Guitar Hero and A Ladder

2005 was a big year for Carolenna and I. Not only had we purchased our first home, but Carolenna also gave birth to our first child, Brigham. With all of the changes in our lives, I distinctly remember the feeling of youth slipping away from me. Granted, I was still quite young, but I was doing 'big boy' things and there were times when it was a bit disconcerting. I gaped headlong into the world of the grown ups knowing that I was on a one-way trip destined for the place where childhood goes to die. I don't mind admitting there were times when I looked back at the life I was leaving behind and wrestled with someway in which I could hang on just a little longer. Please don't misunderstand me, I adore my wife and I was elated with the arrival of our son, but it was in this mindset that I made a decision that has come back to haunt me for the last eight years.

The release of an epic video game called Guitar Hero topped the charts as one of the most amazing events of 2005 (at least to some). With this game, the player held a small plastic guitar in their hands and by pressing colored buttons they could play along with many of the most popular rock songs from the previous thirty years. Before long this game became the 'must have' item for the physically and mentally young across the globe. As I gazed upon the beauty of this magnificent creation, I too - still clinging to my youth - knew that I must get my hands on that game. My opportunity to acquire the game came to me in late November of the same year. Although the opportunity was not as direct as I would have liked, I (the master manipulator) utilized the situation at hand to secure the item that I most desired. 

I was shopping at Sam's Club with my father, mother, Carolenna, and our new son when we came across the strategically placed Guitar Hero display in the middle of the isle. Seizing my opportunity, I began explaining the game to both my father and mother (by this time my overly patient wife had already resisted my attempts to lure her into my dreams of becoming a guitar hero). As always, my parents listened carefully and feigned interest in a game that they had no interest in whatsoever. having expressed my desire to procure the game for Christmas, my father replied, "but son, I had planned on buying you a ladder." 

My father must have been proud of everything I had accomplished up to that point. Between a successful LDS mission, a temple marriage to an amazing woman, a good job, a new home and a legitimate child, I had already far exceeded the expectations of nearly everyone who knew me in my younger years (except for my mother, she always had faith in me despite the horrible odds). The offering of a ladder from my father was his way of buying a man's gift for the man I had become; Guitar Hero just didn't fit in with who I was becoming. 

I persisted that I needed some way to continue to have fun, plus, I could always buy myself a ladder at a later time. Even though I was an adult, I still really really needed the game because, I argued, I needed a way to unwind and Christmas should be about getting fun things, not boring household items. Of course, being the loving and always accommodating parents that they are, mom and dad relented and under the tree on Christmas morning rested my very own copy of Guitar Hero. Over the next six months I became a self certified Guitar Hero, and it was a blast. I would sometimes stay up late into the night in order to master my favorite tunes. However, as time marched on I began playing the game less and less, until finally, it sat untouched. Eventually the game, along with the entire gaming system was sold and life moved on. 

Even though I felt I really needed that game all those years ago, I have come to realize that what I really needed, and still need to this day, is a ladder. I did not need a game anymore than I needed to eat the whole 'family box' from Taco Bell all by myself (true story). The reality was, I just really wanted the game, but what I needed was to wake up...AND A LADDER! I'm not really sure why I haven't gone out and purchased a ladder. Maybe it is one of those hard things to buy, knowing you need one and will use one, but always playing the odds of whether you can just borrow your neighbor's. Still, the fact remains that I have needed a ladder at least once a month for the past eight years.

Obviously, I am not condemning the playing of video games or adults who enjoy doing so. I am highlighting what was the complete incapacity I had in separating my wants from my needs. Confusing 'needs' with 'wants' is all to common among people of all ages and walks of life, so it is no surprise that I fell victim to it as well. Interestingly enough, our needs and wants can sometimes become so blurred that it is very difficult to see the proper road ahead. Often, both our needs and wants are good and wholesome pursuits, but choosing the thing that is most needful is still required.

