Readings Aug 31-Sept 4

Faith in Every Footstep

Mon, Aug 31: DC 136
Tues, Sept 1: Our Heritage 71-77

More than meets the eye

I thought when I posted the readings for this last week, that there wouldn't be much to talk about. The readings were nice and short. We are only asked to read three verses in the Doctrine and Covenants, which explain a bit about the office of the first presidency, twelve and seventy. The passage in Our Heritage was also easy to read, and I was familiar with some of the stories already, particularly about when Brigham Young appeared like Joseph Smith to many of the Saints.

As I thought about what to post about this week, I remembered something that we talked about during class in Mia Maids. The teacher asked the question: "What does it mean to you to have a prophet?" We talked about how the prophet guides us and helps us feel the spirit. We also talked about how having a prophet gives us a comfort zone. Having a prophet means having organization for revelation and for the church. Having a prophet gives us a man to point to and say: "He's in charge," and for us humans, that is important. It is important because we tend to like answers to questions and someone to question, for good or bad. That is the blessing and difficulty of leadership. We may go along in our daily lives without a thought of the prophet, but because at some point we've learned that he's there and we know he's called of God, our lives are a little less chaotic (well, hopefully - over the long haul for sure, but hopefully daily as well).

So, when I thought about the Saints during this time in the U.S., I thought about all the different churches that had formed, especially during this time where religious freedom was a hot topic and new churches with variations on traditional doctrines formed. You had a church, and with the church you had a preacher. With that preacher you had doctrines set up, put in place by that preacher based on the Bible or other religious sources. It would be easy to assume (as the mobs in Illinois did) that when a preacher dies or moves, that church disassembles and those doctrines whither.

The mobs of Illinois thought this, but I wondered what the Saints were thinking. According to "Our Heritage" the Saints had been sufficiently schooled by teachings and experience what the confirmations of the Spirit felt like. They did not fall for Sidney Rigdon's plan, which sought to place himself as the "guardian" of the church, as there could according to him, be no one to replace the prophet. The manual said that very few Saints supported him. But when Brigham Young arrived a little over a month later and began to preach the doctrines of the gospel, not only did some of the Saints see him as Joseph, but the Spirit confirmed their feelings of a need for continuous leadership in the same office. The church would continue under the eye of the Lord, through a prophet, His chosen prophet, with the same doctrines and method of receiving doctrines.

I think this is marvelous!

Readings Aug 24-29

President Brigham Young leads the Saints
Very short readings this week. I'll have to dig up more info.

DC 107:22-24
Our Heritage 66-71

If they have not charity. . .

Yes, I am posting something other that the readings. It's been a while, I know. This happened last year too. I got behind in my Bible readings in the crazy, busy fall and there went the New Testament. Now I've bottled it all up and it's a long one. . .

The last two months of my mission, for some reason, became an intense study of charity. I had never really thought of it as anything else but giving service or means to others in need. Our mission was in a big slump and our Mission President was trying to figure out what to do to get out of it. After reading quite a lot about charity, it occurred to me that our focus, as a mission, was on baptizing, not loving - charity. I talked to the Mission President about this, and he suggested that I bring it up in Mission Council (where all the Zone Leaders, Assistants and Training Sisters met). During Mission Council there were ideas back and forth about raising or lowering baptism goals and requiring different things from the missionaries. I was asked to comment and I shared my thoughts about charity. The next comment went right back to numbers. I think this was because charity is such an elusive concept that if you are not focusing on receiving charity (from the Savior), you cannot understand how to feel it or give it (which are two different things in my opinion).

That was a long introduction to the reading this week. During my reading, I experienced a classic case of a certain "mormonism." That is, there are certain scriptures that are talked about so much for a topic or person, that other scriptures associated with it are forgotten. When I read section 135, I was surprised to find that when Hyrum Smith knowing death was imminent, comforted himself with a scripture from Ether 12 that really resounded with me during my missionary charity study:

5 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I . . . bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.

When I read this I feel truth. This is the same truth that the Savior exemplified when he faced death: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." This scriptures separates responsibility and is a reminder of agency. Even though Mormon exemplified charity in praying for the Gentiles who apparently did not understand much about anything spiritual, the Lord specified that if the Gentiles did not have charity (or at least a basic respect for Mormon's purpose and work), it didn't matter because Mormon had fulfilled his purpose with love and integrity. The Lord deemed his garments to be made clean because of this.

I imagine this was a great comfort to Hyrum and Joseph, and that this truth, that they had done what they were sent to do, is why Joseph could say aloud:
“I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men."

Here's the thing about charity: Mormon, Hyrum, Joseph and the Savior all exemplified charity, Christ-like love, in the last moments of their life, toward those who did not have a Christ-like love. They could have requested to stay longer and do a little more, teach a few more sermons, help a few more people, which is sometimes what we think charity is. But they had true charity "The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection;" a wise love, a love that sometimes knows when to stop, a love that uses Heavenly judgement, a love that understands and follows through with tough love and even sacrifice. Ultimately, for these four, understanding that the sacrifice of their lives would do more good than remaining on the earth.

I completely believe Moroni when tells us we need to pray for charity. Because this kind of love with wisdom and judgement and grace, doesn't come from merely affectionate love.

Readings Aug 17

"Seal the Testimony"

Short readings this week, but great topic. I will just list the readings. You get to them when you can:

DC 135
Acts 7:54-60
Heb 9:15-17
Mosiah 17:7-10
3 Ne 10:15
DC 98:13

Aug 10-14 readings

Sealed for time and all eternity.

I'm late. Vacation always messes me up. So I'm starting the readings today.

Wed, Aug 12: DC 131: 1-4
Thurs, Aug 13: DC 132: 4-33
Fri, Aug 14: Genesis 2:18, 24 , 1 Corinthians 11:11

The Prisoners Shall Go Free. Readings Aug 3-7

Monday, Aug 3: Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:36–39
Tuesday, Aug 4: DC 124:25–55;
Wednesday, Aug 5: DC 127; 128;
Thursday, Aug 6: Our Heritage,pages 58–60.

I'll be on vacation, away from the computer, so I probably won't comment until next Sunday. Feel free to comment on this thread.