Don't Be Aggressor

The geopolitical climate in the United States is really heating up all of a sudden. We have seen atrocities throughout the world, most recently with an ISIS attack on civilians in Stockholm, and even worse, the use of chemical weapons on the people of Syria by their own government. It is a sad state of affairs. In retaliation, President Trump ordered a bomb attack in Syria on the airport runways where the planes with the chemical weapons embarked. Also, things are getting rough in North Korea, with their dictator threatening to run another nuclear test. So US warships are headed to the Korean Peninsula to ensure “peace in the region.” Lastly, the US dropped a huge bomb in Afghanistan today on an ISIS tunnel network. With all these happenings, it is difficult to discern who is the aggressor and who is the victim. But one point is for sure: The Book of Mormon teaches that war is allowed in defense of your homeland, and we are not to be an aggressor nation that attacks others in their own lands.

Mormon 4:4 And it was because the armies of the Nephites went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no power over them.

LESSON LEARNED: We should defend our homelands to the death, but refrain from attacking others in their homelands.

FEEDBACK: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

Doing the Impossible

The Lord’s ways are not man’s ways. This concept is clearly portrayed in The Book of Mormon. Sometimes what the Lord requires of us can seem nearly impossible. But the missing elements that bridge impossibilities to realities are faith and hard work:

 1 Nephi 17:17 And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.
 18 And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.
 
 2 Nephi 1:4 And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.

LESSON LEARNED: We all have our oceans to cross and our mountains to divide. With faith and hard work, nothing asked of us by the Lord is impossible.

FEEDBACK: WHAT SEEMINGLY INSURMOUNTABLE TASK HAVE YOU OVERCOME WITH FAITH AND HARD WORK?

The Pride Cycle

The Book of Mormon talks a lot about pride. This is referred to as the “pride cycle,” because throughout the book, one is able to see the same pattern of humility->pride->punishment->repentance play itself out over and over again. So what are the earliest tenants of pride that creep into the humility phase of a society? They are often difficult to discern. But in 4th Nephi in The Book of Mormon, we get an interesting glimpse. In this book, the Savior has already appeared and has ascended back into heaven. The people are promised that they will have three generations of peace and prosperity, followed by a fourth generation that will fall away from the truth. In this fourth generation, it is the subtle deception of wearing fancy apparel and wanting to appear better than others that is the first step into pride before they begin to falter.

 4 Nephi 24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.
 25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.

LESSON LEARNED: Pride is a tricky device of Satan. The desire to distinguish ourselves above others is subtle but strong. This often first occurs with our outward appearance, including the apparel we wear.

FEEDBACK: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS?

The Good Seed

One of my avid hobbies is gardening. I love going out into the garden first thing in the early morning to inspect what is going on.  A garden is such a living thing -- it changes day to day. The last few days I have been waiting patiently for some squash seeds to sprout. I sowed them about two weeks ago, and I have diligently watered and pruned the site. I finally went out this morning with more seed to start over, thinking the seeds had died. But to my surprise, on this very day, two seedlings had popping above the ground’s surface. The seed had been good all along. I had just needed to be patient.

 Alma 32:31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
 32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
 33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

LESSON LEARNED: Hope, like a seed, will grow and swell into bona fide faith, but we must be patient. Because the feelings associated with the seed of faith are good, we may know they are from God.

FEEDBACK: WHAT GOOD FEELINGS OF THE HEART HAVE YOU HAD AFTER YOUR PROLONGED PATIENCE AND DILIGENCE?

A Marvelous Work

Missionary calls are coming right and left this time of year. Ghana, Oakland, Mexico City, Florida, Argentina -- these are just a few of the calls to various missions we have heard this past month for acquaintances of ours. Elder Bednar spoke in the Priesthood Session of General Conference on Saturday, referencing the fact that missionaries are NOT called to a place. Rather, they are called to serve as a missionary for the Church. They are then ASSIGNED to a place. The Book of Mormon is in alignment with describing the mission field as an activity of service by referencing it into the term, “a marvelous work”. Truly prophetic words in an 1830 translation.

1 Nephi 22:8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.
 9 And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
 12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

LESSON LEARNED: The “marvelous work” stated in The Book of Mormon has brought hosts of people to the knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This prediction in the 1830 translation adds credence to The Book of Mormon’s truthfulness in predicting its own reception.

FEEDBACK: HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE IMPACT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF MISSIONARIES AND MISSION SERVICE?

The Simple Things

Elder A. Whitney Clayton spoke in General Conference today on the power associated with obeying the little commandments on a regular basis. He stated: “Over time, I have observed that those who are deliberate about doing the ‘small and simple things’ -- obeying in seemingly little ways—are blessed with faith and strength that go far beyond the actual acts of obedience themselves and, in fact, may seem totally unrelated to them. It may seem hard to draw a connection between the basic daily acts of obedience and solutions to the big, complicated problems we face. But they are related. In my experience, getting the little daily habits of faith right is the single best way to fortify ourselves against the troubles of life, whatever they may be. Small acts of faith, even when they seem insignificant or entirely disconnected from the specific problems that vex us, bless us in all we do.”

Alma 37:6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

LESSON LEARNED: Obeying the simple things regularly -- church attendance, scripture reading, prayer, journal writing, family history, home teaching, temple attendance -- have a power associated with them that is synergistic beyond the acts themselves.

FEEDBACK: HAVE YOU NOTICED AN INCREASE IN YOUR SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF AND BEFORE THE LORD WHEN YOU HAVE OBEYED THE SIMPLE COMMANDMENTS?

A Prophet's Voice

Tonight it was our privilege to receive counsel from a prophet of God. President Thomas S. Monson spoke on charity in the priesthood session of General Conference, and quoted scripture that says without charity, we are nothing. For the brethren, he stated that we aren't honoring the priesthood of God if we are not kind to others. He mentioned that the scriptures teach us that the righteous exercise of the priesthood is dependent upon our living the principles of kindness, charity, and love, and he particularly emphasized being kind. “Brethren,” he said, “let us examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior’s example by being kind, loving, and charitable. As we do so, we will be in a better position to call down the powers of heaven for ourselves, for our families, and for our fellow travelers in this sometimes difficult journey back to our heavenly home.”

 Moroni 7:43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
 44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not,and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

LESSON LEARNED: Kindness is a component of charity. It is the attribute that is currently impressing the prophet that we need to emphasize in our lives.

FEEDBACK: WHAT EXAMPLES OF KINDNESS HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU IN YOUR PAST?