We Need More Jesus

Two Sundays ago, this letter was read in our combined Priesthood/RS Meeting, regarding the Church's position on same-sex marriage.  A friend of mind asked for some practical applications on how to act in response to this, especially at church.  She didn't really enjoy the answers given, so I offered her two thoughts.  I'll elaborate one here, prefacing it with some scripture.

When Alma and his brethren/friends were visiting the Zoramites, he was lamenting their odd sense of worship.  In fact, it tormented him such that he began calling out to God.  I want to call into question some things he says that were we to imitate, we may find a bit peculiar.  

Alma 31: 26.  O Lord...

Alma 31:27.  O God... O God...

Alma 31: 28.  O my God... 

Alma 31:30.  O Lord God... O Lord...

Alma 31:31.  O Lord... O Lord... 

Alma 31:32.  O Lord... O Lord...

Alma 31:34.  O Lord...

Alma 31:35.  O Lord... O Lord...  

13 times.  He calls on the Lord God 13 times in one prayer, and he was not specifically (or only) using the name Heavenly Father, as we often do.  Was Alma's prayer ineffective, because he used "vain repetition" of the word Lord or God, and did not address his prayer directly to Father?   

Alma 31: 36:  

Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him.  And behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  

I told my friend we need a lot more Jesus in our meetings.  If we had so much awesomeness in Jesus, so much sincere prayer, calling without shame on the name of our Lord, we would have no need to distract over what issues are sin, because we would truly have no desire to sin.  We would be healed weekly.  Liquidating sin is cake once you really know Jesus.  I have to wonder if the clapping of hands and filling with the Holy Ghost looked a lot like this video depicts, in the streets of Vegas. 

After Alma clapped his hands on his friends, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost, here's what happened next.  

And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on.  

And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.  Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith. 

O Lord, my God, bless us with more faithful prayers, even like unto Alma.  Let us not be afraid to truly call out to You in pure faith.  

Seer Stones

Dear Josten,

Today my scripture study led me someplace really unique, and some big words are sticking out at me.

Last week in the mail, you saw how I received a big box of stones.  They were a graduation gift, and WaWa let me open them up early.  They were a set of 57 massage stones, to be used in a "hot stone" massage.  We were all overjoyed, even though you and your siblings really didn't know what we all so excited about.

Yesterday, when doing some blog exploring, I can across a really interesting site called One Climbs.  The author created an image of what s/he believes the interpreters used by Joseph Smith looked like, when he translated the Book of Mormon.  (If s/he gives me permission, I'll update this post and include the artwork.)  They included "seer stones", and the depiction is quite fascinating.  Made me want to explore the topic some more.

(When I took this pic, I had no idea this post would be written a few days later... or that this would have such a fun connotation to this post!)

So this morning, as I opened up my scriptures, I knew it was time again to do my time tested method of deciding where to read: close my eyes and ask "where should I read today?"  It's been a few weeks since I had the time to just sit and listen to the answer, even though it usually pops in my head before I get to finish asking the question.  D&C 32.

This section is quite short actually.  And some words and phrases impressed me.  It's a revelation given to Parley P. Pratt.  Love him.  (Read The Key to the Science of Theology on my bookshelf, or for free on the Kindle App by clicking that link.  He has some marvelous thoughts on angels, spirits, and dreams, which few contemporary authors have expounded upon.  Love that book.)  Anyways, using the footnotes next to Parley's name, I went to D&C 50:37 and started skimming what was going on there for him.  A few verses down, verse 44 says

Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall.

Did somebody just say stone?  Last night after thinking about the seer stones used for translation, I remember learning somewhere along the way about two of the stones used by the brother of Jared.  When preparing to cross the ocean, the brother of Jared was perplexed as to how there would be light within the barges which the Lord instructed him to build.  The brother of Jared asked the Lord to touch 16 stones so that they would give light within the barges.  After the Nephite civilization was destroyed (whether it be their structure, or their lives in general), Moroni deposited the plates he inscribed upon, along with a breatsplate, the sword of Laban, and the Urim and Thummim.  My understanding is that there were two of these stones, touched by the finger of the Lord, which made up the U&T.

