Here are two random thought I had today while in Stake Conference:
CALAMATIES
Perhaps one of the reasons the physical calamities (e.g. earthquakes in Haiti and now in Chile,) are SO significant in these “Last Days,” is because of the immediacy of knowing when these things happen.
100 years ago it may have taken a few days or a few weeks for a neighboring state or country to receive word of such a calamity. 1000+ years ago a whole entire civilization (e.g. Pompeii) could have been destroyed without anyone ever knowing it even existed!
With information technology in our day, we know – almost IMMEDIATELY - when things are occurring! This makes our day, even these Last Days, a prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes,
LIVING PROPHETS
I was pondering how incredible it is to know that the Unbroken Line of Divine Revelation began that miraculous spring morning of 1820. The significance of living prophets “in a world where people are confused . . .” assures me that “I CAN get direction all along my way, if I heed the prophets – Follow. What. They. Say."
This made me think that, perhaps, our generation has even a greater obligation to heed the Lord’s commandments from His servants.
I say that because so many parts of the world (though I realize not all), have access to HEAR the words of living prophets. That was not as possible 15 or 25 or even 50 years ago, even though there were ways that those voices of warning could be heard. But today, in 2010, with a click of a button, I can listen and know what they say. Internet. Digital Radio. Satellite TV. It is that easy to HEAR the words of the prophets, for their words will carry the Holy Ghost to our hearts. That was not true a little under 200 years ago. But it is today! And that’s so incredibly significant!
Moroni, concerned that the written words of God would not be transmitted in the same power as the spoken words of God lamented, “Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou has not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them” (Ether 12:23).
1000 or so years earlier, Nephi wrote this: “I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men” (2 Nephi 33:1).
In our day we have 15 (15!) living prophets, seers and revelators – Special Witnesses of Christ - and one living, breathing mouthpiece of God, even President Thomas S. Monson! I will be held accountable if I do not to feel the Holy Ghost teaching me, touching my heart, or feeding my soul! Because a prophet of God is, literally, ONE MOUSE CLICK A WAY!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Stake Conference - Saturday Night Adult Session
Just so everyone knows: The Saturday Night Adult session of Stake Conference is one of the BEST kept secrets of the Church!
Tonight I went to Stake Conference with a specific question in my heart - A question for the Lord to help me in a matter that has caused a terribly loud “silent treatment” to occur between me and some people that I love very much.
People.
Well, MORE than people.
Family members.
Family members with whom I really should be close.
Not far away and distant like we are right now.
But I don’t know what to do.
And I don’t know what to say.
Mostly because I am afraid that the inner-most desires of my heart will be taken lightly, or without regard.
It would be very safe to say that my heart is afraid of rejection.
These feelings trouble me as I try to figure out: Why does loving others sometimes hurt so much.
But in my heart, there is a deep, empty gap that I don’t where to begin to bridge it.
So tonight, because I know one of the best kept secrets of the Church, Elder Spencer J. Condie of the Seventy was our visiting authority for Stake Conference!
And within the context of his thoughts to us this evening, he opened the scriptures!
And there - RIGHT THERE- as opened up to Ezekiel 47 and read verses, he answered my silent question.
For I had an impression - a feeling, really - while he was talking, that somehow, with His help - this division that I caused to happen – can be healed.
And it makes me uncomfortable to think of what I need to do.
For what I need to initiate.
But my initiation may start a bridge.
A bridge to mend that gap.
WHICH IS REALLY HARD!
But the Spirit said that this is my responsibility - to quiet the “silent treatment” and to offer love to these people that I really do love very much.
For if the “water[s] that issue from the house of the Lord could heal the Dead Sea” (chapter heading of Ezekiel 47), then the strength from His house – even the temple – can help me heal this dead relationship.
Tonight I went to Stake Conference with a specific question in my heart - A question for the Lord to help me in a matter that has caused a terribly loud “silent treatment” to occur between me and some people that I love very much.
People.
Well, MORE than people.
Family members.
Family members with whom I really should be close.
Not far away and distant like we are right now.
But I don’t know what to do.
And I don’t know what to say.
Mostly because I am afraid that the inner-most desires of my heart will be taken lightly, or without regard.
