us a perfect example of kindness and respect. Elder Eyring mentions in particular the way Jesus Christ treated his mother. His relationship to his family has always been an interesting one for me. Christ knew that he was about his fathers business and that his ministry came first. Still, he took the time to show acts of unparalleled kindness to those around him. Christ had an amazing sense of priorities. Elder Eyring mentioned that Christ called everyone to repent with absolute clarity, but at the same time left everyone with no doubt that with his help they could succeed. He inspired greatness and great confidence in the hearts of men. For me, he is a true example of a leader. 

Elder Eyring also spoke of Joseph Smith’s choice to provide an example and allow members to try and live in accord. He exercised his priesthood through meekness and love unfeigned. I love the Prophet for his example. The more I learn about him, the more I realize that he was truly called of God and inspired to build up this church and kingdom. 

Elder Eyring’s mention of the love of his parents was also tender. Truly, I am grateful beyond words for the righteous example of my parents. Even though they were/are not members of this church, I am so grateful to truly have been born of goodly parents that were always there for me. Sadly, there are far too many people that do not have that blessing. 

President Eyring next spoke about the potential blessings of exaltation and eternal family that are available to us. Those gifts will be given to us if we qualify through faith and following the savior. It is truly amazing to me to have gotten even a tiny glimpse at all that God has in store for me. Heavenly Father sees that amazing potential in me and in all those around me. His matchless vision is what helps to build our confidence in him.

“God’s priesthood has the power to change hearts and nit us in eternal families.” I love this idea, and I truly believe that this is true even for those family member that do not yet believe in the savior. The power of the priesthood is working on the hearts of each of us to transform us. Each time we pray or serve in the church, there is a power that is touching those around us. Our faith helps us to see the good in others and to love them with a deeper love. That love transforms others even when we do not see the changes right away.

Elder Eyring emphasizes that in times of testing our faith truly grows, and God’s power manifest in those times can help give us hope. Those trials bring out charity and help us access the atonement of Christ. His promises are real.

The priesthood gives families hope…hope that we can be together forever. Hope that we can overcome the adversary and be bound through sacred covenants. I have a true and abiding testimony that through Christ everything will work out for our good. His love and priesthood is like the thread that binds us together as a family 

Elder Eyring explains that this isn’t easy .Satan is real and trying to destroy us. However, the power of Christ and his priesthood is greater. What we need to do is align our hearts with him, and love will win out.  Christ has prepared a place for us through his atonement. His love is manifest through the atonement and his priesthood. 

I am so grateful for the blessings that God has given to me. I am grateful to be married to a wonderful daughter of God in his Holy Temple. I am excited to start a family together and to begin implementing those principles that God has taught through his Prophets and his Apostles

What is a Sealing- A guide for the uninitiated

I will be getting sealed in the Draper, Utah Temple on May 4th for time and all eternity. Being a convert, however, I have a lot of family and friends that wonder what a sealing is and how it actually differs from a regular marriage ceremony. I thought I would write a brief post explaining what it means to me to be sealed and why it is so special. 

 

Marriage is always a very special and important occasion. Two people that love each other always hope that their marriage will be successful and that they will never again be apart. Yet, most marriages come with an expiration date built in. They are consummated ’till death do you part’ or based on some other such limitation. After death, there is no longer a promise.

The difference between a regular marriage and a sealing is that a temple sealing is not merely done for time or ’till death do you part.’ When one is sealed in the temple that marriage is able to continue forever. There is an explicit promise that the familial bond will continue beyond the grave. Indeed, in the eternities there is a promise that Jessica and I will be married and continue to have a family. We will be able to enjoy each other’s company and love.

Indeed, God has promised that

And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy.

That means that those that have been sealed will continue to grow as a family even when they leave this world. Their children will be theirs eternally.

A prophet of God, Gordon B. Hinckley, express my feelings about this really well.

Was there ever a man who truly loved a woman, or a woman who truly loved a man, who did not pray that their relationship might continue beyond the grave? Has a child ever been buried by parents who did not long for the assurance that their loved one would again be theirs in a world to come? Can anyone believing in eternal life doubt that the God of heaven would grant His sons and daughters that most precious attribute of life, the love that finds its most meaningful expression in family relationships? No, reason demands that the family relationship shall continue after death. The human heart longs for it, and the God of heaven has revealed a way whereby it may be secured. The sacred ordinances of the house of the Lord provide for it.

That is the basic idea as far as the theology. What about the practical nature of what happens in the temple.

This is a sealing room… On May 4th, Jessica and I will both be dressed in all white. Jessica will be wearing her wedding dress while I will have on a white pair of pants with a white tie and a white shirt. We will also be wearing certain symbolic articles of clothing which are in many ways similar to things that Orthodox Jews wear during services such as a Talit or a Kippa. These articles are symbolic of our relationship to God and remind us of the promises that we have made.

We will kneel across from each other at the altar and grasp each other by the hand. Behind us, there will be a reflective mirror on either side of the room. Because of their position each mirror will reflect the image of the other. Looking at them, we will see our reflection repeating over and over again. This will symbolize the eternal nature of the marriage.

The individual performing the sealing ( sealer) will ask us whether we are ready to have each other as husband and wife. He will tell us about some of the promises of God that God has for us. He will remind us that together we will be able to be an eternal family. He will encourage us to live righteously and remember God in all that we do. By the power of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, he will seal us as a family forever.