You may recall a story from Luke chapter 10 where Martha learns the valuable lesson of needs vs wants. Jesus, who had been traveling and healing, sought refuge and a place to rest; Martha was willing to open up her home to him. Upon arrival, Martha reacted like many of us might with the appearance of an unexpected guest, no less the Savior of the world! She frantically went about preparing her home and serving the Lord, what I can only assume would have been the best she had to offer. Upon entering the room where the Savior was resting she saw Mary, her sister, sitting at the feet of Jesus. When one reads the account, you can almost feel the frustration under the breath of Martha's question, "dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?" Then Christ, who never confuses the wants of life with the needs, calmly yet rebukingly replied, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part."[1] 

During this season, many wants arise and can so often be mixed up with the real needs that exist. The greatest of all needs we have is to be reconciled with our Father in Heaven. This can only be done through Jesus Christ, who is our advocate with the Father. I testify that if we focus on that one great need, the invitation to come unto Christ, all other needs and wants will fit into their proper place. God bless you all in this season of giving and thankfulness. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 
[1] Luke 10: 38-42

Costly Apparel

In the Book of Mormon, we read concerning the people of Nephi beginning to “wax proud” due to an increase in their improved financial positions. An increase in their “flocks and herds, and their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things,” led them to become “lifted up in the pride of their eyes.” As a result, the record states that they “began to wear very costly apparel.”[1] Our minds might quickly be drawn into a vision of a people who were adorned with the finest of material, even clothing fit for a king. And while this was very likely the case, maybe Alma had another meaning for the phrase, “they began to wear very costly apparel.”

God tells us to “put on the whole armor of God” which is described as truth, righteousness, preparation, faith, salvation, and the word of God. [2] Elsewhere we are encouraged to “clothe [ourselves] with the bond of charity…which is the bond of perfectness and peace.”[3] And in Zechariah, Joshua the high priest has his “filthy garments” removed from him and he is clothed with a “change of raiment” worthy of an audience with the Lord.[4] In these examples, the apparel which is being adorned still has a price, but the results are vastly different than what the Nephites of Alma’s day experienced. The greatest difference is in WHO pays the price. The cost of being clothed in truth, righteousness, preparation, faith, salvation, and the word of God has already been paid for each of us by the Savior, Jesus Christ. And all he asks of us is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

“Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.”[5]

So, what of the “very costly” apparel of the Nephites? Who pays the price for the new identity they are forging for themselves? Ultimately, the wicked among the Nephites, and elsewhere, will pay the full price of their apparel, and the cost will be their own salvation. Alma, concerned about their “destruction,” attempted to bring them to the knowledge of their “awful situation,”[6] and “reclaim them” by “pull[ing] down…all the pride and craftiness and the contentions which were among his people.”[7] Can you picture in your mind Alma symbolically attempting to strip the people of their costly apparel, tearing down the false identity they have made for themselves? He spends the whole next chapter helping his people remember who they truly are, opposed to who they have made themselves become. He does this by explaining the condition of their garments (clothing, or how they have chosen to represent themselves) in that last day, saying,

“ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.”[8]

           

In the end, Alma asks the soul searching question, “will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel?” And so it is with us. Do we wear costly apparel? Does the tag on our spiritual shirt effectively say “100% Worldly”, or have we followed the council of Alma and sufficiently retained in our remembrance the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and our deliverance from captivity? Have we put off the natural man? Do we have a broken heart and a contrite spirit?

I bare witness that the apparel worn by the wicked among the Nephites is far too costly to ever be worth its appeal. For the Lord has said, 

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent…But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I…”[9]

That we may all be clothed with the armor of God and with the bonds of charity is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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[1] Alma 4:6

[2] Ephesians 6: 11-18

[3] D&C 88:125

[4] Zechariah 3:4

[5] 2^nd Nephi 2:7

[6] Mosiah 2:40

[7] Alma 4:19

[8] Alma 5:21

[9] D&C 19:16-17

Our Personal Responsibility for Peace

In Doctrine and Covenants 1:33 the Lord give us this sobering warning.

"And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts." 

