His Son not sparing

 

I’ve been more anxious for his welfare than I thought I’d be. Despite my general even keel, I found myself wondering, worrying about, and praying for Isaac’s happiness multiple times each day as we waited for the report of his first week in Ghana. When it came it was literally like Christmas. Deana ran excitedly upstairs and read his message to us (She’s generally not known to move so quickly in the mornings:)) Joy and extreme gratitude filled our home and hearts. He’s doing so well! Our prayers had been answered!

On the drive to work I chose to give thanks. After a heartfelt prayer I sang aloud a favorite hymn: “How great Thou art.” The third verse caught me by surprise. I’d sung it many times before, but this time as I sang: “And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, I scarce can take it in,” I suddenly couldn’t. The truth that my son was doing so well and had been blessed so greatly this first time so far away from home was precisely because His Son wasn’t or didn’t - hit me like a ton of bricks. With His unlimited power, He didn’t spare His own Beloved Son out of love for mine. 

And though I couldn’t audibly for a few seconds, my soul sang.

Victory’s message: “repent!”

  In Alma 4 the Nephites had just won a major victory - the Lord had preserved them in battles with the Amlicites and then the numberless host of the Lamanites the Amlicites had joined with. The Nephite armies had lost only half as many casualties as the others - or even less, yet every Nephite soul had cause to mourn. Each one had suffered devastating personal losses. Even in a condition where they could clearly recognize God’s hand in blessing and delivering them they had also felt loss and heard His call to repentance. Perhaps they believed that God would have delivered them even more miraculously had they been worthy of a greater blessing. Perhaps some of their loved ones that had perished would have been spared if they as a people had repented before. 

These battles could certainly be seen as circumstances beyond their control also - the results of the choices of others. They still hear a personal call in them though. These Nephite survivors awaken to repentance, missionary work, and strengthening the church. This is a good pattern. It is always a good check to make when in adversity to see if you haven’t brought it upon yourself in some way or to some degree - even when spared from a much worse fate.

What about this virus we’ve been wrestling with for a while now? It has come upon largely us as a circumstance beyond our control. It has given many, if not most, of us personal cause to mourn. We have also fasted and prayed for deliverance. God’s prophet, President Nelson, has called the vaccine “an answer to prayer,” and “a literal godsend.” It has dramatically curtailed the spread and effects of Covid 19. Though this pandemic is not yet over, I feel greatly blessed and spared through it all (that’s not to say those who have suffered more or more personally than I have through this pandemic were any less worthy). Could it have been more dramatically stayed had we been worthy of a greater blessing? 

The real question is: do I hear God’s voice in the midst of it all calling me to repentance? General Conference is a good place to look for that personal call. May we feel both grateful and determined to repent that we might qualify for the greatest blessings He has to give us.

Inquire after his name

 The ends of the earth will - Joseph is told by the Lord (D&C 122:1) - It's a good invitation too. Moroni said something similar much earlier - that his name should be had for good and evil in all the earth (JSH 1:33). He writes his history, in fact, "to disabuse the public mind and put all inquirers after truth in possession of the facts" (JSH 1:1). 

Because people are asking, I want to help answer. Ultimately the answer must come from the Lord himself, but there are some things I know about the prophet that I think everyone should know too.

Joseph Smith is a man of God. He is constantly willing to be publicly shaped by the hand of the Lord. There is no one more frequently rebuked and commanded to repent in the Doctrine and Covenants than he is. I'm not sure how I would feel about the scriptural record containing such an account of my stumblings. There is beauty and power in Joseph's response however. He was determined to act on the voice of the Lord. From his years long tutoring before obtaining the record, to the lessons he learned from his loss of the 116 pages of manuscript, to the revelation on plural marriage - he was all in. He said following the second experience - "I've made this my rule: when the Lord commands - do it!"

Joseph was willing to ask with the real intent to act on what he received from God. I am blessed every day by his willingness to do so! As clay in the Master's hand, Joseph became the instrument through which Jesus Christ restored His Church to the earth - the vessel through which the keys given to Peter - to bind and loose on earth and in heaven (Matthew 16:19) - were restored to earth. This authority offers all mankind the opportunity to make and keep sacred covenants with Him - to be lifted by His promises to forgiveness and eternal families - heights we could never obtain on our own merits. 

As millions come to know brother Joseph again - and by the power of the Holy Ghost know he was God's prophet in these latter days - I want to be counted among the voices for the prophet Joseph Smith. Just a few verses later in section 122, Joseph is told "thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever." -- sounds like exactly where I want to be found standing too. Come join me in sharing what you know by the power of the Spirit to be true of God's prophet Joseph Smith.       

 

The Valley of Gratitude

 After escaping from King Noah and settling the land of Helam, Alma’s people learn about and rejoice in a new style of King-less government. Each man will be his own responsible agent before God. 

