In Jacob 7:5 we see Sherem an anti-christ leading away many and attempting to lead away Jacob from belief in Christ.
We see instructions here in Jacob's experience about how to be prepared and protected from falling short in the strength of testimony that we must have since we live among numerous anti-Christs that will attempt to lead us astray.
Jacob explains that he was protected because he had " heard the voice of the Lord from time to time. "
To me that means that Jacob had spiritual experiences with the spirit and personal revelation that he could hold onto when times were hard.
Jacob 5:7
And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.
Another example of this truth was explained in the previous chapter. In the Allegory of the Olive Trees we are told by the servant in the vineyard why the tree started to be corrupt.
Jacob 5:
48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?
To me this can be likened to ourselves as the tree in this example. The top of the tree became too heavy for the root to provide adequate nourishment to hold it up.
In our lives if we allow ourselves to be weighted too heavily with belongings, responsibilities for work, our homes, maybe even by activities and friendships - then our tree is too full for us and we may not make time to recieve strength from our roots. Our roots also may not be taken care of either as we do not take time to go to our Savior who strengthens them.
If I dont allow myself time needed in the scriptures or prayer, I could begin to become lofty or prideful like the tree exemplified here.
My roots will not have nourishment to give if I do not go get the nourishment of living water from my Savior through prayer, repentance, and scripture study.
Since our testimonies are like a plant we must continually feed, we need to go to the Savior to prune and feed us.
I hope that I can do better to spend more time in meaningful prayer and scripture study where the Lord has as truly does speak to me in the scriptures and in my heart.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ.amen.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Monday, December 21, 2015
Allegory Olive Tree
Although I am still researching and seeking out the meaning of the Allegory of the Olive Tree in regards to past history of how the Nephites benefited from this parable, I understand that even more important is the way the scriptures have also been written for my day and to teach me individual lessons through personality revelation.
As I sought for my personal insight, my eyes were open to the witness of the part the pattern that I am in in regards to this parable.
JACOB 5:
70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
I learned that the Lord does have " few " servants of His that He can call on incomparison to the numbers of the world - to help His vineyard or the world to produce good fruit, but I am one of those servants as a member of His church.
A recent address by Thomas S. Monson, tge Prophet, has allowed me to realize at a deeper level which part of the allegory that we are in, as he stated:
“Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.The work is hastening, enlarging, and all-encompassing. No longer do members simply pray for missionaries to find people to teach—they lead out in the finding, inviting, and fellowshipping. No longer do missionaries baptize converts and simply pass them off to the wards and branches—they participate in extended retention efforts and join unit leaders and councils in reaching out to all members."
I am not really sure of a clearer message that I could have in regards to what part of this Allegory that I am in.
I want to be one if those few but faithful servants whom He can ask to help Him in His vineyard.
I pray to be more worthy of inspiration to know whom is ready for me to invite to hear the missionaries. I feel grear desires to do better at this, and I say this in Jesus Holy Name. Amen.
As I sought for my personal insight, my eyes were open to the witness of the part the pattern that I am in in regards to this parable.
JACOB 5:
70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
I learned that the Lord does have " few " servants of His that He can call on incomparison to the numbers of the world - to help His vineyard or the world to produce good fruit, but I am one of those servants as a member of His church.
A recent address by Thomas S. Monson, tge Prophet, has allowed me to realize at a deeper level which part of the allegory that we are in, as he stated:
“Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.The work is hastening, enlarging, and all-encompassing. No longer do members simply pray for missionaries to find people to teach—they lead out in the finding, inviting, and fellowshipping. No longer do missionaries baptize converts and simply pass them off to the wards and branches—they participate in extended retention efforts and join unit leaders and councils in reaching out to all members."
I am not really sure of a clearer message that I could have in regards to what part of this Allegory that I am in.
I want to be one if those few but faithful servants whom He can ask to help Him in His vineyard.
