As I read the following statements, I felt a prompting to share them here. In the lectures on faith, Joseph teaches something of great importance at the beginning of the third lecture. He teaches, "Three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation."
He goes on to explain the three points, they are:
1. "The idea that he actually exists."
2. "A correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes."
3. "An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to his will."
Joseph further explains, "For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive, but with this understanding it can become productive and fruitful."
I want to pause and reflect on #3 - this is important!
Do you and I have an actual knowledge that the course of life we're pursuing is according to his will?
If not, why?
If so, wonderful!
We can all recite the common answers verbatim...read the scriptures, pray, etc. The question for each of us is how much effort do we really put into doing these things we so often discuss? When done sincerely and with effort, they will lead us to the Lord.
Let me succinctly summarize it here. Think about the veil experience in the temple, it has all three of these components mentioned in the third lecture preparatory to real faith in God. When we understand his character and attributes and we have an actual knowledge that our course is according to his will, THEN we may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. Then will our faith become productive and fruitful.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
He Beheld not the Filthiness...
Nephi was questioned by his brothers regarding the dream of their father. Nephi was asked what the river of water meant or symbolized.
Nephi's response is found in 1 Nephi 15:27 when he explains, "The water was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water."
Though there are layers of meaning and symbolism in the different analogies, I realized one profound interpretation from the previous scripture.
When his mind was swallowed up in other things, he didn't behold the filthiness of the water. Sometimes, some of us may be considered naive as to the latest slang, video games, or grievous sins of the world...is that a bad thing? Sometimes I'll learn of some horrific violence, someone who violated an office, or some secret work or combination and I'm amazed that such wickedness could actually transpire. How do such situations of awful wickedness ever develop in the first place?
Is our mind focused and oriented on Christ, such that we don't behold the filthiness which surrounds us on every side?
We live in a world of corruption...drugs, pornography, secret combinations, and so on. Although it's important to be aware of those traps and temptations, when we keep our minds focused on Christ and his gospel, we generally don't understand or behold the filthiness of the water - which is a blessing.
This is simply a reminder not to walk up to the waters edge and see how filthy it really is. We don't need to look at the water. Our concern should be to cling to the rod of iron and keep our focus on the tree and its fruit. When we keep our eyes and efforts focused on the tree and its fruit, our minds and spirit are more likely to be swallowed up and we won't behold the filthiness which surrounds us.
Nephi's response is found in 1 Nephi 15:27 when he explains, "The water was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water."
Though there are layers of meaning and symbolism in the different analogies, I realized one profound interpretation from the previous scripture.
When his mind was swallowed up in other things, he didn't behold the filthiness of the water. Sometimes, some of us may be considered naive as to the latest slang, video games, or grievous sins of the world...is that a bad thing? Sometimes I'll learn of some horrific violence, someone who violated an office, or some secret work or combination and I'm amazed that such wickedness could actually transpire. How do such situations of awful wickedness ever develop in the first place?
Is our mind focused and oriented on Christ, such that we don't behold the filthiness which surrounds us on every side?
We live in a world of corruption...drugs, pornography, secret combinations, and so on. Although it's important to be aware of those traps and temptations, when we keep our minds focused on Christ and his gospel, we generally don't understand or behold the filthiness of the water - which is a blessing.
This is simply a reminder not to walk up to the waters edge and see how filthy it really is. We don't need to look at the water. Our concern should be to cling to the rod of iron and keep our focus on the tree and its fruit. When we keep our eyes and efforts focused on the tree and its fruit, our minds and spirit are more likely to be swallowed up and we won't behold the filthiness which surrounds us.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
I Will Be Your Light in the Wilderness
I love the verse in 1 Nephi 17:13 when he says "I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." This verse has great personal application:
- I will be your light in the wilderness: Each of us begins in the wilderness, a place where it's easy to get lost and wander. However, with his light, the way is sure. How many people have been led out of difficult circumstances through "a wilderness"...Moses, Abraham, Lehi, Mulek, Jared, etc.. We each have our own "wilderness".
