What are your desires?

Reading: Jacob 1-4

I was drawn to a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in General Conference last year, entitled “Desire.”  He says our desires are the underlying motive for all our actions and as such is relevant to this lesson.

“Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming.”

Elder Oaks talks about prioritizing our desires and how some desires are overridden by more important desires.  For instance, the desire to eat is overridden sometimes by a desire to fast for spiritual strength.  Jacob will tell us about the desires of the Nephites and how to override those desires with greater desires.  He demonstrates how to do this himself.

 Jacob 1:17-19

WHERE DOES JACOB’S DESIRE COME FROM AND HOW DOES HIS DESIRE FOR THE PEOPLE DICTATE HIS ACTIONS?

·      His errand came from the Lord: consecrated a priest and teacher, which implies that the Holy Spirit confirmed his errand and motivated action.

·      He did not just complete the requirements of his calling, he chose to magnify them.  His definition of magnify is to take responsibility for the sins of the people if they didn’t labor with their might to teach them correct and guiding principles.  Ours should be similar: to ultimately teach or show the doctrines of Christ because we have them.  Will the sins of those we are responsible for be upon our heads? Perhaps.  It probably depends on exactly what we are called to do. As a parent, a family member, a teacher, it probably does.  Thankfully, the atonement will help us get through what we should've done, but didn't do. But we should try to teach the doctrines, led by the spirit, of course.

We discussed a little about pride 2 weeks ago and we will discuss it a little more today because after the book of Jacob, the word pride is only mentioned 3 more times in The Book of Mormon.  More accurately, we will be read about the formula Jacob gives to combat pride.

In Jacob 2:12-13, Jacob tells them they have begun to look for “gold, silver and precious ores: and that because some have more than others, the people who don’t have much are looked down upon and even persecuted.  After condemning the persecutors, Jacob tells them how to override their desire to have more than their brethren. Please listen for the components of the antidote for pride.

 2:17-21

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO AVOID OR RESOLVE PRIDE?

·      Love thy neighbor as thyself (your desire moves from your own welfare to those of others)

·      Be familiar with them – what sort of familiarity?

·      Be free with your substance

·      Seek the kingdom of God first, then riches

o   Elder Perry: “What this testifies to me is that we cant ell whether or not we put the kingdom of God first by looking at how we treat our brothers and sister in the Church.” From United in building the kingdom of God, Apr 87

·      Seek riches for the intent to do good

o   President Romney: There is an interdependence between those who have and those who have not. The process of giving exalts the poor and humbles the rich. In the process, both are sanctified. The poor, released from the bondage and limitations of poverty, are enabled as free men to rise to their full potential, both temporally and spiritually. The rich, by imparting of their surplus, participate in the eternal principle of giving. Once a person has been made whole, or self-reliant, he reaches out to aid others, and the cycle repeats itself.

·      Remember who gives you everything

·      Everyone is precious to God

·      Keep the commandments

Jacob would’ve been happy if the only thing he had to talk about was pride, but there’s something worse or even a product of pride that he must address: Chastity

 Jacob 2:23-24

WHAT IS THE DESIRE OF THE NEPHITES AS EXPLAINED HERE BY JACOB?

·      Selfishness

·      They seek to excuse themselves from the commandments – in fact in verse 34, Jacob reminds them that they were aware of the commandment of one wife, as it was a commandment given by Lehi.

·      They twist the scriptures to support the way they want to live their lives.

Jacob informs them of the commandment that should help them override their current desires:

 Jacob 2:27-31

WHAT DOES JACOB INDICATE ARE THE OVERRIDING DESIRES?

·      Obedience to the commandment from God – which implies a knowledge, love and respect for God

·      The chastity of women – remember it’s not all about you – consider the feelings of others (women and children) and what effect you are having on them.  In fact, Jacob mentions in chapter 3:10 to “ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved their hearts because of the example that ye have set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day.

o   Elder Maxwell states, regarding the influence of parent: All are free to choose, of course, and we would not have it otherwise. Unfortunately, however, when some choose slackness, they are choosing not only for themselves, but for the next generation and the next. Small equivocations in parents can produce large deviations in their children! Earlier generations in a family may have reflected dedication, while some in the current generation evidence equivocation. Sadly, in the next, some may choose dissension as erosion takes its toll.  “Settle This in Your Hearts,” Oct. Gen. Conference 1992

·      Reminders that the land will be cursed (all that gold and silver will be taken away)

·      The Lord is at the helm of his operation on earth, and while there were instances of plurality of wives, those instances were directed by the Lord for His purposes, while man twisted them for selfish and unrighteous purposes.

o   The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “I have constantly said no man shall have but one wife at a time, unless the Lord directs otherwise” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 324).