Immediately thereafter, ironically, they find themselves again in bondage under a wicked king. This is the test - God wants to know if their loyalty to Him is situational. 

Even when communing with God bears capital consequences, however, they persist cheerfully in the way they can. They prove that there is no way anyone can stand between God and His children if they are determined.

The day of their deliverance comes and these Nephites escape to freedom. Their first stop is in a valley where EVERYONE gives thanks. This has got to be such and amazing experience! This is no doubt Holy ground to these faithful and grateful band of determined disciples.

Then God then warns them to flee further. He tells them that their pursuers will not proceed beyond this special Valley. Sanctified by their praise, this land is the end of the road for their oppressors. Is this not the fruit of their grateful praise? Special now for two reasons, The Valley of their praise becomes a wall to their oppressors.

The scriptures hold divine patterns. What about the implications of this story for me? Are those influences that would bind or afflict me also stopped in their tracks as I praise and gratefully glorify God? Am I taking full advantage of, and teaching my children about, the incredible power of gratitude to God? Here I raise my Ebenezer.

"Pay closer attention"

"He's nervous." The cadence of his speech and the look on his face gave him away. I recognized the signs because I do some of those same things. My wonderful nephew, Tim, had recently returned from the mission field. As he spoke in church he related the story of Elder Rasband assisting President Eyring in helping to assign missionaries ("The Divine Call of a Missionary," April 2010). Elder Rasband, surprised he was asked his thoughts about where a missionary should be assigned was told, "Pay closer attention and you too can know." Tim repeated that line a few times in his talk and it occurred to me that I might miss important and meaningful opportunities if I didn't "pay closer attention." 

On the lookout, I returned from his meeting to my own. I love our Stake President - he is such a loving and humble man. He is a true disciple of the Savior. We had the privilege of him joining us in our meeting and sharing a quick thought at the closing of our meeting. He likened the messages of the recent General Conference to the rays of the sun breaking through storm clouds to warm us and invited us to study them again. Then he sat down and we commenced to sing the closing Hymn - "Our Savior's love shines like the sun with perfect light, as from above it breaks through clouds of strife..." After the meeting I asked him if he had known what the closing hymn would be. He told me he had not. As we rejoiced together in that second witness together he said something like, "I hope they got it." Me too.

I know that the Lord speaks through modern prophets to his children in General Conference. Their messages are warming evidence of His great love and they have power to pierce the darkness and light the way. I am grateful for the council to study them again and again, and for the council to pay closer attention so that I could recognize the signature of heaven on the Lord's message to my ward through His chosen servant this last Sunday.       

Hollow justifications

 I noticed two attempts by Noah's priests: First in their question about the Isaiah passage, and second in their answer that they teach the law of Moses. In each case, they have missed seeing the Savior. Isaiahs words (52:7-8) are a Messianic prophecy testifying of the mission of Jesus when he will walk the earth. Instead of an earnest question, Noah's priests seem to be using it to try to justify not teaching - or practicing - repentance, but instead only bringing "good tidings." Ironically, angels declaring the Messiah's  birth in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy will use those same words - "good tidings" in their triumphant message of His birth. 

Abinadi asks "Are you priests, and pretend to teach this people, and to understand the spirit of prophesying...?" As a teacher, I asked "Do I understand the spirit of prophesying?" Revelation 19:10 came to mind: "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 

Among the serious wrongs Noah's priests are guilty of is missing the mark -- not seeing or teaching the Savior, Jesus Christ, as the focus of all gospel truth. Truly there is no other way nor means and all things testify of Christ - including the law of Moses. President Packer taught regarding the doctrine of Christ, "This is the very root of Christian doctrine. You may know much about the gospel as it branches out from there, but if you only know the branches and those branches do not touch that root, if they have been cut from that truth, there will be no life or substance nor redemption in them" ("The Mediator," Ensign, May 1977, 56). A gospel teacher's central and solitary purpose is to help others see and come to Him. 

Different focus, different view

Abinadi was different. Popular opinion felt confident in the strength of the Nephite armies and fortifications. He prophesied of impending destruction unless they would repent and turn to God. He wasn't just prescribing changes in behavior though, but also a change in focus. Focus on present safeties and victories could distract them from commitment to their God - something their fathers had taught would bring prosperity and protection. 

Speaking of joy, President Nelson taught (and it was quoted over and over in the recent conference) that it has more to do with the focus of our lives than the circumstances. Then and now, focus on the Savior instead of the encouraging or discouraging circumstances around us makes an important difference. 

