Every few days or so, I hear of another friend who has just lost a job or experienced a pay reduction due to our current economic recession. Times are hard. Sympathies are high, and I have seen an increased effort to help friends who are going without. While these efforts relieve some of the pressure that is borne by the shoulders of many, it may not be enough to see us through our trials.
When, suddenly, you have to rethink your financial situation because of conditions that are outside your control, it is not uncommon to think, “How can I manage with less?” If I have a place setting at the dinner table for a family of seven, and find that one of the plates has been broken, I have to consider getting another plate or finding a way to take turns. If I own two pair of pants and one is damaged so that it is not suitable for wearing, I have to find a way to repair it or do without. If I choose the latter, I may consider what else the material from the pants may be good for.
When my wife, Liz, and I were first married, she received a book from a friend titled, Something from Nothing. The story is based on a Jewish folktale where a young boy, Joseph, is the recipient of a blanket from his grandfather. After considerable use, the blanket becomes tattered and is about to be discarded. Not wanting to give up the blanket, Joseph takes it to his grandfather who is the village tailor. His grandfather salvages the material from the blanket and makes Joseph a coat. After further use and wear, the coat is salvaged to make a vest and finally a button.
Each time the gift from Joseph’s grandfather is modified, it was given new life. It was also reduced in size. Occasionally when we have to follow this pattern of salvaging in our own lives, our hopes may shrink proportionately. However, this need not be the case. It all depends on where we place our hope.
The Savior provided an alternate route of travel for overcoming what may seem impossible circumstances. His road is the road of faith. In Matthew 14:14-21 we have an account of a time when a multitude of people followed Jesus to be with them. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples were about to send the multitude away because they had no food. Rather than send them away, Jesus said unto his disciples, “They need not depart; give ye them to eat.”
Those who were faithful followers in Jesus did not yet see the alternate route. “We have here but five loaves, and two fishes,” they said. He merely replied, “Bring them hither to me.” After the multitude sat down, Jesus looked up to heaven, he blessed the food, brake, and gave the pieces to his disciples to distribute among 5,000 men, beside women and children. When all were fed and filled, there were twelve baskets full of the food that remained.
While I feel I have a certain amount of faith in God, I continue to marvel at the beauty of this miracle. I continue to wonder how I can apply this passage of scripture in my own life. Here are a few interesting points to ponder. First, the multitude was seeking Jesus. I don’t know that I can expect even the smallest miracle in my own life if I am not in the attitude of seeking the Lord. Second, His disciples brought what they had and turned it over to Jesus. They weren’t empty handed. Sometimes I ask for help without making an effort to contribute anything. The disciples brought everything they had. That should tell us something. Third, when Jesus performed the miracle, He looked up to heaven. It is critical that I look to Father, not only to ask for a desired blessing, but in an attitude ready to do His will, whatever it may be. Jesus did not have selfish reasons for performing the miracle. He was not only concerned with feeding the people. He was concerned about their faith and He wanted them to clearly understand that with God anything is possible. Or in other words, there is a better way to that which we have known in the past.
Pondering this passage of scripture, and comparing it with the Jewish folktale, I am left to wonder, “Rather than just manage, how can I make more with less? How can I take what little I have and create rather than just salvage? Is it possible to have a better lifestyle than I had previously, even though my means have been reduced?” The key is to put our trust in the master creator rather than listen to the destroyer of our souls. Jesus is the light and life of the world who has provided us a pattern to do the Father’s will. As Moroni said in Ether 12:11, “But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.”
We live in a time of trouble, darkness, and anguish. But if we turn to the Savior with full purpose of heart, he can replenish our diminished hopes. Nephi quoted the prophet Isaiah who said, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and increased the joy—they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.” (2 Nephi 19:2-3) The Creator of all has the power to increase our meager offerings. He has the ability to increase our joy.
In a prophecy regarding the Book of Mormon, Isaiah also said, “But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” (2 Nephi 27:28-30) When we turn to the Lord in meekness, he will increase our blessings. He can change barren to a fruitful field that will eventually become a forest.
One more example from the scriptures where the Lord increased and magnified the efforts of His servants is the brother of Jared. After constructing barges to travel across the ocean as he was directed, Mahonri is asked by the Lord what he would do for light during their journey. After some thought and effort, Mahonri decides to molten out of rock sixteen small stones that are white and clear, even as transparent glass. He then takes the stones upon Mount Shelem and prays to the Lord that He will touch the stones that they may shine forth in darkness. The Lord agrees and touches the stones and “the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared.” (Ether 3:1-6)
There are times when I feel I am asked to do something very difficult, or even impossible. I look, but I can’t see a way out. My only hope has been that, when I prayed about the matter, I had a calm feeling come over me that everything would be fine. In retrospect, I realize that I could not see the obvious answer because the veil had not been taken from my eyes. Father’s purposes in my trial were not yet realized, and my faith was not yet as was the brother of Jared’s.
