Thursday, July 17, 2008

Penalty or Not

In the past, we've usually moved ourselves. This time, the move is being paid for. So movers are boxing up our belongings. They showed up a day later than we expected (my husband had misunderstood when they were to come), yet it all worked to our good. I'm so grateful.

But now, as I'm watching the boxers continue to pack our goods for the second day, I'm struggling with worry. Let me explain a bit of background first.

Being a Mormon, I believe the Lord uses prophets as His mouthpiece (see Amos 3:7) to bring us to Christ. And His prophets through the ages have taught reliance on the Lord and the importance of obedience.

Well, one thing we've been advised to have through these prophets is a year's supply of goods--sufficient to sustain a family for at least a year's time (here are some sample discourses on the subject). And it makes sense; simply look at the difficult economic times facing so many families today.

My family has hearkened to this counsel. Which brings me to my worry. A move's cost with a moving company is directly equal to the weight put on the truck. Do you know just how heavy a year's supply of wheat is? Rice? Flour? Beans? (not very savory food, but at least its food!)

And yet, get this quote!
Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994), Prophet and thirteenth President of the Church, said: “The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah” (“Prepare Ye,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 69).

The food storage worries me, though. It is so very heavy. It may seriously penalize us with the cost of the move. And yet, I can't leave it behind. The prophets have spoken. We are to have a food supply to sustain our families in case things get very bad.

Financial penalty or not, we will keep our food supply. Especially since the price of wheat has more than doubled in the past 12 months and rice and corn appear to be heading in that direction. Obedience and prudence instruct me that it is the wisest long-term thing to do.

Monday, July 14, 2008

What God Designs

I may be up all night getting ready for the movers to come tomorrow. But I read recently this quote and just had to post it.
There are many vessels that are destroyed after they have been molded and shaped. Why? Because they are not contented with the shape the potter has given them, but straightaway put themselves into a shape to please themselves; therefore they are beyond understanding what God designs, and they destroy themselves by the power of their own agency. [These people] have to go through a great many modellings and shapes, then... have to be glazed and burned; and even in the burning, some vessels crack (attributed to Heber C. Kimball).

I know that when I found my 11-week-old baby deceased in his crib, I definitely didn't like the "mold" the Potter had created for my life. But I'm learning that the Lord can be trusted in all things; and one day, His reasoning will be sure and clearly understood.

The next week or two we'll be on the road. I'll post as I can, but until next time have a blessed day!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Sustaining the Lord's Prophets

I'm going through the arduous motions of prepping to move. This means cleaning out all drawers, snagging the dust bunnies under the beds, and sorting through boxes I've shoved aside all too long. Today I came across this quote...and it caused me to forget my aching back (at least, for a moment).
President Harold B. Lee warned:

"The only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, 'as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; ... as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.' (D&C 21:4-5).

"There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life..."
I'm going to stop the quote right here and exclaim how much these words from this prophet sound as if they were given this very week! But they weren't. They were spoken nearly 40 years ago in 1970. President Harold B. Lee died a long time ago, yet his words remain as clearly focused and urgent for our day as for his.

I had heard that some members of the Church had planned on walking out of Sacrament meeting a few weeks back when the First Presidency letter was read regarding supporting traditional marriage. Thus, when I came across this quote today I thought how each day we make choices whether to abide with the prophet or not. If we do, in patience and faith, the Lord watches and takes note. It particularly takes patience and faith when the prophet's counsel feels to go against what we thought to be correct. This is where faith in God and His oracles is proven to be in existence or not. I'm not perfect in this, THAT's for sure, but I'm trying every chance I get to get better.

The times we are in are not surprising in some ways. For nearly 2000 years, the Christian world has had (generally speaking) the Lord's words contained in the Bible, where we're told that in the final times before Christ comes there will be much confusion. It is for this purpose the Lord specifically speaks through His prophets, so that in the midst of the cacophony of opinions, we can know God's perspective on the things that matter.

When all is said and done, no matter how painful, I believe Amos 3:7.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

God's Compassion Continues

There are two forces at work in our world. Those two forces can be seen in many venues. Light vs dark, health vs sickness, joy vs sorrow, and the list goes on. These contrary forces can be summed up with one word: opposition.

The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi spoke of the law of opposition and science is now discovering it in our world--beyond that of the early discovery of gravity. A few years back I remember reading of new findings by scientists of an unknown dark force encountered. They couldn't define it, but they noted it and had begun studies of it.

I'm not sure why these things fascinate me so (studies of physics and of our world), but they do. And so it is with interest that I notice scripture that buttresses these discoveries...such as the statement by the prophet Lehi about the law of opposition:
2 Ne. 2: 11, 15
11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
• • •
15 And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.

And during all this opposition, God's compassion continues. He understands the process we face as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We're not alone in this journey. No, not at all. His Son stands ever ready, hand outstretched.

This is why this morning, I was struck with Christ's compassion as He taught His disciples about the situation in the world prior to His coming. What love to give the warnings that He did. He knew full well of the vicious battle that would be fought (and continues even now) to destroy God's greatest love--His children. Christ's teachings are contained throughout the scriptures, but Matthew 24 is particularly instructive.

