We went to church in Winnemucca, NV yesterday. It's about half way between the Bay Area and Provo. It was very nice. There was a kid there talking about his mission and that it's been moved up due to the recent change. He's excited, in part because the missionaries live at his house and he gets to see their excitement and attitude towards missionary work. Very cool.
The other big thing was the way I felt when we left. I felt very good. We actually left at 4:15 a.m. and interrupted our drive for about 1:45 in order to go to church. I don't know why I felt so good exactly upon leaving, but I sure did. Finding ways to make God a priority in life and show that he is important is very worthwhile. I'm assuming that he blessed me with the Spirit as a result. It's also great to go to church with the kids.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Race and Religion - Believing those who don't look like you
My wife brought up a good verse to home yesterday that presents an idea that I believe is also taught earlier in the Book of Mormon.
Throughout time people that looked different or had different backgrounds have lived among each other. However, it's possible that due to technological advances, there's more interracial connections now than any other day. It's also fairly clear that those who don't look the same or have different backgrounds haven't been trusted as much as those who do.
There's centuries of wars in the Book of Mormon, but one set of wars in a short time frame (several years) gets 20 chapters worth of attention in the book. One important story in that section is about the Stripling Warriors, young men who were originally Lamanites and therefore had a very different background and likely had very different skin color than most of the Nephites. These Lamanites had more faith than any other group, and it was clear God protected them. One lesson we could take from this is that we must not judge a group as one that can't or doesn't have faith or the favor of God. New converts can have more faith than long time members; different races can too.
This message is repeated in Helaman 14:10. Samuel the Lamanite tells the Nephites that they don't trust him in part because he is a Lamanite. They didn't trust the messenger because of his background.
10 And now, because I am a Lamanite, and have spoken unto you the words which the Lord hath commanded me, and because it was hard against you, ye are angry with me and do seek to destroy me, and have acast me out from among you.
This is such a great message for our time. In the Book of Mormon it is made very clear that people of all races can have the Spirit, can be righteous, can teach all of us about God and the Gospel. This message is much more clearly made than it is in the Bible. Perhaps in our day of technology and travel, it's critical for this message to be on the earth in scripture.
I love it.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Helaman - assuming the best about people
Helaman writes several chapters explaining to Moroni about the Stripling Warriors and the battles going on in one part of the land. At the end of his writing he notes that they don't have as many provisions or people as they should have. However, he doesn't jump to a negative conclusion; instead he assumes there must be a logical explanation for what's happened. It's a good example for us. Here's some verses:
He doesn't want to complain in case Moroni is in a worse situation. He assumes there's a fight in the government, not that they are being lazy or neglecting their duty (and he was right).
Good example for us.
34 Now we do not know the acause that the government does not grant us more strength; neither do those men who came up unto us know why we have not received greater strength.
35 Behold, we do not know but what aye are unsuccessful, and ye have drawn away the forces into that quarter of the land; if so, we do not desire to murmur.
36 And if it is not so, behold, we fear that there is some afaction in the government, that they do not send more men to our assistance; for we know that they are more numerous than that which they have sent.
He doesn't want to complain in case Moroni is in a worse situation. He assumes there's a fight in the government, not that they are being lazy or neglecting their duty (and he was right).
Good example for us.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Humility and Knowledge - story of a Tongan missionary
We have 2 Tongan brothers that moved into our ward a year ago. When they arrived they were very quiet as it is a new place and their English was ok, but they were fairly nervous/cautious speaking.
Oh, how things have changed. The oldest boy was a boxer who received a silver medal in the south Pacific Olympics and had a shot to go to the real Olympics. However, instead he decided to put his time and energy into preparing for a mission.
Now to put some perspective on that decision, listen to how poor they are. Their mom died 8 years ago. They didn't have much food growing up, and boxing became a way to experience great things for the young man. However, when he spoke at his farewell (ironically it was on the first Sunday of the Olympics), he spoke about how blessed he was to go on a mission and that he was more excited about it than anything that happened to him in boxing.
Also, this Tongan boy who couldn't speak great English has more scriptures memorized than anyone I've seen going on a mission. And English is his second language. He's the most humble, prepared missionary I have ever seen. By a lot.
It's incredible as his humility and dedication have enhanced his abilities, clearly, and we've seen a very "weak, humble" boy develop into a powerhouse spiritually. I never would have thought someone so humble and untrained (no high school degree) would become the most impressive intellectual speaker I have heard as well as the most humble. It's impossible. But it happened.
He's powerful - I think this verse applies to him:
D.C. 35:24
13 Wherefore, I call upon the aweak things of the world, those who are bunlearned and despised, to thresh the cnations by the power of my dSpirit;
Oh, how things have changed. The oldest boy was a boxer who received a silver medal in the south Pacific Olympics and had a shot to go to the real Olympics. However, instead he decided to put his time and energy into preparing for a mission.
