Snippets for Relief Society 2014 :) Use search term Joseph Fielding Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks.



I'm going totally maverick with this lesson today.  Every year we have a lesson on missionary work and it's a dear topic.  But I've also written quite a bit for it already, for each of the last two years when this same lesson topic came up.



The section below includes resources and links to different ways of how we can do missionary work.

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This President Snow quote which follows makes my eyes water. It is one of the most humble, simple reasons I've ever heard for why any of us should be interested in missionary work - and yet it shakes the roots of my soul.

"We dedicate our lives which we hold as not dear to us, in order that the world may understand that there is a God in the eternal worlds; in order that they may understand that God has something to do at the present time with the affairs of the children of men. The world is passing into feelings and opinions of infidelity. Even among the Christian portions of the human family, thousands and tens of thousands, though they are not willing to confess it because of being unpopular, do not believe that God has anything to do with the children of men. We have to stand forth and make sacrifices in order that that belief and knowledge may come to the children of men."

The bolded statement is absolutely true in our time today. There are committees and forums of prominent pastors and scholars of modern Christian thought who strongly believe God is fairly unreachable, disinterested and impersonal to us today. For all the saved-by-Jesus praising and fervent attackers of others' religions that they are - in general, they do not embrace the notion of a highly personal connection with God.

The idea of personal revelation, or any kind of modern revelation and having a testimony is quite foreign to them. It is one of the darkest tragedies of our time. Many a missionary can tell multiple stories of people's interest and faith being woken up, when they had them kneel and say a direct, personable, non-recited prayer to Heavenly Father for the first time. Despite whatever Christian religion they have been their whole lives.  I've seen this phenomenon myself both on my mission and just recently as a ward missionary.

How close would you feel to Heavenly Father if personal revelation, personal prayer, companionship of the Holy Ghost and having a testimony were not part of your religious understanding?

Are not some of the sweetest gospel moments we have very personal ones graced by our companionship with the Holy Ghost?  How much hope would there be without these moments of joy and comfort?

Despite our willingness to share whatever we can with others, we are faced with opposition and negative opinions of our faith.  Often the stories people tell about us are not even true - just urban legends which persist.  Others are embellished or exaggerated or out-of-balance (i.e. singular experiences which do not accurately reflect the Church, its teachings or the majority of LDS members as a whole).

Lorenzo described the same thing in his day:

"There are things about a mission which are not altogether agreeable to our young Elders. They realize that they have to sacrifice the pleasures of home, and they understand that they are going among people who will not always feel gratified at what they have to say to them..."

This can be really scary for a lot of us. The fear of not knowing what to say or not expressing it well enough in the moment keeps us from saying so much more.  The following link is one of my favorite quick resources for whatever hard-to-answer question we may come across.  (It is probably good to remind the sisters that it's ok to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out and get back to you.")

A lot of current, popular questions appear about the middle of the following page.

Mormonism 101: FAQ

There are so many different ways to be involved in missionary work today. With all the new missionaries sent out and countries and missions being opened, Salt Lake has told us they need all of our support.

One way to help, as we have been asked by President Monson himself in the last General Conference, is to donate to the General Mission Fund if we can.  This helps fund all these new missions and missionaries. There is even a line item right on the tithing slip to donate a few extra dollars when we pay our tithing.




On top of that, LDS.org now has a Service Mission page with interesting opportunities to serve behind the scenes which fits every time schedule. From only a few hours a month to 32 hours a week. The list of service missions available is varied and interesting. They need just about every skill you can think of and a lot of the work can be done from home. I'm a CSM myself (Church Service Missionary) and I work on the LDS.org response team for about 10 hours each week. It is very interesting, involved work. One of the best decisions I ever made! Here is the name tag I wear to church:

Update - I just got released today.  It's been an awesome ride.

LDS Service Missions Page 

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Now for the best part.  Maybe they timed this lesson with Elder Bednar's latest broadcast on purpose?  If you haven't seen this video yet - this is the BEST prep for this month's missionary lesson EVER.  It will fill you with ideas for your lesson and for your personal life.  As in...I can hardly sit still when I watch this!.  Actually, I was there at the Marriott Center when Elder Bednar spoke last month.  It was so powerful it was overwhelming.

The link below is to the short version and there is a link on the page to the full version.  I recommend both.  You may even want to use a segment of the video for your class.

FLOOD THE EARTH WITH GOODNESS

If you can get your sisters visualizing themselves sharing the gospel - with some of these newest ideas - you have done an awesome service.

Good luck with this!

Here is an old Celtic classic redone so beautifully it is celestial!  I watched the video several times and was mesmerized.

I'm including the song introduction and the lyrics. They were a bit hard to find:

"The most beloved song of Gordon B. Hinckley, "Danny Boy" was originally intended as a love song sung by a girl to her sweetheart, but it is now more often associated with brotherly affection between friends. When McKay Crockett collaborated with Keith Evans for this arrangement, Evans viewed the lyrics in a different way: about a father struggling to share his feelings with his departing son. In the newly written final verse, the father contemplates that perhaps he will outlive his precious Danny Boy."

Link to "Danny Boy"

This is my little Angela Rose ~ she will always be our favorite rose and such a joyful being!

A rose by any other name is still the same...but a beggar is not.

Somewhere a few months ago, I read a blog post which described how many street beggars and pan handlers the author ran into at corners in SLC asking for cash.

She felt really conflicted over that.

Apparently there seems to be more street begging in SLC than just about anywhere else in the U.S.  Pan handlers do particularly well in Utah because we Mormons are the biggest softies for this kind of thing.  After all we're admonished in Mosiah 4:

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

There it is, we should give to whomever asks! Right?

Well, only if you stop reading the verses right there or take the one bolded sentence out of context by itself.

The Lord's advice is so much more in balance than this.

The rest of the advice found in a couple more Mosiah verses gives more perspective to the understanding of who to give to and how - but gets overlooked, or doesn't register. We really aren't supposed to hand out cash to whomever asks.

In fact, in D&C 42:42 it says:

"Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer."

You're the laborer.  You're the one earning a living or in running a household in partnership with a spouse who earns a living.  You're about to make a decision of whom to give your food and clothes to or the means to buy food and clothes.

If they are intentionally or habitually idle, the Lord says "don't."

These two verses, the first from Mosiah 4 and the second from D&C 42 almost seem opposing at first glance, but they're really not.

This understanding really hit home as I read the LDS Church's Welfare manual (Providing The Lord's Way: Summary of a Leader’s Guide to Welfare). Talk about an inspired program! The U.S. Gov't welfare program traps people in consensual, chronic dependency, whereas the Lord's welfare program is designed to lift people up to a better, more empowered and self-reliant state. And the Lord can bless us so much more in our self-reliance place than he can in our intentionally idle state. (Intentional, as in when we have capacity for other options.)

Let me quote a couple of ideas from the manual which really influenced me:

•Sustain life, not lifestyle. The bishop provides basic life-sustaining necessities. He does not provide assistance to maintain an affluent living standard.

•Provide commodities before cash. When possible, the bishop provides members with commodities instead of giving them money or paying their bills.

These are really wise guidelines. The Church has found over the years, as well as from the collective feedback of 29,000+ wards and branches, giving out cash mostly produced dependencies and didn't solve problems. But rather, enabled dysfunctional situations to continue on. Cash fuels a self-feeding, dependent cycle most of the time.

Oftentimes giving cash is done out of generosity and with an altruistic heart with the best of intentions.  Nonetheless, we are clearly instructed not to do it in a way which creates or encourages ongoing dependencies.  When we rob people of self-reliance, we rob them of specific blessings and open windows from the Lord.

Modern street begging is more often an intentional idleness and when we support it, we're actually supporting idleness and so often, a drug or alcohol addiction.  All of which contribute to the harm of the individual.

My husband compares giving out cash to a doctor prescribing painkillers. Not to a patient who needed some temporarily after an operation, but rather to someone who became addicted and is suffering the pain of withdrawals if they don't get more.  Yes, another prescription or cash provides some immediate, temporary relief from a painful situation, but it won't be long before the pain returns.  Since the cash or the prescription doesn't solve the real problem - they'll be back in the next month or two.  In fact they'll be back over and over until the true problem is resolved.

Let's go back to that verse in Mosiah 4:16 and read the last phrase:

"...and turn him out to perish."

By the Lord's own definition, a beggar is someone about to perish.  That's important to these set of giving instructions from the Lord.

Also, Mosiah 4:17 describes a beggar as someone in misery and suffering.

This part of the guideline gets forgotten.  The Lord tells us the beggar he is referring to by measuring their condition.  What makes a beggar a true beggar worthy of our attention as outlined in Mosiah 4?

Their present state.

You can see them.  Are they miserable (vs. 17)?  Are they suffering (vs. 17)?  Are they about to perish if you don't feed them or clothe them (vs. 16)?  Is the condition serious?  If not, then these are not the beggars the Lord refers to in Mosiah 4.

Are they healthy looking, well-fed or even decently dressed?  Are they energetic and upbeat and standing there in reasonable strength and steadiness?

If so, you may be feeding intentional idleness rather than a beggar and that situation falls to D&C 42 where the Lord says don't encourage it.

Today, I saw a good-looking, well-built kid in the Wal-mart parking lot with a cardboard sign:  "Why lie?  Need weed."

Seriously.

But wait!  What about the part where we're not supposed to judge?

17 "Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—"

Read the verse again. The Lord never instructs us not to discern a situation, of whether someone is about to perish or is suffering and miserable or not.  In fact we're suppose to keep our eyes open for such situations and "observe and serve."  Even more, we're to use our discernment constantly and even pray for the gift of discernment.  Instead, He instructs us not to condemn and leave beggars to their starvation or perishing because they "deserve it." That's a huge misstep in the Lord's eyes.

Fortunately in our modern culture, few of us would ever do this anyway!

Sometimes cash is a generous, and inspired gift.  But usually those are situations where it was not asked for nor did the receiver expect it.

The Lord stresses self-reliance for ourselves and for others around us.

"Church members are responsible for their own spiritual and temporal well-being. Blessed with the gift of agency, they have the privilege of setting their own course, solving their own problems, and striving to become self-reliant. Members do this under the inspiration of the Lord and with the labor of their own hands." (Providing The Lord's Way: Summary of A Leader's Guide To Welfare)

I love being able to understand this because it resolves feelings of conflict I have when faced with pan handlers.  It never felt good to say no, but yet it seldom felt good to say yes as well.  Now I just make sure to keep my eyes open and be generous with talents, times and means when a true situation arises.

Hope this helps!

Fall is here and it's gorgeous.

Snippets for Relief Society 2014 :) Use search term Joseph Fielding Smith to view more for this week or for other weeks.


“Few things in life are as important as communing with Deity in prayer.”

Amen, President Joseph Fielding Smith.

What a great lesson!  This is one of those glow-in-the-dark, beautiful soul sensation kind of lessons.

I love prayer - everything about it just sings privilege.  I'm in awe it even works.

Maybe sometimes it doesn't feel this way - especially when our prayers are prompted by fear or pain.

Or when it feels like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling.

Prayer is an art.  It's one of those things you practice and go to school for (scriptures, church, general conference, good books, BYU Ed week, attempted faithful living) and at some point you turn a corner with it.

After turning "the" corner - it becomes majestic and one of our best friends ever.

In fact President JF Smith describes the moment prayer evolves into what it was meant to be - when we make "the spirit of prayer 'part of our very being.'”

Elder Uchtdorf has some wonderful advice for where to start:

"Isn’t it wonderful to know that we don’t have to be perfect to experience the blessings and gifts of our Heavenly Father? We don’t have to wait to cross the finish line to receive God’s blessings. In fact, the heavens begin to part and the blessings of heaven begin to distill upon us with the very first steps we take toward the light..."

Love this apostle!

"The perfect place to begin is exactly where you are right now. It doesn’t matter how unqualified you may think you are or how far behind others you may feel. The very moment you begin to seek your Heavenly Father, in that moment, the hope of His light will begin to awaken, enliven, and ennoble your soul..."

He is almost poetic with his words, isn't he? Amazing since English is his second language.

"Lift up your soul in prayer and explain to your Heavenly Father what you are feeling. Acknowledge your shortcomings. Pour out your heart and express your gratitude. Let Him know of the trials you are facing. Plead with Him in Christ’s name for strength and support. Ask that your ears may be opened, that you may hear His voice. Ask that your eyes may be opened, that you may see His light." (General Conference, April 2013)

This divinely debunks myth #1 which we sometimes tell ourselves - we have to overcome all our challenges and shortcomings before we're worthy enough to have meaningful, effective, answered prayers.

The message? Don't wait. Cultivate the art of prayer now. Help our sisters to envision a starting place like Dieter F. Uchtdorf succinctly illustrates and then know it can only go up from there. Prayer can become a habitual deep drink of richness where the soul comes away filled up, loved and empowered. Despite what takes place around you.

Class Question: Have you ever felt an increased sense of well-being after a heartfelt prayer?  Has prayer ever strengthened you in a time of difficulty?

Prayer - Take a moment right now and think about what you would like to say, contemplate what a meaningful prayer for you would include. Think about how awesome feeling close to the heavens would feel right now. If you're anywhere near in the mood, pray your soul and heart and understandings will be opened up to this lesson.

