I sat anxiously across from the owner of the company. He was positioned behind the desk in his office, accompanied with books and files and drawings. His appearance was very professional. I was intimidated. The principal owner had lots of experience while I had nothing but my willingness to offer; no experience, no skill or ability. I was just eager. My eyes were on him, and his eyes were on my résumé.
After perusing my small offering of ability, the owner asked me a number of questions. I don’t recall any of them now. I only remember the urgent need to find a job. My fiancé had recently accepted my proposal of marriage, but I had very little to offer her, only my willingness. Similar to the lyrics by Paul Simon, “I was as empty as a pocket with [everything] to lose.” My position was pretty weak. Fortunately, Liz had a lot of faith in me, and the interview was just enough.
The owner hired me. Deep sigh of relief. He took my weak position and limited ability, and he gave me a chance. It was an opportunity to show how I would perform for a short period of time. He made it clear that I would be on probation to see if the arrangement would be a good fit. I was grateful but still nervous. So much depended on landing and keeping my first real job. Everything hinged on my willingness to follow directions.
Some of my first assignments were pretty basic. I was the go-to person for tasks that didn’t require any experience. These tasks included sweeping the backroom, running deposits to the bank, and picking up lint off the floor. I was asked to keep the fax machine loaded with paper. I had heard of fax machines, but didn’t have a clue about how to use one, let alone keep it stocked. There were a few frustrating moments that required others to have patience with me as they taught me how to do small tasks. My job description matched my ability, but at least it was a start.
I felt very tenuous the next couple of months as I performed my duties, always wondering where I stood with my employer. Would he keep me? Was he satisfied? Did I meet his expectations? When he didn’t talk to me, did that mean that he was unhappy with me? I went home every night with some worry that I might be looking for another job soon. Again, fortunately for me, Liz and my employer had faith in my ability, and it was just enough.
As I started my follow-up interview, I was almost certain my employer was unhappy with my performance. I doubted myself and I let fear govern my thoughts. I contemplated the worst case scenarios and what I would do next. Contrary to my fears, the principal of the company reviewed my progress with me and thanked me for my work. He then asked me to continue with the firm. In an instant, my confidence was renewed and hope was restored. I could hardly wait to tell my fiancé that things were going to work out. So much of my attitude depended on that single validation.
Now that I, myself, am a principal in an architecture and planning firm, it is wonderful and gratifying to see how far I have come. I started at the bottom, and I continue to grow. There are many areas of experience I wish to develop, but they will take time, patience, and practice. While I am confident in my abilities to provide professional services, I am also glad I do not see a ceiling to my growth. There is plenty of room.
My current successes sometimes block out the memories of inadequacy I once felt, but they do not negate how real they were. I was quite worried. My fears were unfounded and without validation from my employer, but they were constant until I had some assurance. This memory reminds me of another experience I frequently have with inadequacy. However, my chair has moved to the other side of the desk.
On a regular basis, my responsibility in the church I attend allows me to meet with individuals who are preparing to worship in a Holy Temple. Part of their preparation involves an interview in which I ask them some questions about their worthiness to enter the Temple. The questions are simple and focus on their faith and ability to live a life patterned after the Savior Jesus Christ. The last question tends to generate some feelings of inadequacy in many instances, yet it is very important. “Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?” Most of the questions I ask have short and confident answers. This last question often generates some discussion.
What does it mean to be worthy? Worthiness is not to be confused with perfection or holiness. Instead, worthiness represents adequate merit, worth, or value. It does not imply “arriving at the top.” The word should suggest our pursuit of that goal, and not the destination. The key word for me is “adequate,” meaning just enough. If I am required to have adequate faith, I do not need to have perfect faith. In fact, faith the size of a grain of mustard seed is adequate as long as my actions are “just enough.” I will still pursue this endeavor of increasing my faith, but it is not the measure of my worthiness.
Feelings of worthiness are often hampered by feelings of inadequacy. When we feel deficient or fall short of someone else’s expectations, we often feel that we lack worth or validity. We doubt ourselves without reassurance and a measure of validation. When we begin to lose confidence and question our worth, it is much easier to focus on our weaknesses. These are the moments where I feel that “weak” and “worthy” are at opposing sides of the desk, one scrutinizing and the other being scrutinized. However, I do not feel that this is always necessary.
