State and Church

The balance of state and church is a precarious one. As I have written on previously, Alma and Mosiah had an interchange on a religious issue, one which was of a spiritual nature. On that occasion, Mosiah, the acting King, rightly deferred the issue back to Alma, the acting high priest, to settle. On a separate occasion though, members of the church found themselves being persecuted physically due to their belief system. This time, with the well-being of his citizens at stake, Mosiah intervened on an issue that dealt with the public safety.

 Mosiah 27:1 And now it came to pass that the persecutions which were inflicted on the church by the unbelievers became so great that the church began to murmur, and complain to their leaders concerning the matter; and they did complain to Alma. And Alma laid the case before their king, Mosiah. And Mosiah consulted with his priests.
 2 And it came to pass that king Mosiah sent a proclamation throughout the land round about that there should not any unbeliever persecute any of those who belonged to the church of God.

LESSON LEARNED: The governments of sovereign states have an obligation to protect their populace. This includes issues that may have their roots in spiritual matters.

FEEDBACK: WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THIS?

Climb Your Wall

A missionary new in the field recently recounted her surprise at being spurned by the people in the area, even in passing as she greeted them on the street. This reminds me of my own experience as a missionary, when so many people wouldn’t even make eye contact with us as we would try and greet them. Rejection and discouragement seem to be part and parcel of sharing the word of God. The Book of Mormon is replete with similar examples of prophets and messengers being rejected. Should we think to have an easier time of it than they did? Likewise, should we think that we will be any less blessed in our efforts than these prophets were? Of course not. The Lord loves his servants, and is probably able to bless them even more when they carry on faithfully in the face of rejection. The prophet Samuel in The Book of Mormon is an example of this. It the face of rejection and being cast out, he magnified his efforts and presence even more by preaching atop the city wall to the people below.

 Helaman 13:2 And it came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land.
 3 But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.
 4 And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart.

LESSON LEARNED: Rejection of the word is God goes hand in hand with the sharing of it. This should come as no surprise, and even opens a opportunity for greater blessings when you press forward in the face of it.

FEEDBACK: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH REJECTION IN SHARING THE WORD OF GOD, AND HOW DID YOU RESPOND TO IT?

Look and Life

Why is it that some of us are all too willing to ignor warnings when danger is eminent? Hurricane Irma is currently bearing down on the Caribbean and is on course to hit southern Florida. The governor of Florida has declared a state of emergency, similar to the declaration in Texas prior to Hurricane Harvey’s arrival. But in both storms, a small number of individuals have been too cavalier or curious to heed these warnings and feel they can stay and wait it out. In the case of Hurricane Harvey, this put rescue workers at risk as they waded through floodwaters to carry these would-be hapless heroes to safety. The Book of Mormon expounds on this same principle: an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

 1 Nephi 17: 41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

LESSON LEARNED: The Lord asks that we exercise wisdom as well as faith when we are given warnings.

FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU WITNESSED ANY EXAMPLES OF THIS BEFORE?

Half of Everything

The tax burden currently in place in the United States is the highest of any country in the world. I lived in Sweden many years ago, and it was always a topic of discussion how onerous their high taxes were – reaching or exceeding 50% of your income for some. But Sweden, and all of Scandinavia for that matter, realized that this error was stunting economic growth, so they overhauled their tax code in order that their economies could once again prosper. Here in the United States, however, we are now approaching the same high tax brackets – 30-50% for some of the highest income individuals. When you add in the state taxes that are also required, it becomes a huge burden. Thankfully, strides are being made by the current sitting president to lower the percentages and remove this affliction so that growth can once again take place.

 Mosiah 7:22 And all this he did, for the sole purpose of bringing this people into subjection or into bondage. And behold, we at this time do pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites, to the amount of one half of our corn, and our barley, and even all our grain of every kind, and one half of the increase of our flocks and our herds; and even one half of all we have or possess the king of the Lamanites doth exact of us, or our lives.
 23 And now, is not this grievous to be borne? And is not this, our affliction, great? Now behold, how great reason we have to mourn.

LESSON LEARNED: Taxation is important for any economy. But it should be limited in its scope to meet the basic necessities of the country, not to glut or support the population by way of entitlements.

FEEDBACK: WHAT ARE YOUR FEELING ABOUT TAXATION AND HOW DOES IT APPLIES TO THIS PASSAGE IN THE BOOK OF MORMON?

