Why Obey the Law?

We can learn a great lesson from the Lamanites. After the different factions of the Lamanites were converted and they joined into one body, they said this about the Law of Moses (Alma 25:16):

"Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation."

It illustrates an important doctrine. Why do we keep the laws and commandments? The laws and commandments in and of themselves won't save us. However, just as the law of Moses was essential to the Lamanites, our current laws and commandments are essential to us. Just as it was 2000 years ago, our laws and ordinances are designed to point us towards Christ. The Lamanites kept the law and it "strengthened their faith in Christ." If we look carefully, each law should strengthen our faith in Christ and point us towards him:

Law of Chastity - Keeps us clean from sin that destroys families and marriages. Will free our mind to dwell on the things of God rather than the lustful thoughts of the world. When virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly, then shall our confidence wax strong in his presence.

The Word of Wisdom - Will free our mind and body from destructive addictions. I have a good friend who's a dentist and returned missionary. He's currently spending 90 days in Florida at a rehabilitation clinic because of an addiction. He's a good man, but this addiction was threatening to destroy him. This law allows us to maintain a clear mind and intellect which then allows the Spirit to work upon us.

Tithing and other donations - Teaches us to always put the Lord first. Is just the beginning when discussing the law of Sacrifice. This puts us in a position to know that we're putting the Lord above money, although this is only the beginning.

The Sacrament - We often underestimate this one. At the end of the Sacrament prayer the promise is that we can have his Spirit to be with us always. That was the primary piece of advice Joseph gave to Brigham and others when he visited them from beyond the veil, "tell the saints to get the Spirit."

These are just a few examples of how the law and commandments point us towards Christ. One more interesting question, is it possible to do all these things and still have Christ far from the thoughts and intents of our hearts? In my opinion, the answer to this question is an obvious YES.

So, the reason for this entry is to remind us that we keep the law to point our hearts and minds to Christ. HOWEVER, in addition to keeping the law, we need to become like Him. Our thoughts and actions need to be aligned with his thoughts and actions. The Lamanites kept the law, but they understood that it ultimately came down to their faith in Christ and that the law was designed to strengthen that faith and open the pathway to personal communication to heaven.

I invite us all to not make the laws and commandments a checklist, but rather, allow them to strengthen our faith in Christ and help us develop charity towards all men and especially towards the household of faith.

What is Love?

It's always interesting to read various blog posts and forums to see the different opinions.  I recently read a comment discussing love and it's not the first time I've seen this type of comment. The comment more or less said, "Some people say is all I have to do is learn to "love", it's all about "love" and I disagree."

I don't want to mince words and get caught up in semantics, I see where this person is probably coming from.

From my experience, I've glimpsed beyond the veil enough to know that everything there IS love. It's indescribable, that type of love doesn't exist on earth (I've never experienced it in marriage or with my children, although I love them immensely). When we get to those realms, maybe we'll get used to it somehow, but love is in and through all things, it's consuming, it's overwhelming, I would give all that I possess and am to experience that type of love, even periodically. No language is adequate to describe it. That is what heaven is about, LOVE!

So, let me share my answer to this question...What is love?

It IS all about love.
- Think about it, if we're filled with the pure love of Christ, is there any question about whether chastity is an issue?
- If we're filled with love, is there any question about whether or not we'll sacrifice/consecrate our time and talents?
- If we're filled with love, is there any question about how we'll treat our bodies, treat others, etc?
- If we're filled with love, is there any question about whether to attend church and take the sacrament, worship in the temple, etc.?

If we're filled with love, then our actions will follow and become an afterthought. It's like the night follows day. In fact, I can't think of a single commandment that isn't designed to turn our hearts to Christ in an effort to increase our love.

If we were capable, would there really be a necessity of further commandments if we REALLY lived the two great commandments (certainly there would still be covenants and ordinances, I get it)?

Our great mission is to put off the natural man. To become like Christ. To take upon us his name. To seek his embrace and treat others as he would treat them. It really is all about love, Christ was the ultimate example of love. There is no guile or selfishness in him. Time after time he set aside his owns wants to serve others.