Now to put some perspective on that decision, listen to how poor they are. Their mom died 8 years ago. They didn't have much food growing up, and boxing became a way to experience great things for the young man. However, when he spoke at his farewell (ironically it was on the first Sunday of the Olympics), he spoke about how blessed he was to go on a mission and that he was more excited about it than anything that happened to him in boxing.
Also, this Tongan boy who couldn't speak great English has more scriptures memorized than anyone I've seen going on a mission. And English is his second language. He's the most humble, prepared missionary I have ever seen. By a lot.
It's incredible as his humility and dedication have enhanced his abilities, clearly, and we've seen a very "weak, humble" boy develop into a powerhouse spiritually. I never would have thought someone so humble and untrained (no high school degree) would become the most impressive intellectual speaker I have heard as well as the most humble. It's impossible. But it happened.
He's powerful - I think this verse applies to him:
D.C. 35:24
13 Wherefore, I call upon the aweak things of the world, those who are bunlearned and despised, to thresh the cnations by the power of my dSpirit;
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Alma 44 - pushing people to make covenants
Moroni's forces rout the Lamanite forces in Alma 43 and in Alma 44 he stops the fighting and gives the Lamanites an out. He says if they'll covenant to never fight the Nephites again, they can go in peace. The Lamanite leader says that he can't commit to never coming to fight the Nephites again (and also throws in a point that he doesn't believe God gave the Nephites the victory, disputing Moroni's statement that this was the case).
Fighting continues, some die, others commit to never fight the Nephites again. I find 2 things very interesting about this:
a) Moroni believed it was helpful/useful to push people to covenant. I believe that is a wise move.
b) The Lamanites tried to live up to this covenant (Lehonti and his army tried not to fight against the Nephites in Alma 47, only 2 years later). This is likely because they had made a covenant just before. However, Lehonti ended up getting close to someone who was sneaky, but definitely didn't care about his covenant and wanted him to break it. He ended up paying with his life.
If the Lamanites had kept their covenant, they would have lived a lot longer. They would have avoided war and had happier lives, presumably. It's worth making covenants. It's worth keeping them.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Thoughts from Alma 43 - Satan's efforts, those who leave the church, ingenuity/innovation being critical for a leader, how to follow the prophet
We learn a lot from Alma 43. Here's several quick thoughts:
I'm fascinated that Satan doesn't have his people wear armor. In the history of the earth prior to the fighting in Alma 43, there's other fighting groups who used armor, so it's not like he didn't know the idea. So there's a few reasons why he wouldn't inspire those he liked/helped to use armor so that they could kill the good people:
a) his mechanism for distilling information is poor (quite possible); maybe he doesn't have enough influence on people or can't use his followers (unseen) to tempt/guide others that much
b) maybe there's too much downside to causing innovation; for instance, the television has created a way for people to get access to a lot of filth, but it's also the way that prophets are seen throughout the world and lets people across the earth learn the word of God in ways I never could have imagined just 40 years ago. Guatemalan villages have real-time access to conference; that's amazing. Talk about shrinking the vineyard (it's expansiveness is a problem mentioned in Jacob 5).
c) he just doesn't care about those who follow him; he just focuses on getting as many people to follow him as quickly as possible and doesn't think much about the long-term because either a) he can't see it (not prophetic) or b) he doesn't think about anything in the long-term because long-term thinking is usually about love/concern (which he doesn't) so therefore doesn't think through the right way to hurt more people over the long term
Other quick thoughts:
Concerning Moroni being the chief captain: Moroni was elevated at 25 to head of the armies; probably because he was so wise! He got the armies to use armor; he was super smart about how to follow the prophet. Being wise probably got him noticed more than anything else. He approached things differently. Perhaps he used the scriptures as guidelines or other records as guidelines for what he did; perhaps (thinking of the above thoughts), Satan doesn't use/have those tools because they're too dangerous. He thinks better for people to know nothing than to be able to read and perhaps be able to learn from the scriptures. Not sure....
Here's some verses:
Concerning following the prophet - he sent spies (his own efforts), knew Alma was prophetic and tried to get Alma to give counsel (which Alma did), and when Moroni got counsel, he still left armies in the former place just in case the Lamanites returned. He covered his bases and didn't presume that the prophet had given him more information than he had (i.e., the prophet said they're going here; let's abandon all other general war principles and send all our people over there; the prophet didn't say they wouldn't turn around, he just said where they were likely headed).
Here's some verses:
Concerning those who left the church - they were considerably less reasonable and more angry to former church members/Nephites than the Lamanites. I know a few people who have left the church recently, and I hope they don't turn into the negative forces that the Amalekites and Zoramites were. I believe that they might be based on what I've seen. A warning to church members, certainly...
