What's the lesson from the 10 Lepers healed?

In the Bible, we read of 10 lepers being healed. We understand from Luke 17 that there were 10 men outside the city limits and not able to assimilate into common life due to their contagious disease. They asked Jesus to heal them, He did, and 1 leper turned back to thank Jesus for the miracle and new life he had just been awarded.

Do we learn something of Christ's ability to perform miracles?
Well, we have many other accounts that could give us this kind of knowledge. So, without the 10 lepers account, we would already know Christ can perform miraculous healings-blind to see, lame to walk, dead to rise, demons to leave.

Do we learn something of the requirement of faith to have miracles performed?  Again, there are other accounts where Christ is clear that faith must come before a miracle is to be given-Mark 9:39,
Mark 9:23-24.

But what of the last part of that story, where the 1 leper returns to thank Jesus?

That part of the story contains 5 of the 9 verses that tell the whole story, (and the first verse merely orients us as to where Jesus was traveling). So more than half of the account of the 10 lepers speak of the leper who returned to give thanks.

Is it not important then if more is written about gratitude and thanks than is written of the plea for help and the miracle?

The lepers cried from afar off. But after their plea, they do not speak to Jesus again.

Do we do that?

Cry to God in prayer or in our minds for help, and that's it?

Or do we remember to thank Him for each and every blessing and help we asked him for?

It must mean a whole lot to God for someone to return and give thanks.

I know people who "live in thanksgiving daily" and they are some of the happiest people I know. Are they void of all hardship? No. But they understand where the focus should be and they don't forget.

Just like the 1 leper.

A few other articles that speak of the wonders of gratitude:

O How Great the Plan of Our God     "We are surrounded by such an astonishing wealth of light and truth that I wonder if we truly appreciate what we have."

Gratitude on the Sabbath Day   "Of all the blessings we can count, the greatest by far is the feeling of forgiveness that comes as we partake of the sacrament. We will feel greater love and appreciation for the Savior, whose infinite sacrifice made possible our being cleansed from sin. As we partake of the bread and water, we remember that He suffered for us. And when we feel gratitude for what He has done for us, we will feel His love for us and our love for Him."

The Divine Gift of Gratitude    Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.

Said the Greek philosopher Epictetus, “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Notice that the Savior gave thanks for what they had—and a miracle followed: “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.”

“And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”

In the Book of Mormon we are told to “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which [God] doth bestow upon you.”

If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, said: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.” He continued: “Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”

10 Lepers

Luke 17:12 10 Lepers "stood afar off"-they were outcasts, unclean and unwanted.

(Do we feel like this? Have we ever battled something and felt alone, outcast or unclean? No? Just me? Ok, then no need to read any further in Luke 17. You're good!)

Luke 17:13 "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us" - they knew him from afar...had probably heard 'rumors' of a miraculous healing done before and then there were rumblings of Jesus coming to their lands....and they held out hope for a miracle to be done for them. 

We read in scriptures, and see examples around us of blessings we desire....but maybe we feel too far gone, unclean, unwanted, outcast from that extra special and privileged group. 

This group had enough faith to cry out.

We have just as direct access to Christ's healing power and blessings as these 10 lepers did! 

They cried out. We cry out!
The same "Physician" is on the other end. 

Luke 17:14 "Go shew yourselves unto the priests" 

This took faith and action. They could probably get into serious trouble for walking into the city and up to the priests while still being leprous and contagious. They were VERY well aware of this. Surely there were other lepers  in that area...but perhaps they didn't believe in the "stories" of miracles? And so they chose to stay in their secluded area? 

I wonder how those other lepers felt when they finally got wind that their bunk mate or chore chap was freed from his burden...and he/she was still stuck.

I bet they wished they could run the streets over in search of this miraculous healer.

(Do we search....intently & urgently....for an answer to what ails us? Do we know where to find Him who has the power to heal? )

(Do miracles happen today? When? To whom? To you? There may have been some we already took for granted in receiving. )

Luke 17:15-16, 19  Think for a moment how those lepers felt as they watched their bodies being healed in real time. 

With each step, more renewed strength and health. 

What were their thoughts? What did they do after seeing the priests? Who did they visit next?

At least 1 of them wasn't so totally & wholly consumed with what was happening to his/herself. He was cognizant of the source of this great blessing. 

He did not forget the reason, the root, for the beginning of his new life. For surely it was a new and different one from the life he previously envisioned just hours and days before. 

