Magnify

Jacob and Joseph magnified their calling to teach the people. They taught the word of God “with all diligence …, by laboring with [their] might” (Jacob 1:19).   I set out to see how that applied to me.  I believe I need to make the most of my callings and ponder how those programs can bless the lives of those I serve.

This is from Teaching, No Greater Call:
As you magnify your calling to teach, the Lord will magnify you. President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “There can be no failure in the work of the Lord when [we] do [our] best. We are but instruments; this is the Lord’s work. This is His Church, His gospel plan. These are His children we are working with. He will not permit us to fail if we do our part. He will magnify us even beyond our own talents and abilities when necessary. This I know. I am sure many of you have experienced it as I have. It is one of the sweetest experiences that can come to a human being” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 372).

Then in my search I landed on an article on how to magnify our callings while simplifying our lives and not making extra work for ourselves that takes time away from our families.  We don't necessarily need to get carried away in handouts and decorations that really don't add to the spirituality of the meeting.

“May I give you a word of caution as you plan your activities. Make sure that the essential needs are met, but do not go overboard in creating so many good things to do that the essential ones are not accomplished. … Remember, don’t magnify the work to be done—simplify it.” Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Doctrinal Foundation of the Auxiliaries,” Ensign, Aug. 2005, 67.

So we need to keep in mind that there should be a balance.  We do need to magnify our callings in finding ways to bless the lives of those we serve, but we also need to focus on what's important and not be "distracted from the essentials by adding unnecessary work that takes us away from our families or causes us undue stress. There must be a balance in all things. If we pray to know how the Lord would have us magnify our callings, He will help us do so."  Ensign, December 2005

Having First Obtained Mine Errand From the Lord.

Jacob and his brother Joseph were consecrated by Nephi to be teachers for the people of Nephi. In Jacob 1:17, Jacob says:

Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.

What does that mean for me in my life?  Can't I just go do some good things on my own?  The scriptures tell us that we should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, but if we are representing the Lord, we must be called and set apart or anointed.  Then as we carry out that calling we need to be sure that we are inspired to do the things the Lord wants done.

In my calling in Relief Society as meeting coordinator, I have great leeway in planning our meetings.  I have no manual or lesson outline, only guidelines.  I need to make sure that our committee plan those things that the Lord wants for our Relief Society sisters to uplift and teach and inspire them, to bless their lives.

I Must Obey

Nephi was an amazing prophet and leader.  As a youth, he was faithful and obedient, courageous and steadfast.  He faced many challenges throughout his life, but always, always he followed the Lord, no matter how difficult.  Now we see him at the close of his life, standing as a witness this final time, bearing testimony and teaching his people.  If I could ever attempt to follow his example, I should first adopt his final saying:  I must obey.

I've memorized this verse from this 33rd chapter of 2nd Nephi because it personifies Nephi, and touches my soul on a deep level:  I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

I love Nephi.  I want to be like him. 

Russell M. Nelson said:
“Nephi was a multifaceted genius. Endowed with great physical stature, he was a prophet, teacher, ruler, colonizer, builder, craftsman, scholar, writer, poet, military leader, and father of nations. Nephi had a sincere desire to know the mysteries of God. He became a special witness and trusted prophet of the Lord.

“Nephi lived an adventurous life and faced numerous difficulties. Some of the challenges he faced included fleeing Jerusalem, building a ship, crossing the waters to the promised land, colonizing, withstanding persecution, fulfilling family and leadership responsibilities, and keeping records. Toward the end of his inspiring life Nephi wrote his concluding testimony and bore witness of the doctrine of Christ, the power of the Holy Ghost, and the truthfulness of the words he had written. Appropriately, his final testimony closed with the words that could be known as his signature: ‘I must obey.’

“Few have spoken so profoundly in behalf of one generation to another. Indeed, Nephi’s life and mission were destined to bless us and all people of our day.” (Heroes from the Book of Mormon, p. 16)

Esteem Them As Things of Naught.

Nephi tells us in 2 Nephi 33:2 that many people will harden their hearts against the things which he has written and against the Holy Spirit, "wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught."

And Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It's obvious that Nephi and Paul are not talking about us, but about other people - those wicked who are not church members and who don't love the Lord.  But what might it mean to "esteem [things] as things of naught"?  Could it be possible that WE might be showing by our actions that we think the things of God are foolishness?

I learned in Education Week that foolishness can mean insignificant or unimportant.  Obviously, we don't esteem the teachings of the prophets as foolishness.  Or do we?

