"Be Ye Doers of the Word and Not Hearers Only"

In James' general epistle to the Twelve Tribes of Israel he calls men to rejoice in temptation, look to God for direction and be doers of his word.

The fifth verse of the first chapter is a call to all those who are seeking answers, Paul entreats, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him". I love the simplicity in the invitation, just "ask of God". In the church we all know the story of a fourteen year old boy who took this verse to heart and upon entering a quiet grove of trees he asked the Lord for wisdom. If we can all follow the humble example of Joseph Smith and kneel in prayer to our Heavenly Father and ask for his direction he truly will answer our prayers. I have a testimony of this and I know that the Lord hears each of our prayers, and all though we may not be blessed with visions or prophecies or even a direct answer right away, he will answer our prayers. He cares deeply for each of us, he knows us and knows what we need in our life in order for us to become all he wants us to be.

In the Institute Manual the commentary on verse five in a statement from Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985). He states,

" . .. this single verse of scripture has had a greater impact
and a more far reaching effect upon mankind than any
other single sentence ever recorded by any prophet in any
age. It might well be said that the crowning act of the
ministry of James was not his martyrdom for the testimony
of Jesus, but his recitation, as guided by the Holy Ghost, of
these simple words which led to the opening of the heavens
in modern times.
"And it might well be added that every investigator of revealed
truth stands, at some time in the course of his
search, in the place where Joseph Smith stood. He must
turn to the Almighty and gain wisdom from God by revelation
if he is to gain a place on that strait and narrow path
which leads to eternal life." (McConkie, DNTC, 3:246-47.) "

James further defines what it means to "ask in faith" in the following verse when he says, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed". In this verse he teaches the importance of asking with pure intent and with faith that the Lord truly hears and answers prayers; if we doubt the Lord's goodness or even his existence then how can we expect him to provide us with the answers we seek. For me these lines of scripture also remind me that much of the Lord's work is done on the earth by our fellowmen and if we are looking for answers to prayers only coming directly from God we can miss those people he has placed in our path that could help us find our own answer. In verse eight James warns the people against the dangers of being "double minded" or torn between two masters. Matthew 6:24 and 1 Kings 18:21 share the same message. The footnotes for this verse send us to the Topical Guide under integrity and integrity is honesty, righteousness and sincerity in our belief. We must be fully committed to serving our Lord and not be distracted, or be "double minded" in also worshiping those things of the world that will grant us nothing in the eternities. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done so much for each of us. They have sacrificed son and life so that we may return to live with them again. They deserve our true and dedicated devotion in all things.

Later in the chapter James lists numerous things that all saints should do in order to fully live the gospel of Christ. First he teaches that God does not tempt men, temptation comes from the devil and from giving in to the "natural mans" lusts,  and he calls for all men not to err. Next he asks for all men to be "swift to hear and slow to speak, slow to anger", to put away "all filthiness" and be humble in all things (1:19-21). He calls for us to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving [our] own selves" (1:22). Finally he teaches that "pure religion is "undefiled before God and the Father" and that it is to "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep [ourselves] unspotted from the world"( 1:27). Verse twenty-two and twenty-seven especially are calls for us to be servants who can do the Lords work on the earth for him. We should be humble and submissive in all things we do that our days may be full of service for those less fortunate than ourselves. The footnotes for twenty-seven list the divine attributes of charity, benevolence, good works and welfare. A modern day example of people seeking to help those in need is the church's Helping Hands humanitarian service. These members actively seek to bring relief to those in need and by doing so are truly living their religion. In all the pain that follows devastating natural disasters I always take comfort int he fact that our Latter-Day Saint volunteers are often the first on the scene to help provide humanitarian efforts.

Below I've attached a link to the LDS Newsroom on Helping Hands.
 http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/helping-hands

Works of Righteousness

Paul concludes his epistle to the Hebrews with some brief teachings and statements of counsel. In his counsel he states several principles that can easily be applied to our everyday life. 

Paul counsel us to treat those in bonds of iniquity and adversity with kindness and compassion. 

He shares that marriage is honorable and immorality is an abomination to the Lord. 

We should be content with the things that we have and not covet after those things we cannot have. We are blessed to always have the Lord with us and therefore do not need worldly things. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

All mankind is saved and sanctified through the blood of Christ.

Paul counsels us to submit ourselves and obey those who rule over us and finally he asks the people to pray for him and the apostles of Christ. 