"One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks."

Turned Back! ....more than lip service. More than a quick prayer of thanks....he walked back, or maybe ran, to say how grateful he was. 

Have we ever felt so full to the brim of gratitude for someone or something? What did you do? What do you wish you had done? 

Perhaps it is the moment you found your testimony. Or your testimony was renewed/strengthened. 

I bet that leper never forgot to give thanks in his prayers for his new life. 

"loud voice glorified God"--wasn't just between him and God...he wanted everyone to know what God had done. Gave all the credit to Him.  

Matt 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". 

Christ asks the same of us. 

Come unto Him, find rest.

This is a BIG deal. Let's not act otherwise.... LDS Church and Gay couples....and their children

The LDS Church "changed" a policy regarding children of same-sex couples who live in the home. There has been alot of discussion on this policy.....articles have been written, news stories have been reported, and just recently a resignation letter 'march' was organized by those discontented with the change in a park in Salt Lake City. I have read a fair amount of the articles...both for and against the policy change. At the risk of being tedious, I'd like to add my 'chatter' to the noise.

I first read about the change on Facebook. I thought it was a hoax at first. I checked google. It wasn't a joke. The Church was really keeping children from being baptized and ordained. I immediately thought of the scripture that so many have quoted regarding this 'change': "suffer little children to come unto me"... (Matthew 19:14)
But then I looked into the reason behind the policy. I thought about the implications it would have...on both the children and the parents. I felt like it was a good idea to attempt to get a perspective from every side (as I do not believe there are just 'two' sides to this...there are the children, the same-sex parents, the leaders of the LDS church who made the policy addition to the handbook, the active members of the LDS church, the members of the LDS church who have not stepped inside a church house in awhile, and those who have never been to a LDS church but feel just as inclined to make judgement calls). There are alot of players to this roulette. And be especially weary of that black and white print you read that uses false words like "shun", "hate", "bigotry" and "for humanity's sake".....that shows a lack of full and complete understanding regarding the whole topic.

The arguments against this new policy change are varied and many times heated. A few I've heard are this:

*I feel like this change is trying to make me feel bad enough as a parent to end my [same-gender] relationship [because I am now responsible for keeping them from being baptized or receiving ordination to the priesthood].

*Oh look, it's an old, gray monotonous-tone man interviewing another old, gray monotonous tone man." [Does this mean the church isn't 'hip' or trending right along with the world and so it must not be relevant? Or do they think that only those their relative same age have anything to offer them?]

*But Jesus said, "Forbid them not" and suffer the little children to come unto Him. Why is the church keeping children away from baptism and ordination when Christ told his disciples to let the children come to him?

*"It's 2015, man" 

*Doesn't God love ALL His children? This change affects people personally, and will cause alot of harm, damage, pain and heartache.

*The scariest one is this: "God is not in this decision" 

But, truthfully, if we sat down and addressed all these concerns, and any others, to the point of potential clear understanding, would any of those proponents for the above concerns all of a sudden change their minds? Would they flip their view point and claim adherence to the new policy that just previously they were vehemently against? There may be a few exceptions, but the majority will probably hold steady to what they brought to the table. 

So, if we are honest with ourselves, does this new policy change more accurately show what "side" we are already on rather than 'helping us choose' which side to align ourselves with. 

Most of the arguments have focused on ONE single item. Either the relationship between child and parent(s) or the relationship between the family and the Church.

Can we step back and focus on the BLESSING, COVENANT and ORDINATION this policy is dealing with. This may help. Not many arguments address these specific events in the child's life for which the policy change was dedicated.

Baby Blessing, Baptism (between ages 8-17) and Priesthood Ordination (prior to 18 years of age).

Side thought: For those who argue "for humanity's sake" and say that this policy change is targeting people that have done no wrong and are being ill-treated....we need to address something serious.
And that is: absolutes.
It seems as though the world would wish that 'whatever and whoever and however' people wish to live should be left alone. Of course we know that the full extent of that argument cannot hold true---the terrorist event in Paris and events in Egypt show that allowing people to do 'whatever' they want according to their beliefs is dangerous--fatally so.

