Directions to the Apostles - Know Jesus' words, help others know them, keep the commandments

Jesus gives some very straightforward advice to his Apostles the night before his death. Here's some of that advice:

7 If ye ^aabide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ^baskwhat ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father ^aglorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath ^aloved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye ^akeep my commandments, ye shall abide in my ^blove; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

It appears that there are 3 suggestions here: Know Jesus' words, help others know them, keep the commandments. Then you'll abide in his love, the greatest of all blessings.

Many kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it

In D.C. 123, as Joseph Smith is in the midst of living in the terrible conditions of Liberty Jail, he writes a letter to the members of the church. One thing he wants them to know is that there aren't groups of religions that have completely bad people who would never accept the gospel. Here's what he says:

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are ^ablinded by the subtle ^bcraftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to ^cdeceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they ^dknow not where to find it—

This idea appears to be confirmed in Luke 23. Jesus was killed, in great part because of the influence of Jewish leaders. A large body of Jewish leaders was called the Sanhedrin. In fact, Jesus had a trial first in front of them prior to his trial in front of the Roman leaders.

After Jesus' death a member of the Sanhedrin showed that he was a supporter of Jesus. Here's the account of what Joseph of Arimethea did (Luke 23):

50 ¶And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a ^acounsellor;and he was a good man, and a just:

51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went unto Pilate, and ^abegged the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a^asepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Even among the group of people guilty of killing Jesus was found a person who respected and believed in Jesus as the Savior. It's a great lesson for us regarding judging groups of people as wicked or completely wrong or uninterested in the gospel.

Have a great week.

Missionary Work Part 1 - Gospel Principles

I'm teaching the lesson on Missionary Work this week in Elders Quorum, and I'm excited about it. This is a topic I have thought about in the recent past in part due to my brother's mission, but mostly due to my Ward Mission Leader calling in my previous ward.

I don't have too much time, but here's a few things I learned from the manual today and some thoughts I have.

One section focused on the technological advances that help make missionary work and the rest of the work of the Lord possible. Joseph F. Smith has a somewhat bold quote saying that the reason for all technology advances is the restoration of the gospel. While that may seem extreme to some, he also makes the point that he doesn't believe it's due to men being smarter now than in the past. I agree with that. There's got to be a compelling reason why technology is advancing, and "people are just smarter now" doesn't seem like a strong argument.

One thing that's cool is that in 1988 the church released a computer program that had the scriptures on them. That's pretty remarkable. The church is very progressive in terms of technology. Not many people had computers in 1988 and the church already had a program to help them learn the gospel better.

A few good quotes from the announcement article:

From Elder Packer: If the Saints understand the scriptures, the doctrines taught in the Church will be purer and surer. Gospel perspective will grow. Testimonies will increase. There will be greater devotion and dedication to the Lord.

Elder Nelson: We are blessed to be living in such an exciting gospel dispensation. God is inspiring the minds of great people to create inventions that further the work of the Lord in ways this world has never known. I recall the statement by Joseph Fielding Smith:

Elder Packer: There is no better way to make sense out of life than to gain a knowledge of gospel doctrines. When we understand those doctrines, we have cause to rejoice and we do rejoice, even celebrate.

Elder Nelson: I, too, have a strong testimony of the divinity of the scriptures. I pray that the Lord will grant us entrance into them and that, when we enter therein, we will know that we stand on holy ground.

I love the last Elder Nelson quote. It best expresses why I feel different when I read the scriptures. They are divine.

More tomorrow :)

I believe in being honest and true - Ann Dibb missionary work

Ann Dibb told a great story in the Young Women's General Meeting about influencing people and how God can guide someone into the church. I really enjoyed it.

This is well worth the read:

Several years ago Kristi and Jenn were in the same high school choir class in Hurst, Texas. Although they didn’t know each other well, Jenn overheard Kristi talking with her friends one day about religion, their various beliefs, and favorite Bible stories. Recently, upon reconnecting with Kristi, Jenn shared this story:

“I felt sad that I didn’t know anything about what you and your friends were talking about, and so for Christmas I asked my parents for a Bible. I received the Bible, and I started reading it. This began my religious journey and my search for the true Church. … Twelve years passed. During that time I visited several churches and attended church on a regular basis but still felt that there was something more. One night I fell on my knees and begged to know what to do. That night I had a dream about you, Kristi. I hadn’t seen you since we had graduated from high school. I thought my dream was strange, but I didn’t attribute it to anything. I dreamed about you again for the next three nights. I spent time thinking about the meaning of my dreams. I remembered that you were a Mormon. I checked the Mormon website. The first thing I found was the Word of Wisdom. My mother had passed away from lung cancer two years previously. She had been a smoker, and reading about the Word of Wisdom really hit home with me. Later I was visiting my father’s house. I was sitting in his living room, and I started to pray. I asked to know where to go and what to do. At that moment a commercial for the Church came on television. I wrote down the number and called the same night. The missionaries called me three days later, asking if they could deliver a Book of Mormon to my home. I said, ‘Yes.’ I was baptized three and a half months later. Two years later I met my husband at church. We were married in the Dallas Temple. Now we are the parents of two beautiful little children.