(Not quite like the Urim & Thummim... but close?:)

Back to the verse, the Lord is the good shepherd, the stone of Israel.  It was His light, his finger touching stones, that gave literal light within the barges.  It was these stones, touched by his finger, that allowed for the Book of Mormon to be translated.  If we build upon Him, we shall never fall.

I flipped back to D&C 32, and skimmed the page.  On the right side, I found D&C 33:13.

And upon this rock I will build my church; yea, upon this rock ye are built, and if ye continue, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.

We used to refer to this idea on my mission, when teaching the 3rd discussion.  We would say that Christ was the foundation, Peter the chief cornerstone, and then start building a makeshift church with Dixie cups.  We would end up focusing the remainder of the discussion on the church as a whole, and less on the idea that Christ is the rock.  But for this post, I want to re-focus back on the rock.  What does that mean, really?  If we build on Him?  Feel free to let that sit with you for awhile.  There are lots of references to Him being the rock EVERYwhere.

In some of the random classes I've been to over the years, I've learned some fun properties about rocks.  This year in school you learned all about the rock cycles.  How rocks are forms, how long they take to form, and different things they can/can't do.  In my classes, I've learned how some rocks like quartz are actually some of the best conductors of electricity on the planet.  How interesting that the Source of Light would touch His finger on 16 rocks, at the request of Jared's brother, and those stones would hold the energy from his touch for months while they crossed the ocean(s).

Another thought I saw someone present on another blog's comment thread is that we need to depend more upon God Himself, rather than people, an institution, or even our own intuition.  That last one struck me.  So very true.  I should not be trusting my intuition so wholly as I should be trusting God Himself.  I do not know of any source in the scriptures where I am told to trust myself, but only the Spirit of God within me.  Perhaps that's what I'm getting at, when I say or am told to "trust your/my gut".  Perhaps my intuition is based upon my connection to God, but even my intuition has been known to make mistakes.

Anyways, very long post.  I hope you get the idea.  Run with it!

Love you!
~Mom<3 

Mosiah 3:17 - saved by Christ

Often times I'll get thinking about what I'm going to read in the scriptures, and a book, chapter and verse will come distinctly into my head.  That's what just happened with this one.  I hope this post helps someone, besides myself. :)

Mosiah 3:17:

 17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be ^ano other name given nor any other way nor means whereby ^bsalvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the ^cLord Omnipotent. 

Yesterday I read an online news article (dated back from 4/26/12) about a man who went into a grocery store in Utah, and began stabbing random people with a knife.  After he had harmed many people, a man who was carrying a gun pointed it at the stabber and yelled for him to stop, which he did.  I commented on a friend's Nerdbook wall that that guy likely saved lots of lives by having a gun with him.  It occurred to me that it was not proper to write that he "saved lives", but I did it anyways.  How else would you phrase that?

It's funny/cool that this verse is what came to mind when I sat down at my computer to write.  I had started editing a post on 1 Nephi 1:16, (which is long overdue), but Mosiah 3:17 came to mind.  When I read the verse, it all made sense.  

The man prepared with the gun did not save those lives.  God did.  

I'd like to know what passed through the gun carrier's mind that day.  Does he always carry a gun?  What prompted him to be certified to carry?  Did the Spirit lead him in years of preparation, to take proper classes on how to hold, safely carry, and properly NOT use it?  He clearly used self restraint, as my friend who passed the story (and is a cop) said he would have shot the man if it had been him.  (And in his state, he would have been legally allowed to do so.)  The gun carrier clearly listened to the Spirit that day.  He was well prepared, well controlled, and no doubt inspired by God.  I don't care what god he may or may not serve; I know God was the "salvation" of those lives.  

It also makes me wonder what the shoppers in the store were thinking.  Were they praying for their safety, once they realized what was going on?  Will they survive their wounds?  Were the prayers of parents, brothers, and sisters answered?  Are those wounded now drawing closer to God, or instead blaming him for the madman's use of agency?

It's interesting that in Mosiah 3:17, King Benjamin tells us ever so clearly, that salvation is the Lord Omnipotent's.  We can choose to believe in him, or rely on our own "arm" for our safety.  I believe the gun carrier was prepared by God, as the Nephites so often were.  This story is simply referring to a temporal salvation of the grocery shopper's mortal lives.  But in an eternal sense, it is only in and through Christ that we are saved. 

xo