But those same proponents of this strain of thought say, "those living in same-sex relationships are doing no one harm". There is no argument there. You are absolutely right. "But shouldn't they be allowed happiness and love, too?" Of course, no one wishes to condemn them, or anyone, to a life sub-par to that which would provide the greatest chance of happiness. But, using that same strain of thought, and not to diminish something so large and serious, I could say, "food makes me really happy and I should be able to eat as much and whatever I want. It just makes me happy." There are too many studies and real life examples to show that the effect of that free exercise of thought does not end up bringing happiness. It does for awhile. That hamburger, french fry, Marie Callender chocolate satin pie, all taste REAL good going down....but I CANNOT escape the equally real consequences. I will have to buy bigger clothes to support my 'happiness'. Some food is good, necessary even. But too much? Not a good idea. I know, people are not on the same level as food. But, hold on. Let me explain. First, read the scripture below:

2 Nephi 2:13  "And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away."

Now, back to absolutes. There are absolutes in this life. We cannot escape them. Gravity, cooking food to healthy temperatures...there are things that are true no matter how much people could scream the opposite. The arguments against absolutes do not hold up. How about bringing children into this world? Is that an absolute? Is there ANY other way other than bringing a man and a woman together, using their respective creative powers? So far, and I'm pretty sure it won't change, there has not been found another way to bring a child into this world. We need one man and one woman. This is the beginning of existence. Let me be bold and say that the purpose of existence, is to learn God's law, obey it and try to assist as many people along the way as possible before we pass onto the next life for judgment on those tenets.
We begin life with a man and woman, they have a child. That child is their responsibility until he/she reaches the age of maturity (though the law says 18, it can be argued that some reach that age much later on in life...some never do?). That child is best helped when taught right from wrong. The child is incapable of this lesson, cognitively speaking, until age 8. Now how does this relate to the LDS Church and its policy? The LDS Church baptizes children age 8 and above. But will no longer do so for children who live with parents who are in a same-sex gender relationship. Why? Let's first look at why the LDS Church does not baptize infants and little children :
Moroni 8:8, 10, 13,  "Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.
Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.
Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell." 

adf


Abraham 2:12 "Now, after the Lord had withdrawn from speaking to me, and withdrawn his face from me, I said in my heart: Thy servant has sought thee earnestly; now I have found thee"

Are grateful people inheritantly faithful? Or does it take faith to gain a grateful heart?

10 Lepers were good, faithful, long suffering people. How did they know when Christ was going to pass by this exact spot on his way to Jerusalem through Samaria and Galilee? And how long were they waiting? I would be surprised if they happened to walk up to the road only to see Christ in the far distance making his way toward them. Did they wait? I would venture yes. How long? Probably longer than they wanted.
Do we every have to 'wait' for our desired blessing? Probably longer than we want.


How long do we wait? As long as it would take like these 10 lepers? There was probably nothing else more important to these 10 than the healing they sought. They were willing to expend every energy and endure any hardship required to seek Jesus Christ and the blessing at his hands. How deep runs our desire, and accompanying effort, to seek after and obtain the desired blessing at the hands of Christ who is able to grant it?

Were there other lepers? The lepers in that day lived in colonies outside the city. So were there more than 10? Most likely. Where were the others? They probably heard the 10 speak of the Miracle Worker and the 10 lepers' desire to "try it out". They had heard stories of others being healed from their maladies but only 10 of them wanted to obtain the same blessing bad enough to go out and do something about it. They not only heard the stories, but believed. So they were among the more faithful. (Side note: how do you think the ones left behind, who didn't follow the 10, felt when their fellow bunk mates never returned? Did they curse their unbelief? Were they mad or jealous that their former friends were now freed while they were doomed to a continued, no-end-in-sight life in pain and lonesomeness? I would venture a guess that at least 1 or 2 of them were angry that they didn't at least "experiment on the word").


The story of the 10 lepers is about gratitude. Sure. But there is more to it than returning to give thanks to God for our blessings received. And I think the story is concerning the small group of people--any faithful person-- that has already shown the degree of their professed faith. It's not a sweeping representation of the majority. It's pointed to a few. The ones who read about, hear stories from friends, watch videos on YouTube about people who have received grace....and then seek the same gesture to descend into their own life. It's about the small percentage.
Faith led 10 to receive a wonderful blessing. But something more, a higher degree of faith leading to something more elevated--gratitude, was found in the one leper. He was more faithful. (Proverbs 14:9; Alma 9:20; Luke 1:28; Genesis 39:21...there's a difference between good people and those who are even more than good-they are different-they find favor. There's probably something just beyond a blanket expression of faithfulness. I think it leads to gratitude. President Monson has spoken on gratitude a lot. And it would seem that he is pushing for something of significance if he takes the time to talk to the membership of the Church about this attribute. It leads us to a higher ground. To an increased level of faith. Beyond the obtaining of something good, but a return to recognition and expression of admission to the source of all good.)