The ceremony will be very simple and we will only have a few members of family present. There will be no dancing or music in the temple. No food. There will be a reception later for friends. However, in the temple the focus will be on each other and on our relationship to God.

I am so excited to be married in the temple. I have a strong belief that the temple marriage is ordained of God and that it can be eternal. I am so excited to begin my journey with my eternal companion

Here are a couple of great resources abut the temple:

First of all, there is a Journal from 2010 specifically dedicated to the temple.

I especially recommend this article by President Gordon B. Hinckley entitled Why These Temples?

Also, here’s a talk about Celestial Marriage by Elder Nelson (an Apostle and well renowned heart surgeon.

Elder Cook- Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness- General Conference

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This week has been a stark example that we living in a chaotic world in which peace has been “taken from the earth.” Lest we forget that Satan still has immense power over the hearts of men, the Boston Marathon Bombing this week served as a stark reminder. I was strongly struck this week by the bombings because it hit so close to home. I used to work five minutes away from the finish line. When I saw pictures or Watertown, Cambridge and Boston under lock down, I was reminded of the time I spent there. Likewise, this week saw a fertilizer plant outside of Waco, Texas explode, (my fiances father lives in Waco though far enough away from the plant that he was completely safe) poisonous letters sent to the president and so many other tragic incidents.

Likewise, this has also been finals week and so there has been a lot of stress. For the past couple of days, I had been filled with anxiety about a mistake that I made which could have had very detrimental consequences. Marriage plans are also stressful though also very exciting. In short, there is a lot to be stressed and anxious about. That is why, I so strongly appreciated Elder Cook’s remarks about the peace that can come to each of us as a disciple of Jesus Christ even as chaos reigns in the world around us.

Elder Cook prefaces his remarks by saying that he will talk about the role of Jesus Christ in “helping each of us obtain lasting peace” For me, the concept of lasting peace is really a beautiful one. Since joining the Church of Christ, this is one thing that really changed for me. I am much more content with life in general and much more consistently so. I have far fewer ups and downs because of the influence of the Holy Ghost in my life.

Elder Cook talks about a couple of incidents that really touched him such as the Newtown school shooting, his meeting with members in war-torn Ivory Coast, and the events of September 11th. He recalls how quickly “feelings of peace and safety can be destroyed.” The truth is that life is far too fragile. In an instant, things can change it dramatically. If we live remembering how precious our life is, we will be able to more fully appreciate all of the blessings that we have.

He tells the story his son on 9-11. They lived three blocks from the World Trader Center, and as they realized the city was under attack they made their way to the stake center ( where the temple now is) at Lincoln Center. Elder Cook emphasizes that in these last days the stakes of zion will be a defense and “a refuse from the storm.” I really have found the truth of these sayings both temporally and spiritually.

A couple of years ago, when I was working in Boston doing door to door fundraising for a non-profit organization, I was very discouraged. It was a cold and rainy day and I felt completely alone. As I walked in Arlington, Ma, I realized that I was near the Boston Temple. As I walked along the road, I saw the familiar spire in the distanced and the sight of the temple helped me feel at peace and know that God was mindful of me. The temple was a beacon of safety and peace. Likewise, today, when burden filled as I came to sacrament meeting I instantly felt at peace.

Elder Cook emphasizes that there is a difference between person peace and world peace. When Christ was born, the heavenly hosts declared “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Yet, in the aftermath of those remarks, Herod slaughtered the innocent infants, John the Baptist was beheaded and even the Savior of the world himself as betrayed and crucified. Christ’s coming and his sacrifice did not take away human agency. Evil will still reign in this world for a time.

Christ emphasized that he did not come to bring world peace. Indeed, Christ declared

” 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (Matthew 10)”

Since joining the church I have seen a lot of conflict. I have had family members upset at me, friends desert me, and a myriad of difficult decisions that never would have come my way had I not begun to believe in the savior. The path is not free of thorns. He that himself wore a crown of thorns did not promise that. Instead, he promised something much sublime. He promised to help transform us and fill our hearts with peace.

Indeed, President Joseph F. Smith emphasized that this inner transformation is essential and that we can never have world wide peace without it. “There never can come to the world that spirit of peace and love … until mankind will receive God’s truth and God’s message … , and acknowledge his power and authority which is divine.”

I used to be part of the anti-war movement when I was in Boston. I would go to anti-war rallies and attend prayers for world peace. I used to think that I was making a real difference in reducing conflict. Since then, however, I have realized that while praying for peace is valuable, peace will never come without an increase in faith in Jesus Christ. Without God and without purpose in life, peace will always be fleeting. When the doctrines of Christ are ignored, peace will always be the casualty.

Elder Cook reminded us that “We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice.”

