TEACHING, A SACRED CALLING

From my journal, February 28, 2016

I was touched this week by an article in the Ensign, written by President Monson, about teaching.  I don't know if I can adequately express how important my Sunday school students are to me.  I feel that teaching teenagers about the gospel and striving to help them gain a testimony is the most sacred of callings.  I remember how much I wanted to understand God at that age when questioning seems to be very common.  The  following words by our prophet are most inspiring to me.

"In the Church, the goal of gospel teaching is not to pour information into the minds of God's children, whether at home, in the classroom, or in the mission field.  It is not to show how much the parent, teacher, or missionary knows.  The aim is to inspire individuals to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles.  The objective is to develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to become converted to His gospel."

The reason I often spend weeks preparing a lesson is so I can find ways to lead our discussions and stimulate thought in such a way as to help my students truly become converted.  I want them to know there is a place for them in the gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of where they are on the path of faith and discipleship.  This weighs heavy on my heart every day.

REPENTANCE; MAKING CHANGES IN OUR LIVES

Read a great article on something we have been hearing sermons on for oh so many years.  It's easy for us to minimize the need for change in our lives.  We often hear, "Well, I can't change, it's just the way I am", or "just live and let live".  However, Galatians 6:15 and other scriptures remind us that change is an important aspect of the Christian life.  Jesus was born at a time when the law of Moses guided the religious life of the nation of Israel, focusing on outward performances on specific actions that were either required or forbidden.  The Pharisees taught that if you kept all of God's commandments which dealt primarily with outward actions, then you would be righteous.

Then along comes Jesus Christ who turned all those notions upside down.  He focused on the inner attitudes and the condition of one's heart which would then motivate us to living righteously.  In our day we may find ourselves falling into the trap of doing all the outward things in our religious life that makes it appear that we are on the right path:  attending church, paying our tithing, living the Word of Wisdom.  Parables in the New Testament relating to the Pharisees remind us that becoming comfortable with our commandment keeping can stunt our spiritual growth and progress.

2 Corinthians 7:10 teaches us that "godly sorrow worketh  repentance to salvation".  Paul stressed that in the life of a disciple of Christ, "all things must become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).  As we look inward in a desire to become more like the Savior we might ask ourselves questions like, "Am I impatient, negative, fearful, critical, self-centered, controlling, light-minded, lustful, cynical or lazy?" The Atonement of Jesus Christ can not only cleanse us of sin but also help us overcome the inner weakness that comes from being a natural man.  The book of Ether in the Book of Mormon reminds us that "if men come unto me I will show to them their weaknesses.  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".  Having faith in Him involves believing that He can reach deep enough to change us in ways we need to change, if only we come to Him with a submissive heart, desiring to become new creatures.

The world would have us focus on a change in behavior, but we know that it is the change in heart that must come first, a change of heart leads to a change in behavior.  It's not just what we are doing, it is who we are becoming.  What a wonderful blessing to know that over time (and sometimes it requires a long time) if we are humble and teachable then the Lord can use the Holy Ghost to help us become new creatures.  The Lord has everlasting patience and we need to be patient with ourselves as we journey toward becoming more and more Christlike.  Line upon line, precept upon precept.....

UNDERSTANDING THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE

February 14, 2016

I have been re-reading the book, "The Infinite Atonement" by Tad Callister in preparation for teaching a Sunday school lesson next month on the Atonement.  I read this book years ago and it has been rewarding to skim over it once again. The atonement is complex and one could spend a lifetime exploring the details of it.  One of the chapters talks about the Fall and how it has been misunderstood by many.  I wanted to make note of some of the principles of the Fall that I am grateful to understand better as I study more.

In speaking of the conditions before the Fall, Callister talks about Adam and Eve finding themselves subject to 4 basic conditions-- 2 positive and 2 negative.  

1. They were immortal, not subject to pain, disease, or death.  Speaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God said, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thous shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17), implying that in the interim, until such an event should occur, Adam and Eve would enjoy a state of immortality.  This was positive.

2. Adam and Eve walked and talked in the presence of God.  This was also a positive. The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of those glorious days when "God conversed with Adam face to face.  In His presence he was permitted to stand, and from His own mouth he was permitted to receive instruction.  He heard God's voice, walked before him and gazed upon His glory, while intelligence burst upon his understanding."  It is hard to imagine a more idyllic setting in which to reside.  

3.  The third condition was a negative.  Adam and Eve were in a state of innocence, without a full knowledge of good and evil, and thus unable to experience a fulness of joy.  Lehi describes this condition: "And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end...Wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin" (2 Nephi 2:22-23).  This was an obstacle to their individual development and progression.  Without complete knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve could not exercise their full moral agency.  John Fiske, a Harvard philosopher, grasped this dilemma:  "Clearly, for strong and resolute men and women an Eden would be but a fool's paradise.  How could anything fit to be called 'character' have ever been produced there?...We can at least begin to realize distinctly that unless our eyes had been opened at some time, so that we might come to know the good and the evil, we should never have become fashioned in God's image.  We should have been the denizens of a world of puppets, where neither morality nor religion could have found place or meaning."  Eden was a way-station, not a destination.  It was a temporary resting spot in the journey of life.  One could not expect to become like God in the Garden of Eden any more than one could expect to drive from Los Angeles to New York while in neutral.  Except for the tree of knowledge of good and evil, there were no challenges, no temptations, and no obstacles in that quasi-heavenly setting.  Accordingly, there could be no progression.  They were temporarily stuck in a world of spiritual sterility. (This makes me think of how much we love little babies. They are so sweet, so innocent, and so completely dependent upon us. This is fine for a while, but we want for our children to have the opportunity to grow, learn to walk on their own, speak like us, learn and progress into adults.  Sure, it can be painful to watch them fall and make mistakes, but we know that as their parents it is the only way for them to grow.  We want for them to someday become fully aware adults,  not remain babies forever.  Likewise our Heavenly Father knows we need to experience the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, to become spiritually mature.)