In verse 35 he continues, stating,

"For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion."[1]

Both of these conditions (the spirit of God no longer striving with man and absence of peace), are self imposed states of existence. God does NOT desire us to exist without His peace and would that His spirit might continue to strive with us. However, he has made it clear that the “power” is in us! We are “agents unto [ourselves], and inasmuch as [we] do good [we] will nowise lose [our] reward.[2]

Sadly, and often in reference to Israel – to which we belong – The savior has lamented, “O ye house of Israel whom I have spared…how oft would I have gathered you…how oft have I gathered you…[and] how oft will I gather you as a hen gathered her chickens under her wings…and ye would not.”[3]

It is significant that there is a past, present, and future to the willingness of God to gather us into “the shadow of his hand”[4] This type of language from Jehovah falls in line with his declaration, “and my arm is stretched out in the last days, to save my people Israel.”[5] Elsewhere, when the house of Israel is compared to an olive tree, the savior’s persistence, patience, and zeal to redeem as many of His people as possible is shown in his sobering declaration, “it grieveth me that I should lose this tree.”

Other examples of God’s longsuffering toward us abound, therefore, the problem is not His willingness to come unto us, but our willingness to come unto him. Our failure to come unto him deprives us of His spirit and peace.

So, in what ways do we fail to come unto God?

We who are here today and others just like us across the world live in the perilous times spoken of by Paul to Timothy. He declared,

"...in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive… [men] women [and children]laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."[6]

These things are happening today. They are all around us. We are truly living in the times when people “call evil good and good evil. [they] put darkness for light, and light for darkness…bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.”[7]

            

The "World" holds up the proud, and it sees blasphemy as a comical hero.  The name of our Savior is no longer sacred, but because many see him as "Just a good man" he again is sold over and over by the Judas Iscariots of this world for the cheap price of humor.  Parental disobedience is on the incline as families fail to center their homes on eternal principles and to “teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.”[8]  Various forms of godliness can be found in nearly every corner of the world, but the power thereof is denied again and again as devotion and religion become a practice of convenience rather than a willingness to “live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.”[9]

In the classical tragedy Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, King Hamlet is murdered with a vial of poison which had been poured into his ear by his brother Claudius.  Shortly thereafter, the King’s spirit laments about the torment that his untimely death is causing him.  He says that he is "...Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, and for the day confined to fast in fires, till the foul crimes done in [his] days of nature are burnt and purged away." 

In a similar fashion, the music and media prevalent in our day act as a spiritual poison to our ears and eyes.  They creep into our homes through the television and computer, and "lead captive [men] women [and children] laden with sins, led away with divers lusts."  Then, we are in danger of becoming spiritually dead, "...Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night,...till the foul crimes done in [our] days of nature are burnt and purged away", by the cleansing effects of repentance through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters, it does not have to be this way. We do not have to be among those who “walk in darkness at noon day”[10] because “they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not.”[11] The blood and sins of this generation do not have to be ours. We can have peace in this life, even in the midst of darkness. That peace comes from Jesus Christ.

Speaking on peace in the April 2013 conference, Elder Quentin L. Cook stated the following:

“The heavenly aspiration of good people everywhere has and always will be for peace in the world. We must never give up on achieving this goal. But, President Joseph F. Smith taught, “There never can come to the world that spirit of peace and love … until mankind will receive God’s truth and God’s message … , and acknowledge his power and authority which is divine.”

“We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice.”

“This principle is succinctly captured in the Doctrine and Covenants: “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.”[12]

Elder Cook teaches two very important principles about peace,

1.      True peace comes from receiving God’s message & truth while acknowledging his power and authority.

2.      To receive those things means to do the works of righteousness.

Outstandingly, the Lord has linked our collective and individual peace with our willingness to act in doctrine and righteousness. In short, we control the level of peace we allow in our lives. Furthermore, the level of peace we build up in our lives is not for us alone, but is an important step toward real world peace.

Elder John A. Widtsoe put it this way,

 “The only way to build a peaceful community is to build men and women who are lovers and makers of peace. Each individual, by that doctrine of Christ and His Church, holds in his own hands the peace of the world.”

“That makes me responsible for the peace of the world, and makes you individually responsible for the peace of the world. The responsibility cannot be shifted to someone else. It cannot be placed upon the shoulders of Congress or Parliament, or any other organization of men with governing authority.”