“I wanted to thank you, Kristi. You set such a wonderful example throughout high school. You were kind and virtuous. The missionaries taught me the lessons and invited me to be baptized, but you were my third missionary. You planted a seed through your actions, and you truly have made my life better. I have an eternal family now. My children will grow up knowing the fulness of the gospel. It is the greatest blessing that any of us can be given. You helped bring that into my life.”

When I contacted her, Kristi shared: “Sometimes I think we hear the list of attributes that the thirteenth article of faith outlines, and we feel overwhelmed. However, I know that as we live these standards and strive to follow Christ’s example, we can make a difference. … I feel much like Ammon in Alma 26:3 when he says, ‘And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.’”

Returning home from a mission

Today is the first Monday in over two years that I'm not expecting an email from my brother. I talked to him for about 20 minutes last night and have a few thoughts and will also answer a couple of questions I've received from people lately as I've mentioned my brother is coming home and we didn't talk much on his mission.

1) A mission is the best investment you could make. Most importantly, it makes you think about how to help people and bring them to Christ, which in turn gives you a chance to see Christ involved in others' lives and therefore helps you learn that Christ lives and loves us.

2) A mission also gives you responsibility in a way and at an age that no other experience can give you. I have not felt as much responsibility on a day-to-day basis until right now in my current job. My mission prepared me for this job as much as any other experience.

3) As a result of the experience, my brother is ready to make getting married a priority. Interesting that it's true, but he is now far more ready for marriage than most people his age. And I can say that being married has only been a help for me in all areas of life.

Now some questions:

Q1) Why do you only talk 2 times per year with missionaries?

A) Because they need to stay focused every day on what they're doing and not be distracted by phone calls (or TV or dating) and because some missionaries are too poor to call home more often than that, so to be fair, everyone has the same rule.

Q2) Why do only men go on missions?

A) Women and older couples can also go on missions actually. I would estimate that 10-20% of the total mission force is made up of women and older couples. Men, however, have the priesthood obligation/duty to do missionary work. Essentially, all are invited to go on missions, but young men are required/expected to go on missions. D.C. 20 makes clear that teaching the gospel is a priesthood obligation (See D.C. 20:59 about a deacon's duty to invite all to come unto Christ: 59They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.

Have a good day :)

Everyone that speaks the Lord's message is given the Lord's words

D.C. 68 is given to four apostles, but the Lord is careful to specifically mention that his promise here applies to everyone.

2And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—

3And this is the ^aensample unto them, that they shall ^bspeak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.

4And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the^aHoly Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the ^bpower of God unto salvation.

5Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.

6Wherefore, be of good ^acheer, and do not ^bfear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I ^cwas, that I am, and that I am to come.

There are so many times we may not know what to say, but if we're appointed to preach the gospel (which all members are), we'll be blessed with the Holy Ghost to tell us what to say, it will be the Lord's words, and it will have power to move people to salvation.

I have seen this happen. I remember we had a lesson once in which we taught a lady with some members. After we asked her to be baptized, she said No because she'd already been baptized and probably also said, "because God should not be played with" - Dios es no jugete. Then one of the members said, "but did you get the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands?" "No" was the response. Then the sister said, "Elders, tell her what she was missing." So I explained about the need to have the laying on of hands according to D.C. 35 and Acts 19:

1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper ^acoasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto ^aJohn’s baptism.

4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of^arepentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5When they heard this, they were ^abaptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with ^atongues, and prophesied.

Focus on verse 6.

So, after the explanation she said, "yes, I'll be baptized." Lest you think this was some false promise, we set a date for 5 weeks from then, and she was baptized that day. 6 months later she was in the Relief Society presidency. A year and a half later she was on a mission in Panama. The church is better because she's in it, and for some reason, there was great power in what we said that day. And great job by the members. I wouldn't have been as aggressive but they were tremendous. I love them.

We're lucky to get to do some of the work of the Lord. He blesses us as we do with his words and also with his presence. That's a large promise indeed.