Weaknesses, though not fun to admit to or deal with, can be a great blessing to the eager disciple of the Savior Jesus Christ. They become a gift when we see them for what they are. Yet again we find another application of our faith. I do not believe it is possible to have this clear of vision without faith in the only person who ever lived a perfect life in mortality. Believing in Jesus is believing that what He said is true, and that the words of His servants are also true.
Frustrated with his own ability to write, the prophet Moroni pled with the Lord over his weaknesses. The Lord responded, “if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27)
I can’t say that I like to admit that my weaknesses are a gift from God. To do so admits a responsibility and a stewardship. It is much easier to pray that our weaknesses are removed than to pray for strength to deal with them and master them. Once I begin to see with an eye of faith, however, the personal growth I have been hoping for is met with greater success. These accomplishments are items that are good to include on a spiritual résumé.
The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to church members in Corinth, described how the Lord had given him “a thorn in the flesh” to keep him humble. Three times Paul asked the Lord to remove this trial. The Lord’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then states, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. …for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
It wasn’t until after Paul heard the Lord’s explanation that he took pleasure in trials and afflictions. I don’t know that the experience became any more pleasurable than before, but Paul had faith that the Lord would lead him and make him stronger. I think some of the strength that I admire in Paul, is not just his ability to endure trials, but in his choice to submit willingly. The beauty of what the Lord told Moroni is that He will supply us with this strength when we humble ourselves before Him and have faith in him. Thus, the hardest part to admitting our weaknesses is not to find strength, but in deciding to have faith. Once we do, the Lord will provide the grace, the strength, and the witness that we desire. But it is only after we turn to Him and allow our faith to be tested.
Moroni further compares this type of faith with that of the brother of Jared’s. It is the ability to see with an “eye of faith,” or to receive a witness and see the things that we first believed. (Ether 12:19) This is another key to rending the veil of unbelief, to believe without seeing. When we begin to see our weaknesses for what they are, as gifts from God, we are entitled to His promise, “And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.” (Ether 12:37) It isn’t just seeing our weakness, but seeing it with an eye of faith that merits the promise.
If we wish to have the faith of the brother of Jared, the conversion of Peter, and the strength of Paul, it all starts with the faith to become. Not only do we become converted, we become worthy. It is our faith the Lord wants, stored up in our hearts. If we are willing to offer this gift, it is enough. It is adequate. Then His grace will cover our debts, our sins, and our transgressions. Both Paul and Moroni stated that His grace is “sufficient” to save us when we have faith. I find it interesting that the word sufficient also means enough.
It is one thing to worry about being worthy to enter the Lord’s house and worship Him in the Holy Temple. It is another to wonder if I am worthy to enter the presence of God and live with Him again in heaven. I do not believe it insignificant that the Holy Temple is the house of God, or the place where God dwells. Whether it is His dwelling here on earth or our home in heaven to which we hope to return, we should be diligent in doing enough to be worthy of both. This would suggest that a worthiness to enter the Lord’s house would equate to worthiness to return to His presence. I believe this to be true with one additional validation – the key to truly being worthy.
The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that, “It is impossible for man to be saved in ignorance.” (Doctrine & Covenants 131:6) It is God’s will that we know where we stand before Him. To this end He gives His children the Gift of the Holy Ghost. As the Lord taught Adam, “by the Spirit ye are justified….” (Moses 6:60) The Holy Ghost will not only confirm the validity of truth, He will confirm to us that what we are doing is either right or wrong. He will bear witness to our spirits and let us know when our path is pleasing to God. In this way, when we feel the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit near to us, we may with confidence know that our will is aligned with God’s.
