“Whatever they do, eventually the guilty will face the Perfect Judge. Ultimately the unrepentant abuser will be punished by a just God.” Elder Richard G Scott SM pg 7
This is a wonderful quote by Elder Scott, and it applies in more ways than obviously seen. In talking about abuse we see that no matter what if the abuser does not repent then he will face the righteous judgments of a Just God. This is applicable in every situation, “the unrepentant abuser” he does not specify what type of abuser. Even though we know what he is talking about this can mean just about anybody. There are plenty of people out there who abuse drugs, alcohol, family, even those who abuse themselves. But ultimately they are all in affect abusing their God-given Agency. And when they do this they will be held accountable for their actions no matter what they are, and no matter the reason. Now guilt is not something that we can decide that is left up to the supreme Judge of mankind and the mercy bestowed on us by our savior, Jesus Christ. It is up to us to love those who fall short, and not only to love them but to support them in their endeavors to repent, because then instead of being “the unrepentant abuser (who) will be punished by a just God” they become “the (repentant) abuser (who) will be (blessed) by a just God.” How can one ever accomplish this seemingly impossible task if they are being put down and ridiculed by those around them? They cannot, that is why it is important for us to love and support them. “Mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in the need of comfort.” Mosiah 18: 9
1.28.2010
1.26.2010
We really don't care, we're just glad you're there.
“First of all, I want you to be proud you are a woman. I want you to feel the reality of what that means, to know who you truly are. You are literally a spirit daughter of heavenly parents with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. That surpassing truth should be fixed deep in your soul and be fundamental to every decision you make as you grow into mature womanhood. There could never be a greater authentication of your dignity, your worth, your privileges, and your promise. Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. He hears your prayers. He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations. And He knows what you can become through faith in Him.”
“I plead with you young women to please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. We are all different. Some are tall, and some are short. Some are round, and some are thin. And almost everyone at some time or other wants to be something they are not!” Elder Holland (To Young Women)
It is so sad to view the women of the world today. Many have forgotten these simple truths that Elder Holland so bluntly put forth. Not just women of the world but women in the church. Just last Saturday I went to pick up a beautiful daughter of God for a date. When we had walked out the door and were walking away from her apt she said “Dangit, I wore purple with red.” Yes those colors may not go together by I can tell you that I didn’t notice or even care. It was disappointing that she cared so much about color coding. I can tell you know that rarely if ever does a guy care. Most of the time we are just happy that she is actually there and that we weren’t blown off. Dress modestly and don’t worry about your cloths because I can tell you this, we don’t.
“I plead with you young women to please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. We are all different. Some are tall, and some are short. Some are round, and some are thin. And almost everyone at some time or other wants to be something they are not!” Elder Holland (To Young Women)
It is so sad to view the women of the world today. Many have forgotten these simple truths that Elder Holland so bluntly put forth. Not just women of the world but women in the church. Just last Saturday I went to pick up a beautiful daughter of God for a date. When we had walked out the door and were walking away from her apt she said “Dangit, I wore purple with red.” Yes those colors may not go together by I can tell you that I didn’t notice or even care. It was disappointing that she cared so much about color coding. I can tell you know that rarely if ever does a guy care. Most of the time we are just happy that she is actually there and that we weren’t blown off. Dress modestly and don’t worry about your cloths because I can tell you this, we don’t.
1.25.2010
Law of Chastity
"One aspect of that divinity given to virtually all men and women is the use of His power to create a human body, that wonder of all wonders, a genetically and spiritually unique being never before seen in the history of the world and never to be duplicated again in all the ages of eternity. A child, your child—with eyes and ears and fingers and toes and a future of unspeakable grandeur." SM pg 235 Elder Holland
To one day be a Father, that is all that I dream about. I love children and the knowledge that someday I will be blessed with children of my own is a blessing that is without measure. There is, in my eyes no greater inspiration or encouragement to keep the law of chastity. What shame would there be if I would not be able to look my children in the eye and be able to tell them that I had saved myself for their mother, yet what joy will there be when I’m able to do so. But most of all, above all else I look forward to the day when I will be able to hold my small perfect pure child in my arms and tell them that I love them and be able to have a clear conciseness of all immoral sin, to be pure myself.
