Monday, December 21, 2009
Week 16 - Looking Back
When the Church and the newly-formed Nephite government were threatened by internal wickedness and contention, Alma knew that true reform could only come through a mighty change in the hearts of Church members. Many leaders might have attempted to alter the laws to change behavior. But Alma understood what modern prophets know: “The Lord works from the inside out. . . . The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature” (Ezra T. Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1985, 6).
Alma 5 is a good place to go when one wants to do a spiritual evaluation. Because of the 42 questions asked there, if we periodically review those, we can better gauge our spiritual progress. Verse 14 really gets to Alma’s central message:
And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” In verse 26, Alma asks when we should be able to answer yes to those questions : “now.”
And perhaps, the most thought-provoking question that Alma asks (which he does three times in verses 16-18) is, “Can you imagine?” What do we feel and think if we allow ourselves to seriously imagine what it will be like to stand before God and make an accounting of how we spent our time here on earth? What if we imagined that day regularly? Do you think that exercise could have a terrific bearing on the day-to-day decisions that we make? It would.
After Alma preached repentance among the people of Zarahemla (with some success), he went among the people of Gideon who were walking in faith. Because of that, he was able to teach them the “meatier” things of the gospel. Our final lesson before Christmas break was remarkably relevant as we learned what he taught them. In verse 7 it reads:
For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold there is one thing which is of more importance than they all – for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.
Alma delivered that message to the people of Gideon eighty-three years before the Savior was born. He continued by giving them a few of the details regarding that birth, what their responsibilities were to prepare for it, and the purpose of that birth which was of more importance than they all:
And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me (vss 11-13).
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and remember Him as the babe in the manger, let us also see Him as the Savior of the world -- the One who loved the Father so much that he allowed His will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father – the One who loved us so much that he subjected himself to unspeakable sorrow and anguish – the One, who because of His unfathomable love and complete obedience, has made it possible for each of us to have everything that really matters – not only in the “next” life, but also for the here and now. It is my testimony that Alma’s testimony was and is true. The most important thing for us that has ever happened was the birth of Jesus Christ and the subsequent atonement the he wrought for you and me. As we make our list of resolutions for the New Year, may we resolve to try to be more like Him than we ever have been before. He wants us to do that so that He can bless us in ways that He’s never been able to before. Merry Christmas to you all!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Alma 37:6-7
Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me;
but behold I say unto you,
that by small and simple things
are great things brought to pass;
and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
And the Lord God doth work by means
to bring about his great and eternal purposes;
and by very small means
the Lord doth confound the wise
and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.
Week 15 - Looking Back
“We must be careful, as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples of the power to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the Atonement can reach even those deepest in despair.
“But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said ‘were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.’” (3 Nephi 9:20) -----Pres. Ezra T. Benson, Ensign, Oct. 1989, 5
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“The virtue of tolerance has been distorted and elevated to a position of such prominence as to be thought equal to and even valued more than morality. It is one thing to be tolerant, even forgiving of individual conduct. It is quite another to collectively legislate and legalize to protect immoral conduct that can weaken, even destroy the family.
“There is a dangerous trap when tolerance is exaggerated to protect the rights of those whose conduct endangers the family and injures the rights of the more part of the people. We are getting dangerously close to the condition described by the prophet Mosiah in Mosiah 29:26-27.” ----- Pres. Boyd K. Packer, BYU Women’s Conference, May 5, 2006, 5
**********
“Nehor’s words appealed to the people, but his doctrine, while popular to many, was incorrect. As we face the many decisions in life, the easy and popular messages of the world will not usually be the right ones to choose, and it will take much courage to choose the right” (Elder L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Nov. 1993, 67).
**********
“Simply stated, testimony – real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost – changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. . . .
“My experience throughout the Church leads me to worry that too many of our members’ testimonies linger on ‘I am thankful’ and ‘I love,’ and too few are able to say with humble but sincere clarity, ‘I know.’ As a result, our meetings sometimes lack the testimony-rich, spiritual underpinnings that stir the soul and have meaningful, positive impact on the lives of all those who hear them.
“Our testimony meetings need to be more centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures. We need to replace stories, travelogues, and lectures with pure testimonies. . . .
