I have long wondered about a seeming contradiction that has been presented in lessons at church. The scripture says "Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Then in the same lesson we talk about how a yoke works. The oxen are supposed to be evenly matched so they can pull together. If you have a mismatched pair, they won't be very successful.
To me these two ideas present a huge contradiction, but nobody has ever mentioned the contradiction in class and I had never been able to resolve it in my mind. Christ's yoke is supposed to make my burden lighter, however, oxen who are yoked together should be evenly matched. I am very far from being evenly matched with my Savior. He is the strongest ox ever born, and I am barely stronger than a goat. How in the world can we pull together as an evenly matched pair?
Today in conference, someone told about a competition among oxen. There was a strong looking pair that was unable to pull the weight very far. The team that won wasn't a very impressive looking pair. They were kind of scrawny and were different sizes. He couldn't understand how they could win. He was told that they won because they worked perfectly together.
This explains the seeming contradiction perfectly. The Savior's yoke is easy because he works with me. He pulls just the right amount so that if I give it my best, we can work together. This analogy explains so much about the gospel to me. We often talk about the Lord's timing and how he answers prayers, but not always in he way we want or expect. If Christ is to work in perfect harmony with me, he can't let me go faster than I am able, or let me move in the wrong direction. If we are to work together as a perfectly matched pair, then I need to follow the guidance and direction of the wiser and more experienced team member. In this, the benefits to me will be twofold. One, I will always go in the right direction and take the course of action that will bring me the best end result. Two, I will be able to accomplish twice as much as I could do on my own because Jesus is pulling along at he exact same speed as I am going. What a glorious promise!
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Redemption
Today I read the allegory of the olive tree. It is a good allegory when read alone, but I especially like it in the context of why it is there. Jacob includes it to explain to his people how the Jews can be saved by Christ after they have rejected him. It tells of how the Lord works to give his people the chance to repent and return to him. And when they return, he doesn't reject them for their past failures; he welcomes them and rejoices.
People often say the Book of Mormon is about the pride cycle. They focus on how the people turn away from God because of their pride and then return to him after they are humbled. They seem to talk of it as one giant cautionary tale. I think of it differently. I think it is a grand story of redemption. No one in the Book of Mormon is too far gone to save. Even Amalakiah, one of the most despicable, wicked human beings, is given the chance by Moroni to change his ways and return to God. And when the people in general, or individuals repent, the Lord welcomes them and rejoices in their faithfulness. Since the Book of Mormon is supposed to bring us to Christ, I like the focus on redemption.
Christ's forgiveness is one of the most comforting assurances that I can receive. I mess up all the time. I watch my kids mess up. The knowledge that my Savior is willing to forgive and make me whole, no matter what mistakes I make, is something I cherish. He forgives us all and I love him for it.
Zenos's allegory is a beautiful reminder of the redemptive power of Christ's Atonement. I am grateful that no matter how wild, unfruitful, or evil any of us might become, the Lord will be here to prune, nourish, cut back, graft, and tend to our needs so that we may become the best that we can be.
People often say the Book of Mormon is about the pride cycle. They focus on how the people turn away from God because of their pride and then return to him after they are humbled. They seem to talk of it as one giant cautionary tale. I think of it differently. I think it is a grand story of redemption. No one in the Book of Mormon is too far gone to save. Even Amalakiah, one of the most despicable, wicked human beings, is given the chance by Moroni to change his ways and return to God. And when the people in general, or individuals repent, the Lord welcomes them and rejoices in their faithfulness. Since the Book of Mormon is supposed to bring us to Christ, I like the focus on redemption.
Christ's forgiveness is one of the most comforting assurances that I can receive. I mess up all the time. I watch my kids mess up. The knowledge that my Savior is willing to forgive and make me whole, no matter what mistakes I make, is something I cherish. He forgives us all and I love him for it.
Zenos's allegory is a beautiful reminder of the redemptive power of Christ's Atonement. I am grateful that no matter how wild, unfruitful, or evil any of us might become, the Lord will be here to prune, nourish, cut back, graft, and tend to our needs so that we may become the best that we can be.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Magnifying Your Calling
I had a thought about magnifying your calling. It came during a Sunday School lesson when the teacher asked what it means to magnify your calling.
Magnify means to enlarge. I have always looked at that from the outside - enlarge and expand the scope of your calling, or more fully fulfill your duties. This time I thought about it from the inside. What if I try to magnify my calling within my own life?