I wonder if the Lord did not have that in mind when he said: . . . "the kingdom of God is within you…"

“We are Zion…[and] We are under the tremendous commission so to live, so to establish peace in our own hearts as to make our companionship, wherever we are, a society to which the suffering, the uneasy, those without peace, in all the world, may flee for safety. Truly a tremendous obligation rests upon the Latter-day Saints.”[13]

            

Although we are responsible for living in such a way that builds peace in our life, the Lord has promised that we are not alone. As tribulations closed in around Jesus Christ and his apostles, he spoke these reassuring words,

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you…He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him”[14]

While wrapping up his discourse to his apostles, who would soon see him crucified, Jesus declared,

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

            
Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar in His gospel. No one has ever walked as perfectly as he did. No one has ever loved as deeply as he does. He is truly the way and the life. When he told his apostles that he would give them HIS peace, which was not of the world, his empowering example was what he meant. 

“And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall observe to do the things which ye have seen me do, and bear record of me even unto the end.”[15]

            

His invitation to do as he has done and to enjoy His peace is not just for his apostles. The invitation is to us all.

           

In closing I offer 3 ways that we, as latter-day saints, can follow the example of Christ in building up peace in our lives each day.   

1. Pray often – Christ prayed often. Most importantly, Christ prayed with gratitude to God the Father. Whether raising Lazarus from the dead or crying to his Father in the agony of his atoning sacrifice, Christ understood the power of prayer. 2nd Nephi 32:8-9
• “And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”
2. Search the Scriptures – Even the perfected Christ taught using the scriptures. Whether by parable or directly pointing to scriptures from the past, the Savior taught using the words of the scriptures. John 5:39
• “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
3. Serve Others – Take only his earthy ministry, and there is no time in the recorded life of Christ when he was not engaged in serving others. From feeding 5000, to the individual blessing of countless souls, Christ’s life is the ultimate example of service borne out of pure charity.

I bare witness that real, true, abiding peace is within our grasps as we give heed to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

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[1] D&C 1:33,35 (emphasis added)

[2] D&C 58:28

[3] 3^rd Nephi 10:4-6

[4] Isaiah 49:2

[5] D&C136:22

[6] 2^nd Timothy 3:1-7

[7] Isaiah 5:20

[8] D&C 68:28

[9] D&C 88:12

[10] D&C 95:6

[11] Matthew 13:13

[12] Quentin L. Cook, Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness, General Conference The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, April 2013.

[13] John A. Widtsoe, Conference Report, October 1943, pp. 112-116

[14] John 14:18, 21

[15] John 16:33

​

The Author and Finisher of our Faith

(from a talk I gave in Sacrament meeting a few Sundays ago)

Among the many names we will call Jesus Christ in our lifetime; one of the most important is that of Author and Finisher of our faith. In chapter 12 of his epistle to the Hebrews, vs. 1-2, Paul describes this title stating,

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”

Earlier, in chapter 5, Paul also refers to Christ as the “Author” once more stating, 

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”.

Although the King James Version of the bible uses the word “author” in both of these verses, the original Greek uses different words for both. In chapter 5, where Paul calls Christ the author of eternal salvation, the word author in Greek is “Aitios”, meaning the cause, or the reason for eternal salvation. This is rightly stated for because Christ was perfectly obedient, he could pay the price for our sins, thus becoming the reason, and the cause for eternal salvation.

However, in Hebrews chapter 12, the word “author” in the original Greek means something a bit different. The word in Greek is “Archegos” and denotes a more exemplary meaning. Thus Christ being the “Author of our faith” in this instance implies that he takes the lead before us, he is our predecessor and example in this particular matter. In short, Christ has lain before us the way to gain true faith.

So, why take the time to explain the difference between the two? Because some may look at the title “author of our faith” and think that Christ is the one who creates our faith, and then generously gives it to those who believe. This is not so. The development of true faith is a deeply personal process centered on Jesus Christ; not because he says it should be so, but because he is the perfect example of how faith must be gained, just as he is the perfect example of all righteousness.

That being said, Bruce R. McConkie taught: “Faith is a gift of God”…but that gift is not freely given nor is it developed to fullness and then given all at once. Faith is,

“bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present and the greater the measure of obedience to God’s laws the greater will be the endowment of faith” (Mormon Doctrine, 2^nd ed. 1966, 264).

As the perfect example and the one who is the author of our faith, Christ has not only decreed the very commandments we should follow as the pre-mortal Jehovah, but he has also abided those very commandments, “according to the flesh” 2^nd Nephi 31:7.  Nephi gave us a glimpse into the Saviors perfect pattern of obedience in 2^nd Nephi 31, he taught that Christ,

“Humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments…and again it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. 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?”

