It caught my attention

I was working on a Christmas Christ-centered ABC book and looking for pictures of the Savior when I came across a blog. The article is well written and worth reading.

http://www.reallifeanswers.org/2011/04/21/passion-week-the-garden-of-gethsemane/

The Basics from Moroni

Our family scripture study for the last little bit has been in Moroni, at Allen's request. I haven't decided if this is because of Moroni on the tops of the temples or why, but Allen always wants to ready Moroni. So we started in Chapter 1 and have read through Chapter 6 now. We dissect the big words and often turn to the internet to define words I can't define, like supplicate, to the understanding of my children. It is in Chapter 6 that Moroni talks about baptism and church meetings. I had always wondered why we don't just have Sacrament. It is obviously the most important meeting we go to, so why have the others? It doesn't specifically address and give direction for something like Primary, but it has this great saying of why we go, " And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls. (Moroni 6:5) While it may not seem like Primary addresses this concern, I think it does. Jennifer came home with thoughts on the temple and wanting to feel the peace there that's different than at church. Or Sunday school where we learned what an idiot Jeroboam was in the Old Testament (he got scared, didn't do what the Lord told him to, and then was overthrown by the people!). Both those examples have lessons, though I like to think perhaps I'm not as important as Jeroboam because I'd rather not be killed quite that way, but the lesson of obeying - sticks.

Other chapters in Moroni talk about the sacrament, including in them the sacrament prayers, Chapters 4 and 5. We haven't read beyond 6 yet, so I'll just share what stood out to me this morning. I've been thinking of it all day. So in verse 4 it says that when we choose to get baptized, that we are made clean and 'numbered' among the members of the Church of Christ and 'remembered and nourished by the word of God.' Nourished, now there's a thought. Of coarse our bodies need nourishment to stay healthy, and our minds need to be nourished to stay useful, but be nourished by the word of God? What a thought. It makes logical sense to assume that what we put in (good or bad) will also be what we get out, but to take time to be nourished by God - not by the universe, not by the power through mother earth or the movement of stars - but from God, himself. I don't think I've ever read more of a testimony of His ability to speak to me.

Then verse 7 talks about consequences (which were kind of a bummer so I don't want to dwell on them, but it'd be good for you to read them). And verse 8 says as many times as I seek forgiveness with real intent, I'll be forgiven. Being a parent, I can only imagine how much that's gotta stink for Heavenly Father. How many times do you think he goes, "Catherine! What were you thinking?!" And still He loves. And still He forgives. Amazing. Such a short chapter, only 9 verses. So much hope, so much love... for someone like ... me. And you.

A moment to discover

We were talking in family home evening on Monday night about the 4 books that as Latter Day Saints we use as our scriptures. We talked about what they cover, why we have them, what their purposes are, and why other religions don't have them. So we started with the Old Testament. The Old Testament is really rather large and therefore covers a lot of time from the creation until the birth of Jesus Christ. There are prophecies for the coming of Christ, for our day, a genealogical record, and a history of people long since passed on. The New Testament and Book of Mormon are of roughly the same size. The Book of Mormon has 531 pages and the New Testament is a bit shorter. The New Testament is basically a book about the life of Jesus Christ, His ministry, and his disciples and their teachings. There is some revelation about what will happen in the time after the death of Jesus. The Book of Mormon is a book similar to the Old Testament. It too provides prophecies of the coming of Jesus Christ, prophecies for our day, a genealogical record, and a history of people long gone. Interestingly, there are two places where the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon Cross over, first with Laban in 1st Nephi and then again in Ether at the Tower of Babel. And finally the Doctrine and Covenants (and you could lump all the general conference talks in here too) which is DIRECT instruction, from the prophet, for our very SPECIFIC needs. But the thought that occurred to me as we were talking about it, came from a question from Allen.

Why are there so many places in each of the four different books that talk about the same thing?

Hmmm. Good question. Why are there? The answer is littered throughout the scriptures:
Deut. 17:6, Matt 18:16, 2 Cor 13:1, Ether 5:4, D&C 6:28, and D&C 128:3
"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."

They are all there to rely on each other and provide the witnesses that we have been told are there for us, so that we may know that they DO come from God.

The Scriptures

Our lesson in Relief Society today had many points to it that I found thought provoking, things I hadn't thought of before. I didn't take notes, so I'll probably miss some, but I'll try to remember what struck me. First of all, the message came from Elder Todd D Christofferson of the 12 apostles and was entitled, The Blessing of Scripture. He basically said that scripture does 3 things for us: Enlarges our Memories, Distinguishes truth from error, and Brings us to Christ.

He started by talking about William Tyndale who translated the Bible into English in the 1530's. He had sought the approval of Catholic church authorities, who stated translating the Bible into English would be to cast pearls before swine, but he decided to do it anyway. People paid great prices to receive those "illegal" copies of the Bible. If they would pay so much for them, why don't we? (something to think about)

Enlarges our Memories: How does reading the scriptures 'enlarge our memory'? Usually with the ways our minds work, we are either people who learn through lists and direct facts, or though stories. I'm sure that is why the Old Testament and Book of Mormon are story based doctrines, and the New Testament and Doctrine and Covenants are list and direct facts based. The bottom line is whatever we put in is what we will get out, in the was of the Lord. If we put in effort to learn something or study it, the Lord will stretch our minds to hold it. It isn't a one to one ratio, but rather a I do work and the Lord blesses me in the way I need kind of ratio, sometimes making the balance tipped extremely in our favor. We also are reminded of the Pride Cycle (turn to the Lord, be blessed, live blessedly and forget the Lord, full of pride, trials from the Lord due to lack of humility, become humble: repeat) in constant study in hopes of not having to relieve it constantly.

