Ether 6

What is going on in our world today? Why all the divisiveness, anger, incivility, decadence?

What happened to common decency?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It used to be possible to think that hate-filled behavior was an isolated occurrence, common to a particular nation-state or time and to specific politicians, oligarchs or social classes.

However, as a result of public media, social networks, and smart phones, it is now obvious that people everywhere are susceptible to hate. The cruelty and bigotry in the egos of human beings and its violent and fanatic expression is evident and suffered globally.

 

 

 

 

Whom do we trust – political leaders, church leaders, coaches, teachers, parents?

 

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

John 2:23-25

 

Ether 6 :4 in the Book of Mormon says:

 4 And it came to pass that when they had prepared all manner of food, that thereby they might subsist upon the water, and also food for their flocks and herds, and whatsoever beast or animal or fowl that they should carry with them—and it came to pass that when they had done all these things they got aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.

The word commend means to entrust their care to. So, in other words, the Jaredites entrusted their care to God. By commending themselves to the Lord, they demonstrated their faith that He could and would deliver them. “The wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters” (Ether 6:8).

 

There are many examples of when people have not trusted God such as  Nephi’s brothers as they crossed the sea with their family. When Laman and Lemuel bound Nephi, the family’s compass, the Liahona, ceased to work and their boat was “driven back upon the waters for the space of four days” (1 Nephi 18:15).

 

Both the Jaredites and Lehi’s family sought to commend themselves to the Lord’s care; however, some members of Lehi’s family were disobedient. The contrast between these two accounts shows that we must exercise faith and keep the commandments to receive all the blessings the Lord would give us through His care.

 

Elder W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy said, “ In the eyes and hearts of many people in the world today, there is evidence of doubt, fear, and hopelessness. Much of the insecurity in the world has filtered into our homes and personal lives. No matter what our age or circumstance, we all have a need to know that we have power in the present and hope in the future.

Every one of us needs to know that we can go on in the strength of the Lord. We can put our hand in His, and we will feel His sustaining presence lift us to heights unattainable alone.

We must trust in the Lord. If we give ourselves freely to Him, our burdens will be lifted and our hearts will be consoled.”  (“The Lord Thy God Will Hold Thy Hand” Ensign, November 2003).

 

Listen to the words of Mormon: “Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power?” (Morm. 5:23).

 

 

Elder Richard G. Scott counseled: “Trust in God … no matter how challenging the circumstance. … Your peace of mind, your assurance of answers to vexing problems, your ultimate joy depend upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ” (“The Sustaining Power of Faith in Times of Uncertainty and Testing,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2003, 76, 78).

The only one we are called to “entrust” ourselves to is God, and all other trust relationships should only be through that filter.

3 Nephi 27

Here is a question that people throughout all time have asked themselves – “What kind of person should I be?” I struggled with this question, especially during my teenage years – kind of like the question “what am I going to be when I grow up?” only much deeper.

 

There are those that don’t care who or what they are in this life. They don’t care what others think.  They live day to day and whatever happens, happens.

 

And then there are those who define what they expect others to be in their judgements of them. They seem to know exactly how everyone else should be. Something else I have struggled with – judging others.

 

The Savior posed the question in a far more profound way, making it a vital doctrinal question for each of us: “What manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27)

 

There are many things we need to do. But we also need to be.

 

Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy in his talk “What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye To Be?”, says, "be and do are inseparable". If we aren't both being and doing, then we're hypocrites. To give very simple examples, I can go to church every Sunday (do) but if I don't believe in the gospel then what's the point- there's no be. Or, maybe I believe in my heart the truth of the gospel (be) but if I never act on it by going to church, I'm not doing. Those are over-simplified examples, but you get the point.

 

Elder Robbins said “To become as He is, we must also do the things He did: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do” (3 Nephi 27:21).

 

To be and to do are inseparable. As interdependent doctrines they reinforce and promote each other. Faith inspires one to pray, for example, and prayer in turn strengthens one’s faith.

The Savior often denounced those who did without being—calling them hypocrites: “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6). To do without to be is hypocrisy, or feigning to be what one is not—a pretender.”