I took some time this morning to note some general "plot points" of the story that will unfold for earth's inhabitants in the generation that will greet the Christ. Here are some of them, but you might want to do your own research. You might find more in Matthew 24:5-7.
  • false christs
  • wars
  • natural disasters
Then an interesting verse comes after that short list. In Matthew 24:8, these words:
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Just the beginning! Tomorrow I'll continue my study of Matthew 24; there is so much more. But from even these short words, Christ's love is apparent. In other words, the infinitely kind Savior of the world is instructing all those who seek Him to know that the events prior to His coming will be intense.

Are we ready? Am I ready? I don't know. But I do know that I love the power of the scriptures to help my soul morph into more of a true disciple. I love the Savior. I'm grateful for His love and His grace, that He would extend it towards me, such an unworthy creature. My life be one small one, but even me He has redeemed and I will sing His praises forever.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

A Compassionate God

In preparing to study The Book of Mormon yet once again from the beginning, I opened my scriptures and found this cross reference that I'd inked in at some prior time:
2 Chronicles 36:15-16: "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place;

"But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy."

What struck me in this scripture was the reference to the compassion and patience of God. These were people who were worshipping idols, in spite of being God's covenant and chosen ones. Some of them were even participating in INFANT SACRIFICE! Israelites, murdering children, all in the name of worshipping some pagan god! How far they had fallen.

Things don't happen overnight, that's for sure--at least not on this level.

For me, what I'm reminded of is not to judge and instead to focus on myself. Where am I falling short? The first thing that comes to mind is eating veggies.

Don't laugh. It may seem small, yet it is so big. Science is proving more and more that people who eat whole foods are healthier...exactly what Joseph Smith the prophet taught in D&C 89 (more than 150 years before current science caught up). I'm still working on learning to love veggies, but I am trying. I actually ate my peas today! :0)

Another category I struggle with is going to bed early. Again, something revealed through the prophet Joseph Smith more than 150 years ago (see D&C 88:124) that science is just now showing. For example, did you know that studies released this past year showed that women who slept less than 7 hours a night consistently gained 16% of their body weight back again? No wonder I keep putting on pounds! And 6th graders who had one less hour of sleep a night (compared to healthy levels), in just 3 days time the 6th graders loss mental processing capacity...down to the 4th grade level!

This is why I love what the prophet Joseph Smith did for so many. He was called, just like Moses, Isaiah, and so many other prophets, to share God's word, to establish God's church, and to bring to light The Book of Mormon. And just like stated above (from the Bible in 2 Chronicles 36:15-16), there are many who mock "the messengers of God." Well, I will not be one who mocks Joseph Smith and what he has done. I'm grateful for his efforts. He died for those efforts.

It is one of the many reasons I've decided to embark on yet once again another journey through The Book of Mormon.

(For more information on prophets being called, here are a few sample selections from the scriptures: Ezekiel 1:1-3, 26-28; 2; Revelation 10:1-2, 8-11; Joseph Smith--History 1:15-35).)

To finish off, these sad words below seem to tell the tale of much of what God's prophets encounter amongst His children:
"Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.

"But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods" (Jeremiah 44:4-6).

Monday, July 7, 2008

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated:
“I am grateful for emphasis on reading the scriptures. I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that, rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted. At first it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thoughts and words of things divine” (“The Light within You,” Ensign, May 1995, 99).

I know that if I've let a period of time go where I've not daily read my scriptures, when I DO sit down to read them, it does feel more a duty than anything else. But if I push through and consistently, deliberately set aside a certain amount of time for daily study, I soon experience an energy or renewal from my scriptures. They truly do begin to feel like "living water" that refreshes my soul.

When my firstborn was just weeks old, his growth took off. As a result, it felt like he was needing to nurse all the time. I began to feel skitchy cabin-fever with all that nursing, just sitting and waiting for him to finish.

One day the thought struck me: read your Book of Mormon. Within one month, I'd read the entire Book of Mormon. And at the end of that month, I was so on fire from the benefit of scripture study, I wanted to shout it out loud to the whole world!

I know from personal experience what President Hinckley states above. Scripture study really can become a love affair with the word of God. Join me? Let me know if you're interested in logging daily study amounts together!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

When the Tsunami hit...

I came across these words. I'm not sure of the source, but their content and message is profound:
When the Tsunami hit, it was the same thing, people poured out time and financial resources taking care of their fellow men.

When we focus on Christ during times of trials, we appreciate His suffering. We can have a clearer understanding of His love for us.

During my mom's battle with cancer we hung up this poster: ADVERSITY CAN MAKE YOU STRONGER.

We used to joke about how God doesn't give you more than you can handle. Being nine months pregnant with my second son, buying our home, dealing with despair can make you doubt, question everything...

Remember, throughout the scriptures there is a line of men and women who always seemed to keep their focus on Christ.

Remember: Heavenly Father isn't putting you through this, but bringing you through this.

These words spoke volumes to me today when I can across them. I'm grateful for the author, although I don't know who she is. And this is why I've decided to start my Book of Mormon Mama blog: I hope to provide comfort and encouragement for those who have been disallusioned and disappointed in life. Remember, Heavenly Father isn't putting you through this, but bringing you through.

The Book of Mormon provides this kind of hope and comfort for the disconsolate. Join me as I daily read in its pages and discover its serene message of hope and comfort in Jesus Christ.