People magnify and minimize things in their lives all the time. When there is a big deadline looming, it gets magnified in their mind. They are focusing on it to the exclusion of other things. So the other things become smaller in comparison. We do this with problems, successes, upcoming events, etc. So if I am to magnify my calling, maybe that means to give it a more important place in my life. I should make sure it is high enough in my priorities list that I give it focus and really do my best. I don't want to magnify it so that it dwarfs other things in my life, but I don't want to push it to the side and get to it later either.
Magnify means to enlarge. I have always looked at that from the outside - enlarge and expand the scope of your calling, or more fully fulfill your duties. This time I thought about it from the inside. What if I try to magnify my calling within my own life?
People magnify and minimize things in their lives all the time. When there is a big deadline looming, it gets magnified in their mind. They are focusing on it to the exclusion of other things. So the other things become smaller in comparison. We do this with problems, successes, upcoming events, etc. So if I am to magnify my calling, maybe that means to give it a more important place in my life. I should make sure it is high enough in my priorities list that I give it focus and really do my best. I don't want to magnify it so that it dwarfs other things in my life, but I don't want to push it to the side and get to it later either.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Am I a Blessing?
In the Book of Mormon, people often talk about their afflictions or their blessings in terms of their posterity. Nephi talks about the suffering he endures because he finds out that his seed will turn wicked and be destroyed. Lehi tells his children that they will be blessed because their descendants will learn of the gospel and be blessed. These men have a better eternal perspective than I have. I am generally focused on blessings or suffering as things that happen now and to me.
Then I started to think, if my ancestors look at me and the life I am living, do I cause them suffering or joy? Probably some of both. If I am going to the effort to bless them through temple ordinances, I should go to the effort to live a life that would make them feel joy.
Then I started to think, if my ancestors look at me and the life I am living, do I cause them suffering or joy? Probably some of both. If I am going to the effort to bless them through temple ordinances, I should go to the effort to live a life that would make them feel joy.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Why is the Atonement so important?
The Sunday School lesson this week asks the question "why is the Atonement central to the plan of salvation?". Not part of, not a key part of, but central. I have been pondering that question and have some ideas.
When a baby is born, his parents are filled with incredible joy. This beautiful infant changes everything about their lives and they are thrilled with the present and the possibilities for the future. But what if there were no future? What if that infant stayed the same - didn't get bigger, didn't learn, didn't grow. Neither the baby, nor the parents would experience a fullness of joy.
When that child gets older, he has new experiences, learns, grows, spreads his wings and becomes his own person, separate from his parents. And at some point, maybe the child stops following the family rules. He starts to question authority. The parents say, "as long as you live under our roof, you'll follow our rules." The child tries to obey, the parents work with him to help make things better, and they are able to happily live together. But what if that statement was a hard and fast rule? What if once a child breaks a family rule, he is forever banished? No parent would want to be so cruel, especially since that would mean sending a young child out into the world alone, never to return.
Both of those what ifs sound unreasonable and pretty ridiculous. But without the Atonement, those are the two alternatives Heavenly Father is faced with. Does he let us stay in heaven with him, knowing we can't learn, grow and reach our potential; or does he give us the opportunity to learn and grow, knowing that we will make a mistake (or a million of them) that will stop us from ever living with him again.
Christ's Atonement is central to the plan because it means Heavenly Father and his children don't have to make that terrible choice. We can learn and grow, which will involve becoming less perfect and pure, but more faithful and able. And then through Christ's Atonement we can become perfect and pure again. But now, instead of being a perfect and pure infant, we will be a perfect and pure adult. Thus each of us and Heavenly Father can experience the fullness of joy that comes from learning, growing, and being together.
When a baby is born, his parents are filled with incredible joy. This beautiful infant changes everything about their lives and they are thrilled with the present and the possibilities for the future. But what if there were no future? What if that infant stayed the same - didn't get bigger, didn't learn, didn't grow. Neither the baby, nor the parents would experience a fullness of joy.
When that child gets older, he has new experiences, learns, grows, spreads his wings and becomes his own person, separate from his parents. And at some point, maybe the child stops following the family rules. He starts to question authority. The parents say, "as long as you live under our roof, you'll follow our rules." The child tries to obey, the parents work with him to help make things better, and they are able to happily live together. But what if that statement was a hard and fast rule? What if once a child breaks a family rule, he is forever banished? No parent would want to be so cruel, especially since that would mean sending a young child out into the world alone, never to return.