So, now, after we establish that faith, first, is required and faith leads us to obtain mercy, grace, blessings, healings....and gives us cause for a celebration of some sort!...we are not all done.


Christ is concerned with what happens afterward as well.


On Christmas morning, we don't unwrap all gifts, jump up and down, and run to our bedrooms to play all day with the door closed. We look back to the giver and smile, put our hands around their neck and say "Thanks". And what are the 'Givers' feelings at that moment? So, too, is our God. Happy to bless, and even happier when we return to say, "Thank you. I have been wanting this for awhile. I am so glad you gave this to me. This will help me. This will make me happy. I will enjoy this gift."
I have probably been "gifted" patience when I asked, but forgot to turn around and say Thanks.
I was probably granted forgiveness and I didn't return and say thank you so much. I am now happier.
I most likely received health, inspiration, peace, direction....but, like the 90% of the faithful in desperate need of a blessing received, I failed to return.
My faith could be strengthened like the 1 leper's. He did something different.
I'd like to be different.

Ordained Women Movement....and why I'm not a fan.

http://fromdctobc.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-i-am-becoming-uncomfortable-with.html?m=1

I read this. It's more intellectual approach to the "Ordain Women" Movement trying to get the Priesthood. 

Tonight, when Trent and I were discussing this, we felt that the root of this is their own pride and selfishness-----they think they are "unequal" or suffering in some way by not having the "title" or "power" that the men have. 

I believe the contrary....if there is any inequality, it's on the men's side. If I am sick, Trent can bless me. If Trent is sick, I cannot bless him. He suffers his pain without a priesthood power being exercised whereas if I am sick, I receive a blessing that he cannot in return receive. 

Deseret News did a piece on this and had the official response from the church: 

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865586996/LDS-Church-responds-to-priesthood-meeting-request-by-activists.html

"Kate Kelly, one of the organizers of the action to request priesthood meeting tickets for women. "This is an important step toward a future where Mormon women will participate side by side with our brothers in all areas of church leadership and life." 

“To me, agitating on the issue is a question of self-respect,” she said. “I respect and value the church and myself too much to be silent on this question. I truly believe that God wants us all to equally share the burdens and blessings of the priesthood. The ordination of women would put us all on equal spiritual footing with our brethren, and nothing less will suffice.”"

I admit confusion...I don't see where this Kate Kelly thinks that we do not participate in church leadership and life. Women carry leadership roles and are needed to fulfill responsibilities just like men...not the same, but similar. We are not supposed to be the same. It's just not genetically engineered that way, and I'm glad. Again, I think she is prideful and selfish. She has let a perceived inequality seep in and has not stepped back to actually view just how much she DOES receive by allowing the men to be ordained to the Priesthood. Frankly, I thought the issue was going to die when I first heard about it because I thought it was so idiotic on so many different levels and the reasoning was flawed and biased. But it looks like this whole movement is not going away quietly and now trying to assimilate themselves to the Blacks before they received the Priesthood. 

http://mormon.org/faq/women-in-the-church

"This Thing Was Not Done in a Corner"

President Hinckley was already getting these types of questions in interviews with Mike Wallace (scroll down a bit to the question and answer segment. Mike asks him an initial question on women and their role, and then after health and moral code, he tries again to dig deeper in the "men running the church" question): 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/10/this-thing-was-not-done-in-a-corner?lang=eng

And I really like what this lady said: 

Kathryn Skaggs, who writes her widely read blog, A Well-Behaved Mormon Woman, from her home in Murrieta, Calif., said she believes she speaks for that vast majority of Mormon women when she expresses frustration "that this small element within the church who are pressing for the priesthood use the media to draw attention to themselves, as if they speak for all Mormon women."

"They don't represent us," Skaggs said in a telephone interview. "That's not to minimize those who have these passionate feelings about women being ordained to the priesthood. But my personal church experience suggests that most of us are at peace with how the Lord has chosen to establish his kingdom upon the earth. And there's a bit of resentment that the beautiful messages of conference might be overshadowed by this small group that doesn't even represent the feelings of mainstream Mormon women.