Our priorities in how we use our time may tell a different tale than our lip service.  Things that are unimportant or insignificant would get the least of our time.  Obviously our families and our work have to take a lot of our time because they are important and significant.  But don't we have a little spare time to do things WE want to do?  Is there time to watch TV or surf the net?  Do we have time for FaceBook and Pinterest?  How much of our time is spent in the scriptures in proportion to other things in our lives?  If it's only a few minutes or a few verses, are we showing Heavenly Father that we esteem his words as "things of naught"?  As insignificant or unimportant?

Conversations with Heavenly Father - Understanding the Answers

Learning what to ask for, and how and when to ask our Heavenly Father are important lessons to learn.  But learning to understand the answers that we receive is another difficult lesson.

Dee Barrett is the Institute director at the USU Institute and taught at Education Week.  The things he taught about prayer have really given me cause for reflection.  Using the story of the brother of Jared as an example, he taught about three kinds of answers to prayers.  When the brother of Jared was instructed to build barges so that his people could cross the great ocean, he followed instructions and got them built, but came back to the Lord with 3 problems.  (Ether 2:19)

1. There is no light
2. We can't steer
3. We can't breathe.

The Lord answered each of these problems in a different way.

Pattern #1 - Behold thou shalt - In answer to "we can't breathe", the Lord instructed the brother of Jared in verse 20 to solve the problem by putting a hole in the top and the bottom and unstopping the hole if they ran out of air.  (Brother Barrett mentioned some different theories about how the barges were constructed which would explain how this solution might have worked.)  The Lord uses this pattern when we can't find an answer in any other way.  He just lays out the solution for us. His inspiration will "occupy [our] mind, and press itself upon [our] feelings . . .(D&C128:1)  We might be impressed to do something but not know exactly what.  If we're patient and keep listening, the answer will come.  Many times the answer will come a bit at a time.  When we have followed through on what we have been given, then we should return and report and ask for inspiration for the next step.

Pattern #2 - What will ye that I should do?  In Ether 2:22, the brother of Jared returned and reported on his progress with the barge problem.  He asked the Lord what to do about the lack of light in the barges.  He was willing to do whatever the Lord required, including making the trip in darkness, if that was what was necessary.  The Lord responded by asking, "What will ye that I should do . . .?"  The Lord explained the parameters of the problem, i.e. no fire, no windows, etc.  Then He turned the problem back over to B of J.

This answer is the hardest for us to discern and the hardest to work through, but we should be grateful when this is the answer that comes to us, because it shows the Lord's faith in us.  He expects us to use our creativity, to "study it out".  Elder Scott said: "What do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? You may want to express thanks when that occurs, for it is an evidence of His trust." (March 1997)  He also said:  "When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His commandments, and a willingness to act on truth. We are expected to assume accountability by acting on a decision that is consistent with His teachings without prior confirmation. We are not to sit passively waiting or to murmur because the Lord has not spoken. We are to act."  (October 1989)
He's teaching us here that we need to move forward with our best plans, asking for direction as we move.  If we're going in the wrong direction, the Lord will prompt us to stop.  Here's what Elder Scott had to say about it.  "When you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior’s teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. As you are sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, one of two things will certainly occur at the appropriate time: either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an improper choice, or the peace or the burning in the bosom will be felt, confirming that your choice was correct. When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision."  (Ensign May 07)

Elder Packer teaches something similar:  "We believe in continuing revelation, not continuous revelation. We are often left to work out problems without the dictation or specific direction of the Spirit. That is part of the experience we must have in mortality. Fortunately, we are never out of our Savior’s sight, and if our judgment leads us to actions beyond the limits of what is permissible and if we are listening to the still, small voice, the Lord will restrain us by the promptings of his Spirit."


Pattern #3 - He will handle it.  There are times when the Lord just tells to stand back and watch.  In this case, B of J was told that they wouldn't need to steer the barges.   "For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth. And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come." (Ether 2:24-25)   And in D&C 123:17, the Lord says: " . . . stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."  The Lord steered the barges.  Sometimes in our lives, the Lord steers and we walk in faith.

New Insights Into Prayer - Asking and Seeking

"Prayer" is the word we use to describe the communication with our Heavenly Father. President Hinckley said, “Your daily conversations with him will bring peace into your hearts and a joy into your lives that can come from no other source."  It truly is a sacred privilege, but I have to confess that most of my prayers throughout my life have felt less like communication and more like a soliloquy.  Education Week has helped change that, and I want to share some of the ideas that are helping me to improve my prayers.

Instructor David Bean, who teaches institute and supervises seminaries in Boston, said that he doesn't start praying until he feels the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  This was a new thought for me, although it is something that most people probably know and take for granted.  I've always just started praying, and although I had real intent and worthy desires, I seldom felt that anything was really happening.  Now I try to remember to wait for a minute or two until I feel the Spirit of the Lord, and then go on with my prayer.  Sometimes when I forget and just plow into the prayer, as soon as I remember, I pause and wait for that feeling.