Jesus is Greater Than Angels

Christ is greater than the angel's. He is the Son of God and angels are servants of the Lord and Son. He is also greater than Moses. While Moses was a faithful servant of the Lord and his people, freeing them from Egyptian rule and guiding them through the wilderness Christ is the faithful Son and therefore higher than Moses.

In the first chapter of Hebrews Paul teaches multiple truths about Christs mission here on earth. He teaches that Christ is the Son of God, that he is made in the Fathers image and that Christ created all things under the direction of his Father.

Jesus Christ was sent to this earth to make the single most powerful act of sacrifice for mankind. He came here to take upon himself the sins and pains and sicknesses of everyone who has ever lived in order for us to have the chance to repent of our sins and gain eternal life. He gave the gift of power over death. that we might all live again. 

Finding Solutions in the Scriptures to Live's Challenges

This week’s assignment was to look in the scriptures to find answers to problems that arise in many members’ lives in these modern times. It is fascinating to me how many answers there are in the scriptures, that a book written so many years ago is still applicable to each of us daily. 2 Nephi 32:3 says, “Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do”. This scripture plainly demonstrates how important it is for us to take those things we learn from scripture study to direct our actions.

The assignment mentioned the habit many people have of arguing and complaining at church meetings, and throughout the week, about things that happen at church, but Philippians mentions that the saints should be on in mind, of the same accord and of one love. We should never esteem ourselves above another and realize that we are all only human.  We should conduct ourselves with humility and patience. The scriptures also share that we should “conduct ourselves blameless” that we will not be held accountable for those things done out of strife.

The second instance mentioned is the mindset many young people have that they do not need to work to gain their own testimony, that they can piggy-back off their parents testimony. However, in the scriptures we can learn that each individual has the responsibility to actively seek out, for ourselves, our own testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel. It is up to us to seek for our own salvation. The Institute Manual states, “To work out one's salvation is not to sit idly by dreaming and yearning for God miraculously to thrust bounteous blessings into our laps. It is to perform daily, hourly, momentarily, if necessary, the immediate task or duty at hand, and to continue happily in such performance as the years come and go, leaving the fruits of such labors either for self or for others to be bestowed as a just and beneficent Father may determine." (David O. McKay in CR, Apr. 1957, p.7).

The third and final instance mentioned in the assignment is the dilemma many new converts encounter, the position they are placed in when family members and friends threates not to associate with those who are baptized into the church. Though extremely difficult, the scriptures encourage us to accept the light of Christ fully into our lives. If we lose the companionship of friends and loved ones, but gaining the knowledge of Christ and receiving the blessing of the gospel is worth much more than the association of people who would bring us down. If we trust our lives to the Lord he will guide and protect us and bless us for all of our sacrifices.

Colossians 1-4: Becoming New Creatures in Christ

In Colossians 1:13-27 Paul lists several names for Jesus.

                Verse 13: Son

                Verse 15: God, Firstborn

                Verse 16: Creator

                Verse 18: Head of the “body” which is the church, the beginning

                Verse24: Christ

In these versus Paul teaches that redemption comes only through Christ and his atoning sacrifice. He is the creator of all things, head of the church, the beginning of all things and the firstborn of our Heavenly Father. In Colossians 1:23 Paul states the things all people must do in order to receive the blessings of forgiveness and eternal life, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister”. This means we must be steadfast in upholding our beliefs and standards, persevere in all things, keep our sacred covenants and endure to the end.

Along with those things listed above we are also required to be “rooted and built up in him” (Col. 2:7). I think Helaman gives a beautiful explanation of what it means to be “rooted and built upon him”. Chapter five verse 12 states,

“12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall”.

These two scriptures plainly state that we must build our lives upon the teachings of Christ and his gospel. We should be firmly “rooted” in our convictions and strive to live our lives in accordance with all the sacred commandments and covenants.  If we are so “rooted” and righteously endure to the end he adversary shall have no power over us.

Following his call to endure, Paul then warns the saints of ways they might be misled by men “after the tradition of men”. He warns them to beware of men who attempt to destroy their faith by way of philosophy and deceit. In verse eighteen he also admonishes them to beware of men who distort the worship of Christ by the worshiping of angles and who are “puffed up” to the things of the world.  In 2 Nephi 9:28-29 a similar warning is administered. 

“28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.                                                                                        29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God”. 