"I just really have a hard time feeling good about it," Skaggs continued. "They are taking the attention away from the reason we have general conference in the first place: to listen to what living prophets have to say to us. Instead, they are trying to get the living prophets to listen to them. That just seems wrong to me."

Elder Maxwell said, "events will require of each member that he or she decide whether or not he or she will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions"  (http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=909)

Pro Choice v Pro Life

I hesitate to share this. Mostly because of it's content. But, it's very much a part of what is happening...and unfortunately, used in the last election with Obama and Romney. The Pro-choice advocates were trying to say that Mitt Romney wanted to take away a woman's choice because he was Pro-Life...but I wonder how many of them have ever been to one of these clinics or seen exactly what is done. And I wonder how many would continue to push for this agenda after witnessing the "procedure" being performed. This is a highly controversial subject. But we are supposed to be active advocates in our communities. And I'd like to spread factual content knowledge regarding this topic and state that though a woman does have a choice, someone needs to be a 'voice' for the baby who is very much 'alive' inside of her. She cannot disregard the responsibility of her initial 'choice' to engage in intercourse that resulted in a pregnancy...and it's connected consequence. Is there a disjointed view that one can bypass the natural consequence of a choice to have sex? The two are irreparably connected. And the child is not to be dismissed as a footnote. We can be the voice for the child who does not yet have one...but will if given the chance.

Priesthood.

Something has been on my mind lately. Elder Bednar's talk entitled, ThePowers of Heaven, quoted a Prophet, David O. McKay saying: “If at this moment each one of you were asked to state in one sentence or phrase the most distinguishing feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what would be your answer?” (“The Mission of the Church and Its Members,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1956, 781). "The response President McKay gave to his own question was the “divine authority” of the priesthood."

If the Priesthood is the most distinguishing feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon Church, then-why? What's so special or important about that above all other things? Among other answers, I believe it's because all the saving ordinances and special blessings we can receive on this earth to prepare us for Heaven are given through Priesthood power being exercised: baby blessing, baptism, reception of Holy Ghost, endowment in the Temple and Sealing of marriage. Not to mention other blessings one can receive when sick or need guidance. The ability and usage of the Priesthood is almost too hard to enumerate.

I’m a woman, so obviously I cannot hold the priesthood. Lately, some women have taken offense to that. They believe that the absence of the Priesthood somehow lessens them. In whose eyes? If it’s man’s eyes they are worried about, then they need to refocus their priorities. It should be God’s eyes that they are worried about. And God has designed the Priesthood to men for good reason. If you’re still worried about what that reason may be and cannot figure it out after searching, then just go on a thing called faith. Men and women are created differently, thank goodness. To be honest, there has been a couple times where I thought I could do something just as well as the guys alongside me. I was very wrong. They are stronger physically-I cannot shovel as hard, walk as long, lift as much as they can. But, to be honest, I don’t think they have as much patience with screaming children, figuring out meals week after mundane week, or the ability to run on as little sleep for the better part of a year as a woman...and then voluntarily choose to do that again. Now, there are some exceptions to the generalities, but for the most part, men have different strengths than women. And that plays out well with the Fathers responsibility to preside and provide for the family and the Mothers to nurture the children.

 I happen to have lived with someone holding the Priesthood in my home at all times. There was never a time when I couldn’t just go to a room inside the house, and ask for a blessing. I have never been at a disadvantage just because I didn’t have the Priesthood. The men cannot use the Priesthood on themselves, so just by having it does not give them some kind of advantage that the rest of us are not able to receive. I admire the way some men honor their Priesthood. Not all men are created equal and not all men hold their Priesthood with the same honor. Those that do, are blessed and able to bless. Even some of Christ’s 12 Apostles had to learn this lesson: Matt 17:14 ¶And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

  15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he ^afalleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O ^afaithless and ^bperverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your ^aunbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have ^bfaith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this ^cmountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be ^dimpossible unto you.

 21 Howbeit this ^akind goeth not out but by prayer and ^bfasting.

I’m sure they weren’t out doing something wrong. And they were obviously preaching so they were being proactive…not lazy or slothful. But they still had something to learn about the POWER  that comes with the AUTHORITY of the Priesthood. Authority does not guarantee Power. The disciples who came to Jesus after the man left with his son learned that very lesson.