“. . . To bear testimony is to bear witness by the power of the Holy Ghost; to make a solemn declaration of truth based on personal knowledge or belief. Clear declaration of truth makes a difference in people’s lives. That is what changes hearts. That is what the Holy Ghost can confirm in the hearts of God’s children.
“Although we can have testimonies of many things as members of the Church, there are basic truths we need to constantly teach one another and share with those not of our faith. Testify that God is our Father and Jesus is the Christ. The plan of salvation is centered on the Savior’s Atonement. Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon is evidence that our testimony is true” (Elder M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40-41).
**********
“Let me offer a word of caution on this subject. . . . I get concerned when it appears that strong emotion or free-flowing tears are equated with the presence of the Spirit. Certainly the Spirit of the Lord can bring strong emotional feelings, including tears, but that outward manifestation ought not to be confused with the presence of the spirit itself.
“I have watched a great many of my brethren over the years and we have shared some rare and unspeakable spiritual experiences together. Those experiences have all been different, each special in its own way, and such sacred moments may or may not be accompanied by tears. Very often they are, but sometimes they are accompanied by total silence” (Pres. Howard W. Hunter, Feb. 10, 1989).
**********
“ Be ever on guard lest you be deceived by inspiration from an unworthy source. You can be given false spiritual messages. There are counterfeit spirits just as there are counterfeit angels. (see Moroni 7:17) Be careful lest you be deceived, for the devil may come disguised as an angel of light.
“The spiritual part of us and the emotional part of us are so closely linked that it is possible to mistake an emotional impulse for something spiritual. We occasionally find people who receive what they assume to be spiritual promptings from God, when those promptings are either centered in the emotions or are from the adversary.” (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, January 1983)
**********
“It is not unusual to have a missionary say, “How can I bear testimony until I get one? How can I testify that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and the gospel is true? If I do not have such a testimony, would that not be dishonest?
“Oh if I could teach you this one principle. A testimony is to be found in the bearing of it! Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that ‘leap of faith,’ as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and stepped into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two. ‘The spirit of man,’ is as the scripture says, indeed ‘is the candle of the Lord’ (Proverbs 20:27).
“It is one thing to receive a witness from what you have read or what another has said, and that is a necessary beginning. It is quite another to have the Spirit confirm to you in your bosom that what you have testified is true. Can you not see that it will be supplied as you share it? As you give that which you have, there is a replacement, with increase!
. . . “Bear testimony of the things that you hope are true, as an act of faith. It is something of an experiment, akin to the experiment that the prophet Alma proposed to his followers. We begin with faith – not with a perfect knowledge of things. That sermon is the thirty-second chapter of Alma is one of the greatest messages in holy writ. For it is addressed to the beginner, to the novice, to the humble seeker. And it holds a key to a witness of truth
“The Spirit and testimony of Christ will come to you for the most part when, and remain with you only if, you share it. In that process is the very essence of the gospel.
“Is not this a perfect demonstration of Christianity? You cannot find it, nor keep it, nor enlarge it unless and until you are willing to share it. It is by giving it away freely that it becomes yours. (Boyd K. Packer, “The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, January 1983)
“But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said ‘were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.’” (3 Nephi 9:20) -----Pres. Ezra T. Benson, Ensign, Oct. 1989, 5
**********
“The virtue of tolerance has been distorted and elevated to a position of such prominence as to be thought equal to and even valued more than morality. It is one thing to be tolerant, even forgiving of individual conduct. It is quite another to collectively legislate and legalize to protect immoral conduct that can weaken, even destroy the family.
“There is a dangerous trap when tolerance is exaggerated to protect the rights of those whose conduct endangers the family and injures the rights of the more part of the people. We are getting dangerously close to the condition described by the prophet Mosiah in Mosiah 29:26-27.” ----- Pres. Boyd K. Packer, BYU Women’s Conference, May 5, 2006, 5
**********
“Nehor’s words appealed to the people, but his doctrine, while popular to many, was incorrect. As we face the many decisions in life, the easy and popular messages of the world will not usually be the right ones to choose, and it will take much courage to choose the right” (Elder L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Nov. 1993, 67).
