LESSON ABOUT THE 1ST VISION

Today (February 1, 2009), I was able to watch a KBYU program of discussions about Joseph Smith’s first vision.  It was very helpful and taught me several new things.  The professors of religion at BYU who were part of this discussion brought up several points included here (as I can recall):

• The book of James was almost not included at all in the Bible.
• Joseph pondered about which church to join for quite some time.
• He pondered further after he read James 1:5 which states: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  He believed God literally.
• Joseph’s name in Hebrew means: gatherer of God
• Every detail that was prophesized of, including Joseph’s name, was fulfilled.
• Joseph read James 1:5 and had his first revelation by the Holy Ghost witnessing to his soul about the truth of James’ testimony and advising him to seek wisdom from God in personal prayer.
• God answered the prayer of a boy; demonstrating that we need only two things to come to God and receive wisdom: 1) a great desire; 2) to be a child of God; not famous, not rich, not of any worldly consequence.  We can all come to God in prayer and receive answers to guide our lives.  We can have personal revelations to help us meet our individual responsibilities.
• The Godhead was made manifest.
• The heavens were again officially opened; God had a prophet again.
• Satan has real powers, powers of darkness.
• Manifestations from God are sacred; they are to be shared only as is appropriate.  Joseph provided an example as he never shared too much or bragged or made light of his experiences, and he adjusted his testimony to the benefit of the audience before him as the Apostle Paul had done.
• Once the understanding of who the Godhead is and what their relationship with each other and with people was lost, the rest of truth was then confused.
• Joseph’s vision restored a knowledge of the Godhead and the relationship between God and mankind.  We are children of the Living God.
• Opposition always arises against the work of God.
• God’s work is not hindered.
• There is a priesthood hierarchy.  God, the Father, has given direction of all things to His Son, and we are to do all in the name of the Son.

I was especially touched today by the fact that God hears the prayers of any true seeker, regardless of one’s standing in the world, which is a very hopeful thing for little me.  I was also touched by the idea that we can all receive personal revelation to guide us in our lives.  While Joseph was lead to the scared grove, we are lead to our own revelation to meet our own needs and to accomplish our own works and meet our own responsibilities before God.  God loves His children, and He has not left us here on earth to wander aimlessly.  He has a plan and loves to share with us that plan.  He honors those who honor Him and His Son

February 2/1/09

Pro-life is not about forcing someone to live with and raise an unwanted child.  It is not about forcing someone to “suffer”.  It’s not about restricting another’s “choice” or agency.  Rather, it’s a testimony about the worth of each being, each life, each potential.  Who are we to decide the worth of another soul?  How can we say we are for “choice” if we take away the potential for another soul to ever make a decision or choice?

Why should we abort or otherwise minimize the value of each life?  The very testimony that I, and others, have received from people with severe disabilities is that the worth of each soul is precious to God, that God is wiser than us all, and that God is full of love.  These children, then, are testifiers of God.  The world has always sought to stop the testimony of God.  While the world brings death and destruction, it cannot and does not stop the testimony of God.  See Joel 2:28

None Were With Him (Elder Holland's witness of Christ)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rboSk1p06BQ&feature=related

Broken Things to Mend by Elder Holland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWM4U6gnPE8&feature=player_embedded

He Shall Make Bare His Arm

Lesson 2:

(1 Nephi 22:10-13)  “And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations.”

All peoples need to be blessed.  He will make bare His arm.  What a great time to be alive!  What a wonderful thing to witness: the power of God upon all nations!

“Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.”

“Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.”

Wow!  He brings His power, His covenants, His gospel, His freedom, and His light to all nations, to those of the house of Israel!

When I focus upon His works and His power, I realize that it is not about me.  His works will be done, and He will not be defeated!  I can’t fail, because the work is not my work but His work.  I stay on His side and He does the work and wins the glory.

“And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord.  And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed  . . . .  