Prayer is one of our greatest secret weapons to navigate this at-war, chaotic world filled with emotional and spiritual land mines  - and yet make our journey successful and a triumph anyway.

Prayer is an overall quality-of-life increaser.

It doesn't mean every moment or everyday will be a triumph or feel wonderful because we habitually pray.  For sure, we'll have bad days and hellish days.  That's normal.  (By the way, "hellish" is found in D&C 123, so I'm taking liberties here.)  What prayer does do over time, is lift us to a higher level of existing.  For example, it can make us equal to the hardships we now face.  And if we pray regularly, the triumphs, the deep ah-hah moments and an increased sense of well-being grace us regularly too.

Main theme of this lesson?  Hopefully, we can encourage our sisters to cultivate the art of regular, meaningful prayer of the soul.

Class Question:  Have you noticed a difference when you make private prayer a daily habit - or even when we make a point to pray more than once a day?  What happens to the quality of prayer when it happens often?

President Smith's opening story, of escaping a storm-ravished canyon when others didn't make it out, is a great example of the power of prayer.  These are the kinds of experiences which can happen to us and we store them away in our treasure chest of cherished soul/heart encounters.  Regular prayer means more treasured experiences to lean back on.

Prayer is a huge plus in our lives. President JF Smith shares a sweet summary of just what prayer does for us:

"Prayer is something that humbles the soul. It broadens our comprehension; it quickens the mind. It draws us nearer to our Father in heaven."

The lesson quotes one of my favorite sermons on prayer from Alma 34 as taught by Amulek:

18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.

19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.

21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.

23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

Class Discussion:  What are some examples of things you pray about?

Continual prayer as President Smith described earlier and Amulek describes in verse 27 can also be thought of as an attitude, a thought process, and a soul's general aim and bearing. For example, being quick to respond when someone else is in need, or keeping an eye out for opportunities to serve and uplift.  As well as quick glances at heaven and pleas in a few words in the instance needed to handle a difficult or foreign situation could all describe a soul drawn out in continual prayer.

Question: What does it mean to you to be drawn out in prayer continually?  What does it feel like?

Power Prayer

Elder Bednar's book "Increase Learning" is a virtual feast.  In fact, if you get the eBook version, it's loaded with 2-3 min videos of him explaining concepts all through the book.  It's one of those books you'll treasure and read again.

I HAD to share this one anecdote he made about prayer. It's about the pattern of creating something spiritually first, then physically - a divine pattern.  The quote is a bit longer than the ones I typically post, but I've never heard prayer described like this before and the concept is a powerful one:

"The patterns used by God in creating the earth are instructive in helping us understand how to make prayer meaningful. In the third chapter of the book of Moses we learn that all things were created spiritually before they were naturally upon the earth.

“And now, behold, I say unto you, that these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, when they were created, in the day that I, the Lord God, made the heaven and the earth,

“And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth” (Moses 3:4–5).

"We learn from these verses that the spiritual creation preceded the temporal creation. In a similar way, meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal creation or the actual execution of the day. Just as the temporal creation was linked to and a continuation of the spiritual creation, so meaningful morning and evening prayers are linked to and are a continuation of each other."

"Consider this example. There may be things in our character, in our behavior, or concerning our spiritual growth about which we need to counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. After expressing appropriate thanks for blessings received, we plead for understanding, direction, and help to do the things we cannot do in our own strength alone. For example, as we pray, we might:

• Reflect on those occasions when we have spoken harshly or inappropriately to those we love the most.

• Recognize that we know better than this, but we do not always act in accordance with what we know.

• Express remorse for our weaknesses and for not putting off the natural man more earnestly.

• Determine to pattern our life after the Savior more completely.

• Plead for greater strength to do and to become better.

"Such a prayer is a key part of the spiritual preparation for our day."

"During the course of the day, we keep a prayer in our heart for continued assistance and guidance—even as Alma suggested: “Let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord” (Alma 37:36)."

"We notice during this particular day that there are occasions where normally we would have a tendency to speak harshly, and we do not; or we might be inclined to anger, but we are not. We discern heavenly help and strength and humbly recognize answers to our prayer. Even in that moment of recognition, we offer a silent prayer of gratitude."

"At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer."

"Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptural admonition to “pray always” (Luke 21:36; 3 Nephi 18:15, 18; Doctrine and Covenants 31:12)."

"Such meaningful prayers are instrumental in obtaining the highest blessings God holds in store for His faithful children."

Wow!  This apostolic explanation about prayer just sets all kinds of sparks off in my heart shrine (my faith place).  No wonder Elder Bednar is an apostle?  Just love this man and my love for his gospel teachings grow the more I study them.

I can tell he wants each and every one of us to have the same experiences he has.  Truly a loving man.

Aren't Heavenly Father and Christ trying to do the same thing?  Give us everything they have, and this earth life is just really part of the process to qualify us for those experiences?  I believe so.

This next part is from one of the most-read posts on this blog.  It's about my own journey with prayer and coming to understand it by some rather unconventional means.  And it opened up prayer for me and now it is one of the most powerful experiences I have in my life - over and over.  I'd like to share how I got there and how anyone can get there if you have time.  If not skip to the closing JFS thoughts.

Best Prayer Ever In Aramaic

Closing Thoughts

President Smith said:

"How careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude. I believe that one of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth are guilty today is the sin of ingratitude..."

Gratitude has been described as an attitude.  I think so.

My husband and I recently had experiences with one of his employees who spent several days in the hospital. She is a terrifically unhappy person. When we visited her, she criticized how bad the nursing care was, she martyred over people in her life for not visiting her enough in the hospital and for being late to pick her up. She complains and downgrades everything around her on an almost daily basis. And although she may feel justified in her observations and her outlook...she is truly miserable. We're all glad she has her own separate office room at our small company.

My husband remarked to me as we left to the hospital parking lot - "she is lucky she has access to such good, modern medical care yet she can't see how fortunate she is."

President JF Smith counsels:

"In our prayers we should pour out our souls in thanksgiving for life and being, for the redeeming sacrifice of the Son of God, for the gospel of salvation, for Joseph Smith and the mighty work of restoration brought to pass through him. We should acknowledge the hand of the Lord in all things and thank him for all things both temporal and spiritual."

Even though it is so much easier and pleasant to do things for people who are appreciative and gracious, I have to wonder if Heavenly Father and Christ counsel us to be grateful more for their sake or for ours?

Gratitude and thanksgiving do something quite different to us than ingratitude, they uplift and rejuvenate us. Positivity makes us happy.  Please and thank you really are magic words.  "Please" acknowledges the favor asked for is really is a gift and "thank you" expresses a grateful acknowledgement.  They uplift both the giver and the taker (most of the time, maybe not so much when they're used sarcastically or as a demand.)

Class Participation:  Name some things you feel grateful for today.  What happens to our minds and attitudes when we start naming and recognizing blessings?  (Our perspective and thinking pattern changes.)

I firmly believe one of the reasons we're counseled to include gratitude for blessings in our prayers is because it helps put our own life in perspective and counteracts the negative self-talk.

We could all use a little of that!

Sisters (and brothers).  This concludes a few thoughts on lesson 22 and prayer.  Hopefully they will help with your preparation and get your own train of thoughts moving.  One good thought deserves another!

Everyone is talking about #meetthemormons movie.  We're actually going to go see this tonight ourselves.

But I want to blog about a different movie - one which affected my soul.  Joel shared the same sentiment about this film - that it had lasting impact.

Joel and I got tickets for the first time ever to the Sunday Morning session of General Conference last week.  It was a special event for us and we flew to SLC just to have this experience.

While we were there, we did the Temple Square tourist thing and had a great time.  I was impressed with how professional the displays and exhibits were presented.  It was high caliber stuff.

Then I saw this movie at the Joseph Smith Memorial building.  Wow!  It made a real impression on me.

It's an hour long but doesn't feel like it.  I thought we were in there for maybe 20-30 minutes.

This is the one church film to show your teenagers and other adults.  It is poignant and rich.  It puts you right there on the ground in Joseph Smith's life in a way I've never experienced before.

I walked out of there loving Joseph Smith in yet another way.

Today I discovered you can watch it online.  So maybe everyone else knew about it - but I'm sharing it today in case you were like me.

Joseph Smith: Prophet Of The Restoration.

Promise you'll watch it?  The LDS Church has really grown up in the film making dept.

Prayer was just covered in Joseph Smith lesson 22, yet for my own sake I had to write this up.

Part of the blog post talks about the "Best Prayer Ever in Aramaic."

It's the original Aramaic version of the Lord's Prayer, but unlike the repetitive version in the English Bible, it is put forth as a powerful formula where you fill in the blanks.  So it can be different each time.

I learned about this at some stake level, Church Education Saturday years ago (I miss those).

Fascinating.  I'll re-quote the Aramaic post here so if you haven't read this yet, it will bring us up to speed:

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Here is a topic near and dear to my heart!  The Lord's prayer - but NOT the English version, rather the original Aramaic version.

Christ teaches us about prayer to the Father in Matthew 6:

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Aramaic is a rich, three-dimensional language. English is a scientific, clinical two-dimensional language. Translating Aramaic into English is difficult and some precious understandings will inevitably be lost in the translations. The Aramaic language assumes that everything happening on the outside is happening on the inside. It is rich in symbolism and multiple meanings. For example, the word "closet" in the above verse is our clinical, dry interpretation. The symbols used to write "closet" in Aramaic can mean "heart shrine". Doesn't that make more sense anyways? Confession: I used to go into my bedroom closet to pray, because I thought that was the literal instruction here. Let me tell you, it doesn't enhance prayer one iota! I look back and chuckle at the comical earnestness.

Even as a little girl the repetitious Lord's Prayer didn't make sense. Christ made a point of telling us not to use vain repetitions, and yet the world treats the Lord's Prayer as just that, a repetition to cite. That seemed most contradictory. On top of that, here was the great I AM, the Master of the Universe, and that prayer didn't seem to do Him justice. It didn't "sound like Him". How would I know, right? I can't explain it, but that was my impression from very young.

Then a few years ago, I accidentally took a class called "The Lord's Prayer in Aramaic". I was at a seminar, and when I saw this as one of the class choices I immediately thought "no thanks!" During lunch, I sat next to and met this fabulous lady named Janie. We hit it off. Then she asked me if I would like to come to her class she was teaching? "Oh sure, which one is it?""The Lord's Prayer in Aramaic." Inwardly, I rolled my eyes, but went out of respect and the interest of friendship. The rest is history. The class was amazing. The new knowledge invigorating to the core of my soul and I gained a dear friend to boot.

She took an hour to go through and explain the symbolism of the Aramaic words in the Lord's prayer - to convey something so ethereal, so sublime, my heart exploded. THAT was what the Lord sounded like! It hit home like no other. And the Lord's prayer was not ever meant to be repetitious. It was a formula, full of powerful possibilities, where you filled in the blanks with what is in your heart and soul. My eyes water still. I cannot do the class justice by trying to repeat the experience here, but I'd like to share some of it. With the help of a book I bought on Aramaic, I've pieced together the Aramaic symbols/meanings to come up with my favorite version of the Lord's Prayer. This isn't doctrine, this is my personal interpretation of Aramaic meanings and inspiration that means a lot to me. It works so well, I am motivated to share, just in case someone out there will enjoy it as much as I do.

To explain so this makes a little more sense - each of the Aramaic characters in a word are themselves made up of illustrative symbols, sometimes several symbols/meanings in a single letter, so the letters themselves can carry some marvelous meanings. By the time you piece a word together, it may end up a most powerful word. Rich, deep and full of meaning. Names for people were chosen with great care, how to spell them, what combination of letters to use because it made a difference. Here is goes:


Hopefully this attempt to share a treasured precept conveys something you can use yourself. This new perspective from Aramaic has changed the experience of my prayers profoundly. They have become far more meaningful on a consistent basis. I relish the true worship and praise contained in the Aramaic.  When I am done praying in this manner, I feel like I've really been somewhere. This deep of praying brings confidence and purpose.

May your own prayers be rich and satisfying and a true buoyant force in your everyday life.

Timshel

*****

At some point I realized Paul paralleled some of the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic himself so I wanted to overlay them in the same place.  The text comes from Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Now let's compare the Aramaic prayer in gold and Paul in blue (some parallels are stronger than others):

Now that's as odd of a blog post title as you could ever expect from here.

I have a completely different view of anti-mormon proselytism and of the dedicated detractors of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They make life interesting.

This is a sincere outlook which is not meant to bait anyone or be smug.

For me, the critics and enemies of the LDS Church may be the best opposition in life I've ever encountered.

I didn't always feel this way, but it turned out to be true over the years.

For example, anti-mormonism has fueled a lot of my present gospel understanding reaching depths and heights it would not have - had my understanding gone unchallenged and unexplored.

There are times incursions to my faith have caused me to reach and reach hard.  There were occasions I wasn't sure if after I reached, there would be anything out there to grab on to, and the fall would be hard.