To one day be a Father, that is all that I dream about. I love children and the knowledge that someday I will be blessed with children of my own is a blessing that is without measure. There is, in my eyes no greater inspiration or encouragement to keep the law of chastity. What shame would there be if I would not be able to look my children in the eye and be able to tell them that I had saved myself for their mother, yet what joy will there be when I’m able to do so. But most of all, above all else I look forward to the day when I will be able to hold my small perfect pure child in my arms and tell them that I love them and be able to have a clear conciseness of all immoral sin, to be pure myself.
1.19.2010
Whos Better?
“And one good yardstick as to whether a person might be the right one for you is this: in her presence, do you think your noblest thoughts, do you aspire to your finest deeds, do you wish you were better than you are?” President Benson SM pg 51
This is one of my favorite quotes that I have ever heard. I have had this one in my quote book for over a year and use it in my social life on whether or not I should date a girl or even to continue dating her. Because of what I have seen from using this quote as a guide I have a testimony of it as it has gotten me out of relationships that would have never worked. I know that for you to truly love someone you have to feel as if you got the better end of the deal and that you didn’t “downgrade.” Those feelings will only lead to contention. When you feel that you got the better end of the deal you always want to do better so that you are both on “equal footing.” If you both feel that way then you will not have as many problems because instead of looking for ways that the other person can improve you will be looking for ways that you can improve. The great sin of pride is then eliminated allowing for the Holy Spirit to come and truly seal your marriage and dwell in your home.
This is one of my favorite quotes that I have ever heard. I have had this one in my quote book for over a year and use it in my social life on whether or not I should date a girl or even to continue dating her. Because of what I have seen from using this quote as a guide I have a testimony of it as it has gotten me out of relationships that would have never worked. I know that for you to truly love someone you have to feel as if you got the better end of the deal and that you didn’t “downgrade.” Those feelings will only lead to contention. When you feel that you got the better end of the deal you always want to do better so that you are both on “equal footing.” If you both feel that way then you will not have as many problems because instead of looking for ways that the other person can improve you will be looking for ways that you can improve. The great sin of pride is then eliminated allowing for the Holy Spirit to come and truly seal your marriage and dwell in your home.
1.14.2010
The New and Everlasting Covenant
"Scriptures declare that “it is lawful that [a man] should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation.” Another affirms that “the man [is not] without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” Thus, marriage is not only an exalting principle of the gospel; it is a divine commandment." Celestial Marriage by Elder Nelson.
One really amazing insight that I received while studying Hebrew last year, was what it meant to be a man and a woman and how this applied to becoming a God. אישׁ(yish) is Hebrew for Man and is אשׁה(shaw) Hebrew for Woman. When you look at them they both contain the letters א(alaph) and שׁ(shin). When you take the remaining letters which have not been repeated י(yod) and ה(he), you get the Hebrew word for God, יה(yah), short for yahweh. I find it very interesting that with a man and a woman you can get God but if you remove one or the other then you get just another letter. Also if you have two men you get יי, not God. It’s the same if you take two of the women, הה don’t give you God. It is amazing that only through the prescribed way can we become as God.
One really amazing insight that I received while studying Hebrew last year, was what it meant to be a man and a woman and how this applied to becoming a God. אישׁ(yish) is Hebrew for Man and is אשׁה(shaw) Hebrew for Woman. When you look at them they both contain the letters א(alaph) and שׁ(shin). When you take the remaining letters which have not been repeated י(yod) and ה(he), you get the Hebrew word for God, יה(yah), short for yahweh. I find it very interesting that with a man and a woman you can get God but if you remove one or the other then you get just another letter. Also if you have two men you get יי, not God. It’s the same if you take two of the women, הה don’t give you God. It is amazing that only through the prescribed way can we become as God.