It would be very safe to say that my heart is afraid of rejection.
These feelings trouble me as I try to figure out: Why does loving others sometimes hurt so much.
But in my heart, there is a deep, empty gap that I don’t where to begin to bridge it.
So tonight, because I know one of the best kept secrets of the Church, Elder Spencer J. Condie of the Seventy was our visiting authority for Stake Conference!
And within the context of his thoughts to us this evening, he opened the scriptures!
And there - RIGHT THERE- as opened up to Ezekiel 47 and read verses, he answered my silent question.
For I had an impression - a feeling, really - while he was talking, that somehow, with His help - this division that I caused to happen – can be healed.
And it makes me uncomfortable to think of what I need to do.
For what I need to initiate.
But my initiation may start a bridge.
A bridge to mend that gap.
WHICH IS REALLY HARD!
But the Spirit said that this is my responsibility - to quiet the “silent treatment” and to offer love to these people that I really do love very much.
For if the “water[s] that issue from the house of the Lord could heal the Dead Sea” (chapter heading of Ezekiel 47), then the strength from His house – even the temple – can help me heal this dead relationship.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Book Review - "The Hidden Christ: Beneath the Surface of the Old Testament"
I am grateful that my Granny loved the Old Testament. My first memories of hearing the stories of Abraham, Samuel, Samson and David where those days as a little girl when I slept over and she would tell me these stories as we snuggled in her featherbed.
The Old Testament has always been a VERY hard book for me to read. And I make quite a revealing confession when I say that I USED to refer to the Old Testament as “the Dead Scriptures.”
Coupled with a sincere desire to understand our course of study in Sunday School this year AND in reading The Hidden Christ, I have REPENTED of my wicked definition! And it has been my fault, not the writings within the Old Testament, that I have not paid better attention to the divine teachings and parallelisms found within this incredible volume of scripture.
There are so many revealing insights, that I will not EVEN begin to name them. That is primarily for the reader to discover, ponder and apply. But one truth I learned is this: The Old Testament applies very much to me and very much to our day. Who knew? Not me. But I do now!
Here are jeust a few of the things that come instantly to my mind of things I learned from Bro. Ferrell's book:
1. I finally get the whole Northern Kingdom/Southern Kingdom division and how Israel was scattered and why there are TEN lost tribes! I know, I know! I have been in countless number of (specifically) Gospel Doctrine Classes where “The Map” was drawn on the chalk board and things division explained, but my “I-wasn’t-interested-in-History in-high-school” brain (that really wishes that I paid the least bit of attention now), never got it. Until this book!
2. Dispensations. There’s the Dispensation of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Joseph Smith - which is called the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. I thought I understood the whole dispensation thing, but Bro. Ferrell puts it all into perspective and understanding and why the Great Apostasy was so great.
3. Okay. How about this one? I could never wrap myself around the story of David. I mean HE had everything to LOSE by doing what he did (adultery and pre-meditated murder). I could never understand why a man who was so great, could fall so far. I am grateful for Bro. Ferrell’s approach on how David’s spiritual anguish – his spiritual fall because of his great sin – can be seen as a archetype of the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane. Now I appreciate the stories of David so much more!
4. A chiasm is “an ancient literary structure, developed in its most intricate forms by the Hebrew, in which the elements of a passage repeat themselves in reverse order.” Our WHOLE journey - from the beginnings of the Fall of Adam to today is a chiasm. Here is one incredible chiastic example set forth in the book from Bro. Ferrell, who proposes “that the spiritual history of the earth as . . . history unfolds (and refolds) [is] a chiasm (p. 208).