Grace, Faith, Works, and Obedience

Lesson 1:

During a presentation this past week on BYU Broadcasting, the discussions about the scriptures concerned the Apostle Paul’s testimony of the mercy of God.  One of the leaders of this day’s discussion spoke about how Paul’s witness and teachings coincide with what is written in 2 Nephi 25:23 which states (at the end of the verse), “We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

The speaker pointed out that, while it is true that we must strive for obedience to the commandments of God and that we must exercise faith in the power of God and His atonement, we require the mercy of God as we do all we can for ourselves.  It is not a sequential order but rather simultaneous order.  Christ’s atonement helps us during our efforts to become perfect (“as I Am”).  Just as in the image of Christ knocking upon the door of our heart, He comes to us before our “house” is fully clean.  He did not come as a physician to those who are whole.  Instead, He came to the “broken”.  He came to heal us and to make us whole.  We are saved by the grace of God while we are doing all in our power to improve ourselves.  We can’t wait until we have become perfect to invite Him in.  We must invite Him in now!  We must partake of His mercy every moment and obey His will throughout our lives to obtain eternal life.

The Value and Joy of Becoming

In a Family Home Evening early in my adventure as a parent, I set up an obstacle course (at Julie’s house).  The idea was to blindfold my step-daughters and have them move through the obstacle course by listening to the “Holy Ghost” and “the prophets” and “parents” rather than the “distractions” of “the world”.

However, the lesson was for me not the girls that evening.

In my zeal to have them “succeed”, I ended up physically guiding the first one attempting the obstacle course.  In other words, I took control.  There was no following the “good” or the “bad” side.  There was no lesson, no growth, no discernment, and no becoming for the girls.

When I did it all for Christine, she gained nothing.

God is so wise to give us opportunities to develop ourselves.  Joy comes in our triumphs.

Now, I strive to assist children in becoming more than they were before.  I feel tremendous joy when a child triumphs and experiences the joy of success and self-mastery.

There were two plans presented in Heaven before we began our adventures on this earth.  One plan was Lucifer’s to control all things and to take all glory for himself. 

The other plan was from Christ.  He stated that we would have choices and agency.  We would have highs and lows, struggles, heartaches and triumphs.  We would know opposition in all things.  For those times of sin, darkness, struggle, pain, He would personally come and provide an atonement which would bring healing, light, repentance, peace, joy, and love.

In this life, we know hardship and suffering.  Yet, Christ has overcome all things and has provided a means for us to overcome all things through Him.  Thus, we are invited to know all the joy, the peace, the love, the light, and the knowledge that He knows.  Instead of holding us down (as Lucifer sought to do), Christ’s way lifts us up.  He raises us up even as He was raised up, but we are raised to eternal life upon a cross.

On this earth today, I believe that there are two types of people who are pushing for the government to do all things for all people: 1) ones who seek power and to rule over others and 2) ones who have bought into the notion that we, people, can make everything better for others and that we should even attempt to do so.

The only way to overcome such tendencies is to focus upon what God can do not what mankind can do.  While mankind can now reach out to the farthest reaches of our solar system, God created this solar system.  While we can study very far off stars and events in the heavens, God created the heavens.  While mankind can “care for” another, God can refine, resurrect, and glorify the souls of man.  Through the power of God and faith in His power, souls can be translated, transformed, and perfected.  While we can study and occasionally even duplicate life, God holds all power over life and creation.

When we suggest that we must make all things better, we sin, because: 1) we raise ourselves up to be as gods, 2) we imply that God did things wrong and now it is up to us to set things right, 3) we deny the growth of other souls, 4) we take or limit the agency of others, 5) we deny the power of Christ’s atonement, 6) we limit or eliminate the need for the atonement, 7) we suggest that some people have the right to decide for others, 8) we, then determine what is “right” for another person, 9) we suggest that we have a better way than God does to make things “better” or “right” (ie.  We have a better plan.)