Both of those what ifs sound unreasonable and pretty ridiculous. But without the Atonement, those are the two alternatives Heavenly Father is faced with. Does he let us stay in heaven with him, knowing we can't learn, grow and reach our potential; or does he give us the opportunity to learn and grow, knowing that we will make a mistake (or a million of them) that will stop us from ever living with him again.
Christ's Atonement is central to the plan because it means Heavenly Father and his children don't have to make that terrible choice. We can learn and grow, which will involve becoming less perfect and pure, but more faithful and able. And then through Christ's Atonement we can become perfect and pure again. But now, instead of being a perfect and pure infant, we will be a perfect and pure adult. Thus each of us and Heavenly Father can experience the fullness of joy that comes from learning, growing, and being together.
Friday, May 24, 2013
the Lord Provides
1Nephi 3:7 - I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
1 Nephi 17:3 - And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.
When taken together, these two scriptures are especially awesome. (They stand up pretty well on their own too). In the first Nephi expresses faith. In the second he confirms how the Lord has rewarded that faith. I know the Lord will provide a way followed by look how the Lord provided a way.
Nephi set a good example of looking forward with faith and looking back over the course of your life to strengthen that faith and give you courage to move forward.
When I look back over my life, I can see plenty of times when the Lord has blessed and helped me, times when stepping forward in faith has been rewarded with asked blessings and increased capacity to do what he has asked me to do.
1 Nephi 17:3 - And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.
When taken together, these two scriptures are especially awesome. (They stand up pretty well on their own too). In the first Nephi expresses faith. In the second he confirms how the Lord has rewarded that faith. I know the Lord will provide a way followed by look how the Lord provided a way.
Nephi set a good example of looking forward with faith and looking back over the course of your life to strengthen that faith and give you courage to move forward.
When I look back over my life, I can see plenty of times when the Lord has blessed and helped me, times when stepping forward in faith has been rewarded with asked blessings and increased capacity to do what he has asked me to do.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Priorities
in 1 Nephi, Nephi and brothers go to Jerusalem twice. First, they go to get the plates. Then they go to get Ishmael's family. Both are clearly important, but they put the word of God first. I think that reinforces where my priorities should be.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Giving away our precious things
I just read 1 Nephi 3. In this chapter, Nephi and his brothers go to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. I've read and heard this story a hundred times, but i just had a different insight into what it means. Nephi and his brothers make three attempts to get the plates. First, Laman asks for the plates. Next, they try to buy the plates. Finally, Nephi goes to get the plates, trusting the Lord to help him. We always talk about this story in the same terms - first the oldest brother gets a chance, next Nephi tries to do it on his own, then at last, Nephi decides to trust the Lord.
The first one was necessary to give Laman the opportunity to follow the Lord, the second was a throwaway attempt, and the third was the one that counts. I just realized that the second one was really important. Nephi tells his brothers that they are leaving Jerusalem because the Lord commanded them. They need the plates, but they don't need their riches to be able to follow the Lord, so they try to trade their riches for something of more value. Nephi and his brothers gave up their gold, their silver, and all their precious things so they could obtain the word of the Lord. Nephi took a stand - the things of the Lord are more important than the things of the world. His brothers went along with it. They did something the rich young man in the New Testament wouldn't do - they gave up all they had so they could follow the Lord.
If we are to truly follow the Lord, don't we have to give up our precious things? Clearly, this doesn't mean giving away everything we own. If everyone did that, we would be in dire straits. But shouldn't I give away the preciousness of them? Shouldn't I relegate my things, my hobbies, my time wasters to the status where they belong? I shouldn't let worldly things become precious things. I don't think the Lord wants me to give up everything,but I should be willing to give up anything in my life if he asks it of me.
In the story, Nephi is able to follow the spirit and get the plates, only after he has given up his precious things. What might I accomplish if I do the same?
The first one was necessary to give Laman the opportunity to follow the Lord, the second was a throwaway attempt, and the third was the one that counts. I just realized that the second one was really important. Nephi tells his brothers that they are leaving Jerusalem because the Lord commanded them. They need the plates, but they don't need their riches to be able to follow the Lord, so they try to trade their riches for something of more value. Nephi and his brothers gave up their gold, their silver, and all their precious things so they could obtain the word of the Lord. Nephi took a stand - the things of the Lord are more important than the things of the world. His brothers went along with it. They did something the rich young man in the New Testament wouldn't do - they gave up all they had so they could follow the Lord.