A We lived with the Father and the Son
B Satan and his followers were cast out
C Creation of glorified earth
D Man received an immortal body
E There was peace on the earth among all creations
F The Lord was present on the earth
G Man fell due to sin and was cast out of the Lord’s presence (spiritual and physical death)
H The gospel was given to man, and preached throughout the earth
I A chosen people
J There was gross wickedness among man
K The fullness of the gospel was taken from the earth
L Christ loosed the bands of spiritual death
L1 Christ loosed the bands of physical death
K1 The fullness of the gospel was taken from the earth
J1 There was gross wickedness among man
I1 A chosen people
H1 The gospel was given to man, and preached throughout the earth
G1 Man who, due to sin, will not be able to endure His presence, are destroyed
F1 The Lord comes again to earth
E1 There is peace on the earth among all creation
D1 Man receives an immortal body
C1 The earth receives its paradisiacal glory
B1 Satan and his followers are cast out forever
A1 We live with the Father and the Son
This book is INCREDIBLE! Not that I have read a lot of books on the Old Testament, but this is surely the best book that I have read! It catered to my interest in WHY the Law of Moses is so significant and understand WHY the teachings found therein pertinent and applicable for me – TODAY!
Thank you, Bro. Ferrell, for sharing what you have learned so I can learn as well!
These two books by James L Ferrell are ones I also highly recommend:
The Peacegiver
The Holy Secret
The Old Testament has always been a VERY hard book for me to read. And I make quite a revealing confession when I say that I USED to refer to the Old Testament as “the Dead Scriptures.”
Coupled with a sincere desire to understand our course of study in Sunday School this year AND in reading The Hidden Christ, I have REPENTED of my wicked definition! And it has been my fault, not the writings within the Old Testament, that I have not paid better attention to the divine teachings and parallelisms found within this incredible volume of scripture.
There are so many revealing insights, that I will not EVEN begin to name them. That is primarily for the reader to discover, ponder and apply. But one truth I learned is this: The Old Testament applies very much to me and very much to our day. Who knew? Not me. But I do now!
Here are jeust a few of the things that come instantly to my mind of things I learned from Bro. Ferrell's book:
1. I finally get the whole Northern Kingdom/Southern Kingdom division and how Israel was scattered and why there are TEN lost tribes! I know, I know! I have been in countless number of (specifically) Gospel Doctrine Classes where “The Map” was drawn on the chalk board and things division explained, but my “I-wasn’t-interested-in-History in-high-school” brain (that really wishes that I paid the least bit of attention now), never got it. Until this book!
2. Dispensations. There’s the Dispensation of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Joseph Smith - which is called the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. I thought I understood the whole dispensation thing, but Bro. Ferrell puts it all into perspective and understanding and why the Great Apostasy was so great.
3. Okay. How about this one? I could never wrap myself around the story of David. I mean HE had everything to LOSE by doing what he did (adultery and pre-meditated murder). I could never understand why a man who was so great, could fall so far. I am grateful for Bro. Ferrell’s approach on how David’s spiritual anguish – his spiritual fall because of his great sin – can be seen as a archetype of the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane. Now I appreciate the stories of David so much more!
4. A chiasm is “an ancient literary structure, developed in its most intricate forms by the Hebrew, in which the elements of a passage repeat themselves in reverse order.” Our WHOLE journey - from the beginnings of the Fall of Adam to today is a chiasm. Here is one incredible chiastic example set forth in the book from Bro. Ferrell, who proposes “that the spiritual history of the earth as . . . history unfolds (and refolds) [is] a chiasm (p. 208).
THE CHIASTIC HISTORY OF THE EARTH
A We lived with the Father and the Son
B Satan and his followers were cast out
C Creation of glorified earth
D Man received an immortal body
E There was peace on the earth among all creations
F The Lord was present on the earth
G Man fell due to sin and was cast out of the Lord’s presence (spiritual and physical death)
H The gospel was given to man, and preached throughout the earth
I A chosen people
J There was gross wickedness among man
K The fullness of the gospel was taken from the earth
L Christ loosed the bands of spiritual death
L1 Christ loosed the bands of physical death
K1 The fullness of the gospel was taken from the earth
J1 There was gross wickedness among man
I1 A chosen people
H1 The gospel was given to man, and preached throughout the earth
G1 Man who, due to sin, will not be able to endure His presence, are destroyed
F1 The Lord comes again to earth
E1 There is peace on the earth among all creation
D1 Man receives an immortal body
C1 The earth receives its paradisiacal glory
B1 Satan and his followers are cast out forever
A1 We live with the Father and the Son
This book is INCREDIBLE! Not that I have read a lot of books on the Old Testament, but this is surely the best book that I have read! It catered to my interest in WHY the Law of Moses is so significant and understand WHY the teachings found therein pertinent and applicable for me – TODAY!
