Fasts and Tithes. April 29th

I really, really love computers. I love how efficient I can run my life with the aid of computers. which means when they don't work, I don't feel very efficient. Sorry I haven't posted the last two days, with a busy schedule and no computer, it hasn't been possible. So, here is one post on all three days of reading.

I love both of these laws. there are a few reasons why I like the law of tithing. First, I feel that it contributes to helping Heavenly Father in helping His purposes come to pass. Second, it is nice to have a law that you know you are 100% in obeying (or not). Third, it just feels right. I am not bothered by the fact the tithing is a "lesser" law given because those who committed to live the law of consecration, couldn't follow through. Just because it is a "lesser" law doesn't mean that it is less important or pertinent in following the commands of the Lord and contributing to the perfection of the saints, redeeming the dead and proclaiming the gospel. I do not feel like we as a church have failed, because we are not able to live the law of consecration. It seems like a wise plan to me, to have the Saints live the law of tithing while knowing their expectations for a later time. For those that want to go beyond the law of tithing, they can, in various ways with their time, money, talents and such. But as a basis, the Lord says 10% is perfectly appropriate for now.

I love the law of the fast. there are so many people who want to get closer to God. Here is one easily attainable way to feel close to God. Fast with a purpose. Fast because you think that Heavenly Father is more important that you are, than what you want, than what you feel. I have not been able to fast for a long time. I shouldn't say that. I have fasted - without food - at times, thinking that I would really show my dedication. But because of the physical problems I reap after going without food, my intent and purpose tend to be forgotten. I've long since felt that fasting is not just going without food, but really taking time and mental and spirital effort to obtain the spirit of the fast. I would say my success in doing this is just about the same as anybody else's. Sometimes purposes are forgotten after a few hours. But when I really do partake of the spirit of the fast, the effects on me are unmistakeable and hopefully unmistakeable for whoever or whatever I am fasting for. President Joseph F. Smith explains this better than I can:

Now, while the law requires the Saints in all the world to fast from 'even
to even' and to abstain both from food and drink, it can easily be seen from the
Scriptures, and especially from the words of Jesus, that it is more important to
obtain the true spirit of love for God and man, 'purity of heart and simplicity
of intention,' than it is to carry out the cold letter of the law....Hence those
who can are required to comply thereto; it is a duty from which they cannot
escape; but let it be remembered that the observance of the fast day by
abstaining twenty-four hours from food and drink is not an absolute rule, it is
no iron-clad law to us, but it is left with the people as a matter of
conscience, to exercise wisdom and discretion.

Both of these laws can be used to come closer to Christ. One is more measurable than the other, but both are spiritually rewarding. I think it's interesting that they are called laws, as laws are something to be followed or there are negative consequences. This is indeed true for these laws, there are negative consequences for not following them, but they might not be felt until later, or after this life. Yet, so many people seem to consider them optional.

Readings April 27-29

The Laws of Fasting and Tithing

Monday, Apr 27th: Doctrine and Covenants 59:13–14, 21
Tuesday, Apr 28th: 119, Genesis 14:18–20 D&C 64:23 Leviticus 27:30 D&C 119 Malachi 3:8–12
Wednesday, Apr 29th: 120, Isaiah 58:5–11 D&C 59:13–16

Sacrament. Wed, April 22.

Before Mark asked me to marry him, he took a trip with one of his old mission companions to a place near Yellowstone. When they went to church there, it just so happened that Jeffry R. Holland was there. Mark said that during the sacrament he watched Elder Holland and noticed that he was nearly in tears through the whole ordinance. Mark was impressed that Elder Holland seemed to make the sacrament, a weekly ordinance, such a personal and meaningful thing. When Mark told me this story, I realized that I had not been immersing myself in the doctrine and importance of the sacrament. While living in Minnesota, nearly every Sunday we had people investigating the church or new members, so the Bishopric would explain how and why we do some things, including the sacrament, every week. I really enjoyed this, because every week, they would get up to the pulpit and say something like: "It is now time for the most important part of our meetings. We will partake of the sacrament to remember our Saviour." It was a wonderful introduction and reminder every week.

Up until this point in our family life, we may or may not be able to focus on the sacrament due to dirty diapers, antsy kids, nursings, and just trying to keep them quiet for others to focus on the sacrament. But there was one thing that always brought me to the thought of the Savior and His sacrafice, even for just a moment. when the Priests who bless the sacrament uncover and cover the bread and water the imagery of the Savior in the tomb, His body being covered with a cloth, enters in to my mind and brings reverence to my soul. Now, when I use that imagery, my mind can move to deeper thoughts about the sacrament, my covenants and promises from Heavenly Father.