So surprisingly, there is actually an upside to Mormon bashing for a few of us.  Personally, it keeps me on my toes and forces me to look at issues from unfamiliar sides.  I've spent hours researching, studying and contemplating because of it.  My mind, my heart and my soul have been stretched and challenged and the end experience is quite sweet.

Maybe this is because when I come out the other side of a seemingly daunting, difficult topic or an unsavory point of ridicule, their power to vex is gone and they never gain the same foothold again.  On top of that, the process adds to the dimension and size of my "knowing."

Nonetheless, the huge DOWNSIDE of anti-mormonism is when it confuses or confounds some of my LDS friends.  And some of them do not recover.

Which is why I don't recommend diving into this stuff for most of us.  Unless you are the tireless researcher type who can read court cases and volumes of some of the driest reading material on earth - this is NOT a suggested hobby.

Faith-building is far more valuable than getting into staring contests with doubts.

Some of us are so gifted and creative with faith-building too!

Like Elder Uchtdorf said..."Doubt your doubts before your doubt your faith."

It's a repeating pattern when folks don't scrutinize the validity and source of their doubts but with very little urging will double-dare their faith.  We really are quite hard on ourselves this way.  The irony is our faith brings us peace and well-being.  Our doubts make us unsettled and uptight.

There's a bit of an answer right there.

So I ask, can you think of any stress-free reason to hang onto that doubt, or any rejuvenating reason to wallow in that hearsay?  If not, what's the point really?

So instead of kicking our faith in the pants, try kicking their doubts and "evidences" in the pants maybe?  Trust me, it not only works but it feels so much better.

*****

Here are some repeating patterns from dealing with lots of anti-mormonism - see if you notice them next time?  This will not cover all challenges and situations, but will cover a significant portion of them.

A)  In order for anti-mormonism to work on you, you have to buy into their theory that you're supposed to be uptight about whatever it is they bring up and feel uptight about.  I mean honestly, some of this stuff has nothing whatsoever to do with the huge successes of our religion...even if it were completely true.

I have an automatic habit now.  My self-talk thought process (which is now instantaneous and quick as lightening) goes something like this:  "I have a Book of Mormon, a baptism by immersion, the gift of the Holy Ghost, access to the Priesthood, blessings, laying on of hands, the opportunity to take the Sacrament every week, temple ordinances, personal revelation, treasured experiences with Light and other Saints, and a direct, real-time relationship with the Savior - so is this piece of information going to matter in the grand scheme of things - will it really change any of these things"?

Short version:  "I can see they're really uptight about this, but is it something for me to be uptight over"?

If the answer is "no," it may be time to civilly and politely back out of the exchange and realize this is their "prick to kick" (borrowed from D&C 121:38).

Like one of my girlfriends recently said as she backed out of an emotionally charged debate, "not my circus, not my monkeys."

If the the answer is "maybe," then there are some other aspects to look at and we'll get to those.

But first, uptight is an inferior state of being.  We don't think as thoroughly in that state nor is rational and calm usually present.  You'll notice a lot of times their tactics include tense, uptight verbiage as well as challenging you for a response in the instance.

Whereas they had a good deal of time to compose and gather their viewpoint as well as how they would word their challenge to your faith.

And if you're at a loss for words in that moment, somehow they've made some big point.

This only works if you buy into it.

Now I just say, "...Hmm, it's obvious you've put some time and effort coming up with your opinion/question/challenge.  I'll need some time to research or think it through in order to answer."

That's fair, right?  Not absorbing their uptight condition and not having an immediate response is okay.

B)  How about one of the less intelligent practices of our day (and I'm including everyone in this, not just Mormon bashers)?  Debates where we put dead people on trial and they have no chance to explain, clarify or defend themselves.  There are circumstances and thought processes we are not privy to.

It's a really common tactic to hold people from yesteryear, including those from 200 years ago, to the social norms of today.  The social norms of the 1800's are, in some instances, quite barbaric.  We as humanity, collectively grow up together, line upon line and precept upon precept.  So when the doubts involve some common cultural or social aspect from 200 years ago, and it's being scrutinized by the benchmarks and social norms of today - I ask you - how cognizant and equanimous is that?

Just as there are no legitimate or respected modern-day trials without the opportunity for defense and rebuttal from the accused - there is no huge worth or point gained in leveling this practice on people who can't even respond or talk for themselves.

Nor is there any sophistication in demanding us to answer for every snippet, quote, action they can dig up for a myriad persons over the last 200 years.  First of all, the quote or event is usually taken out of context to begin with, second of all, unless it is in the scriptures or other official canon of the church, that person's words or actions are not binding and not our official belief.

Here's an offical statement from the Church:

"Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body of the Church) counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture (the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price), official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted."

Don't let someone wrap you up in oddities which aren't official doctrine nor canon. It's a waste of your time and theirs.

I would reconsider debating historical aspects of the gospel or Church history with people.  You're not there, and they're not there - and unless you're a devoted scholar and submerged in the study of that time period, you don't have a real way of feeling it out or testing it.

However, you do have a significant way of testing the Gospel on it's merits today.  Stick with what you know and can verify.  It's a lot and it matters.

C)  This may be the most important one of all.  The false test of infallibility.  The idea that if some fault or misguided attempt can be found or verified, that person must not be inspired nor chosen.

The Brethren in SLC are trying so hard to undo the false doctrine of infallibility. Believing the Church leaders can do no wrong or make mistakes in regards to the Church, has gotten us (collectively) into quite a bit of trouble. I'm not sure how it crept into our Mormon society to begin with, because the Bible doesn't support infallibility (more on this in a bit), nor does the Doctrine and Covenants nor the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith definitely didn't support it.

There is not one soul nor organization in the history of this world who meets the imaginary benchmark of infallibility - never making a mistake or misstep or having to collectively learn line upon line as a group. Why we hold ourselves to such a benchmark of perfection or feel we have to answer to others when they hold the Church's leaders or events in Church history up to this benchmark is neither wise nor equitable - but somehow we got hooked.

Let's consider a couple of some of the greatest prophets we know from the Bible. First we have Moses who got himself in a whole lot of trouble with the Lord and was banned from entering the Promised Land. How? When the Children of Israel desperately needed water, he was instructed to speak to the rock in the Lord's name and power. It would have been a great visual aid to help solidify God (His power and His mercy) to the Children of Israel. Instead, Moses pulled an attitude, called them rebels, told them he was fetching the water and hit the rock with his stick. Unfortunately, what the easily superstitious Children of Israel learned from this great miracle, was Moses had a magic stick. The results did not go over well with the heavens. (Numbers 20:8-11) Was Moses still a great prophet? Yes, very much so.

And we all know the painfully, poignant story of Peter repeatedly ditching and turning a back on Christ during the Savior's most trying moments of capture and mock trial. Until the "cock crew." After which Peter, when taking a good look at himself, "wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:75) Peter was also the apostle who refused to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and felt it was for Jews only. It wasn't until after he had the same vision three times, that he finally relented (Acts 11:1-18). Was Peter still a great apostle with many succinct and divine words? Absolutely, he is one of my favorites!

Another example of fallibility is the example of the Saints (Joseph Smith specifically) getting chastised for pushing off the Kirtland Temple.

After the organization of the Church the Lord commanded His Saints that they build a house unto His name. The Saints hardly realized the importance of it, and they did not go to work at once to build that house, so the Lord rebuked them (D&C 95:1–4).

And what about the 116 pages from Lehi we missed out on? Joseph was very up and front about his huge blunder.  He even published his chastisement from God over this and let the world know how bad he blew it. D&C 3.

To sum up, we do NOT have to prove every speculative statement made or defend their honor as an inspired Church leader if their personal opinion fails over time.  Or worry if we discover they had a steep learning curve in some aspect of their lives. Because that's each and every one of us.  Imperfection and faux pas are a guaranteed mortal condition, even for the prophets.  What matters is our established doctrine as published in our canon which come from actual revelations. This is what constitutes the core of our beliefs and our religion.  This is the source of the Gospel teachings in our lives which really mean something to us and where the path to a personal relationship with the Savior comes from.

I hope something in this post today might help out a situation you face or have faced.  We can take heart together!

This is the last JSF lesson post for this year.  I'll be starting on Ezra Taft Benson (2015) right away.  I can't wait.  ETB is phenomenal.

I have a confession and most of you know me as pretty open about where I'm coming from.  The Joseph Fielding Smith lesson posts this year were the hardest lessons ever for me!  I find myself even dreading the lesson posts lately instead of loving them like the two years prior.

Why?  Trying to write inspirational, sister-discussion material based on JSF lessons has been a bit of a strain.  It may have stymied the rest of my blog writing too.

Which means I can relate to you as a teacher trying to put a lesson together from these materials.  You must have an extra wing on your mansion in heaven above waiting for you.

I do feel guilt for letting these lesson posts wane ~ but am at peace in finishing this one and moving on.

George Albert Smith Lessons (2012) - I deeply loved.  There is a third dimension to his thought processes which are deep and wonderful.

Lorenzo Snow Lessons (2013) - Lorenzo gained a huge fan.  I am absolutely in love with this prophet.  He is probably one of the top 10 of the greatest men of our time.

Joseph Fielding Smith (2014) - His quotes are two dimensional 90% of the time, in fact these lessons felt something like hunkering down and reading the Old Testament cover to cover (once a decade for me).  For me, JSF is just not sister-style material.  So I completely understand why sisters are reaching out for lesson ideas and end up here!

I know some people love JSF writings and books - we all have favorites.  Do I consider him a prophet and apostle?  Yes. But perhaps not one I relate to very well.

Nonetheless this lesson topic today about self-reliance is awesome, timely and so needed!

Speaking of our generation and culture as a whole, we seem to have evolved into the most dependent, least self-reliant bunch of my lifetime.  I don't usually quote President Smith extensively, but this one section deserves lots of press because he hit this right on the nose.

"In the early days of the Church in these valleys [in Utah], great stress was placed upon industry by President Brigham Young and the other brethren, and it was necessary because our forefathers came here with nothing. They had to work. They had to be industrious. It was essential that they produce the things they needed, and therefore counsel to that extent and in that direction was given to them constantly that they should be industrious. They were taught not to be proud in their hearts. They came out here where they could worship the Lord their God and keep his commandments. They were told to be humble as well as to be diligent. … Oh, I wish we could remember that. I am sorry that we have forgotten.…"

President Smith, you think your generation forgot?  Wonder what you think of ours today?

"… The Lord said, “Thou shalt not be idle for he that is idle shall not eat the bread, nor wear the garments of the laborer.” [D&C 42:42.] That is good sound sense, isn’t it? Why should a man in idleness partake of the industry of the industrious—provided that this man who is idle, is in a physical condition that he can work? I am not at all in sympathy with any kind of movement that tends to destroy manhood by encouraging men to be idle, and I don’t care what age that is. It doesn’t matter how old he gets, if a man is physically strong and is able to perform services, he should take care of himself; that the Lord expects him to do."

"The Lord said in another revelation:

“And again, verily I say unto you, that every man who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him provide, and he shall in nowise lose his crown; and let him labor in the Church. Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the Church, except he repent and mend his ways.” [D&C 75:28–29.]"

Question: What happens to us when we become dependent or purposely avoid solutions to help ourselves?  (We miss out on growth, both spiritual and personal and we miss out on the satisfaction of a job well done.  Sometimes people have been in a welfare state for so long, or were even raised on welfare, they have forgotten how awesome independence and self-reliance is).

The Church has the most inspired welfare program ever.  Unlike the government welfare programs which breed dependence - the Lord's way of welfare creates strength, resourcefulness and independence.  My hat is off to all Stake Presidents, Relief Society Presidents and Bishops who conscientiously fully apply the Church's true version of welfare. Even though it is more time and work, so much good comes of it.

The Church has a manual and a pamphlet about the Lord's Welfare Program.  President Thomas S. Monson was in charge of creating them while still an apostle and said they took years in the making.  One of the most endearing things about President Monson is how he champions "going after the one." He wrote this program with the individual soul's worth in mind.  All of the Church's collective wisdom, experience and inspiration about welfare went into the current program.  Think about how rich the feedback from 29,000+ congregations would be!  If you really want a marvelous preparation for this lesson - read the pamphlet.  It's only 8 little booklet pages and can be read in 10 mins or less. It's effectively fills you in on 80% of the welfare program, as well as the importance of establishing self-reliance as outlined in the full-sized 20 page manual.

The introduction at the beginning of the welfare pamphlet goes right along with President Smith's quote:

Provide for Self and Family

"Church members are responsible for their own spiritual and temporal well-being. Blessed with the gift of agency, they have the privilege of setting their own course, solving their own problems, and striving to become self-reliant. Members do this under the inspiration of the Lord and with the labor of their own hands."

Elements of Self-Reliance

"Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the necessities of life for self and
family. As members become self-reliant, they are also better able to serve and care for others."

Question: What are some of the principles of resourcefulness and self-reliance and what are some examples? Which ones do you enjoy or have found particularly useful?  (Getting a degree or vocational training, budgeting, creativity and making items ourselves, living within our means, saving funds for a rainy day, gathering food storage...)