- I will prepare the way before you: He did so in the case of each name mentioned above. I look back in my life and I'm amazed at how doors seemed to magically open before us in each phase of our life. I'm a living witness that this simple statement is true!
- If it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; This makes the previous statement conditional. When we keep his commandments, he will be our light in the wilderness and prepare the way before us. Do we keep his commandments? How can you and I do better?
- Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall be led towards the promised land: Using the names listed previously, their "promised land" was different for every one of them. Each were led by the Lord, yet ended up in different places. In our journey through mortality, when we keep his commandments, he will lead US to OUR promised land...whatever and wherever that may be. What's important to understand is that it's conditional upon our obedience. Wherever he leads us will be where he wants us and it will be the best place for us to be.
- And ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led: When we've felt his hand guide us and our family and watched the doors open, when the doors were otherwise closed, we CANNOT deny the guide and the source of the light. We can witness that it was by him that we were led.
During the past 14 years, we have moved around the United States and then moved back to Utah about 1 1/2 years ago. As we look back at our journey (even before the 14 years) it's so plain to see his hand leading us from place to place, even until we've ended up where we are now. In our case, doors open when they were closed. Miracles happened. Some may call it coincidence, I'm well past the point where I call things coincidence.
May we allow the Lord to be our light and guide by keeping his commandments and obeying that voice when we hear or feel it.
- I will be your light in the wilderness: Each of us begins in the wilderness, a place where it's easy to get lost and wander. However, with his light, the way is sure. How many people have been led out of difficult circumstances through "a wilderness"...Moses, Abraham, Lehi, Mulek, Jared, etc.. We each have our own "wilderness".
- I will prepare the way before you: He did so in the case of each name mentioned above. I look back in my life and I'm amazed at how doors seemed to magically open before us in each phase of our life. I'm a living witness that this simple statement is true!
- If it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; This makes the previous statement conditional. When we keep his commandments, he will be our light in the wilderness and prepare the way before us. Do we keep his commandments? How can you and I do better?
- Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall be led towards the promised land: Using the names listed previously, their "promised land" was different for every one of them. Each were led by the Lord, yet ended up in different places. In our journey through mortality, when we keep his commandments, he will lead US to OUR promised land...whatever and wherever that may be. What's important to understand is that it's conditional upon our obedience. Wherever he leads us will be where he wants us and it will be the best place for us to be.
- And ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led: When we've felt his hand guide us and our family and watched the doors open, when the doors were otherwise closed, we CANNOT deny the guide and the source of the light. We can witness that it was by him that we were led.
During the past 14 years, we have moved around the United States and then moved back to Utah about 1 1/2 years ago. As we look back at our journey (even before the 14 years) it's so plain to see his hand leading us from place to place, even until we've ended up where we are now. In our case, doors open when they were closed. Miracles happened. Some may call it coincidence, I'm well past the point where I call things coincidence.
May we allow the Lord to be our light and guide by keeping his commandments and obeying that voice when we hear or feel it.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
For He That Diligently Seeketh
I love the words of Nephi. He made a powerful statement in 1 Nephi 10:19 when he exclaimed,
What is "diligently" mean for you and me? Is it 5 or 10 minutes a day reading the scriptures? Is a few minutes of prayer morning and night sufficient?
"For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..."
I pose an introspective question for anyone who might read this:
What is "diligently" mean for you and me? Is it 5 or 10 minutes a day reading the scriptures? Is a few minutes of prayer morning and night sufficient?
If a team is diligently preparing for an upcoming game, they tend to put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into their preparation...do we seek the Lord with that level of diligence?
Nephi later goes on to say in 2 Nephi 9:30,
"Their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their God. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also."
Where do you and I set our hearts? Do we have any "treasure" aside from the one true God? If so, does that treasure prevent us from diligently seeking him?
Nephi was able to see our day and the trials and tribulations we would pass through. His counsel is wise and inspired and we would be wise to hearken to these verses, set aside our "treasure", and diligently seek the Lord.
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