If we are to truly follow the Lord, don't we have to give up our precious things? Clearly, this doesn't mean giving away everything we own. If everyone did that, we would be in dire straits. But shouldn't I give away the preciousness of them? Shouldn't I relegate my things, my hobbies, my time wasters to the status where they belong? I shouldn't let worldly things become precious things. I don't think the Lord wants me to give up everything,but I should be willing to give up anything in my life if he asks it of me.
In the story, Nephi is able to follow the spirit and get the plates, only after he has given up his precious things. What might I accomplish if I do the same?
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
the Atonement
As this Easter season was approaching I began thinking about my Savior. Since Easter is the last day of this month, I decided that I really wanted to have an Easter season this year instead of just an Easter Sunday.
So I started reading the New Testament. It is a glorious book. I have been marking the miracles Jesus performed and each night of March I plan to read one of them to the family. I noticed something that I had never paid attention to before. Christ healed so many people from all walks of life. Despite their differences, they all had one thing in common - they asked for the miracle. They came to Christ and asked him to heal them and take away their suffering. He didn't turn any of them away.
This insight has taught me an important lesson about the Savior's atonement. The immeasurable blessings are within my reach, but I need to ask. And if I ask, he won't fail me.
So I started reading the New Testament. It is a glorious book. I have been marking the miracles Jesus performed and each night of March I plan to read one of them to the family. I noticed something that I had never paid attention to before. Christ healed so many people from all walks of life. Despite their differences, they all had one thing in common - they asked for the miracle. They came to Christ and asked him to heal them and take away their suffering. He didn't turn any of them away.
This insight has taught me an important lesson about the Savior's atonement. The immeasurable blessings are within my reach, but I need to ask. And if I ask, he won't fail me.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Covenants
D&C 25:13 Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.
When I read that verse, I stopped. I had planned to read the rest of the study materials for this Sunday, but I couldn't go on. Cleave unto my covenants. I'm not quite sure what it means, but I know it's something I am supposed to ponder and do.
Maybe it means I should focus on the promises I have made and the promised blessings I will receive. Rather than looking for more knowledge or different blessings, I should live according to the covenants I have already made. If I strive to live up to my end of the deal, it will keep me busy the rest of my life. If I always have the Lord's spirit with me on this earth and have the promise of His blessings for me and my family for eternity, what more can I ask for?
(Next day's thoughts) There is safety and peace in cleaving to my covenants. If I am fulfilling my covenants, all of the warnings the Lord gives to his people won't apply to me. I won't need to worry about being left behind when the bridegroom comes. I won't have to worry that my seed will wither and die. I won't need to worry that I will be an unprofitable servant. If I am living up to my covenants, I will be where the Lord wants me to be.
When I read that verse, I stopped. I had planned to read the rest of the study materials for this Sunday, but I couldn't go on. Cleave unto my covenants. I'm not quite sure what it means, but I know it's something I am supposed to ponder and do.
Maybe it means I should focus on the promises I have made and the promised blessings I will receive. Rather than looking for more knowledge or different blessings, I should live according to the covenants I have already made. If I strive to live up to my end of the deal, it will keep me busy the rest of my life. If I always have the Lord's spirit with me on this earth and have the promise of His blessings for me and my family for eternity, what more can I ask for?
(Next day's thoughts) There is safety and peace in cleaving to my covenants. If I am fulfilling my covenants, all of the warnings the Lord gives to his people won't apply to me. I won't need to worry about being left behind when the bridegroom comes. I won't have to worry that my seed will wither and die. I won't need to worry that I will be an unprofitable servant. If I am living up to my covenants, I will be where the Lord wants me to be.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Outward Appearances
Lately I have been working on losing weight. I haven't been very successful. I have been careful to not eat too much and I have been exercising. Still, not much difference in my appearance. But I can feel the difference. My body is capable of more.
I also have been working on spiritual growth. I show up on time to church every Sunday with my kids. I usually have pretty good answers to the questions in Sunday school and Relief Society. I think I appear to be doing pretty well. But is it indicative of actual growth? I think I am making progress, but the change isn't visible to anyone else.
In Matthew 23, Christ condemns the Pharisees for appearing clean on the outside, but being filthy inside. I get a bit frustrated sometimes because the inside and the outside don't match. I don't look quite the way I want to. And sometimes I think others have too high of an opinion about me. I don't always feel very spiritually competent. But according to my Savior, I shouldn't be paying much attention to those outward appearances. I should be focused on cleansing the inner vessel. No matter what my appearance to others, others I need to continually work on improving myself. That way, the version of myself that I see and that my Heavenly Father sees will be beautiful.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of aextortion and bexcess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, acleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto awhited bsepulchres, which indeed appear cbeautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all duncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear arighteous unto men, but within ye are full of bhypocrisy and iniquity.