Thank you, Bro. Ferrell, for sharing what you have learned so I can learn as well!
These two books by James L Ferrell are ones I also highly recommend:
The Peacegiver
The Holy Secret
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Cast Off!
Cast (n): a stiff dressing or casing used to immobilize body parts.
My brokened-arm son got his cast off TODAY!!
Which, of course, was the easy part . . . because after the cast came off, THE PINS had to come out!
The whole “cast off” thing is a very renewing thing for my son and for me! Now his arm - which has been immobilized for the last three weeks - is now able to experience the flexion it is suppose to receive, being so near the elbow and all.
This means the beginning of bending and straightening.
This means a giving his arm different kind of arm protection than his cast did, but one that will ultimately make his arm stronger.
This means muscles will get a little sore as he begins to restore elbow motion to move with his whole body. (Even the wrist movement is stiff and achy!)
This also means that maybe – MAYBE - my son will now be a little more dependent than he has been for the last 26 days!?
Which got me thinking of the phrase – “cast off.”
Cast off in a spiritual sense.
Q: What shall I do that I may have eternal life?
A: Pray to God and repent of all my sins (Alma 22:16; Enos 1:4-5).
Q: What shall I do that I may be born of God, removing the (desire to do) wickedness from my heart?
A: Replace my “stony heart” with a “heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Q: What shall I do to receive His Spirit so I can feel joy?
A: If one of the fruits of the Spirit is “joy,” then I must avoid (at all costs) “the works of the flesh.” Which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelling (Galatians 5:17-24). In fact, THIS is the stuff that hinders the very most. And, if not cast off, could eventually cause spiritual rigormortis.
Q: What shall I do so I will not be CAST OFF in the end?
A: Press forward. Have charity. Feast upon God’s word. Endure to the end. (2 Nephi 31:20).
So beginning today, it's CASTS OFF for me.
My brokened-arm son got his cast off TODAY!!
Which, of course, was the easy part . . . because after the cast came off, THE PINS had to come out!
The whole “cast off” thing is a very renewing thing for my son and for me! Now his arm - which has been immobilized for the last three weeks - is now able to experience the flexion it is suppose to receive, being so near the elbow and all.
This means the beginning of bending and straightening.
This means a giving his arm different kind of arm protection than his cast did, but one that will ultimately make his arm stronger.
This means muscles will get a little sore as he begins to restore elbow motion to move with his whole body. (Even the wrist movement is stiff and achy!)
This also means that maybe – MAYBE - my son will now be a little more dependent than he has been for the last 26 days!?
Which got me thinking of the phrase – “cast off.”
Cast off in a spiritual sense.
"What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive His Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be CAST OFF at the last day?” (Alma 22:15)
Q: What shall I do that I may have eternal life?
A: Pray to God and repent of all my sins (Alma 22:16; Enos 1:4-5).
Q: What shall I do that I may be born of God, removing the (desire to do) wickedness from my heart?
A: Replace my “stony heart” with a “heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Q: What shall I do to receive His Spirit so I can feel joy?
A: If one of the fruits of the Spirit is “joy,” then I must avoid (at all costs) “the works of the flesh.” Which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelling (Galatians 5:17-24). In fact, THIS is the stuff that hinders the very most. And, if not cast off, could eventually cause spiritual rigormortis.
Q: What shall I do so I will not be CAST OFF in the end?
A: Press forward. Have charity. Feast upon God’s word. Endure to the end. (2 Nephi 31:20).
So beginning today, it's CASTS OFF for me.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tidbit Tuesday - Free to Be Me
I was chocolate batter that wanted to be free
Free to be myself, to make the most of me.
“What do you want in life?” my maker asked of me.
“A yummy, yummy cupcake is what I want to be!”
“You must have restrictions,” that’s what I was told.
“For you cannot be a cupcake unless you have a mold.”
“What? Live within the bounds of a flimsy, cupcake ring?”
“Oh no! I’ll be a cupcake by doing my own thing!”
“That’s just nonsense!” I told a friend of mine.”
“I can live outside the mold and I will do just fine.