It's easy to write about in a blog, it's a totally different issue to really APPLY this idea to our lives. I invite us all to focus on loving others...our family, those who have wronged us in some way, strangers, and anyone else we come in contact with. Let us listen, serve, and find a way to love those whom we're put in contact with during our mortal probation!

As If a Dream...

We just returned from a wonderful family reunion. Many times throughout my life I've been awakened to our fragile state and I'm very conscious of how quickly time will pass us by. I saw pictures of great-great grandparents, many of whom passed away decades ago.

Once again I realized how precious our time on earth really is. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the small or trivial things. Some of those things might APPEAR to be important, but they'll be a distant memory once we cross the veil.

What are you and I doing with the time we have left on earth?

How can we make better use of our time?

Is our time spent on things of eternal significance?

Jacob said something very similar, "I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream" (Jacob 7:26)

Years ago my grandma appeared to my mother and told her that this life will pass by so quickly and that it would only be a short time before we're together again.

As I renew my efforts to serve the Lord and be a righteous husband and father, I hope he'll be pleased with my efforts. I hope that my legacy to my children is one of faith, service, and love. We never know when it might be our last minute or day, so let's make the best of it while we have it!

On the Lighter Side...

My brother shared this with me today. I thought it was too funny and certainly worth sharing. Hopefully you have a sense of humor and can enjoy a nice laugh...I'm sure they would do the same if they watched the video themselves. 

Enjoy!

If the Savior Stood Beside Me

My 11 year old son and I were driving to his soccer practice this morning and he asked me what my favorite primary song was. I responded and then asked him about his favorite. He said, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". He went on to explain that this was his favorite because it made him think about his thoughts and actions. He would ask himself, "Is this something I would do if the Savior really was beside me?" 

I was proud of him for thinking about the words, for asking important questions, and being willing to talk about it and share his feelings. He caused me to think and realize how right he was. 

Would we do many of the things we do if the Savior really was beside us?

I've attached two separate videos of his favorite hymn. Both videos are wonderful. Also, the words to the song are listed below. As you read them, I invite you to ponder the questions asked in this powerful primary hymn:

1. If the Savior stood beside me,
would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments,
and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example?
Would I live more righteously
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me?

2. If the Savior stood beside me,
would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind
if He was never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel?
Would I speak more rev’rently
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me?

3. He is always near me,
though I do not see Him there,
And because He loves me dearly,
I am in His watchful care.
So I’ll be the kind of person
that I know I’d like to be
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me.

A Great Story: The Room

We had two missionaries departing this week for the MTC. During their talks on Sunday, one of them shared this poem called "The Room". I thought it was a powerful story and decided to share it here.

ORIGINATION OF THE STORY:
Summary of eRumor:  
This long email is in two parts.  The first part describes 17-year-old-Brian Moore, a student who was a part of a group of Christian athletes.  In preparation for leading a discussion at one of the meetings, he wrote an essay that he titled "The Room."  Two months later, Brian was dead.  He had a traffic accident, which he survived, but was electrocuted when he stepped on some downed power lines.  The remainder of the first part of the email talks about what a quality guy Brian was and how much it meant to have "The Room" as a part of his legacy.   The second part of the email is the essay itself, a very moving description of a dream in which he experiences a sobering review of his life and a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ.

 The Truth:
"The Room" was actually written by speaker and author Joshua Harris and is in his book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye."  He says it was something that he put on paper as the result of a dream he had while in Puerto Rico for the 1995 Billy Graham Crusade and published in his magazine the same year.  Interestingly, Brian Moore was also real.  He did attend the high school described in the eRumor and lost his life as the result of a traffic accident shortly after having presented "The Room" for the meeting of Christian athletes.  His friends and family believed that he had written it and the story about Brian was passed along to others sincerely.  Joshua Harris told TruthOrFiction.com that he appreciates people getting the facts straight about the origins of "The Room" but is more concerned that people hear the message of the story than knowing who actually wrote it.