Looking at the alternate route that Jesus showed unto Mahonri Moriancumer, I am again left to ponder, “How can I apply this passage of scripture in my own life? How can I get the Lord to touch my stones and make them shine with the light of Christ in my life? The answer is clear, but not so easy. I need faith like unto the brother of Jared. And yet I need not be discouraged because a veil is still placed over my eyes – because my faith is still wanting. Father rewards faith in whatever quantity it comes in, even the size of a mustard seed. Jesus told His disciples, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed… nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)
A part of this story that I find especially interesting is the manner in which Mahonri’s prayer is answered. After he sees the Lord’s finger, and after Jesus shows himself unto the brother of Jared, Jesus proceeds to show him all things from the beginning of the world to the end. Even to this point, he received a lot more than he asked for. Jesus then gives the brother of Jared something else he didn’t ask for.
When the brother of Jared went to Mount Shelem, he took with him sixteen stones. The beautiful part about this story is that this is not the number he returned with. Jesus gave him two additional stones, or interpreters, that were to be sealed up with his record. These two stones, a Urim and Thummim, were to bring to light hidden things out of darkness. It is as if the Lord were to say, “You want light? Let me give you light.” And the brother of Jared returned with, not sixteen, but eighteen stones. When we trust in the Lord and put our faith fully in Him, he not only answers our prayers, he gives us more than we ask for. The Lord always sweetens the deal.
Thinking about our current situation, I believe there is still wisdom to be found, and practiced, in the old pioneer adage, “Use it up, wear it out. Make do, or do without.” Perhaps it is when we are looking for ways to manage with less that the Lord can take the veil from our eyes enough for us to see how we can increase the meager offering in our own baskets. As our faith increases, we may find the veil slipping freely from our minds.
There is strength to be discovered as we do difficult things and turn to the Lord with our faith. This is what is required of us when the Lord asks us to do all that we can do, so that His grace may be sufficient for us.
The most reassuring thing to me about difficult times is my knowledge and understanding that Father truly hears and answers prayers. He has provided a more excellent way, and that way is through His Only Begotten Son. As we look to the Son and follow Him, we will begin to see an alternate route to the familiar road we have traveled so frequently. This way is the Lord’s way. It is a way of hope and increased happiness. It is a road filled with light that will lead us out of darkness and doubt. It is the only route home, and it provides hope for anyone who seeks it.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Revelation is a Reality
While not an undeserving setting, Yosemite National Park was an unexpected location to hear the voice of the Lord. I was a missionary at the time, serving in the California – Fresno Mission, and our mission president had chosen to hold a half-mission conference in an outdoor amphitheater. I remember listening to some messages prepared by the assistants to the president when I had an experience I am glad I recorded in my journal.
Previous to that occasion, I had been praying about a question for some time. It was a question that I already knew the answer to, or rather, I felt the answer but I didn’t quite know how to express it. My question was, “Why are the scriptures so important?”
As I sat on a bench in the amphitheater, listening to one of the assistants, I had a feeling or an impression. It was more like experiencing a meaning – something that wasn’t necessarily spoken but was understood. In my journal I wrote, “The feeling I had, as Heavenly Father put the answer in my head, was a great feeling. It was a sure feeling, confident, and exciting.” I began to write my thoughts until I had a few sentences down on paper. And then I marveled at what had just happened. Again I felt the Spirit confirming that what I had written down was an accurate and correct representation of what I felt.
Reflecting on the experience has given me a greater understanding of what Father was trying to teach me. He didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, but I had new insight on how my knowledge fit together and how it could be applied. Knowing something and knowing what to do with it are two very different things. A person may have knowledge but still lack common sense or wisdom. For me, it was as though I had the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. I knew the pieces fit together somehow and that the full picture was worth figuring out. Once Father gave me an understanding of how the pieces fit together, I was able to assemble them in my mind and could then appreciate what had happened. More important than the information that I comprehended was the witness I gained that Father hears and answers prayers and that He does speak to His children. I learned what it meant to feel the voice of the Lord.
There is a beautiful key to receiving answers to prayer in Doctrine and Covenants 84:62-66. The Lord told Joseph Smith, “And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you; … Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.
Our Father wants us to ask questions. He wants us to receive. Jesus promises that if we seek we will find. Because He does not lie, His promise is sure. If you truly seek, you will truly find. The process becomes clearer as we draw near to him.
It stands to reason that if you see a familiar friend in the distance whom you wish to talk to, you will approach them until you are close enough to converse. When you are yet at a distance, but within earshot, you may shout a greeting because you are glad to see your friend. However, this is usually not sufficient for a lengthy conversation. Instead it is easier to continue approaching your friend until you can talk openly and freely, face to face. It is hard to hear a whisper from a distance.
Learning to hear the Master’s voice is synonymous with learning to feel and recognize the Holy Spirit, or the influence of the Holy Spirit. Feeling His influence is the same as feeling the spirit, or the light of Christ that is given to everyone. Whether we describe His voice as spirit, or light, or truth, it matters not. They are the same. This influence is the word of the Lord.
One question I consider often is, “Am I close enough to Father to recognize His voice?” It is not enough to acknowledge that I once was if I no longer am. I want to stay close to Father at all times, just as a young child wants to cling to his or her mother. I want to hear his voice clearly enough to know what it is He wants me to hear. When I am close, I can more easily put words to the feelings and impressions that I feel. Understanding what the Lord wants us to know requires deliberate effort.