“You may need those rules and laws to be what you should be,
“But I’m a better batter! Those rules weren’t meant for me!”
Well, my friends all started rising. So light. So round. So neat.
While I oozed and dripped and fell apart - I couldn’t take the heat!
And now my friends are frosted with pink, sweet happiness.
I could have been a cupcake.
Instead, I’m just a mess.
-Author Unknown (to me, that is).
Free to be myself, to make the most of me.
“What do you want in life?” my maker asked of me.
“A yummy, yummy cupcake is what I want to be!”
“You must have restrictions,” that’s what I was told.
“For you cannot be a cupcake unless you have a mold.”
“What? Live within the bounds of a flimsy, cupcake ring?”
“Oh no! I’ll be a cupcake by doing my own thing!”
“That’s just nonsense!” I told a friend of mine.”
“I can live outside the mold and I will do just fine.
“You may need those rules and laws to be what you should be,
“But I’m a better batter! Those rules weren’t meant for me!”
Well, my friends all started rising. So light. So round. So neat.
While I oozed and dripped and fell apart - I couldn’t take the heat!
And now my friends are frosted with pink, sweet happiness.
I could have been a cupcake.
Instead, I’m just a mess.
-Author Unknown (to me, that is).
Monday, February 22, 2010
An Example of the Believers
Today I had lunch with a friend I haven’t seen since Junior High!! That was AGES ago. And do you know what brought us together? (No, it wasn't Facebook . . .)
It was because of her example to me many years ago.
We both were at a party. It wasn’t a bad party. There were no alcohol or drugs. But in one room – the main room - the movie of choice was “R” rated.
Of course I didn’t watch “R” rated movies, so I stood alone in the kitchen - wanting so bad to be accepted by this group of people – but knowing I couldn't . . . because I wouldn't.
Several friends came in and out to grab a handful of chips or a cans of soda. Each of them asked me why I wasn’t with “the rest of them” watching the movie. I made some lame-o excuses: I was hungry; Something was stuck in my contact – you know, stuff like that.
Then this girl walked into the kitchen. She asked why I was in the kitchen and not watching the movie with everyone else. I came up with a really good excuse when she looked at me and clearly and plainly said, "Oh! Well, I’m in here because I don't watch "R" rated movies!” She said it. Just. Like. That.
So you can only imagine how disappointed I was in myself for being more afraid of man more than of God.
You can only imagine how ashamed I was that I wasn’t courageous enough just to say the REAL reason I was hanging out - alone (well, almost alone) - in the kitchen.
But at that moment - the moment my friend told me like it was - something changed in my heart. And I promised myself to never, ever let a situation like that happen to me again.
And today - almost THREE decades later - she and I got together to catch up on the years in between then and now.
And I was able to thank her - face to face - for that one night when she was truly an example of the believers.
It was because of her example to me many years ago.
We both were at a party. It wasn’t a bad party. There were no alcohol or drugs. But in one room – the main room - the movie of choice was “R” rated.
Of course I didn’t watch “R” rated movies, so I stood alone in the kitchen - wanting so bad to be accepted by this group of people – but knowing I couldn't . . . because I wouldn't.
Several friends came in and out to grab a handful of chips or a cans of soda. Each of them asked me why I wasn’t with “the rest of them” watching the movie. I made some lame-o excuses: I was hungry; Something was stuck in my contact – you know, stuff like that.
Then this girl walked into the kitchen. She asked why I was in the kitchen and not watching the movie with everyone else. I came up with a really good excuse when she looked at me and clearly and plainly said, "Oh! Well, I’m in here because I don't watch "R" rated movies!” She said it. Just. Like. That.
So you can only imagine how disappointed I was in myself for being more afraid of man more than of God.
You can only imagine how ashamed I was that I wasn’t courageous enough just to say the REAL reason I was hanging out - alone (well, almost alone) - in the kitchen.
But at that moment - the moment my friend told me like it was - something changed in my heart. And I promised myself to never, ever let a situation like that happen to me again.
And today - almost THREE decades later - she and I got together to catch up on the years in between then and now.
And I was able to thank her - face to face - for that one night when she was truly an example of the believers.
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