That peace is one that is rather inexplicable and hard to describe to those who have not felt it. It is deeper than temporary relief from stress or anxiety. Indeed, it is “an abiding deep happiness and spiritual commitment.” One day on my mission stands out as one of the starkest examples of this peace. That day, was the day we were supposed to call our parents for Mother’s day (one of two times in the year). My father had gotten mad at me and decided not to talk to me that day. I had set up a call with my sister instead, but because of time zone miscommunication she called me at 4 am and spent the time criticizing me for my bad choices in serving a mission. I got off the phone with her broken. I didn’t know what to do. As I sat there, I poured out my heart in prayer to God and was overwhelmed with a sense of peace. I opened up my scriptures randomly and found myself reading Psalm 27

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

When I read that last verse, I was overwhelmed with emotion and the spirit. Even though my heart was full of anxiety and pain, I felt a deep peace. I knew that God was mindful of me and that everything would work out. I knew that as long as I longed for righteousness and to be with God, he would never ever forsake me.

President Heber J. Grant described the Savior’s peace this way: “His peace will ease our suffering, bind up our broken hearts, blot out our hates, engender in our breasts a love of fellow men that will suffuse our souls with calm and happiness.”

Indeed, it is amazing how quickly the savior can heal us and help fill us with love. It is incredible how quickly hatred, fear and prejudice melt away replaced with love and charity. Christ is quick to head our cries.

Elder Cook emphasizes that the victims of Newtown, and the members he met on the Ivory Coast were filled with the savior’s peace despite all that was happening around them. Indeed, they knew that “the Savior’s Atonement would overcome and compensate for all the unfairness of mortal life and bring us peace.”

Elder Cook then spoke about the sources of peace. He reiterated that true peace can never be found in worldly ways. It is not found through riches or amassing great amounts of power. It is not found through great stores of knowledge or through entertainment and technology. Those things can not lead to lasting happiness or peace. I found that this is so true. When I was an undergrad, I was studying in a great university, had good friends and a lot of opportunities, but I still felt I was missing something. I still felt restless and like I was searching for something so illusive and mysterious. It was only when I found Jesus Christ that I found a source of peace and contentment.

Ultimately, it is the atonement of the savior that brings us lasting peace and allows us to experience ‘peace of conscience’ which is essential to happiness and contentment. In other words, we need the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to have faith followed by repentance, baptism and becoming lifelong disciples. The Holy Ghost transfoms us as we continue to participate in Christ’s Church and partake of sacred ordinances:

“The Church is a refuge where followers of Christ attain peace. Some young people in the world say they are spiritual but not religious. Feeling spiritual is a good first step. However, it is in the Church that we are fellowshipped, taught, and nourished by the good word of God. More importantly, it is priesthood authority in the Church that provides for sacred ordinances and covenants that bind families together and qualify each of us to return to God the Father and Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. These ordinances bring peace because they are covenants with the Lord.”

Elder Cook also spoke beautifully about the peace that comes from temples. The temple for me is the connective glue holding together all the peaces of my testimony. As in the Psalm which I quoted above, my one desire is to be worthy to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. I am excited to be sealed in the temple and for the joy and peace I feel whenever I go to the temple.

Elder Cook powerfully retold a story from the dedication of the Suva Fiji temple which occurred while the country was under martial law. The peace felt inside the temple is strongly contrasted with the tumult outside. We too live in a time of wars and rumors of war. War and conflict surround us. We need to have a refuse in the house of the Lord and have the savior in our own hearts in order to feel peace in these times.

Christ’s parting word’s to his disciples powerfully resonate

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.”

I know that he is the source of peace, the rock and redeemer of Israel. I am so grateful for all that he does for me every single day. I bear my testimony that he lives and loves each one of us.

Weeping along with God

IOne of the most remarkable passages of scripture is that found in the dialogue between Enoch and God found in Chapter 7 of the Book of Moses. Indeed, I recently read Terryl Givens remarkable book “The God Who Weeps” which takes its title and central message from this powerful passage. The God revealed by the Prophet Joseph Smith is one that takes an active part of the world he has created and is far from the detached God of Deist conception. Indeed, God is not removed from feeling sorrow and sadness or happiness and joy! 

 

28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon theresidue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?

 29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?

 30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;

 31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace,justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?

 32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;

 33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;

 34 And the fire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.

 35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.

 36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all thecreations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.

 37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?

 

There is a stereotype in our culture that crying is not ‘masculine’ and that men should not cry. However, if the God of the universe is not beyond feeling sorrow and crying, neither should we be. Christ likewise wept on several occasions including the death of Lazarus and from joy during his visit to the Nephites.

I’ve been thinking a lot about crying, because I have noticed recently that since my conversion and baptism and especially since my mission I find it much easier to tear up when reading particularly happy or sad stories. Indeed, I have become a bit of a sucker for emotional movies that I once would have viewed as emotionally manipulative and really disliked ( Things like Charly or a Walk to Remember come to mind). When I read  in the Ensign stories of converts who struggle alone in the church until miraculously their families hearts are softened, I begin to tear up with great ease. In the past few weeks, reading the profiles of those precious children lost at Sandy Hook also brought many tears of sorrow to my eyes.

One experience early on in my mission really stands out to me in this regard: One day, we were tracting in part of our area without a lot of success. A man opened the door and it was immediately obvious that he was in a bad mood. Indeed, when I mentioned that I was a missionary, he began to criticize and exclaim how he does not believe in God. I asked him why, and he explained that his wife had recently tragically died and therefore he knew God could not exist. He quickly slammed the door before I could say too much more. My companion and I began to walk away, when I was overwhelmed with a sense of love and compassion that brought tears to my eyes. I could feel how much God loved that man and also knew that his wife was up in heaven looking down upon her husband with tears of compassion. I felt strongly prompted to knock on his door again, and when he opened I bore testimony that I knew his wife loved him and that he could once again see her again. He was stunned when I told him that and was obviously moved almost to tears. I asked him for his phone number to try to follow up with him, and he give it to me and then closed the door. He never actually answered the phone or agreed to meet with us, but it was still one of those experiences that I will never forget because of the empathy and love that I felt for this complete stranger.