Elder Bednar also quoted another prophet, President Ezra Taft Benson, and said:

“It is not enough to receive the priesthood and then sit back passively and wait until someone prods us into activity. When we receive the priesthood, we have the obligation of becoming actively and anxiously engaged in promoting the cause of righteousness in the earth, because the Lord says:

“‘… He that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned’ [D&C 58:29]” (So Shall Ye Reap [1960], 21).

“President Spencer W. Kimball also pointedly emphasized the active nature of the priesthood: “One breaks the priesthood covenant by transgressing commandments—but also by leaving undone his duties. Accordingly, to break this covenant one needs only to do nothing” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 96).

The men who hold the Priesthood should be different. They should be separate and distinct from those who do not. That’s not to say that there aren’t good men out there who do not hold the Priesthood, and that all men who do hold the Priesthood are good. However, the very act of a man who holds the Priesthood laying his hands on another man to confer the power of the Priesthood to another, is special. It forever grants that man access to the very Powers of Heaven. He can assist in washing someone’s sins away, have command over the body’s immune system, seal two people with a power that will be in force after we die, and give a personal revelation to someone as a guide map to use throughout their life.

After a personal story regarding a conversation Elder Bednar had with his dad, he said, his dad had a “correct assumption that men who bear God’s holy priesthood should be different from other men. Men who hold the priesthood are not inherently better than other men, but they should act differently. Men who hold the priesthood should not only receive priesthood authority but also become worthy and faithful conduits of God’s power. “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (D&C 38:42).

Imagine a conduit:

And the Priesthood acts as a direct conduit of heavenly power that can stream from His throne directly to us. That is how special that power is…and what a bold declaration we give that this Church is the only one found with that power.   

Men who are worthy, are given a great gift. The very power by which this earth and our bodies were created is the same power that worthy Priesthood holders possess. There are, of course, different degrees and keys associated with this power, but it stems from the same source…and one must learn well their duty and how to obtain power with their conferred authority before they can advance in their Priesthood. Maybe it’s like graduating to a bigger size conduit. You gain a greater capacity to bring down more blessings from Heaven.

I teach 11 year olds at Church. I’m new at it. I only have about 3 Sundays under my belt. But, when we talked about the Priesthood being restored to the earth, there was a certain boy that is usually not a very good listener…but this time, he was listening-and with a sponge-like attitude. It was as if he could sense that the Priesthood was something to sit up and pay attention to. It was something that distinguishes the goats from the sheep. Something to be serious about and know well the duty he was about to be recommended for. I cannot put into words the excitement I feel for the time when my little boy will be recommended, and found worthy for the Priesthood. I hope in this home, he will get a real good sense of what the Priesthood does by watching his father and how wonderful that gift is by watching his mother. I hope to support the Priesthood. I’m not entirely sure what that all entails. But it sounds like if I do it right, my husband’s Priesthood authority will have the capacity to develop great power. If it’s Power from Heaven, sign me up. Get me on the list. Let me know how to increase that kind of power. I’d like to do my part to support my husband in his effort to honor his Priesthood.

For a great portion of the history of the world, a relatively few men have held the Priesthood. And out of those few, we have some pretty remarkable records of what they were able to do with their Priesthood…people healed and even raised from the dead, seas calmed, gates to Heaven opened through baptism, and small things like preaching, prophesying so that others will know what to do to prepare for the future so they will experience a feeling called peace in place of fear. Matthew could have been referring to the Priesthood when he said in 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Heaven won’t be reserved for only those who were able to move a mountain or cure leprosy. In The Book of Mormon, there’s a book called Alma and in 37:6 a prophet says, “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.” That probably also can apply toward the Priesthood. Home teaching, month after month, may bring about a change that a single, great event could not. Partaking of the sacrament is a small and simple thing…but by it, we gain forgiveness and a life more near Christ...possibly one right next to Him forever. That’s pretty great stuff.  

Doctrineand Covenants says in 123rd section:

15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

 16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is ^abenefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

 17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us ^acheerfully ^bdo all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the ^csalvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

In Preach My Gospel, it defines Priesthood as: “the power and authority given to man to act in God’s name for the salvation of His children.”

