Faith

In one of the podcasts I listened to this week (Unshaken Saints), the host of the show mentioned something about Ether 12 that was very insightful to me. He pointed out the during the Jaredite civilization, the prophets prior to Ether cried repentance unto their people (Ether 7:23, 9:28, 11:12, 20), but it seems that Ether took a different approach by first “exhorting the people to believe in God” (12:3), or in other words, to have faith. 

Faith has to come before repentance (vs 3) because faith in Jesus Christ is the catalyst for us to see the changes we need to make. Pres. Nelson recently said "When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."(We can do better and be better). So having faith first will open our eyes to see the things we need to change/repent of in our lives.

Seeing our need to repent is one gift we receive when we have faith in Jesus Christ. Ether 12 also lists many other gifts that come to us when we have faith.

Gifts of faith:

• By faith all things are fulfilled (vs 3)
• Faith gives us a sure hope for a better world and that we will dwell with God someday (vs 4)
• Faith will anchor our souls, and when we are anchored we are sure and steadfast. (vs 4)
• Faith motivates us to good works. (vs 4) 
• Faith leads us to glorify God (vs 4)
• Faith gives you hope for things you cannot see (vs 6)
• Faith allows us to see the hand of God in our lives-working miracles both large and small (vs.7-8, 12, 16, 18)
• Faith makes it possible for us to be partakers of the heavenly gift (vs 8-9). According to "The Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families"(page 636), the heavenly gift is "receiving forgiveness of our sins and the companionship of the Holy Ghost."
• Faith allows us to have the priesthood here on earth (vs 10)
• By Faith the Atonement of Jesus Christ was fulfilled (vs 11)
• By Faith we obtain promises from the Lord (vs 17, 21-22)
• Faith allows us to understand His word (vs 20)
• By Faith we can be made mighty in word (vs 23)
• By our Faith the Lord can work through us to bring about righteousness (vs 29)

So what are some ways we can increase our faith? In Preach My Gospel it states that "your faith will increase through diligent study, prayer, dedicated service, and obedience to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the commandments. Your faith in Jesus Christ grows as you become better acquainted with Him and His teachings" Also, as we work to develop any Christlike attribute, we will also gain other Christlike attributes. "By focusing deeply on one needed attribute, as you progress in obtaining that attribute, other attributes begin to accrue to you." (Elder Scott D. Whiting Becoming like Him). So, even if you're focusing on another Christlike attribute like becoming more patient or more obedient, your faith can also increase during that process. 

The principle of faith can sometimes be an abstract concept to understand and hard to quantify, but as we recognize the gifts of faith in our lives, then our faith becomes somewhat easier to measure. For example, if you can recognize God's hand in your life or feel motivated to do good works, then those are gifts that are coming to you because of your faith in Jesus Christ. 

Gratitude

I loved reading Ether 6 this week and thinking of all the analogies that exist between the Jaredites’ ocean voyage and our own lives. The verses that stood out most to me in this chapter were 8-10. 

That furious wind that god caused (vs. 5) to blow their barges to the promised land, never did cease (vs. 8) and yet they did “thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.”(vs. 9) Wow. I don’t think I’d be able to find much to be grateful for if I was stuck in a barge-with animals-being tossed in the waves day after day. So I wonder for what were they thanking and praising the Lord during those 344 days? Maybe one thing they gave thanks for was that “they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water” (vs. 10). I think there's a lesson we can learn from those verses. No matter how furiously we're being tossed around in life by trials and challenges, there is always something to be grateful for which is the light of Jesus Christ in our lives.

I love this quote about gratitude given by Pres. Monson in Oct. 2010. He said: "When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given."

I hope that during this season of trial and challenges that we can take the time to look deep enough and see how the Lord has truly blessed us. I know I am grateful for the many blessings and tender mercies that, if I look deeply enough, I can see everyday in my life. 

Personal revelation

During this week of study, one of the prompts from the Come, Follow Me manual asked us to look more deeply at the principle of personal revelation and what more can we learn about that principle through Ether 1-5.

Pres. Nelson has recently said "I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation". We can look to the brother of Jared as an example of how to increase spiritual capacity before receiving revelation:

1. He repented and prayed to ask for forgiveness (2: 15)
2. He was told to sin no more so that the Spirit could be with him (2:15)
3. He performed the work the Lord had commanded him to do (2:18)

It's the same pattern our leaders ask of us today. Repent, live righteously and do the things the Lord has asked us to do. These are basic principles that allow us to have the amazing gift of revelation.

In Ether chapter 2, we learn that the brother of Jared had a problem. With the Lords instruction, he built these awesome barges that were so impenetrable that the best way to describe them was “tight like unto a dish” (vs. 17). But because they were so “tight like unto a dish” the passengers wouldn’t be able to breathe or see while traveling inside them. So, the brother of Jared prays to the Lord and asks for some guidance on what he should do about these two problems. His subsequent interaction with the Lord helped remind me that that revelation can come to us in different ways. 