The Rebekah Perspective
In reading Genesis 24 on Abraham's search for a worthy wife for Isaac, we come across a problem that was facing Abraham. Where to find such a women? In Proverbs 31: 10 we see the problem fully illustrated, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” The truth in the statement is far more real than many realize and a problem that is faced today. At the time Abraham had gone to the land promised him by God for him and his descendants for a place to live. Currently dwelling in the land were people not of the Covenant, the Canaanites. Abraham did not want his son to marry outside of the Covenant so that meant that he would have to search for a worthy mate among his family where he came from.
There are many amazing parallels that can be found in this story. Many of which are character related. Abraham can signify God, our Father in Heaven, who does not want us to marry outside of the Covenant. Because of this desire of his he sends forth his servant, the Holy Spirit, represented by the Abrahams spirit. The servant seeks those who will obey the will of God and encourages those who would do so to do just that. The servant goes forth offering tests to see our worthiness, represented by Rebekah watering the servant’s camels. This serves a dual purpose in showing Rebekah’s willingness to serve even a stranger. In Matthew 25: 40 Christ says in parable, “Inasmuch as ye have done unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” This combined with the scripture in Proverbs shows the value of Rebekah as a humble servant of God and as one worthy of marrying into the covenant. The earrings and bracelets can represent one of a couple of things, fruits of the spirit telling you that you are on the correct path, and they can also represent the beginnings of Covenants made with God. Either way they are gifts given by God that can only be for your benefit. Obviously these are desirous and can only lead to further gifts. Isaac represents any man of God searching for a worthy wife with whom he can go and be sealed with in the Holy Temple of God. Rebekah represents a worthy women who as was discussed earlier is of more value than rubies and probably a lot harder to find. I believe that Laban, the brother of Rebekah, represents a temptation to stray from the course that God would have you travel and when he asks that Rebekah stay for a few more days before leaving is acting against the will of God.
There are a lot of insights that we can receive from reading Genesis 24. That our Father truly does love us, so much so that he asks his servants to help us out by giving us guidance that can be for our benefit. That there are many evils that are about us but with the right amount of persistence and rigorous living a worthy mate can be found. That if a wonderful woman is found but is not willing to keep the covenant that we should not marry her but cast her aside and continue in our diligent search for one who will. That it is important to live in the world but not of the world. That we should rely on the Lord in all our dealings, through prayer and revelation. That when a virtuous woman is found that we should not waste any time at all but marry her before she is married to someone else. That we should praise God when a virtuous woman is found. That we should be of service to our fellow men because we never know who is watching us. That we should never put off doing the will of God because we can never know what may happen. Finally that we should live virtuous lives so that we can be known as virtuous children of God.
There are many amazing parallels that can be found in this story. Many of which are character related. Abraham can signify God, our Father in Heaven, who does not want us to marry outside of the Covenant. Because of this desire of his he sends forth his servant, the Holy Spirit, represented by the Abrahams spirit. The servant seeks those who will obey the will of God and encourages those who would do so to do just that. The servant goes forth offering tests to see our worthiness, represented by Rebekah watering the servant’s camels. This serves a dual purpose in showing Rebekah’s willingness to serve even a stranger. In Matthew 25: 40 Christ says in parable, “Inasmuch as ye have done unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” This combined with the scripture in Proverbs shows the value of Rebekah as a humble servant of God and as one worthy of marrying into the covenant. The earrings and bracelets can represent one of a couple of things, fruits of the spirit telling you that you are on the correct path, and they can also represent the beginnings of Covenants made with God. Either way they are gifts given by God that can only be for your benefit. Obviously these are desirous and can only lead to further gifts. Isaac represents any man of God searching for a worthy wife with whom he can go and be sealed with in the Holy Temple of God. Rebekah represents a worthy women who as was discussed earlier is of more value than rubies and probably a lot harder to find. I believe that Laban, the brother of Rebekah, represents a temptation to stray from the course that God would have you travel and when he asks that Rebekah stay for a few more days before leaving is acting against the will of God.