This Church has that power and authority. This Church has men who act in God’s very name and by the power that these men hold, I and my family, have the chance at salvation. Without these men and the power they hold, it is not possible to gain entrance through the pearly gates. God is governed by laws, and there are no shortcuts or byways. Only one path has been declared by God to give access to a Celestial life. And that path must be accompanied by, watched over, and guarded by men who hold the Priesthood. And the only way to access that Priesthood is through this Church. It distinguishes us from all other Churches on the earth. And it’s power is available to be felt by any who would wish to receive a blessing. I have personally been the fortunate recipient of a few blessings that have altered the course of my life. I would not be the same without the Priesthood.

Perspective

Walking by this blue column, I think it's a support beam for the store and a place they hang their phone and can be inconvenient when maneuvering around it.
The kids see it and think, ”a portal/passageway to another land and place to hide from Mom!”
What a difference perspective can make.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.6

Prayer is Powerful

http://nathangreenestudio.com/tag/lincoln-praying/

I was watching The Eternal Christ by Truman G. Madsen and he was discussing Christ's Intercessory Prayer. The disciplines had just eaten the Passover meal, which was the best they had probably eaten in awhile. They had repeated all the phrases they go over during that time, including thanking God for "our" deliverance (they didn't say "their deliverance" as in the Israelites back then, but it was a current pronoun they used; remembering that it was a blessing still to be delivered from slavery in Egypt-although they were in a different slavery at the hands of their Pharisee and Sadducee leadership to which Christ had come to free them from, but that's a different story.)
And this is reminiscent of what we do during Sacrament meeting...repeat the same phrase from an event that happened thousands of years ago to which we continue to reap a blessing from.

Truman Madsen said that he was with an apostle when he described seeing the Last Supper and was struck with the tenderness he saw Christ exhibit during that night. It makes sense...He washed the Apostles' feet and then wanted them to know that although He was going to die and they would be scattered, they would not be comfortless-He would send a Comforter and they would have peace, not like the kind the world gives, but a heavenly kind. Christ knew He was about to face the hardest and darkest night this world has yet or will see, and yet He was worried about his group of disciples. He wanted to make sure they were comforted. That they could find peace.
   And you know what, I don't think that tenderness and concern has ceased once He ascended into Heaven. He is an unchangeable God. He has not stopped caring about whether we feel alone, comforted, and find solace in a troubled world. So when taking the Sacrament, and thinking about that night that Christ blessed and broke the bread Himself and gave it to His close friends, it reminds me that He still cares.
   He has given us the Sacrament as a weekly reminder...He doesn't want us to forget!!!...that He is tenderly watching over us and promises to send us the Comforter as our constant companion...if we will allow it into our lives.




So the disciples had finished a nice meal, one of the best all year, went through many recitations of Passover, and then were taught new doctrine from Christ about a Comforter about to come to them once He left for Heaven, that they were about to be scattered, then tells them of His death and Resurrection and that He is the Son of God. There was quite an emotional and physical weariness from all the day's events. So when they get to the mount, they were all exhausted. No wonder it was hard to stay awake. But someone was awake and recorded what He said.
"For I have given unto them the ^awords which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I ^bcame out from thee, and they have ^cbelieved that thou didst send me.

I ^apray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which ^bthou hast given me; for they are thine. Neither ^apray I for these alone, but for them also which shall ^bbelieve on me through their word;

That they all may be ^aone; as thou, ^bFather, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be ^cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be ^aone, even as we are ^bone:

 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made ^aperfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast ^bloved them, as thou hast loved me."

Does the tone of the prayer sound like the Lord as described by the Israelites after being freed from Pharaoh's rule?
 Exodus 15
The Lord is a man of ^awar. Pharaoh’s ^achariots and his host hath he ^bcast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the ^cRed sea...they sank into the bottom as a ^astone.

Thy ^aright ^bhand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 

And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as ^astubble.

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. The people shall ^ahear, and be afraid:

(then they continue with):
sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of ^bPalestina.
Then the ^adukes of ^bEdom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall ^cmelt away. ^aFear and ^bdread shall fall upon them.
 (As if to say, if you just destroyed the Egyptians, everyone else will cower and be afraid to mess with us because you have our back).