Rather than feeling inadequate or worried about whether we are worthy to obtain the highest degree of heaven, we can ask the Lord where we stand and receive His own validation. In a revelation on the Holy Priesthood, the Lord further taught Joseph Smith an important key. He said, “Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.” (Doctrine & Covenants 121:45)
With charity, the pure love of Christ, and virtue, which is a conformity to righteous principles, we can stand confident in the presence of God. This confidence isn’t because we become anything of ourselves, but because we are doing more and more of what God has asked us to do. The more we become obedient to God and focus outward on His children, the more confidence we can obtain. He is the source of true confidence. When we do what He has taught, there is no need to fear. When we put our trust in Him, He will see us through our trials. And then, “The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.” (Doctrine & Covenants 121:46)
As we consider the commandment of the Savior to “be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect,” we are met with a paradox – we are to be humble but confident, weak and yet strong. The paradox becomes clearer when we remember how Father wants us to grow. He wants us to turn to Him and rely on Him for strength.
Without a focus on God and the assurance from the Holy Spirit that we are making good choices, worthiness could be measured by simply marking a checklist. It would then be too easy to be like others the Lord has warned against. “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (Joseph Smith–History 1:19)
When we put our trust in the Lord with an eye of faith, we do not have to be afraid of being weak. He will make us strong. When we become strong as we are doing only that which He has asked us to do, we need not fear being too confident, not if our confidence comes from Him. When we acknowledge that all powers, gifts, and blessings come from God, He will give us more which in turn will eliminate all our feelings of inadequacy. When we are willing to submit to His will, one choice at a time, it is just enough to get us moving in the right direction.
Feeling inadequate is an experience I would rather do without. Whether it is interviewing for a job, preparing to go to the temple, or preparing to go to our heavenly home, having the right assurance makes all the difference.
I felt a lot of anxiety over my first job. I wanted to know if my work was acceptable. I hoped I was going in the right direction. Most of all, I wanted to know that I was going to make it. Now, more than wanting to keep a job, I want to be faithful in keeping the Holy Spirit as my constant companion. So much of eternity depends on keeping our second estate here on earth. Everything hinges on our willingness to follow directions during our mortal probation.
Perfection is a lofty goal, but it can be obtained, at least eventually. I don’t have to feel inadequate because I am not there yet. I can still be worthy of God’s promised blessings. With an eye of faith, and an ability to see our weaknesses for what they are, we can be worthy without being perfect. In this way, we become worthy of perfection. We do this in spite of our weaknesses, and often with them. God is willing to take our weak position and limited ability and give us a chance to work for Him in His kingdom. When He validates our worthiness by the presence of His Holy Spirit, we have nothing to fear.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Perfection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Perfection. Show all posts
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Holy Temple
Today I attended two sessions of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication via satellite broadcast. Both were beautiful experiences. I was deeply grateful for the outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord which I personally felt. The temple has and continues to play such a significant part in my life that participating in the dedication of a new temple fills me with excitement, especially for those who will now be able to use it.
The dedication of a temple is the culmination of concerted efforts and preparations by many individuals. Each temple is a House of the Lord, a place where His children may go to learn of Him, draw nearer to Him, and prepare to return home to Him. The Spirit and power of the Lord may be felt there because of the merciful blessings of our Eternal Father, but the temple is only a temple because we make it so.
Like the covenants we make in the temple, the House of the Lord is a partnership. We prepare a place in our lives where we can go to be instructed in the word of the Lord and receive necessary covenants and ordinances for our eternal salvation. When we do so, and when dedicate both the edifice and our hearts, the Lord can bring a special power into our lives that makes it possible to overcome every trial and difficulty that may stand in our way of returning to Him. The power comes solely from him, but is only possibly as we invite him into our lives. This invitation is evident in Revelation 3:20, which reads, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Unfortunately, a temple also has the potential of losing its saving power because of our individual choices. Temples such as those of Solomon, Zerubbabel or Herod in ancient Israelite history were suffered by the Lord to be desecrated because the hearts of His people were not pure. Similarly the temples in the ancient Americas, or even Kirtland and Nauvoo were destroyed or lost to those who originally built them because of their own weaknesses and imperfections. The Holy Temple has endearing power when we turn our hearts towards it, and not just the edifice, but to the place we make for the Lord to come to us – a place that allows us to open the doors of eternity, starting with our hearts.