I pray to be more worthy of inspiration to know whom is ready for me to invite to hear the missionaries. I feel grear desires to do better at this, and I say this in Jesus Holy Name. Amen.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Olive Tree
As I learned more on gospeldoctrine.com about why the Olive Tree was used as a symbol in Jacob 4 by the Lord...I think what stuck out to me the very most was the fact that an Olive Tree can never die with the proper care from it's husbandman, gardner or in our case Christ's help. ( His Atonement through repentance daily being used in our lives ) . I found many of the connections of the Olive Tree and the way that this analogy works for the past disciples of Christ and current disciples of Christ ( us ) strikingly beautiful.
Jacob 5:3 I will liken thee, O house of Israel, like unto a tame olive-tree
A tame olive tree is one that is cultivated by the master of the vineyard, specifically grown to produce good olives. The olive tree is a carefully chosen simile for several reasons:
"For centuries the olive branch has been associated with peace. When the dove returned to Noah in the ark, it carried in its beak an olive leaf, as though to symbolize that the earth was again at peace with God. (See Genesis 8:11) The olive branch was used in both Greece and Rome to signify peace, and it is still used in that sense in the great seal of the United States where the American eagle is shown grasping an olive branch in his talons...
"There is further symbolic significance in that the olive tree is different from most other fruit-bearing trees in the manner of its beginning. If the green slip of an olive tree is merely planted and allowed to grow, it develops into the wild olive, a bush that grows without control into a tangle of limb branches that produce only a small, worthless fruit. (See Harold N. and Alma L. Moldenke, Plants of the Bible, p. 159) To become the productive 'tame' olive tree, the main stem of the wild tree must be cut back completely and then a branch from a tame olive tree must be grafted into the stem of the wild one. With careful pruning and cultivating the tree will begin to produce its first fruit in about seven years, but it will not become fully productive for nearly fifteen years. In other words, the olive tree cannot become productive in and of itself; it requires grafting by the husbandman to bring it into production. One remembers the figure used by Jesus to describe himself, his Father, and those that serve them: 'I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ' (John 15:1-3) The word purgeth in Greek means 'pruned,' and in Greek verse 3 keeps the metaphor and says, ' Now ye are pruned.' God is the husbandman and prunes off the wild branches of our spiritual lives if we will but submit to his tender care. Thus we become like the tame olive tree...
"'The wild olive is a kind of reversion to the primitive plant-such as occurs also with the fig and almond-and it takes place whenever the growth of the olive is neglected....
"'In most neglected olive groves numerous little bushes of the 'wild olive' may be seen, which, though very unlike the cultivated tree-having a shorter, smaller, and greener leaf and a stiffer, more prickly stem-are nevertheless derived from it. As a rule the wild olive is but a shrub, but it may grow into a tree and have small but useless 'berries.' Where groves of wild olives are found in Palestine, they are probably always the descendants of cultivated trees long ago destroyed,' (James Hastings, ed., Dictionary of the Bible, s.v. "Olive.")
"The olive tree is remarkable for two other characteristics that are quite unlike other fruit-bearing trees. First, though requiring nearly fifteen years to come into full production, it may produce fruit for centuries. Some trees now growing in the Holy Land have been producing abundantly for at least four hundred years. The second amazing quality of the tree is that as it finally does grow old and begin to die, the roots send up a number of new green shoots which, if grafted and pruned in regular fashion, will mature to full-grown olive trees again. Thus, while the tree itself may produce fruit for centuries, the root of the tree may go on producing fruit and new trees for millennia. It is believed that some of the ancient olive trees in Israel today come from trees that were [in existence] when Christ was alive on the earth." (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1981, pp. 138
I say this in Jesus Christ's Holy Name.Amen.
Jacob 5:3 I will liken thee, O house of Israel, like unto a tame olive-tree
A tame olive tree is one that is cultivated by the master of the vineyard, specifically grown to produce good olives. The olive tree is a carefully chosen simile for several reasons:
"For centuries the olive branch has been associated with peace. When the dove returned to Noah in the ark, it carried in its beak an olive leaf, as though to symbolize that the earth was again at peace with God. (See Genesis 8:11) The olive branch was used in both Greece and Rome to signify peace, and it is still used in that sense in the great seal of the United States where the American eagle is shown grasping an olive branch in his talons...
