Mormon | Doctrines and Beliefs

This morning I read from Alma 34, 37 and Moses 5. I also ready Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “No Place for the Enemy of My Soul.” Both of them were good and uplifting. The most uplifting portion of Elder Holland’s talk for me was his mentioning of our need for remembering the Savior.

Most people in trouble end up crying, “What was I thinking?” Well, whatever they were thinking, they weren’t thinking of Christ. Yet, as members of His Church, we pledge every Sunday of our lives to take upon ourselves His name and promise to “always remember him.”8 So let us work a little harder at remembering Him—especially that He has “borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows . . . , [that] he was bruised for our iniquities . . . ; and with his stripes we are healed.”9 Surely it would guide our actions in a dramatic way if we remembered that every time we transgress, we hurt not only those we love, but we also hurt Him, who so dearly loves us. But if we do sin, however serious that sin may be, we can be rescued by that same majestic figure, He who bears the only name given under heaven whereby any man or woman can be saved. When confronting our transgressions and our souls are harrowed up with true pain, may we all echo the repentant Alma and utter his life-changing cry: “O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me.”

I think of something I read in a poem sometime ago, “Remember Him is what dear Luke recalls.” While remembering the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not the solution to many of the problems that confront us, but it can certainly be helpful in not being pulled away from so many of the problems that can confront us. The other pieces that I got from my reading were the following:

No one could have performed the necessary atonement except a God.

“Cry unto God for all thy support”

Tags:   Jeffrey R. Holland · Moral DecayNo Comments.

In my scripture reading this morning, I read the most recent talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks during the Priesthood Session of General Conference where he speaks about how to heal the sick. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the talk the first time and it was a good review to read it again. In the talk he brings up three things that are important in obtaining a blessing of healing when administering to the sick or afflicted.

The Anointing

The Sealing of the Anointing

Faith

The Words of the Blessing

The Will of the Lord

These five aspects of a blessing are all parts, but the most important part comes from the Doctrine and Covenants wherein the Lord states, “he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed” I am grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ, but also for the restoration of the ancient priesthood with all its administered keys of administration and miracle.

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My favorite talk from Priesthood Session during General Conference was by far President Dieter F. Uchtdorf during the general priesthood session. He spoke on patience. There were so many one liners from the talk, but one that stands out to me after listening to it (I would have read it if I had had the chance) was, “sometimes it is in the waiting, rather than the receiving, that we grow the most.”

I also read Mosiah 24 today wherein it talks about waiting.

“…the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.” v. 15 and 16

This is certainly something I need to be praying for more, especially in the things I am engaged in. Waiting on the Lord is difficult, but we must “continue in patience until we are perfected.”

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I read a great verse in Mormon chapter 5 today which reads,

“Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?”

I also read Chapter 5 of Jacob, which outlines the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees. It was a good mix. The scripture above reminded me of Proverbs 3:5-6 where the Lord tells us to trust in Him with all our hearts and not lean to our own understanding alone.

Another interesting tid bit about what I was reading today came from the Jacob verses where the Lord always seems to be the one ready to burn the branches and trees of the vineyard at the first provocation that they are corrupt. But, in almost every instance, the servant (prophets) convince the Lord otherwise and the Lord agrees to work a bit more before he destroys the non-productive evil fruit-bearing branches.

Tags:   In the hands of god · Proverbs 3:5-6 · Trust in the LordNo Comments.

Mormon General Conference this weekend was great! I have included a few of my notes from the sessions below.

From the Priesthood Session:

Elder Rasband spoke of the necessity of listening to the Spirit when working with President Eyring when they were calling missionaries. He went into detail how the Spirit truly lead the leaders to assign the calls of each individual missionary to his/her respective fields of duty.

From Elder Rasband’s talk I wrote down the following:

• Learn to listen better
• Learn to ask more
• Open your ears to hear
• Move closer to the sound

President Uchtdorf gave my favorite talk of the conference when he spoke on Patience. These are a few of my notes from his talk.