Colossians three states several characteristics that Paul encourages us to “put on” or “put off”:

 “PUT ON”

Mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another, charity, allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts and the words of Christ to dwell in you.

“PUT OFF”

Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy and filthy communication

Baptism

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we have the wonderful opportunity to be baptized by immersion for the remission of sins after the same manner John the Baptist baptized our Savior. Why should we need any other way other than what the Savior himself did as an example to the world? In a talk given by Sister Carol B. Thomas in April of 1999 she stated, "Baptism is our spiritual rebirth. It cleanses us from head to toe and allows us the companionship of the Savior through the gift of the Holy Ghost. He will accompany each of us along the road of life" (2).

"Baptism by immersion in water by one having authority is the first saving ordinance of the gospel and is necessary for an individual to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to receive eternal salvation. All who seek eternal life must follow the example of the Savior by being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost" (1).
In Romans, chapter six, Paul teaches the symbolism behind our form of baptism. However, before we can be baptized and cleansed we must repent and forsake old sins. Baptism is a similitude of death and resurrection in the last days unto the gift of eternal life. Versus three-four state,

 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. even so we also shall walk in newness of life".

These versus point out to us that the process of our whole bodies being completely submerged under the water at baptism signifies the act of death and burial, just as Christ died and was buried. Rising from the water signifies the resurrection. As Christ was resurrected from his death as a perfected being, we too are raised, clean and pure before God. Mosiah 3:19 speaks about the "natural man" being an enemy to God. Ideally, after baptism this natural man is dead in us. Romans six and seven say, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin". The cleansing power of baptism blesses us with a "newness of life" as mentioned in verse four. This "newness of life" leaves us clean and worthy enough to walk in the presence of God, not in the literal sense, but in the sense that we are blessed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost and are open to quiet whisperings and promptings from the Lord. When baptism is meant as a similitude of Christ's death and resurrection, why would it be done in any other way other than as performed by than immersion.

When we choose to follow our Savior's example and be baptized by the proper authority and continuously keep those covenants we made at baptism, we can become the Lords servants and by us will His work be completed on the earth. Verse eighteen says, "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness". Though often times we may be tempted by things of the world and the church standards may seem restricting, it is through them we attain true freedom. The covenants we made with God will bless us continually as we righteous strive to uphold our standard of virtue.


(1) https://www.lds.org/topics/baptism?lang=eng
(2) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/spiritual-power-of-our-baptism?lang=eng

Forgiveness

This week I chose to write on the principle of forgiveness. The scriptures I studied were 2 Corinthians 2:1-11; Matthew 6:14-15; Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-10.

In Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians he taught them, "if any caused grief" he ought to be forgiven and comforted to avoid sorrow (v. 5,7).  Verse eight goes on to state, "Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him". Here Paul stresses the importance of wholeheartedly forgiving those who have caused us grief or pain. Along with just forgiving the saints are also admonished to love, support and comfort those who have transgressed. “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42). If the Lord can forgive and forget then we too, should do the same.

When we forgive others the Lord blesses us. Matt 6:14 says, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you". LDS.org website shares, "To forgive is a divine attribute. It is to pardon or excuse someone from blame for an offense or misdeed. The scriptures refer to forgiveness in two ways. The Lord commands us to repent of our sins and seek His forgiveness. He also commands us to forgive those who offend or hurt us." (1). As we righteously live this divine attribute and act in accordance to commandments and uphold sacred covenants the Lord will pour out his blessings of love and forgiveness upon us.

However failing to forgive can result in dangerous transgression. Matt 6:15 states, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses". This scripture teaching the plain and simple truth that if we wish to be forgiven, we must forgive. “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin" (D&C 64:9). In June, 1991, President Gordon B. Hinkley shared a talk entitiled "Of You It Is Required to Forgive". In this talk he shares, "How much we need application of this God-given principle and its companion principle, repentance! We see the need for it in the homes of the people, where tiny molehills of misunderstanding are fanned into mountains of argument. We see it among neighbors, where insignificant differences lead to undying bitterness. We see it in business associates who quarrel and refuse to compromise and forgive when, in most instances, if there were a willingness to sit down together and speak quietly one to another, the matter could be resolved to the blessing of all. Rather, they spend their days nurturing grudges and planning retribution" (2).

(1) https://www.lds.org/topics/forgiveness?lang=eng
(2) https://www.lds.org/ensign/1991/06/of-you-it-is-required-to-forgive?lang=eng