So, just as Christ was willing to keep the commandments we too must be willing to keep those same commandments.

Every step of the Savior was a calculated step of obedience.

~        The worried Mary saw this when after 3 days of searching she found him at the temple while only 12 years old, teaching the learned doctors. His response to her clearly panicked question was a statement of simple obedience, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:44-49).

~        The awestruck John saw this when his pleas that Christ need not be baptized of him, but that he had need to be baptized of Christ, were gently dismissed with the obedient words, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt 3:13-15)

~        The repentant woman taken in adultery saw this when Christ expressed God-like love and mercy toward her as he asked, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” Then, upon her response that indeed, no man had so condemned, he obediently forgave, stating, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

~        The angel from heaven who came to strengthen Christ saw as the Savior of mankind being “in an agony…prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:43-44). This angel witnessed Jesus Christ obediently tread “the winepress alone” (Isaiah 63:3), submitting his will to the will of the Father and thus truly becoming the “author of our eternal salvation”.

Christ understands and effectively models for us the truth that we must all come to understand ourselves, 

“Obedience is the first law of heaven, the cornerstone upon which all righteousness and progression rest.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 539).

One of the greatest things that Christ taught us from his examples of obedience is that it is voluntary. His will was never forced from him, but always freely given and swallowed up in the will of the father. Joseph F. Smith put it in this way,

“Obedience must be voluntary; it must not be forced; there must be no coercion. Men must not be constrained against their will to obey the will of God; they must obey it because they know it to be right, because they desire to do it, and because it is their pleasure to do it. God delights in the willing heart” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 65).

Jesus clearly stated in John 14:21&24,

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me…He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings”.

Therefore, if we truly love the Lord, we will keep his commandments. Regarding this, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote,

“We show by our works that we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ we serve him and love our neighbor as our self. This is the word of the Lord as it has been revealed in these modern times for the guidance of Israel” (Joseph Fielding Smith, “Keep the Commandments,” Improvement Era, Aug. 1970, 2).

Strict obedience takes faith. Gaining the faith to obey is a process that we grow in as we “experiment upon [the] words” of Christ as given in the scriptures and through modern day prophets and apostles. But we are not alone in this growth, for even the perfect Christ had to grow line upon line, and “grace for grace”. John teaches us in Doctrine and Covenants 93:12-20

12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fullness at the first, but received grace for grace;

13 And he received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fullness;

14 And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fullness at the first.

15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.

16 And I, John, bear record that he received a fullness of the glory of the Father;

17 And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with Him, for he dwelt I him.

18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fullness of the record of John.

19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fullness.

20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fullness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.

Although the Savior never faltered, we certainly will. This is why the following words of Neal A. Maxwell are so comforting,

“Consolingly, God’s grace flows not only to those “who love [Him] and keep all [His] commandments,” but likewise to those “that [seek] so to do" (Neal A. Maxwell, “‘Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father’,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 22)

God knew that we would not be able to gain salvation by obedience to the law alone, and that is why Christ is not only the author of our faith, but the finisher of our faith as well. As King Benjamin taught,

“If ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land” (Mosiah 2:21-22)

Christ’s command “be ye therefore perfect” is not an unattainable request, but rather an invitation to accept the atonement. But the invitation implies some action and work on our part. While it is true that we are “Joint-Heirs with Christ”, Paul makes it clear that this is only the case “if is so be that we suffer with him”. (Romans 8:17)

Speaking of the price that we must pay as “Joint-heirs with Christ”, Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the Seventy said,

“Grace is not cheap. It is very expensive, even very dear. How much does this grace cost? Is it enough simply to believe in Christ? The man who found the pearl of great price gave “all that he had” for it. If we desire “all that [the] Father hath,” God asks all that we have. To qualify for such exquisite treasure, in whatever way is ours, we must give the way Christ gave—every drop He had: “How exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.”(The Atonement: All for All, Bruce C. Hafen, 2004)

Similarly, Elder Jeffery R. Holland acknowledged,

“Salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for him?” Continuing he said, “I believe [salvation] is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul. If he could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, "Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass," then little wonder that salvation is not a whimsical or easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn't an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn't an easier way" (Missionary Work and the Atonement) Jeffery R. Holland, 2001)