 

Ezra Taft Benson taught “To be like the Savior—what a challenge for any person! He is a member of the Godhead. He is the Savior and Redeemer. He was perfect in every aspect of His life. There was no flaw nor failing in Him. Is it possible for us … to be even as He is? The answer is yes. Not only can we, but that is our charge, our responsibility. He would not give us that commandment if He did not mean for us to do it”

 

 

I love this quote from Zig Ziglar:

You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness. Zig Ziglar

 

 

This world is filled with people who think they know best. Everyone has their opinions and they have opinions about everything!

 

Focus on what is important and don't be distracted by what may be in the winds of public opinion. Focus is so essential in achieving our goals. Too many of us are concerned about what’s on the right and what’s on the left, and we fail to adequately focus on what we should that is right down the middle. When we fail to focus on the right things, it is difficult to become the manner of men and women that we desperately want and need to be!

 

 

3 Nephi 11

General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives us an opportunity to learn from living prophets, listen to the Spirit, and receive answers to personal questions. We are so blessed to be able to watch General Conference from the comfort of our homes. I know most members of the church are glued to their TV’s as each speaker comes to the podium to fill us with inspired knowledge about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The first General Conference of the current Latter-day Church was held on June 1, 1830 — a little less than two months after the church was organized — in the same Peter Whitmer Sr. home in Fayette, N.Y., in which the organization took place. Records indicate 27 church members were present for the conference, along with 30-40 others who were interested in the proceedings.

 

While the primary purpose of those earliest conferences was to conduct business, the church-owned Times & Seasons newspaper reported that “much exhortation was given, and the Holy Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner.”

“Many of our number prophesied, whilst others had the heavens opened to their view, and were so overcome that we had to lay them on beds, or other convenient places,” the report indicated. “The goodness and condescension of a merciful God, unto such as obey the everlasting gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, combined to create within us sensations of rapturous gratitude, and inspire us with fresh zeal and energy, in the cause of truth.”

 

Haven’t we heard these messages before?

They all sound the same. Why is it necessary for us to be taught the same things over and over again? Can’t we just get it?

 

Elder Bednar has said “Repetition is a vehicle through which the Holy Ghost can enlighten our minds, influence our hearts, and enlarge our understanding.”

 

Knowing that we need to learn principles line upon line, precept upon precept, the Lord repeats many concepts so that we do not miss them.

Heber J Grant taught “Like the frequent singing of our songs … , we can never repeat too often the commandments of the Lord to this people, and urge upon the Saints to live up to them”.

“Very many times people have said to me, “I am sick and tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. There is no need of repeating.” Many men find fault with the sermons they hear because there are repetitions in them. … It seems that the Lord recognizes the necessity of repetition in impressing upon the minds of the people any message that he has to give. Our Savior, in his teaching, would repeat, time and time again, in different language the same idea, apparently to fasten it irrevocably upon the minds and hearts of his hearers. ^“

 

"Prophets have always taught by repetition; it is a law of learning. You will hear repetition in themes and doctrines in general conference. Let me reassure you: this is not due to a lack of creativity or imagination. " -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Isn’t it wonderful that we can gain the added benefit of repetition? Even the Savior taught the same doctrines multiple times to reinforce concepts. Consider how often He teaches us through the scriptures to believe and be baptized.

 

 

Imagine being present at what might be considered to be the first General Conference  when Jesus Christ visited the American continent after his resurrection. For 600 years, Nephite and Lamanite prophets had talked, written, and prophesied of the coming of Jesus Christ. They knew that He would not come to them during His mortal life, but that He would appear to the children of Lehi after His Resurrection. Believers put their whole faith and hope in Him and His saving mission.

3 Nephi 11 is the glorious fulfillment of those prophecies. Ponder what it must have been like for those who were present when the Savior appeared. Consider carefully what Jesus chose to say and do in the short time He spent with them and what that teaches us about what He considered essential.