As an architect, I often compare what I do with the work of a tailor. A tailor has a specific job to fashion a piece of clothing for a very specific person. Thus a tailored fit is an exact fit. Similarly, I design buildings for people, very often communities. I feel that architecture should be the clothing of a community, and it should be a perfect fit. If we desire to receive answers to our prayers, it is our responsibility to not only feel an answer, but to dress it appropriately with words that are an accurate and correct representation of what we felt, lest we are deceived or miss a very significant part of the meaning.
When we have these experiences – when we feel the influence of the Holy Ghost and are uplifted, edified, and enlightened – we receive revelation. The information we may seek may be religious or secular. It may be large or small. Regardless of the nature, context, content, or weight of that knowledge, Father has promised to reveal the answers to our questions if we follow His pattern and direction.
Joseph Smith taught, “A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.”
Joseph Smith further taught: “The Holy Ghost is a revelator.” And, “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.”
After an individual follows the example of the Savior and is baptized, the ordinance of confirmation is administered. It is here that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed to any and every person desiring to come unto Christ. At the end of that prayer is a directive to “receive the Holy Ghost.” It is not an absolute to be taken for granted, nor is it merely an invitation. It is a gift being offered with the obligation of the receiver to formally receive or take the gift. We accept Father’s gift when we take the Holy Spirit as our constant companion and guide. This privilege is not rescinded as long as we are willing. One hand reaches out to extend the offer, the other hand is required to reach out and accept. As both hands reach out, we draw near to Father and He draws near to us.
More and more I recognize the Lord’s hand in my life, especially when I am looking, asking, or seeking. I recognize what he is offering me. He speaks to each of us far more than we acknowledge or give credit. If there is a time when his voice is silent, I find that it is either because I am not listening, or he is waiting for me to stretch a little more, to reach toward him a little more. It is in those moments when I reach out in faith that the answers come.
Revelation is a reality. The realization of this privilege has everything to do with my continuous efforts to draw near to Father – to approach him in faith, looking for moments of revelation each day.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Previous to that occasion, I had been praying about a question for some time. It was a question that I already knew the answer to, or rather, I felt the answer but I didn’t quite know how to express it. My question was, “Why are the scriptures so important?”
As I sat on a bench in the amphitheater, listening to one of the assistants, I had a feeling or an impression. It was more like experiencing a meaning – something that wasn’t necessarily spoken but was understood. In my journal I wrote, “The feeling I had, as Heavenly Father put the answer in my head, was a great feeling. It was a sure feeling, confident, and exciting.” I began to write my thoughts until I had a few sentences down on paper. And then I marveled at what had just happened. Again I felt the Spirit confirming that what I had written down was an accurate and correct representation of what I felt.
Reflecting on the experience has given me a greater understanding of what Father was trying to teach me. He didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, but I had new insight on how my knowledge fit together and how it could be applied. Knowing something and knowing what to do with it are two very different things. A person may have knowledge but still lack common sense or wisdom. For me, it was as though I had the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. I knew the pieces fit together somehow and that the full picture was worth figuring out. Once Father gave me an understanding of how the pieces fit together, I was able to assemble them in my mind and could then appreciate what had happened. More important than the information that I comprehended was the witness I gained that Father hears and answers prayers and that He does speak to His children. I learned what it meant to feel the voice of the Lord.
There is a beautiful key to receiving answers to prayer in Doctrine and Covenants 84:62-66. The Lord told Joseph Smith, “And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you; … Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.
Our Father wants us to ask questions. He wants us to receive. Jesus promises that if we seek we will find. Because He does not lie, His promise is sure. If you truly seek, you will truly find. The process becomes clearer as we draw near to him.
It stands to reason that if you see a familiar friend in the distance whom you wish to talk to, you will approach them until you are close enough to converse. When you are yet at a distance, but within earshot, you may shout a greeting because you are glad to see your friend. However, this is usually not sufficient for a lengthy conversation. Instead it is easier to continue approaching your friend until you can talk openly and freely, face to face. It is hard to hear a whisper from a distance.
Learning to hear the Master’s voice is synonymous with learning to feel and recognize the Holy Spirit, or the influence of the Holy Spirit. Feeling His influence is the same as feeling the spirit, or the light of Christ that is given to everyone. Whether we describe His voice as spirit, or light, or truth, it matters not. They are the same. This influence is the word of the Lord.
One question I consider often is, “Am I close enough to Father to recognize His voice?” It is not enough to acknowledge that I once was if I no longer am. I want to stay close to Father at all times, just as a young child wants to cling to his or her mother. I want to hear his voice clearly enough to know what it is He wants me to hear. When I am close, I can more easily put words to the feelings and impressions that I feel. Understanding what the Lord wants us to know requires deliberate effort.
As an architect, I often compare what I do with the work of a tailor. A tailor has a specific job to fashion a piece of clothing for a very specific person. Thus a tailored fit is an exact fit. Similarly, I design buildings for people, very often communities. I feel that architecture should be the clothing of a community, and it should be a perfect fit. If we desire to receive answers to our prayers, it is our responsibility to not only feel an answer, but to dress it appropriately with words that are an accurate and correct representation of what we felt, lest we are deceived or miss a very significant part of the meaning.
