Sacrifice

In studying Doctrine and Covenants Section 19 this week, I loved learning about the comparison Jesus Christ makes between His atoning sacrifice and Martin Harris' potential sacrifice related to the Book of Mormon. In Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 8 we learn that Martin Harris was the only one of Joseph Smith's friends who had enough money to finance the printing of the Book of Mormon. Martin had agreed to help, but when he found out how much it was going to cost and that he'd have to mortgage his farm to pay for it, he began to worry about whether or not he should follow through with his promise.

In consequence of his hesitation, we have Section 19 where the Lord reaches out to Martin and essentially says "I know what you're feeling. I've had a similar experience. I didn't want to do what I said I would do. But I did. And you need to too." (v. 18-19, 26). The parallel between these two sacrifices is significant. Without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ we would not be able to repent and return to live with our Father in Heaven. Without the Book of Mormon we wouldn't be able to gather scattered Israel. Both sacrifices were necessary for others to receive salvation. 

I have always loved this quote about sacrifice from Joseph Smith: "a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.” (Lectures on Faith).

The following account related by Linda K. Burton in her talk Certain Women has helped shape my perspective of sacrifice as I prepare to send my children out into the world for full-time missionary service: 

Anciently, certain women sacrificed as they testified and lived the teachings of Jesus. Certain women in the early days of the Restoration did the same. Drusilla Hendricks and her family were among those who, as new converts, suffered during the persecution of the Saints in Clay County, Missouri. Her husband was permanently paralyzed during the Battle of Crooked River. She was left to care for him as well as provide for her family.

At one particularly distressing time, when the family was out of food, she remembered that a voice told her, ‘Hold on, for the Lord will provide.

When her son was needed to volunteer for the Mormon Battalion, at first Drusilla resisted and wrestled in prayer with Heavenly Father until “it was as though a voice said to her, ‘Do you not want the highest glory?’ She answered naturally, ‘Yes,’ and the voice continued, ‘How do you think to gain it save by making the greatest sacrifices?

For me, sending my children away is a tremendous sacrifice, but is necessary in order to build the kingdom of God and I know that I need to prioritize sacrifices that build the kingdom of God.

I learned more about sacrifice while I was a student at Brigham Young University. I don't have a very good memory for certain things, but I can clearly remember where I was sitting in the Marriot Center, listening to Elder Maxwell say these words and this concept struck me to the very core: "The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. It is a hard doctrine, but it is true. The many other things we give to God, however nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us. But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him. And that hard doctrine lies at the center of discipleship." (Sharing Insights from my Life). This quote took me back to Martin Harris's problem-sacrificing his farm. But was it actually Martin's farm? No. It was the Lord's farm. The lesson for Martin was that he needed to do the Lord's will just like Jesus did the will of His Father (v. 24).

Learning about church history helps me put into perspective the principle of sacrifice. When I read about what early members of the church sacrificed for the gospel, I am amazed at what little I am asked to do. Men gave up their careers as paid preachers to join a church that offered them no work for their trained profession. Women sent their husbands off on missions, taking the burden of caring for a family upon themselves. Families moved from place to place as communities became hostile to the gathering of the Saints. The early saints sacrificed so much to build up the kingdom of God! I hope to follow their examples and sacrifice what I can to be a part of this great work of building the kingdom of God here on earth.

Declare Repentance unto this generation

In Doctrine and Covenants sections 14-16, as more supporters started coming on board with the work Joseph Smith was doing, most of them came to Joseph and asked him to petition God for a revelation that would tell them what they could do to help with this great work. One of the messages that was often repeated was to "declare repentance unto this generation." (6:9-Oliver, 11:9-Hyrum, 14:8-David Whitmer, 15:6-John Whitmer, 16:6-Peter Whitmer, Jr.) Typically when we think of someone declaring repentance to others we think of missionaries. So how can we fulfill this charge when we're not serving a full-time mission? I think it helps to understand what repentance means. This Bible Dictionary says that repentance means "a turning of the heart and will to God."  President Nelson gave us another definition in his talk called "We Can Do Better and Be Better." He said, "The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means 'change.' The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean “mind,” “knowledge,” “spirit,” and “breath.” Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to “repent,” He is inviting us to...

change our mind, 

change our knowledge, 

change our spirit, 

and even change the way we breathe.

He is asking us to change to the way we love,

(change the way we) think,

(change the way we) serve,

(change the way we) spend our time, 

(change the way we) treat our (spouse),

 (change the way we) teach our children,

and even (change the way we) care for our bodies."

When we are asked to declare repentance unto this generation, we are asked to help people change. This is such a refreshing way to look at how we can fulfill the charge to preach repentance. Any role that we currently fill (spouse, parent, grandparent, child, friend, leader or teacher) will allow plenty of opportunities to teach the principle of change. I love that the new Children and Youth goal setting program is an extension of this principle. As children and youth set their yearly goals to improve in different areas of their lives, they are putting the principle of repentance into action. They are looking for ways that they can change and become better disciples of Christ.

President Nelson has said that repentance needs to be a daily focus in our lives. As I've tried to follow this counsel from our prophet, I find that it can be challenging at the end of a long day to kneel in prayer and try to remember the moments of the day where I messed up. But there was an article in the February 2021 Liahona by Elder Neil L. Andersen that has helped me work through this daily process of repentance. In this article he lists several questions we can ask ourselves at the end of the day that can help reveal to us what we need to repent of. The questions are...