A marathon global pandemic, political rancor, and the current social divisiveness cannot be ignored, nor should they be. Might they be best addressed, though, in the context of a clearer more intentional focus on our Savior Jesus Christ? President Nelson taught: "There has never been a time in the history of the world when a knowledge of our Savior is more personally vital and relevant to every human soul. Imagine how quickly the devastating conflicts throughout the world--and those in our individual lives--would be resolved if we all chose to follow Jesus Christ and heed His teachings."("Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation," General Conference, October 3, 2021)  

How do you make sure headlines and hot topics receive the attention they deserve, but don't divert your focus from the Savior? How do you see His hand and will in and through present circumstances? Repentance is turning or returning to the Savior. How can we, so that we may enjoy the prosperity and protection He offers us?     

Zenniff's reaction

 

He sees good among the Lamanites - but his austere and bloodthirsty captain wants to destroy them. Could Zenniff's stance - and his resultant desire to live among them - be a reaction to his captain?

I was reckless because I felt she was too careful. I did it for balance. I remember the phone call home after a pretty major concussion my first year at BYU where my intuitive mother explained that I was going to have to take full responsibility for taking care of myself now. To that point in my life, I had always pushed for "I'm fine" knowing that she would counter with something like "No, there's actually gravel stuck in your knee" and we'd settle somewhere in the middle. She explained that she was giving up the push back and I was going to have to be completely responsible going forward - it changed my thinking - I was going to have to be both voices.

There certainly was good among the Lamanites though. Jacob wrote that Lamanite fathers love their wives and children and are true to them. On the other hand, the prophet king Mosiah had been directed by God to forsake the lands of the Nephites first inheritance and to put some distance between the two peoples not too long ago. Initially, God had also instructed Nephi to separate from them. Maybe if Zenniff could have reasoned in full consideration of the whole picture he may have saved future generations from bondage and much bloodshed as they sought to reverse what he had done. I'd imagine it's pretty hard to examine the merit of your captain's position while he's seeking your life though. Maybe it's not even his position, but just weighing the whole thing carefully instead of reacting with the knee jerk. Could Zenniff have possibly sensed the evil designs of the Lamanite king he bargained with if he'd have been more open? His reactionary "overzealous" stance blinded him to things he really needed to see.

What of my stances? Stances on perhaps equally contentious topics like wearing masks, getting vaccinated, LGTBQ+ issues, racial equality, etc.. Am I prone to overzealous reactions? Certainly there are injustices and overblown and unbalanced stances in these arenas too. Are my stances a response to others stances either in agreement or disagreement. Elder Holland plead with us just last weekend: "Friends, in our present moment we find all manner of divisions and subdivisions, sets and subsets, digital tribes and political identities, with more than enough hostilities to go around. Might we ask ourselves if a 'higher and holier' life...is something we could seek?" With the volume, attractiveness, or repugnance of the surrounding arguments, will I react or consider carefully? Will I seek for and hearken to the voice of the Lord? My throbbing head of a couple decades ago and Zenniff's cautionary tale convince me it's worth the effort -- to carefully and prayerfully act instead of react.     

My people

He had led them out of Egyptian bondage and all the way to the foot of that sacred mount where he now conversed with the Lord. They were in the midst of a long and difficult journey to the land flowing with milk and honey that their God had promised to them. While Moses was away, however, they had turned their back on God and on Moses, His representative. God told him now of the golden calf they had fashioned and the ways they defiled themselves and then said "Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation" (Exodus 32:10). If Moses has ever wanted an out, this was his chance. Israel had chafed, questioned, and murmured over and over. Now they deserted God and Moses so dramatically - and right after such a witness as pillars of fire and freestanding walls of water. Now God offered to destroy them. Then He would still raise up, of Moses' posterity alone now, a chosen people in the promised land.

Moses' response is the lesson - and I believe what God intended from this circumstance. His pleading for them in their weakness, is one of the most beautiful and incomprehensible of all of scripture in my humble opinion. After a stern rebuke of the people which included broken tablets, burning/grinding/and then drinking the ash of the idol, and a battle. He returns to the Lord saying, "Oh these people have sinned a great sin and have made them gods of gold.” — and then this “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou hast written"  

What?!! did he really just put his own exaltation on the altar?! … and for them? Certainly that's not how it works - God explains that, and I assume Moses knows that already too - but this statement shows an absolute all in devotion to these people and their eternal welfare. I'm not familiar with a clearer mortal echo of the Savior’s premortal purpose and utterance, "Here am I, send me!" -- And I suppose that is the point. Moses gets it - these are his people! In essence, he doesn’t want heaven, nor the promised land without them. That’s stewardship.

In an age where lots of little things are sharpened and made into wedges to divide people, I hope for this! “Who is my neighbor?” The Savior was asked. He responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan. He taught that my neighbor is the person I differ from, maybe the one I have most trouble with. My responsibility to them is to both love and lift them. Can I, will I intervene on their behalf like Moses and the Son of God who taught it to Him? 