When we have these experiences – when we feel the influence of the Holy Ghost and are uplifted, edified, and enlightened – we receive revelation. The information we may seek may be religious or secular. It may be large or small. Regardless of the nature, context, content, or weight of that knowledge, Father has promised to reveal the answers to our questions if we follow His pattern and direction.
Joseph Smith taught, “A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.”
Joseph Smith further taught: “The Holy Ghost is a revelator.” And, “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.”
After an individual follows the example of the Savior and is baptized, the ordinance of confirmation is administered. It is here that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed to any and every person desiring to come unto Christ. At the end of that prayer is a directive to “receive the Holy Ghost.” It is not an absolute to be taken for granted, nor is it merely an invitation. It is a gift being offered with the obligation of the receiver to formally receive or take the gift. We accept Father’s gift when we take the Holy Spirit as our constant companion and guide. This privilege is not rescinded as long as we are willing. One hand reaches out to extend the offer, the other hand is required to reach out and accept. As both hands reach out, we draw near to Father and He draws near to us.
More and more I recognize the Lord’s hand in my life, especially when I am looking, asking, or seeking. I recognize what he is offering me. He speaks to each of us far more than we acknowledge or give credit. If there is a time when his voice is silent, I find that it is either because I am not listening, or he is waiting for me to stretch a little more, to reach toward him a little more. It is in those moments when I reach out in faith that the answers come.
Revelation is a reality. The realization of this privilege has everything to do with my continuous efforts to draw near to Father – to approach him in faith, looking for moments of revelation each day.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Desire
Over the past ten years I have been working on a novel inspired by two verses in the Book of Ether contained in the Book of Mormon. My curiosity has caused me to wonder how two separate nations can be brought to their knees to the point of near extinction. I believe the real reason lies in a power that begins very small in the heart of each individual. Unchecked, these motivations provide an immense amount of fuel for a lifetime of decisions. Lately I have put my ideas on the shelf to take care of other responsibilities, but I still find the study intriguing.
The most prominent theme in the Book of Mormon is clearly the witness that Jesus Christ lives and that he visited the people in the Western Hemisphere after His resurrection. Other important themes are the importance of covenants made with God, the pride cycle that we each tend to go through in various degrees, and the power of secret combinations. While it is not a primary focus, secret combinations, and how to deal with them, is an overarching theme of the writings in Helaman, Third Nephi, Mormon, and Ether.
I look at the motives to establish Zion and secret combinations as being direct opposites. The purpose of Zion is to build up the ideal society. The objective of secret combinations is to destroy all societies, as was demonstrated with the Nephites and the Jaredites.
Personally, I see no need to fear. We live in the only dispensation that will not fail and fall into apostasy. However, we have been warned of what is coming and how we need to prepare. We have been given what we need to understand the pertinent parts of secret combinations for our benefit.
Moroni tells us in Ether 8:24, “Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.”
In Mormon 8:34-35, Moroni also says, “Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.”
These two statements tell us that the Lord has shown Moroni our day, and what to expect when they happen. The intriguing part to me is that Moroni states that we would awake to our awful situation, which means that if we are not watching carefully, the situation will catch us by surprise. He also says “when,” not “if.”
Moroni then tells us why he included this information in his record. Continuing in Ether 8:26 we read, “Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.”
As I have pondered this topic and the related accounts in the Book of Mormon, I have come to understand that the desire of an individual is very powerful – it has tremendous effects on both the individual and society at large. Desire unchecked is the seed of secret combinations. Even if we are not engaged in secret combinations, we may support them through indifference.
In Helaman 6:31-32, Mormon tells us the predicament the ancient Nephites faced before the Savior’s first advent. “And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver. And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto them in the space of not many years….”
Mormon goes on to describe how the Nephites, who became focused on their wealth more than God, began to dwindle in unbelief while the Lamanites began to grow in the knowledge of God. Because of this, the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw because of the hardness of their hearts – a hardness which I believe was a very gradual process. This is implied by the use of the word “began” three times in reference to the Nephites, the Lamanites, and the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the Nephites supported the secret combinations which were around them. A lack of effort to resist these combinations allowed them to benefit materially from the works of others.
My interest in this topic is not to explore the darker side of the said combinations, but rather to understand the concerns that caused Moroni to write so much on the matter. My hope is that understanding the opposition may help me make deliberate choices for good, and prepare for the establishment of the Zion foreseen by ancient prophets.
In an effort to clarify the thoughts driving my story, I wrote a concept summary in poetic form. Poetry helps me cut to the essence of an idea. I share it here as a quick look at the power of desire unchecked.
Desire,
A subtle flame conceived in the heart –
Invisible, but proud in the street.
Without restraint, it becomes a master,
Fooling the author to believe the opposite.
Desire forgets the poor and feeds ambition.
It quickens senses and stirs the heart,
Yet lulls reason to sleep.
Desire dominates will.
With mastery, it spreads with whispers,
Filling homes, closets, and thoughts.
Preying upon some and enlisting others,
It despises those who offer nothing.
Merchants, officers, and politic-makers
Garb their master in power obtained.
Distinguished by rank and chance for learning
They walk in their sleep, indifferent to the sun.