I’d been thinking a lot about how becoming more like Christ inevitably involves also feeling more empathy and more “Sorrow For Sin,” when I stumbled upon a the words of an Apostle (Marvin j. Ashton) which clearly labels the ability to cry as a gift of the Spirit!

“Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.”

Whenever we are able to feel compassion and charity that is a gift from God. Another favorite scripture comes to mind (Moroni 7:48)

 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

I’ve noticed that as I grow in love towards someone, my feelings of charity and empathy tend to grow. Recently, my Fiance had a minor procedure done to her foot and was in quite a bit of pain. As I comforted her and gave her a blessing, I could literally feel some of the pain that she was feeling. That pain made me want to hold her a bit closer and to comfort her as much as possible. I can only imagine what God, who loves each of us perfectly, must feel when we suffer.

As we grow to become more like God, our bowls will be filled with mercy and charity towards all.

 

Elder Holland’s CES Fireside September 9 2012

CES Fireside Elder Holland 9-9-2012

(Update: Church newsroom report on the talk gives a lot of the quotes from it!)

I absolutely loved Elder Holland’s recent devotional address because he really touched on some issues that have been on my mind quite a bit lately.

By beginning to talk about establishing zion, Elder Holland made it clear that for us in our day and time, what he would say is of the utmost importance. In our days, Zion is no longer a question of where we live, but of how we are going to live. He returned to this theme several times to emphasize that in our dispensation we do not have to flee or disengage and wait for zion to come again. In stead, we have an obligation to stand up with love and charity for what we believe.

Even though gay marriage was never explicitly mentioned, it was a clear subtext to Elder Holland’s remarks. The debate over Gay Marriage is one of the most prominent faces of the battle to define the role of religion in the marketplace of democratic discourse and ideas.

Elder Holland shared three stories that highlighted his principles. These stories were effective in that they were not especially politically charged and so showed principles that could be applied in more controversial situations.

First of all, Elder Holland strongly denounced the principle that we can leave our religion at the door!  ( My quotes are paraphrases until the actual devotional text comes out.)

“For the establishment of zion in the 21^st century you never check your religion at the door. That kind of discipleship can not be…It isn’t discipleship at all.  We covenanted to stand as witnesses of God in all times and in all places and in all circumstances.

Yet, Elder Holland also made it clear that as we respond to those with whom we disagree, we have a real challenge to not commit the even worse sin.

“In righteous indignation we need to make sure we do not do the exactly same thing. Do not get angry and forget about your values.  Even when offended we can choose to exercise our religion Easy to be righteous when things are calm and everything is smooth. Test is when there is real trial or temptation.

Can we be faithful when there is the possibility of real transgression? The key question

Having to forgive our crucifiers is one of the biggest challenges that face us. No true disciple of Christ can check his religion at the door.”

Elder Holland gave us some principles and considerations by which we can respond to criticism and opposition in a Christ like fashion

“The Rule to respond is that it has to reflect our gospel beliefs. Have to make things better and not worse. Can not act so that we are guilty of a greater offense than she is.Live those standards in a righteous way. Every time Christ acted he acted in the right way….Start by remembering that  (those to whom we respond ) are children of God. Start by remembering that (they) has earthly parents that love (them). Be grateful that the people we are engaging are trying to get involved. Try to be at our best in the situation in a desire to help them be at their best. We keep praying silently about what ultimately will make this situation (and those affected )better. What the savior meant when he said “ judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

Elder Holland acknowledges that this is an incredibly difficult thing to do. Indeed, in our days when society is increasingly polarized it stands as one of our greatest challenges. I think one thing Elder Holland acknowledged that I have not heard expressed on the pulpit is that those that oppose us on issues such as Gay Marriage are genuinely convinced that they are right and seeking to do what they view as moral. Therefore, these issues present especially challenges. I love how Elder Holland expressed these challenges.

People may think we are not supposed to judge anything…We have to help each other with that, because the savior makes it clear that sometimes we are under obligation to judge. “cast not your pearls before swine”

Can not surrender to the relativism of a post-deconstructionist world which posits that nothing is special or sacred.  That simply is not true….

“When we face these issues in a complex democratic society it can be challenging and confusing. People often ask why we are trying to push our views on others. Isn’t that judgemental? Must sensitively explain why some principles defended and some sins opposed wherever they are found. Issues and laws involved are not social or political but eternal in their consequences. While not wishing to offend those that disagree we are even more anxious to not offend God. He is our lawgiver.”

Elder Holland made clear, that we can respect the view point of others and show them charity. We can ‘hate the sin but love the sinner.’ We can discuss and try to come to consensus on certain issues, but we can never compromise on those things that we view as fundamental. At the end of the day, we have to stand up for a fight for certain things that we deem fundamental and core values. We must stand up for what God has declared to us.