I'm fascinated that Satan doesn't have his people wear armor. In the history of the earth prior to the fighting in Alma 43, there's other fighting groups who used armor, so it's not like he didn't know the idea. So there's a few reasons why he wouldn't inspire those he liked/helped to use armor so that they could kill the good people:
a) his mechanism for distilling information is poor (quite possible); maybe he doesn't have enough influence on people or can't use his followers (unseen) to tempt/guide others that much
b) maybe there's too much downside to causing innovation; for instance, the television has created a way for people to get access to a lot of filth, but it's also the way that prophets are seen throughout the world and lets people across the earth learn the word of God in ways I never could have imagined just 40 years ago. Guatemalan villages have real-time access to conference; that's amazing. Talk about shrinking the vineyard (it's expansiveness is a problem mentioned in Jacob 5).
c) he just doesn't care about those who follow him; he just focuses on getting as many people to follow him as quickly as possible and doesn't think much about the long-term because either a) he can't see it (not prophetic) or b) he doesn't think about anything in the long-term because long-term thinking is usually about love/concern (which he doesn't) so therefore doesn't think through the right way to hurt more people over the long term
Other quick thoughts:
Concerning Moroni being the chief captain: Moroni was elevated at 25 to head of the armies; probably because he was so wise! He got the armies to use armor; he was super smart about how to follow the prophet. Being wise probably got him noticed more than anything else. He approached things differently. Perhaps he used the scriptures as guidelines or other records as guidelines for what he did; perhaps (thinking of the above thoughts), Satan doesn't use/have those tools because they're too dangerous. He thinks better for people to know nothing than to be able to read and perhaps be able to learn from the scriptures. Not sure....
Here's some verses:
16 Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had beenaappointed to be the bchief captain over the Nephites—now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nephites—and his name was Moroni;
17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars. And he was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.
18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of aweapons of war.
19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had aprepared his people with bbreastplatesand with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing—
Concerning following the prophet - he sent spies (his own efforts), knew Alma was prophetic and tried to get Alma to give counsel (which Alma did), and when Moroni got counsel, he still left armies in the former place just in case the Lamanites returned. He covered his bases and didn't presume that the prophet had given him more information than he had (i.e., the prophet said they're going here; let's abandon all other general war principles and send all our people over there; the prophet didn't say they wouldn't turn around, he just said where they were likely headed).
Here's some verses:
23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should ainquire of the Lord bwhither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites.
24 And it came to pass that the aword of the Lord came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni.
25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.
Concerning those who left the church - they were considerably less reasonable and more angry to former church members/Nephites than the Lamanites. I know a few people who have left the church recently, and I hope they don't turn into the negative forces that the Amalekites and Zoramites were. I believe that they might be based on what I've seen. A warning to church members, certainly...
6 And now, as the aAmalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief bcaptains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and cZoramites.
7 Now this he did that he might preserve their ahatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.
Monday, August 13, 2012
only let your sins trouble you - a great message for many of us
It appears that Corianton, the son of Alma, along with some significant sins had a lot of questions about doctrinal issues. Alma spends chapter 40 talking about the resurrection (that it will happen and when), chapter 41 about the restoration component of resurrection (that we will reap what we sow in many respects), and chapter 42 about the justice of God in punishing sinners.
Alma explains in a very detailed manner many things about these topics. It appears to be a great example of using "pure knowledge" to influence someone (see D.C. 121:41-42). I would in particular like to highlight how Alma ends the discussion - he pushes Corianton to let his sins trouble him more than particularly specific (and in some ways deep) doctrinal questions trouble him.
29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these thingsatrouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.
Alma is happy to explain things thoroughly, but he emphasizes that the point of the knowledge is only to help influence action. He wants his son to spend more time thinking about how to change that pondering doctrine.
Ideally he wants the key points of his doctrinal teaching, God's justice, mercy, and long-suffering, to cause his son to act differently. Very inspiring:
30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the ajustice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his bmercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust inchumility.
Enjoy. It is critical to act, and think more about how we can be better, not quite so much about what doctrinal thing we don't perfectly understand (or use as an excuse to live worse lives).
Alma explains in a very detailed manner many things about these topics. It appears to be a great example of using "pure knowledge" to influence someone (see D.C. 121:41-42). I would in particular like to highlight how Alma ends the discussion - he pushes Corianton to let his sins trouble him more than particularly specific (and in some ways deep) doctrinal questions trouble him.
29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these thingsatrouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.
Alma is happy to explain things thoroughly, but he emphasizes that the point of the knowledge is only to help influence action. He wants his son to spend more time thinking about how to change that pondering doctrine.
Ideally he wants the key points of his doctrinal teaching, God's justice, mercy, and long-suffering, to cause his son to act differently. Very inspiring:
30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the ajustice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his bmercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust inchumility.
Enjoy. It is critical to act, and think more about how we can be better, not quite so much about what doctrinal thing we don't perfectly understand (or use as an excuse to live worse lives).
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