Must Be Fulfilled

Most jobs just need to get done. The is particularly the case when on the Lord’s errand, because He has things He needs accomplished. Missionaries learn this early in their assigned areas, and discover that following their schedules and tasks with exactness and obedience is the formula to being blessed. Nephi also learned this lesson early in The Book of Mormon, and attacked his tasks directly with thoughtfulness and a lack of complaining. His oldest brothers Laman and Lemuel chose instead to learn the hard way. They would approach commandments with questions, fears and doubtful hearts. But on the rare occasions when the older brothers were whipped into shape and everyone was one the same spiritual page, the Lord was able to strengthen the whole family unit and to bless them more.

 1 Nephi 17:2 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.
 3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

LESSON LEARNED: When on the Lord’s errand, we will be most blessed when we put our fears and doubts behind us and performed our necessary tasks without murmuring.

FEEDBACK: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS?

Serve One Another

Hurricane Harvey recently wrecked havoc on southern Texas and Louisiana, leaving thousands homeless in its wake.  It has been enlightening to see people pull together, of all religions and persuasions, to reach out and serve the victims. In a world that seems to be driving us more and more toward an inward mindset (it’s all about me) rather than an outward one (putting others first), this has been refreshing to see. But a firestorm of marketing and social propaganda is increasingly aimed at getting the individual to focus inward: my rights, my entitlements, my life, my choice, my personal happiness. Conversely, the Lord’s pathway to happiness is the one taught by the Savior – to lose oneself in the service of others. By doing so, we find real happiness and our real value. It’s probably no surprise that the route to developing an outward mindset begins with the family. In the family setting, we are forced to solve problems and consider the needs and wishes of others over ourselves. It is also no wonder that Satan, via intense propaganda, seeks to attack the family and thwart this innate avenue of service designed by the Lord. 

 Mosiah 4:14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.
 15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.

LESSON LEARNED: The Lord teaches us to serve one another and look outward to the needs of others over ourselves. He has created the family unit to allow us to learn this. Satan seeks to thwart this plan.

FEEDBACK: WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY UNIT?

Abish Shares Truth

In conclusion, I end this volume in the same way it began -- with a tribute to remarkable woman.  Abish, like Sarah, was a woman of amazing faith.  Both of them possessed a love for the Lord and a propensity for obedience.  Sarah was carried on the faith of her family until the moment that her personal conversion came.  In the case of Abish, we learn of the fortitude that comes from living as a quiet but persistent follower of Christ while living primarily amongst non-believers. Such is the task of many a single man or woman today who, while living in societies full of faithless peers, press forward with a determination to cling to that which they know to be true. We learn from Abish that no matter what level of apathy or opposition to religion we may confront, we can still be true to our own sure witness.  We also learn from her that we should be prepared to open our mouths and share that which we hold dear when the opportunity presents itself.

 Alma 19:16 And it came to pass that they did call on the name of the Lord, in their might, even until they had all fallen to the earth, save it were one of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father—
 17 Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people.

LESSON LEARNED: Though we may be shy in our beliefs and find it difficult to share the Gospel, we should hold fast to what we know to be true. Eventually, an opportunity will present itself to share with others what we believe.

FEEDBACK: HOW DOES THE EXPERIENCE OF ABISH GIVE YOU HOPE IN YOUR QUEST TO SHARE THE GOSPEL?

Purpose in Tragedy

It is difficult to comprehend any purpose behind severe tragedy. This is particularly the case when it occurs on a grand scale to innocent people. The travails and sacrifices of the Martin and the Willie and the other handcart companies are well-known examples. But while tragic in their day, these incidents have resulted in a high degree of gratitude and faithfulness in the descendants of these faithful pioneers. For many, this sheds at least some purpose on why it happened. More difficult in modern times is understanding any purpose being the spontaneous atrocities of 9/11, or the 1,700 victims taken in the Indonesia tsunami of 2004. The Book of Mormon contains several similar epic tragic events, but one in particular stands out as spontaneously happening to innocent faithful believers. While still incomprehensible on many levels, The Book of Mormon states that the Lord had a purpose for allowing the incident to proceed as it did.

 Alma 14:9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.
 10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
 11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

LESSON LEARNED: There seems to be a lack of purpose most tragedy, and faith can be shaken to its limits. But in some instances, there are reasonings that transcends the understanding of man.