After discouraging the offenders of the law regarding pride and chastity, Jacob reminds them that if their hope desires lie with Christ, their weaknesses can be made strong

 Jacob 4:3-7

Our desires to follow Christ come by knowing who He is and what he can do.  We know this by searching the prophets (scriptures – listening to conference, etc.), understanding the revelations and the spirit of prophecy.  The Nephites needed symbols and stories to help them understand what would happen in the future.  We the faith to understand what DID happen in the past.  When we understand, we obtain hope and faith and then power comes to use the atonement to help us with our weaknesses.

Should our desires lie with Christ, which Jacob described as being pure in heart, here is what he will do and what you should do

Jacob 3:1-2

1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and ^apray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will ^bconsole you in your ^cafflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down ^djustice upon those who seek your destruction.

 2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his ^alove; for ye may, if your ^bminds are ^cfirm, forever.

Christ will: Console, plead and send justice

We need to: lift, receive and feast upon his love.

A last quote from Elder Oaks about desire:

“. . . all of us face potential traps that will prevent progress toward our eternal destiny. If our righteous desires are sufficiently intense, they will motivate us to cut and carve ourselves free from addictions and other sinful pressures and priorities that prevent our eternal progress.

We should remember that righteous desires cannot be superficial, impulsive, or temporary. They must be heartfelt, unwavering, and permanent. So motivated, we will seek for that condition described by the Prophet Joseph Smith, where we have “overcome the evils of [our lives] and lost every desire for sin.”5 That is a very personal decision. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:

“When people are described as ‘having lost their desire for sin,’ it is they, and they only, who deliberately decided to lose those wrong desires by being willing to ‘give away all [their] sins’ in order to know God.”

“Therefore, what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity.”6

Baptism and Enduring

2 Ne 31-33

Our Sunday School teacher gave us these quotes, that seemed to me to be more relevant than anything I could say.  I've been thinking about these all day!

Baptism:
"Nephi, to dramatize the importance of baptism, tell us that theSavior had to be baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" (2 Nephi 31:5).  The doctrine is both little understood and marvelously important.  In the high spiritual sense there is no righteousness without willing submission to all the ordinances of salvation.  No more perfect example could be found than Christ himself.  Christ, who was sinless, had to be baptized in order to be considered righteous.  To be righteous, as the word is used in its highest spiritual sense means far more than being sinless, pure, or merely good.  Righteousness is not simply the absence of evil or impropriety; it is the active seeking of the mind and will of the Father and compliance with that will once it has been obtained. "  (McConkie and MIllet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 361)

Gift of the Holy Ghost
2 Nephi 31:8  "Wherefore after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon his in the form of a dove."

"The gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all these organs or attributes.  It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use.  It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-tones sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature.  It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity.  It develops beauty of person, form and features.  It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling.  it invigorates al the faculties of the physical and intellectual man.  It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves.  In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the one, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being" (Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, p 61 as quoted in CES Book of Mormon Student Manual (1996), p 42)

Enduring to the end:
2 Nephi 31:10 "And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me.  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

"Enduring to the end implies "patient continuance in well doing" (Romans 2:7), striving to keep the commandments (see 2 Nephi 31:10), and doing the works of righteousness (see D&C 59:23). It requires sacrifice and hard work.  To endure to the end, we need to trust our Father in Heaven and make wise choices, including paying our tithes and offerings, honoring our temple covenants, and serving the Lord and one another willingly and faithfully in our Church callings and responsibilities.  It means strength of character, selflessness, and humility; it means integrity and honesty to the Lord and our fellowmen. It means making our homes strong places of defense and a refuge against worldly evils; it means loving and honoring our spouses and children.  (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, in Conference Report, Oct 2007 or Ensign, Nov. 20007, 20-21)