Loving and lifting is hard - it reminds me of my parents honestly. They initiated the “buddy-system” when we’d fought with a sibling too much, and Tuesday family game nights where the openly stated purpose was to “help Drew learn to handle losing without losing his temper,” early morning scripture studies, and family prayers. They were, and are, fully invested in me and helping me come to Christ. This kind of Christlike  love, kindled in homes could bring so much needed warmth and light to communities! So…who’s my neighbor?

Can I?

There are times in a person's life when things open up: when a person turns 18, when communities resume business in the wake of a global pandemic, or more simply - raises, career changes, and even summer vacations all provide a variety of new opportunities. 

With all of these choices, there is a foundational decision to be made. Will I choose to live intentionally or accidentally? Living intentionally instead of accidentally means "because I can" is not a sufficient reason. Because our decisions determine our destiny it is best to make them with our desired outcome in mind. 

When turning 18, at the gates of adulthood, rules that defined what someone can do may seem to disappear or be challenged. In order to make wise decisions ask why such rules existed in the first place. If not correctly understood painful consequences may result. 

Curfew is a good example - most emerging adults come from a history of weeknight and weekend bedtimes. Why would parents impose such a rule? The answer might be have to do with the effects of fatigue on decision making abilities, school, job performance, and relationships. Thrown thoughtlessly out the window, failing out of school, being fired from jobs, and late night regrettable decisions with lasting consequences may be included in the tragic results. Because of youth, the consequences might not be evident at first. No large explosions at first may feed a false sense of security, but things may begin to quietly deteriorate. With so many heavy things weighing upon them - all possibly stemming from one primary decision - a young person may be convinced that that world is a hard and heartless place that they aren't fully suited for - or at least not for excellence in it. They might decide to take a back seat, forgo post high school education, enter the workforce in a poor paying labor-intensive job, and start a family before they have really begun to think seriously about what that entails. Once you know the reasons questions like: "Do I believe them?" and "Am I willing to risk as much as being wrong require, or should I at least put it to the test first?"

On the other hand, a young person who chooses to believe, or learns through their own lower stakes experimentation, may find that through disciplined adherence to their own standards they are able to achieve impressive degrees, well paying jobs, and a much more approachable view of the world. Maybe what one can or can't do is not as important a question as "What should you do (in this situation) to achieve the future you desire ?" or even "What do I really believe?" 

What I do today simply "because I can" will certainly affect and perhaps significantly curtail what I can do in the future. Those things of most worth often come at great cost over time. Sports often serve as a great metaphor. That which I will do today and tomorrow will open the door -- or the "can" of opportunities tomorrow :) 

What will you do today and tomorrow and the next day so that you can enjoy next week or next year?

         

He Gathers

 "And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this church have I established and called forth out of the wilderness" (D&C 33:5)

Jesus Christ established His Church, not Joseph Smith. I imagine Joseph would likely be the first to clarify this important fact. Over and over again His miraculous hand was manifest in preserving the plates, protecting the prophet, restoring priesthood authority, etc. etc.. Sometimes we may yearn for those days when heaven was so visibly and dramatically involved in the work. It has been said that angelic visitations and the signs and wonders that seemed so prevalent in those early days were necessary to that period to establish the Church. Maybe so. Then the next verse:

"And even so will I gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as will believe in me, and hearken to my voice." (D&C 33:6)

"Even so" - the same miraculous way - does He gather. 

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah wrote concerning a miraculous future gathering saying: "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the ​​Lord​​, that it shall no more be said, The ​​​​​Lord​​​ liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; ​But, The ​​Lord​​ liveth, that ​​​brought up​ the children of Israel from the land of the ​​​north​, and from all the ​​​lands​ whither he had driven them: and I will ​​​bring​ them again into their ​​​land​ that I gave unto their fathers." (Jeremiah 16:14-15) 

Whereas the parting of the Red Sea and the deliverance of children of Israel from Egypt through it had been the signature display of the Lord's hand and power for centuries, the gathering would eclipse even that.

Those that will "believe in [Him]" (let God prevail in their lives), and "hearken to [His] voice" (hear Him) will be gathered. 

"Yea, behold, I will ​​​tell​ you in your mind and in your ​​​heart​, by the ​​​Holy Ghost​, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses ​​​brought​ the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground." (D&C 8:2-3)

Aren't we are living the fulfillment of this prophecy right now? Our beloved prophet has invited us to join the Lord's battalion to gather Israel. He has defined Israel as those who let God prevail in their lives, and put repeated emphasis on growing our ability to #HearHim. 

Sometimes we still want to respond tentatively though - it can be an intimidating prospect to share the gospel with others... just like it was intimidating for Joseph and for Moses. But the work is not ours to accomplish alone "Even so will I gather mine elect" He says though, In the same miraculous manner. He invites us to be a part of this most important thing happening on the face of the earth and be first person witnesses to His mighty power - as HE gathers Israel. What an opportunity!