A little over a week ago, my wife and I decided to go to the Salt Lake Temple together. Due to my fault, we ran late and missed the time for the session we had planned to attend. We then chose to spend a few extra minutes outside the temple to talk and collect our thoughts, particularly to make sure we were no longer rushed and that we were properly prepared to enter in. As we did so, we noticed a group of women standing near the reflection pool on the east side of the temple. Observing that they were about to take a picture, we offered to take it for them so that each of the ladies could be in the photograph. Afterwards they thanked us and remarked that they were going to dinner near by. One lady stopped and asked me, “Can we go inside?” An interesting question I thought. I then asked if she meant inside the walls of Temple Square or inside the temple itself. She was interested in both. I pointed towards the large gated entrance to Temple Square where all visitors are welcome to go and described what she would find there, after going to dinner. I also explained that there were some additional steps that one must take to enter into the temple and that some missionaries inside Temple Square could explain more. She thanked me again and left to catch up with her friends for dinner.
I believe that one of the reasons that each of us must prepare to enter the temple is very much tied to the temples that have been desecrated in past history. If we are not prepared to go to the temple, certainly Father will not share all that He has with us. He will know when we are ready by the manner in which we answer His knock at the door, or rather, the stirrings in our hearts. If our hearts are properly turned towards Him, we will be willing to do whatever He requires to show that we love Him more than all else.
Consider the temple worship of the ancient Israelites. Their temple worship included sacrifices as described in the Law of Moses. They would bring the designated animal to the priest who would then offer the animal upon an altar to the Lord. While sacrifice by the shedding of blood was ended with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I often ask myself the question when I go to the temple, “Am I going to the temple to offer or take?” For me, there is a difference in going to merely participate and receive than to go with the intent to offer something. Even if I only go to offer my heart, it is enough.
Following His resurrection, Jesus visited the people in the ancient Americas and told them that He no longer required them to offer the sacrifices they had made previously. Instead, He required an offering that is much more personal. He said, in 3 Nephi 9:20, “And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” While the sacrifice is less visible, I believe it is much more difficult to make than offering one’s possessions. Our heart is the monitor of life. It keeps us moving, supplied with the nutrients we need. Symbolically, the heart is the receptor of our emotions, the container of our desires, and the lock to all that is dear to us. To offer this gift on the altar requires full submission.
A broken heart may bring a few images to mind that will help us to change. Broken may refer to a heart that has been injured by sin, or damaged by pride. Like a bone, it is ready to be mended with set discipline and a willingness to follow a strait and narrow path. Like a wild horse, perhaps it is ready to be tamed and sanctified by being broken, or a willingness to break the ties of sin that previously mastered the heart. Whatever the image, it must be coupled with a contrite spirit, or a desire to do the will of the Father in all things. It is this desire that invokes the power Father wishes to endow us with.
King David likewise gives us some instruction on how to enter the Holy Temple. In Psalms 24:3-5 he asks, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Is it not vanity for us to want the blessings of the Lord without the necessary preparation and offering that He requires? Like the sons of Aaron who were to be washed at the door of the tabernacle before performing their work, each of us should wash ourselves from the sins of the world before going to receive a blessing at the hand of the Lord. Then will we be ready to receive that which is sacred and place it carefully in our hearts.
The invitation to go to the Lord’s House is open to all. Everyone is welcome to become clean and enter in. The Lord stands at the door and knocks to whosoever will let Him in.
It may not be easy to clean our lives and our hearts to be worthy to enter the temple, and eventually return to our home in heaven, but it is most certainly worth it. We may experience tribulation within our own hearts to accomplish this, yet this is the reason we are hear – to become clean through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, and receive the necessary covenants and ordinances that will empower us on to perfection.
The Lord not only commits to help to those who are faithful, He promises great blessings. As recorded in Doctrine & Covenants 58:3-4, the Lord tells Joseph Smith, “Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.”
If we can just trust the Lord to keep His promises, He will help us. We need not worry about the process or how long it will take, only that He will help us see it through. That is His only focus. Everything He does is for the benefit of His children.