Not only are we to go to church on the Sabbath day, but we are take the sacrament and do so with focused reverence. It is sometimes hard to do. This happens weekly, so it is easy to take it for granted, it is easy to assume you can just do it next week, it is easy to put the emblems in your mouth without taking a thought as to what it means. The Lord wants us to take the whole Sabbath day are remember Him by doing various activities for our spiritual growth and the aid of others. But He also asks us to take ten minutes, to really focus on our relationship with Him. To do a quick personal inventory. Is it possible to do in ten minutes. Yup. Can you take the actions necessary to make changes in your life in ten minutes? Probably not, you are sitting on a bench in church, there's not a whole lot of action you can take. But you can prepare yourself to feel the Spirit and receive direction for when you can take action. You have ten glorious minutes of possible life and habit changing revelation. It is easy to commit to something that may occur to you to change in that ten minutes when you feel the spirit during communion with Heavenly Father in the name of the Savior. It is another thing entirely to actually remember that change and commitment after that ten minutes is over and while you listen to the speakers of the meeting. Luckily for us, one of the missions of the Holy Spirit is to bring all things to our remembrance. We can ask for help during that ten minutes to help us remember and have courage to act. Actually, quite a bit can be done within the spirit and mind in ten minutes, which is where the majority of the battle for change is fought anyway.

What a blessing to have ten minutes every week to do this. To remember the Savior. To refocus our priorities. To determine to make changes. To realized how blessed and taken care of we really are. Thanks be to Heaven!

Just a quick reference to some of the scriptures for the reading today: Going to church and partaking of the sacrament is really a proof to Heavenly Father that you are taking the time to remember Him and the Savior.

3 Nephi: And this shall ye do in aremembrance of my bbody,
which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye
do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit
to be with you.

Mark 2: The asabbath was made for man, and not man for the bsabbath

This last one actually has been translated differently by Joseph Smith, but I think this statement has great meaning. The Sabbath day was created for man, meaning Heavenly Father created it first and with a purpose. The Sabbath is not something that man created for whatever reason, to follow rules, to rest, to just do something different, to play, or even get together with family. The point is, Heavenly Father makes the rules, not the humans. If we can remember that, then the Sabbath will bring us joy, and our joy will be full, just like the DC 59 says.

The Lord's Day. Tues, April 21

I think the Bible Dictionary is great. I've wondered why the Bible Dictionary is not the size of the Topical Guide sometimes because there is so much good information in the Bible Dictionary. I guess there are more topics and it's probably a good exercise to take the time and mental effort to look up scriptures in more than one place. I probably prefer the BD because the answer is there and it's explained for you. Yeah, maybe I'm just lazy. Regardless of my work ethic, the Bible Dictionary is really great.

The entry for the "Sabbath" goes into the history of the Lord's Day. A Sabbath day has always been in existence, except perhaps during the dark ages. But even then, there were days of worship. The Sabbath day became an easy target for jots and tittles of the law. The Lord's expectations of the day were rather simple compared to what the Pharisees made it out to be. I think it is the same today. The expectations are rather simple, the problem is that there are so many more options to choose from, ways to spend our time that are completely different from the Lord's commandments and leader's suggestions, but nevertheless, those ways to spend time are before us.

Here is the defining paragraph from the BD:

The importance of a sacred day for man to rest from his temporal labors,
contemplate the world of the Lord, and assemble for public worship is a major
item in a person's spiritual development. Furthermore, a decay in the
national religious life always follows any tendency toward carelessness in the
matter of Sabbath observance. The existence of a weekly holy day is a most
important safeguard; it leaves a constant reminder to the individual of his need
for spiritual sustenance and his duty before God, and serves as a witness to the
world that there is such a thing as revealed religion.

I just don't know if there is anything I can add to that which would explain the importance of the Sabbath day any better than that.

The next paragraph explains that the change from worshipping on the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week is not so important. It's just important that we have that day to remember the works of God. But the first day of the week does commemorate the resurrection of the Savior and it is symbolic of the creation of the earth and the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

I think I'll talk about the sacrament tomorrow.

