First Spiritual, Second Temporal

In D&C Section 29:31-35, the Lord repeats several times that all things are created spiritually first before they are created temporally. Verse 35 specifically teaches that all commandments are for our spiritual benefit, even those that might seem to be more temporal. Many of the commandments that we might see as being only temporal are found in the "For the Strength of Youth" booklet. The information in this booklet gives us a lot of the spiritual reasons behind these more temporal-seeming commandments and will help guide and teach us as we recognize the spiritual blessings that come from obeying all God's commandments.

Dress and Appearance: Dressing appropriately shows that we are a disciples of Jesus Christ and that we love Him. The way we dress and look can invite the companionship of the Spirit, be a good influence to others, and it helps prepare us for temple attendance and worship.

Education: A good education helps us become more like Heavenly Father. The education we gain will be valuable in the life to come. Education prepares us to serve in the world and in the Church. Spiritual learning will help us find answers to the challenges of life and will invite the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Entertainment and Media: Choosing good media will uplift us and increase our ability to become a force for good in the world. Good media can help us be more sensitive to the Spirit.

Language: Using good language reflects our diving heritage as children of God. Good language that uplifts, encourages and compliments others invites the Spirit to be with us.

Music: Music can edify and inspire us and help us draw closer to Heavenly Father. Music has a profound effect on our mind, spirit, and behavior. Good music can increase our spiritual sensitivity.

Word of Wisdom: Obedience to the World of Wisdom can help us learn self-control and self-discipline and augments our ability to make correct choices. We gain the blessing of an alert mind and the guidance of the Holy Ghost and we will be better prepared to serve the Lord.

Sabbath Day Observance: Observing the sabbath day brings us closer to the Lord and it also brings families closer together. It also provides us with an eternal perspective and spiritual strength.

Service: Through service we learn to overcome selfishness and draw closer to Heavenly Father. As we service, our hearts are filled with love, our capacities increase, and our ability to be happy is expanded. Service allows us to be an instrument in God's hands to bless His children.

Sexual Purity: Obedience to the law of chastity prepares us to make temple covenants. It protects us from spiritual and emotional damage and prepares us to have an eternal marriage and family. It also improves our ability to make good decisions now and in the future. By striving to be sexually pure, we can find peace and have the full companionship of the Spirit and be more confident and experience true joy.

Tithing: Paying our tithes helps us develop greater faith, overcome selfishness, and be more receptive to the Spirit.

Fasting: Regular fasting strengthens self-discipline, fortifies against temptations, and brings the Lord's blessings into our life.

Work: Hard work brings an increased sense of self-worth, self-discipline, and dependability. It also helps develop a sense of self-reliance.

Preparedness: Proper preparedness helps us learn a degree of sacrifice. We also learn to exercise faith by taking action, which leads to increased confidence and peace in our hearts. (Bishop Waddell, “There Was Bread”)

As we focus on the spiritual blessings associated with these more "temporal" commandments, we gain a deeper perspective of why the Lord gives us commandments. It's never just for a temporal benefit (although there may be temporal benefits) but always with a spiritual purpose in mind. Focusing on the spiritual purpose of a commandment can help us to be more willing to keep the commandments because we will more clearly see the transcendent nature of the temporal things we are asked to do.

Armor of God

A few years ago I became really intrigued with all the spiritual parallels to war, fighting, and battles that are brought up in the scriptures as well as by modern day apostles and prophets. So when reading D&C 27 this week where it talks about putting on the whole armor of God (v. 15-18), I knew what I wanted focus on for my weekly study.

In ancient days of battle, physical armor was made up of breastplates, helmets, boots and swords. Today the battles we fight are of a spiritual nature and we are told to arm ourselves with truth, righteousness, preparation, faith, the Spirit, and salvation.