The Lord has established a minimum level of worthiness for His children to enter into the temple. With this comes certain and specific blessings of peace, comfort, strength, and knowledge that will aid us in our efforts to become true saints and disciples, not just by name, but in every action. Knowing this, and knowing that we cannot behold at the present time the great blessings He has ready, we should hope for greater things, and prepare ourselves to receive the blessings He has prepared for us.
If minimal worthiness yields minimal blessings, what more can I do to fully benefit from temple worship? I believe I must ask what I need to do to prepare to worship. What must I do to become clean before I go? When I go to the temple, what am I willing to offer? If I go to the temple to feel the influence of the Spirit of the Lord and receive needed peace, do I spend sufficient time pondering, praying, and thanking the Lord after my work in the temple is done? It is near the end of our worship there that I believe the greatest blessings come. It is there that I often feel closest to my Father, as well as feeling a reluctance to leave. It is essential that we make a place for Him. Then He will heal us.
How blessed we are to have a place prepared for our worship – a place where we can feel the power of God and become purer. I know I am more successful when I have properly prepared and I go with an offering for the Lord. This takes time and effort, but it is so rewarding. The temple is holy both because the Spirit of the Lord dwells there, and because we make it holy through our preparation.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
The dedication of a temple is the culmination of concerted efforts and preparations by many individuals. Each temple is a House of the Lord, a place where His children may go to learn of Him, draw nearer to Him, and prepare to return home to Him. The Spirit and power of the Lord may be felt there because of the merciful blessings of our Eternal Father, but the temple is only a temple because we make it so.
Like the covenants we make in the temple, the House of the Lord is a partnership. We prepare a place in our lives where we can go to be instructed in the word of the Lord and receive necessary covenants and ordinances for our eternal salvation. When we do so, and when dedicate both the edifice and our hearts, the Lord can bring a special power into our lives that makes it possible to overcome every trial and difficulty that may stand in our way of returning to Him. The power comes solely from him, but is only possibly as we invite him into our lives. This invitation is evident in Revelation 3:20, which reads, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Unfortunately, a temple also has the potential of losing its saving power because of our individual choices. Temples such as those of Solomon, Zerubbabel or Herod in ancient Israelite history were suffered by the Lord to be desecrated because the hearts of His people were not pure. Similarly the temples in the ancient Americas, or even Kirtland and Nauvoo were destroyed or lost to those who originally built them because of their own weaknesses and imperfections. The Holy Temple has endearing power when we turn our hearts towards it, and not just the edifice, but to the place we make for the Lord to come to us – a place that allows us to open the doors of eternity, starting with our hearts.
A little over a week ago, my wife and I decided to go to the Salt Lake Temple together. Due to my fault, we ran late and missed the time for the session we had planned to attend. We then chose to spend a few extra minutes outside the temple to talk and collect our thoughts, particularly to make sure we were no longer rushed and that we were properly prepared to enter in. As we did so, we noticed a group of women standing near the reflection pool on the east side of the temple. Observing that they were about to take a picture, we offered to take it for them so that each of the ladies could be in the photograph. Afterwards they thanked us and remarked that they were going to dinner near by. One lady stopped and asked me, “Can we go inside?” An interesting question I thought. I then asked if she meant inside the walls of Temple Square or inside the temple itself. She was interested in both. I pointed towards the large gated entrance to Temple Square where all visitors are welcome to go and described what she would find there, after going to dinner. I also explained that there were some additional steps that one must take to enter into the temple and that some missionaries inside Temple Square could explain more. She thanked me again and left to catch up with her friends for dinner.
I believe that one of the reasons that each of us must prepare to enter the temple is very much tied to the temples that have been desecrated in past history. If we are not prepared to go to the temple, certainly Father will not share all that He has with us. He will know when we are ready by the manner in which we answer His knock at the door, or rather, the stirrings in our hearts. If our hearts are properly turned towards Him, we will be willing to do whatever He requires to show that we love Him more than all else.
Consider the temple worship of the ancient Israelites. Their temple worship included sacrifices as described in the Law of Moses. They would bring the designated animal to the priest who would then offer the animal upon an altar to the Lord. While sacrifice by the shedding of blood was ended with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I often ask myself the question when I go to the temple, “Am I going to the temple to offer or take?” For me, there is a difference in going to merely participate and receive than to go with the intent to offer something. Even if I only go to offer my heart, it is enough.