4. The fourth condition was also negative.  As long as they remained in this garden state, Adam and Eve would have no children, no joy in their posterity.  What a devastating drawback.  Under these conditions they could not obey the divine command to multiply and replenish the earth, which was the foremost design and object of their married life.  

I am grateful that Adam and Eve were willing to transgress in order that the full plan of salvation and eternal happiness could be brought forth for us all.  Satan thought he was being so clever when he tempted Eve to partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thinking this would doom her and Adam to eternal damnation.  However, Satan did not understand the wonderful plan of redemption by Jesus Christ and did not understand that His Atonement would not only bring the principle of repentance and forgiveness to us but through the power of the resurrection, we too would be given immortality once again.  When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden and became fully mortal, they could then have children, and they would understand the opposites we need to experience here on earth (good and evil, pleasure and pain, happiness and sadness) in order for us to grown, progress, and become more and more like our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ as we make good choices in this temporary life on earth.  Yes, Adam and Eve, and consequently the rest of mankind, would have to forego for a time being able to speak face to face with our Heavenly Father, but because of the atonement and resurrection of Christ, through faith in Him, we can someday return to our heavenly home for all of eternity. God did not leave us with no direction; He gave us prophets and scriptures to teach and guide us.   Jesus extends his loving arms to all people in all circumstances, waiting to bring them unto Him, forgive their sins, and wash them clean, teach them of His ways, and prepare them to return to their God.  Satan may have power to tempt us during our time on earth, but in the end he will be overcome by the plan of salvation and the goodness of Christ, never to have power over us again.  When Christ returns to the earth once again, Satan will have to utter the old cliche, "Curses, foiled again".  

WHAT REALLY BRINGS US HAPPINESS?

There was a great article in the Ensign magazine this month about what we can learn about happiness from the Book of Mormon.  Even for those not of our faith, these principles hold true in our lives.

1.  WHO DO WE HANG WITH
    A major source of our happiness is our social circle.  Are we spending time with those who are uplifting and positive?  Do we spend time with those who have similar goals and philosophies of life?  Have you ever struggled with having a friend who you loved, but their negative attitudes about life tended to bring out the worst in you, causing you to become more critical and judgmental of others?

2.  DO WE WALK THE WALK AND NOT JUST TALK THE TALK?
   Mosiah encourages us to "Consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God". (Mosiah 2:41)  Mahatma Gandhi said, "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony".  I found in my own life that the hardest times for me were when I knew certain things to be true, but I was not living in alignment with those principles.

3.  LEARN TO WORK HARD
   Work is a critical factor in obtaining happiness.  President Monson has counseled, "God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon.  He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth.  He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt.  God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things.  He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and glories of creation."  The exhilaration of being creative and the feeling of accomplishment that often accompany hard work brings happiness.

4.  SHARING WHAT WE HAVE
   Multiple studies have shown that time spent serving and money spent on others have a direct impact on our happiness.  Kim Benjamin told his people, "I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritual and temporally, according to their wants."  (Mosiah 4:26)
 
5.  BEING A PEACEMAKER
   Contention and happiness are polar opposites---one leads away from the other.  Jesus said, "He that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention." (3 Nephi 11:29)  Often contention arises from impatience.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, "Impatience is a symptom of selfishness.  It is a trait of the self-absorbed.  It arises from the all-too-prevalent condition called 'center of the universe' syndrome, which leads people to believe that the world revolves around them and that all others are just supporting cast in the grand theater of mortality in which only they have the starring role."  Our homes need to be places of peace and support.  Gordon B. Hinkley invited us to "cultivate the art of the soft answer.  It will bless your homes, and it will bless your lives."

We are reminded in 2 Nephi 2:25 that "men are that they might have joy".  God wants for each of us to find and choose happiness in our lives.  Taking to heart the principles above I believe can help us in achieving that goal.

THE MIRACLE OF FORGIVENESS

From my journal today, February 2, 2016

I read an inspiring article in the new Ensign Magazine today called "Forgiving My Ex-Husband".  The woman who wrote the article was in her early 40s when her husband divorced her, left her to finish raising their teenagers, and to work a full-time job.  She describes the incredible feelings of pain, rejection, and resentment she felt.  I personally cannot imagine going through that experience myself.

I have watched this same scene playing out with friends or loved ones.  Our daughter has watched this with LDS friends of hers.  Their seems to be two general reactions and outcomes to this type of situation.  With her friends she has mostly seen the wives become bitter, angry, and they get mad at God for what they are experiencing, feeling that since they were living the Gospel they shouldn't have to be subjected to such heartache and pain. They often turn from God and leave the Church.  They allow Satan to fill them with hatred and resentment. Now this isn't to say that you wouldn't naturally feel extreme anger and betrayal in such a situation.  The question is, how to deal with it.

Then there are those, like the author of this article, who do just the opposite and seek for the Lord's guidance and solace.  They look to the example of the Savior and studied how He dealt with rejection and betrayal by even His closest disciples.  With God's help this woman was able to forgive her ex-husband, and not belittle him before their children.  In time she forgave him and even though he had remarried, they developed a friendly, positive relationship as they shared in rearing their children.  It surely was the most challenging experience of her life, but she saw it through, finding new peace and joy in her life.  I am grateful to be reminded of how much our Father in Heaven loves us, is aware of our needs, and how with His help we can go through anything and come out victorious.