Sabbath. April 20th, Monday

DC 59
There have been many lessons and talks about the sabbath day. There are lists of things and people should and shouldn't do on Sunday from prophets to Sunday School teachers. Such lists ring familiar when we read about the Saducees and Pharisees in the New Testament. . . . you may take 421 steps on the Sabbath, you may not buy a cow on the Sabbath. There is much debate about appropriate activities on the Sabbath day because we all think that our definition of reverence in the correct definition. And it is. How you worship is between you and Heavenly Father, assuming that you consult Heavenly Father and follow the Spirit about your Sabbath activities. But whether you do or not, it is not up to me to judge what type of person you are by what you do on Sunday. Not judging others is a little difficult though, regarding Sabbath activities, because we have been given guidance from the Lord and some of he things He asks us to do is something that other people can see. Here are a few things that are more likely to be public knowledge:

• Go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day
• Do not do your usual labors, rest
• confess thy sins unto thy brethren

Here are the things that we can do on the Sabbath day (and other days) that are not public knowledge:

• How you pay your devotions to the Most High
• Offering your oblations and sacraments
• Confessing thy sins to the Lord
• Fasting and prayer
• Give thanks

How we do these things:

• With thanksgiving
• with cheerful hearts and countenances
• not with much laughter
• with a glad heart

Blessings we receive from doing these things:

• The fulness of the earth is ours (beasts of the field, fowls, herbs, good things from the earth, food, raiment, things for houses or barns, orchards, gardens, vineyards).

The whole point of these instructions is in verse 21:

"And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."

All these things He has asked us to do, to show Him that we are diliberate in our reverence. That we are resting in his name, not just resting. That we are thankful for all things which come from Him, not just thankful that we've got things. He's asking us to have a whole different focus on the Sabbath Day. He recognizes that on all other days we are to support our families, educate ourselves, help others, etc. By focusing on Him on the Sabbath, we can have proper perspective about our weekly necessities.

April 20th - 23rd readings

The topic is Sabbath day observance. Not a lot of readings, but a good topic.

Mon, April 20th: Doctrine and Covenants 59
Tues, April 21st: Bible Dictionary, “Sabbath,” pages 764–65.
Wed, April 22nd: Scripture Chain: Exodus 20:8–11 Mosiah 18:23 Isaiah 58:13–14
D&C 59:9–13 Mark 2:23–28 3 Nephi 18:6–7

The gift of charity

When I was serving a mission, I became intrigued with the gift of charity and the necessity of it in our lives. I studied more about charity than any other topic. I am amazed at the "line upon line" process of learning about charity that I have been through. To be sure, I am not a charity well-spring of knowledge. I am continually intrigued with charity because it seems that to apply charity to myself, and to every other individual I come in contact with, is a different method or type of charity for each case/situation.

When I think about charity, I first start with the definition of charity in the Bible Dicitonary (I am going to have to paraphrase because the webpage is not working and if I go get my own scriptures, I will probably get sidetracked): charity is the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, it is not merely alms or deeds or affection, but the motive behind the deeds. Essentially, charity is the kind of love that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit have for us, which is really a love that we can't understand in it's fullness because we just don't see the big (biggest) picture, but something that we can have a glimpse of, if we pray and seek for it. So, if we have charity toward others, we are trying to love them as the members of the Godhead might love them. This does not mean that we are to base our love on the judgement of others, in fact, we are told not to judge others, leave that to Heavenly Father, it is our job to love, understand and forgive.

It seems to me that charity is an all-encompassing value/gift. Here is the list given in the scriptures: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity, to me, is ultimate wisdom. It is not just love, it is giving love knowing what is needed because you are acting as an instrument of God. It is giving time and words, at the right moment. It is forgiving because you are loved in the same way that the offender is loved. this is why I think Paul says :

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

As I read through this the other day, it struck me that we are told in many scriptures to be as little children, but in this scripture, we are told to put away childish things, in the context of charity. Could it be that loving boundlessly like a child is a wonderful and aspiring quest for many of us, but that the quest for charity is the quest of a spiritually mature person? To love not only without bounds, but to love with wisdom. It is interesting, from this passage, that Paul seperates our state now, from when we shall see Christ:

Now: 1)we see through a glass darkly 2)I know in part
Then: 1)we see face to face 2) shall know even as also I am known

We don't quite understand charity now, but if we work on it (put away childish things), we will shall truly understand. How do we work on it? Moroni tells us:
pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

In other words: you've got to want it. You've got to want to love your husband and children, you've got to want to love your neighbor, you've got to want to love your enemy. And love them like Heavenly Father loves them, understand them like Christ understands them and want to let them feel the influence of the Spirit, like they and you want to feel it.

Quite the quest. A very spiritually mature quest.

There more to spiritual gifts

I love, love, love 1 Corinthians 12–13. It is quite possibly my favorite passage in the New Testament aside from the Savior's experiences and Moroni 10:8–18 goes right along with it though it has a few differences.