“Wide variety of beliefs and moral agency exist for all, but no one is entitled to act as if God is mute on this subject or as if commandments only matter if there is public agreement on them. In the 21^st century we can not flee any longer. We are going to have to fight for laws and circumstances and environments that allow free exercise of religion and our franchise. I know of no more important ability and no greater integrity than for us to demonstrate walking that path. Defending the laws of God with great charity. Distinguish perfectly between the sin and the sinner.  No harder distinction, but we must be able to explain it. We must show strength, courage and compassion all at the same tim

Elder Holland ended his remarks with the powerful call to action and stand up for our values. He made it clear that this was a matter of necessity for our communities to stop their moral decay, and also a matter of spiritual necessity. When Christ comes, he will judge us based on how involved we were in doing good in the world.  And active in our communities in promoting his gospel. For us, we do not have the choice to be passive. Our religion and our God demands a lot more from us

“If we do not take gospel blessings to our communities and countries, the simple fact is that we will never have enough policemen to enforce moral behavior even if it were enforceable ( and it isn’t). Those children in that home are sons and daughters of God. That mother is as well. We are not checking our religion at the door no matter how irresponsible some are. We can not solve everything ( there will still be poverty etc), but we can do something. We as Israel are the ones to do it. We are not to flee Babylon. We can live our religion so broadly and unfailingly that we find all kinds of opportunities to help ourselves and others.

Elder Hollands apostolic blessing really gave me the strength and courage to stand up for what I believe. Since I returned from my mission and took and more conservative stance on certain social issues, I have lost friends and faced a lot of opposition, but listened to Elder Holland made it clear to me that it is so important that I stand up for what I believe. Standing up for the faith needs to be done in a loving and charitable way, but inevitably it will lead to some kind of conflict as well. Just as the saints had to flee from bablyon, sometimes we will have to flee from the things that once filled our world. However, we will always be in a better place if we follow the savior and bravely defend what we believe.

Elder Holland

Fireside Notes

Israel, Israel God is Calling and Ye Elders Of Israel

“O Babylon O Babylon we bid thee farewell”

Message of these hymns- God is always calling the children of Israel to a place where all will ultimately be well.

This has been Israel’s history throughout the ages. When things got too sinful or the world became too secular, the children of Israel would be sent into the wilderness and start all over again ( Abraham, Moses, Lehi/Nephi, Pioneers of America (puritans), J. Smith, B. Young). ( Latter day reinactment of Israel travels.)

In our day something is different. This is a time of mighty accelerated change, Church will never again leave. “We’ve been kicked out of the frying pan into the fire and out of the fire and onto the middle of the floor, and here we are going to stay.” In these last days in this our dispensation we would become mature enough to stop running and plant our feet and our families and our foundations in every nation kindred, tongue and people—everywhere!

No longer think of zion as where, but how we are going to live.

Examples

1)    Hatred for a young man who had left his team to go to a different team.

2)    Girl with piercings and snow cone colored hair Was she a  1) Non-member, 2) returning member 3) Stake relief society president…

3)    Police officer coming to a family where the parents were all drinking and swearing and not taking care of the children. Demanding that the family change

What do they have in common. Three tiny very different examples of Babylon

One personal and rather minor, one more cultural and indicative of challenges with those that live differently than we do, one very large and serious matter with legal complication and complex history.

Intentionally not using sensational cases of pornography or sexuality etc.

1) One student said “we check our religion at the door” about the basketball game.

For the establishment of zion in the 21^st century you never check your religion at the door. That kind of discipleship can not be…It isn’t discipleship at all. Stand as witnesses of God in all times and in all places and in all circumstances.

In righteous indignation need to make sure we do not do the exactly same thing. Do not get angry and forget about your values.  Even when offended we can choose to exercise our religion Easy to be righteous when things are calm and everything is smooth. Test is when there is real trial or temptation.

Can we be faithful when there is the possibility of real transgression? The key question

Having to forgive our crucifiers is one of the biggest challenges that face us. No true disciple of Christ can check his religion at the door

2) Rule to respond is that it has to reflect our gospel beliefs. Have to make things better and not worse. Can not act so that we are guilty of a greater offense than she is.

Live those standards in a righteous way. Every time he acted he acted in the right way.

Start by remembering that they are children of God. Start by remembering that she has earthly parents that love her. Be grateful that she is trying to get involved. Try to be at our best in the situation in a desire to help her be at her best. We keep praying silently about what ultimately will make this situation and her better. What the savior meant when he said “ judge not according to the apperance, but judge righteous judgement.”

We also have a responsibility to the 99 of the fold that have not strayed. This church can NEVER dumb down its doctrine in response to social goodwill or expediency. Our compassion and our love must never be interpreted as compromising commandments!

We are not bound to say all that we believe, but we are bound not even to look like what we do not believe!

People may think we are not supposed to judge anything…We have to help each other with that, because the savior makes it clear that sometimes we are under obligation to judge. “cast not your pearls before swine”

Can not surrender to the relativism of a post-deconstructionist world which posits that nothing is special or sacred.  That simply is not true.

Not called to condemn others, but we are called to make decisions every day that reflect judgment. Elder Oaks- Intermediate Judgments we have to make for our safety or that of others. Final Judgments- Only made by God who knows all facts. Righteous judgements not self-righteous.

Parents make decisions to  protect their children all the time. Can’t blame them for making rules about things like dating, lifestyle etc.