From the Welfare pamphlet:

Finances. To become financially self-reliant, members should:

•Pay tithes and offerings.
•Avoid unnecessary debt.
•Use a budget and live within a plan.
•Gradually build a financial reserve by regularly saving a little.
•Teach family members principles of financial management.

In other words - live within your means.  This takes courage, creativity and resourcefulness.  There's a real spirit about self-reliance and the Lord has told us over and over we were meant to be successful in this area of our lives.

Our number one enemy in the Church and outside of the Church?


"It was likewise in obedience to this law that Moroni, who understood the writings upon the Nephite plates, did not do the translating, but under the direction of the Lord, gave to Joseph Smith the Urim and Thummim by which he was able to accomplish that important work by the gift and power of God."

Why? It was for Joseph's benefit that he do the spiritual work and grow by it. It is the same for us, it is to our great benefit to the the spiritual work, the wrestlings, the studying and grow by it.

Good luck with this lesson, it's a great message.

Soldier Mocking Christ By Carl Bloch (1880)

Stay-At-Home Mom Erin Stewart

Obama made a statement last week at Rhode Island College that has attracted a bit of attention:

“And too often, parents have no choice but to put their kids in cheaper daycare that maybe doesn't have the kinds of programming that makes a big difference in a child's development. And sometimes there may just not be any slots, or the best programs may be too far away. And sometimes, someone, usually mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result. And that's not a choice we want Americans to make.”

I love Erin Stewart's reply:

"So, President Obama, you go ahead and find ways to bolster the economy. That’s your job. But raising my children is mine. Don’t devalue my job or my choice. Because contrary to your words, it’s a choice that will only strengthen the America my children will one day inherit."

You can read her whole article at Deseret News.

Snippets for Relief Society 2015 :) Use search term Ezra Taft Benson to view more for this week or for other weeks.


President Ezra Taft Benson has so much heart and soul...this coming year's lesson manual is divine!

Lesson 1 teaches us what loving God really is;  the essence of it, how it looks, sounds and feels.

The first quote above is one of my favorites and yes, Ezra Taft Benson is the one who originated this gem.  I hold this dear and consider it a prime example of the depth, the breadth and the height of prophetic wisdom and understanding.

Mostly, because it's so TRUE!  Putting God first means having additional strength and balance gifted to us.  It means peace, well-being, enlightenment and confidence.  Isn't it crazy we know better but sometimes put our worldly stuff first anyway?  It's one of those silly frailties of mortality.

We learn by opposites, which means we learn by doing it wrong.  It's one of the downsides of being human.

What's beautiful about this quote ~ is it will hit upon each of us in a very specific, individualized way and we will instinctively know something which needs to be re-adjusted in our lives.

Speaking of which, whenever I've fallen off the bandwagon, and then clambered back on; I always have to ask myself, "What were you thinking"?

So what does it mean to put God first?  There are different angles of how to put God first, but let me share one element of putting God first because I understand it keenly and firsthand.

In my own personal life, I've noticed if I do scriptures, prayer and gospel study first thing - there is more strength and will to see through other important aspects during the day and I am better able to keep personal challenges in balance and (importantly) in perspective.

How does this work?  And is it even logical to expect a better day simply by the way we order spiritual and secular choices?  I can't say for sure, but it's hard to deny the repeating pattern of a better, more fulfilling life when I make conscious contact with God right off.  For example, thinking of Him, acknowledging Him first thing as I wake up and start the day.

If I put scripture study and prayer off "til later," I get caught up in one silly thing after another, and time evaporates quickly.  My spiritual habits struggle for air or struggle to even exist at all.

When I fall out of the "God first" habit (which I must confess has happened over the last couple months) ~ the days just don't go as well and the level of overall satisfaction is not as considerable.

I don't get as much done, nor make as much progress in various aspects of life and it shows.

So I full out love this lesson - just on the merits of the very first quote.  It is a needed reminder of the power and blessing of staying connected with the heavens....first thing.

This train of thought gives some added dimension to another quote we've all heard:


This lesson is a hint to put the essential, foundational aspects of our lives (loving God) at the top of the list every day.  As President Benson points out, life just works out better this way.

Question: What are some of the ways we can put God first?  What does this counsel mean to you personally?  What happens when we give the gospel and God our leftover energy and time?

Quoting the lesson:

"President Benson taught that we manifest our love for the Lord by our willingness to do the Lord’s will. He said: “I wish that every Latter-day Saint could say and mean it with all his heart: ‘I’ll go where you want me to go. I’ll say what you want me to say. I’ll be what you want me to be’ [see Hymns, no. 270]. If we could all do that, we would be assured of the maximum of happiness here and exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God hereafter."

To sum this statement up:  Loving the Lord = doing His will which in turn leads to a "maximum of happiness" HERE.

This is the formula, and the rest of the lesson follows President Benson as he breaks it down for us.

In fact the material is so good, this lesson could go on for blog posts...so we're just hitting the highlights of thought here.  If I skip over something you thought was the best point ever, for sure, your class will benefit greatly if you make sure to include it.

Ezra Taft Benson makes three observations about the great test, the great task and the great commandment of life.  Let's start with the third one, because it seems to be the gateway for the other two.

"The great commandment of life is to love the Lord."

“Come unto Christ,” exhorts Moroni in his closing testimony, “… and love God with all your might, mind and strength” (Moroni 10:32).

This, then, is the first and great commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30).

"...with all thy strength." The phrase caught my eye because just the other day (school holiday) I chided my 17-year-old son for laying on the couch all day and playing video games and I actually said, "...it bothers me to see you spend your strength on something which will have absolutely nothing to show for itself.  You need better hobbies."

Abinidi said to the king Noah, "And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots..." (Mosiah 12:29)

Isaiah uses the same phrase and idea when he said, "Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain; surely my judgment is with the Lord..." (1 Nephi 21:4)

I'm fairly sure loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength doesn't mean standing there with our eyes squoze tight, our fists clenched...concentrating on the words "I love God" repeatedly and believing and feeling it as hard as we can in the moment.

Rather, "strength" is our 'doing' and our 'being,' it's how we choose to spend our discretionary time.  It's what we spend our capacity and resources on.

Introspective Question:  How do we "spend our strength" most days?  Is there something we spend our strength on that needs to drop out of our lives?

What's even more interesting, when we give God our strength, our choices tend to add capacity and strength to our will to succeed.  While the opposite, moving away from or ignoring God depletes our willpower.

Ammon observed: "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things..." (Alma 26:12)

And the Lord taught Ether: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)

So how do we love God with our strength?  We can start this course of growth by a) praying, by b) studying scriptures & the gospel, by c) giving service, by d) putting some priority and effort into our callings.  The beautiful part of this self-willed upward movement is the heavens gift strength and capacity in the process!  So it gets easier.

Now we can look at the great test and the great task President Benson outlines with a lot more hope.  Because if you're like me, I read:

"The great test of life is obedience to God. “We will prove them herewith,” said the Lord, “to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25).

...and immediately composed a list of all the places I fall short in my head.

And after reading the second one:

"The great task of life is to learn the will of the Lord and then do it."

...and immediately tallied up all the typical habits and daily routine where I'm NOT doing my Father's will.

Thankfully, we now have a way there ~ by making a simple decision to put God first and spend strength there. Then President Benson's wonderful insight becomes real as it sheds its miracle on us:


Piece by piece we grow into passing the "great test" and the accomplishing the "great task."

President Benson explains how this takes place:

"Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities."

President Ezra Taft Benson relates one of my all-time favorite stories ~ Joseph of Egypt. Joseph's story is also remarkable because of how much he endured while attempting to do the right thing.  I mean seriously, his brothers plotted to kill him, sold him as a slave and after he recovers from that, then he was framed for rape and goes to prison.  It was the hardest, rotten luck, but Joseph never gave up his principles nor his love of God.  He ends up becoming one of the most powerful, wealthy, and famous men of the Old Testament.  The hardships made him monumental.

One of the reasons Joseph's story was so memorable and he was so successful was because he was willing "to go, to be and to say" as the Lord would have him do.  Just like the hymn (#270 I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go) President Benson refers to earlier on.

Here is a delightful, short video about Hugh B. Brown which fits here perfectly:  Trust In The Lord

President Benson points out a major principle using Joseph as an example, something which may trip a lot of us up:

"We should put God ahead of everyone else in our lives."

"When Joseph was in Egypt, what came first in his life—God, his job, or Potiphar’s wife? When she tried to seduce him, he responded by saying, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)."

"Joseph was put in prison because he put God first. If we were faced with a similar choice, where would we place our first loyalty? Can we put God ahead of security, peace, passions, wealth, and the honors of men?"

"When Joseph was forced to choose, he was more anxious to please God than to please his employer’s wife. When we are required to choose, are we more anxious to please God than our boss, our teacher, our neighbor, or our date?"

Now there's a question! Question: WHY are we sometimes more anxious to please our boss, teacher, neighbor, spouse, friend, etc. than we are God?

Lucky for us, Elder Lynn Robbins from the Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy, gave a remarkable Conference talk last October. Which Way Do You Face? This is excellent, tailored reading material to prep for this lesson. In fact I'll quote some snippets here:

“Which way do you face?” President Boyd K. Packer surprised me with this puzzling question while we were traveling together on my very first assignment as a new Seventy. Without an explanation to put the question in context, I was baffled. “A Seventy,” he continued, “does not represent the people to the prophet but the prophet to the people. Never forget which way you face!” It was a powerful lesson."

"Trying to please others before pleasing God is inverting the first and second great commandments (see Matthew 22:37–39). It is forgetting which way we face. And yet, we have all made that mistake because of the fear of men..."

"...For example, some young missionaries carry this fear of men into the mission field and fail to report the flagrant disobedience of a companion to their mission president because they don’t want to offend their wayward companion. Decisions of character are made by remembering the right order of the first and second great commandments. When these confused missionaries realize they are accountable to God and not to their companion, it should give them courage to do an about-face."

"At the youthful age of 22, even Joseph Smith forgot which way he faced when he repeatedly importuned the Lord to allow Martin Harris to borrow the 116 manuscript pages. Perhaps Joseph wanted to show gratitude to Martin for his support. We know that Joseph was extremely anxious for other eyewitnesses to stand with him against the distressing falsehoods and lies being spread about him."

"Whatever Joseph’s reasons were, or as justified as they may appear, the Lord did not excuse them and sharply rebuked him: “How oft you have transgressed … and have gone on in the persuasions of men. For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God” (D&C 3:6–7). This poignant experience helped Joseph remember, forever after, which way he faced."

"When people try to save face with men, they can unwittingly lose face with God..."

Both President Benson and President Robbins point out a super important aspect of loving God; we love Him when we put Him first in spite of peer pressure (social, professional or family).

This takes courage, and so I love this little quote today: "Courage is fear which has said its prayers."Remember this right before you give your lesson too!

So far we have two major ways to love and put God first - embedding personal spiritual habits into our lives and how we choose to respond to the peer pressure of those around us.  President Benson gives a third, which touches our family life specifically.  Here is the quote (please insert "mother" for "father" where appropriate):

"What is the condition in our homes? Are we striving to put the Lord first and to please Him?"

"Fathers (Mothers), would it please the Lord if there were daily family prayer and scripture reading in your home? And what about the holding of weekly home evenings and periodically having individual time with your wife (husband) and each child? And if your child went temporarily astray, do you think it would please the Lord and He would honor your efforts if you continued to live an exemplary life, consistently prayed and frequently fasted for that child, and kept the name of that son or daughter on the temple prayer roll?"

"You mothers, who are especially charged with the righteous rearing of the youth of Zion, are you not putting God first when you honor your divine calling? … Our mothers put God first when they fill their highest mission within the walls of their own homes."

Not every sentence may apply to your situation, but we always need to be reminded of ways to strengthen the family, even if our own family will be more complete years down the road or on the other side of the veil.  The gravity of the world pulls down the idea of family constantly, so we frequently need to revisit the questions President Benson asks and sometimes jump-start them back up in our homes.

In my own family, when we're good, we're really good with prayer, FHE and scripture study.  When we fall off, we really fall off.  So this counsel for families never gets old or over-used for us.

President Ezra Taft Benson's closing statement is so sweet!  It's a gem:

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life."(And a better quality life here.)

Wow!  Love that line.  Love that Ezra.  "He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can." The video (see link below)  fits really well here too.

I feel the truth of Ezra Taft Benson's promise in every fiber of my being and can witness it from the collective understanding and experiences of my life.  I hope you too, can feel it and embrace it and let the possibilities of it permeate into your life even more now than before.  Faith is a powerful force.

Best of luck with this lesson.  So glad to have you here!

Resources

Hymns: I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go #270 (of course!)

Dearest Children God Is Near You  #96

Thy Will, Oh Lord, Be Done #188 (It's a sacrament song, but the lyrics are perfect.)

President Benson Quotes For Sharing:

Facebook

Pinterest

Handout ideas:

Subway Art

Daughters In My Kingdom Bookmark

(Note:If you make handouts, visual aids or have found some great handout resources for this lesson, please share!)

Video:

Trust In The Lord

Conference Talks:  

Which Way Do You Face?