I marvel that Heavenly Father made us so different. It seems that making us all the same would be so much easier. But then that sound like Satan's plan I guess. He made us different and gives us different gifts because there is opposition in all things, or rather, many choices for us to choose from. If we didn't have different gifts available, we wouldn't have choices and we wouldn't be able to use that wonderful gift of agency.

So, with all of these gifts available to us, some of us knowing what some of our gifts are and some of us unaware, we are to work together like a body coordinates it's actions. If some of us know what our gifts are, it is our duty to help others discover their gifts so that we may work together and work efficiently. If there is someone who does not use their gift well, instead of despising them, we are to figure out how to utilize them, or be patient until they figure out the purpose of their gift. We really can't do it alone either. We can't just say our gift is the only one necessary to function the whole body, we cannot forget the other parts or we don't properly function. There are really so many layers to chapter, so many eternal truths that are taught by comparing us to the members of a body. And the body can be the members of the church, members of society, member of a nation, because we are all partakers of the same spirit, or the same light of Christ. This parable includes how we should treat ourselves, how we should treat others and how we should work, succeed and fail together.


Moroni talks about similar gifts, but here's what I think is amazing. With only a few pages left on the plates, in the very last chapter of The Book of Mormon, it is revealed to him to write about these gifts and seeking the gifts. This passage is written among a strong testimony of Christ. It occurred to me that the giving of, the seeking of and the using of our gifts are a testimony of Christ. These gifts are to give us hope that we can become better people, that we can hope for a better world, that there is evidence that with all that we are capable of doing, there are some gifts and talents that can only be given by heavenly means, not attained by our mere mortal means. I'm beginning to understand that spiritual gifts have a far greater meaning and use than just to better ourselves and others, not that this is miniscule, but there's just more to them.

I think I will blog about 1 Cor 13 tomorrow because it's about charity and that deserves a whole post on it's own.

Seeking Gifts. Tues, Feb 14th

I love this topic. The gifts of the spirit. I love that there is a list of the gifts of the spirit. We actually have a list of the things, besides the gift of the Holy Ghost itself, that Heavenly Father will give to help us help others, which in the end helps us!

Here's what got me today. We are told to seek for these gifts: testimony, wisdom, knowledge, faith, tongues, understanding tongues and more. We are told that some people (leaders of the church) will have many or all of the gifts. Most of us will have some of the gifts, but not all. Some of us will be born with gifts and we have to seek to develop them and some of us will not have much of a clue, but if we seek spiritual gifts they can be given.

There are many things that we seek for in this life, and we do it with a passion. We seek for money, we seek for satisfaction, we seek for peace, we seek for power, we seek for rest, we seek for the big payoff. My guess is we don't really seek for spiritual gifts the way that we seek for more immediate, tangible things. Why? Really, the gift of tongues, the gift of faith, the gift of discernment and other spiritual gifts, offer the bigger payoff, not that we're looking for payoff, but it's true. We are blessed with more and more when we seek for and use our spiritual gifts as Heavenly Father intends. So, why? Because it takes patience to earn and use spiritual gifts wisely, because spiritual gifts are not seen as valuable or tangible in getting along in the world, because there are other "more pressing" things to seek for that would provide for our comfort and satisfaction.

I have to think about this focus. Should it be a daily focus? How do I know which spiritual gift to focus on? to develop? Hmmm. This will be good to think about this week.

Readings April 14-16

OK. I'm back from vacation and hopefully back in my mind. Here are the readings for this week and I will be commenting through the reading days. I'm going to start on Tuesday this week, since there are only three good days of ready.

Tues, April 14th: Doctrine and Covenants 46; Articles of Faith 1:7
Wed, April 15th: 1 Corinthians 12–13
Thurs, April 16th: Moroni 10:8–18; Our Heritage,pages 42–43, 47–48, 63.

Vacation

I should've given warning that we are on vacation this week. What usually happens when I come to Nevada (ever since college days), is I bring all of my books and studies with me thinking I will have plenty of time to study. But I bring all these things just to placate my overactive sense of efficiency. I really just play. There needs to be opposition in all things right. Play hard this week. Blog hard next week. Feel free to comment on the readings posts though!

April 6th - 9th readings

It never fails. After a break, you just want more. Sorry I didn't post the readings yester day! Here they are:

The Law of Consecration
Mon, April 6th: Doctrine and Covenants 42:30–42; 51
Tues, April 7th: DC 78;
Wed, April 8th: DC 82
Thurs, April 9th: DC 104:11–18; Our Heritage,page 26.