When we face these issues in a complex democratic society it can be challenging and confusing. People often ask why we are trying to push our views on others. Isn’t that judgemental? Must sensitively explain why some principles defended and some sins opposed wherever they are found. Issues and laws involved are not social or political but eternal in their consequences. While not wishing to offend those that disagree we are even more anxious to not offend God. He is our lawgiver.

Example of lesser law- Teenager- Now that I can drive I know I should stop at a red light, but should we get everyone else to do that. Don’t they have their agency?

Wide variety of beliefs and moral agency for all, but no one is entitled to act as if God is mute on this subject or as if commandments only matter if there is public agreement on them. In the 21^st century we can not flee any longer. We are going to have to fight for laws and circumstances and environments that allow free exercise of religion and our franchise. I know of no more important ability and no greater integrity than for us to demonstrate walking that path. Defending the laws of God with great charity. Distinguish perfectly between the sin and the sinner.  No harder distinction, but we must be able to explain it. We must show strength, courage and compassion all at the same time.

3)    Example of officer and children: All of us should care about the welfare of others and the extended safety of our community. We must influence society beyond our own communities. Savior said “let your light shine” etc…

Quinten L. Cook- It is essential that values based on faith be visible in the public square

If we do not take gospel blessings to our communities and countries, the simple fact is that we will never have enough policemen to enforce moral behavior even if it were enforceable ( and it isn’t). Those children in that home are sons and daughters of God. That mother is as well. We are not checking our religion at the door no matter how irresponsible some are. We can not solve everything ( there will still be poverty etc), but we can do something. We as Israel are the ones to do it. We are not to flee Babylon. We can live our religion so broadly and unfailingly that we find all kinds of opportunities to help ourselves and others

Huge need is to share the gospel always not just as full time missionaries. Latter day saints are called to be the level in the loaf or the salt that never loses its savor. Our age group is the time in a persons life when our acquaintances are most likely to accept the gospel if it is presented to them. Start presenting it. If we do right and talk right and reach out generously, then when the savior cuts short his work, he will find us doing our best trying to live the gospel and improve our lives and our church and society as best we can. When he comes I so want to be caught living the gospel. I want to be surprised right in the act of spreading the faith and doing something good. I want the savior to say to me. I recognize you not by your title, but by your life—The way you are trying to live and the standards you are trying to defend.  You’ve tried to make things better by being better yourself and sharing my gospel fearlessly and compassionately. I believe you honestly tried.

I believe in your heart you truly loved me!

Live the gospel and then reach out and where you can go beyond that to serve in the widest community you can address.

Apostolic blessing: I bless you by the power of the priesthood and the commsion I’ve received, to know that God loves you and needs you in this last and greatest dispensation when everything is accelerated and more and more is expected. I bless you with apostolic authority that your prayers and righteousness ill be answers, that your personal fears will be lifted. That your backs and shoulders will be strong for the burdens placed on them (Temple reference?). Be strong of heart in the establishment of zion. I bless you to be true to each other and to those not of your circle to whom we should reach out. To be friends of the savior ad know him personally and have confidence in his company.

He will give us the strength and the holiness to be true disciples if we plea for it!

Blessing with a hope for happiness and holiness.

The blessing of free will! Response to Sam Harris

Today I stumbled across some very interesting writings by famed atheist writer Sam Harris. He argues that free will is a delusion, myth and nothing more than a biological illusion. To be fair, I have not read the full book ( I may just be intrigued enough to check it out), but I am basing my remarks on my readings of these articles that Harris has written on the topic.

Harris writes in the mistaken notion that free will is actually a harmful thought that burdens our society by making us uncaring and uncharitable .

“I haven’t been noticeably harmed, and I believe I have benefited, from knowing that the next thought that unfurls in my mind will arise and become effective (or not) due to conditions that I cannot know and did not bring into being. The negative effects that people worry about—a lack of motivation, a plunge into nihilism—are simply not evident in my life. And the positive effects have been obvious. Seeing through the illusion of free will has lessened my feelings of hatred for bad people. I’m still capable of feeling hatred, of course, but when I think about the actual causes of a person’s behavior, the feeling falls away. It is a relief to put down this burden, and I think nothing would be lost if we all put it down together. On the contrary, much would be gained. We could forget about retribution and concentrate entirely on mitigating harm. (And if punishing people proved important for either deterrence or rehabilitation, we could make prison as unpleasant as required.)”

Understanding the true causes of human behavior does not leave any room for the traditional notion of free will. But this shouldn’t depress us, or tempt us to go off our diets. Diligence and wisdom still yield better results than sloth and stupidity. And, in psychologically healthy adults, understanding the illusoriness of free will should make divisive feelings such as pride and hatred a little less compelling. While it’s conceivable that someone, somewhere, might be made worse off by dispensing with the illusion of free will, I think that on balance, it could only produce a more compassionate, equitable, and sane society.”

The flaw with this argument, is that if we strip away any sense of agency, then we are going to also lose any sense of merit or reward for righteous action and punishment or condemnation for mistakes. This will lead to a society in which humans are not expected to rise above instincts but merely to follow them. Indeed, “I was born this way” an argument commonly used to excuse deviant sexual behavior would become the normal attitude toward all spheres of human activity. 

