3 Nephi 20:26 The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to abless you in bturning away every one of you from his iniquities;
Sometimes we get pre-conceived notions of what blessings look like. We visualize STUFF as being what we would like as blessings. Nice homes, or good food or clothes, cars. Money would also be acceptable. Sometimes we remember to notice our good health or happy families and think that they could be blessings.
One of the last things on our list of things we think of to ask for or be grateful for is the blessing of being taught and trained, tutored and instructed, disciplined so that we can become the people God would have us be. It's obvious when we think as parents that in order for our children to be happy, they must be taught. We toilet train our children for their good, as well as our convenience. We discipline them when they have accidents. We teach our children to get along with those around them. If they hit and fight, we give them "time out" so that they can learn the lessons we're teaching. If we fail to teach our children the vital lessons of life, they will lead lives of frustration, pain and unhappiness.
Our Father also has things He would teach us. So He gives us prophets and scriptures with words of instruction. Then when we forget His lessons, He gives us uncomfortable experiences to remind us of the lessons. If we open our hearts to His teachings and bend our will to His, we can have peace and joy in our lives. But if we insist in doing things our own way, we will suffer heartache, grief and pain.
That the Lord would turn us away from our iniquities is definitely a blessing to be grateful for.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Love Your Enemies
I am trying to understand the section in the Sermon on the Mount that talks about loving your enemies. I think it starts with the verse that says "resist not evil". That seems puzzling. Does it mean that we go along with evil? I'm sure that's not it. It's more like "don't assume a battle stance". It has more to do with the person than the evil itself. I'm not saying this very well because my thoughts are still fuzzy. But when we look at the instructions, a pattern emerges. He tells us to turn the other cheek; let him have our cloak; go the second mile; give to him that asks. Then there's this impossible instruction: love your aenemies, bless them that curse you, do bgood to them that hate you, and cpray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;
Can anyone actually do these things? This was surely one of the most shocking and surprising of the Savior's teachings. The Telestial man doesn't love his enemies. He may feel fully justified in seeking revenge. The Terrestrial man may try to forgive his enemies and just avoid them. But Jesus wasn't asking us to only be better than the natural man. He was teaching us a higher law. He wants us to love our enemies. To pray for them. To do good to them. To be Celestial.
Can anyone actually do these things? This was surely one of the most shocking and surprising of the Savior's teachings. The Telestial man doesn't love his enemies. He may feel fully justified in seeking revenge. The Terrestrial man may try to forgive his enemies and just avoid them. But Jesus wasn't asking us to only be better than the natural man. He was teaching us a higher law. He wants us to love our enemies. To pray for them. To do good to them. To be Celestial.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Our Leaders
The Savior has been teaching and instructing the twelve who he called to be the leaders over the Nephites. Now He turns to the people and says:
dBlessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have echosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants;
Here we have instructions to the people as well as to the leaders. We are told to give heed to their words. We do this by paying attention when they speak and pondering how to incorporate their teachings into our lives. Our local leaders deserve our attention as well as the General Authorities. Our Stake Conference is coming up this weekend. It would be good if I would take a notebook and jot down things that touch my heart as they speak, then go home later and ponder on what things I need to change.
Also, we love General Conference, and look forward to receiving the Conference issue of the Ensign. But we need to spend time with each talk, studying, pondering, applying those things we learn. What use is it having living prophets if we don't know what they're saying to us and make changes where the Spirit tells they're needed?
The other instructions here are for the leaders. They are not called to be puffed up or to get glory or to "boss" people around. They are called to "minister" to us and to be our "servants". The Savior gave the example when He washed the disciples' feet. Anyone who holds a leadership position needs to pray constantly that they can bless those they serve and understand their needs and help succor them.
dBlessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have echosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants;
Here we have instructions to the people as well as to the leaders. We are told to give heed to their words. We do this by paying attention when they speak and pondering how to incorporate their teachings into our lives. Our local leaders deserve our attention as well as the General Authorities. Our Stake Conference is coming up this weekend. It would be good if I would take a notebook and jot down things that touch my heart as they speak, then go home later and ponder on what things I need to change.
Also, we love General Conference, and look forward to receiving the Conference issue of the Ensign. But we need to spend time with each talk, studying, pondering, applying those things we learn. What use is it having living prophets if we don't know what they're saying to us and make changes where the Spirit tells they're needed?
The other instructions here are for the leaders. They are not called to be puffed up or to get glory or to "boss" people around. They are called to "minister" to us and to be our "servants". The Savior gave the example when He washed the disciples' feet. Anyone who holds a leadership position needs to pray constantly that they can bless those they serve and understand their needs and help succor them.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Hosanna! Hosanna!
16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did aworship him.
The righteous people, after being able to see and feel and know of Jesus' reality, were overcome with reverence and gratitude. Can you imagine being there, one of the multitude who came "one by one" to feel the prints of the nails in His hands and His feet and thrust their hands into His side? I'm sure that I would also cry out "Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God!" And I would surely fall down and worship Him.
In fact, I now declare: "Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God!" I reverence Him and praise Him with all my heart. I proclaim that He lives! I pray to each day become more like Him. Hosanna!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