**********
“Simply stated, testimony – real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost – changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. . . .
“My experience throughout the Church leads me to worry that too many of our members’ testimonies linger on ‘I am thankful’ and ‘I love,’ and too few are able to say with humble but sincere clarity, ‘I know.’ As a result, our meetings sometimes lack the testimony-rich, spiritual underpinnings that stir the soul and have meaningful, positive impact on the lives of all those who hear them.
“Our testimony meetings need to be more centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures. We need to replace stories, travelogues, and lectures with pure testimonies. . . .
“. . . To bear testimony is to bear witness by the power of the Holy Ghost; to make a solemn declaration of truth based on personal knowledge or belief. Clear declaration of truth makes a difference in people’s lives. That is what changes hearts. That is what the Holy Ghost can confirm in the hearts of God’s children.
“Although we can have testimonies of many things as members of the Church, there are basic truths we need to constantly teach one another and share with those not of our faith. Testify that God is our Father and Jesus is the Christ. The plan of salvation is centered on the Savior’s Atonement. Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon is evidence that our testimony is true” (Elder M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40-41).
**********
“Let me offer a word of caution on this subject. . . . I get concerned when it appears that strong emotion or free-flowing tears are equated with the presence of the Spirit. Certainly the Spirit of the Lord can bring strong emotional feelings, including tears, but that outward manifestation ought not to be confused with the presence of the spirit itself.
“I have watched a great many of my brethren over the years and we have shared some rare and unspeakable spiritual experiences together. Those experiences have all been different, each special in its own way, and such sacred moments may or may not be accompanied by tears. Very often they are, but sometimes they are accompanied by total silence” (Pres. Howard W. Hunter, Feb. 10, 1989).
**********
“ Be ever on guard lest you be deceived by inspiration from an unworthy source. You can be given false spiritual messages. There are counterfeit spirits just as there are counterfeit angels. (see Moroni 7:17) Be careful lest you be deceived, for the devil may come disguised as an angel of light.
“The spiritual part of us and the emotional part of us are so closely linked that it is possible to mistake an emotional impulse for something spiritual. We occasionally find people who receive what they assume to be spiritual promptings from God, when those promptings are either centered in the emotions or are from the adversary.” (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, January 1983)
**********
“It is not unusual to have a missionary say, “How can I bear testimony until I get one? How can I testify that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and the gospel is true? If I do not have such a testimony, would that not be dishonest?
“Oh if I could teach you this one principle. A testimony is to be found in the bearing of it! Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that ‘leap of faith,’ as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and stepped into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two. ‘The spirit of man,’ is as the scripture says, indeed ‘is the candle of the Lord’ (Proverbs 20:27).
“It is one thing to receive a witness from what you have read or what another has said, and that is a necessary beginning. It is quite another to have the Spirit confirm to you in your bosom that what you have testified is true. Can you not see that it will be supplied as you share it? As you give that which you have, there is a replacement, with increase!
. . . “Bear testimony of the things that you hope are true, as an act of faith. It is something of an experiment, akin to the experiment that the prophet Alma proposed to his followers. We begin with faith – not with a perfect knowledge of things. That sermon is the thirty-second chapter of Alma is one of the greatest messages in holy writ. For it is addressed to the beginner, to the novice, to the humble seeker. And it holds a key to a witness of truth
“The Spirit and testimony of Christ will come to you for the most part when, and remain with you only if, you share it. In that process is the very essence of the gospel.
“Is not this a perfect demonstration of Christianity? You cannot find it, nor keep it, nor enlarge it unless and until you are willing to share it. It is by giving it away freely that it becomes yours. (Boyd K. Packer, “The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, January 1983)
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Alma 34:32-34
For behold,
this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God;
yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
And now, as I said unto you before,
as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore,
I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate
the day of your repentance until the end;
for after this day of life,
which is given us to prepare for eternity,
behold if we do not improve our time while in this life,
then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis,
that I will repent, that I will return to my God.
Nay, ye cannot say this;
for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies
at the time that ye go out of this life,
that same spirit will have power to possess your body
in that eternal world.
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