Seduced by gain and deceived by flattery,
The once innocent trade ethics for advantage,
Until bound fast, occasionally remembering
The wakeful freedom of control.
The hot wind murmurs. The silent heart plots.
Walls listen intently in the shade,
Yet few trouble to douse the flame.
Secret and dark, it stays hidden.
Desire combines with faithful servants
To alter law and destroy the measure
By which it may be fatally judged,
Dismissing those less useful.
Each servant followed by another,
The master wastes, then replaces,
Fueling a fiery system of destruction,
Fanning without restraint.
Vain things are offered and believed.
Nothing matters but the secret.
Not people, not law, nor the sacred –
Nothing, but the opposition.
Awake! Awake, from vanity and death!
Look to the source and not the shadow.
See the power that binds you captive.
We are the enemy, and the enemy is combined.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
The most prominent theme in the Book of Mormon is clearly the witness that Jesus Christ lives and that he visited the people in the Western Hemisphere after His resurrection. Other important themes are the importance of covenants made with God, the pride cycle that we each tend to go through in various degrees, and the power of secret combinations. While it is not a primary focus, secret combinations, and how to deal with them, is an overarching theme of the writings in Helaman, Third Nephi, Mormon, and Ether.
I look at the motives to establish Zion and secret combinations as being direct opposites. The purpose of Zion is to build up the ideal society. The objective of secret combinations is to destroy all societies, as was demonstrated with the Nephites and the Jaredites.
Personally, I see no need to fear. We live in the only dispensation that will not fail and fall into apostasy. However, we have been warned of what is coming and how we need to prepare. We have been given what we need to understand the pertinent parts of secret combinations for our benefit.
Moroni tells us in Ether 8:24, “Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.”
In Mormon 8:34-35, Moroni also says, “Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.”
These two statements tell us that the Lord has shown Moroni our day, and what to expect when they happen. The intriguing part to me is that Moroni states that we would awake to our awful situation, which means that if we are not watching carefully, the situation will catch us by surprise. He also says “when,” not “if.”
Moroni then tells us why he included this information in his record. Continuing in Ether 8:26 we read, “Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.”
As I have pondered this topic and the related accounts in the Book of Mormon, I have come to understand that the desire of an individual is very powerful – it has tremendous effects on both the individual and society at large. Desire unchecked is the seed of secret combinations. Even if we are not engaged in secret combinations, we may support them through indifference.
In Helaman 6:31-32, Mormon tells us the predicament the ancient Nephites faced before the Savior’s first advent. “And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver. And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto them in the space of not many years….”
Mormon goes on to describe how the Nephites, who became focused on their wealth more than God, began to dwindle in unbelief while the Lamanites began to grow in the knowledge of God. Because of this, the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw because of the hardness of their hearts – a hardness which I believe was a very gradual process. This is implied by the use of the word “began” three times in reference to the Nephites, the Lamanites, and the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the Nephites supported the secret combinations which were around them. A lack of effort to resist these combinations allowed them to benefit materially from the works of others.
My interest in this topic is not to explore the darker side of the said combinations, but rather to understand the concerns that caused Moroni to write so much on the matter. My hope is that understanding the opposition may help me make deliberate choices for good, and prepare for the establishment of the Zion foreseen by ancient prophets.
In an effort to clarify the thoughts driving my story, I wrote a concept summary in poetic form. Poetry helps me cut to the essence of an idea. I share it here as a quick look at the power of desire unchecked.
Desire,
A subtle flame conceived in the heart –
Invisible, but proud in the street.
Without restraint, it becomes a master,
Fooling the author to believe the opposite.
Desire forgets the poor and feeds ambition.
It quickens senses and stirs the heart,
Yet lulls reason to sleep.
Desire dominates will.
With mastery, it spreads with whispers,
Filling homes, closets, and thoughts.
Preying upon some and enlisting others,
It despises those who offer nothing.
Merchants, officers, and politic-makers
Garb their master in power obtained.
Distinguished by rank and chance for learning
They walk in their sleep, indifferent to the sun.
Seduced by gain and deceived by flattery,
The once innocent trade ethics for advantage,
Until bound fast, occasionally remembering
The wakeful freedom of control.
The hot wind murmurs. The silent heart plots.
Walls listen intently in the shade,
Yet few trouble to douse the flame.
Secret and dark, it stays hidden.
Desire combines with faithful servants
To alter law and destroy the measure
By which it may be fatally judged,
Dismissing those less useful.
Each servant followed by another,
The master wastes, then replaces,
Fueling a fiery system of destruction,
Fanning without restraint.
Vain things are offered and believed.
Nothing matters but the secret.
Not people, not law, nor the sacred –
Nothing, but the opposition.
Awake! Awake, from vanity and death!
Look to the source and not the shadow.
See the power that binds you captive.
We are the enemy, and the enemy is combined.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Happiness – Sometimes a Gift, Usually a Choice
Occasionally I will wake from a dream that has a certain familiarity. I may be in a place I have never seen before, but usually this doesn’t occur to me during the dream. Instead my attention is focused on how beautiful the setting feels. I don’t see all the detail, but I feel it, and I comprehend its richness. In these particular dreams, I am able to move freely, to explore and soak in the feeling. I will often encounter a friend or relation in such places. Like the rich detail of the setting, little is said, but the conversation is deep and meaningful. The common theme in each of these dreams is peace and contentment. My happiness is full.