Distinguish Truth from Error: God uses scripture to unmask erroneous thinking, false traditions, and sin with its devastating effects. A gal in the room stated that in the Book of Mormon, Korihor taught there were no absolute moral standards. Korihor's philosophy taught that every man prosper by his genius, conquers by his strength and when he dies that is the end. Alma's son, Corianton had believed Korihor's philosophy and dabbled in sexual sin. He father told him, "Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?” (Alma 39:5) Our worldly morality today is much of the opinion of Korihor, our society has imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice but makes no demands on personal life and behavior. The scriptures are the touchstone for measuring correctness and truth, all things leading to God.

Brings us to Christ: We equated this with having and increasing our faith. Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God. And faith matures as we continue to feast upon the word. As members of the LDS church we have access to over 900 pages of scriptural text. We cannot return to Christ without faith that he exists or rather a spirit to spirit confirmation that he is there. It is then that we use our resources to draw nearer to him.

All these things work together for our sole benefit. Whenever we are lost, distracted, unsure, or hurt the scriptures can pull us up, out of our bereft state and allow us to heal while safely cradled in the Savior's arms.

Quick Thought: Move On

In focusing on what we've lost, we rob ourselves of this moment's opportunity to gain. Look ahead and press forward with confidence, because pining over the past is detrimental to growth, healing and happiness. Learn from experience and then use that knowledge in the here and now, trusting that it will lead you to the beautiful future awaiting. The road ahead may be uncertain, but in refusing to travel it, the road behind was taken in vain.

"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." -Anonymous

The Lord's University #2

I often enjoy finding scriptures in the Old and New Testaments that reflect my feelings on what we are taught in church. As I reflected further on this University of the Lord concept, I turned to the scriptures and found what I was looking for. Joseph had an Institute teacher that showed that 'mountain' was often a replacement for temple in the scriptures. Sometimes it is important to be able to distinguish between where the Lord is talking about a physical mountain vs a temple. Moses went into the mountains to seek the Lord and found him there, as did Aaron.

Isaiah 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us ago up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the flaw, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Later in Isaiah (Chp 65 v 9 & 11) "Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it...But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain" In 1993 in a conference address, Pres. Monson stated that when the Salt Lake City Temple was erected it was called, "The Mountain of the Lord's house."

2 Nephi 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand

Micah 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the claw shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

A complete Priesthood

Mother's Day in church often brings about outstanding talks and examples of motherhood. This year, however, our meeting was filled slightly differently. The question posed was, "How does honoring your priesthood honor women?" Hmmm, it sparked my interest. Some of the points this particular speaker raised: 1. After the Lord created the woman, the world was complete. 2. To attain the highest level of paradise when we die, it takes a man and a woman. One cannot make it without the other. 3. Responsibilities of womanhood are so high in the scriptures - making their highest priority to enable God's children to return to him. I listened with interest.

When we read in Genesis and again in Moses, we have a full account of the creation of the world. The one in Moses does seem to give a few more details than the Genesis account - I think from re-translating several times over. I had always known the rough procession of things, though it had never really occurred to me, that the Lord was not done until he had given Adam a woman. Not because she was an after-thought, but because his work was not done and Adam's companionship not complete until he had a way to return to live with the Lord. We know the Lord gives no commandments unless he prepares a way for us to accomplish them, so why would this circumstance be any different?

I was speaking with my neighbor several weeks ago and had a discussion similar to this next point. I realized that this is something you only understand through personal study because our church doesn't REALLY teach it. We know there are three degrees of glory in heaven, or rather that based on what level of spiritual progression you have attained here is also what you will stay with on the other side. It makes sense when you consider the Prophets themselves have often said 'the longer they live, and more they study, the more they know less than they thought they knew'. So while I may strive to listen to the Spirit and choose good over evil, should I attain the same level of enlightenment on the other side as those Prophets? I shouldn't - I'm not ready to handle it, really. So what I learned through study is there are three degrees of heaven. And they are ALL good. It will be as heaven to each person as they are ready. Those with lesser light in their life have a degree that be-suits them, and with those that are more ready - a higher light. Also those spirits that just barely gained a body and returned to God were not contaminated here and therefore can have the highest glory. But as we progress toward heaven, we must have a complete priesthood and know all the keys to get there. You cannot know all of that information without having a man with you as a woman, or vice versa for a man. Men must be tempered by women and women strengthened by man. I'll try to readress this if it doesn't make sense, so let me know.

And finally, we learn that women are beloved of God and given the HIGHEST responsibility as caretakers of the home and children. There are several examples that show the mother is the responsible party in the household.
Genesis 24:60 "And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions..."
Genesis 27:13"And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them."
2 Kings 4:19 "And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother."
Alma 56:47-48 "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

I left the meeting with more appreciation in my heart for the responsibility of motherhood and women.