"There is further symbolic significance in that the olive tree is different from most other fruit-bearing trees in the manner of its beginning. If the green slip of an olive tree is merely planted and allowed to grow, it develops into the wild olive, a bush that grows without control into a tangle of limb branches that produce only a small, worthless fruit. (See Harold N. and Alma L. Moldenke, Plants of the Bible, p. 159) To become the productive 'tame' olive tree, the main stem of the wild tree must be cut back completely and then a branch from a tame olive tree must be grafted into the stem of the wild one. With careful pruning and cultivating the tree will begin to produce its first fruit in about seven years, but it will not become fully productive for nearly fifteen years. In other words, the olive tree cannot become productive in and of itself; it requires grafting by the husbandman to bring it into production. One remembers the figure used by Jesus to describe himself, his Father, and those that serve them: 'I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ' (John 15:1-3) The word purgeth in Greek means 'pruned,' and in Greek verse 3 keeps the metaphor and says, ' Now ye are pruned.' God is the husbandman and prunes off the wild branches of our spiritual lives if we will but submit to his tender care. Thus we become like the tame olive tree...
"'The wild olive is a kind of reversion to the primitive plant-such as occurs also with the fig and almond-and it takes place whenever the growth of the olive is neglected....
"'In most neglected olive groves numerous little bushes of the 'wild olive' may be seen, which, though very unlike the cultivated tree-having a shorter, smaller, and greener leaf and a stiffer, more prickly stem-are nevertheless derived from it. As a rule the wild olive is but a shrub, but it may grow into a tree and have small but useless 'berries.' Where groves of wild olives are found in Palestine, they are probably always the descendants of cultivated trees long ago destroyed,' (James Hastings, ed., Dictionary of the Bible, s.v. "Olive.")
"The olive tree is remarkable for two other characteristics that are quite unlike other fruit-bearing trees. First, though requiring nearly fifteen years to come into full production, it may produce fruit for centuries. Some trees now growing in the Holy Land have been producing abundantly for at least four hundred years. The second amazing quality of the tree is that as it finally does grow old and begin to die, the roots send up a number of new green shoots which, if grafted and pruned in regular fashion, will mature to full-grown olive trees again. Thus, while the tree itself may produce fruit for centuries, the root of the tree may go on producing fruit and new trees for millennia. It is believed that some of the ancient olive trees in Israel today come from trees that were [in existence] when Christ was alive on the earth." (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1981, pp. 138
I say this in Jesus Christ's Holy Name.Amen.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Be the good root and provide moisture and light
Lately I have found myself praying for our beloved Prophet Thomas S. Monson more in my prayers. Perhaps my reasoning for his recent talk coming to mind as I pondered this scripture is because he had been on my mind?
In the recent Oct. 2015 General Conference President Monson reminded us that we can be like these " good roots " that provide moisture and help the branches grafted in also produce good fruit. ( Jacob 5 )
We are providing moisture and helping others to become good fruit as we " let our light shine " and we are the example of the believers. We can be a provider of light as we share our testimonies and examples with others.
President Monson gives many ways that we can make an impact in others lives in this talk titled " Be an example and the light ".
He says in this talk :
" Recently, as I have been reading and pondering the scriptures, two passages in particular have stayed with me. Both are familiar to us. The first is from the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”1 The second scripture is one which came to my mind as I pondered the meaning of the first. It is from the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to Timothy: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”2
I believe the second scripture explains, in great part, how we can accomplish the first. We become examples of the believers by living the gospel of Jesus Christ in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. As we do so, our lights will shine for others to see.
Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ. As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others.
The Apostle Paul lists six attributes of a believer, attributes that will allow our lights to shine. Let us look at each one.