There are a lot of insights that we can receive from reading Genesis 24. That our Father truly does love us, so much so that he asks his servants to help us out by giving us guidance that can be for our benefit. That there are many evils that are about us but with the right amount of persistence and rigorous living a worthy mate can be found. That if a wonderful woman is found but is not willing to keep the covenant that we should not marry her but cast her aside and continue in our diligent search for one who will. That it is important to live in the world but not of the world. That we should rely on the Lord in all our dealings, through prayer and revelation. That when a virtuous woman is found that we should not waste any time at all but marry her before she is married to someone else. That we should praise God when a virtuous woman is found. That we should be of service to our fellow men because we never know who is watching us. That we should never put off doing the will of God because we can never know what may happen. Finally that we should live virtuous lives so that we can be known as virtuous children of God.
Develop an Eternal Perspective
"The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden ones- but hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them...Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough. It takes persistence and dedication of one's life... Of all treasures of knowledge, the most vital is the knowledge of God." Elder Richard G Scott pg 149
This scripture is so true. There are times when I want to know something so bad that I think that I would do anything to receive an answer for it. But what use is knowledge that comes free of charge. God expects us to seek after knowledge, "yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." (Doctrine and Covenants 88: 118) These things come from as it says above "persistence and dedication," aka diligence. That is one thing that God always ask from all of us, to be diligent in keeping his word. When we receive something for free, we don't respect it, and when we don't respect it then we misuse it. For example a teen that just got his license also is given a car as a gift from his parents. He will treat that car with far less respect then if he had gotten a job, worked hard, and eventually saved up enough money to get the vehicle for himself. God works through us working, only when we work our hardest and "save up the knowledge" are we then given the wisdom, which is the application of the knowledge in our lives.
One thought that I had while reading this is agency. Maybe it was on my mind because of the devotional for the day but hopefully someone can have some more insight. Agency is something that is given to us, free of charge to us. Is that why it is so often misused and abused, because we don't respect it?
This scripture is so true. There are times when I want to know something so bad that I think that I would do anything to receive an answer for it. But what use is knowledge that comes free of charge. God expects us to seek after knowledge, "yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." (Doctrine and Covenants 88: 118) These things come from as it says above "persistence and dedication," aka diligence. That is one thing that God always ask from all of us, to be diligent in keeping his word. When we receive something for free, we don't respect it, and when we don't respect it then we misuse it. For example a teen that just got his license also is given a car as a gift from his parents. He will treat that car with far less respect then if he had gotten a job, worked hard, and eventually saved up enough money to get the vehicle for himself. God works through us working, only when we work our hardest and "save up the knowledge" are we then given the wisdom, which is the application of the knowledge in our lives.
One thought that I had while reading this is agency. Maybe it was on my mind because of the devotional for the day but hopefully someone can have some more insight. Agency is something that is given to us, free of charge to us. Is that why it is so often misused and abused, because we don't respect it?
Adam and Eve
"And the Gods said: Let us make an help meet for the man, for it is not good that the man should be alone, therefore we will form an help meet for him... Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh." Abraham 5: 14, 18
I really enjoy reading these scriptures because not only do they have mortal implications, but they have eternal ones as well. In our mortal life we have stages, we start off with our parents who rear, teach, and protect us. When we reach the suitable age we leave the home and search for a wife. It is not good for us to be alone so it is best if we earnestly and actively perform this search, and the Lord is preparing an "help meet" for us. The man to help the women and the women to help the man. Then shall they cleave unto each other, "and they shall be one flesh." This applies to our eternal lives as well. We lived with our Father and Mother in Heaven where they reared, taught, and protected us. They loved us very much, we can know this just from the fact that there were so many of us and they didn't give up, but they kept trying so that most of us would past the test and reject the alternate plan that Satan had presented to us. When we came here to earth it was short time in our eternal lives where we had left our Father and Mother to seek out an Eternal Mate. "For it is not good that the man should be alone" in the eternities, for then is he damned being unable to have spiritual children. When we find our significant other we shall "cleave unto" them, we shall be sealed by the Priesthood of God in his holy Temple. Then shall they be one flesh. This short mortal term that we live in can only be a mirror of what it is that represents our Eternal lives. We do not need to see beyond the veil to know what happened there, we just need to see and recognize that which has occurred in our lives is the same that occurred in our premortal duration.