Without success, I resist waking. Not always, but usually, the happiness of the experience spills out into the rest of my day and I am left to marvel at the power of that brief moment. Once I am awake, I can choose to think about it again and again, or I can leave it behind. Many are the dreams that I no longer remember, but there are also dreams that I will likely never forget. Such dreams are gifts to me – evidence of a happiness once experienced. They are memories I can carry in my pocket.
If you have had such dreams, you have probably also experienced a “rude awakening” at some point. In this case, the awakening takes place some time after you have awoken from the dream. For me, it has been at a moment when a problem, and often one that I thought had been solved, reintroduces itself with the intent to become reacquainted. Suddenly, the happiness I felt is gone and the unwelcomed intruder is despised for robbing me of my peace.
My life seems to be full of these moments – episodes of happiness and disappointment. The contrast can be quite stark. Whether I like it or not, this alternating current is part of Father’s Plan of Happiness.
I remember one occasion as a little boy when I was bored. My parents were busy watching a session of General Conference on the television, and it wasn’t nearly enough to hold my attention. Thinking of a solution to my problem, I remembered a small cardboard box that Dad kept some items to make small electrical repairs. I retrieved the box and went into the kitchen.
In the box were a variety of electrical parts and pieces. I recognized some cylindrical fuses (if you are old enough you may recall the fuse boxes that were used in homes before circuit breakers.) Dad used these to replace old fuses in the wall. There was also a small power cord that had been removed from some appliance, and some electrical tape. I’m sure there were other items, but like my dreams, I don’t remember all the details.
Not knowing exactly what these pieces did, I figured my curiosity would teach me what I needed to know. First I took several fuses and arranged them in a circle. I didn’t know what circuit meant back then, but a circle seemed like a good thing to try. Then I carefully placed some small uncoated wire around the tops of the fuses and secured them with the electrical tape. The crowning moment was when I connected the wire to the scrap of power cord in the box and plugged my new invention into the wall. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I was full of anticipation. At that moment I realized a couple things. First, no one was interested in General Conference anymore. And, secondly, I discovered that I didn’t know much about electricity.
The sparks that suddenly appeared were accompanied by a very loud noise. That part was pretty exciting. The commotion was enough to get my parents away from the TV and in front of my invention. Success! Or so I thought. I think they had a rude awakening of sorts. I didn’t receive any harm from the power outlet, just a serious reprimand from my Dad; and that was fortunate on both counts. It didn’t take a scientist to tell me that my invention was going nowhere. I may have had the right parts, but I didn’t have the understanding of what to do with them.
Sometimes I wonder if I understand happiness any better than dreams or alternating current. I have had many failed attempts at finding the peace of my dreams. Sometimes I have the right elements, but I flounder as if I don’t know what to do with them. Unfortunately, this is where I am mistaken. I have been taught the parts and pieces to lasting happiness. However, it is as though I still have some childhood boredom and I try to invent some new path to happiness.
I often watch my children fall into a slump of unhappiness when something doesn’t go their way. Usually they experience their own rude awakening when a sibling teases or says something mean or hurtful. Perhaps they were hoping for one more helping of apple pie, only to find out that it is all gone. Quite often they are unhappy about a homework assignment that seems to get in the way of their Game Cube time in front of the television. Each of those examples provides understandable reasons for being sad. The hard part is helping them understand how to sort out the pieces and plug them in the right places so they don’t let their sadness overwhelm them. As often as I have told them, “Don’t let that get you down. Cheer up. You can choose to be happy.” I find myself making the same choices. We are not so very different from our children. The only difference is the sophisticated garb that we surround our desires for happiness with.
The more experience I get, and the more successful experience I have with happiness, the more I recognize that happiness is sometimes a gift but is usually a choice. Here are a few parts and pieces that I have figured out how to plug in the right places.
The prophet Lehi taught his son, Jacob, important truths about happiness in 2 Nephi 2:11. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one….”
Being a compound in one implies that you cannot have happiness without sadness. It is the depth of contrast between the two that gives such rich meaning and appreciation. Focusing on one without acknowledgement of the other limits both the happiness we can enjoy and the sadness we can endure. Difficult experiences lead us to treasure moments of happiness and place greater value on peace. Similarly, treasured experiences provide the hope to endure periods of sadness and discouragement for desires that are not yet realized.
Happiness and sadness are like a pair of shoes in a foot race. You need both to sustain a long journey. (My wife pointed out to me the absurdity of hopping along in one shoe.) Each shoe takes a step forward, allowing the other to propel forward in turn. Sadness defines greater happiness when it is experienced, and happiness provides the power to endure. Sometimes we are tempted to search for happiness without sorrow. We may also be tempted to dwell too much on our present sadness which keeps us from taking the next step towards being happy again. Both have a proper place.
Lehi continues with another empowering key in verses 14, 16, and 26. “And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon. ... Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other. ... And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.”
Lehi teaches us that God has created things to act and things to be acted upon. God has also given us agency that we should act for ourselves. This means, as he states, we are to act, and not be acted upon.