I mention the first two attributes together—being an example in word and in conversation. The words we use can lift and inspire, or they can harm and demean. In the world today there is a profusion of profanity with which we seem to be surrounded at nearly every turn. It is difficult to avoid hearing the names of Deity being used casually and thoughtlessly. Coarse comments seem to have become a staple of television, movies, books, and music. Bandied about are slanderous remarks and angry rhetoric. Let us speak to others with love and respect, ever keeping our language clean and avoiding words or comments that would wound or offend. May we follow the example of the Savior, who spoke with tolerance and kindness throughout His ministry.
The next attribute mentioned by Paul is charity, which has been defined as “the pure love of Christ.”3 I am confident there are within our sphere of influence those who are lonely, those who are ill, and those who feel discouraged. Ours is the opportunity to help them and to lift their spirits. The Savior brought hope to the hopeless and strength to the weak. He healed the sick; He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. Throughout His ministry He reached out in charity to any in need. As we emulate His example, we will bless lives, including our own.
Next, we are to be an example in spirit. To me that means we strive to have in our lives kindness, gratitude,forgiveness, and goodwill. These qualities will provide for us a spirit which will touch the lives of those around us. It has been my opportunity through the years to associate with countless individuals who possess such a spirit. We experience a special feeling when we are with them, a feeling that makes us want to associate with them and to follow their example. They radiate the Light of Christ and help us feel His love for us.
I have great desires and hopes that my scripture study and beliefs documented will be a source of moisture, light , strength or comfort to my children, anyone and everyone. I love you all my brothers and sisters, children and friends.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jacob 5:
18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.
In the recent Oct. 2015 General Conference President Monson reminded us that we can be like these " good roots " that provide moisture and help the branches grafted in also produce good fruit. ( Jacob 5 )
We are providing moisture and helping others to become good fruit as we " let our light shine " and we are the example of the believers. We can be a provider of light as we share our testimonies and examples with others.
President Monson gives many ways that we can make an impact in others lives in this talk titled " Be an example and the light ".
He says in this talk :
" Recently, as I have been reading and pondering the scriptures, two passages in particular have stayed with me. Both are familiar to us. The first is from the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”1 The second scripture is one which came to my mind as I pondered the meaning of the first. It is from the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to Timothy: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”2
I believe the second scripture explains, in great part, how we can accomplish the first. We become examples of the believers by living the gospel of Jesus Christ in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. As we do so, our lights will shine for others to see.
Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ. As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others.
The Apostle Paul lists six attributes of a believer, attributes that will allow our lights to shine. Let us look at each one.
I mention the first two attributes together—being an example in word and in conversation. The words we use can lift and inspire, or they can harm and demean. In the world today there is a profusion of profanity with which we seem to be surrounded at nearly every turn. It is difficult to avoid hearing the names of Deity being used casually and thoughtlessly. Coarse comments seem to have become a staple of television, movies, books, and music. Bandied about are slanderous remarks and angry rhetoric. Let us speak to others with love and respect, ever keeping our language clean and avoiding words or comments that would wound or offend. May we follow the example of the Savior, who spoke with tolerance and kindness throughout His ministry.
The next attribute mentioned by Paul is charity, which has been defined as “the pure love of Christ.”3 I am confident there are within our sphere of influence those who are lonely, those who are ill, and those who feel discouraged. Ours is the opportunity to help them and to lift their spirits. The Savior brought hope to the hopeless and strength to the weak. He healed the sick; He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. Throughout His ministry He reached out in charity to any in need. As we emulate His example, we will bless lives, including our own.
Next, we are to be an example in spirit. To me that means we strive to have in our lives kindness, gratitude,forgiveness, and goodwill. These qualities will provide for us a spirit which will touch the lives of those around us. It has been my opportunity through the years to associate with countless individuals who possess such a spirit. We experience a special feeling when we are with them, a feeling that makes us want to associate with them and to follow their example. They radiate the Light of Christ and help us feel His love for us.
I have great desires and hopes that my scripture study and beliefs documented will be a source of moisture, light , strength or comfort to my children, anyone and everyone. I love you all my brothers and sisters, children and friends.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jacob 5:
18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.