I really enjoy reading these scriptures because not only do they have mortal implications, but they have eternal ones as well. In our mortal life we have stages, we start off with our parents who rear, teach, and protect us. When we reach the suitable age we leave the home and search for a wife. It is not good for us to be alone so it is best if we earnestly and actively perform this search, and the Lord is preparing an "help meet" for us. The man to help the women and the women to help the man. Then shall they cleave unto each other, "and they shall be one flesh." This applies to our eternal lives as well. We lived with our Father and Mother in Heaven where they reared, taught, and protected us. They loved us very much, we can know this just from the fact that there were so many of us and they didn't give up, but they kept trying so that most of us would past the test and reject the alternate plan that Satan had presented to us. When we came here to earth it was short time in our eternal lives where we had left our Father and Mother to seek out an Eternal Mate. "For it is not good that the man should be alone" in the eternities, for then is he damned being unable to have spiritual children. When we find our significant other we shall "cleave unto" them, we shall be sealed by the Priesthood of God in his holy Temple. Then shall they be one flesh. This short mortal term that we live in can only be a mirror of what it is that represents our Eternal lives. We do not need to see beyond the veil to know what happened there, we just need to see and recognize that which has occurred in our lives is the same that occurred in our premortal duration.
Proclamation to the World
"Understanding these truths ought to make it easier for us to feel like a little child, not just as we read the proclamation, but throughout our lives, because we are children-but in what a family and of what parents! We can picture ourselves as we were, for longer than we can imagine, sons and daughters associating in our heavenly home with parents who knew and loved us. But now we can see ourselves home again with our heavenly parents, in that wonderful place, not only as sons and daughters but husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, grandsons and granddaughters, bound together forever in loving families. And we know that in the premortal world we were men or women, with unique gifts because of our gender, and that the opportunity to be married and to become one was necessary for us to have eternal happiness." Eternal Marriage pg 105
The aspect of an Eternal Family is one that I often think and ponder on. What it means and why it is so important? Viewing it as a child who is always so happy to go to grandma and grandpas house or to an aunt and uncles house rather then to a friend should show us the value that we as college students should also place on the family. The opportunity to spend time with family is often dismissed and talked down by the world focused on social connections and political movements. This view, to my belief, is one of distortional value. We need to love our family and seek for every opportunity to spend some time with them. Often it is after we lose someone that we realize how much we missed, we should not let the affairs of the world cloud the importance of the family. As I think of the premortal experience I am often left wondering who I spent my time with, often I wish to say that it was an amazing prophet or historical figure of importance. But upon further reflection I have come to believe that the ones that we spent the most time with were our families that we would have here on earth, and because in the postmortal life we will spend all of our time with our families it offers support for my belief. That of course in addition to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. They were the ones who taught us and we take from those who we love most the attributes that we love most. Each of us has developed our personalities in concert with those who we are related to and those personalities obviously got along well enough in the premortal existence that the question arises, Why don't they now?
The aspect of an Eternal Family is one that I often think and ponder on. What it means and why it is so important? Viewing it as a child who is always so happy to go to grandma and grandpas house or to an aunt and uncles house rather then to a friend should show us the value that we as college students should also place on the family. The opportunity to spend time with family is often dismissed and talked down by the world focused on social connections and political movements. This view, to my belief, is one of distortional value. We need to love our family and seek for every opportunity to spend some time with them. Often it is after we lose someone that we realize how much we missed, we should not let the affairs of the world cloud the importance of the family. As I think of the premortal experience I am often left wondering who I spent my time with, often I wish to say that it was an amazing prophet or historical figure of importance. But upon further reflection I have come to believe that the ones that we spent the most time with were our families that we would have here on earth, and because in the postmortal life we will spend all of our time with our families it offers support for my belief. That of course in addition to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. They were the ones who taught us and we take from those who we love most the attributes that we love most. Each of us has developed our personalities in concert with those who we are related to and those personalities obviously got along well enough in the premortal existence that the question arises, Why don't they now?
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