Dear ‪#‎Ferguson‬,

Victimhood is a self-defeating addiction which gives away one's personal power. As long as you agree to think and act like a victim, you render yourself powerless. Victimhood wallowing and raging is celebrated in our modern culture and readily embraced by the powerless. Unfortunately, indignation and rage deludes one with a very temporary sense of self-importance. It will get you attention in the short term, and may run your spirits high with the successful hijacking of the attention of others for a time ~ but fuels contempt and a loss of respect in the long haul.

Those outsiders who rallied to the cause and flattered you with so much attention and egged you on will be long gone and find a new, fresher spirited cause to rally. When the parade is over, the extraordinary mess will be piled high and be yours to clean up alone.

Victimhood is an inferior state which excuses people of their own sense of accountability, props up scapegoats and robs people of the power needed to come out the other end of the experience stronger and in a higher place.

The addiction limps from one victim episode to the next, lining up fresh scapegoats which obscure the way to real progress. Ferguson has lost its ability to attract business, jobs, economy and its property values will plummet, exasperating the impoverished, inferior conditions already there.

They may be the political darling of the day, be the buzz of FB and Twitter for a while but in the end, Ferguson has shot both its own feet. The situation is out of balance because the blame and accountability is out of balance. It will lead to dismal results...which of course will be someone else's fault.

I hope in the end you figure it out, we're all a work in progress.

So thankful for a prophet's voice!  This quote is a little wordy for a meme, but I love these words so much I tried it anyway.  Thank you President Ezra Taft Benson.

Sunset from my home (Southern Oregon)

We have chaos.

Some of you may have been following the events in Ferguson and NYC.  Both were incidences where policemen killed someone black while on duty.  There is a lot of unfortunate racial baiting and race hustling taking place which fuels itself on obscured stories, indignation and misconceptions.  The mainstream media has been most irresponsible in fanning the fire with provoking half-truths.  And non-truths.

The results have set off large protests all over the country.  People stirred up with highly-charged emotion and not necessarily rational.

For example, destroying one's own community and afflicting/persecuting local people who have nothing to do with the original chain of events.  This is irrational.

"Hands up, don't shoot" was a false story of victimhood.  Scapegoats and victimhood are like a drug.  It's an addiction.  When one shuns accountability, one loses personal power and life will bat them around mercilessly.

When we face ourself and pinpoint our part in our misfortune, and stop worrying about other people's parts or the circumstances we're unfairly in ~ we open up the path to higher places and getting our personal power back.

Life is about overcoming obstacles.  We were made to conquer.  The Lord did not make victims, only survivors.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)

Accountability, even though it is sometimes painful, is a true friend.  Sometimes it's majorly conflicting when you face accountability in your life, eat crow and then a bigger culprit doesn't.  Doesn't matter.  In the end you'll pass them by.  Get your personal power back and focus on you and your actions and choices.  There is strength, resolve and peace in this.

It's proactive vs. destructive.  It's upward vs. backwards.

Earlier I wrote a letter to Ferguson and published it here on the blog.

Dear Ferguson

"Anonymous" left a comment and it's the same tactic used by anti-mormons.  I recognized it immediately and I want to expose it.

Why?

Because you'll most likely face it too, and probably already have many times.  Read the exchange:

Anonymous: "Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed."

Herman Melville

Me: Having been on both sides of the fence (of poverty and well-being), there are preposterous assumptions made on both sides, and a lack of accountability on both sides. I'm well aware of the strategy of discounting someone, therefore discounting their opinion, without actually addressing the substance of that opinion. And the thought that if someone has those gifts, that somehow they did nothing to gain them and that all who have well-being have no insight and no ability to assess ~ is just as empty of a thought as any other prejudice.

To be fair, I recognize the need to be in someone else's shoes to fully understand someone's circumstances. Where I disagree is all actions, responses and emotions are condoned if one's circumstances are hard. You don't have to look very far to see an extraordinary amount of selfishness and hatred in the collective response in Ferguson.

I don't believe for a minute, that only someone in identical circumstances can wisely assess and have insights.

The attempt to discount an individual, therefore discounting the perspective is a cheap tactic.  Sorry I'm frank, it's not personal.  Because I'm reasonably sure the person who left it had good intentions.

I've been immersed in answering to anti-mormonism at Salt Lake Tribune for the last week and these same cheap tactics get old.

My two cents.  And that is all it is....two cents.

Blessings always.

You're welcome Mary...

Recently, the LDS Church published a series of essays on polygamy in the early days of the Church.

They are frank and especially well-done.  You can find them under Gospel Topics at LDS.org.

In response, the mainstream media had a heyday with headlines including:

"The Mormon church finally acknowledges founder Joseph Smith’s polygamy" (Washington Post)

"Mormon leaders admit church founder Joseph Smith practiced polygamy" (Fox News)

"Mormon church admits polygamous past" (The Keene Sentinel)

"Mormon church admits founder Joseph Smith had about 40 wives" (Yahoo News)

Well, okay...

First, the Church has always recognized it's polygamous past, plural marriage even has it's own section in the Doctrine & Covenants written by Joseph Smith.  There are multiple books, histories and stories I've heard about on the topic for decades.  Contrary to what the headlines insinuate, this isn't new.

Nonetheless, the anti-mormon crowd have reacted like it is fresh red meat in a lion's den.  Derogatory references and snarling, snide insults abound.  Typically they imagine the worst possible motive a man can have and project them onto the prophet Joseph Smith, and then bank on them as if they're proven.

One of the names which kept coming up more often than others on comment threads, was Adam Lightner.

The narrative goes something like this, "Poor Adam Lightner, whose wife was stolen by Joseph Smith while sent away on a mission by Joseph himself...." (this is a very polite summary of how they actually put it).

There is at least one second-hand book written on the topic "confirming" the story.

Needless to say this sounded both unjust and harsh.  Could Joseph really have done that?  So I decided to investigate.

I have learned over the years, to go straight to the source ~ as in not books written by the "experts" but to the original source documents themselves.  This is not always fun or convenient, and oftentimes the material is long and dry.  But the consistent pattern of discrepancies between the original source and the re-manufactured modern versions of the same story are a bit astonishing.  Because you can almost always bank on finding a very different story than the one being told today.

Why does this happen?

Maybe because someone was willing to twist and slant the story significantly to cater to a prejudice and forward their own agendas.  Or perhaps, because there is good money to be made selling the unsavory stories to a pre-disposed audience.

How do they get away with it?  I'm wondering if it isn't because most anti-mormons willingly accept any bad news they hear and aren't terribly motivated to check it out.  And truthfully, most faithful LDS don't take the time to check it out either.

I found Mary Rollins LIghtner's auto-biography.  I wanted to hear what she had to say about her own story.  Not only did I read it, I read it three times (it's not long).  It was delightful, natural, early Americana and fascinating.  I linked her name to the auto-biography online if you would like to read it too.

My first thought was WHY would any anti-mormon or bitter ex-mormon EVER want to steer you towards this particular story?  Mary innocently offers proof that Joseph Smith is a prophet, without intending to do it and makes a really good case of it.  Hers is a story of great faith.

Here are some inconvenient truths from Mary Lightner's own words:

A)  She was married to Adam and they were together until 1885 (when Adam died) and they had 10 children together.  There was no interruption of their civil marriage of 40+ years (never divorced nor separated).

B)  Adam refused baptism from early on and did not ever become a member of the Mormon church even though Mary begged him to.

C)  Adam and Mary traveled all over and spent a bulk of their time in the East and did not live around the Saints a lot.

D)  Adam thought favorably of Joseph and other leaders and even lost his property rather than side with the persecution while they were in Missouri.

Here's the difficult part of the story we have to spend time on, or we easily fall for the urban legend version:

Joseph Smith and Mary were sealed in 1842 for eternity...but not time.  This is important to understand because it is not the same temple marriage you and I are familiar with today.   Marriage for eternity without being married for time (now), is also known as a spiritual marriage.  Up until a few decades ago, you could even do the opposite, be married in the temple for time, but not eternity.  However that practice has also stopped (they found people tended not progress and make it eternal later on).

Back then, they had both sealings for eternity (a.k.a. spiritual marriages) as well as sealings for time (civil) and eternity.  This is probably new for a lot of us since we no longer practice eternity only marriages.

Why does this matter?  When we marry in the temple today, it is for "time and eternity." It is both for now, and after we die.  Today, temple marriage is a civilly binding contract and we don't typically need a second trip to city hall.  "Time" is specifically mentioned because Mormons consider time as a convention of earth life.  The measure of time as we know it here does not exist in eternity.  The spiritual marriage contract (or sealed for eternity) literally is valid for the other side of the veil and did not form or interrupt a civl marriage now, which is "until death do we part." Even though it was not a common practice even then, and we don't do it today, the time span of the two marriage contracts do not overlap.  In Adam's case, his life and civil marriage was uninterrupted physically and legally.

This practice is not one I entirely understand, and even wonder if it was part of an early learning curve (which the Church essays wonder too).  Still, it is a mistake to put dead people on trial or assume people's motives.  They are not able to defend themselves or put snippets of information back into context.  There are circumstances, culture, thought processes, conversations and events we are not privy to.

Adam and Mary's story is quite a bit different than what is popularly passed around.

In fact, we experience something quite similar in real life frequently.  How many times have you thought you knew the whole story, and after finding out a few more facts realized your impression was completely wrong?  If you have kids close in age and sibling rivalry, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

Or perhaps, you thankfully got the chance to tell your side of the story and completely changed someone else's perspective?

President Joseph Fielding Smith always urged new bishops he ordained to get both sides of the story.  "Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect," he said.

I found in my own life it always, always pays to do the same and not immediately buy into the first version of the story I hear, both for folks around me and folks from the past.

You're welcome Mary.  Thank you so much for recording your life.  It probably seemed pretty ordinary to you, but it is truly fascinating.

Treat yourself to an amazing Christmas video with amazing voices!  Click HERE to view.

Snippets for Relief Society 2015 :) Use search term Ezra Taft Benson to view more for this week or for other weeks.

View off our balcony in Southern Oregon

Friendly warning:  Ezra will have us all kneeling to pray several times a day...and wanting to.

“All through my life the counsel to depend on prayer has been prized above almost any other advice I have received,” said President Ezra Taft Benson. “It has become an integral part of me, an anchor, a constant source of strength, and the basis for my knowledge of things divine."

"..and the basis for my knowledge of things divine."  Wow.

President Benson touches on something so important here, I'd like to spend a couple of moments on it.

If I could compare President Benson's quote to my own experience ~ prayer is how I increase my gospel understanding line upon line, and piece by piece.  I have found if there comes a gospel concept which I don't understand or don't feel comfortable with, or if there is something from church history which comes across as awkward or questionable to me ~ if I then kneel in prayer and ask about it, the answer eventually comes.

In my mind's eye, I visualize laying the question or any life issue on the alter at His feet with the trust I'll run into the answer somewhere in a way which is very satisfactory to me.  Either my eyes are opened and I see the issue from different angles which then makes more sense, or it is put into a more balanced perspective for me and I understand what is caused by frail mortal learning curves and what is from the divine.  Sometimes the answer comes from something I read, sometimes from something someone says and sometimes it will just come all at once on its own and literally drops into place in my head.  Having prayers answered has happened hundreds of times now.  I can count on it.

I love how Ezra Taft Benson references this same process in the above quote and again when he cites a poem from childhood.  By the way, this is the best poem ever!  My kids are learning it for FHE this coming Monday.  I'll probably give it to them ahead of time and whoever can cite it will get a giant chocolate bar.  If there is anything I would want my children to understand about prayer, it would be this:


Possible Class Hand-Out:  Bookmarks or any treat with this poem attached would make a meaningful take-home message.

Let me give a very personal example of how it worked for me recently.  This whole issue with the black priesthood ban and the Church now coming out and saying Brigham Young made an error.  (If this is a surprise for you, sorry about that, but you can read about it here on the Church's website.)

I'm ok with prophets making errors and having learning curves.  Such things are recorded from the beginning of time and the Bible itself isn't bashful about the topic ~ Joseph Smith wasn't bashful about his own mistakes, so discovering a modern prophet's error or an apostle's mistake in and of itself doesn't rattle me.  I've long since learned they increase line upon line and precept upon precept too, just generally way ahead of most of us.  And God's designated spokesman is His designated spokesman.  When prophets do have revelations, it's recorded as canon (the four standard works) and these are the foundation of our faith, and not their personal understanding.  (Even though it mostly included great wisdom and insight, it sometimes included learning curves and imperfect understanding.)

Instead of the possibility of a prophet failing, what got to me was all the lost opportunity this priesthood ban mistake caused.  How many souls have been turned away or turned off because of the black priesthood ban or couldn't recognize the true church because of it?  How many generations lost out on the blessing of providence and increase because they didn't have the gospel passed down through their ranks, one generation improving on the next?  How different the quality of life could have been for so many!  And there I was asking the typical atheist's question, "How could God let this happen?" "If this is His inspired Church, how could He let such a thing take place?" It seemed so unfair and counter-productive.

Then last week as my family read D&C 137, the answer came like the rushing wind.  You know, it does seem like when we ponder hard over something, the answer comes in an equally exulting way.