First problem - no air. The answer from the Lord for this question came directly and with step by step instructions on how to solve the problem (vs. 20). This is my favorite way of  receiving revelation because the answer to my question comes directly to my mind accompanied by the method required to get the result. These are also the kinds of revelations that I remember best because they seem to be more dramatic in nature and because they don't happen very often. 

Second problem - no light. The answer from the Lord for this question involved a lot more work on the part of the bother of Jared. The Lord helped him rule out some possibilities (v. 23 - don’t even think about windows or fire!), but after that he had to come up with his own potential solution and present it to the Lord for approval (touch these stones that they may shine in the darkness) (3:1-5). This seems to be the more common way I receive revelation; when I need direction in my life the Lord expects me to put in some effort before that direction comes. 

I would like to share an example from my life about these two different ways of receiving revelation: When I was inspired to start sharing my testimony over social media, I had no idea where to begin. When I asked the Lord what he would have me do, the answer was clear and concise and came with instructions on how I should share and with whom I should share it - an example of the first kind of personal revelation (direct and with instructions). However, the Lord does not instruct me each week about what I should write in my blog posts. I have to put in a lot of effort through studying, pondering, and praying before I know what to write each week. This is an example of the second kind of personal revelation (I have to put forth a lot of effort before presenting to the Lord for his acceptance).

One of my favorite talks about revelation was given by Elder David A. Bednar, (The Spirit of Revelation) in which he compares these two types of revelation to light. The first type of revelation is compared to a light is being turned on in a dark room and the details are immediately in full display. The second type of revelation is compared to the sun rising in the morning where the details start to become clearer over time. I think its reassuring to know that personal revelation can come to us in different ways. It's also comforting to know that the Lord will communicate with us the same way he communicates to his chosen prophets, for "all are alike unto God" (2 Nephi 26:33).

Last words

The Book of Mormon is filled with the testimonies and final words of many ancient prophets. But it is unique that in these three chapters of Mormon 7-9, we get to study the last words of the two last prophets who wrote in this record. It's true that Moroni ends up living longer than he thinks he will and ends up recording more of his testimony, but for all intents and purposes, chapters 8-9 are his farewell words. So what did these two prophets choose to record as their final words, knowing that their testimonies would be preserved to come forth in the latter days?

Mormon

• remember that you are from the House of Israel (7:1, 10)
• repent or you cannot be saved (7:2, 5, 8)
• lay down your weapons of war (7:4)
• believe in Christ (7:5, 8, 10)
• be baptized (7: 8, 10)
• receive the Holy Ghost (7:10)

Promised Blessings*

• dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom (7:7)
• sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above (7:7)
• live in a state of happiness with no end (7:7)
• it shall be well with you in the day of judgement (7:10)

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Moroni

• Search the prophecies of Isaiah (8:23)
• repent (9:6)
• believe in Christ and His miracles (9:11-21)
• preach the gospel to every creature (9:22)
• be baptized (9:23)
• hearken to the words of the Lord (9:27)
• doubt not, but be believing (9:27)
• come unto the Lord with all your heart (9:27)
• work out your salvation before Him (9:27)
• be wise (9:28)
• strip yourselves of all uncleanness (9:28)
• ask that ye will yield to no temptation (9:28)
• serve the true and living God (9:28)
• partake not of the sacrament unworthily (9:29)
• do all things in worthiness (9:29)
• endure to the end (9:29)

Promised blessings*

• the Lord will remember the covenant which he has made with the house of Israel-that they may be blessed forever (8:23, 9:37)
• (whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing) whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him (9:21)
• (he that believeth and is baptized) shall be saved (9:23)
• the gift of protection (9:24)
• (whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing) unto him will I confirm all of my words (9:26)
• you will in nowise be cast out (9:29)
• prayers will be answered according to your faith (9:37)

I find it comforting that the message that was repeated by both both father and son was to believe in Jesus Christ, repent and be baptized.  As you study the final words of other Book of Mormon prophets, they also repeat the same message. Probably the most widely quoted of these is found in 2 Nephi 31. This chapter, written by Nephi, the son of Lehi, is often referred to as the Doctrine of Christ, and Nephi repeats the same principles: follow Christ, repent and be baptized. Nephi also talks about the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end, which are both mentioned in the combined final testimonies of Mormon and Moroni. 

Out of all the words these prophets could leave behind, the most important things they chose to testify of are these five simple principles. So, at times when life starts to feel a bit overwhelming, thinking on these basic principles will bring our focus back to what is most important.