"What more could I have done?"

"What thoughts and emotions do I need to control?"

"How could I have better followed the example of the Savior?"

"How could I have been more kind, more loving, more forgiving, and more merciful toward others?"

"In what ways was I less than my Heavenly Father would want me to be?"

I have found that as I take the time to ponder these questions before praying, I am always made aware of my mistakes and what I need to change.  In the same talk, President Nelson said "too many people consider repentance as punishment--something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered from Satan....When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy--the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!"

I hope that we can all see repentance and our need to declare repentance not as a punishment but as something that is joyful and is one way we become more like our Savior.

Ministering Angels

As I looked through the material in the Come, Follow Me manual this past week, there was one phrase that stood out to me that I wanted to learn more about: "the keys of the ministering of angels". Two concepts profoundly impacted me. One is a concept from a a talk given by Elder Holland entitled "The Ministry of Angels". In his message he talks about two kinds of ministering angels - heavenly angels and earthly angels. Of heavenly angels he said: "From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children....in times of special need, He [sends] angels, divine messengers, to bless His children, reassure them that heaven [is] always very close and that His help [is] always very near." And of earthly angels he said: "when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with--here, now, every day." 

The second important concept for me was discussed in a podcast (Book of Mormon Central) I listened to this week as they taught that ministering angels act as the "go-betweens" for heaven and earth.  This concept really resonated with me and helped to give me a new understanding about the work of a ministering angel. As I thought about a "go-between", it became apparent that both mortal angels and heavenly angels can do that work. Section 13 is the record of John the Baptist' visit to ordain Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. He acted as the angelic "go-between" as he delivered God's heavenly priesthood keys to worthy earthly servants. We can be ministering angels and serve as "go-betweens" by responding to the personal revelation we receive from our Father in Heaven that can help His children on earth. One of the most significant ways we can do this is through temple work. In our earthbound temples we act as the "go-between" by receiving heavenly ordinances for deceased people so they will be able to return to the presence of God.

Angels can come as answers to prayers. Elder Holland taught: "Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times." Sister Michelle D. Craig gave a wonderful example of this principle when she shared this story from the Old Testament during her Oct 2020 General Conference address: "I love the Old Testament story of a young man who served the prophet Elisha. Early one morning the young man woke up, went outside, and found the city surrounded by a great army intent on destroying them. He ran to Elisha: “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” Elisha answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them...and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (Eyes to See)

Not only should we expect to have angels come to our rescue, but we need to look for opportunities to be ministering angels to others. I've always loved the quote by Pres. Kimball that encompasses this principle..."God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs." Ministering angels are real, and both heavenly and earthly angels are here, all around us. May the Lord do for us as He did for the young man in the Old Testament story and open our eyes that we might see them.

Winning the Waiting Game

In Section 11 of the Doctrine and Covenants we read a revelation that was given to Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith's older brother. Hyrum was anxious to be involved in the work so he petitioned Joseph to ask God what he should be doing to help. God answers this question by saying: "I want you to share my gospel but the time is not quite right and so I need you to wait. However, while you're waiting, there are some things you can be doing." (v. 1-16)

Because of the pandemic, I think we all can relate to Hyrum's dilemma of feeling anxious to be involved in the work but instead being told to wait. The pandemic has felt like a period of waiting. So what should we do while we're waiting? The Lord doesn’t expect us to sit passively while we’re waiting for our work to begin again. We can look at what the Lord told Hyrum to do while he was waiting for his work to begin and apply those same principles into our life.

1. Pray (v. 5)
2. Seek/Study my words (v. 7, 16, 21-22)
3. Continue having righteous desires (v. 8, 17, 21, 27)
4. Continue exercising faith (v. 10, 17)
5. Keep the commandments (v. 6, 9, 18, 20)
6. Hold your peace (v 18, 22)
7. Be patient (v. 19)
8. Cleave unto God with all your heart (v. 19)
9. Seek the kingdom of God (v. 23)
10. Build upon my rock (v. 24)

It is comforting to know that there are always things we can actively be doing even when we have been asked to "wait a little longer" (v. 16). There are still ways to continue to lift others and grow spiritually, even if it's not by doing something we're accustomed to. I think one of the blessings of the pandemic is that it has given us opportunities to find new ways to help others and to put more effort into our own personal and family spiritual growth. Being pushed out of our comfort zone really forces us to rely more fully on the guidance of the spirit as we pray to have the spirit "enlighten our mind(s)" (v.13) about how to keep moving forward despite the restrictions in place. 

All of us can look back on our lives and remember times when we've had righteous desires but we've had to wait (or are still waiting) for those righteous desire to come to fruition. The same principles can be applied to those situations as well. And each time we apply the same counsel that was given to Hyrum, the promised blessing from verse 27 is the same for everyone: "to them will I give power to become the sons (and daughters) of God." (v. 30). And that's how we all can win the waiting game😊.

Here’s a quote by Elder Bednar that explains this principle. It was given in February 2020 at a seminaries and institute training meeting...

“Many times what to do is pretty clear but it’s the timing and the when to do that we struggle with,” Elder Bednar said. “. . . We have to wait upon the Lord. He delivers it. We don’t demand it. We have to be aware of and responsive to His timing, not our demands about timing."