I also have been working on spiritual growth. I show up on time to church every Sunday with my kids. I usually have pretty good answers to the questions in Sunday school and Relief Society. I think I appear to be doing pretty well. But is it indicative of actual growth? I think I am making progress, but the change isn't visible to anyone else.
In Matthew 23, Christ condemns the Pharisees for appearing clean on the outside, but being filthy inside. I get a bit frustrated sometimes because the inside and the outside don't match. I don't look quite the way I want to. And sometimes I think others have too high of an opinion about me. I don't always feel very spiritually competent. But according to my Savior, I shouldn't be paying much attention to those outward appearances. I should be focused on cleansing the inner vessel. No matter what my appearance to others, others I need to continually work on improving myself. That way, the version of myself that I see and that my Heavenly Father sees will be beautiful.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of aextortion and bexcess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, acleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto awhited bsepulchres, which indeed appear cbeautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all duncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear arighteous unto men, but within ye are full of bhypocrisy and iniquity.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Trial of Faith
I've been thinking a lot about what this means. What is a trial of faith? Is it when something bad happens and you question your testimony? Is it any bad thing that happens? Is is when you are looking for answers but don't get them right away?
By the first definition, I've never had a real trial of my faith. I've never questioned whether there is a God. There have been challenges in my life, but none of them have ever made me question what I believe. I have always found comfort in my beliefs rather than questioning them.
I've never had a burning question that I've had to wait a long time to get an answer, so it's a no on that front too.
But what if a trial of faith involves trying to go it alone, or turning to the Lord for comfort and strength? If that's what it means, I've had some trials of my faith. Too often, I rely on my own strength to figure things out. Usually that works ok, because the Lord has blessed me in so many ways that I have a lot of resources. But sometimes, I get on my knees and ask the Lord to support me. I have turned to him and asked him to heal me and strengthen me so that I can do what he has asked me to do.
I am grateful that I have never had the kind of trial that makes me question my testimony. I am also grateful that I have had the kind of trials that push me to turn to my Father and his son Jesus Christ and ask them to lift me and help me through. That kind of trial is difficult, but leaves me so much better off than I was when I started out.
PS - this pondering was brought on by a conference talk: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/trial-of-your-faith?lang=eng
By the first definition, I've never had a real trial of my faith. I've never questioned whether there is a God. There have been challenges in my life, but none of them have ever made me question what I believe. I have always found comfort in my beliefs rather than questioning them.
I've never had a burning question that I've had to wait a long time to get an answer, so it's a no on that front too.
But what if a trial of faith involves trying to go it alone, or turning to the Lord for comfort and strength? If that's what it means, I've had some trials of my faith. Too often, I rely on my own strength to figure things out. Usually that works ok, because the Lord has blessed me in so many ways that I have a lot of resources. But sometimes, I get on my knees and ask the Lord to support me. I have turned to him and asked him to heal me and strengthen me so that I can do what he has asked me to do.
I am grateful that I have never had the kind of trial that makes me question my testimony. I am also grateful that I have had the kind of trials that push me to turn to my Father and his son Jesus Christ and ask them to lift me and help me through. That kind of trial is difficult, but leaves me so much better off than I was when I started out.
PS - this pondering was brought on by a conference talk: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/trial-of-your-faith?lang=eng
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Anger
While reading the sermon on the mount, I thought about the following scripture:
whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.
I have always thought that scripture was pretty harsh. Getting angry puts you in danger of judgment. How in the world is anyone supposed to go through life without getting angry? I would need to repent 20 times a day.
It has been a while since I've read that verse and it seems different. My perspective has changed. I have worked hard on not getting angry. I try to respond more calmly to situations in my life where anger might seem justified. Anger is a selfish emotion. It is all about how things affect me. Anger and compassion don't exist very well together. Either I respond to something someone does with anger, or I think of them and how they might feel - what their motivations are, how my behavior affects them.
Controlling anger isn't enough. I need to soften my heart so patience and compassion replace the instinct to be angry. I am a lot better than I used to be. I can feel the difference. Anger is destructive to my soul. Without it, I am closer to the Lord.