But is there symbolism to be found in the role of each part of the physical armor in how it relates to its spiritual counterpart? The Come, Follow Me manual suggests that there is, and my studies this week led me to the following insights:

• Having your loins girt about with truth: protecting the procreative powers. As we learn the truth of the plan of salvation (where we came from, why we're here and where we are going) we can use that true knowledge and eternal perspective to see the divine potential in our roles in this life and then next. President Boyd K. Packer said, “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behaviors” 
• Breastplate of Righteousness: protecting the heart. The heart is the life source of the body. As we protect the heart with our righteous desires, we will have the might, mind and strength to follow those desires and righteousness will define who we are.
• Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: protecting our feet. Preparing takes action. As we consistently prepare ourselves, we are in motion--acting and not being acted upon (2 Nephi 2:26). As we keep ourselves busy preparing for battle it becomes harder for our adversaries to attack us because we’re a moving object.
• Helmet of Salvation: protecting our minds. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ. Is salvation always on our minds?  As we partake of the sacrament each week and recommit to remember all that Christ has done for us we can receive the promised protection that comes: always having His Spirit to be with us .
• Shield of Faith: protecting the whole body. The shield is the only mobile piece of armor and it can move anywhere that needs extra protection. Our faith becomes that extra layer of protection for areas that have become weak and where the adversary is aiming his fiery darts.
• Sword of the Spirit: our only offensive weapon. We have to be able to hear the voice of the Spirit if we want to stay ahead of our enemies. Pres. Nelson has said "In coming days it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

Knowing that in this spiritual war, the forces of righteousness will win makes it an easy decision for me to know which side I want to fight for. 👊

Exhort and Strengthen the church

Section 23 of the Doctrine and Covenants is a combination of five short revelations given to five people, all of whom were inquiring of the Lord through Joseph Smith to know what their respective duties were now that the church had been formally organized. Three of those five men were given the same charge in verses 3 through 5: "thy calling is to exhortation and to strengthen the church." As I study, I try to look for words and phrases that are repeated and to think about the significance of why they are repeated and how I can apply them in my life.

As I looked up the word "exhortation" I was surprised to find that a similar word for exhort is “encourage”. I loved that! To me, the word exhort has always conjured up thoughts of being harsh and punitive, but to encourage someone is so much more positive and enjoyable.

The rest of these sections (24-26) give us some ideas on ways we can strengthen the church. Jesus Christ gives us a perfect example of what we can do to follow Him in this effort in section 24:1. He is talking to Joseph Smith and says "I have lifted thee up out of thine afflictions, and have counseled thee". Here are two ways that we can help strengthen the church.

• lift others up
• counsel with others

In Section 25:5 and 14 the Lord gives Emma Smith some counsel regarding how to help her husband when he is suffering afflictions. Since this revelation is given as the Lord's "voice unto all" (v. 16), we can apply this counsel to any of our relationships, including our relationship to other members of the church. With that context in mind, here are some other ways we can strengthen the church...

• be a comfort to others
• use consoling words 
• cultivate a spirit of meekness 
• delight in the glory of others 

As I read through that list, it sounded a lot like what we covenant to do when we are baptized. Alma used these different but similar phrases: "willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" (Mosiah 18:8-9).

In Section 24:7 the Lord gave Joseph Smith a promise that I believe has application for us as well as we strive to do our part to encourage others and strengthen the church. He said: "For thou shalt devote all thy service in Zion; and in this thou shalt have strength." I think it's a wonderful blessing that as we use our strength, gifts and time to strengthen others we are in turn blessed with increased strength in our own lives. I know this promise is true. I've seen it in my life and in the life of my husband and in our family. As we strive to do our part to strengthen others we are blessed to have the strength to do all the other things that are required of us.

Gospel Foundation

Several Come, Follow Me resources suggested that we read D&C Sections 20-22 and look for the doctrines and principles that laid the foundation of the organization of the church. As we did this together as a family, here are the things we found that are foundational to our faith...

1. Book of Mormon/other scripture (20:8-12, 20:35)
2. Reality of God (20:17)
3. God created all, including man and woman (20:17-18)
4. God gave us commandments (20:19)
5. The Fall (20:20)
6. The Savior was sent and provided the Atonement (20:21-24)
7. Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end (20:25-29)
8. Justification and Sanctification through grace (20:30-32)
9. Prayer (20:33)
10. Revelation (20:35)
11. Ministering (20:47)
12. Priesthood and Ordinances (20:72-84, Section 22)
13. Prophets (21:1)

As we discussed this list, I noticed that in Section 20 verses 17-24, the doctrine taught is the same doctrine we are taught in the temple Endowment ceremony. So even though at that time in the history of the church the temple ceremonies hadn’t been fully revealed, those foundational gospel and temple doctrines were already being revealed to all members of the church.

This is a great list to look through and think about how strong our foundation/testimony is in each of these areas. And if there's an area that seems weaker than others, we should focus on strengthening that spot in our foundation because we have been promised that if we build ourselves a sure foundation, then we cannot fall.(Helaman 5:12)