 He taught things we are all familiar with:

3 Ne 11:10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world

3 Ne 11:11 I am the light and the life of the world...I have suffered the will of the Father in all things

3 Ne 11:15 did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and his feet...one by one until they had all gone forth

3 Ne 11:19 Nephi...bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet

3 Ne 11:21 I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people

3 Ne 11:25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you...

3 Ne 11:26 then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water

3 Ne 11:28 there shall be no disputations among you

3 Ne 11:30 this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away

3 Ne 11:32 the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me

3 Ne 11:33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved

3 Ne 11:35 this is my doctrine

3 Ne 11:40 whoso shall declare more or less than this...the same cometh of evil

General Conference Today is Meant To Guide Us In Our Lives Today

Our marching orders for each six months are found in the general conference addresses. As you thoughtfully listen to and study addresses by living prophets, you can learn the will of the Lord for you at this time. Prayerfully determine how you can use these skills to increase your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the messages He inspires His appointed leaders to give us.

“Nephi teaches us, ‘When a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth [the message] unto the hearts of the children of men’ (2 Nephi 33:10).

An answer given by another person usually is not remembered for very long, if remembered at all. But an answer we discover or obtain through the exercise of faith, typically, is retained for a lifetime.

Helaman 12

PRIDE- A lack or absence of humility or teachableness. Pride sets people in opposition to each other and to God. A proud person sets himself above those around him and follows his own will rather than God’s will. Conceit, envy, hardheartedness, and haughtiness are also typical of a proud person.

Historically, the abundance with which the Lord has blessed his people has proved to be one of their greatest tests. The cycles of their acquiring worldly wealth and their subsequent spiritual decline are well documented in scriptural and historical records.

In Helaman 12 Mormon emphasized the foolishness of those who set their hearts upon the vain or worthless, empty, and valueless things of the world.

 

2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea… then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

 4 O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick 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 hearts upon the vain things of the world!

 

 

The scriptures are full of warnings about Pride;

 

• Beware that thou forget not the Lord lest thine heart be lifted up:Deut. 8:11–14;
• Pride and arrogancy do I hate:Prov. 8:13; ( Prov. 6:16–17; )
• Pride goeth before destruction:Prov. 16:18;
• God resisteth the proud:1 Pet. 5:5;
• The pride of this nation hath proven their destruction:Moro. 8:27;
• All the proud shall be stubble:Mal. 4:1

 

 

 

The central feature of pride is enmity toward God and our fellowmen.

Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance.

Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing.

The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.

Pride is one of Satan's greatest tools. He can use it to change any virtue into a vice.

The pride cycle seems to be attached to an "agency cycle." The Lord blesses us, teaches us, and then has to withdraw to let us choose. It's when we falter that the pride cycle begins.

 

Elder Joe J. Christensen of the Seventy taught “In the scriptures there are many indications that pride has risen to destroy individuals, nations, and in some cases even the Church itself. . . .“It has been calculated that no fewer than thirty times throughout the Book of Mormon the cycles of prosperity and peace were destroyed, principally by the effects of human pride”

We also see this same pattern of pride, hardness of heart, and rejection of the truth in the face of prosperity. Indeed, the Book of Mormon is a record of an entire people greatly favored of the Lord who succumbed to the temptations of pride, rejected the Lord, and were destroyed.

The Book of Mormon was written for us. It bears witness of Jesus Christ and warns us of the perils of pride, both in prosperity and in adversity.

 

 

Pride is the Universal sin, the great vice. The antidote for pride is humility. Ezra Taft Benson

 

Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right. Ezra Taft Benson

 

I have read dozens of talks that speak of the cycle of pride and the difficulty in breaking it.

Being stripped of pride and becoming meek and lowly in heart is not easy. We cannot do it by ourselves. But there are patterns of life we can establish that will help us beware of pride, remember Christ, humble ourselves before Him, and put ourselves in His hands.

 

Here are but a few:

 

·        We should compare ourselves to Christ instead of others. How do I measure up to the Savior?

·         Christ-like service: trying to become like him, praying for charity, and then doing what he would have us do.

·         Loving others, building them up, and helping bear their burdens

·         Repentance can lead to humility.

·         We always need to remember the Lord and acknowledge His blessings.

·         We must continually pray for charity.

·         We must receive the Savior's image in our countenances.