Following His resurrection, Jesus visited the people in the ancient Americas and told them that He no longer required them to offer the sacrifices they had made previously. Instead, He required an offering that is much more personal. He said, in 3 Nephi 9:20, “And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” While the sacrifice is less visible, I believe it is much more difficult to make than offering one’s possessions. Our heart is the monitor of life. It keeps us moving, supplied with the nutrients we need. Symbolically, the heart is the receptor of our emotions, the container of our desires, and the lock to all that is dear to us. To offer this gift on the altar requires full submission.
A broken heart may bring a few images to mind that will help us to change. Broken may refer to a heart that has been injured by sin, or damaged by pride. Like a bone, it is ready to be mended with set discipline and a willingness to follow a strait and narrow path. Like a wild horse, perhaps it is ready to be tamed and sanctified by being broken, or a willingness to break the ties of sin that previously mastered the heart. Whatever the image, it must be coupled with a contrite spirit, or a desire to do the will of the Father in all things. It is this desire that invokes the power Father wishes to endow us with.
King David likewise gives us some instruction on how to enter the Holy Temple. In Psalms 24:3-5 he asks, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Is it not vanity for us to want the blessings of the Lord without the necessary preparation and offering that He requires? Like the sons of Aaron who were to be washed at the door of the tabernacle before performing their work, each of us should wash ourselves from the sins of the world before going to receive a blessing at the hand of the Lord. Then will we be ready to receive that which is sacred and place it carefully in our hearts.
The invitation to go to the Lord’s House is open to all. Everyone is welcome to become clean and enter in. The Lord stands at the door and knocks to whosoever will let Him in.
It may not be easy to clean our lives and our hearts to be worthy to enter the temple, and eventually return to our home in heaven, but it is most certainly worth it. We may experience tribulation within our own hearts to accomplish this, yet this is the reason we are hear – to become clean through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, and receive the necessary covenants and ordinances that will empower us on to perfection.
The Lord not only commits to help to those who are faithful, He promises great blessings. As recorded in Doctrine & Covenants 58:3-4, the Lord tells Joseph Smith, “Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.”
If we can just trust the Lord to keep His promises, He will help us. We need not worry about the process or how long it will take, only that He will help us see it through. That is His only focus. Everything He does is for the benefit of His children.
The Lord has established a minimum level of worthiness for His children to enter into the temple. With this comes certain and specific blessings of peace, comfort, strength, and knowledge that will aid us in our efforts to become true saints and disciples, not just by name, but in every action. Knowing this, and knowing that we cannot behold at the present time the great blessings He has ready, we should hope for greater things, and prepare ourselves to receive the blessings He has prepared for us.
If minimal worthiness yields minimal blessings, what more can I do to fully benefit from temple worship? I believe I must ask what I need to do to prepare to worship. What must I do to become clean before I go? When I go to the temple, what am I willing to offer? If I go to the temple to feel the influence of the Spirit of the Lord and receive needed peace, do I spend sufficient time pondering, praying, and thanking the Lord after my work in the temple is done? It is near the end of our worship there that I believe the greatest blessings come. It is there that I often feel closest to my Father, as well as feeling a reluctance to leave. It is essential that we make a place for Him. Then He will heal us.
How blessed we are to have a place prepared for our worship – a place where we can feel the power of God and become purer. I know I am more successful when I have properly prepared and I go with an offering for the Lord. This takes time and effort, but it is so rewarding. The temple is holy both because the Spirit of the Lord dwells there, and because we make it holy through our preparation.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Kinda Hungry
Driving home the other day I noticed a little light appear on the dashboard of my car. The symbol of a gas pump was an indicator that I was running low on fuel. Knowing that many drivers are like me, the light was designed to turn on in advance to protect the driver from being stalled on the road. I’m never excited to see the light, especially with rising gas prices, but I am grateful for the warning.
Fortunately I haven’t run completely out of gas for several years. The last time I did, I was lucky to have a cell phone with me. I called my wife and she helped me on the side of the freeway.