"THE ROOM":
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room.
There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with
small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list
titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which
stretched from floor to ceiling and right to left as far as the eye could
see, had very different headings.

As I walked up to the wall of files,the first to catch my attention was one
that read, "People I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the
cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names
written on each one. And then, without being told, I knew exactly where I
was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my
entire life. The actions of my every moment, big and small, were written in
a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, mixed
with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and
exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories, others a sense
of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if
anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed". The
titles ranged from common, everyday things to the not-so-common-"Books I
Have Read", "Lies I Have Told", "Comfort I Have Given", "Jokes I Have
Laughed At". Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I Have
Yelled At My Brothers and Sisters." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I
Have Done in Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents".
I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more
cards than I expected. Sometimes less than I had hoped.

The sheer volume of the life I had lived overwhelmed me. Could it be
possible that I had time in my 17 years to write each of these thousands or
millions of cards? But each card confirmed the truth. Each card was written
in my own handwriting. Each card was signed with my signature. When I pulled
out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To", I realized the files grew to
contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or
three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so
much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew
that file represented. When I came to the file marked "Lustful

Thoughts"; I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an
inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its
detailed content. I felt sick to think such a moment had been recorded.

A feeling of humiliation and anger ran through my body. One thought
dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see
this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy, I yanked the file
out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But
as I took the file at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could
not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only
to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly
helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the
wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

That was when I saw it. The file bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel
With". The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I
pulled on its handle and a small box not more than 3 inches long fell into
my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the
tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my
stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of
shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves
swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I
must lock it up and hide the key.

Then as I looked up through my tears, I saw Him enter the room. No, please
not Him. Not here. Anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to
open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response.
The few times I looked at His face I saw such sadness that it tore at my
heart. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did he have to
read every one?

Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me
with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped
my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked
over and put his arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He
didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of
the room, He took out a file, and, one by one began to sign His name over
mine on each card. "No!" I shouted, rushing to Him. All I could find to say
was "No, no", as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these
cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name
of Jesus covered mine. It was written in blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the
cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the
next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my
side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood
up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on the door. There were

still cards to be written.

World Wide Leadership Conference

I attended the Stake Center where I was able to watch the Worldwide Leadership Training (which was really for everyone). In my opinion, the fireside was fabulous and I highly recommend that everyone take two hours to watch it. 

It can be viewed on lds.org or you can click this link: http://bcove.me/appf66hg

There are several "take-away's":

1. What can I do to be a more effective missionary in sharing the gospel with those around me?

2. What can my wife and I do to prepare our children to be missionaries who are effective and teach by the power of the spirit?

3. We already have a family mission plan, but one thing I've learned from experience is that when we're asking the Lord for missionary opportunities, they will come. How often are we praying for missionary opportunities...daily, weekly, monthly???

I loved the videos they used during the fireside and was inspired by several comments made. No matter where we labor, we don't need a "calling" to spread the gospel. In fact, it's our COMMISSION that we each received when we were baptized.

I love the gospel and this great work!

A Heavenly Gift to a Child

See if you can watch this video and keep your eyes dry...stinking onions!

I'm reminded of what the Savior said to the Nephites, "And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought." (3 Nephi 17:11)

These are the stories I love hearing about...that which is most important and will impact a young girl and family forever!

Temple Names

This is a short and simple post. Yesterday morning we were in the Provo Temple waiting for our session to begin. I noticed the man next to me who took out a pen and wrote down the information for the name he had that day (the name was provided by the temple).

I don't know why he wrote the name, but it sparked a couple of ideas in my own mind:
1. What if we were to take a few minutes after the temple to research the name of the person who we just did the work for? Maybe we wouldn't find anything, but what if we were able to actually learn who the person was? Wouldn't that make the experience more personal?

2. I don't know if this idea would really be worth it, but I wonder if it would be interesting to keep the names, birthplace, and birth date on an excel spreadsheet? Wouldn't that be interesting to go back after 10 years and look at all the different names, dates, and locations where they lived?

I wanted to post that observation, it was interesting and I hadn't ever thought about doing something like that before.