Is it unfair to condemn someone for anger? Not at all. Ridding ourselves of anger removes a huge barrier that separates us from the Savior. Rather than a harsh, unforgiving condemnation, I now see this verse as a challenging, but worthwhile commandment from a wise and loving father.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Study it out in your mind
In D&C 9:8, the Lord tells Oliver Cowdry to study the idea out in his mind. Then he should ask if it is right. Also in that chapter he chastised Oliver, saying that he expected an answer when he took no thought, save to ask.
I have been asking about a challenge I've been dealing with regarding one of my children. After reading this scripture, I decide to think a bit about what has and hasn't been working. An idea came to mind of what to do. I haven't tried it yet, but I have full confidence it will help because the idea came after I followed the Lord's pattern.
So today, when my daughter loses her temper, rather than try to talk her down, I am going to read to her from the New Testament story book. Then when she is calm, we will talk about what happened.
I have been asking about a challenge I've been dealing with regarding one of my children. After reading this scripture, I decide to think a bit about what has and hasn't been working. An idea came to mind of what to do. I haven't tried it yet, but I have full confidence it will help because the idea came after I followed the Lord's pattern.
So today, when my daughter loses her temper, rather than try to talk her down, I am going to read to her from the New Testament story book. Then when she is calm, we will talk about what happened.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Not Ever Done
The Lord loves our righteousness but asks of us continued repentance and submission. In the Bible we read that it was a commandment-keeping, wealthy young man who knelt before the Savior and asked what he needed to do to have eternal life. He turned away grieved when the Savior said, “One thing thou lackest: … sell whatsoever thou hast.”9
Yet, it was another wealthy but worldly man, the chief Lamanite king, the father of Lamoni, who also asked the same question about eternal life, saying: “What shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit[?] … I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.”10
Do you remember the response the Lord gave the king through His servant Aaron? “If thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.”11
When the king understood the sacrifice required, he humbled and prostrated himself and then prayed, “O God, … I will give away all my sins to know thee.
This is an excerpt from a talk by Elder Robert C. Gay from last conference. It was the basis for our Relief Society lesson yesterday. The teacher asked what the difference was between these two men. I thought about it through the lens of the first sentence of this excerpt. "The Lord loves our righteousness but asks of us our continued repentance and submission." What was the difference? The wealthy young man was very righteous, but I think he wanted to be done. The Savior asked him to do more, to strive to be more righteous, to submit his will to the father, to give all that he had in exchange for all the Lord has. The young man was perfectly willing to be righteous, but when the Lord asked for continued submission, he wouldn't do it.
The king was a wicked man. He had sinned all his life, but had now felt the spirit and heard the truth. He was not yet righteous, but he offered up his sins and submitted his will to the Lord.
It would be nice to have a checklist - some finite number of things that I could do to enter the Lord's kingdom. But it doesn't work that way. The Lord has given me commandments. He has set a perfect example for me to follow. However, obeying the commandments and following Christ's example are the means to an end, not the ultimate goal. The goal is for my heart to change, for me to submit my will to the Father so I can become the person he wants me to be.
As long as I live and breathe, I will never be done. I can always be one more thought, one more deed, one more step closer to my Savior.
covenant to be led
"When we received this Gospel, we covenanted before God that we would be led, that we would be governed, and would follow the suggestions of the Holy Spirit, "
Lorenzo Snow
I have known about the gift of the Holy Ghost all my life, but I've never thought about it in quite this way. I covenanted to be led by the Holy Ghost. I've always thought of following the spirit. somehow choosing to follow seems different than being led. Following is completely under my control - I can follow or I can choose my own path. Being led by the spirit seems to take my own will out of the equation. It implies a level of submission that I have never achieved. I want to be led by the Holy Spirit. I want the Lord to lead me because his ways are better than my ways and will lead to lasting happiness and joy.
http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzo-snow/chapter-2-baptism-and-the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng
Lorenzo Snow
I have known about the gift of the Holy Ghost all my life, but I've never thought about it in quite this way. I covenanted to be led by the Holy Ghost. I've always thought of following the spirit. somehow choosing to follow seems different than being led. Following is completely under my control - I can follow or I can choose my own path. Being led by the spirit seems to take my own will out of the equation. It implies a level of submission that I have never achieved. I want to be led by the Holy Spirit. I want the Lord to lead me because his ways are better than my ways and will lead to lasting happiness and joy.
http://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzo-snow/chapter-2-baptism-and-the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng
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