Friday, December 11, 2015
His Vineyard
Jacob 5: 8 And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many of these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will; and it mattereth not that if it so be that the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will.
As I have been reading about the allegory of the Olive Tree I feel the purpose of the Lord teaching us in parables. The highest lesson I found as I compared the parable to my own parable is that - The Lord loves us and He will do everything He can to help us in His vineyard.
The things I am finding are reminding me exactly what I had told Brooke only weeks ago about our little baby rabbits that we love.
As some of the newborns were suffering from lack of calories since the mom was not nursing them, I told Brooke - yes, I love those little babies too and it makes me sad they might die and we will do everything that we can to help them. I will take and feed some myself and if I had another mother rabbit, I would have put them with her.
And that might be sad for them to be taken away from the Mom but this is how we save them.
I told Brooke, I am sorry that we lost a couple babies too, but they are just waiting in another place right now and had we not done everything we could for them?
Jacob 5:41
And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?
We saw some babies do very well and Brooke wanted to keep them but I told her they will do better in another place and perhaps they can have their own babies and that is happy.
I know the Lord is at work in all of our lives and that the great purpose of His work comes from the love that He has for us. He desires all of us to do well and be happy, which comes by the means of the fullness of His gospel.
His work in our world is to bring to pass the immortality and life of man.
I hope that I can help love and assist Him in this work as I strive to share the means of joy ( the Restored Gospel ) with everyone.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
As I have been reading about the allegory of the Olive Tree I feel the purpose of the Lord teaching us in parables. The highest lesson I found as I compared the parable to my own parable is that - The Lord loves us and He will do everything He can to help us in His vineyard.
The things I am finding are reminding me exactly what I had told Brooke only weeks ago about our little baby rabbits that we love.
As some of the newborns were suffering from lack of calories since the mom was not nursing them, I told Brooke - yes, I love those little babies too and it makes me sad they might die and we will do everything that we can to help them. I will take and feed some myself and if I had another mother rabbit, I would have put them with her.
And that might be sad for them to be taken away from the Mom but this is how we save them.
I told Brooke, I am sorry that we lost a couple babies too, but they are just waiting in another place right now and had we not done everything we could for them?
Jacob 5:41
And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?
We saw some babies do very well and Brooke wanted to keep them but I told her they will do better in another place and perhaps they can have their own babies and that is happy.
I know the Lord is at work in all of our lives and that the great purpose of His work comes from the love that He has for us. He desires all of us to do well and be happy, which comes by the means of the fullness of His gospel.
His work in our world is to bring to pass the immortality and life of man.
I hope that I can help love and assist Him in this work as I strive to share the means of joy ( the Restored Gospel ) with everyone.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
He Knows Your Poor Spot
I wonder how many times in my prayers that the Lord might feel to say to me as He said to His servant of the vineyard in Jacob 5, " Counsel me not, I knew that it was a poor spot of ground.."
Or in words to myself, " Emily, counsel me not, I know the poor spot, or hard parts of your life. I know what will bring forth good fruit or good works from you and how you will become the "good fruit" with my ways."
In Jacob 5: 21-22 we read as the Lord is pruning, grafting and instructing what should be done with His vineyard and those trees, or people in it.
21-22 reads: And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold , it was the poorest spot in all the land of the vineyard. And the Lord of the Vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.
We can also see this same message taught in one chapter earlier in Jacob 4 as Jacob instructs:
Jacob 4:10
Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom , and in justice and in great mercy, over all his works.
Brooke and Will,
You will have trials, heartache, disappointment and even pain at times in your life. These things may cause you to wonder how the experience could possibly benefit you, or why a loving God would allow you to experience hardships? But, I can tell you from experience that our Father in Heaven truly knows best. He can see the past, the present and future. Only He can know of the depths of His mysteries and ways. ( Jacob 4:8 )
I have had the experience many times in my life that I have thought something was absolutely horrible to experience in my life, and yet I now can see the blessing that the hard thing was or is.