Here are the verses:

2 I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that [celestial] kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire;

3 Also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son.

4 I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold.

5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept;

6 And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.

7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;

8 Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom;

9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

It came to me hard and strong.  I was doing what most of this world does.  We (collectively) judge a thing by our view of mortal life being the end-all, with a sense of imposed finite borders ~ the beginning of earth life and the end of earth life.  The belief that all justice and mercy must take place within a person's life span or the cause is lost or a failure.

Instead, we have a God who knew we mortals, even with the best of intentions, would mess things up.  He chose to let us progress, stumble through our learning curves and be in charge of Church leadership and administration anyway rather than set up a perfect rule by heavenly beings with no mistakes.  Why?  Because the stumbling process would prepare and develop us further over the long run.  And also because we learn lessons much deeper from opposition and from mistakes.

Which means there are many things which will be put right, balanced and answered to on the other side of the veil.  Christ has promised us He will dry all tears.

The verses above reminded me death is not the "time's up" a lot of us tend to think.

The gospel will be presented to all in its whole form and its perfect light.  Everyone will have a chance to see it, know it and decide whether to embrace it or not.  In God's endless mercy and love, nothing can be denied to any of His children, including a complete view of the gospel plan and an invitation to a perfect knowledge of the way to salvation.  Whomever was blinded by others on earth, or denied a chance to hear it and would have truly embraced the Gospel otherwise, will be unblinded in the next realm.

There are safeguards in place to ensure all of our brothers and sisters get their chance to be adopted into the House of Israel.  I already knew this about all those folks from the medieval times, when the gospel was no where to be found for anyone before the restoration.  Yet somehow I needed help to see it applied here too.

Now, a question which was once so troubling, no longer is an issue.  I can trust God.  His intentions are perfect, and pure.  And I do have to wonder if maybe Brigham Young isn't making a lot of effort to clear things up with quite a few folks, and eating some humble crow.  Knowing his character, it wouldn't surprise me at all.  But this is sheer indulgence in speculation.

I am so grateful for this glimpse of understanding about an important learning curve in our collective Church history and the peace it brought to me.  And it started with taking the matter to the Lord in prayer and laying it on the altar.

Which brings us to another stellar President Benson quote:

"If we would advance in holiness—increase in favor with God—nothing can take the place of prayer. And so I adjure you to give prayer—daily prayer—secret prayer—a foremost place in your lives. Let no day pass without it. Communion with the Almighty has been a source of strength, inspiration, and enlightenment to men and women through the world’s history who have shaped the destinies of individuals and nations for good."

Ezra Taft Benson quotes several scriptures which highlight just how essential prayer is:

“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” (Luke 18:1.)

“Watch and pray,” He said, “that ye enter not into temptation.” (Matt. 26:41.)

“Pray always lest that wicked one have power IN you, and remove you out of your place.” (D&C 93:49.)

That word "in" made me do a double look.  It expresses something different than "over" which itself communicates "influence." "In" is more invasive.  One of the expert ways Satan works through us is negative thinking patterns and stirring up hearts to contention and anger (and indignation, offense, victimhood, jealousy, competition and retaliation).  We may not sin greatly with these emotions and thoughts, but so much good energy is lost as well as the ability to move forward, to be inspired and make things happen.

On the other hand, prayer works the opposite and chases Satan's influences off.  And perhaps some of his more subtle influences are the most dangerous to our progress and well-being over the years.

“Ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat [and sift your thoughts, emotions and discontent like chaff in a whirlwind].

“Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name" (3 Nephi 18:15)

Possible Class Discussion:  What are some of the ways you have found help you to say your prayers more faithfully?  What are some of the obstacles to saying prayers and what are some solutions?

Prayer is not only a foundation for a great, personal spiritual life and journey, it increases the well-being of family life as well.  This next story, taken straight from the manual made me both cry and yearn for such a culture among my own children as well.  This is so touching:

"President and Sister Benson taught their children to pray for personal guidance and strength and also to pray for one another. A friend of the family once observed the influence of those teachings when she attended a session of general conference with the Bensons. She wrote:

“On an April day … , I discovered one source of a General Authority’s strength."

“I was seated with the six children of Elder Ezra Taft Benson, one of whom was my college roommate. My interest heightened when President [David O.] McKay arose and announced the next speaker. I watched respectfully as Elder Benson, whom I had not yet met, walked toward the microphone. He was a big man, well over six feet tall. He was … a man internationally known as the United States Secretary of Agriculture and a special witness of the Lord, a man who seemed serene and sure, one who had addressed audiences throughout the world. Suddenly a hand touched my arm. A little girl leaned toward me and whispered urgently, ‘Pray for Dad.’

“Somewhat startled, I thought, ‘This message is being passed down the row, and I am to pass it on. Shall I say, “Pray for Elder Benson”? Shall I say, “You’re supposed to say a prayer for your father”?’ Sensing the immediate need to act, I leaned over and whispered simply, ‘Pray for Dad.’

“I watched that whisper move along the row to where Sister Benson sat, her head already bowed. …

“As years have passed, general conferences have come and gone, and each time President Benson has stood to speak, I have thought, ‘His children, who are scattered across the continent, are united now in prayer for their father.’”

There is so much goodness we can bring into each others' lives. So much positive energy, vibes and blessings created and added to our world. We have the capacity to change much. Which brings me to one of my favorite little sayings:


Possible Class Discussion: Have you ever heard someone pray for you with love and intent?  What was the effect on you and how did it make you feel?  (Warmth reassurance, confidence, an increased sense of well-being, love, etc.)  What would it do for you if you knew several people were actively praying for you?  What are some of the things we can pray about for others?  Does praying for others really work?  (Pause, and see if anyone will share their experiences.  Some of the best discussions start after a good pause!)

"Pause after you ask a question and after you ask class members to share experiences. “Do not be afraid of silence. People often need time to think about and reply to questions or to express what they are feeling” (Teaching, No Greater Call, 67)."

President Bensen adds:

"Parents who surround their children with the refining influence of daily devotion are making their contribution to the safeguarding of the … home."

President Benson's Five Rules For Successful Prayer:

1. "We should pray frequently. We should be alone with our Heavenly Father at least two or three times each day - morning, mid-day and evening."

"...be alone with our Heavenly Father," this sounds so personable. I know when I re-juvenate the practice of making conscious contact with God on my knees 2-3 times a day, many more of my days are sweetness and my strength to face daily challenges is noticeably fortified.

2. "We should find an appropriate place where we can meditate and pray. (Closets, secret places and wilderness free from distractions.)

This prophet is giving us his formula for successful and effective prayers, and to be honest, I've never given this idea a whole lot of thought. It is actually a pretty menaingful suggestion to add this dimension to our prayer time. Maybe it gives us more chances to pray out loud?

Possible Class Question:  Where do you like to pray?  Do you have opportunities to pray out loud during your personal prayers?

3."We should prepare ourselves for prayer. If we do not feel like praying, then we should pray until we do feel like praying."

This idea actually originated with Brigham Young.  "If you don't feel like praying, pray until you do...you will find that those who wait till the Spirit bids them pray, will never pray much on this earth." (BYU Speeches) And I love this BY quote: "...if, when the time for prayer comes, you have not the spirit of prayer upon you, and your knees are unwilling to bow, say to them, “Knees, get down there”; make them bend, and remain there until you obtain the Spirit of the Lord." (Teachings of Brigham Young, chapter 28)

I have found singing hymns, and reading scriptures also helps me with feeling more prayerful. Other times I have had to start my prayers by asking for help with softening my crusty heart. Being really honest about how I'm feeling, whether it is hurt, anger, pain, inadequacy, etc. is rejuvenating.

Possible Class Question:  What are some ways you've found help you to be in a more prayerful mood?

4. "Our prayers should be meaningful and pertinent. We should avoid using the same phrases in each prayer. Any of us would become offended if a friend said the same words to us each day, treated the conversation as a chore, and could hardly wait to finish in order to turn on the television set and forget us."

Wow, I love how Ezra puts this.  It made me think.  This is probably an excellent quote for FHE, teenagers, and children.  In fact these five rules would work well as an FHE lesson with older children maybe age 8 or more?

"For what should we pray? We should pray about our work, against the power of our enemies and the devil...

Thanks heavens for someone who admits this challenge exists! This caught my attention because quite recently, I had someone pull the "what's wrong with you, I get along with EVERYBODY and never have problems" on me recently with a smug "holier than thou" flourish to boot. Fortunately...I am civil and kind to her anyway because I've said my prayers. People will be people.

Quite frankly, if you stand for anything, in this world you will have adversaries and social enemies because Satan has so much influence and the ability to stir hearts to anger and contention even among the Saints. Whenever I hear someone crow how they have no difficulties with anyone and no social foes and THEY get along with everyone ~ I take it with a grain of salt. Part of me can't help but wonder "what did you sell your soul for, or how often do you "look the other way" or how did you compromise yourself?"

Yes, this is a little cynical perhaps, but I couldn't help noticing even Christ and Joseph Smith, the two most supreme in stature whom I know of, had enemies and talked about the difficulties of them. They were despised and hated, sometimes within their own group of Saints.  I'm fairly confident no one I've personally met has passed them up to such a superior, congenial place of having no foes ~ without selling something else short.  That is, IF the claim of getting along with everyone is a realistic story at all.

The main point?  We do need prayers about our "enemies" or those who throw obstacles in our paths. It is one of the most important lessons in opposition there is ~ overcoming the adversity and unkindness of others.

Among so many women and with all the catty dynamics which exist, social challenges seem like an important matter for prayer from time to time.  Because even with lots of good hearts, everyone is at a different place of development and understanding.  I think we benefit greatly from being honest about this.  Thank you Ezra.

(I sincerely don't know how to gracefully frame a class question for this topic, so this may just be for you today.)

President Benson adds more suggestions for prayer:

"... for our welfare and the welfare of those around us. We should counsel with the Lord regarding all our decisions and activities. (See Alma 37:36–37.) We should be grateful enough to give thanks for all we have. (See D&C 59:21.) We should confess His hand in all things. Ingratitude is one of our great sins.

We could easily have a whole lesson on just the uplifting power and grace of gratitude  Most likely, none of us will have time but gratitude is so essential to real prayer, it is worth mentioning.  And what happens if we cultivate the art of gratitude?

President Benson reminds us:

"The Lord has declared in modern revelation: “And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.” (D&C 78:19.)"

Possible Class Question: This is a great follow-up, sum-up-their-understaning question for "Rule #4" if there has NOT been a lot of participation yet.  If you've had a lot of comments during this lesson you won't need this question and probably won't have time for it anyway ~ What are some of the things we can pray about?

5. After making a request through prayer, we have a responsibility to assist in its being granted. We should listen. Perhaps while we are on our knees, the Lord wants to counsel us.

Please be careful how you teach this one.  Notice the word "perhaps." There is a cultural, false teaching that if we pray right, the answer will come while we're on our knees as we wait in silence.  I've even heard it taught several times we should stay on our knees until we get the answer.

Oh dear.  Talk about discouraging people.

This teaching misleads a lot of sisters because if they don't get the answer while on their knees they assume things like they're not good at prayer, or God doesn't hear their prayers and doesn't answer them.

Elder Uchtdorf does a beautiful job of clarifying this principle:

"Another reason we sometimes do not recognize the voice of the Lord in our lives is because the revelations of the Spirit may not come directly to us as the answer to our prayers."

"...We have our Heavenly Father’s assurance that He will hear and answer our prayers. The answer may come through the voice and wisdom of trusted friends and family, the scriptures, and the words of prophets."

"...President Spencer W. Kimball taught this concept when he said: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs."

"...Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us. Selfless acts of service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven. By becoming the answer to someone’s prayer, we often find the answer to our own." (Waiting On The Road To Damascus - Uchtdorf - April 2011)

And I love this quote from Elder Bednar's talk "The Spirit Of Revelation" from the same General Conference:

"As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will “walk in the light of the Lord." Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding (see Alma 5:7; 32:28), and direct and protect you and your family."

Personally, most of my answers come as events, scriptures, talks and conversations which unfold in my life and prepare me to see the answer with greater clarity.

The lesson closes with a powerful story which touched my heart so deeply.  President Benson first testifies:

"I know without any question that it is possible for men and women to reach out in humility and prayer and tap that Unseen Power; to have prayers answered. Man does not stand alone, or at least, he need not stand alone. Prayer will open doors; prayer will remove barriers; prayer will ease pressures; prayer will give inner peace and comfort during times of strain and stress and difficulty. Thank God for prayer."

Ezra Taft Benson's Remarkable Story

"In 1946 I was assigned by President George Albert Smith to go to war-torn Europe and reestablish our missions from Norway to South Africa and to set up a program for the distribution of welfare supplies."

"We established headquarters in London. We then made preliminary arrangements with the military on the continent. One of the first men I wished to see was the commander of the American forces in Europe. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany."

"When we arrived in Frankfurt, my companion and I went in to seek an appointment with the general. The appointment officer said, “Gentlemen, there will be no opportunity for you to see the general for at least three days. He’s very busy and his calendar is filled up with appointments.”

"I said, “It is very important that we see him, and we can’t wait that long. We’re due in Berlin tomorrow.”