Patience means we put our desires on hold for a time.

If we are ever to meet our potential, we must learn to wait, but waiting is not passive reservation. Waiting means we perform steady and persistent work.

Impatience is selfish. We must learn to server others, especially while we wait.

We will refine our natures through experiences in patience.

Waiting helps us grow.

Patience brings perfection and humily.

1. Learn what the Lord expects

2. Make a plan

3. Work the plan

“Learn our duty, act in all diligence” and don’t be lazy.

We must strive to be clean, strive to be what the savior wants and change our natures.

President Thomas Monson Said we need to dress appropriately and be more honest. What will I think of myself? How can I be more honest?

It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. –President Uchtdorf

Atonement means overcoming punishment and consequences.–Elder Richard G. Scott

Purify your self perception.

Man’s destiny is determined.

Seek the Lord’s face.

The distractions to the Lord’s kingdom do not have to be negative to bring us away.

You can facilitate revelation by listening.

Our opportunity for service starts in our homes and then moves outward from there.

Tags:   Deiter F. Uchtdorf · General Conference · Henry B. Eyring · Thomas S. MonsonNo Comments.

Today’s reading comes from several verses in the Book of Mormon. These verses appear just prior to Christ’s appearance to the Nephites in the Americas. Even previous to Christ’s appearance was the destruction of many of the wicked. The Savior gives a full list of the destruction of many cities in Chapter 9 of 3 Nephi. After doing so, he states the following:

“O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendents of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her checkens under her wings, and have nourished you. And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not. O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.” v. 4-6. (emphasis added).

The Savior admonishes the people, letting them know that his hand is always extended towards those who wish to repent and return unto Him. Certainly the Lord’s hand is always extended toward us on conditions of repentance. His grace is unto all who repent and return. Later, in chapter 11 right before Christ appears to the native Americans. The people are “marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.” v1. I want that to be said of my heart because I returned and repented.

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I was reading out of Isaiah this morning. I cam across the following verse:

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” v. 15

I find it interesting that is says “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” From this we learn a couple of things. First, that God is humble and contrite. Imagine that! The good of the universe is humble and contrite. In addition, we learn that those who would dwell with God must be like him. Similarly, they must also be humble and contrite. Another verse comes to mind.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”1 John 3:2-3

I might also add that every man that has this hope will make himself humble and contrite like the Savior. This lays some of the foundation for man becoming like God, which is a Mormon Doctrine. That is a subject for another day. However, we do know that we must humble ourselves and submit to the will of the Lord with contrition before we enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Tags:   become like God · humilityNo Comments.

Based on the admonition of Jesus when he appeared in America we know that wrath and anger are never good. The Savior said, “he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil.” Today I decided to read about being angry and what that entails. I found a few interesting things.

First, anger is tied to pride. This is not new, based on what President Ezra Taft Benson said on pride, I already knew this was true, but I found it specifically in Proverbs:

“An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” v. 22-23

Another interesting tid bit that may not be so obvious is the lack of anger is applied to those who have charity. We read in 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter known for it’s references to charity that,

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things endureth all things. Charity never faileth…”

I’ve italicized a few things for effect. Essentially, we need a slow-to-anger mentality which is filled with charity.

Tags:   Anger · charity · humility · prideNo Comments.

“…And again it is said that : Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.” –Alma 9:13

I also read a bit out of Isaiah 63 where the Lord says, “9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
10 ¶ But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”

I have been thinking a lot lately about our current situation and can’t help but realize that we are 100% to blame for our problems. They are simply the result of our not following the Prophets.

The scriptures are plainly clear that is we do not repent, bad things happen (in most simple of terms) and we not only don’t receive blessings, but the Lord will return things upon our heads. I think we should follow the example of Alma, who after he left the city of Ammonihah, was visited by the angel and commanded to return and cry destruction if they would not repent. Let us be like him. For when it is time to receive a commandment we will “[return] speedily.”