*these are more blessings promised to covenant Israel-you can add them to your list😊

Hope

These chapters in the Book of Mormon are always heartbreaking to read. The contrast between the perfect society we read about in 4th Nephi and the total wickedness and destruction of the people we read about in Mormon 1-6 is so depressing and yet can be so instructive as well. Mormon tells us in chapter one that because of the wickedness that did prevail in the land, "the work of miracles and healing did cease... and there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any" (v.13-14). To me, this points to the importance of always striving to have the Holy Ghost with us, because when the Spirit ceases to be with us Satan begins to gain power over us.

So what can we learn about how to stay faithful and hopeful during hard times from the history that Mormon relates to us in these chapters?

1) Surround yourselves with believers: There must have been some believers around when Mormon tells his story because we are told of Ammaron, the record keeper, who was "constrained by the Holy Ghost" to hide up the sacred records (4 Nephi 1:48). Ammaron must have had enough interaction with Mormon at a young age to be able to describe him as sober, quick to observe, and to entrust him with the care of the sacred engravings of the Nephite people. Surrounding ourselves with people who share our beliefs can bring us strength and hope.

2) Teach and learn from the scriptures:  Mormon also says that at about ten years of age, he "began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people" (Mormon 1:2). If you look at footnote "b" in that verse, it takes you to Mosiah 1:3 where it explains that to be learned was to be taught from the plates of brass, or, as we would say, the scriptures. So we know that someone (probably his family) was around to teach him from the scriptures. As we teach and learn from the scriptures we are anchoring our testimonies to a firm foundation that will bring us stability and hope during uncertain times.

3) Have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ: Mormon tells us that he was "visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus." (Mormon 1:15) He also knew that "he would be lifted up at the last day." (Mormon 2:19) No matter how wicked the world is, we can choose to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We can know for ourselves the goodness of Jesus and have confidence that we too can be lifted up one day to be with Him. 

4) Fortify and gather: I'm always impressed that Mormon never gave up trying to help his people. Even though he has a couple of years where he "utterly refuse(s)...to be a commander and leader of this people" (3:11), he ultimately "repents of the oath which (he) had made" (5:1) and commands the army once again. As commander, Mormon continues to fortify the Nephite cities and gather the people together, even though he knows that unless they repent it will all be in vain. The comparison we can make here is that we can also fortify, or strengthen, our homes and families and be involved in the gathering of Israel. Additionally, we can follow Mormon’s example and never give up trying to help people.

5) Love and serve others: I'm also impressed that Mormon genuinely loved his people and prayed for them to repent and be baptized. That love came as he served them as their commander. Closer to the beginning of his commander years he says, "I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them." (3:12) And when the war is over and all but a few people remain alive, he again expresses his love for them by saying, "O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye fair sons, and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return." (6:17-20) Even though the people were so wicked and had no desire to repent and turn from their evil ways, he continued to love them and mourn for them when they were gone. The gospel principle that we love those we serve is so evident in Mormon’s lament. He never stopped serving his people and as a result he was blessed with the gift of charity, the pure love of Christ. Serving and loving those that are different from us can be hard, but the reward is the gift of charity, which is the greatest of all gifts. (Moroni 7:46)

At times when it feels like the world is so wicked and there is nothing good happening, it helps to know that there are things we can actively do to help bring hope into the world and into our lives. We can continue to live the gospel and stand as witnesses of Jesus Christ, and by doing these things we can keep hope alive in our hearts and in our homes.

The condition of our hearts

Recently, I've been drawn to studying about the condition of our spiritual hearts. It started a couple of months ago when I read an article on LDSLiving.com that was entitled "What was the greatest battle fought in the Book of Mormon?" The author, Robin Johnson, explains that as she had been curiously searching for the greatest battle in the Book of Mormon, she discovered something she wasn't expecting to find-that every war scene in the Book of Mormon was proceeded by the same phrase: "they hardened their hearts". Her conclusion was this: "If Satan can win the hearts of men, then destruction is sure to follow."

That was such a profound thought to me, and from that day since, I've tried to pay more attention to the word "heart" as I've read the scriptures and how the condition of the heart plays a major role in either the prosperity or destruction of the people in the Book of Mormon.

In this weeks reading of Come, Follow Me (3 Nephi 27-4th Nephi), we learn about a society of believers that were described as having no contention among them and as people that could not be happier among all the people who had been created by the hand of God because of the love of God that did dwell in their hearts (4th Nephi 1:15-16). But this perfect society only lasts for about 200 years until the power of Satan gets a hold upon their hearts (vs. 28) and the people begin to harden their hearts (vs. 31, 34) and begin to be proud in their hearts (vs. 43)

So why is the heart so important? Elder Marvin J. Ashton gave a talk back in October of 1988 entitled "The Measure of our Hearts" . In this talk he state’s “The Lord... has a different standard by which he measures a person. When it came time to choose a king to replace King Saul, the Lord gave this criteria to his prophet Samuel: “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; … for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16: 7). When the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure around the person’s head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to determine his manliness, but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person’s capacity and potential to bless others. The measure of our hearts is the measure of our total performance. As used by the Lord, the “heart” of a person describes his effort to better self, or others, or the conditions he confronts.”