"He said, “I’m sorry.”

"We left the building, went out to our car, removed our hats, and united in prayer. We then went back into the building and found a different officer at the appointment post. In less than fifteen minutes we were in the presence of the general. We had prayed that we would be able to see him and to touch his heart, knowing that all relief supplies contributed from any source were then required to be placed in the hands of the military for distribution. Our objective, as we explained it to the general, was to distribute our own supplies to our own people through our own channels, and also to make gifts for general child feeding."

"We explained the welfare program and how it operated. Finally, he said, “Well, gentlemen, you go ahead and collect your supplies; and by the time you get them collected, the policy may be changed.” We said, “General, our supplies are already collected; they’re always collected. Within twenty-four hours from the time we wire the First Presidency of the Church in Salt Lake City, carloads of supplies will be rolling toward Germany. We have many storehouses filled with basic commodities.”

"He then said, “I’ve never heard of a people with such vision.” His heart was touched as we had prayed it would be. Before we left his office, we had a written authorization to make our own distribution to our own people through our own channels."

"It is soul-satisfying to know that God is mindful of us and ready to respond when we place our trust in Him and do that which is right. There is no place for fear among men and women who place their trust in the Almighty, who do not hesitate to humble themselves in seeking divine guidance through prayer. Though persecutions arise, though reverses come, in prayer we can find reassurance, for God will speak peace to the soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity, is life’s greatest blessing."

This lesson has so much material, you will not have time to cover every corner of it.  But whatever jumps out for you and really resonates, is likely what you as a teacher will teach best to your group of sisters.  You are called to teach for a reason and it is no small coincidence what you feel most inspired to share.  I hope it goes wonderfully when you teach!

Possible Hymns:

Secret Prayer #144

Sweet Hour Of Prayer #142

Handout Ideas:

Free Pray Printable  in different sizes.  4x6 perfect for RS.

Scripture Tin Perhaps too elaborate for so many in RS, but such a cute idea!

1000 Gifts/Prayer In Color  Really original ~ I can see variations of this in my head which would work.

President Benson Quotes To Share:

Pinterest

Facebook

Conference Talks:

Road To Damascus

The Spirit Of Revelation

Video:

Insights From An Apostle

Elijah Abel - First black priesthood holder 1836

It's wonderful to have deep issues which challenge our faith!
Addressing Question #1

Lately, the Brethren in SLC have been so brave to publicly tackle a series of tough LDS history issues.  They're located at Gospel Topics on lds.org.  The latest was posted a couple of days ago - the Mountain Meadows Massacre. If you have been on this blog a while, you may have noticed it confronts difficult topics head on.   I had to struggle mightily through some historical affairs in regards to the priesthood and hope to help a few other souls through them as well.  Here we go:

This is in direct response to section 5 of this lesson (the last section of Joseph Fielding Smith, lesson 11).

Why cover this section so thoroughly ?  Because it's probably the most imperative part of the lesson, especially given recent Church events.  Second, I work for the LDS.org Response Team - answering questions to the world and feel strongly to address the issues which are thrown at us about the Priesthood more than any other.  You may have these same questions yourself, or those questions may come up in class, or if you talk with those of other faiths much, you will definitely hear versions of these questions.

These next few paragraphs will probably not make it into anyone's lesson material - but they lay the groundwork here so you're ready for some of the difficult questions which will come up for quite a few of you.  This is to help you address the elephant in the room - which honestly would be so much more comfortable to pass over - and we have for years.

This quote from the last section made me swallow hard and prompted this second part of the lesson post:

"I think there is one thing which we should have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord."

I labored over this quote.  How to reconcile it and how it can fit into our lives today.  The rather large irony of including this quote with a lesson about the priesthood will occur to quite a few people.

Let me re-phrase Joseph Fielding Smith's statement a bit to something which is more in keeping with what the Brethren in SLC are trying so hard to accomplish in our current time - to undo the false doctrine of infallibility. The doctrine of infallibility, believing the Church leaders can do no wrong or make mistakes in regards to the Church, has gotten us (collectively) into quite a bit of trouble. I'm not sure how it crept into our Mormon society to begin with, because the Bible doesn't support infallibility (more on this in a bit), nor does the Doctrine and Covenants nor the Book of Mormon.  Joseph Smith definitely didn't support it.  Thankfully, line upon line, precept upon precept, this inaccurate concept is tumbling down (gradually) within the culture of our Church. And none too soon.

Please don't misread me - I deeply love the prophets and apostles of our dispensation as in full out adore them.  They have depth of understanding, wisdom, revelations, insights I couldn't even begin to aspire to.

They are also human - and have imperfect mortal moments which some of us seem threatened over if they are ever mentioned or referred to.

Try reading the quote again with a couple of minor changes and then we'll discuss them a bit:

"I think there is one thing which we should have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray [through revelation] or send forth [claims of revelation] to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord."

Why the distinction with revelation?  There is a difference between revelation given to our prophets (which becomes scripture and central doctrine) and their personal theories, opinions and mortal learning curves which sometimes become a part of our long-standing Church culture only to be unlearned later.

This is not to say their personal opinions, lectures and understandings aren't often spectacular and insightful.  Not to mention many of their words are affirmed by the Holy Ghost in our hearts as great truths to hold on to.  We learn deep, abiding concepts from studying the words and teachings of early leaders.  Nonetheless, sometimes their personal understanding didn't include the complete picture and sometimes it was downright wrong.  Lately, the Church has been making a concerted effort to separate revelation and doctrine from stated personal theories and individual actions.  And with good reason, some very notable, strong opinions of leaders from the past have proven to be influences of the culture or the beliefs of their day which have since come up false.  We'll get to a couple of examples later in this post.

The LDS Church is unique in that we've faithfully recorded just about every lecture, every thought process, every learning curve and every public opinion ever made by any of the early leaders.  Should we do the same in any other earthly institution - secular, educational, government, religion or otherwise - over the last 200 years, you would find plenty to point fingers at or smirk over.  And people do point out some pretty off-the-wall statements from our LDS past, and members feel obligated at times to carry the load by defending and justifying.  Not any more.  Consider this official Church statement about past church leader statements and the Journal of Discourses (which is a favorite source for anti-Mormon quotes and jabs).

"Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body of the Church) counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture (the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price), official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted."(May 4, 2007)

In short: We do NOT have to prove every speculative statement made or defend their honor as an inspired Church leader if their personal opinion fails over time. What matters is our established doctrine as published in our canon which come from actual revelations. This is what constitutes the core of our beliefs and our religion.

Here is the official Latter-day Saint statement on the Journal of Discourses specifically:

"The Journal of Discourses is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a compilation of sermons and other materials from the early years of the Church, which were transcribed and then published. It includes practical advice as well as doctrinal discussion, some of which is speculative in nature and some of which is only of historical interest. ... Questions have been raised about the accuracy of some transcriptions. Modern technology and processes were not available for verifying the accuracy of transcriptions, and some significant mistakes have been documented. The Journal of Discourses includes interesting and insightful teachings by early Church leaders; however, by itself it is not an authoritative source of Church doctrine."

There is not one soul nor organization in the history of this world who meets the imaginary benchmark of infallibility - never making a mistake or misstep or having to collectively learn line upon line as a group.  Why we hold ourselves to such a benchmark of perfection or feel we have to answer to others when they hold the Church's leaders or events in Church history up to this benchmark is neither wise nor equitable - but somehow we got hooked.

Let's consider a couple of some of the greatest prophets we know from the Bible.  First we have Moses who got himself in a whole lot of trouble with the Lord and was banned from entering the Promised Land.  How?  When the Children of Israel desperately needed water, he was instructed to speak to the rock in the Lord's name and power.  It would have been a great visual aid to help solidify God (His power and His mercy) to the Children of Israel.  Instead, Moses pulled an attitude, called them rebels, told them he was fetching the water and hit the rock with his stick.  Unfortunately, what the easily superstitious Children of Israel learned from this great miracle, was Moses had a magic stick.  The results did not go over well with the heavens.  (Numbers 20:8-11)  Was Moses still a great prophet?  Yes, very much so.

And we all know the painfully, poignant story of Peter repeatedly ditching and turning a back on Christ during the Savior's most trying moments of capture and mock trial.  Until the "cock crew." After which Peter, when taking a good look at himself, "wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:75)  Peter was also the apostle who refused to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and felt it was for Jews only.  It wasn't until after he had the same vision three times, that he finally relented (Acts 11:1-18).  Was Peter still a great apostle with many succinct and divine words?  Absolutely, he is one of my favorites!

Another example of fallibility is included in this very lesson with the example of the Saints (Joseph Smith specifically) getting chastised for pushing off the Kirtland Temple.

"After the organization of the Church the Lord commanded His Saints that they build a house unto His name. The Saints hardly realized the importance of it, and they did not go to work at once to build that house, so the Lord rebuked them (D&C 95:1–4).

And what about the 116 pages from Lehi we missed out on?  Listen to what the Lord says directly to Joseph Smith - one of the greatest of the greats - about the lost manuscripts:

3 Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men;

4 For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.

5 Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but how strict were your commandments; and remember also the promises which were made to you, if you did not transgress them.

6 And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.

7 For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—

8 Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.

9 Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall.

10 But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;

11 Except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men, and have no more gift.

Permit me to add an observation about Joseph Smith's character here.  My respect for Joseph Smith increased several times over, because of this incident as recorded in Section 3.  What an extraordinary giant of a man to humbly admit, reveal and publish to the world one of his greatest failed moments as well as the humbling scolding he endured.  What does that tell you about Joseph?  The same goes for Moses, who wrote several of those early Bible books, he also publicizes to a nation and the world about falling on his face pretty hard.  And Peter's experience was intensely personal, only he and the Savior knew about it - yet he disclosed it for all of us and let the story be known.  These are the markings of wide and deep souls.

Contrast that to some leaders we've known who cannot admit they were ever wrong, or rarely apologize for mistakes?  Or anyone else we know who clings to their own aura of infallibility? We don't tend to have a lot of respect for such folks and they're typically hard to work with or be around.  Nor do they come across as all that accomplished or spiritually deep over the course of time, do they?

How on earth did we let the illusion of infallibility shape our perceptions of what a man of God is, what a prophet is and what the True Church is?

Even Christ, while on the earth and personally leading the Church by the hand, had squabbling members, competition, steep learning curves and betrayal among his disciples.  To think that it was ever to go perfectly or without mishap is to ignore our religious history as recorded from the beginning of the Bible onward as well as other scriptures right up to our present day!

Elder Uchtdorf sums this all up wonderfully (like he does so often):

"And, to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine."

"I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But He works through us—His imperfect children—and imperfect people make mistakes."

"In the title page of the Book of Mormon we read, “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”

"This is the way it has always been and will be until the perfect day when Christ Himself reigns personally upon the earth."

"It is unfortunate that some have stumbled because of mistakes made by men. But in spite of this, the eternal truth of the restored gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not tarnished, diminished, or destroyed." (General Conference - Oct 2013)

All of this to oust the elephant in the room!

In December of 2013 the Church put up something rather unusual and actually remarkable on their official Church website.  They posted a topic page titled "Race And The Priesthood" which explains the ban on blacks getting the priesthood, why it was justified, how it was removed and why it was incorrect to begin with - did you get that last part?  For some of you this is going to be pretty huge.  I know I had to struggle and work through this, so I certainly won't find fault if you do too.

Salt Lake thankfully, wonderfully un-validates the priesthood ban for blacks with the following statement from that same article:

"Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else. Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form."

disavow: deny any responsibility or support for, disclaim, disown, wash one's hands of, repudiate, reject, renounce

When blacks and the priesthood became a topic on our local stake sisters email thread earlier this year- I enthusiastically shared the links to this Church web page and other pages with the comment - "so grateful the Church is admitting this was a mistake." There was some backlash for that statement.  The idea of anyone making a mistake in SLC was terribly threatening for several.  They challenged back and said things like "The Church doesn't make mistakes." "It doesn't say it was a 'mistake'..." etc.  I felt it best not to respond at the time.

Infallibility is ingrained in our Church culture and thinking.  It may take a while to undo.

Brigham Young instituted, explained and maintained the withholding of the priesthood from blacks based on Cain's curse (among other pre-mortal theories) - which by the way, was the prevalent teaching of the day among all Northern American and Western European churches. Brigham Young was raised with this belief which was used to justify slavery.  He makes some pretty ignorant, uncomfortable statements about blacks which anti-mormons have a heyday with.  With good reason - there is no justification for them.  I can't even bring myself to quote them here.

Please recall, the best and the most noble have their blundering, fall-on-their-face moments.  Perhaps these moments are made even bigger because prophets and apostles are highly public figures and all eyes are on them.  The expectation of perfection, is a hard, unattainable experience for any mortal - even a prophet.  And banning blacks from the priesthood was Brigham Young's cock crowing (Peter), magic stick (Moses), lost manuscript (Joseph) moment.

To be fair - Brigham Young never claimed any of his opinions about blacks, Cain's curse or the priesthood ban as direct revelation to him from God.  Nor did it ever make it into any of our official canon and scripture as a revelation given.  Instead, he reinforced it on his authority as a prophet.  And then subsequent leaders carried it on because of tradition.  Brigham Young's greatest failing was he bought into the prejudice of his time and didn't question it.  And it's been our mutual failing for a long time.