My hope for you is as you experience hardships in your life that you turn to Him in prayer, scripture study, and temple attendance. Show Him that you trust in Him by seeing the good in every experience, and then you will be swallowed up in the joy of Christ. You will be given strength to endure and in this process you will produce " good fruit " or good works and you will become His " good fruit."
" Our afflictions brothers and sisters often will not be extinguished, they will be dwarfed and swallowed up in the joy of christ. That's how we overcome most of the time. It's not their elimination, but the placing of them in that larger context. " - Neal A. Maxwell
I also hope that as you and I pray that we will listen quietly, and intently rather than to ask for Him to do something in our lives, I hope we will ask what we can do for others in their lives, to help Him. I also hope that we can thank Him in all things and at all moments; not just in our words but through our actions that show that we are thankful.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Looking Beyond the Mark
As I considered this phrase " looking beyond the mark " given in Jacob 4, I desired to understand this better. What I learned is that -
The way that a person can be in danger of " looking beyond the mark" can be different for every individual.
Since " the mark " is representation of Jesus Christ we can see how each person would be tempted by the adversary within the realm of their own weaknesses.
As I consider the way that I am not looking to Jesus Christ as I should, I am reminded that my weakness is - being distracted by the good, for the better and best. When I allow myself to focus more on my daily activities like my school work, caring for the ill in my employment, or even in areas of service as I take a child to a fun activity, sporting practice, or even church - if I have not kept my Savior and being worthy of His spirit as my highest priority as I do these good things - then I am looking beyond the mark.
For example, if I am trying to be a good mother by involving my children in sports, and fun activities but the time that this takes is hindering the amount of time that I can help my children spiritually develop through more time in my one on one scripture study with them, or the energy it takes running them from place to place is leaving less energy to have spiritual moments through one on one time, then I am not only looking beyond the mark, but I am also teaching them to look beyond the mark by not putting the Savior as number one priority.
Another example of my looking beyond the mark can be the amount of commitment I have given to my schooling or employment. Although these are things that the spirit has prompted me to be involved in if I allow my devotion to them to take away from the devotion that I have to my Savior then I am looking beyond the mark. I must reconsider time spent to achieve a better grade, or the amount of work that I commit to, in order that I can spend more time in daily communion with my Savior through prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, and all things that are " daily consecration."
Perhaps " daily consecration " is essentially saying you must have daily CONCENTRATION on the Lord and the activities that draw us closer to Him?
Quentin L. Cook stated in his talk titled, " Looking Beyond the Mark " :
The “Mark” Is Christ
When we look beyond the mark, we are looking beyond Christ, the only name under heaven whereby we might be saved. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “Jacob saw that the Jews would look ‘beyond the mark’ and stumble in their search for the Holy One of Israel, this literal Son of God to be known as Jesus Christ: ‘By the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.’” 9
Elder Cook states a few different forms of looking beyond the mark in his talk that I will include:
Gospel Extremism
Another sign of spiritual immaturity and sometimes apostasy is when one focuses on certain gospel principles or pursues “gospel hobbies” with excess zeal. Almost any virtue taken to excess can become a vice.
Certain members have wanted to add substantially to various doctrines. An example might be when one advocates additions to the Word of Wisdom that are not authorized by the Brethren and proselytes others to adopt these interpretations. If we turn a health law or any other principle into a form of religious fanaticism, we are looking beyond the mark.