Also on enduring:

"Our emphasis, therefore, should be on 'doing' and 'becoming," not just on surviving; on serving others, not just serving time. Thus this quality of graceful endurance includes, but is more than, hanging on 'for one moment more.' Passing beyond breaking points without breaking takes the form of endurance." (Neal A. Maxwell, Not My will, But Thine, p 115)

"Hence we are not merely to exist to the end but are to persist in coping with what is occurring in the holy present.  If we will follow the example of 'the Son of the living God," great things await us (see 2 Nephi 31:16). 'Nevertheless, he that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come' (D&C 63:20). 'And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall they partake of all this glory' (D&C 101:35).

"Even yesterday's spiritual experience, however, does not guarantee us against tomorrow's relapse.  Persistence thus matters greatly.  More than a few for instance, have had supernal, spiritual experiences only to fall away later; or, more often, merely to pull off to the side of the road, though intending only a brief rest stop.  Hence the emphasis on enduring well to the end is wise, simply because we are at risk till the end!  Included in the enduring process is meeting the test of being constantly improved.  Remodeling is costly and painful.  But how can we realistically expect the arduous process of putting of the old man and putting on the new man to be otherwise?"  (Neal A. Maxwell, If Thou Endure it Well)

Continuing Revelation

Reading: 2 Ne 26-30

Again, there is so much in these chapters, it is hard to figure out which to talk about in a setting like this.  It's really best if you read and ponder it yourself, but I'll mention a few things regarding continuing revelation.

Let me just begin with this: I know there is a God. I know He reveals his will to people who will listen.  He reveals His will to us as individuals and he reveals his will to groups of people, specifically a church organization.  I believe that God directed Jesus Christ to set up the organization of a church when he was on the earth with a prophet (Peter) and 12 apostles and others who had the authority to teach, preach and baptize.  I believe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized by God with the same things: a prophet and 12 apostles.  I believe God gives authority to these men and communicates with them to organize and direct the people in general and to teach the people to seek out their own communication with God.

I also believe that people who do not belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints receive their own revelations from God.  But it is the LDS Church that has the authority to organize the church as was organized when Christ was on the earth and those with authority continually receive direction and guidance regarding it's maintenance.  That authority also allows for proper baptism, administration of the bread and water and other ordinances that help us along our path in life.  With that authority and revelation comes the assurance that God really is "the same yesterday, today and forever."

One of the indications of continuing revelation is the coming forth of The Book of Mormon.  There are many who would say that The Bible is the last and final word of God.  In fact, The Book of Mormon predicts that:

And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentilesshall say: A ^aBible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannotbe any more Bible.


To which the Lord responds:

Thou fool, that shall say: A ^aBible, we have got a Bible, and weneed no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by theJews?

 7 Know ye not that there are more ^anations than one? Know yenot that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that Iremember those who are upon the ^bisles of the sea; and that Irule in the heavens above and in the ^cearth beneath; and I bringforth my ^dword unto the children of men, yea, even upon all thenations of the earth?

 8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more ofmy word? Know ye not that the ^atestimony of ^btwo nations is a^cwitness unto you that I am God, that I remember one ^dnationlike unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto onenation like unto another. And when the two ^enations shall runtogether the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

 9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the ^asameyesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my ^bwordsaccording to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spokenone ^cword ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; formy ^dwork is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end ofman, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

 10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not supposethat it contains all my ^awords; neither ^bneed ye suppose that Ihave not caused more to be written.

Essentially, To say that God cannot give more information to us beyond the Bible is to confess that you don't know God, or at least don't believe that He can do all things. ("For with God all things are possible. - Mark 10:27)

I have studied the Old Testament, the New Testament, The Book of Mormon, other LDS scriptures including the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.  They do not teach different doctrine.  They all teach the word of God.  What's even better is that they teach it from different perspectives to help us have a better perspective about ourselves.

If you want to know yourself, come to know God.  If you want to come to know God, read what He's given us. If you want to know what He's given us, ask Him.  You can receive revelation too.

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how ^amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ^bponder it in your^chearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the^gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things.

This post turned out quite different than what I planned or taught today in Sunday School. But it's all good! Perhaps I will post later some highlighted scriptures from the reading.