To also be fair - Brigham Young was a wonderful, inspired leader - the modern Moses of our time. He carved a last-dispensation version of the Promised Land out of almost nothingness.  I have a strong testimony of the divinity of his calling and he was absolutely a prophet of God.  His accomplishments, his successes, his spiritual insights, his leadership, and his visions are amazing.  I love studying many of his lectures and understandings.  It is wise to remember here that even the most noble and great ones have their Achilles' heel - as in every single one.  And Brigham certainly had to pay the piper for his.  Claiming perfection and infallibility is not the pattern we've ever had from the prophets and the scriptures of the Bible - and we're wise not to implement them for our time either.

We probably should have known something was up because Joseph Smith ordained black members, sent them on missions and called them to leadership positions.  For some reason, this is not as well known.  If all the claims Brigham Young put forth were true, why would Joseph Smith have opened the door to black members from the beginning?

Which leads to a great thought from Elder Bednar:

“As you endeavor to increase in learning, please remember that the doctrines and principles of the restored gospel should be considered in their totality. In other words, attempting to understand a doctrine or principle by examining a single scripture or prophetic statement in isolation from all else that has been revealed on the subject is generally misguided. True doctrines and principles are emphasized repeatedly in the standard works, by the prophets and apostles, and through the illuminating and confirming power of the Holy Ghost.” (from the introduction in his book "Increase In Learning)

This last quote ties into the Church statement made earlier - let me requote the first two sentences:

"Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church."

The Lord himself explains there are mistakes among the Church leadership and that we are all a work in progress collectively.  Line upon line - precept upon precept - it goes with the territory of being from a mortal world:

24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness (Joseph Smith and other leaders referred to specifically in prior verses), after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.

25 And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known;

26 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed;

27 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;

28 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time.  (D&C 1:24-28)

Mistakes and progression right up through the top of church leadership are part of the earthly plan.  We learn better when we have to stumble through it ourselves rather than having everything handed to us.

Yet, despite our mortal-ness, Jesus is still the Christ and the Church is still His.

Here are some of the more important things to remember about our membership in Christ's church:

Is the Savior, His Spirit and His saving grace found here?  Yes.

Is the power of the Sacrament found here?  Yes.

Are the Holy Ghost and the other saving ordinances found here?  Yes.

Will we get there (Celestial Kingdom)?  Yes.

Will there be missteps in the Church along the way?  Yes.

Will you be held personally accountable for those Church-wide learning curves?  No.

Regardless, our assignment is to follow the prophet, move the Kingdom of God forward and put our shoulder to the wheel.  When mistakes happen, they are part of our collective learning process and how we roll...line upon line, precept upon precept.

Like Christ said in Section 3 above -  "Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men..." We investigate and learn from our errors and move forward.  Thankfully that's an upward movement!  I love all the goodness and enlightenment we do have - it's an extraordinary amount and I undoubtedly have a long ways to go to absorb it all.  We all have ample room for growth and reaching.  I really love this restored gospel - even along with the occasional mortal fail.

Remarks by Keisha Smith, a black LDS member: "Shawnie... I write this with tears in my eyes- as a black woman who knows the truth of the restored gospel with all that I am, to have these issues addressed so directly and in such a forthright manner is beautiful. Since it became known by friends and family, black and white I was studying and then cnverting the church, many have used these exampes as to why the church isn't true. After 5 years I no lnger feel the need to debate or argue. I know what I know... The gospel has been restored, the church is true and while the people in it mnay not be perfect, his gospel and plan is! Thank you!"

*****

Addressing Question #2

This question has also been covered on this blog, but it too was buried in a lesson post (Ezra Taft Benson #2) and the prompting has come several times to put this material all together in one place and give it a blog post title people could search and find.

So here comes another re-post.  I hope you'll forgive me if you've read it before (and I'm thrilled to have you here always!), however a lot of people aren't here to read the lesson helps and this is for them.

******

“All through my life the counsel to depend on prayer has been prized above almost any other advice I have received,” said President Ezra Taft Benson. “It has become an integral part of me, an anchor, a constant source of strength, and the basis for my knowledge of things divine."

"..and the basis for my knowledge of things divine."  Wow.

President Benson touches on something so important here, I'd like to spend a couple of moments on it.

If I could compare President Benson's quote to my own experience ~ prayer is how I increase my gospel understanding line upon line, and piece by piece.  I have found if there comes a gospel concept which I don't understand or don't feel comfortable with, or if there is something from church history which comes across as awkward or questionable to me ~ if I then kneel in prayer and ask about it, the answer eventually comes.

In my mind's eye, I visualize laying the question or any life issue on the alter at His feet with the trust I'll run into the answer somewhere in a way which is very satisfactory to me.  Either my eyes are opened and I see the issue from different angles which then makes more sense, or it is put into a more balanced perspective for me and I understand what is caused by frail mortal learning curves and what is from the divine.  Sometimes the answer comes from something I read, sometimes from something someone says and sometimes it will just come all at once on its own and literally drops into place in my head.  Having prayers answered has happened hundreds of times now.  I can count on it.

I love how Ezra Taft Benson references this same process in the above quote and again when he cites a poem from childhood.  By the way, this is the best poem ever!  My kids are learning it for FHE this coming Monday.  I'll probably give it to them ahead of time and whoever can cite it will get a giant chocolate bar.  If there is anything I would want my children to understand about prayer, it would be this:


Let me give a very personal example of how it worked for me recently.  This whole issue with the black priesthood ban and the Church now coming out and saying Brigham Young made an error.  (If this is a surprise for you, sorry about that, but you can read about it here on the Church's website.)

I'm ok with prophets making errors and having learning curves.  Such things are recorded from the beginning of time and the Bible itself isn't bashful about the topic ~ Joseph Smith wasn't bashful about his own mistakes, so discovering a modern prophet's error or an apostle's mistake in and of itself doesn't rattle me.  I've long since learned they increase line upon line and precept upon precept too, just generally way ahead of most of us.  And God's designated spokesman is His designated spokesman.  When prophets do have revelations, it's recorded as canon (the four standard works) and these are the foundation of our faith, and not their personal understanding.  (Even though it mostly included great wisdom and insight, it sometimes included learning curves and imperfect understanding.)

Instead of the possibility of a prophet failing, what got to me was all the lost opportunity this priesthood ban mistake caused.  How many souls have been turned away or turned off because of the black priesthood ban or couldn't recognize the true church because of it?  How many generations lost out on the blessing of providence and increase because they didn't have the gospel passed down through their ranks, one generation improving on the next?  How different the quality of life could have been for so many!  And there I was asking the typical atheist's question, "How could God let this happen?" "If this is His inspired Church, how could He let such a thing take place?" It seemed so unfair and counter-productive.

Then last week as my family read D&C 137, the answer came like the rushing wind.  You know, it does seem like when we ponder hard over something, the answer comes in an equally exulting way.

Here are the verses:

2 I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that [celestial] kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire;

3 Also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son.

4 I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold.

5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept;

6 And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.

7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;

8 Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom;

9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

It came to me hard and strong.  I was doing what most of this world does.  We (collectively) judge a thing by our view of mortal life being the end-all, with a sense of imposed finite borders ~ the beginning of earth life and the end of earth life.  The belief that all justice and mercy must take place within a person's life span or the cause is lost or a failure.

Instead, we have a God who knew we mortals, even with the best of intentions, would mess things up.  He chose to let us progress, stumble through our learning curves and be in charge of Church leadership and administration anyway rather than set up a perfect rule by heavenly beings with no mistakes.  Why?  Because the stumbling process would prepare and develop us further over the long run.  And also because we learn lessons much deeper from opposition and from mistakes.

Which means there are many things which will be put right, balanced and answered to on the other side of the veil.  Christ has promised us He will dry all tears.

The verses above reminded me death is not the "time's up" a lot of us tend to think.

The gospel will be presented to all in its whole form and its perfect light.  Everyone will have a chance to see it, know it and decide whether to embrace it or not.  In God's endless mercy and love, nothing can be denied to any of His children, including a complete view of the gospel plan and an invitation to a perfect knowledge of the way to salvation.  Whomever was blinded by others on earth, or denied a chance to hear it and would have truly embraced the Gospel otherwise, will be unblinded in the next realm.

There are safeguards in place to ensure all of our brothers and sisters get their chance to be adopted into the House of Israel.  I already knew this about all those folks from the medieval times (dark ages), when the gospel was no where to be found for anyone before the restoration.  Yet somehow I needed help to see it applied here too.

Now, a question which was once so troubling, no longer is an issue.  I can trust God.  His intentions are perfect, and pure.  And I do have to wonder if maybe Brigham Young isn't making a lot of effort to clear things up with quite a few folks, and eating some humble crow.  Knowing his character, it wouldn't surprise me at all.  But this is sheer indulgence in speculation.

I am so grateful for this glimpse of understanding about an important learning curve in our collective Church history and the peace it brought to me.  And it started with taking the matter to the Lord in prayer and laying it on the altar.

*****

Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts and time with me on this issue.  I wish you well and hope you have the peace, confidence and strength to always work through tough questions.  Coming out the other end of them is a marvelous experience!

Timshel.

"I'll never make it to the Celestial Kingdom."

Have you ever thought something like this to yourself?  I certainly have, and felt every word deep down in my chagrined soul.

Or how about, "I'm the world's worst parent."

Or maybe even, "Why bother"?

Sometimes it feels hard to measure up to or for me to even think about all the commandments and principles of the gospel which keep stacking up, especially when we're reminded they all count and "Be ye therefore perfect..." (Matt 5:48)

But then...I've never met anyone who is not a work in progress.  And I've even maybe met a few whose "in progress" part seems to be kind of dormant at the moment.  So how does this admonishment to "be thou perfect" apply to our lives, and if it doesn't...is there hope?

I recently came across a few verses which shed some welcome perspective on the gospel and the process of becoming who we're meant to be in the Lord's eyes.

Speaking of which, have you ever noticed while reading scriptures certain verses speak up for themselves and catch our attention?

10 And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better. (D&C 25:10)

In that moment this verse said to me, "Purposely make time for things of a better world, like prayer, scriptures, family spirituality, etc." And we do have to conscientiously "seek" these better things don't we?  Because they surely don't often fall into place by themselves.  Instead we defy gravity to make them happen. (Especially with teenagers.)

Is it time to add morning or evening prayers back in? Is it time to add scriptures or FHE or even church callings back in?  Is there someone who irritates you, and it's time to be civil and kind again?  We don't typically get to perfection all at once, but there are things we can do to take a step closer.

These next verses help sum these ideas up:

31 And we know also, that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength.

32 But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God;

33 Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation [like negative thinking patterns and stirred hearts];

34 Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also [because no one is immune]. (D&C 20:31-34)

The idea from the previous two verses earlier in the post, of  "step closer" and "stepping back" to righteous habits, could also be described as the process of sanctification.

Sanctification: "Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity, of being made or becoming holy."

Ours is a life of becoming.  We're a work in progress.  So loving God with ALL our mights, minds and strengths ~ it's a process and a goal we work up to.  Step by step, part by part.

For my own understanding, I love the explanation of "Be thou perfect" was actually better translated "Be thou complete." In other words, becoming perfect was adding parts until we became the whole.  It was originally put forth in the scriptures as a goal, not as a prerequisite to be esteemed and loved by God today.

Wonderful Elder Nelson taught this idea in General Conference almost 20 years ago:

"In Matt. 5:48, the term perfect was translated from the Greek teleios, which means “complete.” Teleios is an adjective derived from the noun telos, which means “end.”  The infinitive form of the verb is teleiono, which means “to reach a distant end, to be fully developed, to consummate, or to finish.”  Please note that the word does not imply “freedom from error”; it implies “achieving a distant objective.” In fact, when writers of the Greek New Testament wished to describe perfection of behavior—precision or excellence of human effort—they did not employ a form of teleios; instead, they chose different words." (Pending Perfection, Oct 1995)

Try thinking of this process of sanctification and perfection as adding parts to complete the whole. Like Emma seeking things of a better world, piece by piece.  It helps me see this idea is not so far-fetched and entirely out of reach.

We keep adding parts (and re-adding parts we've let fall off), to move towards making the whole, or making it complete.  Until one day we arrive at the state of loving and serving God with ALL our hearts, mind and strength.

I couldn't help notice the solution the Lord gives to help this process along in verse 33:  "take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation."

It's the same solution Ezra tells us in lesson 2 was his personal doorway to everything else in the gospel.  Prayer is like the best part to add to the whole, and what leads to other things falling into their place more readily.  In fact, whether you're teaching or not, Ezra Taft Benson Lesson 2 on prayer is one you will not want to miss!  President Benson will have you wanting to pray 2-3 times a day and he gives his five-step formula for successful prayer.  You can also catch the highlights of the lesson on this blog too.

So back to Emma's question.  What is it I need to contemplate and strategize to add back in today?

The answer will be different for each one of us, and what's awesome is you'll know just what that part most needs to be right now.

Much love to you!