The Mountains...A Sacred Place.

I was at lunch with a good friend several months ago and he rhetorically asked, "Where is your sacred grove?" I've actually thought a lot about that question.

With that question in the background, it's always been refreshing and inspiring to retreat to the mountains, especially on a mild Spring or Fall day - both seasons have their distinct beauty.

There is something special about being out in nature and the spiritual closeness that seems to happen there, it becomes a type of temple. Is it any wonder that the word "mountain" is often referred to or compared to a temple...e.g. "get ye up to the mountain of the Lord."? Is it any wonder that some of the most memorable experiences for young men or young women in the church are during their trips into nature?

Reflect on those who were ministered to by Christ after retreating to the mountains: Nephi, Abraham, Moses, Enos, Ether, Joseph Smith, and so on.

I've always loved the words of Nephi, "I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and did oft pray unto the Lord, wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things."

Today I rode up on the mountain with my 4 wheeler and took these two pictures with my phone. It takes about 20 minutes to get to this area from our house. It's serene, peaceful, humans rarely leave their mark there, and it's quiet. The only noise are the insects, birds, and wind blowing across the ridge. It really does feel like a temple and has become a "sacred grove" in certain ways.

I would encourage anyone who wants a special experience to take some time and go into the mountains (or some place of nature if there aren't mountains nearby). There is a special closeness when we ponder and pray in the mountains. Remember, this is where many of the ancients had the veil parted.

P.S. I added a picture from two days ago that I took in our backyard. Spring is such a beautiful time of year...rebirth and renewal!

A Pre-Requisite to Progress

King Benjamin goes on to teach his listener's something critical to their spiritual progression. As the people listened, "They had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men." (Mosiah 4:2)

Viewing themselves in their own carnal state, less than the dust of the earth, was a significant step in the mental and spiritual transformation for these people who were already disciples, at least to a certain degree (because they at least made the effort to come up and pitch their tents towards the temple).

After the people had spoken those words, the Spirit of the Lord came upon them and they were "filled with joy and had a peace of conscience." (Mosiah 4:3)

King Benjamin then taught that if we continue to view ourselves in our own carnal state and look to the Lord in all things then (Mosiah 4:10-14):
- We'll no longer have a mind to injure one another.
- We'll be filled with the love of God.
- We'll retain a remission of our sins.
- We'll grow in the knowledge of the glory of him who created us.
- We won't suffer our children to go hungry or quarrel one with another.

If you've read my posts, you'll know that I always apply these teaching to myself and use these teachings as an opportunity to ask introspective questions. I pose this question:

- Do we REALLY see ourselves in our own carnal state?
If not, what actions can we take to see ourselves in that true state?

For the people who listened to King Benjamin, this was the beginning of a wonderful spiritual manifestation and transformation for them. This is what can really help us draw near to God and bring about the same experience for us today - when we realize that without him and the Atonement, we really are nothing.

The law and the Atonement

King Benjamin taught something so applicable and important to his people.  What he was teaching over 2000 years ago, applies to us today and is vital to understand if we expect to be fully converted to the Lord.

In Mosiah 3:15, he teaches something the Pharisees never grasped, "Many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; also the holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood."

A few years later, Abinadi asked the Priests of Noah a pertinent question, "Does salvation come by the law of Moses?" (Mosiah 12:31)  

Abinadi went on to answer his own question saying, "There was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of our God and their duty towards him. They did not all understand the law; for they understood not that there could be no man saved except it were through the redemption of God." (Mosiah 13:30-32).

Both King Benjamin and Abinadi taught that although they kept the law to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, it was the atonement of the Lord that brings redemption.

I pose a couple of introspective questions: 

1. Do the current commandments and ordinances we live and obey have the power to save (sacrament, temple ordinances, etc.)?

2. Do we obey the law simply to obey the law?

These are great questions that I ask myself personally. I would suggest that part of the answer is that we as a people tend to hearden our hearts and rely on the ordinances and commandments as the answer. Sometimes I (we) fail to remember that those laws and ordinances are there to point our hearts to Christ.

