I went to the Pward today....Bethany miss me? Sacrament meeting was interesting--a member from the Stake High Council was there, and clearly was under-prepared to speak. He said he had struggled for a few hours (only a few?) to write a talk on PRAYER, and so was going to be giving a speech his WIFE gave a few years ago about her experiences about prayer. Right away, I knew the spirit could not attend him. Regardless of the consequences, he began to deliver a speech in "I" which of course meant "I as in my wife and not me at all." He spoke of himself, in sentences like, "Bob and I dated" meaning his wife dated him (but ended up making him sound like a Mormon homosexual) and the end result was a confused story of a homosexual child-bearing wierdo who prayed. Yeah, it was pretty awful. (note to self: when giving someone else's talk, be sure it is the same GENDER as yourself if it speaks to anything ROMANTIC. ) I made a point to lean to the people on my left and right and ask when the Mormons began letting in gays, and I was given those stares of death. Bad Dani. I decided to go to the new member/investigator/less faithful class with Brother Smith next. I have to admit, it was pretty fun. I was able to argue and ask questions and challenge the message and otherwise harass Brother Smith who I really do like very much. I was trying to quote Paster Bruce as much as I could, even while masking my angle--and I felt the power of a good debate, if not the Spirit, which had managed to flee our room sometime right after the opening prayer.
We were speaking as to WHY we were in Church--or specifically in Pward. I often ask that question, so it was a good one to attack. In the end, I think we made a pretty neat spin-art version of attending to it (again and again looping the argument, so much so that BOTH sides were equally attended to) we show our FAITH by our action. That we teach by how we live...and we attend Church because we believe the truth of what has been taught. Because God wants to speak to you, and the spirit is poured out into His church and you must go SEEKing to find it. The gospel is to inform us so we can grow-up. Our actions tell people what we believe, not just what we call as our label. As Brue Boria reminds, "Talk is cheap. Concrete action bears witness of our Faith." In our faith, we should be engaged continually in trying to do good. So in class, I tried to connect my personal mantra about charity in some way. I tried to bring up our commandment to care for (uplift) our brothern. I tried to articulate our mission to treat others as ourselves---to help keep others on the path toward to Heaven and to TEACH them by our example and our love what God would have us do....but I think I was too convoluted to make it right. Brother Smith wondered if indeed it was right of us to encourage/challenge others who are not making the best choices--where that balance lay. "I thought coming to Jesus was going to make my life easier" Brother Smith then addressed, and in some way suggested. But, is this true? Of course this is not true... that was not the message God lay before us in the scriptures. Which Prophet of God had no trials? God urged us to come unto him to have more hope and peace through our challanges, not to be saved from them. By placing our hope in Jesus, others can see through our example that though we might have the same pains we are still able to rejoice through our trials. He can make the yoke easier to carry, while the work needs to be continued. So, what is our responsibility to God as far as Church? Just this: Judgement begins with the household of God.
We were speaking as to WHY we were in Church--or specifically in Pward. I often ask that question, so it was a good one to attack. In the end, I think we made a pretty neat spin-art version of attending to it (again and again looping the argument, so much so that BOTH sides were equally attended to) we show our FAITH by our action. That we teach by how we live...and we attend Church because we believe the truth of what has been taught. Because God wants to speak to you, and the spirit is poured out into His church and you must go SEEKing to find it. The gospel is to inform us so we can grow-up. Our actions tell people what we believe, not just what we call as our label. As Brue Boria reminds, "Talk is cheap. Concrete action bears witness of our Faith." In our faith, we should be engaged continually in trying to do good. So in class, I tried to connect my personal mantra about charity in some way. I tried to bring up our commandment to care for (uplift) our brothern. I tried to articulate our mission to treat others as ourselves---to help keep others on the path toward to Heaven and to TEACH them by our example and our love what God would have us do....but I think I was too convoluted to make it right. Brother Smith wondered if indeed it was right of us to encourage/challenge others who are not making the best choices--where that balance lay. "I thought coming to Jesus was going to make my life easier" Brother Smith then addressed, and in some way suggested. But, is this true? Of course this is not true... that was not the message God lay before us in the scriptures. Which Prophet of God had no trials? God urged us to come unto him to have more hope and peace through our challanges, not to be saved from them. By placing our hope in Jesus, others can see through our example that though we might have the same pains we are still able to rejoice through our trials. He can make the yoke easier to carry, while the work needs to be continued. So, what is our responsibility to God as far as Church? Just this: Judgement begins with the household of God.
I wanted to read from 1Timothy! But time ran out (I could have been there all day!) So here it is:
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
I truly love these words. I have for some time, but best yet, I know how much they are true. We can be deceived by believing we know what is 'best' when indeed it is not of God, or from God's plan. It is so alluring, and so joyous to us to partake of some things that it makes defending those things easy. In some ways, we can feel we don't even have need for repentance (or that we feel we have repented when we have not even begun to get to the meat of our sins) because we are not 'hurting anyone' by our choices--or what we have done has made us happy and so cannot be sinful. But least we understand the will of God, and how we are commanded to MEDITATE and TEACH/ACT as an EXAMPLE of Christ in all things and in all ways (so that the profiting may appear to all) we have not acted in accordance to his desires. If we act not, or if we HELP not, we are false bearers--we are as it warns in Peter--false profits as through our inaction we are teaching not as Christ would do but as is "comfortable for us" or "easy." I read in 2 Peter, chapter 3:
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
What more can I say? It says the all....So, why brother Smith? That is why.
Because we all have to define who we are to Christ, every day and in every way-and be examples of the believers by our steadfastness and our grace, acting upon the knowledge that Christ is our Saviour and our salvation and we cannot be led away from Him by the allure of all the things of the earth which matter not to the plan God has set before us to partake of--namely the one with eternal return.
Or at least, that's my way of seeing it.
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
I truly love these words. I have for some time, but best yet, I know how much they are true. We can be deceived by believing we know what is 'best' when indeed it is not of God, or from God's plan. It is so alluring, and so joyous to us to partake of some things that it makes defending those things easy. In some ways, we can feel we don't even have need for repentance (or that we feel we have repented when we have not even begun to get to the meat of our sins) because we are not 'hurting anyone' by our choices--or what we have done has made us happy and so cannot be sinful. But least we understand the will of God, and how we are commanded to MEDITATE and TEACH/ACT as an EXAMPLE of Christ in all things and in all ways (so that the profiting may appear to all) we have not acted in accordance to his desires. If we act not, or if we HELP not, we are false bearers--we are as it warns in Peter--false profits as through our inaction we are teaching not as Christ would do but as is "comfortable for us" or "easy." I read in 2 Peter, chapter 3:
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
What more can I say? It says the all....So, why brother Smith? That is why.
Because we all have to define who we are to Christ, every day and in every way-and be examples of the believers by our steadfastness and our grace, acting upon the knowledge that Christ is our Saviour and our salvation and we cannot be led away from Him by the allure of all the things of the earth which matter not to the plan God has set before us to partake of--namely the one with eternal return.
Or at least, that's my way of seeing it.
2 comments:
do you remember the note you wrote me saying "what is the measue of faith" have you figured it out?
Thanks for the comment ~ it's true ~ you're totally snow white! ;) Just curious,that's all, ~ did you ever try out a different w?? I agree the second-hand talk sounds pretty scary ~ kinda humorous at the same time too!! ;)
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