 But later in Exodus 20, all their praising of God turned to fear and they said to Moses when he came down after receiving the 10 commandments,
"And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God ^aspeak with us, lest we die."
 THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF GOD! They believed Him to be a man of war who would rather sink a bunch of worthless captains as lead to the bottom of the Sea and consume people as stubble....just to protect them. But then when it came to God offering to speak to them, they would not. It was not God who distanced Himself or tried to make himself unknown or hidden. It was the people. They thought he was full of wrath when dealing with Pharoah's captains and they must have still held that idea when they thought of meeting Him at Mount Sinai.
God wants to be with us, comfort us, teach us and help us. He does not enjoy destroying people. I doubt he was singing like the Israelites. He was more likely saddened that some of His own creations were drowning.


When Alma prayed to God to help his son, Alma the younger, an angel appeared to Alma the younger and told him specifically that "the Lord hath head the prayers of his people...for he has prayed with much faith...that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith". (Mosiah 27:14)
God did not hire someone else to be his telecommunicator for Him. He has more kids than we can count, yet He wants to hear every one of our pleas.
Doctrine and Covenants 90:1 says, "Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily I say unto you my son, thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears.

In Matt. 23:37 Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

And in 2 Nephi 9:41 gives another glimpse of what kind of Man is listening on the other end of that prayer, "O then, my beloved brethren, ^acome unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the ^bway for man is ^cnarrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the ^dgate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

I enjoy reading how Christ prays to His Father...He knew the right relationship. In Bible Dictionary under Prayer, I have always wondered what it really meant when it said, "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship."

What does a prayer look like that is natural and instinctive?
What are the so-called difficulties about prayer?

If you read Matt 7:7-11, seems like we can receive alot from our Father in Heaven if we understand this relationship.

 7 ¶^aAsk, and it shall be ^bgiven you; ^cseek, and ye shall find; ^dknock, and it shall be opened unto you:

 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that ^aseeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask ^abread, will he give him a stone?

 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

 11 If ye then, ^abeing evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Continuing in Bible Dictionary, "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."

Prayer, to a loving, tender, watchful Father in Heaven, from an obedient child can secure for ourselves and for others so very many blessings.  He always picks up the receiver when we call. We will never find a busy signal. And can you imagine speaking to a divine Heavenly Being who awaits what we have to say and then blesses us with what will help us the greatest? Think about what is happening! He employes no servant as the prayer taker, and as oft as we will gather, He will receive us. He is tireless and an enduring optimistic. 

Prayer is a way to obtain the "highest of all blessings". That sounds like being able to live with Him once we die. If we do prayer right...because there are difficulties with prayer/ways to not pray correctly....then we can come to know Him and be one with Him...just as Christ prayed for that night in Gethsemane. We use prayer to align our will to His. Like Elder Bednar said,Revelation is communication from Heavenly Father to His children on earth. As we ask in faith, we can receive revelation upon revelation and knowledge upon knowledge and come to know the mysteries and peaceable things that bring joy and eternal life (see D&C 42:61). The mysteries are those matters that can only be known and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost (see Harold B. Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World [1974], 211). There may be things in our character, in our behavior, or concerning our spiritual growth about which we need to counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. After expressing appropriate thanks for blessings received, we plead for understanding, direction, and help to do the things we cannot do in our own strength alone. For example, as we pray, we might:

• Reflect on those occasions when we have spoken harshly or inappropriately to those we love the most.
• Recognize that we know better than this, but we do not always act in accordance with what we know.
• Express remorse for our weaknesses and for not putting off the natural man more earnestly.
• Determine to pattern our life after the Savior more completely.
• Plead for greater strength to do and to become better.

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

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

He also said, "Simply saying prayers is quite a different thing from engaging in meaningful prayer. I expect that all of us already know that prayer is essential for our spiritual development and protection. But what we know is not always reflected in what we do. And even though we recognize the importance of prayer, all of us can improve the consistency and efficacy of our personal and family prayers." 

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

We are given a commandment to Pray Always. Remembering the nature of the Person to whom we are praying will help our prayers become natural and instinctive....not repeated, quick and without much thought. Using Prayer like Elder Bednar explained, will help us grow more united with God....which will allow us to receive Eternal Life-to know God. And that is one of the highest blessings I can think of. What a wonderful gift we have been given to Pray. It is our blessing and privilege, not a mundane task to do before starting our day or ending it. God does not treat them lightly and once we come to know who is on the other end, we can't wait to go back and talk with Him some more. It will be a sweet thing to see Him face-to-face when we die and return to Him and not have to feel like we need to build a relationship with this stranger, for He has so obviously not been far from our thoughts.

a