What is this blog?

In 2008 I stumbled upon a blog organized by a woman who wanted to read The Bible each day through the year and then comment and receive comments about the reading assignment. I decided to join and I really enjoyed the experience of discussing the passages. I wanted to continue that. I thought I would start a blog that follows the LDS Sunday School lessons, not in any way replacing them, but just to offer a venue to comment on the readings for those who don't like to/get to comment in class or don't get to go to class at all, or just anybody. 2009 was my first full year with this blog, reading the Doctrine and Covenants (all archived in 2009). 2010 I did my best to discuss the Old Testament but fell off in the fall. 2011 is a review of The New Testament, but I was even less successful in continuing with that year, but I hope to fill those in during the year! During 2012 we discuss The Book of Mormon. I will post at least once for the week's readings. I will not post on General Conference weeks and will probably be behind your current reading due to our church schedule, but hope you can still find relevancy. Also, I probably won't proofread much, so please forgive me for errors, I'll be lucky to just get a post each week in. Feel free to comment on my current week or your class' current week. Enjoy! I do!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Wednesday, Jan 14th

Explanation of this blog: Another iron in the fire
Wed, Jan 14th: Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26

If I could bottle up Joseph Smith and put a label on it, it would say: INTEGRITY!!! Whether you are for or against Joseph Smith, you must admit, he had integrity.

These are possibly my favorite verses in JS-H (besides the obvious ones):

25 So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.

26 I had now got my mind satisfied so far as the sectarian world was concerned—that it was not my duty to join with any of them, but to continue as I was until further directed. I had found the testimony of James to be true—that a man who lacked wisdom might ask of God, and obtain, and not be upbraided.

These verses have been an achor to my faith. One of the benefits of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, is to bring to our remembrance all things. These verses, along with the Holy Ghost, helps me remember why I believe what I believe, in the face of adversity. When it would seem much easier to choose a different way, in the end, I come to what Joseph Smith came to: what I have experienced in my life physically, spiritually and temporally is because of my Father in Heaven, and if I choose a different way I would offend God and would really not be true to myself.

Joseph Smith is an amazing example of intergrity, being true to others, but mostly being true to himself.
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