That is why Paul wrote, "let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” As we draw closer to The Savior and to our Father in Heaven, we will draw closer to the light; and as we become illuminated, so too will our weaknesses, But Christ has said,

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”(Ether 12:27)

For the indescribable glory that awaits those who inherit the Celestial Kingdom of God, it is comforting to know that it will be filled with,

“[those] who are just men [and women] made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the Shedding of his own blood”(D &C 76:69)

Through his perfect and exemplary obedience he is the author of our faith, and through his perfect atoning sacrifice he became the finisher of our faith. That we may run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Happy New Year

It is a new year, and all around us there will be opportunities to do good. My New Years resolution is to seek after these opportunities. Pray to your heavenly father for help in seeing those who need help in your life. Remember the words of Christ to love God and then to love your neighbor. See others like our Heavenly Father does...see their potential.

Some Thoughts on Faith

What Is Faith?

·         Faith is the assurance that the things we hope for actually do exist, without tangible evidence of those things.

·         Faith is requisite in order to please God.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”(Heb 11:6)

Joseph Smith posed the question,

“Why is it impossible to please God without faith? The answer would be – because without faith it is impossible for men to be saved; and as god desires the salvation of men, he must, of course, desire that they should have faith; and he could not be pleased unless they had, or else he could be pleased with their destruction.”(Lectures on Faith pg.65)

·         In the Lectures on Faith, Joseph Smith said that faith is-

o   The first principle in revealed religion and the moving cause of all action in intelligent beings.

“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (A of F #4)

It is worth noting in the 4^th Article of Faith that Faith comes first, followed by the actions of Repentance, Baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost.

Regarding faith being the first principle of the gospel, Alma taught the poorer class of Zoramites, who had been thrown out of the synagogues, that God desired, “in the first place, that [they] should believe, yea, even on his word”( Alma 32:22). In this masterful lesson delivered by Alma, he teaches that the words that should be believed in, are those which God “impartheth...by angels unto men” (Alma 32:23). Of course few knew this better than Alma himself. The Bible Dictionary declares it in this way, “faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith” (pg. 669).

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin has stated that,  

“Faith exists when absolute confidence in that which we cannot see combines with action that is in absolute conformity to the will of our Heavenly Father.” (Shall He Find Faith on the Earth?, Ensign, Nov 2002, 82)

It can be shown time and time again that true faith is indelibly tied to action. The ability to act on faith is less of a nicety as it is a divine right; “Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself” (2^nd Nephi 2:16). However, in man’s unwillingness to act on faith, man still acts, faithlessly.

Some might claim that exercising what they call “blind faith” and choosing to follow Gods commandments limits our freedom. In a 1997 conference talk titled “Finding Safety in Counsel”, President Henry B. Eyring stated the following,

“Looking for the path to safety in the counsel of prophets makes sense to those with strong faith. When a prophet speaks, those with little faith may think that they hear only a wise man giving good advice. Then if his counsel seems comfortable and reasonable, squaring with what they want to do, they take it. If it does not, they consider it either faulty advice or they see their circumstances as justifying their being an exception to the counsel. Those without faith may think that they hear only men seeking to exert influence for some selfish motive. They may mock and deride, as did a man named Korihor, with these words recorded in the Book of Mormon:

“And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires; and ye keep them down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut yourselves with the labors of their hands, that they durst not look up with boldness, and that they durst not enjoy their rights and privileges” (Alma 30:27).

Korihor was arguing, as men and women have falsely argued from the beginning of time, that to take counsel from the servants of God is to surrender God-given rights of independence. But the argument is false because it misrepresents reality. When we reject the counsel which comes from God, we do not choose to be independent of outside influence. We choose another influence. We reject the protection of a perfectly loving, all-powerful, all-knowing Father in Heaven, whose whole purpose, as that of His Beloved Son, is to give us eternal life, to give us all that He has, and to bring us home again in families to the arms of His love. In rejecting His counsel, we choose the influence of another power, whose purpose is to make us miserable and whose motive is hatred. We have moral agency as a gift of God. Rather than the right to choose to be free of influence, it is the inalienable right to submit ourselves to whichever of those powers we choose.”

