Tabernacle as a Defense

I was reading 2 Nephi 14:5-6. It seems clear that where Zion is, there will also be a tabernacle or temple to act as a shield and defense from the heat, storm, and rain. 2 Nephi 14:4 speaks of the cleansing that will take place in the church and then right after it speaks of the temple. So how do we keep ourselves from falling into the traps of worldliness, we go to the temple and then leave to keep the covenants we make therein. Obedience, sacrifice, and consecration that we might have humble hearts. These acts keep us humble, prayerful, continually looking for ways to build up Zion and her people. If we are consecrating all that we have and are to the building of the kingdom, then there is not time to wallow in the mire. Everything we do can be consecrated for the welfare of Zion.

Speak the Truth in Love

I have been wondering about teaching all the doctrines and principles of the kingdom that have been revealed to me. For example, having children in the Lord's way. I assigned the talk to a sister in the ward and she gave it today. She quoted Elder Anderson a lot and it was great. I felt very pleased w/ the way she gave his talk.

I came across 1 Nephi 6:5, "Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world." I believe coupling this w/ Ephesians 4:15 teaches a lot about revealing the words of the prophets to others:

15 But speaking the ^atruth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the ^bhead, even Christ:

We are under obligation in our stewardships to teach the truth in love. I believe timing is important in speaking the truth in love, but we ought not to fear speaking the truth out of rejection of the people, for, how would Alma have heard Abinadi if he decided the people weren't ready for his words.

I'm grateful for the words of the prophets. I'm grateful for revelation. I'm grateful for those that have not feared the people and taught me the truth.

Traditions of our Fathers

I am reading Helaman 15:1-8. I am intrigued with the message in the Book of Mormon about the traditions of the fathers bringing so many down into sin. I am thinking and asking myself what are the traditions I do because that is the way I was raised and are those traditions in agreement with the laws and principles of the gospel? I really like D&C 93:39. If we are serious about discipleship then we will take a look inward and outward and see what traditions are not drawing us closer to Christ.

I have a lot of traditions that I have that I have developed over the years. Not all are drawing me nearer to God and I seek for the humility and patience to change, to fully repent. I am grateful for my Lord, Jesus Christ, who allows me to change. Helaman 15:7 reminds me that as I change these traditions and replace them with righteousness, my heart will change.

Two Thoughts from Lehi's Dream

1. The first thought goes along with Elder Bednar's comments about those "clinging" (1 Nephi 8:24) versus those "continually holding fast" (1 Nephi 8:30) to the rod of iron. Those who cling in random spurts don't remain true and happy. Those who continue in the faith, constant and sure, do remain happy and in the cause of truth continually.

There is another group too. These are those that "commenced in the path" but never grabbed hold of the iron rod. They eventually wander off in the mists of darkness. Sometimes it is easy to go through the motions w/o really grabbing hold of the words of the prophets and following their counsel. We may be doing what many saints do but without feeling or purpose. This may be described as living the letter without living the Spirit of the laws and principles of the gospel.

2. Second thought. It is interesting in 1 Nephi 11:35, the group that is fighting against the 12 apostles of the Lamb is the house of Israel. That is very interesting. I believe that pertains to many that are looking for truth and many that are members of the church that because of their lack of faith and commitment to the gospel actually drag others down with them. The house of Israel is only on the Lord's side if they keep His great commandments and "live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God" (D&C 84:44).

Hard Hearts, Symptom and Curses

Symptoms and Curses of a Hard Heart:

1. His word taken away (Hel. 13:8).

2. He will withdraw his Spirit from them (Hel. 13:8).

3. He will suffer them no longer and turn the hearts of their brethren against them (Hel. 13:8).

a. Be careful with this one. Job and Joseph Smith had horrible things happen to them where others said they were being cursed by God.

4. He will visit them w/ sword, famine, and pestilence (Hel. 13:9).

5. Those of the fourth generation shall visit your destruction (Hel. 13:10).

a. It is interesting that when the parents or a youth decide not to live the gospel because they harden their heart, then the spouse and children suffer too. Eventually the fourth generation is completely destroyed. In our day the second generation is completely cut off from the word and the ordinances of the gospel and are completely lost. The fourth generation degenerates into complete corruption and eventual destruction.

b. If we repent, the curse is taken from us (Hel. 13:11). This would be a child that sees the errors of the traditions of his/her fathers and turns to the Lord. The curse is then lifted and the repentant person receives all the blessings that have been taken away (Hel. 13:11).

6. Treasures hidden in the earth shall be lost (Hel. 13:18).

a. Notice that in this same verse, if a righteous man hides up treasures to the Lord, he will not lose them (Hel. 13:18).

b. I would assume that those that save up for retirement to use their funds to serve the Lord, then the Lord will bless them in these endeavors. Those that seek to spend their retirement in the luxuries and riches of the world may find their treasures are becoming slippery.

7. Others will mock those that are giving counsel from Heavenly Father (1 Nephi 1:19).

Rough Stones Being Made Smooth

The ability to forgive, have a soft heart and receive counsel, and humility to implement the counsel.