I don’t believe this means we will not feel outside pressures that appear to be acting upon us. Rather, we are to learn that these outside influences cannot control us as much as we think they do. They are merely creations that were intended for us to act upon. They are the object lesson for our benefit. This subtle difference places greater focus and priority on God’s children and less emphasis on either the difficult or pleasurable experience that we respond to. Father wants us to be happy, and He has created things through His Only Begotten that allow us that opportunity.
Agency is choice. And choice is a God-given right that cannot be taken away. We may find ourselves compelled to action by outside forces or constraints, but we can choose our actions. If we choose to align our actions with outside demands, such as a need to provide for a family, or an obligation to help a friend or family member in a difficult circumstance, we can still choose how we feel about it and which way we will orient our heart.
Lehi further reminds Jacob, “But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:24-25) I trust in Father, who knows all things, that this combination of sadness and joy is the path to eternal happiness. It is just what we need to learn to be like our Father. This is His Plan of Happiness.
The most important key for our happiness comes in the next few verses of scripture from Lehi to Jacob. In 2 Nephi 2:27-29 we read, “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit; And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.”
Father has given us everything we need to succeed. We are free to act and not be acted upon. Circumstances that may seem otherwise are illusions, like a veil, that allow us to have faith in our Father – faith that the only way to His happiness is by obedience to His commandments. Failure to follow His precise directions will cause us to fall in places that make it difficult to get up. I think that is when I am most miserable.
The prophet Alma taught his son, Corianton, “Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10) While we may not be guaranteed happiness without sadness, choosing to be happy is synonymous to choosing to be holy. Looking for happiness in the wrong places is no different than plugging a misconstructed circuit of parts and pieces into a power outlet, hoping that something extraordinary will happen. Well… something might happen, but there are better ways of using powerful motivations to secure the peace we want. Happiness doesn’t always just happen. Happiness can be a deliberate choice in spite of the circumstances around us.
I am grateful for examples of strength such as Joshua, or Enoch, who say with solid resolve, “choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
So much of my happiness is dependent upon my expectations. If I expect to find happiness where there isn’t any, I will always be disappointed. Like C.S. Lewis said, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." If I am not content with what I have, I will always be searching to satisfy an insatiable appetite. But if I learn to rely upon the Lord, day by day, I know He will not lead me astray. Father keeps His promises.
There is a relationship between dreams and actions that is very much akin to faith and works. In those moments when we dream and there is nothing to harm nor hinder that moment, we are given a taste of what we can experience in reality when we awake. But this depends upon our choices.
This last year has been the happiest in my entire life, and it truly has been a gift. I think the greatest part of the gift has been an understanding of what will truly make me happy and then having the strength to do it.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Without success, I resist waking. Not always, but usually, the happiness of the experience spills out into the rest of my day and I am left to marvel at the power of that brief moment. Once I am awake, I can choose to think about it again and again, or I can leave it behind. Many are the dreams that I no longer remember, but there are also dreams that I will likely never forget. Such dreams are gifts to me – evidence of a happiness once experienced. They are memories I can carry in my pocket.
If you have had such dreams, you have probably also experienced a “rude awakening” at some point. In this case, the awakening takes place some time after you have awoken from the dream. For me, it has been at a moment when a problem, and often one that I thought had been solved, reintroduces itself with the intent to become reacquainted. Suddenly, the happiness I felt is gone and the unwelcomed intruder is despised for robbing me of my peace.
My life seems to be full of these moments – episodes of happiness and disappointment. The contrast can be quite stark. Whether I like it or not, this alternating current is part of Father’s Plan of Happiness.
I remember one occasion as a little boy when I was bored. My parents were busy watching a session of General Conference on the television, and it wasn’t nearly enough to hold my attention. Thinking of a solution to my problem, I remembered a small cardboard box that Dad kept some items to make small electrical repairs. I retrieved the box and went into the kitchen.
In the box were a variety of electrical parts and pieces. I recognized some cylindrical fuses (if you are old enough you may recall the fuse boxes that were used in homes before circuit breakers.) Dad used these to replace old fuses in the wall. There was also a small power cord that had been removed from some appliance, and some electrical tape. I’m sure there were other items, but like my dreams, I don’t remember all the details.
Not knowing exactly what these pieces did, I figured my curiosity would teach me what I needed to know. First I took several fuses and arranged them in a circle. I didn’t know what circuit meant back then, but a circle seemed like a good thing to try. Then I carefully placed some small uncoated wire around the tops of the fuses and secured them with the electrical tape. The crowning moment was when I connected the wire to the scrap of power cord in the box and plugged my new invention into the wall. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I was full of anticipation. At that moment I realized a couple things. First, no one was interested in General Conference anymore. And, secondly, I discovered that I didn’t know much about electricity.
The sparks that suddenly appeared were accompanied by a very loud noise. That part was pretty exciting. The commotion was enough to get my parents away from the TV and in front of my invention. Success! Or so I thought. I think they had a rude awakening of sorts. I didn’t receive any harm from the power outlet, just a serious reprimand from my Dad; and that was fortunate on both counts. It didn’t take a scientist to tell me that my invention was going nowhere. I may have had the right parts, but I didn’t have the understanding of what to do with them.