This has made a huge difference in my prayers.  I may be using much the same words as before, but the joy of feeling the Spirit has made my prayers such a spiritual feast!

The Bible Dictionary has some wonderful information on prayer, and contains this thought:  "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them."  Brother Bean said that God may have a blessing for you that has your name on it, but He will not grant it to you unless you ask for it.  He will not interfere with our agency or the agency of those we're praying for.

We need to be sure we are asking for those things that are the will of the Lord.  This we do by finding out through the Savior what His will is.  The Bible Dictionary says:  We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when his words abide in us (John 15:7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart.
 
When we have invited the Spirit and are seeking to pray for those things He has in store for us, it's OK for us to ask Him what we should ask for.  We may ask, "What question should I be asking right now?"  This question came from Barry Ewell in his class on Family History, but it can apply to all areas of our lives.

My next post will be about how the Lord answers those prayers.

This is the Way - Part 2; Receiving the Holy Ghost

In Part 1 I discussed baptism as the gate through which we enter our Father's kingdom.  We must have faith in Christ and accept Him with our whole hearts and without reservation.  We must desire and resolve to become like Him.  We must love Him, and our hearts must lean towards Him.  Then we will be alarmed to have Him see all the places in our lives and hearts where we fall short.  We are uncomfortable about approaching Him in prayer when we have these glaring faults and sins and habits that look so ugly in comparison to Him.  So we resolve to repent.  We work on doing better.  We ask for His help.  We get help from our scripture study, and over time we change and grow.

We repented before we were baptized, but building faith in Christ and repenting are cycles we go through over and over again as we cycle upwards towards exaltation.  As we do these things we are rewarded with the Gift and Spirit of the Holy Ghost.

We can receive the Spirit of the Holy Ghost as a testimony of truth before we're baptized, but that gift is temporary.  Only after our baptism can we be blessed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  That doesn't mean He will always remain with us, especially if we wander from the path and let go of the iron rod.  He will warn us of the danger and prompt us to return, but the scriptures say that the Spirit will not always strive with man.  We must constantly repent if we want to retain the power and influence and sweet presence of the Holy Ghost.

Boyd K. Packer said this about the Gift of the Holy Ghost:  

“Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

“… I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;

“And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive” (D&C 11:12–14).

“You will know after you decide! It takes an exercise of faith. You may not know at first and have that firm conviction, but it will come.”

In an Education Week class taught by Doug Hart, a seminary teacher from Herriman, he taught that the Lord gives and we receive.  James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  The Lord gives many things.  In the above verse, the Lord gives wisdom.  See 2 Nephi 28:30, 2 Nephi 31:3, Alma 12:9-10, Alma 26:22, D&C 121:26, 2 Cor 4:6, 2 Tim 2:7, D&C 5:12-13.  The Lord gives light, understanding, peace, power, guidance and direction, desire, joy, eternal life.  And what a great blessing it is that after baptism, He gives us the gift of the Holy Ghost.

But He doesn't force us to take it, nor does He force us to receive any of the gifts He gives us.  He will never take away our agency.  We must choose to receive His gifts.  Brother Hart said that we are cups, and we can choose to be cups up or cups down.  To receive means to take into one's possession something offered or delivered.  "The directive in 2 Nephi 32:5 is that we must receive the Holy Ghost. This means not just receive the gift of the Holy Ghost but to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost through righteous living and frequent involvement in activities which give the opportunity for the Holy Ghost to whisper in his still, small voice. If we do this, we have the promise that He will show us all things that we should do."  http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/bomindex.html

I explained it to Acell this way:  The UPS driver may have a package for me, so he brings it to the doorstep and sets it on the porch, rings the doorbell, and leaves.  But if I don't answer the door and bring the package in and open it, the package does me no good.  I can sit inside the house all day and wish I had the contents, or try to do without it.  To receive any benefit from it, I must open the door and accept the package.

Of course, my analogy breaks down because the Lord doesn't drop off His gifts and leave.  He's more like the driver who requires a signature (a covenant), so He waits at the door until I come and accept the gift.  Here are some scriptures about receiving, in case you're not convinced:  D&C 50::19-20; D&C 39:5; D&C 42:5; D&C 50:24; D&C 71:5-6; Jacob 3:2; 1 Cor 2:14; JST Matt 13:10-11.

The gifts from our Father are there for us if we seek them, but we must receive them with gladness and put them to use and treat them with respect.  If Father's gifts are taken for granted or ignored or set aside or misused, He will cease to give us His gifts.  That especially includes the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We must respond and listen to the Holy Ghost, acting on promptings, in order to qualify to receive more.  I know this is true and I'm striving every day to learn to be more sensitive to the Spirit and to act when prompted.