The incident reminds me of a parable Jesus told to his disciples about ten virgins who had gathered for a wedding. They were waiting for the bridegroom, but half of them did not bring oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom finally arrived, it was later than they had expected and they were not prepared. The five who lacked oil left to buy more and were not able to attend the wedding. What a sad ending to a happy story, at least for those who weren’t prepared. (See St. Matthew 25:1-13)
I wonder if a dashboard indicator would have been helpful to the five who missed the wedding. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an appropriate warning that you are running low on fuel? Whether it is increasing dusk or an emptying fuel tank, lack of preparation is something that creeps up on us if we are not watching.
The oil referred to in the parable is a symbol our spiritual preparation. This example prompts the question, “Do I have enough faith to sustain me through sunset that may precede the wedding?” The foolish virgins had lamps but chose to ignore the lack of fuel.
Fortunately we each have a low-fuel indicator to warn us. The light of Christ is given to everyone to know right from wrong. The question is whether or not we choose to act. I believe we can recognize these spiritual warnings in much the same way that we receive physical warnings from our body when we are hungry.
My young children have a tendency to become grumpy when they are hungry or tired. Basic functions of the body are strained because the supply of nourishment is inadequate. They compensate by subconsciously diverting available but limited energy away from their good manners to more important priorities.
The older I get, the more I realize that I am no different from my children. My circumstances are more sophisticated, perhaps, but I have the same motivations for comfort and satisfaction that they do.
One difference between me and my children is my ability to recognize what my body is trying to tell me. It’s one of the things that we get with age and experience. When I get hungry, I am quicker to recognize what the problem is. I often feel a need for nourishment before it becomes critical. Quite often I am able to recognize what type of food my body is lacking, be it protein, carbohydrates, or some sort of vegetable. This is simply because I have a craving or appetite for a certain type of food.
Communication to our spirit happens in much the same fashion. Warnings come from the Holy Ghost as feelings or impressions. Instead of the calm peaceful feeling that comes when we are doing what is right, the impression may be that something is missing, or that we are running low on strength. As we learn to recognize these promptings, and act on them without delay, we can keep ourselves properly nourished.
The spiritual fuel we need is that which sustains and increases faith. It is the word of God given through revelation to his servants the prophets and recorded for our use.
The ancient Israelites were given manna daily by God to sustain them. Jesus taught that he was the bread of life and the staff that would uphold us. It is his word that we are invited to feast upon. There are junk food counterfeits that seem to satisfy for a while, but they do not sustain us. Only the word of God will satisfy us and stay with us.
I am grateful for inspired individuals who have recorded God’s word for our benefit. Like the ancient prophet, Nephi, I feel to say, “my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.” He recorded his experiences and inspiration from God so that others could feast upon them as well. Nephi stated, “And upon these I write the things of my soul…. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and profit of my children. (2 Nephi 4:15, 16)
We live in a time when our fuel tends to run out quicker. The opposition to making good choices is increasing. I see many who are looking for a clear direction but are confused about what is right and wrong. There are also those who are quick to offer spiritual junk food in this climate of confusion. Instead, we need to be consistent in providing proper nourishment for our spirits. We need the word of God.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Men have come to speak of revelation as somewhat long ago given and done, as if God were dead. It is my duty to say to you, that the need was never greater of new revelation than now. It is the office of a true teacher to show us that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake.”
How blessed we are to live in a time when apostles and prophets still teach us God’s word. They are not just spiritual leaders of ancient history, but are an active part of God’s plan for his children. God still speaks to his prophets and they do in fact still teach his children. One such opportunity is approaching in a couple weeks at a General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.
Whether it be through scripture recorded by prophets gone before, or the word of the Lord through living prophets and apostles, the word of the Lord is sweet to me. It brings peace to my heart and light for my path.
I know God lives. I know He loves us, and He wants us to know just how much. His words will heal us. They will sustain us in difficult times and increase our gratitude in times of plenty. I am grateful for the scriptures and the words of the prophets. They always satisfy my hunger.