FEEDBACK: HOW DO YOU RECONCILE EPIC TRAGEDIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR FAITH?

Procrastination of Repenting

Procrastination has become an art form for many Americans. I read recently that 78% of people are living from paycheck to paycheck, and have little to no savings put away for a rainy day, let alone for retirement. This is all well and good for today, but delaying gratification is a necessary component of life and is a lesson we are meant to learn while here on the earth. This pertains as well to spiritual matters, in particular repenting. We cannot live sin to sin, similarly like we shouldn’t live paycheck to paycheck. The process of repenting is a daily one, and should be incorporated into the fiber of our beings.

 Alma 34:32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

LESSON LEARNED: Procrastination is a dangerous sport, and particularly so when it comes to repenting. We have been put on the earth for a finite period of time and, just like saving money for a rainy day, it is necessary that we repent on a daily basis.

FEEDBACK: WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT REPENTING ON A DAILY BASIS?

Nurtured Past Fear

The Lord has promised He will bless us. But His blessings are requisite on us having the necessary faith that precedes each one, and this includes casting aside our self-doubts and fears. We read of perhaps the most striking example of this in the book of Ether, where the Brother of Jared is permitted to see the Lord. This is due to his extreme faith, though the Lord tests that faith even during the process of receiving the blessing. From viewing a finger, to visualizing the full Son of God, to being promised he will return to the Lord’s presence, the Lord guides the brother of Jared stepwise past his fears until He can bless him with all He has. This example teaches us the process of pressing forward in faith as we seek the Lord’s blessings.

 Ether 3:5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.
 6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.
 7 And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?
 8 And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.
 9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?
 10 And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.
 11 And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?
 12 And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.
 13 And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

LESSON LEARNED: The Lord seeks to bless His children, and will nurture us through our fears in order to do so.

FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE OF WORKING THROUGH YOUR FEARS TO RECEIVE A BLESSING OF THE LORD?

Evidence Beyond Denial

There are so many dooms-day style predictions in the world today. Global warming, economic collapse, impending nuclear war, Y2K, zero population; the list goes on and on and waxes and wanes over time. Most of the predictions fade with time, while some come to fruition but only partially. The reality is that many of these preoccupations are predicated of the whims of man and for a variety of reasons, but they are not backed by spiritual/scriptural guidance.  The real tragedies in life (ie, hurricanes, terrorist attacks) seem to hit unannounced, yet the world always seems to move on. The bible and The Book of Mormon, however, are both replete with warnings regarding the last days, and the eventual Second Coming and judgement of man. Many deny these evidences and decry modern miracles with the same fervor they use to ramp up their doomsday predictions. But in the end, evidences with overrule denial, and reality will hit everyone, even if it takes up to the very last moment.

 Mormon 9:2 Behold, will ye believe in the day of your visitation—behold, when the Lord shall come, yea, even that great day when the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, yea, in that great day when ye shall be brought to stand before the Lamb of God—then will ye say that there is no God?
 3 Then will ye longer deny the Christ, or can ye behold the Lamb of God? Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?

LESSON LEARNED: There is no shortage of opinions when it comes to dooms-day scenarios in the world today. But the ones that have a true spiritual basis, through both the bible and The Book of Mormon, are regarding the impending Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

FEEDBACK: HOW DOES THIS UNDERSTANDING WEIGH AGAINST ANY ANXIETY YOU HAVE REGARDING WORLDLY DOOMS-DAY SCENARIOS?

Atonement Saves Children

One of the principles taught through the restored gospel is the salvation of little children who die before the age of accountability. While many religions in the Christian world advocate infant and child baptism, the teachings within the gospel of Jesus Christ reveal that children are innocent and saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon clarifies that this is an empiric blessing that counteracts Adam's fall, and this is not conditioned simply upon the child’s innocent state. Whether or not an infant were able to sin or remain pure, the truth is that they would still have been lost if it weren’t for the atonement.

 Mosiah 3:16 And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.

LESSON LEARNED: It is hard to imagine an innocent infant or child who dies young won’t be saved, and this thought makes infant baptism seem so cruel and foolish. But The Book of Mormon teaches that if there had been no atonement, even innocent children who are incapable of sin would have been lost.

FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE DEATH OF A YOUNG ONE AND FOUND SOLICE IN THE JOY OF THE ATONEMENT?

The Forgotten Language

Many of us who have studied foreign languages in the past have unfortunately forgotten much of what we learned. The same can be said for many other subjects of study – I am always saddened to think how I spent hundreds of hours learning Chemistry in my premedical days, but I don’t remember a lick of it now. It just seems kind of unfair. But The Book of Mormon gives us hope in this regard. In terms of the resurrection, Jacob teaches us we will receive a full restoration of the knowledge we have accumulated in this life. I love this teaching. It only stands to reason that if we are going to have a full recollection of all our guilt and joy, that all other aspects of knowledge (including my foreign language and Chemistry knowledge) will be fully restored as well.

 2 Nephi 9:13 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.

 14 Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.

LESSON LEARNED: I no longer worry that I will lose the skills of knowledge I develop as I get older. I now understand that they will be fully restored as part of the resurrection.

FEEDBACK: HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR EXCITEMENT AND WILLINGNESS TO LEARN NEW INFORMATION?

The Unspeakable Joy

Our youngest daughter called us on the phone from the Minneapolis airport this morning. She is en route from the Missionary Training Center to St. Louis, Missouri, which will be her field of service. She is so excited and happy. In our 30 minutes together, she shared many small miracles and wonderful things from the MTC, in particular her love for her companion and her district. The most moving thing for us in the conversation was when was asked her to share her testimony. The line fell silent as she broke down in quiet tears for about 20 seconds. Then she said, “I wish there were a way to put in words how real the Spirit is. My life has already changed forever since coming out, and I feel more confident and happier than I ever have been before.” She expressed love for her parents and her family in bringing her to where she is today, and said she can't imagine what it would have been like to miss out on this experience.

Alma 26:16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

LESSON LEARNED: The joy associated with full-time missionary work is intense and life-changing. It can’t fully be described in words; it can only be experienced.

LESSON LEARNED: HAVE YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO FEEL OF THIS JOY IN THE PAST?

Trust and Delegation

As righteous and beloved a leader that King Benjamin was in The Book of Mormon, he was still only one person with a limited sphere of influence. But he wisely chose for the assistance of other prophets in order to teach and bring peace to his people. Wise spiritual leaders do not try and do everything themselves, and know that it is impossible to do so. They learn that delegation is the key to success, and successful delegation begins with trust. This trust is centered on loving those who work with you, trusting in their own stewardships, and denying yourself the temptation to micro-manage things just your own way. This style of leadership is employed via the righteous exercise of the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Under the delegation of the priesthood keys, miracles continue to happen on a daily basis.

Words of Mormon 1:18 Wherefore, with the help of these, king Benjamin, by laboring with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul, and also the prophets, did once more establish peace in the land.

LESSON LEARNED: Wise leaders learn that delegation and trust are important elements of success outcomes.

FEEDBACK: WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF LETTING GO AND TRUSTING THOSE YOU WORK WITH?

The Final Evacuation

The evacuation of missionaries from Europe at the outbreak of World War II is a harrowing tale filled with many close calls and miracles. Following the aftermath of World War I, dark clouds of war again gathered in Germany in 1938. Church leaders in Salt Lake City were understandably concerned, and it was determined it was time to implement a plan to withdraw the missionaries. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, who was touring the European missions during the summer of 1939, was appointed by the First Presidency to supervise the evacuation. He and his wife Jesse were among the last Church personnel to make it through the Dutch border before it was closed. The blessings of having apostles and prophets to guide the children of the Lord cannot be overemphasized. Their presence brings protection, both physical and spiritual.  There are many cycles in The Book of Mormon that show the blessings of their leadership, followed by times of pride in which they are rejected and even killed. Towards the end of the book, the people have become so wicked that the Lord finally removes His servants altogether due to their disobedience. It was the final spiritual evacuation of prophets that takes place in The Book of Mormon, and heralded the impending destruction of the Nephites.

 Mormon 1:13 But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people.
 14 And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief.

LESSON LEARNED: The blessings of having apostles and prophets are physical ones as well as spiritual, and cannot be overemphasized. Their withdrawal from amongst a people is an impending sign of forthcoming destruction.

FEEDBACK: HOW DOES THIS IMPACT YOUR APPRECIATION OF HAVING APOSTLES AND PROPHETS?