The prophet Nephi warned against this philosophy which would arise in the last days 

“2 Ne 28:7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

 8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

 9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.”

Likewise, atheist anti-christ Korihor reflected this same flawed theology

“(Alma 30:17) And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.”

Indeed, Harris even admits that ultimately his view removes personal accountability and responsibility, but says that he is fine with this:

“If we cannot assign blame to the workings of the universe, how can evil people be held responsible for their actions? In the deepest sense, it seems, they can’t be. But in a practical sense, they must be. I see no contradiction in this. In fact, I think that keeping the deep causes of human behavior in view would only improve our practical response to evil. The feeling that people are deeply responsible for who they are does nothing but produce moral illusions and psychological suffering.”

Harris’s statements are clearly contrary to the revealed truth of the restored gospel. His position is one of those damnable heresies that we have been warned against and continue to be warned against by modern prophets.

Those that believe in the scriptures and the word’s of prophets will not be deceived when anyone tries to suggest that we do not have agency.

As President Packer taught “ Lehi taught that men are free and must be “free … to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day.” ⁶

The old saying “The Lord is voting for me, and Lucifer is voting against me, but it is my vote that counts” describes a doctrinal certainty that our agency is more powerful than the adversary’s will. Agency is precious. We can foolishly, blindly give it away, but it cannot be forcibly taken from us.

There is also an age-old excuse: “The devil made me do it.” Not so! He can deceive you and mislead you, but he does not have the power to force you or anyone else to transgress or to keep you in transgression.”

Those that understand the gospel perspective will not view agency as a burden, as does Mr. Harris, but as a glorious gift:

“President David O. McKay, ninth President of the Church, said, “Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man.”^1“

Thanks to the restored gospel, we know that we truly do have a choice. Even though we do have powerful biological instincts and are creatures of training, culture and habit, as President Monson recently emphasized:  ”No temptation, no pressure, no enticing can overcome us unless we allow such.” Indeed, the flaw in Harris’s argument is that he seems to think that if we are influenced by other factors, it robs us of the final decision or responsibility.

“A person’s conscious thoughts, intentions, and efforts at every moment are preceded by causes of which he is unaware. What is more, they are preceded by deep causes—genes, childhood experience, etc.—for which no one, however evil, can be held responsible. Our ignorance of both sets of facts gives rise to moral illusions. “

This is false.  Just because I do not have full control of my thoughts or emotions at every moment, does not mean that I am not responsible for them. Indeed, the savior warned us that we are responsible for not only our actions, but even our thoughts. 

Even though Satan may tempt mankind to sin, I take heart in the promises of Paul.  

1 Cor 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 

And I am cheered by the promises of Jacob

““Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life” (2 Nephi 10:23).”

Ultimately, we do have a choice in this life that determines our eternal destiny.Our actions will place us on the path back to God or on the path away from him. We will all be accountable for how we exercise our agency. Even those with diminished accountability due to mental conditions or other limitations will be judged by a merciful and loving father in heaven according to their knowledge, understanding and conditions. 

“The prophet Lehi tells us: “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”^2“

Ultimately, I believe that Harris writes in good faith, but is tragically mistaken. Agency is a key gift. The fact that we sometimes are influenced by factors beyond our control does not limit agency but actually increases us by pushing us to use our agency in situations not to our liking or control. Its easy to be good when we are never faced we adversity or tragedy. The differing human responses to the same conditions belies the fundamental fact that we are free to choose for ourselves. No one can make the choice for us. One of my favorite examples comes from the people of Nephi after their long period of continual warfare.

“ Alma 62:41 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.”

In conclusion, I testify that we are never bound by our circumstances. We are always free to choose to follow God! I urge Mr. Harris and all those reading this post to head the admonition of the prophet Alma

“27 Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall berestored unto him according to his deeds.

 28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God.

 29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these thingstrouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.

 30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust inhumility.”

DNC platform amendment battle over God and Jerusalem

I am glad that the Democratic Party responded to the critical backlash and decided to amend their platform to acknowledge God and Jerusalem as the capitol of Jerusalem.

This was just embarrassing however! Instead of quickly passing without controversy, the motion to amend the platform led to an ugly delegate battle on the convention floor. Its embarrassing and rather sad to see the anti-Israel sentiment of so many expressed.

Additionally, Gov Strickland who introduced the amendment offered a very sincere comment about the role religion plays in our nation and this nasty response was a rather sad response.

Its unclear whether or not 3/4 vote was actually reached. The vote had to be retaken a third time before it was finally decided that 3/4 majority had been met, but the boos only intensified as the process went on. See for yourself. The video speaks for itself pretty well.

The absence of God in the DNC platform!

It’s been interesting to notice the contrast between the political parties as contrasted by their platforms and conventions. The democratic convention as expected is much more pro-government and favorable towards social programs. In contrast, the Republican convention focused on the f’s of faith, family and freedom. Yet, I was struck by the stark contrast recently pointed out by many news outlets.

This year, the Democratic National Convention has eliminated all references to God in their platform. The contrast between the republican and democratic platforms is a pretty striking contrast that frankly has a very strong symbolic meaning. It really shows that the Democrats are trying to reach out to minorities even at the expense of the majority Christian population of the nation.

Here’s the language from 2008 and 2012

2008 Platform ( 1 Reference)

“We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values, and interests of working people, and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential.”