We are all in this together

The head need not say to the feet he hath no need of thee. 1 Cor. 12:13-31

Communication w/ our boss, wife, priesthood leaders, those we lead.

We are both the chiseler and the one being chiseled.

Imagine yourself as a living house quote“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Joseph Smith Quotes I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against religious bigotry, priest-craft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men and women—all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty. History of the Church, 5:401.

Joseph Smith wrote the following from Liberty Jail after receiving letters from his loved ones: "We need not say to you that the floodgates of our hearts were lifted and our eyes were a fountain of tears, but those who have not been enclosed in the walls of prison without cause or provocation, can have but little idea how sweet the voice of a friend is; one token of friendship from any source whatever awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling . . . until finally all enmity, malice and hatred, and past differences, misunderstandings and mismanagements are slain victorious at the feet of hope; and when the heart is sufficiently contrite, then the voice of inspiration steals along and whispers, 'My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.'"History of the Church, 3:293; the last portion of this paragraph was later canonized in D&C 121:7–8.

1 Nephi 3:4-8

4 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brothers should go unto the house of Laban, and seek the records, and bring them down hither into the wilderness.

5 And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord.

6 Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast ^anot ^bmurmured.

7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

8 And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord.

John 3:19-21. People loved darkness more than light.

Ether 12:27

Moses 5:18, 23, 25-26 “And Cain loved Satan more than God…he rejected the greater counsel which was had from God…And Cain was wroth, and listened not any more to the voice of the Lord.”

How do we have a soft heart, willing to receive counsel? Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26

Alma 32:27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than ^adesire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Elder Christofferson said, "First, the invitation to repent is an expression of love. When the Savior “began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), it was a message of love, inviting all who would to qualify to join Him “and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life [itself] in the world to come” (Moses 6:59). If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another and to ourselves. A permissive parent, an indulgent friend, a fearful Church leader are in reality more concerned about themselves than the welfare and happiness of those they could help. Yes, the call to repentance is at times regarded as intolerant or offensive and may even be resented, but guided by the Spirit, it is in reality an act of genuine caring (see D&C 121:43–44). (2011 October General Conference, The Divine Gift of Repentance, Sat. Afternoon Session - D. Todd Christofferson)

Why did Pres. Packer say the days of ease and prosperity are over? Is this good or bad?

Pres. Packer said, "Your generation is filled with uncertainties. A life of fun and games and expensive toys has come to an abrupt end. We move from a generation of ease and entertainment to a generation of hard work and responsibility. We do not know how long that will last.

The reality of life is now part of your priesthood responsibilities. It will not hurt you to want something and not have it. There is a maturing and disciplining that will be good for you. It will ensure that you can have a happy life and raise a happy family. These trials come with responsibility in the priesthood.

Some of you live in countries where most of what you eat and some of what you wear will depend on what can be produced by the family. It may be that what you can contribute will make the difference so that the rent is paid or the family is fed and housed. Learn to work and to support" ( April 2009 Addresses, Counsel to Young Men, President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles).

Hel. 12:1-6, 1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and ^aprosper those who put their ^btrust in him.

2 Yea, and we may see at the very ^atime when he doth ^bprosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of ^cprecious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do ^dharden their hearts, and do ^eforget the Lord their God, and do ^ftrample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth ^achasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with ^bdeath and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not ^cremember him.

4 O how ^afoolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how ^bquick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their ^chearts upon the vain things of the world!

5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in ^apride; yea, how quick to ^bboast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to ^cwalk in wisdom’s paths!

6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath ^acreated them, should ^brule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at ^cnaught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.

2 Nephi 28*

Alma 12:9-11*

Hel. 12:6 Many do not desire that He should rule over us.

How does He help our desires? Hel. 12:3, DyC 88:89-90

We can change our desires by ourselves or through the things we suffer and experimenting upon the word, Alma 32:27-

Alma 48:1, Amalickiah inspiring the hearts of his people to fight against the Nephites through their towers.

Alma 48:3 ...this hardened their hearts, blinded their minds, and stirred them up to anger.

To contrast Amalickiah, Cpt Moroni was fortifying the Nephite's weakest fortifications. That is a key to a soft heart, always repenting. If not, we're persuaded by the towers of worldly influence.

“The most important of all the commandments of God is that one that you are having the most difficulty keeping today” “Chapter 4: The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel,”Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, 27.

Keys to Leadership

Helaman 10:4 mentions some key things to think about for leadership:

1. with unwearyingness declaring the word

2. not fearing the people

3. not seeking thy own life

4. seeking will of God

5. keeping the commandments

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said a great statement in his last general conference (October 2011) address:

If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another and to ourselves. A permissive parent, an indulgent friend, a fearful Church leader are in reality more concerned about themselves than the welfare and happiness of those they could help. Yes, the call to repentance is at times regarded as intolerant or offensive and may even be resented, but guided by the Spirit, it is in reality an act of genuine caring (see D&C 121:43-44).