Our Marching Orders

One of the principles of the gospel that really stood out to me in this week's reading of Come, Follow Me was in Joshua 6. In this chapter the Lord instructs Joshua (who has just succeeded Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; Deut. 34:9) on how to conquer the city of Jericho.

What impressed me about this chapter is how obedient the Israelite army was to the words of their prophet, and through their obedience they witnessed a miracle.

Are we as obedient to our latter-day prophet as the Israelites were to theirs? What are the "marching orders" we've been given by Pres. Nelson to help us conquer our enemies so we can inhabit the promised land? I recently studied the 32 general conference talks that Pres. Nelson has given since he became the President of the Church (April 2018-Oct 2021) and I kept track of the instructions (themes) that he has most often repeated. Here's a list of what he's talked about most...

• Faith
• Daily Repentance
• Hear Him
• Study Scriptures
• Study General Conference messages
• Spiritual Survival
• Speak of Christ
• Let God Prevail
• Serve
• Fast and Pray
• Spend more time in the temple (this was by far the top instruction that was repeated)

In this past general conference, Pres. Nelson asked us to "seek and expect miracles" in our lives and to "do the spiritual work to seek miracles." For the past four years Pres. Nelson has been telling us what that spiritual work is (see list above), as we obey his prophetic counsel then we will see miracles in our lives.

Blessings of Teaching

The scripture that resonated most with me this week in our Come, Follow Me study was Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 which taught me the importance of teaching our children about the love of God and His words, and that it is something that should be on our minds all day long ("when thou sittest...when thou walkest...when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." v. 7). 

In this most recent General Conference, President Nelson mentioned this important principle in his talk entitled The Power of Spiritual Momentum. Pres. Nelson shared five suggestions to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum in our lives. His second suggestion was entitled "Discover the joy of daily repentance." In the very first paragraph of this section he says "Repentance is required of every accountable person who desires eternal glory. There are no exceptions. In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord chastised early Church leaders for not teaching the gospel to their children."

When I taught Pres. Nelson's talk in a Relief Society class a few weeks ago, I asked the sisters (at least one from every age group) what they do to teach their children the gospel. It varied based on the ages of the children in their homes (or not in their homes). Here are some of their suggestions....

Music-listening and singing to Primary songs with young children or, for older children, the Youth Music that the church produces each year. All of these can be found on the church's "Sacred Music" app.

Reading Materiels-having board books or picture books with Bible and Book of Mormon stories for children and also subscribing to The Friend and For the Strength of Youth magazines. Having these available in your homes for FHE or CFM lessons, daily reading time with your kids or help with Primary and Youth talks at church.

Having kids teach-teach your kids how to teach by giving them opportunities to do it in your home. Not only will it strengthen their testimonies but it will prepare them for the teaching opportunities that will come in their Young Men and Young Women classes.

Family group chats-as children leave home you can continue to teach them via technology. Several women mentioned having family group chats where they post things to their families about which they are reading and thinking about. This often leads to gospel discussions and questions that are done all online and at everyone’s convenience.  

As we study the gospel with the intent of teaching the things that we are learning, it cements it more into our own minds and hearts. I've gained a testimony of this principle over the many years that I've studied and taught in my home and in various callings. Even though I still don't feel eloquent when I teach, my testimony has grown immensely through the process of studying and teaching. Not only does teaching the rising generation help them stay on the covenant path, it strengthens our testimonies and helps us to stay on the covenant path as well.

I love this quote by Elder Holland "no child in this Church should be left with uncertainty about his or her parents’ devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Restoration of His Church, and the reality of living prophets and apostles who, now as in earlier days, lead that Church according to “the will of the Lord, … the mind of the Lord, … the word of the Lord, … and the power of God unto salvation.” (A Prayer for the Children). I hope we can put our best efforts into teaching and sharing our testimonies and faith with our children to help give them the best chance we can to stay on the covenant path.

Faithful vs. Fearful

There were so many good lessons to think about in this weeks Come, Follow Me readings! The most impactful for me was regarding about the twelve men that Moses sent to "spy out the land of Canaan" (Numbers 13:17). Out of those twelve spies, two of them, Caleb and Joshua, returned to the camp of Israel with a favorable report of the land (Numbers 14:6-8). The other ten spies shared a gloomier version of what they had seen (Numbers 13:28-33). It’s not that Caleb and Joshua were ignorant of the obstacles ahead of them but they had faith that with the Lord on their side, there was no need to fear going forward into the land of Canaan (Numbers 14:9).

Just like the ten spies, the majority of the voices in this world focus on negative things and try to convince us that there is no hope going forward. On the flip side, there are relatively few voices like Joshua and Caleb that focus on the good things in the world and encourage us to move forward with faith. Maybe this is one reason why President Nelson has asked us to be careful about the information we are getting from social media or other media and to make sure we are making time for the Lord. He said that if we spend most of our time listening to the voice of the world then we will become more vulnerable to the worlds philosophies. (Make Time for the Lord)

Elder Rasband said: "Since ancient times, fear has limited the perspective of God’s children." (Be Not Troubled) Caleb and Joshua chose to see the good and knew that with the Lord’s  help they could get through the more difficult challenges that lay ahead. We have the same challenge today. As we look down the road towards our own promised land, are we able to focus on the good, keep the negative in proper perspective and have faith that as long as the Lord is with us we need not fear?

I feel like this is the same optimism our church leaders are sharing with us today. They encourage us to be hopeful and to be of good cheer. If we have that attitude, combined with some caution and awareness that Satan will try to trap us, they promise us that as we stay on the covenant path we need not fear. I hope we can do what Pres. Nelson has asked and "avoid the inevitable heartbreak that follows...(the) too many voices (that) are deceptive...(and instead) counter the lure of the world by making more time for the Lord...each and every day."

Tabernacle Symbolism

My favorite insights studying Come, Follow Me this week were in relation to all the symbolism that can be seen within the construction and furnishings of the tabernacle and how a lot of that symbolism parallels with our modern day temple experience. The manual suggested finding objects that were in the tabernacle and what they might have symbolized. The best resource I found with this information was the Old Testament Institute Student Manual.

I. Outer Courtyard--represents the world or telestial room 

    a. alter of sacrifice--represents the laws of obedience and sacrifice

    b. laver--represents baptism and the remission of sins

II. Holy Place--represents the terrestrial room

    a. lampstand--represents living by the light of the Spirit

    b. table of shewbread--represents the flesh and blood of Christ (sacrament)

    c. alter of incense--represents prayer

III. Holy of Holies--represents the celestial room

    a. veil-represents angelic guardians

    b. ark of the covenant-the presence of God

I loved this quote from the Institute Manual that reads "the tabernacle and its plan and the ordinances thereof illustrate the grand and glorious symbolism of mankind's progress from a state of being alienated from God to one of full communion with Him." I love that as I learned more about the building of the ancient tabernacle I was able to understand the temple ceremonies in a new light. These chapters in Exodus provide us with a strong connection to the ancient Israelites and their worship in the tabernacle with us as we are blessed to worship in modern temples.