We often hear the word “soft" associated with the word "heart” as a way to judge whether or not our heart is willing to change and be molded. But what does a soft heart look like? Or, what are some other words that can be used to describe a heart that is willing to change? In order to answer this question, I looked in the scriptures to find what other words are associated with the word heart. The scriptures I read were both expansive and instructive. Here's a list of some that I found...

A heart that is lifted up (Ezekial 28:2)

A prepared heart  (1Chronicles 29:18)

A heart that pondereth (2 Nephi 4:16, Luke 2:19, Moroni 10:3)

One heart (Acts 4:32, Moses 7:18) 

Integrity of the heart (Genesis 20:6) 

A cheerful heart (D&C 59:15) 

A heart that trusteth (Psalm 28:7)

Wise hearted (Exodus 36:2)

strength of heart (Psalm 73:26)

a heart that is moved (Isaiah 7:2)

a valiant heart (2 Samuel 17:10)

pure in heart (Matthew 5:8)

a heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23)

a clean heart (Proverbs 20:9)

full purpose of heart (2 Nephi 31:13)

an open heart (Mosiah 2:9)

Real intent of heart (Moroni 7:9)

Lowly of heart (Moroni 7:43-44)

Energy of heart (Moroni 7:48)

Sincere heart (Moroni 10:4)

a song of the heart (D&C 25:12)

Paying attention to the condition of our hearts is so important today. The battle for our hearts has never ended. Satan is still trying to attack our spiritual hearts and we need to be ready. I hope that we can pay more attention to the condition of our hearts and use that information to bring us closer to Christ. I hope that our hearts are soft enough that the Savior can mold and change us into what He needs us to be in order to further His work in the kingdom here on earth.

There are more things...

 There are more things that I learned this past week while studying 3 Nephi 20-26 that I feel like I need to write down before I forget them and move on to next week's Come, Follow Me study.

First. Record Keeping/Scripture Study. I love Chapter 23, as Christ takes a little break from talking about the gathering of Israel to talk to the Nephites about the importance of record keeping and searching the scriptures and the words of the prophets. It's instructive to note that Christ has just been quoting Isaiah-and will soon quote Malachi-two Old Testament prophets whose words Jesus himself would have "searched diligently" during his own life and ministry in Jerusalem. So, again, he's providing us a great example of what he's asking us to do. I discovered a chiasmus in verses 6-14. If you don't know what chiasmus is, its a literary form where concepts are repeated in a reverse order to emphasize a main point. If you want to learn more about chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, visit this link "Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon" Here's the chiasmus that I found...

a. Jesus expounded all the scriptures unto them that they had received (vs. 6)

    b. other scriptures I would that ye should write (vs. 6)

        c. many saints should arise from the dead and minister (vs. 9)

            d. Samuel prophesied thy words and they were all fulfilled (vs. 10)

        c. many saints did arise and appear and minister (vs. 11)

    b. Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written (vs. 12)

a. Jesus expounded all the scriptures in one, and he commanded them to teach these things (vs. 14)

The main point that is being emphasized in this chiasmus, is that the words prophesied by the prophet, Samuel, were all fulfilled! I love that this principle is emphasized in the middle of theses chapters that are filled with promises from Christ to covenant Israel.

Second. The blessing of paying Tithing. In this most recent General Conference, Elder Bednar gave a talk entitled "We will Prove Them Herewith". In his message he talks about how this life is a test and whether or not one day, we will be able to prove to God that we were willing to keep His commandments. So, after hearing that talk, it was interesting to read the words in Chapter 24:10 "prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it."(italics added) So the Lord is saying to us that now it's our turn to put Him to the test. And the test is this: If you pay your tithing, I will pour out blessings upon you. When we know the character of God, and that He keeps all his promises, then we should never fear the commandment to pay our tithing, because we know that God keeps His promises.

Third. A refiner's fire. Chapter 24:2-3. I heard someone tell a story this week about two ladies that went to see someone who was a refiner of silver. As they watched this process of the worker firing the metal in order to remove the impurities, one of them asked him, "how do you know when you're done?" And he responded "when I can see my reflection in the metal." I like the analogy there, that we're not "done" being perfected until Christ can see His reflection in us.

Fourth. The Importance of the Sacrament. Christ is only with the people for three days (26:13), and yet during those precious few days, he partakes of the sacrament twice with them (chapters 18,20).  And then after he leaves, the scriptures say that he "showed himself unto them oft, and did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them." (26:13). When Mormon tells us that he could not write "even a hundreth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people."(26:6), then its important to note the emphasis that Christ/Mormon put on recording the time that was spent partaking of the sacrament.