What he really wants is my (our) heart!  Rather than following a checklist of what I'm doing and not doing, he simply wants a loving, charitable, and willing heart from me as an individual.

If I (we) am fully converted to him, then living each of these commandments becomes a simple byproduct of my fidelity, love and obedience to him. 

This is what King Benjamin was teaching his people. Salvation comes through the atonement and it is through the atonement we are saved. We keep the laws because we're obedient, but it's a constant search of how we can give our heart to the Lord and be filled with his love - his love roots out all evil and has the power to save!

What Is a Prophet?

First, I sustain the First Presidency and member of the Twelve as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators. When I sustain them, I believe that they hold the keys of the administration of the church and have a heavy burden to carry. They have a great responsibility in managing the affairs of the church in a very secular world.

With that context regarding administration, I ask the question: What is a prophet? Is it exclusive to a calling?

According to John the Beloved, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy". According to Elder McConkie, "Every person who receives revelation so that he knows, independent of any other source, of the divine Sonship of the Savior, has, by definition and in the very nature of things, the spirit of prophecy and is a prophet."

In Numbers 11:29 it states "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!"

In this sense, becoming a prophet wouldn't authorize us to organize a Stake or set up a Mission. However, it is a requisite for exaltation for each of us to become a prophet. In other words, to know that Jesus is the Christ...to know that independent of any other source and thereby become a prophet in bearing witness of him and his mission.

How glorious it would be if we as a people were prophets in the sense that we could bear a witness of his reality, testify of his mission, and be filled with the spirit of prophecy!

Receive the Holy Ghost

I'll cite Nephi's words in the beginning of 2 Nephi 32.

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost" and at the same time we're told that once we receive the Holy Ghost "ye could speak with the tongue of angels." In other words, what allows an angel to speak with such power and conviction are when they speak the words of Christ and they are carried to the listener by the "power of the Holy Ghost."

If man has the potential to speak with the tongue of angels (in other words, by the same power) then we have to acquire that power by "feasting upon the words of Christ that will tell us all things what we should do." When we feast upon the words of Christ, we'll find individual instruction and direction to "bring us into the light." To summarize the words of Nephi, "this is the doctrine of Christ."

How easily is that spirit offended? How easily will he depart from us and we lose that power? If we pray, feast upon the words of Christ, and follow the individual instruction we receive, then we can have the Holy Ghost as a guide and companion and speak with the tongue of angels.

Doubt - An effective tool of the Adversary

A very effective tool of the adversary is doubt. He tried to use that tactic on Christ multiple times.

Matthew 4 - Multiple times Lucifer tempts the Savior and says "IF  thou be the Son of God..." He tried to cast doubt into the Son of God.

Luke 23:37-40 (JST): The adversary, acting through soldiers and the malefactor who was crucified with Christ, again tried to instil doubt into the Savior during those crushing final moments on the cross when they said, "IF thou be the Christ, save thyself."

There are many ways he can try to instil doubt into us as individuals. These might be a few examples:

- You're not worthy to serve in this calling.

- Do you think a perfect Heavenly Father will really answer your prayers, after all you've done?

- You shouldn't be associating with these people, they're so much better than you, you could never measure up to them.

- Others may be noble and great and may see and hear wonderful things, but you can't attain that, it's out of your reach.

- You didn't really confess that sin, you're not forgiven. The Lord can forgive others, but you can't be forgiven of that. Your life has been to dark.

and so on...

The message of the gospel is the opposite of doubt and fear.  In 3 Nephi 9:14, the voice of the Lord says, "If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."

The invitation to come is extended to all, no matter how dark the past or seemingly real the doubt may be, Christ has carried that burden and he overcame. Some of the vilest sinners have turned and become the greatest missionaries: Paul, Alma, Ammon, and so on.

When we look to Christ, there should be no room for doubt in our mind. I invite you and I to cast away any misgivings or doubt and turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart. When we do, we shall conquer the enemy of all righteousness and not give into his doubt filled temptations!