2012 ( No references)

“We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth — the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us.”

In 2004 there were seven references and so there has been a steep decline in the Obama years.

In contrast, God shows up 17 times in the Republican Platform

Of course, there is a small section left in the DNC platform on faith which reads as follows.

““We know that our nation, our communities, and our lives are made vastly stronger and richer by faith and the countless acts of justice and mercy it inspires. Faith-based organizations will always be critical allies in meeting the challenges that face our nation and our world – from domestic and global poverty, to climate change and human trafficking.

People of faith and religious organizations do amazing work in communities across this country and the world, and we believe in lifting up and valuing that good work, and finding ways to support it where possible. We believe in constitutionally sound, evidence-based partnerships with faith-based and other non-profit organizations to serve those in need and advance our shared interests. There is no conflict between supporting faith-based institutions and respecting our Constitution, and a full commitment to both principles is essential for the continued flourishing of both faith and country.”

The last sentence is especially pretty strong. I like the statement that “there is no conflict between supporting faith-based institutions and respecting our constitution.” I wish this were apparent in the actions of the administration. Indee

In contrast, Barack Obama’s name is mentioned over 100 times.

When asked about the absence of God in the DNC Dick Durbin was overly defensive and failed to actually say anything substantial about the decision.

Putting it all on the altar ( 1 ne 3: 22-24)

21 And it came to pass that after this manner of language did I persuade my brethren, that they might be faithful in keeping the commandments of God.
22 And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our inheritance, and we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our precious things.
23 And after we had gathered these things together, we went up again unto the house of Laban.
24 And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him that he would give unto us the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things. (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi, Chapter 3)

Nephi and his brethren dutifully went to Jerusalem to try to get the plates. In their first attempt, they did not take more thought than simply to ask. Maybe they were expecting that familial ties would be a strong enough motivation for Laban to hand over the plates. Regardless, they were disappointed to find that Laban not only rejected their offer, but viewed them as robbers and tried to kill them.

I think many can relate to this moment of disappointment. Several people that I taught as a missionary dutifully told friends and family about their desire to be baptized. Others put off this terrifying step until the last minute. Many expected that the reaction would be tepid but not hostile. Yet, like Laban so many respond with open hostility that would be shocking were this not the very church and kingdom of God.

Yet, for me the key lesson is the contrast between Laban and Lemuel immediately after this initial rejection. I saw this difference in the people we taught. Some like Laman and Lemuel are so quick to return in failure. They think that if there is opposition then it must not truly be worth it. After all, if God truly wanted them to get the plates then why wouldn’t it be easy? They never really had a strong faith that God had commanded them to seek the plates, and this initial rejection only seeks to strengthen their disaffection and doubt. If left to their own devices they would have left empty handed and yet justified themselves by saying that they had ‘tried’.

Nephi, and people who have his great faith, on the other hand must have anticipated opposition. He was not shocked or discouraged by this minor set back. He had a firm faith that the lord had commanded them to retrieve the plates. Nephi knows that the things that matter the most are rarely easy or challenge free– quite to the contrary in fact. As such, his response is full of fervent faith.

15 But behold I said unto them that: As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.
16 Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi, Chapter 3)

Nephi is willing to sacrifice in a way that is unthinkable to Laman and Lemuel. He is read to put all his wealth, time and efforts towards the fulfillment of the lord’s commandments. Laman and Lemuel in contrast have their hearts set on the things of the world. They doubt that plates on brass are worth this type of sacrifice. Even after they successfully retrieve the plates, they continue to think and dwell on their lost riches. Sadly, for them the things of the world come first. Unfortunately they have not learned the lesson so eloquently declared by President Uchtdorf

Disciples of Jesus Christ understand that compared to eternity, our existence in this mortal sphere is only “a small moment” in space and time. They know that a person’s true value has little to do with what the world holds in high esteem. They know you could pile up the accumulated currency of the entire world and it could not buy a loaf of bread in the economy of heaven. (2011 October General Conference, You Matter to Him, Sat. Morning Session – Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Nephi had his sights set on heavenly rewards and as such, as we see later in the Book of Mormon, received great temporal gifts coupled with great spiritual blessings. In reality, when we turn our focus and trust to the lord we always receive more than our fair share!

Book of Mormon study journal #1 Title Page

Book of Mormon study journal

I decided today that I want to start a new study journal that I hope will help me to focus my Book of Mormon study in post mission life. As a missionary it was so easy to cultivate good study habits and to truly feast on the word of god daily, but I have found even in the few weeks since how much more difficult that is if there is no sense of daily accountability. I think that starting a blog for my reading will really help and I hope that my insights might be helpful to someone else as well.

Title page-

I really like how the very beginning of the book of Mormon really shows that this book is a divine work. In the title page it mentions twice that this book comes forth by the gift and power of god and makes it clear that it was written by commandment, prophecy and revelation. No one reading this book should be confused. As elder callister said in conference not long ago, either this is a book from god as it claims, or a forgery and heinous fraud. The title page sets the stakes up for the book.

The purposes of this book are also well laid out here: to show israel that god is a god of miracles and that they are still his chosen people and to convince all people that Jesus is the son of god and that he manifested himself into all nations. If we believe this book to be true we can be certain of those things. God is a god of power and miracles and Jesus is the savior of the whole world.