Heroic Gestures as a Substitute for Daily Consecration
In a lecture at Brigham Young University, James S. Jardine, former chairman of the board of trustees of the University of Utah, indicated that when he was a student, he thought “of consecrating [his] life in one grand, heroic gesture” but came to realize that “consecration is not a once in a lifetime event; it is a daily devotion.” 4
Elevating Rules over Doctrine
The Savior was concerned when others elevated rules over doctrine. In Matthew 23:23 [Matt. 23:23] we read, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pointed out that Jacob’s teachings with respect to looking beyond the mark applied to the Jews of Jesus’ day:
“They took the plain and simple things of pure religion and added to them a host of their own interpretations; they embellished them with added rites and performances; and they took a happy, joyous way of worship and turned it into a restrictive, curtailing, depressive system of rituals and performances. The living spirit of the Lord’s law became in their hands the dead letter of Jewish ritualism.” 6
Doctrine usually answers the question “why?” Principles usually answer the question “what?” Whenever we emphasize how to do something without reference to why we do it or what we do, we risk looking beyond the mark. At the very least, we fall into the trap Paul described to the Corinthians: “For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Cor. 3:6).
Substituting the Philosophies of Men for Gospel Truths
Some people seem to be embarrassed by the simplicity of the Savior’s message. They want to add complexity and even obscurity to the truth to make it more intellectually challenging or more compatible with current academic trends.
Jacob 4:
14 But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.
I hope and pray that I can do better at not " looking beyond the mark" in my own area of temptation. I am very thankful for the talks that we have been given by our leaders that help us to understand the scriptures and how they pertain to ourselves, but more importantly I am thankful for the personal revelation that I receive for myself about the ways that I personally am " looking beyond the mark " and how I need to adjust my activities and choices to be closer to Him that I love so very much.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Weak things are a blessing
Recently I have had a very nice compliment come from a group of incredible sisters of mine. ( Wendy, Kathryn, Heidi, Euna and Annemarie )
As I was complimented I was reminded of this scripture that I also came upon today as I pondered. Seems like a strange scripture to come to mind when being uplifted about yourself, but I will explain why....
Jacob 4:
7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.
This scripture came to mind because only Father in Heaven and myself know how deeply I have desired to overcome my weaknesses, and others may see a person in myself whom is strong, but perhaps the real senerio here is that because the Lord makes weak things strong, I have been blessed with strengths to compensate for the higher level of weakness that I have verses the normal person?
No matter - except that I know that everything that blesses me and all His children comes from Him...therefore anything we admire in another person is not really admiration of that person, but admiration of HIM at work in them and as part of them becoming one with Him. ( John 17 )
Once a person fully realizes this truth - the only thing they desire is - to be worthy of the gifts that He gives through obedience, faith and of course by asking for help and blessings from Him.
" Every weakness is an opportunity for God to show His strength in your life."
Paul must have understood this because in 2 Corinthians 12 he explains that he asked God to take away a weakness of his three times. In the end the Lord did not take it away instead he taught him that he should be glad for his weaknesses, trials and that people were rude to him or persecuting him.
Paul says 2 Corinthians 12:
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I suppose as I considered the compliment I was given I knew these scriptures were being verified in my life.
I am nothing with out Him and I love Him with all my soul.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
As I was complimented I was reminded of this scripture that I also came upon today as I pondered. Seems like a strange scripture to come to mind when being uplifted about yourself, but I will explain why....
Jacob 4:
7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.
This scripture came to mind because only Father in Heaven and myself know how deeply I have desired to overcome my weaknesses, and others may see a person in myself whom is strong, but perhaps the real senerio here is that because the Lord makes weak things strong, I have been blessed with strengths to compensate for the higher level of weakness that I have verses the normal person?
No matter - except that I know that everything that blesses me and all His children comes from Him...therefore anything we admire in another person is not really admiration of that person, but admiration of HIM at work in them and as part of them becoming one with Him. ( John 17 )
Once a person fully realizes this truth - the only thing they desire is - to be worthy of the gifts that He gives through obedience, faith and of course by asking for help and blessings from Him.
" Every weakness is an opportunity for God to show His strength in your life."
Paul must have understood this because in 2 Corinthians 12 he explains that he asked God to take away a weakness of his three times. In the end the Lord did not take it away instead he taught him that he should be glad for his weaknesses, trials and that people were rude to him or persecuting him.
Paul says 2 Corinthians 12:
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I suppose as I considered the compliment I was given I knew these scriptures were being verified in my life.
I am nothing with out Him and I love Him with all my soul.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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