So, Lehi’s words in 2^nd Nephi 2:27 become more clearly understood when viewed through the lens of faith,

“Wherefore men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”(2^nd Nephi 2:27)

Therefore, true faith leads us to choose the right based upon divine guidance given to us through the wise council of prophets, seers and revelators. And even they to whom the revelations of God come so readily must act in faith, as Joseph Smith once poignantly stated, “I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 160.) The scriptures are full of other examples showing faith based action.

It was first and foremost faith that

~        Caused Adam and Eve to offer up a sacrifice without first knowing why

~        Led the prophet Abraham to Mt. Moriah to give the life of his cherished son Isaac

~        Moved David to stand tall against the beastly figure of Goliath

~        Stirred Job to exclaim, even at the height of his suffering, “though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him”.

~        Motivated Lehi and his family to give heed to the commands of God that the Liahona could guide them to safety.

~        Enthused countless others in all ages of time to act in accordance with the commandments.

~        And lest we forget…it was first and foremost faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that brought “the morning stars [to sing] together”, in the premortal realm, and excited “all the sons of God [to shout] for joy”. (Job 38:7)

Peace

Hello, my name is Ben Cobb, and I've been invited by Tyler to write on this blog. I'm grateful that he has given me the opportunity to do so. Tyler and I spent some time together in India this past summer. During our time together, we had some great conversations and we learned a lot about each other. I hope we continue to spark great conversations through this blog.

There have been times in my life where peace is all around. Then, there are other times where its quite the opposite. Recently there have been some tumultuous things occur in my life, however, during this time I've been researching about peace, and I think that has changed my outlook on my surroundings. It has also allowed me to see spiritual and temporal peace as 2 distinct things.

What is the difference between spiritual and temporal peace?

In short, my spiritual peace is something I control 100%. My temporal peace, I like to pretend I can control, and a lot of things I can, but not all.

I define spiritual peace as peace of conscience, being in tune spiritually.

(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 4:3‎)‎

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

Spiritual peace is mine, no one can take that from me. The fruits of spiritual peace are: happiness, joy, calmness, charity, gratitude, and light. For me, it extends to the desire to do good, actively striving to be a better person, add value to other people's lives. It's being like my Savior, the Prince of Peace, bringing peace to others because He's at peace. No matter what's going on around me, I have the power to be at peace spiritually. It's a peace that is hard to describe, but every human being on this planet is searching for it, striving for it, it's something that is imprinted on our spirit from a time long forgotten. We know when it's missing, we know when we have to change to find it once again.

Temporal peace is having everything around me at peace. Family, finances, all my world in order. Things that occur to knock my temporal peace out of whack would be financial hardships, natural disasters, war, famine, pestilence. It is hard to control much of these, however, I can control the degree in which they affect me.

(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 10:1‎)‎

And it came to pass that we again began to establish the kingdom and we again began to possess the land in peace. And I caused that there should be weapons of war made of every kind, that thereby I might have weapons for my people against the time the Lamanites should come up again to war against my people.

During times of temporal peace, I must prepare for all types of temporal disasters that will occur. It's a matter of when they occur, not if they occur. I must shore up my chances of retaining as much temporal peace as possible during temporal upheaval. Saving money, food storage, eating healthy, exercising. When disaster hits, if I have not done all I could to prepare, my spiritual peace will suffer to a certain degree until I have repented. Meaning, as I strive to be a prince of peace, and I have not done all I could to prepare myself temporally, I have not kept all the commandments or principles necessary for the highest level of spiritual peace during a disaster. Now, the key is, done all I could. There are times, where disasters are so encompassing that there is nothing I could have done to prepare for it. However, during these times, if I'm at peace spiritually and I keep everything in perspective, it is bearable.

(Doctrine and Covenants 121:7‎)‎

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

Spiritual peace is what I want to strive for, to constantly have. Doing away with unbelief, and keeping the commandments I can maintain peace, always. When I'm at peace, I have no anxiety, my stomach is not tied up in knots, I am not nervous, I am focused, I am inspired and I strive for more and more peace. I always want to remember that as a son of God, I have a divine birthright, and I must feed my desire to constantly seek out greater happiness and peace and rest.

(Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 1:2‎)‎

And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.