Fortunately I haven’t run completely out of gas for several years. The last time I did, I was lucky to have a cell phone with me. I called my wife and she helped me on the side of the freeway.
The incident reminds me of a parable Jesus told to his disciples about ten virgins who had gathered for a wedding. They were waiting for the bridegroom, but half of them did not bring oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom finally arrived, it was later than they had expected and they were not prepared. The five who lacked oil left to buy more and were not able to attend the wedding. What a sad ending to a happy story, at least for those who weren’t prepared. (See St. Matthew 25:1-13)
I wonder if a dashboard indicator would have been helpful to the five who missed the wedding. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an appropriate warning that you are running low on fuel? Whether it is increasing dusk or an emptying fuel tank, lack of preparation is something that creeps up on us if we are not watching.
The oil referred to in the parable is a symbol our spiritual preparation. This example prompts the question, “Do I have enough faith to sustain me through sunset that may precede the wedding?” The foolish virgins had lamps but chose to ignore the lack of fuel.
Fortunately we each have a low-fuel indicator to warn us. The light of Christ is given to everyone to know right from wrong. The question is whether or not we choose to act. I believe we can recognize these spiritual warnings in much the same way that we receive physical warnings from our body when we are hungry.
My young children have a tendency to become grumpy when they are hungry or tired. Basic functions of the body are strained because the supply of nourishment is inadequate. They compensate by subconsciously diverting available but limited energy away from their good manners to more important priorities.
The older I get, the more I realize that I am no different from my children. My circumstances are more sophisticated, perhaps, but I have the same motivations for comfort and satisfaction that they do.
One difference between me and my children is my ability to recognize what my body is trying to tell me. It’s one of the things that we get with age and experience. When I get hungry, I am quicker to recognize what the problem is. I often feel a need for nourishment before it becomes critical. Quite often I am able to recognize what type of food my body is lacking, be it protein, carbohydrates, or some sort of vegetable. This is simply because I have a craving or appetite for a certain type of food.
Communication to our spirit happens in much the same fashion. Warnings come from the Holy Ghost as feelings or impressions. Instead of the calm peaceful feeling that comes when we are doing what is right, the impression may be that something is missing, or that we are running low on strength. As we learn to recognize these promptings, and act on them without delay, we can keep ourselves properly nourished.
The spiritual fuel we need is that which sustains and increases faith. It is the word of God given through revelation to his servants the prophets and recorded for our use.
The ancient Israelites were given manna daily by God to sustain them. Jesus taught that he was the bread of life and the staff that would uphold us. It is his word that we are invited to feast upon. There are junk food counterfeits that seem to satisfy for a while, but they do not sustain us. Only the word of God will satisfy us and stay with us.
I am grateful for inspired individuals who have recorded God’s word for our benefit. Like the ancient prophet, Nephi, I feel to say, “my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.” He recorded his experiences and inspiration from God so that others could feast upon them as well. Nephi stated, “And upon these I write the things of my soul…. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and profit of my children. (2 Nephi 4:15, 16)
We live in a time when our fuel tends to run out quicker. The opposition to making good choices is increasing. I see many who are looking for a clear direction but are confused about what is right and wrong. There are also those who are quick to offer spiritual junk food in this climate of confusion. Instead, we need to be consistent in providing proper nourishment for our spirits. We need the word of God.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Men have come to speak of revelation as somewhat long ago given and done, as if God were dead. It is my duty to say to you, that the need was never greater of new revelation than now. It is the office of a true teacher to show us that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake.”
How blessed we are to live in a time when apostles and prophets still teach us God’s word. They are not just spiritual leaders of ancient history, but are an active part of God’s plan for his children. God still speaks to his prophets and they do in fact still teach his children. One such opportunity is approaching in a couple weeks at a General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.
Whether it be through scripture recorded by prophets gone before, or the word of the Lord through living prophets and apostles, the word of the Lord is sweet to me. It brings peace to my heart and light for my path.
I know God lives. I know He loves us, and He wants us to know just how much. His words will heal us. They will sustain us in difficult times and increase our gratitude in times of plenty. I am grateful for the scriptures and the words of the prophets. They always satisfy my hunger.
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