Sometimes I wonder if I understand happiness any better than dreams or alternating current. I have had many failed attempts at finding the peace of my dreams. Sometimes I have the right elements, but I flounder as if I don’t know what to do with them. Unfortunately, this is where I am mistaken. I have been taught the parts and pieces to lasting happiness. However, it is as though I still have some childhood boredom and I try to invent some new path to happiness.
I often watch my children fall into a slump of unhappiness when something doesn’t go their way. Usually they experience their own rude awakening when a sibling teases or says something mean or hurtful. Perhaps they were hoping for one more helping of apple pie, only to find out that it is all gone. Quite often they are unhappy about a homework assignment that seems to get in the way of their Game Cube time in front of the television. Each of those examples provides understandable reasons for being sad. The hard part is helping them understand how to sort out the pieces and plug them in the right places so they don’t let their sadness overwhelm them. As often as I have told them, “Don’t let that get you down. Cheer up. You can choose to be happy.” I find myself making the same choices. We are not so very different from our children. The only difference is the sophisticated garb that we surround our desires for happiness with.
The more experience I get, and the more successful experience I have with happiness, the more I recognize that happiness is sometimes a gift but is usually a choice. Here are a few parts and pieces that I have figured out how to plug in the right places.
The prophet Lehi taught his son, Jacob, important truths about happiness in 2 Nephi 2:11. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one….”
Being a compound in one implies that you cannot have happiness without sadness. It is the depth of contrast between the two that gives such rich meaning and appreciation. Focusing on one without acknowledgement of the other limits both the happiness we can enjoy and the sadness we can endure. Difficult experiences lead us to treasure moments of happiness and place greater value on peace. Similarly, treasured experiences provide the hope to endure periods of sadness and discouragement for desires that are not yet realized.
Happiness and sadness are like a pair of shoes in a foot race. You need both to sustain a long journey. (My wife pointed out to me the absurdity of hopping along in one shoe.) Each shoe takes a step forward, allowing the other to propel forward in turn. Sadness defines greater happiness when it is experienced, and happiness provides the power to endure. Sometimes we are tempted to search for happiness without sorrow. We may also be tempted to dwell too much on our present sadness which keeps us from taking the next step towards being happy again. Both have a proper place.
Lehi continues with another empowering key in verses 14, 16, and 26. “And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon. ... Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other. ... And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.”
Lehi teaches us that God has created things to act and things to be acted upon. God has also given us agency that we should act for ourselves. This means, as he states, we are to act, and not be acted upon.
I don’t believe this means we will not feel outside pressures that appear to be acting upon us. Rather, we are to learn that these outside influences cannot control us as much as we think they do. They are merely creations that were intended for us to act upon. They are the object lesson for our benefit. This subtle difference places greater focus and priority on God’s children and less emphasis on either the difficult or pleasurable experience that we respond to. Father wants us to be happy, and He has created things through His Only Begotten that allow us that opportunity.
Agency is choice. And choice is a God-given right that cannot be taken away. We may find ourselves compelled to action by outside forces or constraints, but we can choose our actions. If we choose to align our actions with outside demands, such as a need to provide for a family, or an obligation to help a friend or family member in a difficult circumstance, we can still choose how we feel about it and which way we will orient our heart.
Lehi further reminds Jacob, “But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:24-25) I trust in Father, who knows all things, that this combination of sadness and joy is the path to eternal happiness. It is just what we need to learn to be like our Father. This is His Plan of Happiness.
The most important key for our happiness comes in the next few verses of scripture from Lehi to Jacob. In 2 Nephi 2:27-29 we read, “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit; And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.”
Father has given us everything we need to succeed. We are free to act and not be acted upon. Circumstances that may seem otherwise are illusions, like a veil, that allow us to have faith in our Father – faith that the only way to His happiness is by obedience to His commandments. Failure to follow His precise directions will cause us to fall in places that make it difficult to get up. I think that is when I am most miserable.
The prophet Alma taught his son, Corianton, “Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10) While we may not be guaranteed happiness without sadness, choosing to be happy is synonymous to choosing to be holy. Looking for happiness in the wrong places is no different than plugging a misconstructed circuit of parts and pieces into a power outlet, hoping that something extraordinary will happen. Well… something might happen, but there are better ways of using powerful motivations to secure the peace we want. Happiness doesn’t always just happen. Happiness can be a deliberate choice in spite of the circumstances around us.
I am grateful for examples of strength such as Joshua, or Enoch, who say with solid resolve, “choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
So much of my happiness is dependent upon my expectations. If I expect to find happiness where there isn’t any, I will always be disappointed. Like C.S. Lewis said, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." If I am not content with what I have, I will always be searching to satisfy an insatiable appetite. But if I learn to rely upon the Lord, day by day, I know He will not lead me astray. Father keeps His promises.
There is a relationship between dreams and actions that is very much akin to faith and works. In those moments when we dream and there is nothing to harm nor hinder that moment, we are given a taste of what we can experience in reality when we awake. But this depends upon our choices.
This last year has been the happiest in my entire life, and it truly has been a gift. I think the greatest part of the gift has been an understanding of what will truly make me happy and then having the strength to do it.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
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